We are proud to announce our new partnership with Doylestown Township and our joint offerings of several Digital Photography Workshops. 

Download the Doylestown Township Fall 2010 Program Guide Here.

Download the Doylestown Township Fall 2010 Registration Form Here.

View Course List on our Website.

Workshops offered include ::

INTRO TO DIGITAL POINT-AND-SHOOT PHOTOGRAPHY.

Are you tired of always missing the perfect shot because your camera is too slow? Then this is the workshop for you.  We’ll discuss the technology in your camera and how to simultaneously manipulate the camera and anticipate to finally capture the perfect moment.
Requirements: Digital point-and shoot camera, charged batteries, empty memory cards, lenses, your manual and a notebook.

Activity # 1207.014 // Dates  10/4 & 10/11 //  Time 1:00pm-2:15pm
Instructor: Natalie Napoleon Wi / Jung Wook Wi
Location: Activity Center
Age: 18yrs & over
Fee: $85 R / $99 NR

INTRO TO DIGITAL SLR PHOTOGRAPHY.

The perfect workshop for home photographers and aspiring amateurs who are interested in learning the basics of digital photography while using a digital SLR camera. This workshop features techniques and tools to help improve your results. This workshop will also act as an overview of the different technologies that are used by different manufacturers and act as a buyer’s guide or future purposes. More advanced techniques such as the use of your camera in semi-automatic and manual modes will be covered. Requirements: Digital point-and-shoot camera, charged batteries, empty memory cards, lenses, your manual and a notebook.

Activity #1208.014 //  Date 11/08 & 11/15 //  Time 1:00pm-2:15pm
Instructor: Natalie Napoleon Wi / Jung Wook Wi
Location: Activity Center
Age: 18yrs & over
Fee: $85 R / $99 NR

NATURE & OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPHY 101.

This class is for the granola munching, REI shopping, Subaru driving, outdoorsy Californian in you. We will walk around Doylestown and shoot everything from portraits to landscapes, emphasizing the use of natural light and manual settings on your camera to capture all the grandeur of our beautiful town and its natural geographic beauty. For the bird watchers, we will discuss the use of high shutter speeds to freeze the fastest motion, effective incorporation of the background as well as techniques to shoot in ever changing light conditions.

**This course will also feature an opportunity to shoot on-assignment for the Bucks County Herald.

Activity #1209.014 //  Date  9/13, 9/20, 9/27. 10/4 and 10/11 Time 3:30pm-05:30pm
Instructor: Natalie Napoleon Wi / Jung Wook Wi
Location: CP-Pavilion 2
Age: 18yrs & over
Fee: $199 R / $215 NR

NATURE & OUTDOOR PHOTOGRAPH Y 101 :: TEEN.

Nurture the budding artist within you and start building your portfolio with classic Bucks County landscape photographs.  As we walk around Doylestown, we will discuss the different settings on your camera and how you can manipulate them to create a perfect exposure or an abstract piece of art.

Activity #0906.014 //  Dates  9/16, 9/23, 9/30, 10/7 and 10/14 // Time 3:30pm-5:30pm
Instructor: Natalie Napoleon Wi / Jung Wook Wi
Location: CP-Pavilion 1
Age: 12yrs to 16yrs
Fee: $199 R / $215 NR

***IMPORTANT NOTE***

Due to current construction of the 202 Parkway, Wells Road (from

Lower State Road) is closed for an extended period of time. If

you are planning a trip to Central Park, please access Wells Road

via Turk Road. For up-to-date information regarding parkway

construction visit www.us202-700.com.

Finding balance is the key to life and I’m on a quest to find mothers who are skillfully achieving success professionally and personally.

In collaboration with Gina Rubel of Furia Rubel Communications, I am beginning work on an editorial photo book that will depict working mothers in their working environments with their children and accompanying text detailing each mother’s plight.

If you are a working mother and would like to share your story with me, please download this entry form and submit to me along with a current family photo (4×6″ at 72dpi).

Entries due by May 31, 2010.

When Linda and David got married, they wanted anything but a traditional wedding celebration.  Linda, a well-traveled business woman, felt particularly drawn to India and its rich culture and when she and David decided to get married, she immediately knew where and how she wanted to celebrate the union with their friends and family.

Linda and David invited their friends and families to join them at the Lambertville House where the women arrived adorned in intricately embroidered saris and the men in various styles of nehru shirts (which as a side note, were first called this by Parisian designer,  Patric Hollinton, as a tribute to Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of modern-day India and arguably one of the best-dressed politicians of his time).

