#amy angelo

[libbyvisionblog]

  I have a feeling 2016 is going to be a spectacular year in so many ways – starting out with my first solo exhibition.

I love art – I get lost in art museums – always have. When I was a college kid studying in Chicago, I’d spend afternoon staring at Monet’s haystacks, trying to decide which was my favorite. I’m not sure, why I thought I needed to have a favorite but I’ve always liked categorizing things.

But it’s never been a goal to have an art show. I just want to make my clients happy,maybe, maybe produce something that makes my heart sing a little bit. So when Amy Angelo of Oceana Coffee, one of the most amazing clients, asked if I wanted to display my photography at their beautiful coffee lounge, I was beyond amazed.

I’d seen the photographers they’d displayed before me – Jack Bates, Jacquie Roecker – beautifully talented photographers that I met through Oceana and today,feel so grateful to know them.

  We’ll be having an artist’s reception on Monday, January 25 from 6-8 p.m. at Oceana Coffee. The photographs will be displayed until April 15.

I was nerdily excited during the hanging process – but I decided it was okay to be so excited. This is a big deal for me; I’ve never had a solo exhibit, it might even be normal to be so excited.

The reception will be a fundraiser to an organization that is very dear to my heart – Share Our Strength #NoKidHungry – which works to put food in the bellies of kids in our community.

Food will be provided by the insanely talented Chris Marshall from Hampton Forksand the vino will be flowing courtesy of Howard Freedland from Bulletproof Wines. Cost is a suggested donation of $10 and we’ll be auctioning off one of my photos as well to a lucky winner. Hope you can make it. Actually, I really, really want you to be there.

Plated I have a feeling 2016 is going to be a spectacular year in so many ways – starting out with my first solo exhibition.

[libbyvisionblog]

Oceana Coffee, Tequesta

Last blog, I wrote a love letter to Twenty Twenty Grille and it’s been heavy on my mind there’s another love letter I need to write.

I met Amy Angelo for a Palm Beach Post story earlier this year on Oceana Coffee. The story was specifically on kombucha – I’m still interested in writing a bigger article on the swell of kombucha in south Florida (did you know that Palm Beach County is home to the Southeast’s only kombucha tap room?)

Oceana Coffee, Tequesta

What I remember most about the day was several amazing pictures I took, Amy Angelo’s curly blond hair in my pictures and how well we got along.

Being in business for yourself is fantastic and challenging at times. One of the things I noticed immediately when I made the transition is how I sought out other entrepreneurs and small-business owners. I had 99 problems and these souls seemed to understand every single one of them.

Okay, I don’t really have 99 problems. I probably have 5 on a given day but still they’re different problems than I ever had while working for someone else.

Oceana Coffee, Tequesta

Oceana Coffee, Tequesta

Amy and Scotty Angelo own three amazing local coffee shops – two in Tequesta and one in Martin County. They are the only specialty grade coffee roasters in Palm Beach County. They bring the barista community together for latte throw-downs. They believe in education and community and supporting local businesses.

Their coffee is fantastic. Their coffee shops are the sort of coffee shops that you want to sink into and never leave. Did I mention their coffee is mind-blowing? The environment they create for their customers, their baristas – for everyone that enters the building is so inspiring, so electric that of course, after meeting Amy once, I wanted to be around her and work with her again.

So you can imagine how thrilled I was when Amy and Scotty asked me to take pictures for Oceana.

We did a two-day shoot to gather content for their web site and PR campaign. But of course, the story doesn’t end there…

When I hosted my food photography workshop about a month later, I couldn’t be more excited to see Amy Angelo’s name pop up for three tickets. She enrolled, bringing with her a couple of her baristas.

She understood that as important as it was to have beautiful photos for publications and web sites, it was also critical to be able to post amazing photos to social media.

The best part about our relationship is I know that it’s an ongoing relationship. That anything I can ever do to support Oceana – whatever, whenever they need me, I’ll be there. And that’s the real reason why I love my job. Yes, I love taking pictures of food. It’s fun and delicious. But being a part of such amazing clients lives – not just for the day of the shoot but truly to be immersed in their world – that’s the reason I do what I do.

So how about it friends? Can I become a part of your life?

Oceana Coffee: 150 North U.S. Highway 1, Suite 1; Tequesta; 561-768-7887; open 6-6 Monday through Saturday and 7-4 Sunday. www.oceanacoffee.com

Oceana Coffee ⋆ food photography Last blog, I wrote a love letter to Twenty Twenty Grille and it’s been heavy on my mind there’s another love letter I need to write.