| a beautiful engagement…. | 06.28.11 |
a year ago over a lovely breakfast JOEL & JOSE
asked me to be their wedding photographer…
i was so touched that they would want me to document their nuptials…
to be honest, i was a bit nervous…i felt such a responsibility to capture
the beauty of another photographer’s & film-maker’s celebration…
soooo, i suggested that we do an engagement session….
although we knew one another & had great mutual respect for each other…i
felt it was important that the rapport between us, translated well in images…..
JOSE & JOEL were absolutely gracious every step of the way….
they let me, and even encouraged me to just shoot as i like…
never giving direction & always open to any suggestion i had….
we photographed both in their home & in the
beautiful countryside near where they reside….
it was an absolutely gorgeous day….
we laughed…we photographed…..
i was deeply moved by their genuine love & affection….
spending this time together was valuable to all of us…i
think it created an ease & comfort level between us, that truly
resonated into the photographs of their wedding day….
as much as i’d like to share JOEL & JOSE’s wedding images….
their wedding is slated to run in a national magazine in 2012….
(so they must remain private until publication)
it was such a pleasure & an honor to be part of their beautiful love story…
i was so touched by this lovely thank you note  i
received from JOSE & JOEL i simply had to share…
_______________________________________
dearest elizabeth,
we haven’t had the opportunity to write you a proper email because it’s so hard to find the words to describe how grateful and fortunate we feel for having you create such beautiful memories for us. the truth is that we never imagined the emotions that would take over every time we see our beautiful photos, they are better than anything we could have ever imagined…we’ve tried writing this email before… tears and all but no words in the american dictionary could ever describe our internal feelings of gratitude and appreciation for what you have created and captured for us.
we’ve been together for almost 8 years and we had never been photographed before so we were nervous about facing our image on film. jose proposed first in mazatlan mexico,one of our first getaways together and joel proposed a year later, we enjoyed our engagement for 3 years. the duration of being engaged for so long was a beautiful part of our relationship and we enjoyed every bit of it, we experienced more and learned more about each other in that time than ever before. looking at all our photographs brings back so many happy emotions from 8 years of life together.
when we first got engaged there was no doubt you elizabeth messina would capture our memories, it sounds funny but we would even have dreams about the actual emotions we would feel after receiving the photos and i have to say that the dream was probably a prepping of many tears of joy after receiving the first batch of engagement photographs in our hands, prints, all on FILM. elizabeth when you hand delivered these to us at our rehearsal dinner, we didn’t even want to join everyone, we just wanted to sit and see all of our photos. how could someone see our love in this way? how could someone capture our emotions and love so perfect? elizabeth when you stepped out of the room we unwrapped more and more of our photos batch per bath and could not believe our eyes, we hugged and cried.
thank you elizabeth for making this experience for us simple, and about us. we will never be able to thank you enough. we can’t wait to start a family and have you capture us as a whole.
we love you,
jose & joel
__________________________________________
to see more of their engagement check out
the always inspirational STYLE ME PRETTY…
love is beautiful….xoxo
a little more sweetness....
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June 28th, 2011 at 11:36 am
just beautiful. congratulations to Jose and Joel, we cant wait to see the wedding photos! love, phil and aneta x
June 28th, 2011 at 11:40 am
What a beautiful relationship. Your images seem to perfectly capture the love and intimacy between thi slovely couple. It seems you are blessed with good friends as well, their letter to you is very touching.
As always I am blown away by your absolute talent.
June 28th, 2011 at 11:41 am
Such a lovely engagement shoot! The couple could not look more happy and the photos are stunning!
June 28th, 2011 at 11:55 am
you AMAZE me! I love these two…and I love these photos!
June 28th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
The beautiful love in these beautiful images speaks so loudly..yet so quietly personal. The letter written says so much about them too. I’ll have to wait until 2012 to see the publication..but I know the photos will be worth the wait.
June 28th, 2011 at 12:27 pm
beautiful photos, gorgeous words. you have such a gift elizabeth, thank you, jose and joel for sharing.
June 28th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Stunning!
June 28th, 2011 at 12:46 pm
Having just finished Jose’s book, I was already feeling fond of him and then I saw these works of art. I can see why they struggled to put into words how they felt. This is the reason that photography exists, to make people feel the love.
