talented thursday :: max cohen

If you live in the Triangle area and have yet to find a photographer that will capture your special moment...well look no further. Max Cohen of Cohen Studios is a perfect fit for your photography needs. I love his composition, creativity and his personality isn't too shabby either.

Max Cohen

Cohen is a graduate of the Hallmark Institute of Photography located in Turners Falls, Massachusetts and he has been working professionally in Raleigh for five years. His philosophy is that photography should be fun and every time he points his camera at a person, place or "thing", he should reveal something that hasn't been seen before.


A peek inside Cohen Studios located i 311 Galleries & Studios 

If you would like to meet him in person, be sure to stop by his studio located inside of 311 West Martin Street Galleries and Studios. Better yet...stop by his studio on First Fridays because he is usually there and will be glad to show you his space (he has a big leather couch!). Here is a small collection of his amazing works. Enjoy!

To see more of Cohen's works, please visit his website here and his facebook page here.

blue wedding dress :: Gordon McGowan

We've all heard that saying "something borrowed, something blue" to have on your person the day of your wedding. Well, this real life bride took it up a notch and had a blue wedding dress. Wedding photographer Gordon McGowan shot these lovely images and I just had to share! Stunning and unique at the same time! Now she just needs something old, borrowed and new. :)

To see more of Gordon's work please visit his website here.

must have monday :: untamed petals

In my quest to find the perfect accessories for my wedding, I came along Untamed Petals hair accessories. And oh my...Amanda Gilbert is whipping up something pretty over in her Etsy shop. There are so many designs to choose from, from head bands to large floral pins... something for everyone!

 dainty rhinestone headband - link

Not only does Amanda have a degree in Marketing but she also works for MTV in New York! Talk about talented! Here is what Amanda has to say about Untamed Petals..."I believe that every girl deserves something one of a kind in their wardrobe."


The designer behind Untamed Petals - Amanda Gilbert

"The Untamed Petals philosophy is that the accessory makes the outfit, which is why each headpiece, belt, corsage, and fascinator is created to make a bold statement and complete any look." 

 bohemian pearl & chiffon braided halo - link

 

"Constructed from the highest quality materials--from imported silk chiffon to vintage rhinestone buttons--an Untamed Petals Accessory looks glamorous on any bride, yet chic enough to wear out for drinks on the weekend."

 double crystal bridal headband - link

"I love to tailor each piece to reflect the client's individual taste, with the ultimate goal of creating a completely original heirloom that will never go out of style!" 

  swarovski rhinestone flower headband - link

  sheer ivory flower - link

 bohemian pearl & chiffon braided halo - link

  coral pink turban headband - link

   crystal floral headband - link

   encrusted lily comb - link

    untamed halo - link

To see more of her works, please visit her website here and her Etsy shop here.

inspire me monday :: brooke mayo photography

Since I recently became engaged, my process of trying to find that perfect photographer for my wedding started and well...as we all know there are TONS of wedding photographers online to choose from. Some great, some not so great but for me, I was looking for someone that stood out from the crowd, not only professionally and personally, but artistically as well.

Josh *hearts* Jen - wedding photo by Brooke Mayo - link

In my search I came across Brooke Mayo of Brooke Mayo Photography and absolutely fell in love with her images at first glance. Her company consists of herself and Carrie Roen (her other superfabulous photographer who shot my engagement pictures ((LOVE THEM!!!)) and they shoot weddings worldwide (Carrie will be shooting mine this year! EEE!!! please note my excitement :). Not only are these two superfabulously talented ladies but they were also recently chosen as the #7 Artistic Wedding Photojournalist in the World by the Artistic Guild of the Wedding Photojournalists (pretty dang amazing if you ask me!). Oh and did I mention she's in Jarvisburg, NC? Yep..this state is pretty lucky!

