TALAYNA FORTUNADO and Strong is the new Sexy…… Cleopatra Photography {Rockstars} Fort Myers and Cape Coral Crossfit Women Photography

Hi everyone!

SO…. I have had a veryyy busy week!  Lots of planning for the future 120 days woohooo!!! lots of family time…. and lots of cleaning!

But, in the middle of all the madness, I had this awesome session with some amazing chicks!

Talk about motivating!

These women are devoted, not only to fitness but to their families! Almost all of them mommies like me!

I am three weeks into crossfit, and surprised myself today by hitting a new goal already! yaaaaay… I truly love it!

I found something that’s GENUINE…. and gives me back exactly what I give it… its the realest thing in my life!

Those of you who are close to me, go check out my other blog that’s tracking my progress!

I just started writing, so give me a break over there ok!?!?!

Anywho as I was saying, these women are devoted, hard workers…. Id be lying if I said I didn’t strive to be like them physically… but, I think it’s more of a mental thing, atleast for me anyway.

So many bad habits are done for me… this is one of my first “good habits” if you will…

I am moving on and upward with a whole new set of eyes…

Enjoy these gorgeous ladies! ( You all did amazing!!!!!)

OH, and yes they’re showing off…. 😉 Cant wait for it to be my turn!

xx-A

Here is the group of ladies! Not your average portrait! LOVE IT!

Miss J killing the lense!

Sassy back squats by Miss A….

The “We go hard!” look… lol

miss S doing her thing! FYI this one told me she couldn’t make a serious face… LIES!

now on to Miss. K ! Mama of FOUR thats right, 4! and one of them is 18! shhh…. Sorry K, you should be soo proud! oh by the way.. according to her, she never takes a good picture, also false! 😉

Meet Miss N… she and her hubby go to the gym together and bring their kids along! NO EXCUSES! …. p.s. ONE day we will be the pull-up Queens N~!

Here she is, my coach! Miss L…  Im not ashamed to say she inspires me… hard work is hard work, no matter how you slice it… i have certainly come to appreciate that recently!!!! anywho…she’s a dedicated mama and still finds time to look like this….  oh and she’s an absolute riot…. we laugh hard together…:p

Here is Miss T…. amazingly talented and also writes a super inspirational blog on her journey within fitness! She was no stranger to the camera and did some amazing stuff for me! Congrats on your finish this past weekend at WODapalooza!

Now… On to Miss A…. A mommy, a twin and a crossfitter…. loved the looks this lady gave… and she was such a natural at posing!

one last glance at the group!

Now that you’ve met everyone, time for some fun!!!

This is as far as I go…. One day! I will be all the way up…. STRICT! look at these chicks crush it in heels…

now handstands! ONE HANDED ….

how bout this fun one!

im throwing this in because I love it!

if your interested in joining a crossfit gym in Cape Coral contact me! and I can hook you up with Crossfit Salvation…

DON’T WAIT!

Happy New year… from Cleopatra Photography! Downtown Fort Myers – New years eve 2011 – 2012

Hi Everyone!!!!

 

So here I was in Fort Myers for New Years Eve… Not where I wanted to be… but by the end of the night, I was happy I was here and nowhere else….

 

enjoy a quick peak into my night… It started by us going downtown and eating the most amazing cheese covered potato chips ever (ya know, I had to coat the stomache with something…hehehe)… then over to indigo hotel off Broadway to meet with our group…

 

So tell me why noone else thought parking in the parking garage was a good idea??? ( we watched people drive around and around for on street parking….?)

hahahah gotta love how slow the minds work in florida….

 

anyways car in garage for 4$ and we headed out…. throughout the night I had some great drink a few great shots one disgusting one with an oyster in it… yes and oyster… and then champagne at the ball drop…

 

We spent the last minutes of 2011 on the roof of Indigo… watched fireworks, danced, made new friends, shared our first kiss of 2012 and partied…… hardddd…..

Enjoy a look…

xx-A

yaaay for delicious cheese covered chips!

the streets…. looking less like downtown then I’ve ever seen….

