the details & planning of a photography workshop takes many moons & minds to plan & come up with the creative concepts that are transformed into a series of (hopefully) breathtaking photo shoots, that are at once an artistic expression of the artists (myself included) who collaborate to create such beauty & also wonderful education oportunities – it was over a year ago that i began working with an incredible group of GEORGIA PEACHES to help me develop that concepts for A LOVELY WORKSHOP in SEA ISLAND, GEORGIA – fashion stylist GINNY BRANCH & floral stylist AMY OSABA & prop stylist BLUE EYED YONDER – working with these creative girls was wonderful -

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GINNY & I spent hours on the phone (girl talk really) about flowers & colors & overall ideas for the photos shoots – one of the first ones we agreed on was something GREEN inspired mixed with the concept of my KISSING TREE – love letters, botanics, leaves, tress, all grounded in a feeling of life & love – BOTANICS – seriously GINNY has the most incredible BOTANICAL PINTEREST BOARD -


elizabeth messina  - botanic backdrop 1

i am obsessed with backdrops – when BLUE EYED YONDER said she could make a BOTANICAL BACKDROP that we could place among the moss laden tress i almost fainted – & then with AMY’s real life florals to ice the already bountiful botanic cake – i was indeed smitten – even after our endless talks & mutual excitement there is no way to describe what it feel like to see a vision come to life – it was truly beautiful – a green field full of old growth trees, dripping in spanish moss & there in the middle of it our BEAUTIFUL BOTANIC BACKDROP – a piece of art born out of girl talk  -

elizabeth messina - botanic backdrop 3this beautiful BOTANIC backdrop will be featured in the next issue of FLUTTER MAGAZINE – so keep an eye out – this is such a sweet & beautiful way to have a backdrop literally anywhere – it would be the perfect photo booth at a wedding or ummmm photo shoot – many thanks to the amazing GINNY BRANCH & AMY OSABA & BLUE EYED YONDER for making my dreams come true – xoxo

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elizabeth-messina-cover-9it is always such an indescribable pleasue to photograph
CLAIRE PETTIBONE’s stunning gowns & this spring in SEA ISLAND
was truly magical – i am honored to to be gracing the cover of the newest
issue of UTTERLY ENGAGED – their is also a beautiful 30 page spread inside -

xoxoxoxo – elizabeth


styling by GINNY BRANCH 

florals by AMY OSABA

props by BLUE EYED YONDER

hair & makeup by
ERIN SKIPLEY & CLAUDIA MEJERLE

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A LOVELY WORKSHOP
INSTAGRAM PHOTOS

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it is hard to put into words all of the incredible beauty & inspiration that was tucked into a few precious days at the SEA ISLAND RESORT in GEORGIA – from the stunning FLORALS by the insanely talented AMY OSABA to the stunning FASHION & SET styling by the ever gracious GINNY BRANCH to the truck load of treasure from BLUE EYED YONDER – it was literally my DREAMS coming to life before my eyes….

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the attendees were embraced by SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY that embraced us at every turn at SEA ISLAND RESORT – they learned & created side by side with each other & with ME – they finger painted with WAX from incredible artist, encaustics master & book maker LEAH MACDONALD -

elizabeth messina_a lovely workshop_instagram0003they sat with MARTHA STEWART WEDDINGS photo editor, SHIRA SAVADA & soaked up her insights on publishing & got a bit of her fantastic sense of humor along the way…they enjoyed treasures from BENEFIT COSMETICS, WILEY VANETINE, ARTIFACT UPRISING, VELVET RAPTOR, MONKEYS ALWAYS LOOK, CUPCAKE VINEYARDS, CACAO, FUJI FILM, PRETTY PLUM SUGAR, TIBI, RUCHE, YOU SMELL all tucked into beautiful custom made totes by the one & only WEDDING CHICKS – & our staff wore handmade aprons by ICE MILK APRONS -

elizabeth messina_a lovely workshop_instagram0004Tthey photographed stunning fashion by CLAIRE PETTIBONE, TWIGS & HONEY, CHELSEA ROSE BRIDAL, THE SENTIMENTALIST, and IVY & ASTER which hung beautifully from the frames of five stunning models KAREN, SARAH, JESSICA, GINA & ANNA…whose beautiful hair & makeup were carefully tended to by ERIN SKIPLEY & CLAUDIA MEJERLE

elizabeth messina_a lovely workshop_instagram0005then we dined on scrumptious SEA ISLAND RESORT meals while lovely LA TAVOLA linens covered the tables – as a handmade chalkbroard sign by SOUTHERN SPROUT sat beside us & LOVE LETTERS & such were artfully written by incredible calligrapher MAYBELLE -we laughed, we cried – it was everything i LOVE about collaboration – the end result was much bigger than all of the parts -

