A week ago I held the Grand Opening of my natural light photography studio in downtown Ridgewood.   What a WONDERFUL day it was – it seriously exceeded my wildest expectations!  I am amazed and humbled by the support I’ve received from everybody – my family and my friends, my clients, neighbors at my office building, everybody!  I could not believe how many people came to support me in person – it was standing room only at the studio during the Open House!  And those who were not able to make it to the studio in person sent messages, emails, and called to wish me good luck!

I laughed, I hugged, I screamed, I jumped with joy and I cried (happy tears!).  I felt loved and supported and absolutely humbled by how genuinely happy everybody were for me.  I am so grateful for clients who became friends and for friends who became clients.  I am so lucky that I was able to find a career that I LOVE and that I am good at.  I felt (and still feel) so incredibly lucky to see my business grow – and become one of the premier family photography studios in the Bergen County area – and all of that in just five short years!

And what makes my photography journey even more special are incredibly talented photographers I met along the way, people who became my biggest cheerleaders and dearest friends.  Friends like Michele, Sarah  and Stacey, who flew/drove half way across the country (kids in tow!) to surprise me at my grand opening.  And friends like Shona, Heidi, Leah, Carol , Janie and Minnette, who were not able to be there physically but were definitely there in spirit!

Here are a few pictures from the Grand Opening – looking at them makes me smile every single time!  Thank you my dear friend Michele from PinkleToes for capturing some of them!

There were balloons:

and delicious breakfast pastries – catered by Meiganne Serrano Catering (HIGHLY recommend her!)

There were goodie-mugs (that I spent hours putting together prior to the event!)

and my dear friend, who came early to help me set up and calm me down:)

there were flowers from friends:

and lots of hugs:

AND there was THE MOST AMAZING SURPRISE – three of my bestest photographer girlfriends (the ones I went to Chicago and Cape Cod with) drove/flew half way across the country (two with kids in tow!) to be there with me at the Grand Opening!!!!  I still can hardly believe this happened, that someone would do that for me!  The remaining 7 of my wonderful friends were not able to make it but I could definitely feel them there in spirit! (and the google hangout chat we had that night helped!).

After the open house was over, the girls opened a bottle of Champagne (they came prepared!) and we drank it from disposable coffee cups – yep, we classy like that:)

We took pictures of the kids in the room with ‘good light’:

and asked strangers on the street to take a picture of us (in not such great light) :

And in the evening we were back at the studio for the formal Ribbon Cutting Ceremony with the mayor of Ridgewood and members of Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce.  I am so happy that the Mia and Alexa helped the mayor with the ribbon cutting:)

In the evening Victor and the girls went to my in-laws so that my friends and I could have a proper slumber -party! – you never get too old for those!

And the next day Sarah, Michele and I enjoyed a beautiful fall day in New Jersey – throwing leaves and all:)

And now my natural light photography studio in Ridgewood is OFFICIALLY open!  So if you would like to have a session there (or anywhere else!) email me at Lena@livelovelaughphotos.com as soon as you can to book your session – I only have a few spots left this year!