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.

In light of the upcoming holidays and upon our impending departure to Cal-i-for-nia, I thought I’d share the holidays with you at our house.  Well, this year, not so much, I put our “tree” up like, yesterday, but we lit our menorah almost every night, folks!  No Christmas cookies, or caroling, no weeks of planning gifts for the ones we love most.  Unfortunately, it’s just been a blur since Thanksgiving (can you relate?!) and I feel like I’m missing out my favorite time of the year (minus the weather).  When we get to San Diego, however, the gloves come off.  I’m baking cookies, singing Christmas carols and wearing a Santa hat.  Kidding.  Totally kidding.  That’s reserved for our sweet Sophie who will be playing on a farm in Connecticut while we defrost in San Diego.

Here  are a few pictures of the holidays at the Harkovs…

Happy Holidays to all!  May this year be filled with much love, peace and joy!

XOXOX,

Maggie

Though they are San Francisco natives, Monique & Surag are avid New York City lovers.  And, really, who can blame them?  So, when they came for a trip this holiday season, they thought what better place than New York City to have their engagement photos taken?  And, obviously, I couldn’t have agreed more.  There is always something special about engagement photos, but I find engagement photographs taken with the backdrop of the city to be particularly special.  I think it has something to do with seeing time stand still in a couple lost in a moment with one another and yet feeling this constant motion in the background, all frozen forever.  I can’t fully describe it, but I love it.

We met on a sopping wet day at Grand Central and then headed down to Milk & Cookies for some (take a guess) milk and cookies.  It was so much fun and I had a blast getting to know this sweet California couple while tromping around in the rain.

Monique & Surag will be getting married next fall on a beautiful vineyard in Northern California and I know it will be a day as amazing as they are.

To see more from their Milk & Cookies New York City Engagement Session, view their slideshow HERE!

WARNING: the following images may contain pure cuteness.  If sweet little babies (particularly ones who sport amazingly adorable bright pink tutus) make you swoon, you may not want to view the images that follow…

But, for those of you that can handle some preciousness….On November 21, 2009, sweet little Lucy Bea was welcomed into the world by a proud Mommy and Daddy in none other than the great New York, New York.  Her doting parents, Jennie & Frank could not have been more overjoyed to hold their first child in their arms and see this amazing girl that had just changed their lives forever.  

When I arrived at their home for their portrait session, it looked as if they’d been doing this their whole lives, they were completely at peace and were simply aglow.  It was as if they were meant to be doing this all along.  It was such an honor to watch them radiate with such joy and to capture these delightfully sweet and tender moments in their lives.

Upon my arrival home, Mr. Hallmark casually asked how my shoot went with his eyes cast down at the Week in Review section of the Sunday paper.  It wasn’t until he looked up and saw the expression on my face describing how amazing Lucy was that the deer in headlights look came over his face – one that resembled the face he’d made this past summer when I got sick on the side of the road and my father asked, “You’re not pregnant, are you?”  Not to worry Mr. H, it’s just you me, & Sophie for a while, but what can I say?  Babies make me swoon and Lucy Bea is certainly no exception.  Many congratulations Cattano’s, you have such a beautiful family!

For a slideshow of sweet little Lucy Bea, please click HERE.

To see a slideshow of the adorable Lucy Bea, click HERE!

Dear Nasty Influenza Virus,

Thanks so much for the 102-103 fever accompanied by hacking cough, complete and utter exhaustion, chills, aches, you know, the whole nine yards.  Thanks for the loss of appetite, headaches, and sexy man voice.  Thanks for it all.  You, disgusting as you are in every imaginable way, have made me thankful.  For were it not for you, I would not have stopped to think about all I am blessed to do every single day without even thinking about it.  Were it not for you, my days would not have been accompanied by the deliciousness that is Orange Julius, and that, Nasty Influenza Virus, is something to be truly be grateful for.  Were it not for you, I would’ve worked the hours away and not had the opportunity to take day long naps with sweet Sophie asleep at my feet.  Were it not for you spreading to Mr. Hallmark, we would not have had uninterrupted time together.  Even if you just made us cough and sleep in excessive amounts, it was together, and it forced us to just stop and take care of ourselves and each other and get well.  Were it not for you, movies, both good and bad would not have been watched.  Were it not for you, I would not have remembered how fortunate I am to know that though I felt awful, it would only be temporary.  So many people have conditions that never go away, that they have to live with day in and day out for the rest of their lives.  So for opening my eyes and reminding me how much I have to be thankful for on Thanksgiving and always, Nasty Influenza Virus, I thank you.

And for all you Orange Julius lovers out there…I’m about to divulge some seriously top secret news here.  I am passing along our Kwajalein originated Orange Julius recipe – a treat our family only enjoys on Christmas morning or when feeling under the weather.  May you be well and enjoy it as much as we have over the years.

ORANGE JULIUS

3 oz. Orange Juice Concentrate

1/4 C. Sugar

1/2 C. Milk

1/2 C. Water

1/2 teaspoon Vanilla

4-5 Ice Cubes

Blend together and enjoy!