Category Archives: Press

Documentary style photography and images released to the press

Ana Maria Macedo & Jon Jonsson

Ana kisses Jon. Jon smiles, and leaves the room to get ready for their photo shoot. We are in their beautiful loft in central Manhattan, furnished with elegant minimalism and distinctive flair. Sushi and Champagne are being served, and multiple conversations cross paths midair. We are eager with excitement for today’s photo shoot as we are photographing Ana Maria Macedo and Jon Jonsson two years after we captured their memorable New York wedding in June of 2009.

Oscar De La Renta Wedding dress

When Ana Maria Macedo and Jon Jonsson decided to tie the knot, they made a splash worthy of a small tidal wave on New York’s social scene. Successful business-owners by day, and party-loving socialites by night, they rocked the New York’s summer with their two hundred plus vogue-ish guests from all over the world. The roaster included a handful of Swedish industrialists, a generous serving of Wall Street wizards, a pack of Hollywood moguls, and heaps of Brazilian and Eastern European models to balance it off.

Today while Ana’s personal stylist is hurrying up with a curling iron, putting on finishing waves on her luscious auburn hair, Ana answers multiple phone calls, Skypes her employees in Brazil and schedules appointments for the week. An Elite agency’s model Ana is also a successful entrepreneur, the owner of Ana Maria Couture brand, a line of elegant dresses with a cult-like following of devoted customers. She talks about her future plans to set up new retail locations in the United States and Europe and about the success of recently opened stores in Sao Paolo and Rio De Janeiro. Once again she surprises us with her Napoleonic stance and no-holds-barred attitude. It seemed all too familiar.

ana maria coat

When we first met Ana at our New York studio back in 2009, months before her wedding, from the first moments of our conversation we knew she was not an ordinary, run-of-the-mill client. Beautiful, stylish and commanding Ana laid out her ambitious wedding plans in front of us. Impressive as they were, to our question about which wedding planner she was working with Ana replied with absolute certainty and in her distinctive and endearing accent: “I don’t need to use a wedding planner. I plan all my events myself. I like to be in control.”

We started to worry.

modern bride in control

Being in the wedding industry for many years and having worked closely with numerous professional event planners we have learned, that planning a wedding on your own is not a simple task. Planning a wedding of Ana’s size and ambition, a three-day event with over two hundred people flying in from all over the world seemed to us a gargantuan task to be handled by a team of event specialists (we were hoping for someone of a Mindy Weiss or David Tutera statue) , much less by a single woman, the bride to be precise, who is occupied by running a successful business, has time to work on her modeling career, and is known as one of NY’s most active socialites. To our astonishment Ana proved us wrong.

Put it this way – if Ana lived in the Middle Ages, in France, and there was a war going on, she would give Jeanne d’Arc a run for her money. When our crew arrived to the bridal suite at the Waldorf-Astoria on the day of the wedding in June 2009, the place was overrun by beauticians of all sorts, semi-dressed bridesmaids, and scattered family members from Brazil, who made it just in time for the wedding. And in the middle of all this beautiful turmoil was Ana Maria, as always towering above it all, on the phone, giving orders, answering questions, consulting on the outfits and hairdos of her guests & friends, and yes, being in total control. From the perch of her armchair, while being groomed and painted, Ana ran her wedding not unlike a general commands an army on a battlefield. Well, perhaps with few less casualties.

Women, be they clients, friends or family members, all equally trust Ana’s opinion because she does not only sell her clothes to them, she dresses her clients and gives them tips on how to be stylish, elegant, chic and versatile with the outfits. Ana puts her heart in what she does and makes women look and most importantly feel beautiful. Even on the day of the wedding, devoted clients, who became good friends, were calling Ana since the early morning, seeking her advice about the outfits they were planning to wear.

Luxury NY Hotels

Picture this – a bride is being prepped for the ceremony, while answering calls from her guests, advising them what to wear. If Ana was annoyed, she hid it well, handling herself with dignity and zen-like calmness. However, the wedding day anxiety did not escape Ana completely.

And there was a good reason for it – it hasn’t been a smooth ride for Ana Maria and Jon. Despite their whirlwind romantic affair, their original wedding scheduled a year prior was ruined by an absentee groom. “I was jilted like a real-life Carrie Bradshaw,” said Ana in her interview with New York Post on July 20, 2008. All this added to the wedding-related stress, but a case of Moet & Chandon Champagne arrived at the door, and seemingly uplifted the spirits.