The Superfabulous Brooke Mayo - photo by Carrie Roen

Not only that but PEOPLE...if you don't have children or that special someone and you absolutely don't want your picture taken...HAVE HER TAKE PHOTOS OF YOUR DOGGIES!  (I wouldn't recommend cats in the pool...that might not be so cute :) Her photos of pooches underwater are simply amazing and extremely unique from any animal photos I've seen! You can also purchase her book of doggie photos Diving Doggies on her website Underwater Dogs. Oh and if you think that's cute, her photo packages have names like Loverbuns, Sassybuns, Sugarbutts...like I said...C-R-E-A-T-I-V-E :)

Fionn's 2 Years Old - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

I had the lovely chance to interview Mrs. Mayo about her super awesome job as a photographer and this is what she had to say.

When and how did you first become interested in photography?    

I was taking a nude drawing class, the lighting was gorgeous on the models only, I couldn't draw anything but a stick figure!  I wanted sooo bad to capture their beauty.  The next semester I took a photography class and photographed nudes and dancers my first 3 years.

Mark *hearts* Amanda - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

How long have you been an photographer and are you doing this full time?
I took my first photo class when I was 20, so I've been a photographer for 10 years and shooting professionally for 7.  

4 week old Jackson Nix - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

Did you go to school for art and if so, where?   

Appalachian State University and The University of Western Sydney in AU

 Tommy *hearts* Annie - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

 

Did you ever draw on your walls as a child?

Absolutely!  That was the biggest trouble I ever got in!  In highschool, I had a whole wall for spray painting, we'd have friends over and spray paint it each week

 The Moore Family - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

Do you keep a sketchbook?

 I'm not very good at drawing much past stick figures but I try!
I keep a journal of photos and lighting I like from magazines or billboards.

 Underwater Family Portraits - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

What is your favorite time of day to photograph? 

I love the late afternoon when everything is glowing, about an hour before sunset.

 Gorgeous Model Shoot - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

What is a typical day like for you?  

Wake up about 6, have coffee and cereal with strawberries or fruit, turn my phone on and check any missed phone calls or emails, shower, return emails, leave for my 7:30am beach shoot, finish about 8:30 or 9, return to my home studio, download cards, back them up, blog our favorites, edit the images, process the images, upload the images, check email again, go for a bike ride while the images are uploading, pack up and prepare for my evening shoot, leave about 5pm for that, return about 9pm, have dinner, go to bed. 

 Water Shoot - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

What was your most challenging subject to shoot?   

Diving Doggies in indoor pools.

 Brooke Mayo, her husband John and baby Poppy  - photo by Carrie Roen - link

What is your biggest accomplishment to date? 

Growing our baby girl, making a human life and becoming a mom has been the most challenging thing I've ever done. She's helped my career by pushing me to finish my personal photo projects and has helped me be more creative. 

 Sarah, Matt and Baby Cooper - maternity photo by Brooke Mayo - link

My book, "Diving Doggies: A Celebration of Play Underwater" has been a huge accomplishment from coming up with the idea, seeing if it would work, learning to shoot underwater, finding the subjects, editing the images, designing the book, marketing and distribution.  It's been a huge learning process. 

 Heather - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

You absolutely cannot go without ________.

My phone, it allows me to stay in touch with my clients no matter what country I'm in.

 Happy dog at Tim & Heather's Wedding - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

Can you describe your process when it comes to shooting a subject?

We want them to relax and have fun,  and forget we're there as much as possible.  The more you forget about us, the more natural expressions we're able to capture.  We give directions such as, "run and play, jump, pick her up" but we document who each family or couple is. 

 Weezy - One of Brooke's favorite images ever
photo by Brooke Mayo - link

I absolutely love your underwater dogs photography. 

How did you get into this?

Thank you!  My boxer pup, Weezy, likes to float on a soccer ball in the sound and I wondered what it would look like from underwater.  She would never get in the pool so I could photograph her but it gave me the idea to see what other doggies would look like underwater.  Little did I know there were dogs that really DIVE!  I've always wanted to do something that hadn't been done before and after researching it in depth, I couldn't find anyone who had so I "dove in."  Hee hee. 