When guests first arrived, they mingled in the Livery Parlor and on the outside patio while delighting in Chick Peas Samosa (vegetable turnovers filled with chick peas), Aloo Tikki (potato patties with peas), Harabhara Kabab (spinach balls with garlic), Mirchi Pakora (jalepenos stuffed with cheese), Achare Chicken Tikka (chunks of chicken marinated with pickled spices and then cooked in a clay oven), Malai Chicken Kabab (chunks of chicken marinated in very special creamy sauce and then cooked in the tandoori oven) and Fish Pakora (salmon fritters).

Once everyone had wet their palates, they danced to Indian music and watched professional Bollywood Dancers perform the first of two pieces in the Livery Room.  During the intermission, guests were served dinner, which included Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Curry, Lamb Karahi, Bhindi Achari (roasted okra with pickled spices), Mutter Panir (homemade Indian cheese and peas cooked in a curry sauce), Daal Makhani (lentils cooked on slow fire overnight with a creamy touch) and Vegetable Pulao (Basmati rice cooked with garden fresh vegetables, cashew nuts and golden raisins).  And if you’re mouth isn’t watering yet, Gulab Jamun (traditional Indian donuts simmered in warm sugary syrup) and Rasmalai (cheese patties in very special sweet sauce with rose flavor) were served for desert.

The evening concluded with a 2nd Bollywood performance and everyone had wide smiles on their faces as they bid the their adieus.  Especially the bride and groom.

The Team

the venue | the lambertville house | nicole loudenslager

the food | cross culture cuisine | monty

the entertainment | norma michaels entertainment | norma michaels

the flowers | cut and dry florals | keith

the linens | gala cloths | nancy bauman

the photographer | allure west studios | natalie napoleon wi

On Sunday, April 11th, Zach Peppelman’s neighborhood welcomed him home from his 8-month tour of Iraq with the United States Marine Corps.  Pennsylvania State Senator Chuck McIlhinney presented Zach with a Senatorial Proclamation.  Neighbors, the local boy scout and girl scout troops and neighborhood war veterans paid tribute to Zach with a ceremonial march and a gift card.  See the photo story in this week’s Bucks County Herald.

The first publication I picked up when we moved to Bucks County was the Bucks County Herald.  I was enamored by the beautiful layout, the high-quality images and the insightful writing.  And then I met Bridget and Joe Wingert one night at the Michener Museum and was even more awed.  The Bucks County Herald and the entire staff are a reflection of Bridget and Joe’s personalities:  intelligent, knowledgeable, kind, warm and welcoming.  I am proud to be a part of the Bucks County Herald team!

While I was in Boston photographing Jennifer Clapp’s Modern Vintage Tablescape, I stopped by her favorite store Lekker Home, our Nesting Newbies Winter 2010 Hot Spot.  Lekker, located in Boston’s trendy South End and owned by Natalie van Dijk Carpenter, houses some of the world’s most beautifully designed pieces from manufacturers such as Stelton, Royal Copenhagen, LSA, and Teroforma. For a pdf of the Lekker article, click here.

I recently photographed designer (and one of our former brides–see her wedding in Brides) Jennifer Rowland Clapp of H+Associates as she set a modern vintage tablescape for our Winter 2010 issue of Nesting Newbies Magazine.

Jennifer’s mission was to design a ‘tablescape’ that would be affordable and easy for readers to replicate in their own homes. Pulling from her fascination with contrasting styles, Jennifer paired modern tableware from Teroforma and LSA with antique chintz and Depression-era glass and silver unearthed from the cabinets of family members. The concept was to repurpose these old-fashioned items as decorative centerpieces framed by crisp, contemporary pieces.  Click here for a pdf of the article.

As summer on the East Coast approaches, I can’t help but to dream about California beaches, especially after this great day in Santa Cruz with Lindsey & Matt.  When Jung and I told Lindsey and Matt that we wanted them to take us somewhere special for their engagement session, they knew exactly where they wanted to go.  Santa Cruz.  Jung and I were excited to shoot in Santa Cruz since that was our family beach and we spent many warm and not-so-warm days there with friends and family.  And we certainly felt as if we were spending a fabulously lazy day on the beach with Lindsey and Matt.

We began our day with a tasting at Pelican Ranch, Lindsey & Matt’s favorite winery and then headed over to the cliffs for some barefoot climbing and high-heel climbing.  Our engagement sessions are always an adventure and Lindsey and Matt were the epitomy of pro!  They came prepared to bear their souls and with plenty of wardrobe changes (I love options!!)

