hippie chic :: a polaroid portrait series of 2 women in flowers

you may have noticed that lately i've been obsessed with shooting faces in flowers ... i find it's a way for me to be close to nature whilst drowning in the bustle of big city life. and lucky for me, my dearest friend Anyssa came to LA this past week, and if you know LA, you know that there is always flowers in bloom all over the city - all sorts of varieties and colors. so for a couple of days, we drove around scouting for the prettiest flowers and then shot one another's portraits in them. this is just one of the reasons why i love LA - there are always bright, beautiful flowers in bloom. and this is why i love Anyssa - she is always down for taking photos, no matter the time, nor the place. i adore this series of us in nature - these bright, vivid flower bushes - all over LA. 

^ we came upon this last series of shots when i took Anyssa out to Malibu. the bougainvillea is so other-wordly. Anyssa commented that the photo of me looks like i'm on a cloud of flowers, it truly does look this way, and she, a angel on earth. we felt transported to a magical land that only exists in fanciful dreams full of magic and beauty.

some of these will make their way over to my lovely new website, come take a peek soon!

KELSEY + MATHAI : layli samimi photography wedding shoot | POLAROIDS

i had the distinct pleasure of shooting not only kelsey + mathai's engagement photos, but also polaroid & analog photography for their beautiful wedding. the wedding took place at the silverlake reservoir in late december, overcast and dreamy. their ceremony was so full of love and light, joy and peace. at one point during the ceremony i looked up at the sky and saw a huge flock of birds flying, circling above the wedding ever so gracefully - they circled the entire ceremony, as a blessing - confirming on a whole other level this amazing union of theirs [and their families] and how the world is so fortunate to have a team as beautiful, strong, loving, funny and thoughtful as these two love birds. 

here are the polaroids i shot of the prep and the ceremony. enjoy.  *film shots coming soon! stay tuned.

i am so grateful to have been able to capture their special day through my eyes! 

♥

rox + ry's wedding portraits || polaroid style - part I

hey ya'll. so this past week i was in brooklyn to take part in the amazing wedding celebration of ryan & roxanne. ryan has been one of my best friends for almost a decade now and roxanne and i became friends about 2 years ago, separate from ryan. so when ryan and rox skyped me to tell me that they were getting married, i was beyond excited for this union!! when ryan and i are together we basically just do a five day photoshoot marathon, which i am sure a lot of you are privy to, as you are readers of my blog.

so obviously ryan and rox had mega photoshoots during their wedding weekend. and i got to shoot with my two most treasured loves, my instant camera and my 35mm. i took 70 35mm shots & like one billion polaroids [aka instax] shots at their amazing brooklyn wedding weekend. i have started scanning them in and i am more than happy with how they look! since there are so many, and scanning takes forever [!!!], bare with me, as i blog these photos in parts.

without further ado, part I [note: you can click on all images to see them larger]:

entering the ceremony

i adore this portrait diptych of the both of them!

the family!

rox and ry didn't get the memo about us wearing red.

lovely roja, anyssa & martha

sass

mother & sister of groom

the lovely women behind the rice krispie cake!!

beautiful diane & elizabeth

sofa sesh.

i actually don't know anything that the amazing beka lash can't do. #madskillz

me and slasher at the bowling alley reception.

the day after the wedding - picnic in the park!

brother ryan & sister beka flying kites. [a dream]

yay!!! the married hai - lashes!!!

congrats to the damn handsome bride & groom!! i love you both so much!!

p.s. >> hey, dear readers, i know you've been following my blog for a while now, and i would love for you to also follow my photography facebook page - layli samimi photography. if you haven't already "liked" the page, please do so and pass on to your friends & family!