Lara's Wonderland Photo Shoot

A few weeks ago I photographed Lara for her Sweet 16 on Saturday, but this was no ordinary photo shoot...it was full of wonder! Lara wanted to play off the Alice in Wonderland theme and it was an awesome day filled with amazing props. Her mom truly outdid herself with all the props.

I had so much fun and I have to say it was one of my favorite photoshoots! As I went through my photos at home, I had so many favorites. Lara looked gorgeous and she was such a natural in front of the camera.

Here is a small sneak peak. Lara wants to surprise her friends at her party in January so you'll have to wait until then to see more. Enjoy!

Shooting a Music Video!

Last week was my first music video...photographing it, that is!

The band headed to the Everglades and I got some sick photos of the sun setting behind them. I was really happy with the way they turned out. Then we headed to Downtown Fort Lauderdale and captured some of the skyline. Here are just a few I wanted to share with you.

It was definitely a first for me, but it was lots of fun! Looking forward to more exciting projects now that I'm part of the Photo Ministry at Church by the Glades. I love that I can use photography to serve Him in a creative way!

Giving thanks...

** I know it's been a while since I've posted! My apologies..I've just been swamped between work, photoshoots and school...not to mention chasing after a little one at home. Here is blog I should have posted back in October.

Last month, we took our little guy to the Pumpkin Patch and it brought back so many memories from when we went there last year. Back then, he was a tiny little thing and couldn't even hold himself up. This year, he was running all over the place, picking up pumpkins and playing with the hay.

The Chandler Family also joined us and we got some fun, sweet picks of both our kids playing among the orange sea of pumpkins.

Fall is a special time of the year for our family. My hubby and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary in October and there is just so much to be thankful for. We took lots of photos of all the fun festivities in the next few months: Our trip to D.C., Thanksgiving and then it'll be Christmas before we know it. No one ever told me how fast time flew by after becoming a mom.

I will treasure these memories forever and if my memory ever fails me, I'm glad I'll have these photos to look back on.

Danielle & Neil 10.9.10

More than 39.000 people got married on 10.10.10, but my brides are different from the rest!

Danielle and Neil tied the knot on Oct. 9 at Old School Square in Delray Beach. The weather couldn't have been more beautiful for these two lovebirds and it was perfect for their outdoor wedding.

The reception was held inside the gym and the details were unbelievable. This DIY Bride worked tirelessly on the cake, fans and favors and her efforts really paid off. The lighting was gorgeous as it came through the glass windows onto the gym floor.

I was so honored to capture their wedding day, alongside my good friend Liz Galan and Emily Toalson. At only 16 years of age, Emily has some amazing potential and she was excited to shoot her first wedding.

Congrats on your special day, Mr. & Mrs. Catapano!

Cavalcanti Family: Portraits

It's been a while folks! So sorry I haven't written in a few days. I just recently started blogging and it's a hard to keep up with it at times.

This weekend was very eventful and I just haven't had any time to blog until now. This weekend I volunteered at my church for a very fun (and messy!) creative piece. Another girl and I were tasked with painting our lead worship singer as he sang "New Creation." The message was really powerful and I hope that it touched someone in someway. Here is a couple of shots my hubby took (I'm on the right).

This weekend was also fun because I got to photograph a lovely family at the beach. The Cavalcantis came to visit from Indiana and asked if I could take some family portraits. I was super excited and the weather couldn't have been more gorgeous! All the ladies were decked out with beautiful accessories which Jen actually sells here. This fashionable mom also makes the cutest onesies and tutus, which are available here. The boys looked handsome too, and both kids were so well behaved.

Erick and Jen, thank you so much for letting me capture your beautiful family. You guys were such a joy to photograph. Here are some of my favs!

Between all of these activities, I even had a chance to tile part of our master bathroom. I don't know what got into me, but I'll save that for another post =) Tiling and painting were lots of fun this weekend, I think I'll stick to photography.

