layli samimi photography :: ROXY + ASHKAN ENGAGEMENT SHOOT

This past weekend we had a blast with one of the best photo shoots of all time. I shot an engagement session with my dear friends, the beautiful couple Ashkan + Roxy. when they told me they were engaged, I was over the moon, as they are such a strong, radiant couple who complement one another so very well. They make one another laugh so much, can really have a great time together and truly are the best of friends. They are getting married soon and I absolutely cannot wait. If the engagement photos prove anything about how amazing they are in front of the camera, I am convinced that the shots taken on their wedding day will be phenomenal! 

We took to the streets of downtown LA for this shoot and the light was just perfection and the colors did not disappoint. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I do this damn handsome couple:

 

Sending you both all my love and a I know you're going to have a bright future filled with laughter and good times.
Congratulations Ash + Roxy.
xoxo

LAYLISAMIMI.COM >> YES, YES, YA'LL!!

i am honored and elated, excited and overjoyed that my BRAND SPANKIN' new website is up!! it took, hours upon hours, blood [not exactly], sweat [yes], tears [yes], revising, editing, organizing, re-organizing, consulting with trusted "eyes" [friends and family], more hours upon hours to go through the years of my most beloved photographs - my loved 35mm, polaroid and digital photographs to curate this fine collection that i am proud to call a portfolio and huge gesture to myself of honoring my work and giving it a PROPER HOME. i designed and built the website myself [!!!] and have also been able to add this super slick, radtastic feature of MY VERY OWN ONLINE SHOP where i offer some of my select photographs as fine art and silk photographic prints!! i'm over the moon and the response + support so far has been humbling and confirming - to say the least. and it feels so damn good to give my photography the place it deserves, to take this HUGE part of my self, my heart, so serious. 

so for the love of all things beautiful, and for being my rad blog reader, dear reader - please come take a look at what's in store over at LAYLISAMIMI.COM. want a slick print for your house 30" x 45" on thick fine art paper or a 24" x 36" silk print [coming oh so very soon]? no problem! come on over to my shop: LAYLISAMIMI.COM/SHOP

:: the home page ::

:: the shop::

 

:: delicately packaging up some of my very first orders to be shipped off to my lovely customers!! i am beyond grateful for your support, my dear ones! ::

i need to thank my darlings, baktash, amanda, namo, shirin, mona, kelsey & jesse for all their help in this endeavor. i couldn't have done it without your support.

my amanda + the lovely FLOAT pasadena

it had been a while since my last portrait session with my dearest amanda and i wanted to shoot something that captured one of the things that is special to amanda and i. of course coffee came to mind, the hours we spend drinking it together, the amazing friends we've met over coffee and of course how jacked we get on coffee together and by the end of our day, we're talking so loud and so fast we're yelling at one another. so we ventured over to pasadena to the awesome coffee house/ice cream float/sandwich shop called FLOAT. i had heard about them from my friends at Handsome because they are brewing their beans. FLOAT is fast becoming one of my favorite new spots to bring friends, enjoy a delicious cup, eat a sandwich and serve as my mobile office. amanda and i were so blown away by Iris - who is the awesome owner - by how she and her co-workers are so friendly, accommodating, down to earth and fun. i have to say that going to a serious coffee shop can at times be annoying, as we all know. some think that they have to be condescending and uptight when brewing good espresso. i have never, ever understood that. the trick is to find the place that brews the sick coffee and delivers the most hospitable and amazing service. if you live in LA, stop by and say hello to Iris and her crew. it's fun for the whole fam damily; you will not be disappointed! enjoy these special shots of my beautiful friend and Iris's beautiful shop... i also think that this might be the start of something awesome for me - shooting various portraits of people in the best coffee houses all over LA...

 

p.s. happy  mother's day to amanda, one of the most kickass mothers i know. you truly are a huge inspiration and model for me.