Nicoletta Daskalakis

MISC

Afnan and Faisal Wedding Shoot

My husband Ben and I had so much fun doing these wedding portrait pictures for our clients Faisal and Afnan. Afnan’s dear friend Sara contracted me a few weeks before their shoot and planned along with her sister to give them this photo shoot as a gift while the couple were honeymooning in Los Angeles. I did Afnan’s bridal makeup and hairstyling. I used airbrush makeup to give her that flawless finish. For her eye makeup, I used soft purples and focused on giving her long lashes. For her hair, I created a half up/down hairstyle that was slightly side swept.

We photographed Afnan and Faisal in Dana Point on a warm December evening. It was so much fun!

I hope you enjoy the pictures!

With love and blessings,

Photography: Nicoletta Daskalakis Photography
Makeup and Hairstyling: Nicoletta Daskalakis

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If you are someone who loves healthy food, incredi

If you are someone who loves healthy food, incredible beaches, raw untouched nature, and finding hidden gems to explore please visit Crete. No more Santorini and Mykonos. I took this picture over the weekend.

Xrustos Anesti. Christ is risen. This entire weeke

Xrustos Anesti. Christ is risen. This entire weekend was our Easter Celebration here in Greece. Being in lockdown more than 180 days I feel like the entire country today took a deep breath. Ben has been in America since March and he flew back last night just to come for the Greek Easter. It's one of his favorite childhood memories. It is the most beautiful weekend of the year and in my opinion the absolute best time to be in Greece. To know without a shadow of a doubt how loved we are by God and how truly real that is. It blows my mind sometimes and it's so hard to put it in words.

If anyone has ever wanted to move to another count

If anyone has ever wanted to move to another country and have your kids learn a new language. If you can. Do it. Don't even question. Sophia jumped straight into Greek school (although technically with all our lockdowns she has only physically been in school for 3 months since she started in the fall) and she can read, write and speak Greek without any experience. Our children's brains are powerful and beautiful.

My children force me to bike ride and spend the da

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As we are seeing our world slowly coming up for ai

As we are seeing our world slowly coming up for air, I urge you to live boldly. Try something new. Live somewhere new. Change careers. Love more passionately. Live your life with color that's ever changing. Leaving California and moving to Greece has been completely eye opening for me. I realize now how stiffling routine was for me. How I stopped to see color in the people I met, and in the steps I took in front of me. God designed and made this beautiful earth with so much color and I believe we too need to live that way. Thankful that we are living in a time that has pushed us to not place importance in seeking stability and superficiality but rather in the deep and meaningful relationships of people in our lives.

My kids are suppose to be on zoom with their schoo

My kids are suppose to be on zoom with their school. Instead.....

This popped up on my photo memories today. I had t

This popped up on my photo memories today. I had to share because I have to say something. I remember never sleeping. I had a toddler and I was pregnant (clearly) and I was running full speed with my business. I was designing, packaging, marketing, shooting campaigns and I never stopped. You can see all the packages, accessories and veils behind me. I slept at crazy hours just to get up in the morning and go flat out again and I LOVED it! My little toddler was with me all day playing while I worked and played Baby Einstein music on Pandora on repeat all day. It was a crazy beautiful time. I was creating something I loved and you know what...now I'm in Greece (for now) because I built a business that is on autopilot and I get to be with my family while working california hours and I can still create and build because I spent years with my head down. If you want to do something, if you want to build or design or create, PLEASE PLEASE do it. Start that thing you have always wanted to do. No matter how small or unreachable it may seem. Get rid of mom guilt and let your kids see you growing and learning alongside them. Let them see you make a million mistakes only to get back up again.

This was us 10 years ago. We still feel like we ar

This was us 10 years ago. We still feel like we are still in our 20s :) Ben. Today is your birthday. Last night I went to the supermarket because we have been in lockdown for weeks on end, no shops are open, so I hope you like the 20 chocolates I got you for your birthday. Even though I will probably fight you for them and eat them. But when I was on my walk I was thinking of you and couldn't stop smiling. I am truly so happy to be your wife. I enjoy you. Like crazy. We love each other hard and with so much passion. I always can't wait to talk to you when we get the chance to in between our work and busy life. Talking with you never gets boring. Ever. I love dreaming and hoping with you. We are so crazy similar in every way and we agree on almost everything. The way you love my family. Wow. It blows my mind. You love wholeheartedly all the things I love. This is your 15th birthday we have been together and I love you so much more than I ever have. I am forever eternally grateful that your dad poked holes in your mothers diaphragm so she would get pregnant with you. Happy birthday my love.

There are certain people I really wish I could hug

There are certain people I really wish I could hug right now. So many are hurting.

Our sweet girl had her birthday this past weekend.

Our sweet girl had her birthday this past weekend. Oh how we adore our precious daughter! She is wise, kind, loving, patient, courageous and full of joy! Happy birthday our beautiful Sophia!

Today 7 years ago I went for my regular checkup I

Today 7 years ago I went for my regular checkup I was 37 weeks pregnant. The doctor told me that my baby was coming that same day. I remember freaking out as I was still meeting my clients that day and I had so much work to do. Honestly I know mother's say it over and over but the way that first child rips open your heart like a rushing magnificent wave and deeply pours out love and blessing and vulnerability. Your name changes. Your goals change. Your perception changes. Your heart softens. Your love for people grows. You become more humble. You understand the power of serving. You see gratitude come to life. You are gripped with purpose. All because this little person changed your name to MOMMY. It's powerful in all that it yields. I'm so truly thankful. My little daughter you have changed my life in every beautiful way possible. You are my blessing.

