Maria Gibbs Photo Blog

Lois

2011-05-26T15:10:00.000-07:00

2011 So far...

2011-03-15T09:35:00.000-07:00

A lot of things have happened this year. Starting the new year, we (my husband and I) decided that we didn't want to be stuck in one place doing the same thing... We are all creatures of comfort, so settling with an OK paycheck, wasn't really working out. I'm a believer that the world is a playgroound, and that God can take you on an adventurous ride, so embrace (and enjoy) it as much as possible! And of course, the classic, "life is a rollercoaster", that I will add "so raise your hands, and enjoy the ride!"

Saying that, we decided to put all of our belongings in storage (ugh, storage!) and travel for work until we find a spot that suits our little family the best. The places we're exploring for our future are California, Seattle, Miami, NY, South Carolina and of course, Panama!

So far things have been working out... I traveled to Panama to work on some photo projects and weddings and it so happened that a writer from The Washington Post, Nancy Trejos, was coming to write a travel story. And of course, they needed a photographer! How convenient?! So my trip was scheduled for a Thursday, and I started working on the travel story on Friday... could it be any better? Here are the pictures from the travel story.

After working that first weekend I was booked for the whole trip, with little time for myself. After some late nights of work (shooting, editing and retouching) I realized that there were 4 days of vacations coming up... carnavales! Yes, just like Mardi Gras! So, my friends and I decided to go to Contadora, a beautiful island in the Pacific Ocean. I am so greatful for that trip! Not only I was able to unwind and relax, but also I was able to work on my own photo projects. Contadora is a beautiful place, with breathtaking scenery, and well, I'm lucky to have a friend that owns the most fantastic home there.... the sun sets to the side of the pool and the ocean breeze cools the whole house.

I am now getting ready to leave Panama (for a little) and travel to Seattle for a week or two. I shooting some projects there, and I'm excited about them!

I will keep you posted on my whereabouts! Here are some of the pictures I've shot so far...

Where it started all... Marta Kohn & Josh Hardin

2010-10-27T19:42:00.000-07:00

On October the 16th my little family and I went down to Savannah to photograph Marta and Josh's wedding. Oh and was it worth it! They are one of the cutest couple I've ever seen!

They met in SCAD, an art college down in Savannah, Georgia. It's actually where I met the couple, since I also graduated from the same college. Those were fun, fun times!

On their wedding weekend everything worked out smoothly... Morgen, the bride's youngest sister did the bride's and bridesmaid's makeup. I thought she was a local makeup artist hired for the event! Her skills are amazing! Also, Marta, the bride, did her own hair, which to no surprise, looked professionally done. And lastly, to wrap up the sisterhood of craftiness, her other sister, Jocelyn, made all of the hair accessories the girls wore!

The wedding party got ready in Tybee Island, but the ceremony itself was in downtown Savannah. They picked Madison Square as their wedding venue, which turned out to be a fantastic spot... especially for pictures!

Here I leave you with some of the pictures of the day... hope y'all like 'em!

New: Photo Albums for Portrait Sessions!

2010-03-09T05:56:00.000-08:00

Here's Alessa Alfaro's photo album from a photos shoot I did in December 09. I love how a story is told in this album. She's so cute!

I do recommend clients to make photo books or albums: it's the best way to remember yourself or a loved one at that time. A print is great to frame and hang, but a book can tell a great story and is very entertaining!

Albums are different than books. An album are flush mounted, with thick lay-flat pages and no middle gutter. They are printed on Art Watercolor paper and adhered to heavy black cardstock. This allows each spread to lay flat with a thick and rigid look and feel. Pages are printed as full spreads and not cut so imagery and design elements are not lost in the center of the book!

A book has thinner pages and has hinged paper, so every side has an individual design. This is a more affordable option for portrait sessions, and the option when getting a photo sign-in book at weddings.

I leave you with the images of the new photo album!

Stevie + Armando: Hitched in Altos de Campana, Panama

2010-01-01T10:04:00.000-08:00

Up in Altos de Campana, Stevie and Armando were married in a very uncommon, but traditional wedding. Uncommon because they weren't married by the Catholic church, which is almost a norm, and traditional because their clothes, the food, and first dance, are traditional Panamanian customs.

You rarely see these customs in weddings anymore, but as proud Panamanians they danced el punto as their first dance, which is a courting dance, and wore mostly all of the fancy traditional clothes. He wore la camisilla blanca which is the white shirt, the black pants, the zapatos de gala, which are the black and white dancing shoes, the chácara, which is the small blackbag, and the sombrero pintado, which is a particular hat that never wrinkles even if bent.

She wore a dress inspired by the pollera, both hand made dresses, and all the accesories that you wear with it: the cadenas (necklaces), the peinetas (head clips), and the babuchas (shoes).

Here I leave you with some of my favorite photos, along with some pictures of their first dance: el punto.

National beer: Cerveza Panama!

Showing off their zapatos de gala,

The Gundins!

Dancing el punto:

Zapateando! Stomping on the floor very fast.

The kiss ends the dance,

In a Beautiful Rainforest: Gamboa, Panama

2009-12-31T10:37:00.000-08:00

During my time in Panama I shot Stevie Gundin's bridal photos in Gamboa. This rainforest is situated next to Gatun, the natural river that feeds the Panama Canal.

In Gamboa there are some great locations for photos... such as a

very old bridge that only allows one way traffic, a street with bamboo tree, the beautiful Gatun river, the man-made Culebra Cut which is part of the Panama Canal, and so much more.

