Modern 70’s bridal inspiration
July 1, 2019 by Afrik Armando in Stories 0 Comments

Modern 70’s Wedding Dream with a Wild Floral Handbag As I was thinking about the essence of summer – the joyfulness you feel when the summer air comes to a peak, the pure satisfaction of an ice cold fizzy drink, and the radiance that the sun gives off – I began to dream up a shoot that would embody the freedom that summer seems to provide. Inspired by the colorful murals at Asbury Park, a small but bustling beach town, I pulled in tones of teal blue, bright oranges, yellows, and pinks. Florals that felt wild and free, with 70s touches, brought the shoot to life. This styled shoot was, ultimately, an experiment in capturing that feeling of summer we always want to hold on to. Then, the magic happened – and the idea of a floral bridal handbag was born. For the most carefree summer bride, a floral bouquet that can double as a handbag stands as a reminder that you can be creative in any way you’d like. It’s a symbol of independence and being able to stand on your own, with everything that you may need at your fingertips. It’s a creative gesture, with the wild beauty […]

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6 tips to elevate your portraits
April 15, 2019 by Afrik Armando in Stories 0 Comments

The tricky thing about creating a guide to looking your best in photos is that everyone’s unique and what works for one person might not for another, nevertheless here are a few fundamentals which I believe everyone could find essential. More to this I created this guide specifically for guys but again, I think these basic principles apply to everyone. Side note, don’t worry ladies, I’ve got something in the works for you. Compilation of posing videos CONFIDENCE is everything * I often hear people say things like “I’m not photogenic” but I believe that what makes you photogenic is your uniqueness. Do you realize that there is not you, there has never been another you and there will NEVER be another YOU. SMIZE like Tyra * I got this one from America’s next top model, Tyra Banks always says “smile with your eyes” Show some CHIN * The underlining idea here is emphasizing your jawline, but this works differently for everyone. For some a slight 45 degree angle and for others chin forward and down. Work that POSTURE * No slouching friends Gotta get them angles * Standing at a slight angle to the camera always looks more flattering […]

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The beautiful simplicity of now | Home Lifestyle session | Rick + Paola
March 11, 2019 by Afrik Armando in Engagement, Stories 0 Comments

Song to listen to while reading; Agnes Abel – September song We live in one of the most beautiful time periods in human history. Now, with a single finger tap, a world of possibilities is opened up, however, this rose also has its thorns, more and more we tend to live very curated lives which miss the whole essence of existence. Emphasis is placed on appearance rather than functionality. It’s all about the “instagramable” photo. And of course, it’ll be remiss of me to preach against this, for I specialize in making your memories look great but at the same time, what’s important is that I capture the soul of your day. When we started talking about our pre-wedding/lifestyle shoot with Rick & Paola, they didn’t just want “pretty photos” they wanted photos which told their story. Two young friends who fell deeply in love while working at Rouge Restaurant, currently in pursuit of their grande life dreams and love spending time cooking and watching Friends at their fun downtown space with a killer of the city. I must also tell you about the specialty snack Rick made which left an impression on my taste buds, they called it Chippies, […]

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3 Benefits to good posture
February 27, 2019 by Afrik Armando in Stories 0 Comments

One of the most memorable things about my childhood was growing up with a benevolent dictator in the house. My mom gave us no breathing room, “ Don’t eat with your mouth open, don’t chew gum, don’t talk when adults are talking, flush after yourself, Wash your hands “ etc. Like an annoying prophet, she established the never-ending commandments and if you dared disobey, not only would you get a good spanking, she’d nag your ears off. The main thing her and I always had issues with was posture, I can’t even remember how many times she told me to stop slouching, and sit up. As annoying as those reminders were, they’ve served me well through the years. I recently read an article which went into depth on this topic, but here are three of my favorite benefits which I’ve personally experienced; * Improved Mood * Improved memory and learning * Makes you look more confident and powerful And a bonus when it comes to taking pictures is it makes you look taller & slimmer, “Some poor posture positions cause your belly to protrude, giving you a “beer belly” profile. And slumping over makes you appear shorter than you are. […]

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La Vie avec toi | In home session

In this age of social media where we present curated versions of our lives, it’s getting more difficult to be authentic, but I love in home sessions because you really see what’s behind closed doors. And to be honest, I’m honored when people get vulnerable, I know we don’t always feel like smiling, we fight, we cry and we sometimes feel sad. But that’s ok because life is not about being perfect, it’s about the process, it’s about the journey and the stories we’ll be able to tell from our experiences. I’m truly grateful for these two, for opening their door and sharing a piece of their life with me. The laughs, the love, the boredom, and the berries, thanks friends.      

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