Happy Birthday Zack!

I can't believe my little bugger is already 6 years old! It seems like yesterday that I became a mother for the first time not knowing what to do or when to do it. When he was just one he used to entertain himself for hours just looking at books and even fall asleep in them. His favorite foods were carrots and chocolate icecream and he smiled at every single person that passed him by. 6 years later, he still loves books but loves his DS and Star Wars more, his favorite food is still chocolate icecream and he still gives a warm greeting to everyone he meets. Zack brought, to our otherwise quiet lifestyle, a whole new meaning to life, energy and well, more energy. I can't imagine life without him. Happy Birthday Zack, with all our love.

Art Show THIS Friday!!!! Yippy!

Hi Friends! The opening of the show "Love Interpreted" is This Friday!!! Myself along with 8 other photographers will be showcasing some pieces. Here is the official press release and ad. I hope to see as many people there as possible so please, come check it out! Cocktails and treats will be served.
CONNECTICUT WOMEN'S PHOTOGRAPHY EVENT "LOVE: INTERPRETED" TO BE HELD AT THE MAC650 ARTISTS COOPERATIVE IN MIDDLETOWN DURING DECEMBER

A group of nine award-winning Connecticut female photographers will display their photographs on the theme "Love: Interpreted" at the MAC 650 Artists Cooperative at 50 Main Street in Middletown from December 5th to January 3rd, 2009. The opening reception on Friday, December 5 at 7:00pm is open to the public.

The "Love: Interpreted" theme was chosen because these women primarily photograph weddings, documenting the strong bonds they witness between couples and within families. "What we really do at weddings is interpret the moments of love, and with this show we wanted to get back to our art school roots, creating something creative and personal in the same theme," noted Nikki Rinaldi of Nikki Nicole Photography, who helped coordinate this event.

Artists exhibiting are: Tina Parsadanov, Jacklyn Greenberg, Jo Kaplan Lee, Mary Marantz, Val McCormick, Nikki Nicole Rinaldi, Krystal Prue, Jane Shauck, and Carla Ten Eyck.

For additional information, contact Nikki Nicole at phone 860.436.6937.

Part 2/3 of Torturing the children.

What a fun holiday season so far! We've had some great kids come in for some festive photos to celebrate fall and the upcoming holidays! Meet this weeks little models: Amanda, Brian, Kara, Payton, and Morgan.

The beauty queen

Yesterday was Igor's cousin's wedding day. More on that in a later post... As I lay out some clothes options and try different shoes in front of the full length mirror in our room I turn to see our little beauty queen Ella slipping on my shoes on her tiny toes and I almost melted as she scuffed through the room with them on. Does life get any better than this? I think that would be nearly impossible.

Kim and Justin ~ Congratulations!

A true piece of art! Every last detail planned to a T with the theme of combining the male and female essence. The wedding took place on the cleared land of Justin's parent's home and it was adorned with a Love swing, vibrant colors, and even firecrackers that set ablaze as the couple shared their first kiss. Wow! The couple said their "I do's" on top of the wedding dress themed float that Justin created complete with a waterfountain in the center of it. The couple's dog was wheeled down the aisle by the two "king" ring bearers to reveal the rings. The boys all wore chile pepper boutonnieres and the bride wore a beautiful red necklace from India. The multicultural integration really made the wedding unique and very interesting to photograph. The evenning was complete with a choreographed medly of latino dances that the couple performed complete with full attire and even fireworks. Thank you Kim and Justin for sharing this amazing experience with us. We will never forget it!

The votes are in.