 Sally- photo by Brooke Mayo - link

Are they pretty easy subjects to shoot?

No, you never know if a dog will actually dive or not.  Sometimes they may dive in certain pools but maybe not the one we're in, some like to have stairs, some like to jump off the side of the pool, some like to have an incline to walk down, it's getting to know each dog and learning their "tricks" while you're underwater or in the pool that's the challenge.  Also, while you're underwater waiting for them to dive in, you never know which direction they may be coming from.  Even though their mom throws the ball from your right, they may circle the pool a couple of times before coming in from any direction.  This makes the lighting really hard as well since you have no idea which direction you'll be shooting in and how the light will be. 

 Dustin + Ally - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

What are some places you are scheduled to shoot to this year?

 My associate, Carrie, has a wedding in Vegas, I will be in Minnesota, DC, NY and MX.

 Cadence + Crocker - Boxer photo shoot by Brooke Mayo - link

What is the craziest place you ever had to shoot?

 We had an amazing wedding Anguilla last May.

 Underwater Ladybug - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

Who or what inspires you?

 My hubby inspires me, he is always brainstorming and giving me amazing ideas that he implements for his business and helps me with ideas for mine.  My doggies, they are themselves 100% of the time, they don't care what type of photo I take, they just want to play and love life, their freedom lets me feel more open to whatever the day may bring. 

 The Armour Family - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

Who are some of your favorite artists / photographers?

 Howard Schatz and Lois Greenfield are my two favorite photographers.  They both photograph dancers and Schatz is the most amazing underwater photographer!  

 Chris *hearts* Ronae - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

What is your current favorite camera / lens to use?

Nikon D3 with our tilt shift lens, soooo fun!

 Jay + Carrie (Brooke's talented partner in crime) - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

Favorite type of cake/cupcake? 

Chocolate with Vanilla icing, and icecream of course.  Vanilla or coffee. Yum!

 Ben *hearts* Liz - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

Coffee or tea?  Coffee

 The Bownas Family - photo by Brooke Mayo - link

Thanks so much Brooke!

To see more of her (and Carrie's) photographs please visit the following links:

Website | Facebook | Diving Doggies

sugar and spice :: Good Girls Studio

Do you ever find yourself looking at some sweet find at your local flea market and wondering WHAT ON EARTH WOULD I EVER DO WITH THAT? If you are Raleigh jewelry designer Johanna Ely you probably have this running through your mind daily. 

Ely is the proprietress behind Good Girls Studio, the uber fabulous collection of treasures created from repurposed jewelry. Some of her designs range from simply sparkly rings to richly layered and texture filled necklaces perfect for any tea party or social event. Heck I would wear her pieces just doing the laundry because they are so freaking fabulous! I had the chance to interview this talented diva about her works and this is what she had to say about Good Girls Studio.

Johanna Ely inside her studio with her treasure chest of Good Girls' designs

When and how did you first become interested in jewelry design?
 As far back as I can remember I have loved to play dress up, putting on every piece of mother's jewelry collection and parading around modeling for all to see :)
As I got older I could never find any jewelry that I really liked and was stuck in a rut of silver bangle basics! I taught myself some foundations of jewelry design and from there it has been a fun roller coaster of trial and error!

The Bright Side - Yellow Floral Collage Necklace - link

How long have you been an designer and are you doing this full time?
About 4 years ago I started playing around with jewelry making and toying with the idea of selling my creations. I launched my line in Spring of 2007 after the company I managed liquidated. I have been at it full time for what will be 2 yrs this August.

Engaged - A Wedding Necklace - link

Did you go to school for anything artsy and if so, where?
Nope, self taught.