Blessed beyond words...

I am so excited to be leading the Photo Ministry at my church. I was asked a few weeks ago if I'd be interested and I was both humbled and honored that they saw potential in me to lead an amazing team of creative folks. It's a fairly new ministry, and I know we'll learn from one another. I'll be scheduling photographers to shoot every weekend and offer constructive criticism.

I definitely think God is using this a way to tell me to keep following my dreams and at the same time use my talents as another way to praise Him.

Here is just a taste of some I shot a few weeks back. Church by

the Glades has such an amazing worship team!

I feel truly blessed to get to glorify God while getting to do something that I love and that I'm passionate about.

Taskeen + Noel

"Found you there, tucked away like a secret letter in smiles of new days and bright thoughts." - Excerpt from True Love by Noel Pagany

Taskeen and Noel are such a sweet couple. Noel is a published poet and he can make any girl swoon with his words alone. Taskeen is a sweetheart and she looked amazing in all of her saris the day of the wedding. She was just glowing.

All of their traditions made for a beautiful and colorful weekend event. I loved photographing every single minute of it. Congrats to both of you and wish you all the best on your new life together in Chicago. Thank you for letting me be part of your special day.

Here is a video slideshow. Enjoy!

Makeup and Hair by: Sumaiya Waheed

Decor by: Suhaag Garden, Inc.

Hotel: Wyndham Garden Hotel in Boca Raton, Florida

Cake by: Lil Bit Cakes

Yogurtland: Pistachio + Photography

When I first started watching video entries for the opportunity of joining Jasmine Start for an Epic Adventure, I never thought I'd find someone who loved her as much as I did and was practically my neighbor! In my mind, I was J*'s biggest fan in South Florida. Clearly, I was wrong. Ashley Sellers' entry was cute, quirky and, in my eyes, much better than mine. When the minute video was up, I knew I'd like her.

I decided to shoot her a message on FB. I figured we shared J* in common, so why not? Turns out the world is much smaller than I thought. We know a few of the same people and we didn't even know it and since then we developed a cyber-friendship.

We decided to meet up at Yogurtland last night and I had no doubt that we would have plenty to talk about! We talked about our faith, photography, and Jasmine Star (of course!) while enjoying our cups of non-fat pistachio. Before we knew it, two hours had passed and plans are already in the works to watch the CreativeLive courses together. That should be fun!

I don't believe in coincidences and our paths definitely crossed for a reason. Maybe it's just to encourage one another's photography. Whatever it is, I'm glad I submitted a video because although I wasn't chosen, I'm happy to say I made a new friend. All thanks to J*.

Mr. & Mrs. ~ The Anonymous Couple

When I first decided to do photography, I purchased a D70s and went down to Vizcaya in Miami. I happened to run into a beautiful couple who were having their photographs taken and I figured I'd take a few shots myself.

I'm sad to say I never got their names, but I did get some fabulous shots. I only wish I could have found a way to share these with them. I guess I was too chicken to ask. Here I am, don't really know how to work my camera and yes, I dropped my lens. I about died right then and there. Who was I to offer my photos when obviously they were already going to get amazing photos from their photographer?? It's been almost 4 years since I took these, but they still make me smile. In any case, I thank them for allowing me to capture their love. They really inspired me to keep at it.

I wish the Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. all the best, wherever they might be.

Jasmine Star & CreativeLIVE

I know it sounds cheesy, but Jasmine Star changed by life..and she doesn't even know it! Although, I know she gets that a lot. Everyone that follows her work becomes an immediate fan. I just love her spunk and her photos are to die for.

Just a few weeks ago, I attempted to be part of her CreativeLIVE workshop. I've been wanting to meet her for a long time and when the opportunity finally arose, I couldn't say no. I had to AT LEAST try. Photographers all over the world submitted videos to be one of the lucky six to be chosen to join her in Seattle.