June 28th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
elizabeth dear…these images are so so amazing! you can just feel jose & joel’s love for each other!! i can only imagine how much they were touched by these…just stunning!!!!
June 28th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
So incredibly beautiful as ever, Miss Elizabeth.
You captured them perfectly…everything you do is so full of grace.
Congratulations Jose and Joel.
June 28th, 2011 at 1:13 pm
I don’t think I have ever seen a more beautiful engagement session…of anyone. This is so BEYOND. EM, you are the master of all masters!
June 28th, 2011 at 1:21 pm
These shots are pure love.
June 28th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
to be truly cherished in life is all one could ever ask for. ever hope for. through your stunning eyes you have shown the world how jose and joel truly cherish each other. my heart aches with happiness for them. and you… well you’re brilliant in so many ways. the three of you are like the perfect storm of perfection. xo
June 28th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
Sooooooo beautiful, It made me cry. Congratulations to Jose and Joel, I believe they will be amazing parents one day.
June 28th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
GORGEOUS photos of a handsome (and also incredibly talented) couple! Congratulations, Jose and Joel!
June 28th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Beautiful images to go along with a beautiful love story! Cheers to all!
June 28th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Bravo.
June 28th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Truly beautiful. Congrats to them both! And Elizabeth, your work continues to inspire again and again.
June 28th, 2011 at 2:36 pm
oh, e…. i’m out of words. just lots (tons) of lovely tears falling down my cheeks. absolutly beautiful!
June 28th, 2011 at 2:47 pm
Congratulations Jose and Joel!
June 28th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
my goodness. love. this is beautiful Elizabeth.
June 28th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
These just made my day! Amazing, stunning, sweet, lovely, honest… so many more words I could use! well done! Jose and Joel you look AAAAmazing! xo
June 28th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
These are absolutely beautiful. As always you nailed it.
June 28th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
I love how beautifully you captured these two lovely men. Jose’s character beams through: that cheeky grin infront of that solidness. They are totally in love. You are totally brilliant. Congratulations, you three – you inspire. x
June 28th, 2011 at 3:25 pm
GORGEOUS Elizabeth! Amazing work as always, Jose and Joel look so happy and in love!
June 28th, 2011 at 3:26 pm
Oh my! I am crying too!!! How lovely (for me!) that two of my favorite photographers made these beautiful images together… I am so over the moon with how lovely these are… the way you captured them & their love makes me want to hug every single image, and YOU! Thanks for sharing these, Elizabeth. Hugs & love to all of you, and I wish Joel & Jose a lifetime of love. xoxo.
June 28th, 2011 at 3:32 pm
this is the most beautiful email I have ever seen!!! Congratulations to the 3 of you
Beautiful…
June 28th, 2011 at 4:10 pm
Omgosh, you have captured them perfectly. They canNOT be anymore adorable!! Can’t wait for the wedding!
June 28th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
that was one of the most beatiful and touching posts ever…you photographed jose and joel’s love perfectly…and the letter they wrote to you was so beautiful…you are such an amazing person and photographer…we are huge fans of jose and joel as well, and wish them a lifetime of happiness and love…!
June 28th, 2011 at 5:46 pm
GORGEOUS! I cannot convey the loveliness of these two. I’m excited to see the wedding photos when they’re published!
June 28th, 2011 at 5:49 pm
That is a gorgeous couple & some gorgeous wedding photos–I can’t wait to see their wedding photos!!
June 28th, 2011 at 6:12 pm
simply beautiful!
June 28th, 2011 at 7:16 pm
beautifully captured, and their email was just as beautifully written. what an amazing shoot.
June 28th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
these images, and these words have all made me cry… this is a love story that dreams are made of. *sigh* congratulations jose and joel… may you both have endless days of happiness together. elizabeth, you never cease to make my eyes and my heart happy. thank you!
June 28th, 2011 at 8:35 pm
so so very beautiful. love IS beautiful.
June 28th, 2011 at 11:07 pm
I am a HUGE fan of Jose! And you captured Jose and Joel so beauitfully!! Consider me a fan
June 28th, 2011 at 11:29 pm
Elisabeth these are just so beautiful! I was so excited to hear you were photographing their wedding. Can’t wait to see more. Brilliant work as always!
June 28th, 2011 at 11:30 pm
Jose and Joel are so beautiful. You’ve had a sweet and tender eye for this amazing couple, Elizabeth. J’adore !