Project Runway - A Fashion Designer's Necklace - link

 What is your favorite piece of jewelry in your collection?
My favorite changes all the time, right now I am super excited about one top secret design for the Redress Fashion Show! An ongoing favorite is my Eve collage necklace (pictured below). She embodies womanhood!

Eve - A Born Again Virgin Vintage Necklace - link

 What is your favorite time of day to create?
That's a tough question as there is no rhyme or reason for when a design will strike me . Early afternoons and late at night is when I am my most creative.

 Janie's Got a Gun - Pistol Necklace - link

 

What is a typical day for you like?
Not typical! Some days are spent mostly marketing, others I'm designing or taking photos, some days are spent scouring flea markets sourcing new goodies for my work!

 Supercute Purple Butterfly Necklace - Image courtesy of Hathir Pfau - link

How much do your designs sell for?
My work starts in the  $20 price range for rings and bobby pins and ranges up in price to $500 for an ornate collage necklace. My mid price point is $52-98 for most necklaces.

 Sense and Sensibility No. 3 - Vintage Rhinestone Necklace - link

What was your most challenging piece to create?
Every piece I create feels like the most challenging! Whenever I sit down to create I get this feeling of weight like "I will never be able to make another __________ again", "how in the world did I do that before?" and Then I'll put on some music (usually something old like The Beatles or Van Morrison) and start piecing things together. I'm always astounded when  I complete a new piece. I have to sit back and look it and go "I made that?..What?". And once again I'll be drained and the process starts all over. Creativity energy is a roller coaster in and of itself!

 Pretty Blue Flowers - Vintage Necklace - link

What is your biggest accomplishment to date?
His name is Tyler and he's the sweetest 8yr old boy you'll ever meet!
Oh wait, you meant work related...
Quitting my day job has been thee biggest accomplishment so far!!
Paying rent from playing with jewelry every month deserves a happy dance :)
Next up... Putting together this runway collection and getting ready for Redress has been a big learning curve! It will be my biggest accomplishment once those glamazons strut my pieces down the catwalk :) 

 Falling For You - Orange Floral Collage Necklace - link

 

What can you absolutely not go without?
God and caffeine (in that order!)!

  Time For Change - Vintage Watch Necklace - link

 

Places/Events you are scheduled to show to this year:
Redress in Raleigh (THIS SATURDAY April 17th) and after that I am pretty wide open. I have a few trunk shows in the works but I typically don't do a ton of craft markets.

Who or what inspires you?
All the good girls in my life serve as constant inspiration!

 On The Rocks No. 10 - Vintage Necklace - link

Who are some of your favorite designers?
 Most of my designer lust is directed towards indie designers on Etsy.

 

 Hot Mess No. 10 - Coral Tangled Chain Bracelet - link

Can you describe your process when it comes to creating your gorgeous necklaces?
The revamped vintage collages take the longest time. They each start off by my building little collections, either by color or theme and that alone can take months to curate. I've held on to pieces for over a year because they never felt "right" with any collection and then one day they find a home and fit! 

I play with the design construction for hours (or days) until I can really start to see it weave together and as I do, a little story begins putting itself into words in my head. Each piece is meticulously placed and edited until it makes sense with the story/theme. I think the biggest compliment I've received is from a shop owner: "You take the most random assortment of stuff and weave it into a well thought out design where every intricate piece appears to have belonged all along".

 More of Good Girls Studio's lovely creations

Is there a story behind the name Good Girls Studio?
I am Thee Good Girl :) Just ask my parents, they'll corroborate my story! 

I'm also the middle child so the Good Girl is really a default title
(you other middle child people will know just what I'm talking about!)!

 Good Day Sunshine - A Vintage Collage Necklace - link

Favorite type of cake/cupcake?
mmmm...lemon cheesecake (but only made by mom!)!

 Coffee or tea?
 Definitely a coffee addict!

To see more of Johanna's lovely works please visit her links below. Thanks Johanna!

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