Hey Miki

This past weekend I had a photo shoot with the wonderful, cool and totally fun Miki. My theme for the photo shoot was music.

Just like me Music is very important to Miki. We had her iphone playing through out the session. What made me smile that day besides Miki's amazing character was her taste in music...it truly made my day and i'll explain why.

Anyone who knows me knows I have a brother. Now my brother, like Miki, is really cool, chill and silly when necessary. My brother was with me to assist on the shoot and was shocked to hear Mr. Bungle coming out of the speakers. Do you know who Mr. Bungle is? I didn't until my brother showed me years ago and we were both shocked to see that Miki was a big fan. Through out the entire session Carlos was singing along to all of Miki's music. Just like Carlos, Miki's tastes in music is very eclectic. I think I captured that in the photos.

Here is a slideshow I did of some of my favorite photos from that day (please excuse the brightness on some of the photos..something went weird exporting the slideshow)

Miki thank you for being so cool to work with! You made my brother smile and thats not easily done. Hope to work with you again in the future.

"oh miki your so fine, your so fine you blow my mind!"

Take a peek at Miki's blog

Become a fan of Maria Silva Photography on Facebook to see all the photos in the slideshow

Happy Holidays!

Wishing everyone the best on this Holiday Season! xo-Maria

Johnny

Awhile ago, on a warmer day, I had photographed Lisa and her two boys Nick and Johnny. I had a lot of fun photographing them and we got some great photographs out of that session. This time around Lisa came for family Christmas photos and to photograph Johnny on his own. I can remember how little Johnny was and how he could barely sit up on his own with out the assistance of his brother holding him or a pillow properly holding him up. This time around I couldn't keep up with Johnny, who was now crawling around at such a speed, chasing after his brother and Christmas ornaments rolling around the floor.

Here are just a few of my favorite shots of Johnny from the session. Lets just say Johnny was very happy to be out of the Santa suit. He did make very cute Santa.

Fran Healy of Travis

Earlier this year I was grateful to get a photo pass to photograph the band Travis at Webster Hall. Earlier this month I yet again had the opportunity to photograph the band performing at Joe's Pub in NYC. This show was a little more low key. It was an acoustic set with just the lead singer Fran Healy and the lead guitarist Andy Dunlop performing. It was real intimate night with great music and great stories.

Im a huge fan of the band and photographing them twice has just been so wonderful. Doing so made me feel like my idol Linda McCartney. Here are just a few of my favorite shots from that night.

Some of my other photographs I took of the band are on my site www.mariasilvaphoto.com under the chaos and creation gallery.

Here I also share with you the song and music video that made me fall in love with them. I love all of their music. Each song they record absolutely make my heart sing. I could go on and on and on about how much I love Travis, but I would be here forever. Instead I'll leave you to enjoy some photos and a great song.

Felix and Elizabeth

Its hard to find the words to describe what love is. What I do know or can say about love is that Felix and Eli are a great example of what LOVE is and should be.

I photographed this wedding towards the end of October. Although the weather was rainy and cold, it did nothing to dampen or ruin what was a beautiful wedding (love has that kind of power). Lots of friends and family were there to celebrate the great love that Felix and Elizabeth have for each other.

These are just a few of my favorite shots. To see more become a fan on Facebook.

Maria Silva Photography

Congratulations to the both of you! Wishing you guys the best in life!

And many thanks for letting me be a part of the celebration!

Something Pretty

Often people will look at my photographs and ask me what kind of camera do I use? Well I tell them what I shoot with and mostly I get a blank stare from them. The only people who don't stare blankly at me are other photographers because they know what planet I come from.

What usually comes next in a line of questions and comments is them comparing their point and shoot camera photos to my DSLR photographs. They say they can't get great photographs like that on a point and shoot, and I assure them that they can as long as you know how to use your camera properly. You can get some amazing shots with point and shoot cameras, and you can get bad photos with DSLR cameras.

The difference between photographs from a point and shoot to a DSLR camera isn't the cameras, its the person behind them. Im hoping I haven't confused. I tend to do that. You can get some great shots from a point and shoot, SLR, DSLR, and even camera phones. You just have to know how to use them.

So here Im posting a very pretty picture I took on my point and shoot. I carry this around with me all the time...to capture fun moments like family gatherings or random things I see on the street or when walking around. This was taken at work of a flower that I some how haven't killed with lack of watering.

I'll be posting more point and shoot shots in the future for everyone to enjoy.

Become a fan on facebook to see more photographs. Maria Silva Photography

Happy Halloween!

Trick or Treat! Give me something good to eat...

The fun of dressing up, giving out candy, getting candy, seeing all the fun costumes, and the scared spooky feeling, is what makes this holiday a favorite amongst many.

Here is my little niece, Valentina, dressed up like a geisha. Can't wait till next year to see what she'll be for Halloween. Lets hope she gets lots of candy...to help fill my belly.

Enjoy the Holiday!

Cooking from the Heart

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love my family. I love my aunt Mamita so much, not just for her great cooking and yummy food, but for her big heart and sweet personality. She is so sweet, she makes sugar taste like salt! Every time she comes to visit from Nicaragua, there is always good times to be had with the family and lots of full stomachs. Sometimes we don't even talk at the table because we are too busy eating all the delicious food.

Here she is making her famous nacatamales. It takes her about the entire day to prepare and cook. She makes about 75 to give out to family. Family can't get enough and they save it over time for whenever the crave a taste of Nicaraguan food.

You'll also notice my dog, Jude, hoping that Mamita will drop something on the floor. Maybe next time Jude will luck out and get a taste...instead she'll just have to enjoy the wonderful aroma of good cooking!

