Packaging & Photo Presentation

WE LOVE THE BEACH. Living in sunny Southern California, we were always just minutes away from the busyness of Orange County to the calming oasis of the local shores. When deciding on how we envisioned our Photography Packaging, we wanted to convey purity, serenity, and simplicity. The process of finding just the right products for the vision we had in mind was no easy task. Everything you see below are from completely different vendors. We were very particular with the products we chose because we wanted it to be a direct reflection of our love for the ocean. After weeks of searching, trial and error – and then success, the final outcome is what you see below! Simple, clean, and just perfect. This is a sample of the type of package our clients receive when receiving their photos from an “On Location Session.” (Our Wedding Packaging will be unveiled in early Summer!)

PHOTOGRAPHY PACKAGING

(click on photos to see their larger version)

Each presentation bag is personally stamped by us! We designed our new logo and had it imprinted onto a stamp. We wanted our bags to have a modern but vintage feel to them, and we felt the best way to achieve that was not to send our bags to the printing press, but to personally hand-stamp each bag by hand. This is the final result.

Aquamarine. We chose the shade of blue that reminded us of our amazing trip to Fiji. The waters were an amazing assortment of blue that we wanted reflected in our 8x10 Envelopes as well as our Tissue Paper for our white bags. This color also inspired the design layout of our site, closertolovephotography.com

Our CD cases are made of Raffia palms, which are leaves originating from the tropical regions of Madagascar, Africa. Each of our cases are handmade and when opened, expose two pockets. The left-hand side pocket houses the client’s CD and the right-side pocket contains a personal thank you letter from us.

Our beautiful CD cases are wrapped in Sage Green natural Raffia strands from the magnificent raffia palms of Madagascar. The leaves of the palm fronds are opened, revealing the natural raffia fiber.

Beauty of Simplicity

“Having nothing yet possessing everything.”

2 Corinthians 6:10

Thankfulness humbles me. I realize that everything I have could not have been given to me without the Lord’s hand moving towards the direction of grace. As mere humans we tend to neglect, forget, or ignore the true meaning of what giving thanks entitles. Giving thanks is not something done once a year on a particular November day, nor an utterance of words done out of mere impulse. Giving thanks is setting aside time and realizing that all that you have is given to you by God’s hand which daily reaches down to pour His grace upon your life. Simplicity is beautiful. Although searched by many it is found by so little. Simplicity is a treasure found only when one allows the Creator to enter the burdensome heart. When Simplicity is discovered true thankfulness unveils. For it is only then that one realizes that although they have nothing, or hold very little, it is in that moment that they have Everything. Having Everything brings one to true thanksgiving.

Acknowledge what you hold while it is here. While you can touch it. When you can see it. Don’t wait to know what you have only when it is gone. When you no longer have its grasp. A life absent from a heart of thanksgiving leaves one paralyzed to the Lord’s abundant blessings that lie ahead. Take advantage of every opportunity you encounter and every smile you can give away. Live today in passion for the Glorious Unseen.

Search for Simplicity and when you have found it, hold it near. Know God sees the simple things done out of a pure heart and cherishes them for eternity.

Live today being thankful for everything you have. The seen, the unseen and everything in between.

- Natalia Cosa

“It's the beauty of simplicity

That brings me down to my knees

I'll Praise You for eternity

And Lord I love You

because You, You first loved me

It's the beauty of simplicity

that fills me with eternity

I tasted Your divinity

and Lord I love You

Because You, You first loved me.”

- Telecast

Damaris & Eli [wedding date: may 29. 2010]

Giving thanks for two lives soon to be joined and never separated.

Spring Special

Children's Special!
- 2 hour photo session
- All original image files on CD
- 10 post-processed images
- Customized greeting cards for family and friends
- Two 8x10 prints

TOTAL: $125.00

(Original price $325 | Savings: $200!)
Special ends on April 30th
Spread the word!

http://www.closertolovephotography.com

The Brighter Star

Often times I get asked what my favorite photo sessions have been in the past. When I get asked, I always seem to name a different one from an answer I gave previously to someone else. As photographers our styles are constantly changing. I love change. Ask my wife! I absolutely LOVE change especially – especially(!) when it’s a positive change.

Blogs are so abundant these days, it’s really tough to keep up with all of them. But one blog in particular that I try to stay up-to-date with is by Josh White. For years, my favorite band has been Telecast – Josh White is the lead singer for the band. The lyrics, the emotion, the song-writing just captures me like no other band. Josh has a way of conveying so much in very few simple words. Here’s an excerpt from his blog that I read not too long ago:

“I remember seeing Radiohead in concert in 1995, they were so amazing that I was depressed for a month because I could not accept that I would never be that good. I was unable to even enjoy the show, I could not celebrate their brilliance. How often are we like this as Christians? Scripture says God shows personal favoritism to no man and yet there seem to be stars that shine so much brighter than us….” Josh goes on to say, “Love does not envy. It is not competitive. It celebrates other’s victories. Most importantly if we always want what others have maybe it is because we are not experiencing what only God can give. Envy kills relationships but kindness draws us out of ourselves and allows us to celebrate one another. May we be jealous only for God and His glory to be manifested in and through our lives, as we love one another.”