With record breaking numbers of people forming lines around buildings across America, it's no doubt that America had something to say and they said it loud and clear. "We want change" It was a tight and interesting campaign that had everyone on the edge of their seats for months watching and listening very carefully to what these candidates, both Barack Obama and John McCain, saw as their vision for the future of America. Both candidates amazingly showed such similarity and such difference all at once. As far as similarity, they were both well qualified and driven individuals with families, a plan for the future and a true love for their nation. As far as differences; their way of getting there. Really, no one can see into the future and know what the best way is to tackle the problems we are facing as a nation today. All we have are our gutt instincts and our sense of humanity which we so easily tend to lose touch of sometimes. In a book I'm reading, there is a very interesting quote that I try to keep in mind whenever I am disgusted with the actions or thoughts of someone else. That quote is this, "If you were that person, you would feel and act exactly the same as they do." Isn't this true? If you really were that person, having been in the same position, with the same upbringing, if you were actually that person, of course you would feel the same way and act the same way. You ARE that person. With that thought in mind, as much as people may disagree with the past 8 years of our country's history and the leadership we were under, as the outside person, of course we can see that things could have been done differently. However, good and bad is all relative. Everything is relative to something else or else how would we know good or bad? You cannot know good unless you know what bad is. That said, without having experienced the sorrow of the past 8 years, we may not have known that change was needed and that we need to do something to initiate it. Every president is appointed into office because of their great promises to their country's people. The question is not who makes the best promises, the question is who will make those promises become a reality. I truly hope, from the bottom of my heart, that over the next 4 years and beyond, our wonderful country reclaims its dignity and thrives in prosperity as a result of the humanity, compassion, understanding and leadership it shows. The generations of "I don't agree with you so I'm not going to talk to you" and the "You are wrong so let's fight" are hopefully over. We, as a human race, are in much need of some evolution in that regard and I think we are getting there. Respect is the key in any relationship and it's no different when dealing with big countries. As an individual, of course we disagree on things. If we didn't, we would all be the same person and there would never be an angle or a purpose for thinking! The point is that despite our differences, whether it be as individuals or as countries, we need to start with respect and proceed from there. I believe that this election has gained the repect of many countries around the world in that America does want to reclaim their dignity and respect for people other than themselves. It is an extraordinary day too to see a half African-American man elected as the president of a nation that just a century and a half ago, enslaved such people. It is an honor to be alive at this time and witness our country moving past our history and moving forward to better ourselves as a union; as one with a single purpose. Recognizing that simple yet profound reality (we are One) is really the cornerstone to any and all success. Together, we can accomplish anything imaginable. There are no limits unless we put them there. Congratulations to Barack and to all who worked tirelessly to get him where he is. I hope that this is the begining of something wonderful. Time will tell!

Torturing the kids once again :)

I'm finding that as kids get older they just don't want their picture taken. They are really becoming little adults and are well on their way to the "I hate having my picture taken" phrase that most of us are so guilty of saying. My kids are no different. Even through the years of having more than the average number of photos taken of them, they still act crazy once the camera comes out! This season is no different of course; they still act crazy and pretend they have never seen a camera before and I am pulling my hair out trying to find ways to coax them into acting like humans and not animals! Too funny! We always see our own kids with a bit of a more critical eye. This weekend kicked off our series of weekends dedicated to holiday portraits and we had 4 really fun shoots! One was even a 3 week old! Here is a shot from each one :)

Announcing....XOX Boudoir!!!!

Come on now...Boudoir photography is just the hottest thing right now. Not only are gals glaming up for their partners but even more so; for themselves! It's not only a fantastic confidence booster but it's tons of fun too! Studio Blue has just launched a whole entire site dedicated to, you guessed it, Boudoir Photography! You can book personal shoots and even boudoir portrait parties right online. We also are so excited to offer the First Ever, Boudoir photography site that also carries an entire line of lingerie. Check us out at XOXBoudoir.com and be sure to enter coupon code NEWXOX for 40% off of any purchase until Nov. 27, 08. Enjoy!

Holiday Portrait Time :)

Yup, it's that time of year again! Holiday Portrait time! What better gift to give to family than a holiday photo they will cherish for years and even generations to come. Give the gift that keeps on giving. Come in for a holiday session as a great opportunity for photo gifts and even holiday greeting cards. Schedule your session today. Spaces are limited!

Off to NYC...my favorite city in the US.