Manhattan church marriage

The minute we stepped into the church Ana’s face flushed with relief – Jon was standing right by the altar, confident, happy, and manly in that strapping Nordic way. This time around everything went smoothly and according to Ana’s intricate plans. The ceremony took place at St. Bartholomew’s Church, gothic and gloomy even on a bright summer day bound by rigid geometrical proportions, located just a short walk from the Waldorf Astoria.

Park avenue wedding

As the ceremony commenced in came a flock of color-coordinated bridesmaids, all Brazilian, all wearing Nicole Miller designed dresses, and cleverly matched bouquets. It felt like there was an explosion of color and beauty in otherwise monotonous church atmosphere. All bridesmaids seemed to have perfect features masterfully accentuated by colorful cocktail dresses.

Nicole Miller dress

For the venue Ana picked now-closed legendary Tavern on the Green. The décor matched the overall theme of the event, and the food matched high expectations of the very-well polished and epicure guests. Without any assistance in planning Ana managed to organize a series of treats for the guests, that included a real rock concert with talented and beautiful Vanessa Muller and her band, a series of mini-parties and after-parties, a cruise on a yacht, multiple dinners, and an authentic samba band with carnival-dressed dancers.

“Brazilian Carnival was the highlight of the party,” says Ana reflecting back on her successful wedding. “I was worried for a minute about how Jon’s family will react. I mean, one thing is to go to the carnival in Rio, another is to bring the carnival to your wedding. I am very proud of my country’s traditions, and I thought if Jon fell in love with me, he will fall in love with my culture.”

Brazil wedding band

Most of the guests did not know what to expect and looked surprised when in the middle of the night they were all given Havaiana flip-flops, boas, sunglasses, carnival masks, and all sort of party flavors. People were having fun with the whistles, the masks and colorful feather boas when the DJ suddenly stopped the music and the lights were turned off momentarily just to come back on in a few moments to reveal carnival-dressed dancers and the sounds of real Brazilian Samba played live by NY’s famous Samba Nation band.

When Ana stepped into the circle of dancers, everyone froze to watch. We have never seen Samba to be so graceful as danced by Ana Maria. In her Oscar de la Renta dress Ana looked like a fairytale queen, a swanlike beauty flowing with the rhythms of the music. “Oscar de la Renta was a great choice,” says Ana, “a great combination of class, beauty, and comfort”.

de la renta dress

“When you have two hundred people flying in to see you getting married, the only way you can show your appreciation is to make them have fun” says Ana today while we pose her and Jon for a family portrait by the diner table, to commemorate their two-year anniversary. “A wedding is about creating memories, not only yours, but of everyone who comes to share the day with you. While planning the wedding, I kept in mind all the people I love. I knew the wedding was a success when I saw all the happy faces of my friends and family.“

The dresses, the flowers, the readings in the church, the bridal suite with all the beauticians, and vendors, multiple parties, travel and accommodation arrangements, and much more – all of that was masterminded and thoroughly organized by Ana Maria herself. “Pick great vendors and trust their professionalism” says Ana today. “If they can do their job well there is no need for a wedding planner… although having one is probably a good idea.”

Photo shoot in NYC
More wedding photography samples and wedding cinematography collection from our famous destination weddings, and our local photo studios in New York, Miami and Montreal at http://LuxPhotos.com

Zula Wedding Dress

This gorgeous wedding dress was designed by Zula Khramov, the owner and chief designer of Miami-based Zula Studio.

zula wedding dress

Zula used Venus, the ancient goddess risen from the sea foam as an inspiration for this dress. Sophisticated detail, feminine silhouette, intricate technique and impeccable fit are the trade marks of ZulaStudio, the line that was started in 2006 and immediately drew an interest of the fashion community.

zula photo shoot

This unique dress was featured during the Miami International Fashion Week 2011. We could not find a better location for this photo shoot than Miami beach, especially in the early morning with it’s perfect light, a tad of sunflare, and clean white sand.
beach wedding dress

To get a better idea what ZulaStudio is all about you can view an interview with Zula herself from the Miami Fashion Week here.

More wedding photography samples and wedding cinematography collection from our famous destination weddings, and our local photo studios in New York, Miami and Montreal at http://LuxPhotos.com

It’s Not a Cake, it’s a Bundt!

LUX is in love with It’s a Bundt!

This time let’s talk about style and traditions. Tradition should never go out of style and It’s a Bundt is a great example of making it fashionable.

What is a bundt? If you have to ask this question, you most likely did not grow up in America and the best place for you to start would be the fragment from “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” which It’s a Bundt uses on their website. For those in the know a bundt is the staple of politeness and a friendly neighborly form of saying thank you, welcome and we care.

