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After almost a year of frequent traveling Croatia - Cyprus and some countries in between, I have finally decided to stay for a month in my hometown Zagreb, the capital of Croatia. Even tough my 2015 wedding season is still not finished, I needed to spend a day creatively and amongst gorgeous dresses... Without any luck, my friend Ivana from I.J.Design had been trying to catch me for the past months to make a shoot of her new collection. No wonder that she managed to organize location, model, makeup and hair in just a few days to make sure I don't fly away again. :)  As a destination wedding photographer, I have seen it all. From grandiose weddings streaming with expensive decorations, to the humblest of ceremonies with only a select number of guests, I have experienced every one differently. However, the blossoming love between soulmates Josipa and Josip had a depth which I find hard to describe. You could see the deep feeling they had for one another in every look, every touch, every gesture that they gave to each other. The ceremony took place in a modest church with no more than 100 guests in attendance. As I took pre-wedding photos of the bride as I was arranging her dress, ensuring every finite detail was perfect, I listened as she spoke lovingly of her husband-to-be. Her blushing cheeks and tear-brimmed eyes shone as she expressed her nervousness at her fiance seeing her in her wedding dress for the first time. With as lovely as she was at that moment, I wished he could have seen her. And then the moment finally came... As Josipa glided down the aisle in an ethereal vision of lace and light, I could see the tears forming in Josip's eyes as he walked alongside his beautiful bride. They arrived at the altar and embraced with a quiet fierceness that moved some in the audience to tears as well. I was able to capture so many reactions to this sublime romance, but my favorite picture out of them all is when Josipa bowed her head in prayer, veil floating around her still blushing cheeks as everyone said a prayer of blessing for their marriage. After the ceremony, I was able to capture some truly romantic moments between the newlyweds as they paddled through the nearby lake in a canoe for two. The clear reflections in the lake and the surrounding lily pads made for a beautiful setting, and every shot seemed to have a magic to it. Their wedding dance was equally enchanting, with sweeping curtain backdrops and a starlit ceiling glimmering above the first dance they would dance as husband and wife. Many brides and grooms have pulled off their wedding day with style and more than a touch of charm and grace, but Josipa and Josip's wedding will always have a special place in my memory. Theirs is a love that will last through every year of their lives, and as the storms of life wash over them, I know that they will cling fast to each other throughout it all with the bright shining hope of true love.    Have you ever seen someone in a crowded place and felt a sudden tingle down your spine, a sense of immediate familiarity? You may feel unsure: have you met them somewhere before, or are you simply destined to know them? That was the question, the sensation, that sizzled in the air when Martina and Lin crossed paths one night while they were both out on the town. Lin was arrested by the sight of the lovely young woman, called by both her beauty and the pull of a memory he could not immediately place - and then it came to him: he had seen her a year prior, clad in a white T-shirt, her hair neatly tied up in a ponytail. From that moment on, Lin vowed to not let Martina slip away again, and six years later, they were organizing their wedding. There was no pomp or pretension about this wedding, only the couple's authentic selves; Martina and Lin chose to have the ceremony and the party at the same location, so the day flowed naturally, relaxed and easy. Their rustic, vintage-inspired wedding took place largely in the open air, the sun shining on the bride's joyous face, the gentle breeze whispering its blessings. Everywhere around there was the touch of love, for Martina had planned and decorated the entire wedding herself, with the aid of her dear friends. Her deft hands had adorned the candle sticks and vases with pretty ribbons, and her cheerful nature could clearly be seen in the way the photo booth was decorated like a cozy living room, complete with a sweets table full of cookies and candies. Martina even chose to eschew formal shoes for her favorite footwear - sneakers - opting for a beautiful pair of custom-made, prettily-decorated sneakers from shoe designer Shuz. The black and white photos from this shoot are, I feel, evocative of another time, of dreams and memories - the perfect complement to the finale of the ceremony, whereupon a very special memory was honored.As the lights dimmed down, everyone lit up sparklers to represent the shimmering light that was all around them, but not seen: the loving spirit of Martina's mother, and all the joyful memories associated with her. Such is the true magic of marriage: it binds families across the years, transcending time and change. 
Have you ever dreamed of capturing those perfect, spontaneous moments when your eyes meet those of your lover, you both smile in unison, and the whole world seems to light up around you in a burst of glittering magic? This holiday season, you can do exactly that, thanks to my Christmas Mini Sessions. 
What Are Christmas Mini Sessions? A “Mini Session” is a form of portrait photography which takes about half an hour per session and produces a handful of beautiful images at a very reasonable price. Christmas mini sessions are orchestrated around a holiday theme; in this case, the presence of enchanting, delicately glimmering fairy lights which create a starry halo around two lovers. Think back; how many romantic Christmas movies have you seen where the besotted couple strolls alone together through the city at night, the snow softly falling, lights shimmering on every tree? This is exactly the kind of atmosphere, the kind of perfect moment, a Christmas mini session can create. 
Why Partake in a Christmas Mini Session? Mini sessions are perfect for the holidays as they don’t take a lot of time or preparation, unlike traditional full-length sessions, making them ideal for working around already bustling Christmas schedules. Plus, this quick and spontaneous style of session most accurately captures the spirit of a couple in love during the holidays: the fevered excitement, the whirlwind pace. Such fleeting elements of human expression can easily be lost during longer, more drawn out and pre-prepared photography sessions. Christmas mini sessions provide couples with a chance to pause in the stress and hustle of the holidays, take a moment to just connect with each other, to remember what Christmas is truly all about: warm hearts glowing together, even on the coldest nights; the generosity of the soul that gives itself to another. 
Love, after all, is the greatest gift there is - so why not capture it forever? 
Zrinka and Nino had simple, stress-free and intimate wedding in Zagreb. They wanted to share their beautiful moments and emotions with closest 50 people, family and friends. Zrinka chose a beautiful fairy wedding dress from Croatian famous designer Sandra Haddad in which she really shined and enjoyed. Take a look at their little story...        |
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