New York City Wedding Photographer | Vintage Modern Southern California Wedding Photography » Maggie Harkov is an international modern wedding & lifestyle photographer based in New York City.

You know, it’s funny.  My calendar says it’s June 12, 2009, but I could swear it’s April.  I mean, really, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much rain in April and that’s a month dedicated to showers!  So, in light of this rain, I thought I’d pull out some winter pictures for those of us that are feeling a little bogged down that summer isn’t quite being summer and make us all appreciate that it is actually warmer, even if it’s not the typical warm, sunny June weather we’re accustomed to. 

Before I do that, though, I have something to share about Mr. Hallmark.  I don’t know how to say this exactly, but here it goes: my better half is not a fan of summer…or anything above 55 degrees, period.  True story.  Don’t ask me how it’s possible because it’s not something I’ll ever come close to comprehending, but this post is also for the two of you cold weather lovers out there: may the memories of bitter cold be sweet as you view this beauty in her scarf and winter coat. :)

In the midst of winter frigidness, my dear friend, Katie posed for some pictures.  Katie and I have been friends for as long as I can remember.  She is one of those friends that no matter how crazy our lives get or how long it’s been since we’ve seen each other, we can always pick up right where we left off.  She’s literally like my 5th sister.  We been through a lot of different points in our lives together and I adore her.  She’s an uber talented musical theater singer, who is going to make it super big, and she’s an absolute sweetheart.  She’s intelligent, beautiful, funny, and incredibly dedicated to those she loves.  We grew up in California down the street from each other and everytime I see her in this big city, I feel like I’m a little closer to California and my family.  What a gift to give somebody.  With each year, I feel increasingly lucky to call her my friend.  Eat your heart out, boys, she’s hot stuff!

Here are a few of my favorites of my childhood buddy, Katie – singer, model, friend, extraordinaire.

I have a confession, Internet…  Sometimes I pretend I’m British…

OK, so “sometimes” might be slightly more often than I’m alluding to here…(as in nearly all phone calls with friends and members of my family, on my fictional cooking show, Maggie’s Magnificent Meals, on occasional evenings out to dinner, and just when I feel like spicing things up a bit).  I’ll admit it:  I find flashing my attempt at a native Londoner accent makes just about any situation much more fun.  I don’t know how it began exactly, but I’ve always adored the English accent and think that just about anything sounds better when spoken with its eloquent tongue.  Go ahead, you can practice out loud, you know you want to!      

One Christmas, when my niece, Summer and nephew, Cody were visiting from the wee small town of Page, Arizona, we decided it was time to play the best game on the face of this earth.  (Now, I’m about to divulge some seriously valuable information here, folks, so be prepared to do the dance of joy for all eternity.)  Here it is…I pass the torch on to you with care…Follow your Nose.  Do not pass go.  Buy it immediately.  It rocks my world!  Oh, how it makes me happy!  But, I digress…we decided playing the best game on earth could only be paired with the best accent on earth and assigned each other new British names.  Summer became Su-mer, Cody now Cod-y, Maggie =   Mad-gai, and Dorothy = Doroty.  From that moment on, there was no going back.  We would always be Brits.

This year, the gorgeous and super cool Su-mer came to visit her Aunt Mad-gai & Uncle Hallmark in NYC for her sixteenth birthday present, and we couldn’t have been more thrilled to have her.  Coming from a town that prides itself for it’s proximity to the beautiful Lake Powell, and   has a total population of approximately 7,000 people, about 16 restaurants including the decadent Subway and KFC, one movie theater, and just got its first and only Starbucks inside their local Safeway, caused Su-mer to find the pace, people, and grandeur that NYC so proudly boasts to be a tad overwhelming.  We hit the pavement and explored every inch we could with our British tones and had a blast.  One afternoon I asked the lovely Su-mer if I could take some pictures of her and she kindly obliged. 

Su-mer from the microscopic town of Page, Arizona, who reads massive novels any spare moment she can find, who loves shopping, horses, Chinese food, pizza, texting, her boyfriend, Jaime, her best friend, Danielle, and dance, filled our not so microscopic New York City with joy and laughter.  She could’ve easily looked at me like I’m crazy old Aunt Mad-gai, like she’d outgrown my silly attempts to sound like a Brit years ago, but instead, she pretended she was a Brit right along with me.  She laughed and smiled, and was simply Summer.  And, when I look back on these images, I’m reminded of all that Su-mer is to all of  us…pure happiness.