As I get that twitch, a little shake and an antsiness running through my body I realize what's going on. It's called withdrawal. I have a serious addiction to big cities so badly that on a whim I've forced my family to pack up the strollers and a picnic lunch just to go to NYC for the day at the park. I know you're thinking..."Hello there Tina, there are parks EVERYWHERE!" Yes, I know that. But the fast pace, the crowded streets, the amazing architecture that covers every inch of every building and the characters you see in the city are second to none. It's just one of those places we all fit into. So, I'm overdue! And just in time too. Lucky for me the Photo Plus Expo is this week and it's in NYC! My favorite of favorite spots. I'll keep you posted on my trip. Until then "I LOVE New York!" Do you?

Kylah and Mike ~ Congrats!!!

Congratulations Kylah and Mike! Their wedding (despite the rain) was breathtaking! Every detail planned out and some really awesome locations including the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle, NY. Thank you for sharing your day with us!

Stacey & Keith ~ Congratulations!

Studio Blue...we missed you!

Back by overwhelming popular demand....drum roll please....Studio Blue Photography. For those of you wondering about the ever lasting name additions we have seen over the last 6 years I have the story here! I have also been asked many times how we got our start. So, here goes!

Six years ago, I had just turned 22 years old and had my son Zack. Igor and I married very young with me at the tender age of 20 years and 1 week old! We were high school sweethearts who met at our first job at the local McDonald's. And were inseparable ever since. We married while still in college and I was an art education major and he was in engineering and the air force. I had received my first camera (a blue 110mm) when I was 5 years old and have taken pictures ever since. Throughout high school I had studied photography and film and video non-stop and if you were ever wondering where I spent my study halls, it was in the dark room. It was a true love. It was well known throughout the school that my "dream job" would have been to be a photographer and I often told people, "just watch, some day I will own a studio". It seemed so rediculous to think that, but hey, we all have dreams. While in college, I worked full time as a manager for a department store and attended college full time also. It was busy but I loved every minute of it! Interacting with people was just so fun. Making friends with random old ladies or little kids or helping that dad find that perfect holiday gift was what made my job so rewarding. The People! That still remains true to date and is still what I love most about my job. So anyways...after having my sweet Zack, I had not realized that for me to return to work and pay for daycare would cost me more than what I was making working full time! That was quite a shock and we reached a brick wall. It was at that point that I stopped and said to myself, "You know what? I'm going to do this!" I had spent my high school and college life dreaming up a wonderful job and putting practice into it but never actually thinking it could happen. This was the push I needed. So, Igor and I built a website with the photography I had done over the years and we waited. A short time later, I got my first call and first booking! We were sooo excited to get (at that time) the $50 deposit because it meant we could finally go grocery shopping! There was a light at the end of the tunnel. Our first year, we ended up photographing 9 weddings. The second year, we photographed 20, the next 32, and the next 45! The business continued to grow and we were ever grateful to each and every couple that admired our work and our dedication. My business started out under my name: Tina Parsadanov Photography. Once I hit a point where I started hiring employees, I thought to myself that it might be a little rediculous to say, "I work for Tina Parsadanov Photography". That's when we adopted the name Studio Blue. The name Studio Blue came from a photograph I had taken while on our Annual R&R in Cape Cod. It was a photograph of my son pointing to the ocean (he was 18 months old). You can see the photo below. As you can see, the ocean is blue, and the sky is blue and the blue just seems to completely dominate the photograph. The blue represented the sky (air) and the ocean (water) both of which are needed sources of life. Life is what we photograph. Studio Blue = Studio of Life. So, after much "trying to reinvent ourselves", we are back! And We're back with a BANG! Studio Blue has started several new programs being implimented this week that we are so terribly excited about! I will mention one....a new Portraits for Life program. For every wedding couple we have photographed over the years and those upcoming into our future, you will receive a "Portraits for Life" membership allowing you free portrait sittings for, well, your life! It's our way of saying THANK YOU! You are the very reason that we have grown to be what we are today. We cannot say thank you enough! Please look forward to other new programs being offered that will show our appreciation for having such fantastic clients! We are truly blessed! Thank you and God bless you!