Stevie's dress was hand made in the Las Tablas, and it's inspired from the traditional Panamanian dress, la pollera. The necklaces she wears are part of la pollera and are worn all bundled up as she did. The head clips, called peinetas, are also part of the traditional dress. She was also wearing the traditional dancing shoes, called babuchas, which she chose to wear in yellow.

I'm so happy that I had the opportunity of photographing Stevie and her amazing, hand made dress. I leave you here with the her bridal shots.

The babuchas,

The old bridge and the train coming from Colon,

Bamboo trees,

More bamboos,

Stevie's wearing a mantilla for a veil.

Here's one with Elliot, Llori Gibson's mawkaw!

In Llori Gibson's house,

Holding the jewelry of la pollera,

View of the Culebra Cut, part of the Panama Canal

Book your sessions!

2009-11-08T13:14:00.000-08:00

I will be in Panama from December 7th to the 22nd. If you're interested in portraits, family photos, or a free consultation, contact me at mariacgibbs@gmail.com.

Here is my trip's schedule so far:

Wed 9th - Fri 11th: Hotel La Rumba's photo shoot in Bocas del Toro.
Fri 18th - Sun 20th: Armando Gundin and Stevie Bodden's Wedding in Cerro Campana.

Also, please take a moment to check out my new website. Thanks!

Holy Bride & Groom!

2009-09-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of shooting Daniel & Hannah Leach's wedding. It was quite the event!

The wedding was in Kearney, Nebraska. I know what you're thinking, "that's a whole lot of nothing", am I close? Not for me. It was photo-heaven!

My husband and I arrived at Omaha, Nebraska, which is roughly 2 hours away from the bride's home. A friend of the bride picked us up and drove us back to Kearney. On the way back, we saw 2 hours worth of corn fields... they were everywhere!

My plan was to make the bridal shots the day after we got there. Hannah was booked with all the last minute wedding things, but we were able to stick to the plan and do the photo shoot. Oh I'm so happy we did! Inspired by the cornfields I asked Hannah if we could use a grassy open space to do the bridal shots... I was scared of her answer given that she had never worn her ivory wedding dress and walking into an untrimmed field was asking for the world, literally. Not only she said "heck yeah!" but she also said that her grandma owned a ranch. Yes, that includes horses and fat black cows! OMG!

We later decided to also do the grooms photos, which are a first to me, and make a slideshow of the whole thing. Neither of them saw each other's photos until after the ceremony when the slideshow was played. My husband Alex made the slideshow and blew everyone away...

Here are my two favorites.

Below you'll find the whole slideshow. Thanks Alex!

Justine Pasek & Dan Joelson's Wedding

2009-08-15T11:43:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday the 8th of August I photographed Justine Pasek and Dan Joelson's wedding ceremony and reception in Los Angeles. The former Miss Universe was wearing a dress designed by Jenny Packham.

The wedding was every girl's dream! Family and friends rocked-the-house (literally) dancing to salsa and merengue, as well as some good ol' classics such as Michael Jackson's Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough! You gotta love Panamanian weddings!

These two are trully the perfect couple! There, I said it!

Tatiana & Salvador's Engagement Session

2009-08-14T18:27:00.000-07:00

I met Tatiana & Salva (short for Salvador) the day I was shooting their engagement session. They were all over each other and very cool infront of the camera. They were both "at work"!

These photos are going to be used for the guest-sign-in album, which is already in production in Italy, and should arrive at my door by next week. I'll post some photos of the book once I receive it.

Here is my favorite image of the e-shoot. Enjoy!

Ready to fly

2009-08-10T21:36:00.000-07:00

I'm packed (I think) and ready (I hope) to go to Panama in a few hours.

I'll be meeting Tatiana & Salvador tomorrow afternoon and shooting their e-session (engagement session) right then at Casco Viejo, the old city of Panama. Here is where two big movies have been filmed, The Tailor of Panama with and the newest James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace.

I will be posting some of these as soon as I edit the shoot. The couple is ordering a guest sign-in album, which will contain the images from the e-shoot and will be used for their wedding next week. I'll post the images of the book as well. I'm excited!

Hot abs, Hot Bod!

2009-08-08T10:20:00.000-07:00

Last week I did Whitney M Cole's new shots for her website and promotional pieces. She not only is a fitness trainer, but is also a nutritionist!

When I met Whitney I couldn't help but stare at her amazing body. She was a Godsend! I started training with her at SkySport, which is Jackie Warner's gym that was featured in Bravo TV. She has helped me so much in getting back in shape and into eating better and healthier.

I'm excited to do more of her shots and train with her. Thanks for helping me break my PR (personal record)!

Welcome!

2009-08-06T21:12:00.000-07:00

Finally! It's up!

What a better time to start my blog than today? I mean... tonight! Or midnight, I suppose.

In the middle of a busy work week, packing up to go to Panama, and getting ready to shoot 2 weddings (one in L.A. and one in Panama), as I try to not forget my son's clothes and my toothbrush.

Yup, I'm going to Panama on a photo assignment... Here's the schedule so far:

Tuesday 8/11 @ 2 am - Yes, very early in the AM, my flight leaves LAX.
Tuesday 8/11 @ 4 pm - I'm shooting an engagement session (Panama time) hopefully outdoors. Since it's rainy season there, you can't expect sunlight and a breeze all the time.
Friday 8/21 from 3 pm - I'm photographing Tatiana Ramirez and Salvador Mullet's wedding!

If you're interested in booking a date while I'm there, please feel free to call me at my ClaroCom (or Panama number) at 832-2520, or email me at mariacgibbs@gmail.com