I was so encouraged. Over the years, as I’ve looked back at past sessions and photographs, I try to aim higher and higher with the next and the next. Sometimes we want to be better. To reach the top. To finally arrive. But over the years, God has been revealing to my wife and I that it’s not about being THE BEST or being the brighter star, but about pointing to the ONE who supplies us with our gifts, which is Jesus! With this mindset, it motivated and propelled me all the more to do my absolute best and to truly give my all. HOWEVER, the reason behind it is completely different. I believe God has given people – especially His own children - creative and unique minds. Our God is a creator and I believe that art and creativity are an important part of the church. It is my desire that my best effort shines through in my work. As believers, we see the eyes through a completely different pair of eyes! Life is so much more beautiful. So I try to convey that by capturing moments through a photograph.

Change is good when it’s meant to mature and direct our attention to Someone rather than to just ourselves. I hope you’re encouraged to always give your all, but don’t put yourself down if you’re not the biggest and the best. Our goal in life is not to win the applause of men, but of God Himself. We are to shine. Bright. We are to be the brightest star. “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.” - Philippians 2:14-15. You want to shine brightly? I believe shining for God is the greatest thing we can do on this earth.

Going back to the beginning: In an attempt to answer the question: What is my favorite photo session? I’ll make it easier on myself. What was my favorite photo session as of THIS YEAR? It would probably have to be last month’s photo session of Ben & Rebecca. Young and in love. My favorite combination. They were so easy to work with and were up for anything. We really had a great time and everything turned out better than we expected. I truly have a remarkable team who works well together and are always doing it with a smile. Some of the pictures were taken in my own neighborhood. Our good friend Geroge let us borrow his motorcycle so Ben and Rebecca hopped on and we captured some great shots. Here are a few photos from their session. More can be found on closertolovephotography.com.

Keep shining.

Sammy

Sunflower

Each sunflower faces the sun. Sunflowers serve as a reminder for believers in Christ to daily face the Son and follow His guiding light.


"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever" - 1 PETER 1:24&25


The sun shines, the breeze is just right, and once again the sunset takes my breath away. How amazing that God would paint such a beautiful sky, how breathtaking that God would illustrate a beautiful day. I love to stop and imagine God in front of a canvas holding a paintbrush and painting creation, the way only His eyes could see it. I love knowing deep in my heart that God is the author of this story called LIFE and that all of creation is the work of HIS fingers [psalm 8:3] My favorite flower is a SUNFLOWER. To me it is the happiest flower. Flowers are one of God's most beautiful creations. They contain so much detail and give so much emotion to the human heart. Give a flower to someone and see their face brighten up and their heart become a little more cheerful. Flowers will always remind me of the passage in the Bible that speaks about God's everlasting word. Everything in this life is but a breath, here today gone tomorrow; just like flowers. But take God's Word and hold fast to it with all your heart and you will see that it promises LIFE that lasts FOREVER. ENJOY MY GIFT TO YOU: a SUNFLOWER.

Natalia

FINALLY HERE

Hey everyone! We are two hours away from launching CLOSER TO LOVE and I am so excited! This entire process of preparation has been an amazing journey. But the journey is not even close to an end, it has just begun! Sammy and I just got home from Damaris and Eli’s engagement party, and LOVE truly was in the air. It was such a blast shooting photos of the lovely couple, their closest friends and dear family. The theme was “little Italy” and it doesn’t get more romantic than that! This is my first time writing a blog and I am so blessed to be able to share with you the photos I begin to capture through the eyes of my greatest inspiration: JESUS CHRIST.

Valentine’s Day is finally here! Hooray to all you love birds. May you all enjoy the jaw-dropping surprises, the beautiful flowers, delicious chocolates, the kiss that takes your breath away, and the hug that lasts forever. But above all may you remember the Love that is agape, the Love that lasts through eternity, and the Love that will never fail you…this is the Love of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate definition of Love.

Natalia Cosa

An Introduction

Welcome. Closer to Love specializes in non-traditional portrait photography. We strive to capture the moments in life that are meant to be remembered and go beyond traditional elements to create a unique experience for each client. It is our vision to photograph the essence and reality of each client while focusing the individuality and beauty of its detail. If you are looking for photography that reveals your true heart through a photograph, Closer to Love vows to accomplish just that. Not through the lens of the traditional, but through the lens of something rather ethereal. Welcome to our Blog. We hope to keep you up-to-date with our lives and post whenever we are inspired to pass along a message to the world.

Sammy & Natalia