Needless to say, I didn't win. Maybe it's because I didn't have a sexy British accent like Sachin Khona. Man! I should have used my Argentinean accent. I don't think it's sexy, but that's what people tell me. She did pick some great photographers and I'm happy for them. Of course, I would have loved to have been in their shoes, but thanks to CreativeLIVE, I'm able to watch the videos at home.

I've only been able to watch bits and pieces but I've already learned so much. Because I'm on the east coast, the times don't really work out for me. I'm either at work or sleeping. After the first night, they were re-airing the show and I set my alarm for 2:45 a.m. Just picture me in bed, watching the stream on my iPhone, under the covers with my headphones. Yup, no lie. My hubby thought I was nuts of course and I'll admit, maybe it was a little over the top. But that's how much I admire her and she just gives me such a jumpstart when it comes to photography - like a pair of jumper cables.

I just want to learn. Get out there. Shoot.

So today, when I couldn't watch the live feed from work, I asked my hubby to watch it for me and let me know what happened. Now, let me just say, I talk about Jasmine all time but he didn't get it until today. After watching her, he immediately told me how good it was and that I needed to buy the courses. How lucky am I? I wouldn't have bought it without his blessing and here he was ordering me to get it. Why? Because he knows how much I love photography; how much I love Jasmine; and he knew how much I'd get out of it in the end. He's my rock and biggest fan. My personal JD :D

For those of you don't know Jasmine, you must be wondering what exactly makes her so special. There are plenty of other super talented photographers but I just connected with her. Maybe it was the fact that we both share the same faith. Or that both got married in 2005. Or that we both started photographing in 2006. Or the fact that we both shoot with our husbands. She's Puerto Rican. Well, I'm married to a Puerto Rican. That counts, right?

Whatever it was, I've found her to be inspiring and while I haven't had the same success as her in the past 4 years, I won't give up. I plan to attend one of her workshops someday and I can't wait to one day thank her in person for changing my outlook on photography.

Here is my video entry. It wasn't a winner, but I hope it makes you laugh.

Bride. Wife. Mom. Photographer.

Hello world! We may be total strangers now but I hope that through this blog, we'll learn new things together, develop relationships and get to know each other a little better.

Those closest to me call me Mavi - short for Maria Victoria. A little about me? I'm a Christ-follower, a dedicated wife, a loving mom, a loyal friend, and a writer... but through all these milestones I've always considered myself a photographer at heart.

I started my professional journey in photography in September 2006 with the help of my husband, who isn't just my partner in life but in business too (I hate calling him my assistant!). We were newlyweds at the time and after having a great experience with our personal wedding photographer, Jamie May, I decided to give photography a shot (pun intended!). My hubby pushes me to do better and I love him for that. I photograph part-time since I have a full-time job as a writer and media relations coordinator and in June 2009, we had our first baby boy, Luca! To say the least, I've had my hands full, but I decided to create this blog and share some of my photos with the world.

I didn't major in photography but I took photography classes along the way while getting my bachelors in journalism. I've learned to develop my style on my own and I'm proud of that. I still have lots to learn but I have a huge desire and I like to think that comes across in my photos.

I shoot pretty much everything but I absolutely love to shoot weddings and families. There is just something about seeing a bride radiate as she walks down the aisle and her groom waiting for her. It's a huge honor for me to also capture those special moments when a couple grows as a family. Having a child of my own, I get great pleasure if making little ones laugh and just snapping those real moments.

I'm located in South Florida but am open to travel for shoots. Please feel free to email me any questions at mavi@photosbymavi.com. You can also follow me on Twitter and on Facebook.

So whether you share a passion for photography or are looking for a photographer to capture your special day, thank you for stopping by. Photos to come soon. Promise.

P.S. I want to thank my friend, Liz, for taking this photo. She's got great talent and we have so much fun photographing together. I'm all about learning and sharing and I'm so glad I get to do that with her!