Blog

Diana Senatore 9/2/13 Diana Senatore 9/2/13

On Labor Day...

This Labor Day is completely different from any other one I've known. Typically, I would be with family and friends, eating delicious food and soaking up rays. This Labor Day, I am doing loads of miniature laundry, and prepping the nursery for a baby! Did I mention we moved last week? Although the move was just five minutes away, we still have many boxes to unpack... all of which have been put on hold until the nursery is complete. Tomorrow, I will be 37 weeks (full term!) and the baby can really come at any time! We are so thrilled, but at the same time, we are racing against the clock- trying to get our house together so when the baby comes we can focus 100% on her. I thought it being Labor Day would be the perfect time to announce that I am officially on maternity leave and so the blog and Facebook will slow down for a little while and also to share my beautiful maternity photographs with you. My amazingly talented friend, Laura, from LuRey Photography took all of the photographs below. I feel super lucky, because typically she only photographs weddings... somehow I convinced her to take time out of her busy wedding season to get some shots of my husband and I before the baby comes. Please take a moment to visit LuRey Photography on the web, and on Facebook- they are absolutely one of the most talented wedding photographers around!

Although I will be on maternity leave, I will be responding to email and am available for client meetings via Skype, so don't hesitate to reach out to me. If I don't get back to you in a couple of days... I may be at the hospital!! Ekk! I will start shooting again in November and cannot wait! I miss it so much! Hope you are having a fabulous Labor Day.

Diana Senatore 6/26/13 Diana Senatore 6/26/13

One year ago...

Today is a happy, happy day at Styled Pink! One year ago, we registered our business and made it official. Prior to this, photography was a hobby- but I wanted it to be more. So last year, with my husband by my side- we decided to register Styled Pink and turn it from a hobby into a profession. There were lots of things to learn about (that weren't always fun) like paying New Jersey sales tax, buying insurance, and lots of accounting. We couldn't be happier one year later! We've met so many wonderful clients (some of which have turned into good friends) and helped capture special times in our clients' lives. This coming year will be an interesting one! We'll start off by welcoming a baby in the fall! During this time, we're going to focus on our 2014 brides and booking shoots in between changing diapers and making bottles. We plan on getting back into shooting again in November (just in time for the holidays)- and at that time we'll be back to business as usual. We plan on focusing on weddings, engagements, family and children shoots.

Thank you so much to everyone who has made this first year so amazing! I'm so excited to see how Styled Pink will grow and all of the wonderful people we will meet this year! I think tonight I'll pour myself a fancy glass of apple cider to celebrate!

Diana Senatore 5/21/13 Diana Senatore 5/21/13

Pink or Blue??

Let me start by saying, when I got married- there was no Pinterest! So when it came time for our gender reveal party, I started pinning everything! On a Thursday morning, my husband and I went for our 20-week ultrasound. The ultrasound technician put a piece of paper with the gender in a sealed envelope. A week prior, I bought two pairs of mini Converse- one pink and one blue and dropped them off to my neighbor. Only TWENTY FOUR short hours until I would know ... pink or blue. I dropped off the super secret envelope to my trusty neighbor and she wrapped the appropriate pair of Converse. Here are the pictures below that tell a beautiful story about how we got to know the gender of our sweet baby alongside our family and friends. We can't wait for the best part of all... in September when we meet the cutie!

It's a GIRL!

Diana Senatore 12/30/12 Diana Senatore 12/30/12

2012 Behind the Scenes

2012 has been a wonderful year for me. Styled Pink was born, it was years in the making and I'm so happy that it's really happening and official! I have shot so many wonderful families this year and was lucky to witness nuptials of 20+ couples behind the camera this year. I have met so many people that have become close friends and have learned so much. I cannot wait to see what 2013 brings. Tomorrow I'll be writing my goals for the year. In the meantime, here are some behind the scenes shots of 2012.

Shooting on a Philadelphia rooftop was a highlight of this year... and a little scary!

Where's Waldo... I mean Diana

Diana Senatore 12/13/12 Diana Senatore 12/13/12

Five tips for amazing Christmas photographs

Let's face it, the holiday season is hands down, the best ever! So we've gotta capture it! Read below for five tips for amazing Christmas photographs.

1- Choose a versatile location.. This season I chose to hold holiday mini sessions at Smithville Mansion. There are so many different textures and backgrounds, I could shoot there all day!

2. BYOF (bring your own flair) We came prepared with tinsel, ornaments, and Christmas lights.

3. Get sweet. It's cold outside! If you have a cutie in need of some bribing- a candy cane always helps ;)

4. Santa hats. It's okay to get silly for a couple of shots in a santa hat!

5. Sneak in a couple of non-holiday pictures. So the shots you took in your Santa hats probably won't make the cut for a canvas on the wall. Make sure you get a couple of shots sans decorations.

Diana Senatore 10/3/12 Diana Senatore 10/3/12

Honeymoon Problem

I'm sure lots of honeymooners have this problem- We sure did. You are on your honeymoon, you are taking pictures of your spouse, they are taking pictures of you, and of course you get those cute closeups of your faces smushed together...but that's about it... unless you're asking the bartender (which is not my husband's style).

No tripod, no third person to take a picture- What's a gal to do? MAKE a tripod! While I was creating a makeshift tripod, my husband (sneakily) took some pictures of me with his iPad. When I saw them- I couldn't stop laughing.

Here's the step-by-step.

1.) Decide where you want to set up your camera to take an awesome picture with an even more awesome background. 2.) Find tall and sturdy furniture and stack. 3.) Pray that your camera doesn't fall over and set your camera timer.

Disclaimer: No cameras were hurt in the making. Try at your own risk!

Dragging/stacking/inspecting my tripod

The framable picture we took with the tripod!

Another makeshift tripod at our second hotel- and the result!

Diana Senatore 9/20/12 Diana Senatore 9/20/12

Honeymoon in Costa Rica

This summer was by far one of the most memorable. One reason being our two-year-in-the-making... honeymoon. Only two short years later, we had a destination in mind and enough money to get there ;) We booked this trip based on the recommendations of friends and the hotel based on all of the fabulous reviews from TripAdvisor. Our journey started at the Newark Airport leading us to the Liberia Airport in Costa Rica. After a THREE AND A HALF HOUR drive- we arrived at the base of the Arenal Volcano at the Arenal Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens. Just a total of eight and a half hours of traveling, no big deal. It was worth every moment! I will never stay at another hotel that will live up to this one. The staff was amazing and the atmosphere was more than I could have imagined. We went during the rainy season, so it was cloudy most days and in the middle at night it would downpour so loud you would wake up and maybe be a little scared...or just me. After nearly a week by the volcano, we visited the gulf of Papagayo for a couple of days. There were amazing sunsets and gorgeous flora. Costa Rica holds a special place in my heart and I cannot wait to go back one day <3