Summertime Melancholy

August 3, 2020

WEARING: CRISSCROSS TIE BACK SHIRRED WAIST CROP TOP | FOLD PLEAT WIDE LEG PANTS

THIS POST IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY SHEIN BUT ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN.

All dressed up with nowhere to go! Sounds about right these days… but I have definitely been enjoying these ‘studio sessions’ of self-portraits at home. It’s not the same as street style photographs, where somewhere like NYC, there’s a million and one locations to go shoot at. But just at home? It’s like a blank canvas and not much noise in the background. My style has evolved into something more minimal and I’ve been loving how I incorporate that into the styled image. So in today’s post, I’m sharing a small series I did over the weekend wearing my new favorite matching set. The dusty purple color has me swooning, along with the quality and fit of the pleat wide leg pants and crisscross crock top. It is quite simple, yet understatedly chic. Just the way I like it. And the price is nice. Less than $40 for the set. Would be cute to mix and match, such as wearing the halter top with jeans or the trousers with a different colored top. You can shop the look throughout this post. Wishing you a lovely and safe week! See you soon, friends. x

LOVE & XX’S,

SHOP THE LOOK

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The House of the Angel

September 11, 2017

THE HOUSE OF THE ANGEL

photographer SUZANNE SPIEGOSKI

stylist SUZANNE SPIEGOSKI

hair STACEY PALANCIA

makeup STACEY PALANCIA

model HANJING (ANGEL) ZHENG

Clothing credits

Look 1 Sarah Swann Two-Piece Track Suit

Look 2 deux A White Shirt Dress

Look 3 & 4 Layana Aguilar Black Dress // LELET NY Butterfly Necklace

Look 5 & 6 Floriane Fosso Winter Shearling Coat // LELET NY Silver Earrings & Bobbies

Look 7 Sarah Swann Detachable Green Fur Hood

Look 8 Sarah Swann Grey Marl Coat

Look 9 Forever 21 Burgundy Dress // LELET NY Poppies Wide Headband

Look 10 deux A White Shirt Dress (Styled differently from Look 2)

LOVE & XX'S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Engagement Shoot – Hilja & Tom

January 21, 2017

TOM & HILJA – PORTRAITS BY SUZANNE SPIEGOSKI

I've known Hilja for nearly 25 years. We met as young kids at a track meet both competing in the chin-up/pull-up category. But it wasn't until six months later where we crossed paths once more - this time at a skating rink and became inseparable. Growing up together she has always been like a sister to me and is one of my closest and dearest friends. So, when she told me was coming to New York with her fiancé, Tom, I wanted to do an engagement shoot as their wedding present.

While growing up in Detroit like myself, Hilja met Tom while in grade school. But a romance didn't brew until way later when they reconnected as adults. I'm a firm believer in all the twists & turns that life will lead you to, like moments such as this, where sometimes you don't even know what's been under your nose the entire time. Love ain't easy and I think one has to go through a lot in order to know who and what they want. And with these two, I haven't seen such a happy couple in so many years.

One of the reasons for their visit to New York was for Tom's birthday and part of his gift was a trip to Madison Square Garden to watch his favorite college basketball team, Duke, play. And being that they are both from the Motor City, I wanted to embody their laid-back but gritty attitude. So the first part of the shoot, I took them to Alphabet City and shot in an empty basketball court. This was an easy-breezy moment before the second part of the photo shoot.

I was adamant in shooting part of their engagement series on Top of the Rock during their visit here in New York around the holidays. But on that particular day, there was so much fog there was literally zero visibility. The staff even forewarned us – suggesting we exchange our tickets to another day. My stubborn streak never ceases to shine through and because it was the last day of their visit, I pushed for it anyway.

"Maybe we'll get lucky," I thought.

Going up I had anxiety. You can't control Mother Nature and I was concerned we may be going up but with no NYC skyline. However, when shooting you got to go with the flow. As we started to warm up for our shoot and ease into our environment, the clouds parted and a beautiful incandescent light emerged from above. Much like the weather, you cannot control love and all that comes with it. A definite blessing from the universe. What a day. Are you a believer in spiritual energies as such?

Hilja and Tom will be married In Michigan come this fall. I feel so honored to be a part of her wedding and for our friendship. Life has thrown us many curveballs (even really bad airballs if you will) but we have been there for each other through the thick and thin. Seeing her full of life and joy brings me much happiness. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for all of us! To many more years of love & laughter, adventures and more. I love you guys!

P.S. Want to see more lovey-dovey couple photos? Click here.

LOVE & XX'S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Portraits of Sammy

November 30, 2016

photos by Suzanne Spiegoski

It's portrait time! As many of you, I am not just a blogger and writer, but also a photographer. I mostly focus on portraiture & lifestyle and have been shooting since I was a teenager. And lately, I've been shooting more on a regular basis which has been nothing but totally awesome!

So, every once in a while I come across a person that if I don't photograph him or her I will most certainly regret it. Enter Sammy: half-Indian half-British Ford model and actor. I was quite surprised when he first spoke because I wasn't expecting a soft gentle voice from such an intense, mysterious face! What a beautiful creature and an even kinder soul. We became quick friends and I cannot wait to shoot with him again soon. You can find Sammy on Instagram and Twitter.

Interested in working with me? Send me a message on Instagram or email me at suzanne.spiegoski@gmail.com I always love hearing from you guys! And if you're in New York City like I am, stay dry out there! The past couple of days have been raining like cats & dogs! Until next time..

LOVE & XX'S,

FOLLOW MAQ + SUZ

Monstera Deliciosa

August 31, 2016

MONSTERA DELICIOSA, SELF-PORTRAIT SERIES, AUGUST 30TH, 2016.

When it comes to my work in self-portraiture I rarely if ever photograph myself in the nude, let alone publicly show any of the photographs. Self-portraits are not easy to do, in fact, it's the most challenging subject I have ever had. Well, so far... we'll see if that'll ever change. ;) But the more involved I become in the torrid affair that is - one with the camera, the more open I am in the relationship. When I first started 'dating' the camera, I was always so anxious to start clicking away. Now, don't get me wrong. I still get that feeling to this day. But there's a more calm formality to it now. With time and effort, a shitload of patience, and experience, I've learned quite a bit. But that shouldn't stop there. Never stop learning.

This past year has been all about taking risks, good and bad, perhaps even downright ugly when I come to think of it. But the more chances I've taken, the more rewards I've been given. Does it have anything to do with money? No. Vanity purposes? Not at all. To me, self-portraiture is all about the relationship you have with yourself and with the camera. To know oneself is to know many, in my belief. What better way to know how to photograph anyone or anything? No, not every photographer does self-portraits, and they shouldn't have to nor need to be a good photographer, but it's a wonderful path to self-discovery and in my opinion, one of the best forms of self-expression. Being first and foremost a writer, there are sometimes feelings... stories... concepts that I cannot put down in words. With photography being my other medium, it aids me in releasing vulnerabilities I didn't even know were there. 'A picture is worth a thousand words', and sometimes the image of a subject can convey its meaning or essence more effectively than a description does. I get the best of both worlds as someone in the arts. I'm very fortunate to be able to do what I do. And I never forget it.

Lastly, today I had the immense pleasure and honor of interviewing the wonderful Henry Leutwyler at his studio in downtown Manhattan. He is a wonderful photographer with a new book coming out this Fall that'll I'll be writing about on the blog! I can't wait to share my experience with Henry and his amazingly talented work. You are going to be blown away! Just utterly spectacular. I'm so excited about this story! Stay tuned... in the meantime I'm doing another recipe this week and step-by-step video! It's got a ton of avocados by the way..... :)