“I keep on fallin’ in and out of love with you
Sometimes I love you
Sometimes you make me blue
Sometimes I feel good
At times I feel used
Loving you darling
Makes me so confused

I keep on fallin’ in and out of love with you
I never loved someone the way that I loved you

Oh, Oh, I never felt this way
How do you give me so much pleasure
And cause me so much pain, yea yea
‘Cause when I think
I’m taking more than would a fool
And I start fallin’ back in love with you

I keep on fallin’ in and out of love with you
I never loved someone the way that I loved you

I’m fallin’
I’m fallin
fall, fall, fall, fall”

ALICIA KEYS

love is beautiful….xoxo

who this is?

hint….this lovely talented photographer posed for me in the woods….xoxo

this is an special post for me…i usually show just a few images from a shoot….i never want to show too much….to overwhelm or bore someone…i’ve had the honor of photographing this beautiful girl for many years….gina worked tirelessly in france for our many long shoots….i adore her & felt i should share all her splendor & beauty….i also want to thank from the bottom of my heart the incredible creative crew….LAUREN NAPIER the amazing make up artist who’s skill & ability to work under pressure was amazing….ERIN SKIPLEY the hair stylist extraodinaire….our lovely & talented stylist EDEN….the designers…DELPHINE MANIVET….CLAIRE PETTIBOONE….TWIGS & HONEY….LOVELY BRIDE….KIRSTIE KELLY….& the sweetest assistants a girl could have…LEAH MACDONALD & BLISS BOOKS….KIRSTEN*….YVETTE ROMAN….KIM from JUNEBUG WEDDINGS…and our amazing location in france CHATEAU SAINT JULIEN L’ARS….i am forever humbled by all of your grace, talent & generousity….thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you….all images created by me ELIZABETH MESSINA….au revoir….xoxo

A LOVELY WORKSHOP

life is full of longing…we are often faced with ups & downs that seem insurmountable….loss & heartbreak can feel unbearable…finding balance and peace in the midst of uncertainty & the bla bla bla…i often find myself in the midst of my own personal dichotomies…i know deeply how unhealthy & damaging smoking can be, but its also achingly beautiful in a photograph….so i love the look of smoke while i am repelled by smoking….i love locally grown organic food, but love the look on my son’s face when he eats a french fry….and these are the easy ones to spot…the harder moments are the ones that tug at your heart & leave you off balance…the yin & yang…that what you “should” do verses what you “want” to do….there are of course the blessed moments when the “shoulds” match up with the “wants”, but not always….finding balance & embracing peace in your heart sometimes means going in the opposite direction of what you are longing for….admiring the cloud of beautiful smoke & yet not reaching for a cigarette….loving yourself against all odds….choosing happiness….letting the inevitable twists & turns of life inspire you rather than define you….embrace the journey…expect the unexpected…someone you love will let you down….someone you are not close to, will surprise you in the most wonderful way….the glass can always be full….what do you want to fill it with??

so, i’ve been back for a couple of weeks now…and i am just starting to feel like myself again….for a while it felt as though i was suspended in two different universes….one full of long beautiful days, endless croissants and photographs & amazing people…the other a blur catch up & ketchup, clients & children….so as my jet lag subsides & i begin to explore the forest of photographs from france, i am ready to share….share my gratitude to all the amazingly talented & creative people who came together to make france & the lovely workshop such a once in a lifetime experience…and of course i am ready to share my photographs…and i warn you there are many….so over the coming weeks i will be doing posts that highlight the different designers & artists that collaborated with me…and i will be doing a series of wonderful giveaways….so sit back & relax…and come share my dreams….bon voyage…

blessing to these amazing artists

designer & prop stylist EDEN of END DESIGN….photographer & wax sage LEAH MACDONALD & BLISS BOOKS….a spoon full of love thanks to MONKEYS ALWAYS LOOK….lovely calligraphy XANDRA Y. ZAMORA….the gracious & lovely ULRICA WIHLBORG editor at PEOPLE magazine & talented photographer….to my name sake & the loveliest of lovelies LANIE LIST from the LOVELY BRIDE, we were made for each other…..sweet & adorable KIM of JUNEBUG WEDDINGS and alongside her loving husband ADAM BAMBERG owner of LA VIE photography…..fantastic makeup by the very talented LAUREN NAPIER….stunning film maker KISTEN* of BLISS…..sublimely amazing CLAIRE PETTIBONE who was kind enough to send me with a treasure trove of dresses & lingerie….the most incredible & insightful & talented author &  PDN deputy editor JACQUELINE TOBIN who was gracious & available to all of us….stunning hair artist ERIN SKIPLEY, who between updos worked effortlessly as a model too…incredibly patient & hardworking talented photographer YVETTE ROMAN…..endlessly talented designer KIRSTIE KELLY who also entrusted me with a suitcase full of beautiful dresses….the incredibly talented MYRA CALLEN of TWIGS & HONEY for her seriously artistic hair adornments & headpieces & flawless modeling….my amazing photography lab IMAGE SOURCE….to the very sweet DELYSIA chocolates for the delicious truffles….beautiful dresses from the extremely talented SARAH SEVEN….the creative lovely signs courtesy of MODERN PRESS….the beautiful letterpress & lovely workshop suite of paper products by the ever talented & new mommy VIOLA of CHEWING THE CUD….beautiful french gowns by DELPHINE MANIVET….very talented head piece designer JENNIFER BEHR…and a special thank you to the owners of CHATEAU DE ST. JULIEN L’ARS, such a magical place….and to FRANCE my sweet muse, i miss you terribly….thank you all for making A LOVELY WORKSHOP so very very lovely….

may loveliness surround you wherever you are…xoxo

i am just so smitten with JUNEBUG weddings…first of all, JUNEBUG was created by three very wonderful women…they are all talented photographers, which is why it’s simply perfect that they have launched a new site called PHOTOBUG….it’s a site for brides & photographers that highlights the best photographers around the country…each city has very limited number of photographers, so it’s an opportunity for the right photographer to get alot of exposure….plus it’s a wonderful resource for brides, who don’t know where to start…there is an application process to be considered to be part of PHOTOBUG…i am so honored to know these women & to be part of their new & lovely endeavor….below is a look at my profile on PHOTOBUG….

these are the cities that PHOTOBUG is currently representing

ATLANTA…CHICAGO…DALLAS…DENVER…LOS ANGELES
NEW YORK…ORANGE COUNTY…PHOENIX…PORTLAND…
SAN FRANCISCO…SEATTLE…WASHINGTON DC

(if you don’t see your city listed, bug them &  maybe
PHOTOBUG will come to your hometown too…xoxo)

we heart JUNEBUG & the PHOTOBUG BLOG

xoxo

may all of your lovely dreams come true…xoxo

sometimes being a fool is just beautiful….xoxo