 

the people who helped me have a great time ringing in 2012!

and last… the ball drop…

An awesome affair at the Edison-Ford Winter Estates… M and A, said “i do”… Cleopatra Photography {i do} Boston Mass and destination wedding Photographer Ashley Nardello

Hi Everyone!!!! Ok so catching up on Blogs these days isn’t an easy task! ahhh can you say busy!…. We have been editing like crazy, designing like crazy, and shooting like crazy….

Oh not to mention, we are learning the ins and outs of CS5 (amazing product btw…)

any who… I met M at the Indigo Hotel in Downtown Fort Myers to get some shots of her getting ready and hanging with her girls before the big event!  after getting ready the Bride and her Dad got into the model T and headed toward the location.

A location I was super excited to photograph!

The Edison-Ford Winter Estates!!! A really cool historic place. I got there and got right to work! Shooting the little things as well as the interaction!

The guys were great and the girls were pro’s! Check them out! you’ll see.

Everyone had a blast. I shed a tear during M’s vows and laughed during A’s. The emotion was so clear… everyone with their smiling faces, children laughing and it didn’t hurt the sun shining and it was a gorgeous day.

After the ceremony we rocked out some amazing photos on the fig tree and the model T ….and headed over to the Royal Palm Yacht Club where the reception brought the house down!

This crew danced and danced and danced some more! I loved it!!!!!! absolutely adorable! The music was great, drinks were flowing and the food.. oh the food… Love how italians do it!

One or a couple of my favorite parts of the day were obviously the model T…. The location… and the food as you know… but I loved the moments on the dance floor! the jumping the getting down! the moon-walking… and the laughter

everywhere you look people were laughing and having a good time… NO coaching here folks.. this group did so much of this on their own… they made the day fun and refreshing… one more perk of the “job”

Enjoy their pics!

Lets start with the details

and this view… oh my… best rooms at The Indigo Hotel for Bridal Photography!

Right after I shot this image… this happened outside on the courthouse steps!

now a different take on a ring shot… no more on wood, or on the flowers, or twigs or leaves and stuff for a while! Because where DON’T you see that?

and a little ring shot collage…

now… back to the ladies…

M Looked Beautiful in her dress from Maggie Sottero…

Mom, Dad, and Grandma thought so too….

a fun view…

and one last spritz…

a few more of the boys …. while we waited for the brides ride to take her to “the show”

and then the model T showed up!!!

 I loved the drivers attires! So appropriate for the wedding! Ralph at Model T chauffeur Services was great!

as I was taking this picture, M’s dad said I don’t know if I can look at her without crying!  It really touched my heart… *sigh*

on to the Estates…

where… the boys, and girls were waiting for me =)

The ladies were so casual until they realized I was snapping away…. lol

 and the guys… had fun posing for me too…

boys will be boys… correction, men will be men!

now onto the cermony…

Here comes the Bride!! I love the look on M’s face as she took a deep breath before looking down the isle… it was a great moment…

 NOW…..on to the bride and grooms portraits…

This group was soo much fun!!!!! PURE and GENUINE! I love catching off the cuff moments like this…. M in the background was just a bonus!

remember I said they brought the house down…. here’s why…

and last but not least…. I feel like this shot sums up the reception… they had an amazing time…

Thank you M and A for asking me to be a part of it all!!!! xx-A

Indian wedding ceremony by Cleopatra Photography…uniting M and T – Cleopatra Photography – Destination Indian Wedding photography-Boston Mass Indian wedding photographer- Ashley Nardello

Wow.. Where to begin… So if you’re a follower I’m sure you know but for everyone else this is our first Indian wedding! We were so excited to be a part of the day the apprehension was killing us! That morning we headed out the door at 5:30 for a very long day! bright and early things were going on.. we headed in separate directions and the ceremonies began! When the bride and I first spoke about the wedding and she was trying to explain all the little intricacies of the day I tried  so hard to visualize what it would be like…. I looked online to get an idea… but nothing could compare to the color I was about to capture!

The self-proclaimed… non-traditional bride told me she wasn’t wearing red but in fact ivory and pink! I LOVED IT from the very beginning!  From the floral arrangements,  to the jewelery.. everything was bursting with detail… and bright flamboyant colors… The day couldn’t have been more beautiful! It was a teeny bit chilly in the early morning hours, but as the sun rose so did the temp!

