Archive for the ‘Personal’ Category
Monday, May 24th, 2010
Gretchen update, finally
Gretchen finally allowed me to photograph her.
These were taken yesterday at Stone Barn in Pocantico hills. My girls love to stroll around and check out the farm and all the animals.
I asked gretch to stop and pose and she asked me like a “fashion girl” or a “wedding girl?” Of course I picked a wedding girl!
Posted in Personal, portrait | 2 Comments »
Monday, May 10th, 2010
Happy Mothers Day
Happy mothers day to all the mommies out there, and to the mommy of my little girls. You’re intelligent, beautiful, caring and supportive. Thank you for being such a wonderful role model for our little angels.
Posted in Personal | 1 Comment »
Monday, April 5th, 2010
Easter weekend
I was lucky this year with no weddings on easter weekend so I got to spend both days with family.
Saturday was a big day at my mothers she was making homemade pasta for Sunday and Gretchen got to help.
There is something about that board the pasta machine is attached to that brings me right back to the 80’s. Its the same piece of wood and same pasta machine that my grandmother used to make the “macaroni” for easter dinner. I was taken by the moment watching gretchen helping just like I did. Ahhh memories!
Stella didn’t get to help with the pasta but she did carry this shovel around for half the day!
Easter morning was spent at home and then we headed over to my mother in laws for dinner. This is the girls in there easter shirts which is a white tank top (AKA the easter beater!) that catherine added some handmade flowers to. She used scraps of fabric that she had leftover from the dresses she made for the girls. My kids are so serious, whats that about?
Just a cool shot of G.
Stella attacked me while I was sleeping in the grass.
The way catherine and the girls colored these easter eggs was so clever. She boiled spices, frozen blueberries and a beet. What, no little colored tablets that turn your hands and entire house colors?
And here’s my little niece madeline. This was her first real portrait, I was so honored!
Posted in Personal | 2 Comments »
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
BEST OF 2009 : the crew
If I’ve shot your wedding, undoubtedly you’ve seen the camera turned on me or ronnie and actually anybody that works with us. Its part of the job to photograph and be photographed! If it wasn’t for these photos I dont think anyone would believe what we go through to get the shot. So this third installment is of us and the craziness that we put ourselves through for all of you.
One more thing, you are going to see a lot of me posing thats done so we can check to see if the death defying spots we are putting you guys in is worth it. And of course it is! Oh and the music is from the greatest movie ever!
Posted in Business, Personal, Weddings | 10 Comments »
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
The best of engagement contest is over and…
Wow that got heated. I actually blocked comments for the below post in order to not let this get any more attention, I also removed some of the comments.
Plus for family and friends of Nicole #7 I spoke with her and offered her the canvas of her choice at my cost! My intention was to have a little fun with this not create a bride war : )
So yes #9 Christina and Mike you guys are the winners and you get a free 24×36 canvas gallery wrap.
The lesson learned here is that viral marketing is a power not to be reckoned with!
The next series of photos will be a best of weddings 2009 with no voting! Stay tuned.
Posted in Business, Personal, Weddings | 8 Comments »
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010
I know, its been a while!
I just looked at my last blog post and realized its been a long time.
Truthfully I needed to reset. In total last year Ronnie, Jason and I shot almost 100 weddings.
That might not seem like a lot but think about that!
Anyway, Im back and totally refreshed. I spent the last few weeks with Gretchen and Stella oh and Cath : )
For those of you who did not receive a christmas card from us here it is.
As usual its not your typical card. And no the stuffed animals were not in the original picture.
So this new year has presented some huge opportunities for me and the studio.
First off I will be welcoming two new photographers to the team.
Anthony Petrozza is joining as a main photographer and will be shooting his own weddings starting mid year.
We just shot his head shot for the website. Everyone say hi to Anthony!
This means that the studio will now be able to accomodate three weddings in one day.
No more sad faces when the phnoe rings and I’m not available!
Anthony brings a refreshing new approach to the mix and I will be sure to point out all of his work as the new year unfolds.
