Teri Genovese Photography Blog

tiny warrior: within

Teri Genovese — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 20:55:43 +0000

“How is love defined in yoga? It is nonharming, honesty, nonstealing, moderation, nonhoarding, purity, contentment, zeal, self-awareness, and surrender. It is being who we were born to be. Love is being who we are.”

- Rolf Gates, Meditations from the Mat

meet Mandy: a beautifully talented yogi and inspiring teacher, who will calm your mind and challenge your entire being simultaneously.
a special thanks to Seva Yoga for this beautiful space.

i’ll soon be posting more photos from Mandy’s lifestyle maternity session on my Facebook page.. i hope you’ll follow me there!

some days are a little bit extraordinary.

Teri Genovese — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:28:41 +0000

how i did not know about this amazing beach when i lived in los angeles is beyond me. is it not extraordinary? these photographs were captured this past november during my 3rd trip back to california since the move. and while i could kick myself for not discovering this beach sooner, i am beyond grateful that this family continues to choose me to create artful memories of their children. i will never forget watching the brilliant pink sky from the parking lot as we said our good-byes. this beach day was a breath of fresh air for all of us – a deep, long exhale – and if i could have paused time, i certainly would have.

it’s because of times like these, there will always be a piece of los angeles that feels like home to me.

beautiful ordinary moments, indeed.

Teri Genovese — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 03:06:37 +0000

“Twinkle lights are the perfect metaphor for joy. Joy is not a constant. It comes to us in moments – often ordinary moments. Sometimes we miss out on the bursts of joy because we’re too busy chasing down the extraordinary moments. Other times we’re so afraid of the dark that we don’t dare let ourselves enjoy the light. A joyful life is not a floodlight of joy. That would eventually become unbearable. I believe a joyful life is made up of joyful moments gracefully strung together by trust, gratitude, and inspiration.”

- Brene Brown

When I first reviewed the photographs from my NYC portrait sessions, the irony leapt off the screen… my favorite images were not captured amidst extraordinary Central Park landmarks or sweeping cityscapes. The photographs that instantly grabbed my attention and tugged at my heart were the quiet moments when an honest glance seamlessly intersected with the click of my shutter. Upon this wise mom’s request, I was honored to document a simple glimpse of their “everyday.” Afterall, it is inside their fleeting childhood bedrooms and on the bustling city streets where life actually happens. Beautifully ordinary moments, indeed.

What is happening in your daily life right now that you never want to forget?

a perfect day for dinosaurs..

Teri Genovese — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 14:53:02 +0000

there’s really nothing better than documenting kids being exactly who they are today.

i absolutely adored these two boys on this beautiful September day. major props to this 3 1/2 year old big brother who kept this photo session a secret for almost 3 weeks! these photographs were planned as a special anniversary gift for his dad.. and i was honored to be a part of the surprise!

Plant Good Seeds / Awear Yoga Clothing

Teri Genovese — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 21:58:41 +0000

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?”
Actually, who are you not to be?
-Marianne Williamson

. . .

Meet Jill:

a kind-spirited, deeply inspiring, and soulful yoga teacher and fashion designer who founded Awear Yoga. i recently had the honor of photographing her unique yoga clothing line: locally-made, organic, inspiring designs.. many of which are handmade and all of which are truly beautiful pieces to wear on and off the mat. a portion of her profits are also donated to various charitable organizations.. jill is doing all sorts of good!

i just happened to meet Jill within days of moving to Grand Rapids at the first yoga class i attended here, nearly a year ago. our friendship has been blossoming ever since and i am beyond grateful that our paths have crossed..

A huge thank you to the lovely models who spent their day with us in and around Grand Rapids! This yoga community is a pretty special one – I’m so proud to be a part of it

Follow Awear Yoga on Facebook

summer days in michigan..

Teri Genovese — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:01:26 +0000

love… this family. loved seeing how much these 3 little ladies have grown up, how much they love their michigan summers, the big swing, the land, their horse. grateful that they asked me to come down for the evening to capture the girls as they truly are. love that this mom appreciates my approach to photography and shares my love for genuinely beautiful moments as they unfold on a regular day.

this last photograph is one of my favorites. it was the very last image taken, as we awaited the massive storm that rolled through and cut our session a bit short. so, we ate dinner, made brownies, and caught up in the kitchen til the day turned to night.

hotel tjampuhan / ubud, bali / pure bliss.