The other photographer i had with me that day went off with the groom and I stayed with the bride… I got a chance to see a whole array of emotions… from laughing, to crying…. to the realization today was the day…

In the indian culture there is a large part of the ceremony at a wedding dedicated to the moving on of the daughter. The good-byes… I had no idea just how emotional this would be but you’ll see that for yourself later!

So back to T’s attire for the day… Wow. Lots of bengals, big heavy earrings, large diamond studded patterns and fine fabrics… Beautiful but simple make-up that shimmered in the right light helped make her smile that much more bright and large flowing curls hung from her head not one out of place….she looked beautiful!

Nerves got to her a little bit, as she shed a few tears and I’m sure there was a point in time when she wanted to pass out! (not from just the nerves but from the ritual of fasting!)

Watching her best friend help get her ready,  and the little laughs and tears was just adorable! AWWWWW BFF’s

Anyways…. Lets get the show on the road with a preview of the Gorgeous T…. in preparation and waiting… for the biggest moment in her life… enjoy

both the Bride and Groom wore these bracelets…

now on to the guys…..

On to the next part of the day! The bride and grooms parents and families “received” each other, men first then women and the men presented gifts for the bride. Afterward, a small ceremony that involved throwing things, lighting stuff on fire and smashing an object after standing on a small alter…..

but first….behind the scenes the brides family was amazed seeing her in her attire for the first time…

ok now on to more of the action outside…I love everyone’s hapiness and great expressions here! So happy to unite as one family!

As the ceremony outside was going on… the bride was surrounded in women all putting the finishing touches on the her. Not missing a detail.. making sure everything was perfectly in its place….

As the moment approached tears started welling up in T’s eyes…

You could tell she was nervous….

Not even a minute after the above pic was taken… T looked at me, and almost in tears myself….I did my best “funny face” and boom… she cracked this small smile for me!

As they walked toward the ceremony site you could see and feel the serious nature of the things to come…

and here she is….

The ceremony included a whole erray of different rituals and sayings… We figured we’d give you guys a look at some of the stuff we loved.. and that really stood out…

The groom seeing his bride for the first time!

The color again was amazing….

After the ceremony was finished we took family photos before the goodbyes began…. Here is the proud family… and I quote ” missing the two sleeping beauties”

But here they are!

…..

The next part of the ceremonies had me in tears… full-on shades down… bawling… when I see stuff like this going on, I am swept away to a time when I will have these moments with my daughter…

So emotional…

T was consoling her mother here… I was a wreck!

T… I know you said you didnt wan’t too many of these pics taken…. but I had to put this one on the blog! I was bawlllling! so heartwrenching…

Best Friends…

Off we went to the next part of the day LUNCH!

After a break and an outfit change by the bride and groom we headed back out onto the beach… Thank you so much T and M for making the time for these images! WE LOVE THEM!!!

and off to the next stop! THE RECEPTION!!!!!!!!!

……..but not before a quick stop at the fish tank!

and here they are!!!!!

Mr. and Mrs….

A Halloween themed Wedding not a detail missed….. Cleopatra Photography {i do} Fort Myers Sydney & Berne Davis Center – Wedding Photography

omG!!!! so where to begin.. this day was soo much fun, different and full of little surprises…

Let me start by saying I had my first ever, early and on time Bride, and,  late…. Groomzilla (self proclaimed.. 😉 )

On his way the groom was pulled over ! Luckily he was let go, and made it on time for some awesome shots!

There were bystanders looking on at the blocked road, wondering what all the commotion was about…..

I had a great time, I love THEMED weddings and of course this one took the cake for creative….

from the cupcakes with dry ice to the horror flick seat table names… they did a great job at making this their day…. They didn’t just look in some wedding magazine and say “I want that….”

T, FYI is my hairdresser and one of my  long time friends, long time friend.. if that makes any sense….

I’m so glad to have met this couple and been asked to photograph such a cool wedding! what a breath of fresh air!!!