And in a few days I should have his about page up and a gallery of last years images posted.
Next is a second shooter who has been interning at the office for the past year.
Kerrie Sansky has assisted me and also has shot second camera throughout 2009
Kerrie joins as a second shooter for 2010.
Sorry no photo of Ms. Sansky yet : (
This new year will also have Ronnie and I traveling for a few weddings including an event overseas.
In August we will shoot in Gozo, Malta.
For those of you not familiar with Malta its one of Europe’s smallest countries and is located off the coast of Italy.
Before I signed the contract to shoot the wedding there I did a little bit of research and was totally blown away with how beautiful the country is.
Im really looking forward to this experience.
So hang on everyone this year is going to be as huge as the last two years and I promise to keep it interesting.
Ricky
Edited to add
Thats right I forgot to mention that in the next few days I will be posting a best of 2009. Plus a little slide show of me and the crew risking our lives to get some awesome images for all of you!
Posted in Business, Personal | 8 Comments »
Saturday, November 28th, 2009
update on the weens
Stella also affectionately refered to as Weenie or Weens… Don’t ask, has not had much blog love lately.
So here she is at an incredibly awesome 14 months old. This is by the way the perfect age in my opinion.
Oh yeah, I am purposely leaving Gretchen out of this post Sorry G you always get the spotlight. Just look two posts down.
Posted in Personal | 1 Comment »
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009
my little ballerina
Monday was visiting day at gretchens ballet school. The door is usually closed to prevent the kids from getting distracted. But today we were all invited in. I was so impressed with her ability to concentrate on something at such a young age, she’s not even 4 yet. I know I will remember this day forever.
Posted in Personal, portrait | 11 Comments »
Wednesday, September 16th, 2009
Gretchens first (and second) day of school
Believe it or not, Gretchen started school this year. (Actually I’m probably the only person who can’t believe it.)
Where the hell did the time go. I feel like she was just born and already she is off to school.
It was an awesome morning gretchen was so excited the night before, all she kept talking about was the pony’s and chickens at her school. (more about them later : )
Gretchen chose her outfit for the first day. Here she is posing on the steps in her dress.
First day hair style.
First day shoes!
Off to the car, she brought her favorite pony for the ride. We left him in the car though because at school she has a real pony to play with!
Gretch likes the guy on the right but my favorite is the donkey (yeah I know!)
Heres the chicken coop!
Stella was on hand to help Gretch with the transition.
This is the start to day two.
In true Restiano fashion we were the first ones there. It’s never to early to learn the importance of being punctual : )
If your wondering why there are chickens, pony’s and donkeys at Gretchens school its because Catherine and I follow a different philosophy on children and their developmental stages.
If you want to know more I will be more than happy to share, just not here, give me a call!
– Edited to add it is not a farmer school, thanks for making me laugh Shari!
The kids do other activities like painting singing and dancing. The basic principle is to let the children develop their imagination and creative side before the abc’s and 123’s. The animals are a bonus. ( Im still laughing at Shari’s email : )
Posted in Personal | 6 Comments »
Thursday, July 9th, 2009
more from Tennessee
Ill be back tomorrow evening and available to talk if anyone needs me.
Until then here are some more photos from Tennessee.
We are in Franklin right now thats only 20 minutes from Nashville.
Catherine’s sister Teri and her husband David have a gorgeous home/ranch on tons of property.
The coolest thing ever is they have a stream on the property that runs down from a mountain
and after it rains arrowheads are scattered all over the stream.
Not kidding. Native American arrowheads wash right down the stream.
I found 5 none of them were perfect but Teri has 2 completely intact.
All in all this was a great trip and very relaxing.
I’m raring to go for the second quarter of the wedding season.
This is where I found the first arrowhead. Think about how cool this is, the last person to touch this was a native american 200 something years ago. Wow!
We had some left over sparklers to play with.
Here is little G running Bailey.
Posted in Personal | 3 Comments »