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i think the thing that truly touched my heart the most was the incredible group of people that came to A LOVELY WORKSHOP to learn from me & my fantastic group of collaborators…all of the attendees brought something special to our group…they are all ARTISTS & it was a pleasure to share time with each & every one of them -

elizabeth messina_a lovely workshop_instagram0007please take a moment & explore the creative work &
websites of the 2013 LOVELY WORKSHOP attendees

MARISA HOLMES
LINDSAY MADDEN
GREER GATTUSO
DANIEL PEREZ
KATHERINE EMERY
TRICIA WHITMER
LIZ ROBERTS
JULIE PAISLEY
RABIAH KHWAJA
VERONICA RAMIREZ
NICOLE MASON
KELLY SAUER
JESSICA MORRISY
SERENA SEVERTSON
TIFFANY BENDER
LAUREN ROSENAU
REBECCA STANLEY
SARAH PIRKRYL
GINA MOORE

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ELIZABETH COLLING trained as a pastry chef in PARIS &
has been a FOOD EDITOR at MARTHA STEWART for 4 years -
simply put, she is DELICIOUS – lucky for us she has left the BIG APPLE
& relocated in my beautiful back yard (aka: SANTA BARBARA) – she is
hosting a lovely intimate chocolate boutique/pop up shop just in time for

-VALENTINE’S DAY -

you can sample scrumptious chocolate confections yourself or
bring a little sweetness home for the one your love – an array of
mouthwatering delights will be available on

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13th &
THURSDAY, FEBRAURY 14th

at

MAISON K
1159 COAST VILLAGE RD
MONTECITO CA 93108

- run do not walk as i plan to eat most of her confections myself -
if you want to be sure there is something sweet waiting for you,
you may pre-order & reserve your confections by contacting
ELIZABETH COLLING directly at
ELIZABETH.COLLING(AT)GMAIL(DOT)COM
& she will accommodate advance orders
___________________________

here are some of the CONFECTIONS that will
be available at ELIZABETH’s boutique

-TRIPLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES
-HOMEMADE OREOS
-DARK CHOCOLATE CARAMELS
WITH FLEUR DE SEL
-ARTISAN HOT CHOCOLATE WITH
HOMEMADE HEART MARSHMALLOWS
-VALRHONA CHOCOLATE TART FOR 2
-HOMEMADE HOT FUDGE SAUCE

to see some of her beautiful creations stop by SNIPPET & INK today

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i love that REVERIE chose this sweet image of mine for their new cover….i was a mother when i got married…i was a girl in a dress with a baby on my hip & two other little ones running around….i felt every much a bride…being a mother did not lessen the sweetness & joy of exchanging vows & celebrating our love….this image & the beautiful spread inside REVERIE magazine feature my dear friend MYRA CALLAN’s new dress line as well as her beautiful TWIGS & HONEY veils & headpieces….all images were made at the stunning STOW HOUSE in santa barbara….xoxo

_______________________________

hair & makeup by
CHRISTINA BURNS

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there is a sweet secret behind the photographs i create a team of creatives…florists….stylist…creative directors…hair & makeup artists…on most of my shoots the talented ERIN SKIPLEY is by my side…scheming & coming up with ideas for hair styles & the perfect makeup for each gown…we ebb & flow like the sea, inspiring each other & making pretty pictures together…here is some of our recent work…


thank you my sweet friend
- ERIN SKIPLEY -
you are a
hair & makeup
goddess…xoxo

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THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE

Hello darkness, my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
‘Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turn my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never shared
No one dared
Disturb the sound of silence

“Fools,” said I, “you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you”
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said
“The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sound of silence

SIMON & GARFUNKEL

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