To view some other “really cool” wedding photography check out our website at www.cleopatraphotography.com

This is definitely a two-part post… so enjoy this half for now… and I’ll see you Tomorrow

CONGRATS R and T!!! xox-A

Rasmussen College, Fort Myers Campus, August 2011 Graduation – Cleopatra Photography – Fort Myers College Graduation Photography

Hello Everyone! Please enjoy as you take a look at some of the commencement ceremony for our local Rasmussen College’s 3rd Graduation ceremony

Thank you So much Jamie for asking me to photograph the graduation again!

Enjoy the photos.

To view the entire gallery please visit http://anardello.photobiz.com/cart/   enter in your enail and THE PASSWORD IS GRAD

M and D tie the knot!!! Cleopatra Photography – Cape Coral Wedding Photography and Boston Wedding Photography

Thats right everyone! You read that correctly!!!! I am offering weddings and Portrait sessions in the New England area.

Last night I had the pleasure of being asked to help a friend shoot the lovely wedding of M and D. Check out Crystals website at www.crystalcphotography.com

 

It took Place at The Marina Resort in Cape Coral Florida!

The bride and groom looked amazing. She a classic beauty, and him a daper gent. These two looked sharp, as you’ll soon see!!!

After a quick ceremony, where the bride was surprised and so happy to see her Dad there, we were excited to get started with the party.

Before the drinking and dancing, we got to my favorite part of any wedding day… The bride and groom… alone… married, for the first time…

This place had some awesome features that made for stunning images!

Ok so on to the party…. amazing music plus a little booze equals a packed dance floor!

BUT! that wasn’t until a little later in the night… before that it was filled with beautiful moments and dances that were tear-jerkers…. There was a moment during the first dance I looked over at M’s Dad, and he was bawling…

In that moment, I imagined my own daughter at her wedding day, and had to hold back tears….my eyes are welling up just thinking about it! *sigh*

M and D you guys are awesome! I had such a great time meeting you and all of your family!

I wish you all the best of luck in the future and remember Cleopatra Photography TRAVELS! 😉

To book Cleopatra Photography for your wedding day contact us at Ashley@cleopatraphotography.com

Anyhow… On to the couple!

Enjoy

xoxo-A

Crossfit Salvation… what’s a snatch anyways? – Cleopatra Photography – Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Naples Crossfit Box Photography

Hey everyone!

SOOO, while I have been on my back, I’ve hardly had any time to edit… and when I do… its very little at a time! So bear with me everyone…

 Here are the pics I took for one of the local Crossfit Boxes in Cape Coral. Crossfit Salvation… ENJOY!

Contact me today to get your “box” photographed at Ashley@cleopatraphotography.com 

Exclusive Artist Sneak Peek…. Cleopatra Photography {Rockstars} Fort Myers and Naples Musician Photogtraphy

Hello everyone… okay so onto the good stuff… for all of you that read my last post.. enough of the mushy stuff;)

So this couple may look familiar to you on my blog! 

I did their You and Me session in downtown Fort Myers, and their Wedding at Grandezza last year.

Over time we have actually become (me and my husband I mean) friends with this star studded couple…

without further ado…

 

Whats new with Cleopatra Photography you ask???

Well, lots has been going on as far as side projects in the past year…. and without blogging each event separately, I figured I would just give everyone a quick update. These are some places you can view my commercial projects etc I have been working on…. enjoy

 to inquire about hiring Cleopatra Photography to photograph your event, business or commercial project etc you can contact me @ Ashley@cleopatraphotography.com

In no particular order:

Rasmussen Colleges first graduation (photo was featured in the news-press):

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20108310341

Julio Zuleta’s  Indoor Batting Cages press release ( photo appeared in florida weekly):

http://fortmyers.floridaweekly.com/news/2010-01-06/On_the_Move/Sports.html

Julio Zuleta’s Batting Cages website:

http://www.zuletasbattingcages.com/Julio_Zuleta.html

Terry L. McCreary Law Firm’s website:

http://www.mccrearylawfirm.com/

Sidney Riot Rock Bands website:

http://www.noclout.com/html/sidney_riot.html

Pet Kingdoms website preview:

Magical Home Theaters Website preview:

Charisma Hair Salon:

Remodeling Project for Northern Contracting: