Return Trip To PR - This Time for a Wedding

The first time I ever went to Puerto Rico was in 2009. The weather was great, the beaches were astonishing, and the food... well lets just say I gained a few pounds on that leisure trip. Just last week, I returned back to PR, but this time it was for a completely different reason. This time, four years later, I returned to capture those many exciting moments and places I remember from 2009 on video. These places and old memories weren't just going to be put on that video for my own good, but served as the building blocks in capture the new chapter written by the lovely newly weds, Joel and Tiffany Figueroa.

Just like the first time around, this wonderful island was a breeding ground for photographic masterpieces. Almost every where I pointed my camera were makings of great shot compositions waiting to be framed in the most artistic ways. Adding a beautiful bride and a handsome groom made achieving great shot composition that much easier! Here is a screen shot of one of the waterfront ceremony clips!

Hi to Highland Park

This memorial day weekend, as in next weekend, the LAS Directions crew will be flying out to Chicago(with as much of our equipment that we can possibly fit into our luggage) to shoot a wedding at the historic Highland Park! Not just any wedding, but the tying of the knot of famous street ball player and author of "Mr AIP : Taking it to the Hoop" Patrick "Pat the Rock" Robinson and co author Sophie Oscar.... Can you say power couple?

We couldn't be more excited to be a part of their special day, and plan to capture it from every single angle, perhaps even from high up in a tree. Or maybe not, but nonetheless this will be our first time in the windy city so during our down time, we will be out and about getting footage to incorporate into the wedding video.

We'll try to post some of the footage for you to view before we pull it all together in the wedding to give you an idea of what we captured! Until then..... We'll be making moves and making movies!

Lauren
LAS Directions

Stop for a second and notice the change

Change isn't all that bad

Weddings, Animations and Life...

From getting tons of calls about weddings next year, to different tasks loaded on my plate at my new job at the animation studio... things are far from slow! I can say my life is film, going 24 frames per second, non stop action to keep things interesting and upbeat! The one question I get asked more often than not, is.... "how do you do it all?" So here is how I do it all, and how I still am living a pretty happy and enjoyable life!

When media work is over, at least the task at hand, i walk away from it and leave it either at my desk or on the computer. As new ideas arise or pop up in my head, simply taking a mental note will keep the ideas circling around in my head. Instead, I write up a brief email and send it to myself so that when I get started on my morning agenda, thats the first place I look. I try to limit these emails, as I don't want to find tons of random emails in the morning, and also.... the whole point of walking away from the finished work for the day is to relax!

When opportunity arises, make it work! Right now, I am freelance directing at a local news station, a full time animation production assistant at an animation studio her in CT, the owner and director of a production company, LAS Directions, and a freelance editor/dp for a public access station. Even with all of these demanding jobs, I found myself handing out my business card at the mall to help out on set of the Big C, which is currently filming here in CT. I learned, from others and also from experience, that sometimes great opportunities are hard to come by and don't often come by a second time. So when something great comes across your path, think good and hard if its something worth passing up. With that mindset, you'll be sure to make sure you take advantage of any and every rewarding opportunity! 

Time management is very key, and something that I am in practice of each and every day! From juggling numerous activities, to sticking and staying with one until its finalized and complete! Depending on the client, amount of work or intricacy of a project, time management is a key factor in sealing a great business deal and saving yourself the unnecessary stress of overtaxing yourself with multiple tasks! These are just a few tips that help me stay rooted and grounded with the many things that I juggle in this industry!

If you want me to elaborate more, or have specific questions feel free to shoot me an email! Otherwise, I hope you enjoy the snippit of information!

~ LAS ~
lauren@lasdirections.com

Our Faith is Strengthened, When We Close Our Eyes

The hardest thing we can do in life, when everything around us seems to be in picture perfect place, is to up and make a change. A change that turns all of our certainties into guesses, into the unknown, or... for grace of a better word , Faith! Now, this five letter word.... "faith" surely does not come by knowing and expecting any and everything to happen in decency and in order. Instead, it comes by relying on supernatural resources to kick in when we have the slightest clue as to what to do next. The moment most falter in, is the very moment that sets the best opportunity up to develop courage, tenacity and... here's that word again, faith. I don't know what tomorrow holds, let a lone a week from tomorrow. One thing I do know, is that my faith is as high as its ever been and i expect great things to happen. That certainly does not mean that I am shy away from the trying times, that I am certain will always arise. Instead, I will set my eyes on the bigger picture, so that when the hard times do come, i will readily counter them with hope for better days, and encourage you to do this too! My next venture in life, the animation world! **Rolls sleeves up** Lets get it! ;-) "Great opportunities come by seldomly, and rarely come by twice! However, with faith all things are possible.... at least they are in my case(a firm believer)" -LAS

Gabby Got A Gold

I normally keep most of the posts on here limited to video's, directing and media production, buuuuuuuut with the recent rise in young Gabrielle Douglas' success, I couldn't help but notice and write about it! Talk about a GOld getter!! This young lady literally went from nothing(not being on the radar), to something in less than a week! I would like to bask in her accomplishments and wish not only her, but her strong supporting mother, family and friends who stuck by her side during her rise to success and Olympic debut! I hope to see her pronouncing around various commercials, endorsements and tv talk shows until we get to see her compete again in Rio! God bless that beautiful spirited young woman! #SkyIsTheLimit

First Time for Everything

As of June 9th, we here at LAS Directions have expanded our media production services over into the wedding market! What better way to jump start this new service by capturing one of the most amazing weddings this summer, the lovely Brian and Julie Zuleta!! Held at the St. Thomas Cathedral in Stamford, CT and the reception at the Waveny Place in New Canaan, CT.... this fun filled day was a dreamed turned reality(to say the least) Take a look at the video preview! LAS