Engagement sessions are hard work and here is some great advice from seasoned NYC & LA model, poet, writer and blogger (Dress Me Up in Hand Me Downs), Melissa Napoleon, on how to get the best results from your engagement session:

1.) Don’t Plaster A Smile On Your Face:

You should look happy and excited in your engagement shots, but give your facial muscles a break. You don’t need to smile big in every picture.  Relax and be as natural as possible, or else your pictures come off boring and unbelievable.  Mix it up a little bit with big and small smiles, smirks, drama, passion, contentment, and even silliness to show your personality.  Variation is the key and helps to keep things interesting and exciting.

2.) Leave Your Comfort Zone At Home:

Expect to be challenged.  Let go and let your personality and emotions do the performing.  Even if you’ve never been on or in a shoot, don’t let it stop you from acting like a pro.  Treat the camera like it’s your bedroom mirror.  Forget about the photographer and feeling embarrassed or awkward.   Photographers want you to let loose and experiment with different facial expressions and poses; it keeps their creative juices flowing.  They love being surprised, so give them all you’ve got!

3.) Pluck, Tuck, Clip and Fit!

Photoshopping will cost you time and money so don’t go thinking it’s your bff.  Pluck your eyebrows, tuck in everything that needs to be tucked, clip your nails, and make sure your clothes fit you perfectly before the day of the shoot.  DIY, or spring for a mani/pedi or even head to the salon for a blow out.  If you don’t want to spend extra money, just make sure you look and feel your best.  Bring a few different outfits; casual, dressy, edgy, fun, or whatever you think enhances your body and personal style.  Remember, you are creating art-your creative input and expression is just as important as the photographers!

Jung and I photographed a wedding in DC in January and our bride and groom chose to offer their guests various food stations at the reception.  Everyone loved it and I was thrilled to see stations when I photographed Aldie’s 2nd Annual Options and Upgrades Event, catered by Jeffrey Miller Catering.

Placed throughout the mansion, were 8 food stations, 3 dessert stations, passed desserts and 3 drink stations.  As guests entered the Great Hall, lit by a romantic summer fire of candlight, they welcomed the refreshing sight of Hibiscus Iced tea, Lemonade and Minted Water and Seafood Martinis.

Guests then proceeding into the library, were they continued feasting at a pasta station, complimented by a vodka lemonade station.  The ballroom held the grandest display of interactive stations including a Mexican Grazing Station, a Vietnamese Summer Roll Station, a Raw Bar, a Blini Bar and Pork Chow Fun Station.

As guests finished their meals, Cheeksecake Lollipops, Mini Frozen Sorbet Pops and Peruvian hot Chocolates were passed.  Guests could also indulge in either a free flowing fountain of Chocolate or Carmel, an Espresso/Cappuccino Bar and leave with a warm mini donuts fried to order.

It was a full house and everyone left happy!

Click to see a mouth-watering slideshow of the different stations offered and for pricing information, please call Kimberly Bates at 215-348-3509.

A decadent evening of food, wine and song, the Gourmet Getaway is your ticket to sample an array of scrumptious gourmet food and enjoy beer and wine from top local breweries and wineries. Entertainment will be provided by Courtney Colletti Music & Voices. We will also have a silent auction and raffle prizes!

This evening of food and fun benefits the Women in Business Scholarship Fund. The scholarship fund gives a deserving local woman education money to gain the knowledge she needs to get a job. Your ticket to the Gourmet Getaway may be just the ticket to give someone an opportunity to succeed.

Map to Keenan Motors

Proceeds from the Gourmet Getaway go into the Women in Business Scholarship Fund (a non-profit). It assists women who have overcome substantial challenges and wish to re-enter the work force by educating themselves. Scholarships are awarded to Bucks County women at least 25 years or older, U.S. citizens, beginning or continuing their education and can demonstrate educational merit and financial need. One hundred percent of the proceeds are distributed directly to the accredited institution the recipient will be attending. These strong, courageous women need the financial support to help them achieve their career goals and help them gain personal and professional success.

PLEASE PARK at the Wachovia Building on the corner of 313 & 611 where a shuttle will await you. Please DO NOT park in the Keenan lot. The dealership is extremely generous in donating the space for the event and we don’t want to disrupt their business.

2010 SPONSORS

Kathleen Herb Brower, DMD, MD, LLC

Langan Engineering & Environmental Services

Marketing Solutions

PNC Investments

Media Sponsors

Bucks County Town & Country Living Magazine

Bucks County Women’s Journal

Bucks County WOMAN Magazine