Len and Rasa

I had the honor of photographing Len and Rasa's wedding day. The celebration took place in Philadelphia this past month. The day was absolutely gorgeous and the sun was shining upon the wonderful love that Len and Rasa have for each other. Not only was the sun shining upon them, the love of family and friends was lighting up the day as well.

There was so much love and happiness throughout the day that it sometimes overwhelmed me with joy. I couldn't believe how welcomed I felt when I was there, so much so that I felt like a guest instead of the hired photographer. I want to thank Rasa's family for letting me stay in their home and letting me be a part of the celebration. Your kindness and warmth will not be forgotten.

A special thanks to fellow photographer Philitha for giving me the opportunity to photograph her wonderful friends and for letting me hitch a ride.

Become a fan of Maria Silva Photography on Facebook to see more photos.

Vaughan for Kasachi

About a week ago I photographed the beautiful Vaughan for the clothing line Kasachi. Just like what I did with Akira, I photographed Vaughan both inside my studio and outside in Scarsdale, NY. I had a great time again working with designer Carine and with the wonderful model Vaughan. She made taking photos easy and fun. Here are a few of my favorite shots. The session gave us a lot of great photos...more will be posted when I do some digital artwork to them.

Check out www.kasachi.com to see the cool clothing line. Some of my work is posted on the website and both of my images appear on the home page.

A special thanks to the great Carine for the hoodie dress and shirt! Love them both! And another special thanks to the fun and sweet model Vaughan. I look forward to working with both of you again.

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Akira for Kasachi

I had a photo shoot last weekend to photograph a model for a clothing line Kasachi. We photographed both in the studio and outdoors. I will be posting up more of the studio shots later, but here I share with you some of my favorite outdoor shots. Akira was very cool and easy to work with. He said that working with me was "the most laid back shoot" he had ever had. Makes me feel good that as a photographer I can put people at ease and make them comfortable. You get great photographs that way.

Check out the website www.kasachi.com to see the clothing line. There's some really cool stuff there. My work will be posted on the website in a couple of days.

A special thanks to Akira and designer Carine for the great photo shoot we had. I look forward to working with you again. And another special thanks to my photo assistant Maribel.

Madonna "She's Not Me"

At the moment Im busy trying to find time to edit some new images I recently photographed. So I thought I would post up one of my favorite Madonna videos. Anyone who knows me knows I'm a Madonna fanatic! I think she is a true artist who is constantly re-inventing herself artistically and as a person. Visually all her work is always stunning and exciting to watch. This is a video montage that was shown at her "Sticky and Sweet" tour. There is always so much eye candy to see at her concerts you don't know where to look. I always appreciate a well done video montage.

Hope you enjoy and get some inspiration in some way or even just boogie woogie a little.

Jones Beach

This past weekend I went to Jones Beach. Two of my favorite people were with me. My cousin Roger and my friend Dan. It was the first time for my friend Dan to go to this particular beach and he could not believe the size of it. He said he had never seen anything like it before. What I've never seen before was the amount of people that were there. You couldn't swim without bumping into someone. Hot weather, cool waters, great laughs, and some good food made the day lovely. Here a few of my favorite photographs from the day.

Lisa, Nick & Johnny

I had a recent family photo shoot and it was a lot of fun. Working with kids is always the best! I tend to forget how much energy I have when I work with kids-its a good workout. Here are a few of my favorite photographs.

Thank you Lisa for giving me the opportunity to photograph you and your cute boys. I hope to do it again when Johnny starts to walk and when Nick is no longer fascinated with trampolines..."yes you can jump on the trampoline, after I take your picture"

Hawaiian McDoogle

So about two weeks ago I went and saw my cousin perform with his band out in Bethel, CT. It was a small venue packed with the bands energy and an excited audience. I had fun listening to the music and watching the performance. I will forever be a Jasper McDoogle fan!!

Dan my man, my main man Dan

So last week I had a photo shoot with my fellow photographer and friend Dan.  Being the first time for both of us to photograph each other in a studio setting, it was exciting for me to photograph Dan, who is such a character. 

These are a few of my favorite shots from that night. The photographs of him looking angry are my favorite because its a side of him that is rarely, rarely seen (which is a good thing), but new and exciting from a photography stand point. 

Thanks Dan for being so helpful and fun to work with. Really grateful and honored to have such a good friend like you in my life. Hope you like your photos. 

xo-your spanish princess

(The Title-can anyone guess what that references? 100 points to whoever gets it right!  Write it on the Maria Silva Photography Facebook Fan Page Wall-become a fan if you haven't already)

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Paul McCartney Concert Citi Field July 18th 2009

So anyone who knows me knows that Paul McCartney is my favorite Beatle and he is "My Love" I was lucky enough to get a ticket to the Citi Field Concert this past weekend.  I had a blast and I didn't want the night to end.  I jumped, danced, screamed and sung my head off!! I also cried especially when Paul performed "Here Today" a song written after John Lennon had passed away. Paul got choked up during the song and so did I.  I was also moved by the songs "Let it Be" and "Calico Skies" The show was fantastic! Two and half hours of non-stop great McCartney hits! The only bad thing about the concert was I didn't bring my camera!! I was afraid of my camera being taken away from me because in the past McCartney concerts I've experienced, the security is very strict and kick you out of the concert if they see you taking any pictures. I guess I was the only one who listened because everyone had a camera but me. So the pictures you see here are taken with my camera phone. Not the best quality but I did my best with what I had. Upset with the missed opportunity. Oh well maybe next time....the other pictures are of me just waiting in Grand Central Station.  They were filming a movie.

Crocodile Rock

My father had picked this up for me on a recent trip to Nicaragua.  Is it an alligator or a crocodile?  I wouldn't have a clue.  All I know is that I start to hum the song "Crocodile Rock" whenever I see it in my room.  Its hand crafted and the tail moves around.