You ask...they answer.

Tricia and Billy ~ Congratulations!!!

The beautiful wedding of Tricia and Billy. I can't say enough about how perfectly it went. The locations were breathtaking from the enormous Congregational church in Hartford, to city hall and then the new Gershon Fox Room in the old GFox building. The whole day was gorgeous.

Date Night

Oh my gosh, the sweetest thing ever!! About 4 weeks ago Igor and I started having weekly "date-nights" and we alternate who plans it. It has been so fun! We have only gone so far as to cooking a gourmet meal at home after 8pm when the kids are tucked in and dreaming of sugar plums and then we dress up and then surprise the other with our fanciful dish in a room of candle-light followed by a card game or movie. I should start posting those recipes because they have been to die for!!! So, although I have no pictures :( ...I did want to let you know what we did last night because it was just the best ever. So for the past 6 years (pretty much since our son Zackery was born) I have always mentioned in passing that I really miss being able to go to art museums. Young children and art museums where you cannot touch, just a BAD combo! So as a surprise, Igor arranged for a sitter to come. I was swept away at about 5:30pm having no idea where we were going. And...we went to the Wadsworth! We spent 2 hours there oohhing and ahhing over the beautiful pictures and pots and just amazing creations and the use of color and balance and framing and composition. It was awesome. Then at 8pm, we headed to a reservation at my absolute favorite restaurant; Max Downtown. I have cheap taste apparently ;) For anyone who has never been to Max Downtown, it is a beautiful restaurant that is very modern eclectic. They have a piano bar on Thursday through Sunday and they serve wonderful steaks, chicken, and wine, etc... We enjoyed their Rhode Island style calamari and then for dinner we had the gorgonzola and carmelized onion stuffed filet mignon served with these tiny and strangely round carrots and a potato augratin. Just amazing. They also do host smaller events such as rehearsal dinners and we have even shot a wedding here so if anyone is looking for a really NICE place to go out or have an event, I highly recommend Max Downtown. Their staff treat you like gold and they have the best food and service I have ever had. (That's why it's my favorite!)

Melissa and Sean ~ Congratulations!

Annual R&R

We just returned last night from our annual rest and relaxation weekend in Cape Cod as a family. Igor and I have been doing this long weekend in the Cape for the past 8 years and it has just become a family tradition for us. It's the one thing that we refuse to substitute as to us, nothing can replace the Cape! It's where I reconnect with my inner antique collector (or as Igor would call it; junk collector) and it's where he reconnects with just resting (or as I would call it; being lazy). The kids reconnect with each of us after a busy summer and it's our time to reclaim our family unit in a setting that harbours love and patience and even healing. Each day we did a little something. Although every year up until this year, we seem to enjoy discovering new wonders around the Cape, this year we actually just revisited our favorite family spots. I was able to get my morning jogs in and they were made 10x better because they were along the ocean. We collected all sorts of treasures and well, read on... it was a blast!

Every year we stay at our favorite spot on the Cape. It's a place called Seaside. It's in South Yarmouth and you get your very own little cottage right on the ocean front. I can't say enough about this place other than after our first stay here, we never looked back. We have been staying here for 5 years now and wouldn't even consider anywhere else. http://www.seasidecapecod.com/ for anyone looking for a place to stay!

Ok, so weddings follow me! We checked in to the front desk and low and behold I hear of a wedding taking place right there at seaside! I had to grab a quick picture. Such a sweet wedding and nice group of people. They had a tent set up right on the property where they had a nice gathering with their family and friends.

Our favorite find of all time was what we found last year! If you go down to Chatham to the lighthouse and continue on that road you will find on your right, Nickerson's fresh fish market which not only has the best clam chowder EVA but down at the docks there are also wild seals! They hang out on the sand bars and swim over to say 'hi'. They are the cutest things!

We also went to Nickerson State Park where Igor was teaching Zack how to skip stones. It was such a beautiful day.

Our Junior photographer took this one of Igor and I. :) Nice job Zack!

At the Cape Cod National Seashore.

The kids LOVED this driftwood. We couldn't get Ella away from it! So...took a few pics with the monkeys hanging on the tree.

Back at Seaside, we flew our kite. For the first time we let the entire roll of string out!!!! It was rediculously high and it took a very very long time to wind it back up!

Can you see that dot up in the sky? Yup, that's the kite!

And what better way to end a Cape Cod trip than by relaxing by the fire?

Alexa - Take 2 *snap*

Beautiful Alexa! This is Alexa's second baby shoot and at 6 months young, she is already a Pro. Alexa also holds a little something extra special in my heart as she is just shy by 2 days of celebrating the same birthday as my own daughter. How cool is that? When the two of them look at each other though they just aren't quite sure what to make of the other. Well, as you can see, Alexa did a fantastic job and although Mom and Dad got the boot, they too did a great job with their Lilly frog and baby bander. Ahhh....these are the days. Presenting....Alexa!

Meeting Baby Abigail

What a cutie patutie!!!! Baby Abby was such a doll. Her parents (past wedding clients) came in this past weekend and we did a baby/family shoot in my studio downstairs. When I asked Mom how she was adjusting to being a mom, she replied with, "I'm loving it, every minute of it". After about 2 minutes with Abby I could totally see why! She was just the most gentle and sweet baby ever. Laurie and Josh just totally love their little girl and I'm so happy for the new family. Grandma and Grandpa even came for the excitement of the first baby pictures! Way too much fun! I love my job ;)

"Energy and persistence conquer all things." ~ Benjamin Franklin

For 4 years now, I've had a dream to "some-day" run the Manchester Road Race. The Manchester Road Race is a 4.748 mile race that goes through Manchester CT on Thanksgiving day. It attracts runners from all around the world! You don't even have to run it, you can even walk it and the participation rate is sky high with more than 9800 participants! All proceeds from the race go to Muscular Dystrophy research. So, this year is the year! I've already started my running and I'm really hoping that I reach the finish line Still running! :) Anyone else up for the challenge? I hope to see you there!

#41; sort of...

As mentioned in a previous post, at a recent PUG retreat in the Berkshires, we were assigned the task of creating a list of 101 things that we wanted to accomplish is 1001 days. So far I have 8 checked off and was really on a roll and crazily excited when a major number, namely #41, was about to be checked off my list! Get a new car!!!! My car is up there in mileage and we wanted to be sure that I had something dependable; especially since we photograph weddings! This is a huge deal for anyone and even more so because I had the car custom made just for me and waited an agonizing 8 whole weeks for it. My beautiful new Smurfetta (or so I named her)...She is the cutest little button of a car with a lucky birthdate and all (8/28/08). So, what's the sort of part? Well, while shooting a wedding last night in Hartford, my little smurf got her window smashed in! I came out to find her glass all over the place and my gps gone. I had her 3 days and already she was destroyed. My heart sank and as I gasped, I held my breath a little longer than usual and I just didn't know what to do. Sometimes things just happen I guess and we can be fortunate that no one was hurt and the minor detail that it wasn't raining! For now, let's fix her up and get her back on the road again! Motor On!

Before=Happy

After=Not so much.

Congrats Kelly and Patrick

We had the pleasure of photographing the fabulous wedding of Kelly and Patrick a few weeks back. Everything was so lovely. Yes, lovely. It was just so organized and well, lovely! Kelly was a doll and full of smiles and such a joy to be around. She had the cutest little flower people and it was a day filled with love and pure happiness. They chose Gillette Castle for their photo location which was cool because although I have shot there before, I had never shot a wedding there. Such a pretty view and creative architecture. My day was filled with new experiences because their reception was at the new Riverhouse in Haddam and this was my first time shooting here as well! What a beautiful spot! Crazy ceiling vaults and a balcony made for some interesting photos. Thank you Kelly and Patrick for sharing your day with us.