June 29th, 2011 at 2:48 am
simply amazing.
June 29th, 2011 at 2:49 am
So beautiful! I can feel their love, what a beautiful couple! Congratulations to jose and joel!
June 29th, 2011 at 6:27 am
I didn’t realize it was Jose VILLA until I went on his link…he is amazing but he also couldn’t have picked a better photographer to help capture his own day. With unlimited funds, I’d be booking you to fly out to the Finger Lakes in New York in September to help capture my own day. I love you work. And even writing that seems sort of lack-luster. It is so beautiful and engaging and I’m truly excited to log on to see it each day.
June 29th, 2011 at 7:12 am
Elizabeth, the images along with their amazingly love filled thank you note are absolutely priceless. What a gift for all of you. Wonderful work for two men who deserve to have all that love captured just as you have done it.
June 29th, 2011 at 7:13 am
My two favorite photographers in one setting????! Boy I wish I was a fly on the tripod!
I admire both of you! Inspiring images Elizabeth.
I see the love!
June 29th, 2011 at 10:57 am
AMAZING!!!! I love them and the photos are wonderful!!! I love every single of them!!!! Beautiful!!! O can’t wait to see José and Joël ‘s wedding photos!!!
June 29th, 2011 at 11:54 am
Love is beatiful!!! ♥ ♥ ♥
June 29th, 2011 at 11:55 am
* beautiful!!! “:)
June 29th, 2011 at 11:57 am
Breathtaking, beautiful and heart warming. I can’t wait to see the wedding photos in 2012.
June 29th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
two of my favorite peeps!!
June 29th, 2011 at 3:49 pm
Wow! Beautiful. Love.
June 29th, 2011 at 8:24 pm
The images took my breath away! I’ve said so many times that photography is my favoritre form of art, next to dance; for the pure emotion that’s caputred and I could feel it through every photograph. I can honestly say that I’m anxiously awaiting the National campaign to see the rest of them. Love is love and it’s even more amazing when it’s captured on film.
June 29th, 2011 at 9:39 pm
These are so lovely. You did a wonderful job. The letter they wrote to you was so sweet. The ultimate compliment. xoxo
June 30th, 2011 at 7:11 am
Love IS beautiful, and these are so gorgeous and personal. I just love them. What an amazing love to see on film!
June 30th, 2011 at 7:23 am
[...] the Wild Things Are – cute family shoot ♥ Photographer Jose Villa’s own engagement shoot ♥ Tattoo porn ♥ Gina & Joe – Morning Glory Inn ♥ Real North Carolina Wedding [...]
June 30th, 2011 at 5:37 pm
A love so beautiful perfectly captured! These are heavenly!
July 1st, 2011 at 1:17 am
this brought me to tears! such incredible images and celebratory on so many levels. thank you for sharing elizabeth!
j.
July 1st, 2011 at 7:16 am
This made me a little teary eyed. The letter they wrote to you is the sweetest and the photos you took truly are beautiful and show so much love.
July 1st, 2011 at 10:02 am
[...] Jose Villa and Joel Serrato’s engagement captured by Elizabeth Messina [...]
July 2nd, 2011 at 10:31 am
Wow, I’m blown away! What a beautiful story you told Elizabeth… This is one if my faves and I can’t wait to see their wedding. Congratulations Joel and Jose, what you wrote to Elizabeth had me teary eyed it was beautiful.
July 5th, 2011 at 12:44 am
This brought tears to my eyes! I am deeply touched by their love for each other, and it truly shows in each of the photographs you took. Thank you so much for sharing this!
July 8th, 2011 at 7:28 pm
How fitting & obvious that they would choose you. You all are the best imagery artists in the world in my opinion! Pure magic!
July 10th, 2011 at 7:48 pm
beautiful. love wins.
July 11th, 2011 at 3:05 pm
Just so amazing…..they are pure, raw and honest and the way love needs and should be photographed. Your work is beyond tender and simply beautiful.
July 12th, 2011 at 10:05 am
so glorious.
July 14th, 2011 at 6:22 am
STUNNING! Just stunning! Did you use 400H in the series of photos in their house too? SO in love with these images!
July 25th, 2011 at 4:14 am
This post brings tears of happiness to my eyes! I love these images and the letter you posted will make me smile all day! You are simply amazing, and the images of these two are stunning! You captured them perfectly