Teri Genovese — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:07:51 +0000

as i look out from our porch, i see nothing but green upon green upon green. our room is called Beji 2 and you enter through the squeaky, traditional Balinese carved doors, which lock from the inside with a simple piece of wood. i feel like i am someplace at another time entirely. someplace imaginary. from the labrynth of stairways leading you every-which-way to the river rushing below, i certainly could never have dreamed of a place quite like this..

-excerpt from my travel journal

(the photographs below were taken during our stay at Hotel Tjampuhan, a magical place and the first hotel in Ubud – built in 1928.)

i recently entered a series of my documentary Bali photographs in the One Life Photography Competition. i hope you’ll take a moment to view my entry (click image below). if you feel compelled, you may vote once a day. thank you!!

Tea with a Prince + Holy Springs in Amed + A Ceremonial Cock Fight…

Teri Genovese — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 21:14:13 +0000

quite a memorable experience.

a tour of the Palace of Pelitian and coffee, tea, and delicious cakes with the Prince… amazing and beautiful in every way:

an incredibly peaceful walk through the Amed countryside with Roy to the Holy Springs. earlier in the day, we had tea and cakes at Roy’s home and he took us snorkeling. in the evening, he cooked us dinner on the beach – fresh caught baracuda! we also learned we share the same birthday

this ceremonial cock fight was a very spontaneous stop en route to Amed in the village of Sidemen. i was engulfed by the complexity of it all. there was so much going on in every direction, i hardly noticed the actual ‘cock fight.’

without a doubt, the best decision we made was planning this trip through the Bali Institute. a huge thanks to Marcia and her organization that helps to honor and preserve this incredible culture through “conscious” tourism and in too many other ways to list here. the photos of the experiences shared above are just 3 of the highlights of this cultural immersion experience that we found particularly fascinating!

A Traditional Balinese Market / in Ubud at Sunrise

Teri Genovese — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:22:45 +0000

we awoke at 5:45am on our 5th day in Bali to walk to the Ubud Market. we were worn out from the day before when we had celebrated my 30th birthday among 11th century temples, millions of stairs, and 99% humidity. for my birthday dinner, i had a belgian waffle drizzled in dark chocolate.. a banana slice placed in each square. it is an adorable little place in Ubud on Hanoman Street called Lola Chocolate. the tiny interior is painted a bright sunny yellow and there is nothing more than a counter and a fridge. simplicity at its finest. besides delightful chocolate things, she also serves “pasta in a cup.” like i said.. adorable! [sorry for the tangent.. i am often distracted by chocolate ]

. . .

so, on the morning of Friday, May 13, we woke early as it was our last day in Ubud before heading to East Bali. we were told to visit the traditional market which takes place every day between 3am-7am.. and i couldn’t miss it! local Balinese people visit the markets every morning to shop for that day’s fresh foods and goods. everything from food to feed their families to goods they will sell in their restaurants and shops. can you imagine shopping fresh every day?

i was completely immersed and fascinated as i observed this daily ritual. as i became lost with my camera, i often worried that i was in the way. the market is very crowded and busy; and here i am, standing in people’s way?! apologizing left and right, the response i received was always the same and with a smile: “no worries” and “sama sama” (meaning “it’s alright.”) this experience was just a sample of our entire time in Bali, in which i never once observed a Balinese person seem frustrated, annoyed, rushed, judgemental, or anything less than content and completely kind-hearted.

it seems so simple, they just ‘do.’ we have a lot to learn.

From Point A to Point B: Bali-Style..

Teri Genovese — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:36:06 +0000

continuing along in my series of Bali photographs.. here is a glimpse into the Balinese way of traveling about. it is worth mentioning that stop lights and street lanes: merely a suggestion. road rage and impatience: non-existent. the first photograph is symbolic of the calm within the chaos on the streets that i observed very early in our trip.