I should have known.  I mean, hey, I told you already, it runs in the family, but I still found myself amazed by her talent.

The stunning Danilda Ramirez makes a repeat appearance on the pages of www.maggieharkov.com, folks, and this time, she’s in the hot seat.  Dani, as she likes to be called, is one lady who knows just what to do in front of the camera!  She made my job a piece of cake (yellow with milk chocolate frosting, please) and we had such fun galavanting throughout New York’s fabulous Central Park.   

Dani is a beautiful mother of two.  Yes, you read that correctly.  Mother of two.  How is it possible, you ask?   I don’t know, but I plan on finding out her secrets and implementing them immediately!  I’m gonna go with genes.  Thanks, Mom & Dad! :) (Kidding.)  Dani is hilarious, full of life, and she is completely in love with her children.  Personally, I think the whole family should just get a show with HBO to showcase all their talents as there are MANY!

Well, here she is, Internet…a few of my favorites of the gorgeous, Dani.

I was only in the fifth grade when it happened.  I remember being a little worried about the whole thing, yet filled with that feeling you experience only when you’re really excited about something.  You know, when you lie awake at night, too beside yourself to close your eyes because, really, if you slept, the day would never get here and it would be much less fun if you didn’t arise like a limp noodle from sleep deprivation the next morning.  Butterflies bounced about in my tummy.  I couldn’t wait to meet him!

The night we first met Nathan is one I will never forget.  I sat perched at the window, peaking through the blinds at the car lights kissing the streets, hoping the next one would hold sweet baby Nathan.  Finally, they pulled up.  An aunt, I thought, I was cool now, and I couldn’t wait to tell everyone at school just how cool I had become, totally unaware of what being an aunt really meant.  I would come to learn that being an aunt would be one of the greatest joys of my life. 

Sixteen years ago today, my first nephew was born.  Small and filled with wonder, Nathan came into the world and changed our lives forever.  He smiled, laughed, and cooed and everyone  instantly lit up.   His first steps, words, and triumphs were treasured by all and he filled our lives with joy.  It’s funny how no matter how much things change, they stay the same.

Today I’m reminded of that young boy who really isn’t such a child any longer.  That boy that we all once rocked to sleep in our arms, and taught me that I couldn’t wait to be a mother is now taller than all of us!  I am so proud of you and all that you are, Nathan.  You are an extraordinary young man and I truly admire your big, beautiful heart and how much you love and care for others.  Happy Birthday, Nathan, I’m so glad you were born, and that you’re our nephew!

And… Happy Memorial Day, Internet!

When his mother called to inquire about taking some headshots of her teenage son, I was really excited!  OK…and little nervous, but after meeting them my fears were quickly put to rest. 

On Mother’s day, Danilda took her son out to the city to get some headshots so he could get his dream of becoming an actor off and running.  What a sweet Mom!  Although I hadn’t met with them before, I could immediately tell that Danilda and Anderson were close.  Stop track. Rewind.  Did you catch that name?  Anderson Sanchez.  Remember it, folks, cuz he’s gonna be a star! 

Anderson, 14, wants to be an actor.  And, he’s not the only one in the family.  Both of his aunts are actresses.  You might recognize one of his ever lovely relatives, in fact: Dania Ramirez.  She has been in shows like Heroes, Sopranos, and she’s also starred in X-Men: The Last Stand, and Fat Albert, to name a few.  AND, his mom, Danilda is no slouch herself.  She is gorgeous, loves acting and writing and hopes to get involved in the business as well.  What can I say?  It’s just in their blood. 

Anderson was a sweetheart and though he was a little shy at first, he warmed right up when I threatened to dance like a crazy woman in the middle of Central Park.  :)  (WARNING: my dancing style resembles Elaine from Seinfeld.)  His eyes lit up in front of the camera.  If his smile and ability to pose at 14 are any indication of how he acts, I’d say he’s gonna do just fine.  Watch out Hollywood, here he comes!

Here are a couple of favorites from our session…And, because it was Mother’s day I snapped a few of Anderson with his beautiful Mom.  Can you believe she has two kids?!  Work it, Dani! :)  Stay tuned next week because the beautiful Danilda will be appearing front and center in her very own headshots!  Cuz, hey, it just runs in the family…