This season It’s a Bundt introduces their new Wedding Bliss Collection. It has everything a stylish bride could want … From chandelier tiered Bundts to beautifully packaged mini Bonbon Bundies as wedding favors, which could be specially appointed to express your personal message.

The Twist to this eccentric Bundt is exotic flavors with designs that are sleek, stylish and just filled with glamour. I would like to spread the love and give all our friends a chance to taste creations by It’s a Bundt.

1. One Selected winner for LUX Love will receive a 10″ itsabundt’s Signature Heart Shaped Red Velvet Bundt delivered to your door step anywhere in the continental US!

To enter the contest and win you simply have to leave a comment to the blog telling us what makes you love Lux.

2. Two selected winners will receive up to 6 beautifully packaged Favors of Bonbon Bundties’ to share with your wedding party or everyone you want to share your love with.

To enter the contest and win you simply have to become a fan of It’s a Bundt on Facebook. It’s a Bundt then will randomly select two winners.

3. If you go to the itsabundt.com and place an order and mention LUX they will ship 2 Bundts for the price of one to anywhere in the continental US.

So go ahead love LUX and you will Love It’s a Bundt!

More wedding photography samples and wedding cinematography collection from our famous destination weddings, and our local photo studios in New York, Miami and Montreal at http://LuxPhotos.com

Sugar Flower Cake Shop

Q: What’s better than a cake tasting party? A: A cake tasting party at Amy DeGiulio’s Sugar Flower Cake Shop, now in it’s new trendy location in New York’s Fashion District. Amy’s simple business mantra goes like this: “A custom cake ought to taste every bit as delectable as it looks. It ought to abound with freshness—capturing the ripe promise of luck, life, and love.”

best cake nyc

Last Sunday’s sweets selection included:
Studded carrot, topped with cinnamon chai buttercream
Fresh-from-the-ground pumpkin, slathered with maple mousseline, or buttercream touched with NYC rooftop honey
“Mojito” cupcakes—tingling with uprooted peppermint, and tangy lime
Dark red velvet, sweetened with red beet and poured to the brim with mascarpone cream cheese icing
Rich chocolate cake, filled with sea salted caramel buttercream, topped with deep chocolate cream

party cake NY

As you can see these cakes are simply works of art, delightfully photogenic, and do actually taste as good as they look. “They’re crowned with sugar flowers so real that you can see every poppy crinkle. Every velvet rose petal. Every feathery peony. Every vein of an orchid. Even tiny specks of “pollen”!”

wedding cake ny

These tasting are strictly invite-only weekly affairs. For more information and to schedule your private tasting or sweets consultation visit sugarflowercakeshop.com

More wedding photography samples and wedding cinematography collection from our famous destination weddings, and our local photo studios in New York, Miami and Montreal at http://LuxPhotos.com

Lux Tips: Wedding Photography and Makeup

As a wedding photographer I always have to make sure that my clients trust me. This trust allows me to take some stress off the bride, make her feel comfortable around me and be natural in front of my camera. I however noticed, that once this level is reached, I stop being just a photographer and become a friend, which puts an additional responsibility on me. A lot of the times I find myself bewildered by the things my brides entrust to me and feel completely incompetent to give an opinion. Hair, makeup, dresses, veils are brought in front of me for evaluation. I love you my dear ladies for this precious gift of trust!

To be better prepared for the upcoming weddings and most importantly to be a better friend to my brides, I am starting the series of posts about all the questions I did not have an answer to. The first topic is:


Ask Your Photographer About Makeup


Arbonne makeup

Steadily moving towards my fast-approaching big 30 I never spent time learning about makeup and skincare products. “One should never go to bed with makeup on” is the only rule I knew about healthy skin treatment and the rule I managed to neglect systematically. There was absolutely nobody to put me to shame until I met Arlene Walter, an advocate of healthy living, speaker and skincare consultant working for Arbonne, a Swiss-technology-based line of organic makeup.

Arlene together with Kathleen Donneys (bridal makeup specialist) came to our Miami studio for a photoshoot, which turned out to be quite educational for me. Impressed by everything I learned, I thought it would be great to share some tips with other women, and especially the brides who simply have to look good for their big day.

This is what I learned:

1. Once again, you cannot go to bed with your makeup on, if you want to have healthy skin. This is what any beautician would tell you. If you ask me, there is always a way to go around this. Organic foundations are lighter and contain no fats, toxins or chemicals. The primer we used for the photoshoot protects the skin and the foundation allows your skin to breathe and nourishes it at the same time. Obviously I had to test the product before blogging about it and went to bed with my makeup on. Not only the foundation stayed flawless throughout the night, it made my skin very smooth in the morning after I washed it off. Those of you who saw me at the Soho Beach House last Sunday know this: I intentionally slept with my foundation on the night before!

2. Healthy skin comes from healthy habits. To look good on your wedding day, start preparing in advance. As a photographer I say: be habitually healthy at least for five days before your wedding day, this should do it.

3. “Good” is not always expensive. Brand makeup contains high levels of chemicals to insure longer product shelf-life. Arbonne is Vegan-certified, which means it only contains natural ingredients and it hasn’t been tested on rabbits. (I would actually love to know how does one go about testing lipsticks and blushes on rabbits – they are just too fluffy!)

Lux presents Arbonne makeup

Overall I find Arbonne makeup to be perfect for the wedding day. It allows you to create a truly natural and pure look that goes so well with the symbolism of the white dress and at the same time leaves your skin smooth and nourished after you take it off.

I am not here today to make you throw your Chanel down the drain, I am simply sharing what I learned from my friend Arlene, who at her fifties has the most amazing smooth and healthy looking skin – the results that could not be attained over one night.

For you I have a wonderful surprise. You get a chance to win Arbonne eye shadow we used on our model during the photoshoot. Just leave a comment saying why you want to win, what else you would like to know about the makeup, or any interesting though that pumped into your mind after reading the post. (Don’t forget to mention which one of the three colors you like: Snow, Petal or Lilac) I will select the most interesting comment and send the prize to the lucky winner.

Lux for Arbonne
More wedding photography samples and wedding cinematography collection from our famous destination weddings, and our local photo studios in New York, Miami and Montreal at http://LuxPhotos.com

Frequently Asked Questions

These are the questions that brides ask Lux all the time, so we decided to take a minute and put together a quick go-to guide, the frequently asked questions about our wedding photo and video coverage:

Q: Can I get a consultation?

A: Absolutely! A free personal photography consultation is the best way to learn about our unique approach to wedding photography and to view our extensive portfolio. Please call us at (888) 428-2040 or complete an appointment form on our Contact page, and we’ll be in touch within one business day.

Q: How would you describe your style of photography?

A: We use a natural, photo-journalistic shooting style that does not leave anything out. We document your story as it unfolds, capturing all the precious moments: quiet times, stunning details, unique personalities. We don’t run the show, we just shoot it. We don’t call the shots, we just capture them. You won’t ever find us harassing your guests to pose for cliché table shots or standard “say cheese!” photographs. We capture the moments rather than the poses.

Espace wedding detail

We get the classic favorites in a cool way. We even make “formal” family portraits fun. That means no stiff necks or fake smiles to look at in your living room for years to come. We are different. We might have you chasing taxicabs in your formalwear, or splashing puddles in Central Park to get that great shot that gets people talking. No matter what the story is, the results are utterly fresh, smart and fabulous.

Q: What happens after the wedding?

A: By the time you say “jeez Honey, our honeymoon sure went by fast!” your hardcover photo proof book will be waiting for you in your mailbox. Once you’ve chosen your favorite photos and sent in your personalized order form, our team of photo editors and book designers will start creating your albums. Throughout this process you will be in touch with our in-house album designer who will customize each wedding album to your specific needs. These exquisite albums will contain all the important details of your wedding story. You make the stories and we simply record and present them in a meaningful and elegant way. We promise to take care of you every step of the way – from the first moment you meet with us to discuss your wedding to the moment we apply the finial touches on your handcrafted albums.

Iris and Candice

Q: Can you digitally retouch my photos?

A: Sure thing! We want you to be thrilled with every part of your story – that’s why we offer digital retouching as an integral part of our photography services. Our professional photo-editors focus on making sure nothing distracts you from the magic. Whether it’s helping you look your best or creating a style for your photos that’s as unique as you are, we’re always working to create wedding photos you love.

All retouching is done to clone copies of your photographs, so the original files will always remain untouched. Once the retouching work is complete, you can have as many prints as you want, and your digital negatives will include copies of both the original and retouched photos.

Q: Can I have a color photo printed in black and white?

A: Yes – any color photograph can be printed in black and white. Our album designers have a great eye and can help suggest which pictures look better in black and white. Ultimately, you have total control over the printing style of your wedding photos.

Q: How many photographs will I have at the end of the wedding?

A: We normally guarantee a minimum of 500+ images from your wedding day that will be presented to you in their original format on a disk.

Q: Do I get to keep my negatives?

A: Yes! We shoot everything in high-quality, professional digital format. Along with your proofs, all of our packages include a CD of the original high-resolution digital negatives of your photos.

Joe and Candice shoot

Q: Do you do bridal and engagement portraits?

A: Yes. Along with our famous event coverage we offer bridal and engagement portrait sessions, whether casual or in-studio, as well as engagement party and rehearsal dinner coverage. These sessions are included as part of some of our packages, or they can be purchased as separate options.

Q: What are your rates?
A: Our photographic coverage starts at $4900 and includes a full day coverage by our lead photographer.

Q: How does booking and payment work?

A: A deposit of half of the coverage fee, paid by check, credit card or cash, is required to hold your event date. The balance of the coverage fee is due one week prior to the day of the event. You can contact us anytime with any questions, requests, or concerns.

Q: Do you offer video coverage?

A: Yes! We are proud to employ a very impressive roaster of professionally trained directors of photography, video editors, and special effects whiz kids. Our video works have won numerous industry awards – we do it professionally – not your average weekend warriors. We offer a full array of event video coverage, ranging from single camera SD-format to multiple-camera High-Definition format to DSLR cameras, with special lights, hidden mikes, digital effects and a few other professional tricks up our sleeves. Our video coverage starts at $3900.

Q: What is included in the Basic Photography package?

A: We are known to be an extremely generous wedding photography studio – our clients get a lot for their buck. Usually, you get what you pay for – as the saying goes. With us, however, you get what you pay for, and more. A lot more. Our Core Coverage includes 8 hours of photographic coverage in as many locations as you like. We deliver original high-resolution digital negatives on a disk. You and your friends and family will also benefit from our secure online gallery, as well as from our custom album design creation by qualified designers.

Manhattan rooftop wedding

Q: Why hire a professional photographer?

A: When you think about the cost of hiring a professional photographer, remember that this cost not only covers the event coverage but also all of the time we will be spending on individual portraits of you, your parents, extended family and yours friends. Your wedding day will be one of the most important days of your life, make sure you choose a team of photographers who can handle all that your special day has to offer! A professional photographer will be timely – arriving at your wedding promptly, and getting the results to you quickly. The right equipment for capturing all the magic plays an important role as well. Having attended many events, an experienced photographer is comfortable around your guests and knows exactly what to do and where to go. And a professional is used to working with individuals, couples, and groups alike – our photographers are people-friendly.

Q: How do we arrange for a consultation with you to view your work in person and to discuss our specific wedding needs, and what is covered during a consultation?

A: We offer a no-obligation, personal consultation for each couple who is considering us for their wedding photography. Please call and we will arrange a meeting at a time and place of your convenience. During the consultation, you will be able to view samples of our work, including several assembled wedding albums showing start-to-end coverage of weddings we have previously photographed, proof book samples, and a sample of our web gallery. We will spend some time discussing your specific wedding plans, after which you should be able to tell whether or not what we at Lux have to offer is what you are indeed looking for. We will go over our price list and packaging options, answering any questions you might have about choosing the right package for your specific needs.

We realize that most couples wish to consult with more than one wedding photographer before making their final decision. We are confident that if you are pleased with our work, our prices, and our personalities, you will give us a strong consideration in your final decision.

Our New York studio is in SoHo on Broadway and Grand. 446 Broadway, 3rd Floor
To schedule you consultation today please call 888 428 2040 or email info@luxphotos.com

PS: the images in this post are from a wonderful multi-traditional wedding of Candice and Joseph that we photographed in the summer of ’10 at Espace in New York. The event was meticulously organized by Iris Rafaeli, the owner of all-inclusive event planning company Maison Lublu. Her company specializes in event and wedding planning, as well as interior design and home staging. We also shot the video that can be seen here: http://luxphotostudios.com/2010/12/candice-joseph-wedding-at-espace/

More wedding photography samples and wedding cinematography collection from our famous destination weddings, and our local photo studios in New York, Miami and Montreal at http://LuxPhotos.com

Brides Choice Award

I guess the congratulations are in order. Lux Photo Studios is proud to announce that we won the Bride’s Choice Awards 2011 (again!) from WeddingWire and Martha Stewart’s Weddings! This means we are in the top 5 percent of Wedding Pros nationwide. I know I know.. it’s not very modest to speak of your own success but, considering how many clients reviews we received through the Wedding Wire and through Martha Stewart Weddings, we figured that we will let our clients speak of their experiences with Lux. To see some more detailed reviews and well-deserved praise see a special page on our website: http://luxphotos.com/praise/

While we are on the subject of wedding awards and all sorts of photography related accolades here is another wedding planning website called MomentVille.com who thinks that we are hot. This is what they awarded us: “Lux Photo Studios is Named to the 2011 Wedding Professional Hot List“.

More wedding photography samples and wedding cinematography collection from our famous destination weddings, and our local photo studios in New York, Miami and Montreal at http://LuxPhotos.com