I love taking my kids to the stadium. It takes me

I love taking my kids to the stadium. It takes me back to my life growing up in South Africa. The stadium was my second home. I was a runner. I trained morning and night for 10 years. I love the smell of the ground and the energy. My kids love it too. So happy to share my love of track and field with my kids. What are some of the things you were obsessed with as a kid that you now share with your kiddos?

I love people I really do. I'm an extrovert and be

I love people I really do. I'm an extrovert and believe people are born beautiful inside and out. HOWEVER if you love the winter and enjoy being inside bundled in blankets and tracksuit pants I really don't understand you and I think you're weird. 🤪 My parents on the other hand love winter and love the cold. I find it interesting that they live on the island of Crete. Who else (in the northern hemisphere) is so excited for the summer months?

Something so beautiful about the change of weather

Something so beautiful about the change of weather. Here in Crete we were swimming in the sea on the weekend then on Monday the city closed the schools down for a few days because of the cold and the rain. I would love to know where you are if your schools have closed down due to the weather!?

Valentine's Day and this is our"date" staring into

Valentine's Day and this is our"date" staring into each other's eyes from a distance. Ben travels a lot and got back from Arizona and Texas. He has to qurantine away from society for a week. So happy to do this weird life with Ben.

When all of this is over I'm coaxing some Greek ya

When all of this is over I'm coaxing some Greek yacht owner (with my husband's permission of course) to give me a boat so I can take at least 40 of my girlfriends on a trip around the Mediterranean. Who's in?

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I can see so much hope ahead of us with this gift of humility we have been given and the desperate cry to put love in front of judgement and hope in front of fear. I know so many of you feel the same. Here's to building bricks...

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School from 4 is mandatory in many countries. Wearing masks all day is mandatory. Socially distancing from each other is mandatory. I battle with all this. Mom's you are not alone if you feel the same way too. Sending you a virtual hug xo

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I took a hundred pictures today. It poured with rain as we drove through the little villages where goats and sheep roamed around and old historical churches lie dormant. We saw people sitting cosy in their homes beside their fireplace. The smell of the crisp clean air and the wood burning fire was breathtaking. We hiked up the mountain with our kids. How small everything looks when you are high above it.

Today we went exploring. The history here is so de

Today we went exploring. The history here is so deep and beautiful. You can only but marvel at what the generations before us had to go through.

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I really miss traveling for my business! I use to visit stores all over the states, it was so exciting and such a fun way to meet my clients face to face. Having zoom meetings is fine but nothing compares to a warm hug or a strong welcoming hand shake. I've had to redesign my new collection three times already because usually with New York Market it was always a rush to get it done. Chicago and New York just cancelled for March. Such a weird time we all living in. Not complaining but it just feels unnatural. Anyone else feel the same?

I use to think homeschool was for a bunch of hippi

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To be a kid. To do the weird and the strange. It's beautiful. I love my kids. I enjoy being with them so much They freaking awesome.

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I use to be the mom pedantic about my kids washing their hands or not getting their clothes wet when we were out. I was usually the one who overdressed my kids and had them bundled up even when it was only slightly cold. With all the crazy going on this year I have done a complete flip. I took my kids out today. The sun came out. We took a long bike ride on some dirt roads, we skidded and fell, got full of sand and tons of ouchies. Our bodies were made for this! We then headed down to the beach and I told my kids to run into the sea with clothes and all. Afterwards we found some plants in the sand which were actually tasty :) I want my kids to be passionate about the outdoors, fitness and adventure. They will benefit from it for the rest of their lives. In a world of hand sanitizers, alcohol wipes, masks, and fear, let's teach our kids to eat the sand and build up their immune system!

They are so little for so little. The irony is tha

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Middle of winter. I homeschool by the sea. We migh

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Happy birthday to my dad! Please send me some mess

Happy birthday to my dad! Please send me some messages so I can read them to him since we all stuck in lockdown and can't have a massive get together :)

My dad is so passionate about people. He is extremely trustworthy and will stop at nothing to always do the right thing. Most people who know my dad know how hilarious he is and he is definitely the life of the party in a big crowd. But as his daughter I know my dad to be quiet, sensitive and deep. His love is his family. He always puts each of our needs first.

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I'm an overly organized person. I plan. I have mas

I'm an overly organized person. I plan. I have massive goals, I work constantly, in fact I have no idea how to really chill (poor husband). I have to prioritize, have purpose, be intentional DAILY. How many of you are the same?! We are constantly striving, forever reaching and sadly to say but mainly focused on our own growth.

2020 was hard, sad and devastating for all of us. But I think most of us agree that it was so beautiful to slow down and catch our breath a little. Right? One thing and only one thing I am focusing on for this year is to just walk with God. That's it. Oh the many things I could miss out on if I don't. We forget that in our businesses, in our marriages, in our relationship with people and in our parenting it's about our partnership with God. We just need to walk with him. That's all.

I love them so much.

I love them so much.

I’m Nicoletta

Nicoletta is Greek/ South African. She’s lived and worked in Europe, UK and Asia, Africa, South America and now lives in beautiful Orange County her husband Ben and their two darling children. Nicoletta went from corporate Investment Banking to becoming a LA based Makeup Artist & Hairstylist to Wedding Photographer to now owning one of the fastest growing bridal accessories brands in the country. She’s been on an exciting journey of taking risks, working insanely hard and jumping into the deep end.

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