Zumba + Yoga Shoot for Melanie Smith in a Costa Rican Oasis

Even though it's been months since I traveled to Costa Rica (El Sabanero Eco Lodge via Move Well DC via Trip Tribe!) for vacation, and I'm finding myself flipping through all the photos of our wonderful trip more and more these days.

Maybe its because I miss being in a tropical oasis, or I'm just not *fully* ready for fall to kick into high gear, but either way, I keep daydreaming about early morning yoga sessions, home cooked meals and relaxing in the canopy...

Speaking of Costa Rica, I finally edited photos from a mini session I held with my fabulous Zumba-instructor friend Melanie while I was there.

To be honest, it's basically a miracle these photos exist at all -- they're not the best shots from the shoot, but rather, what I could salvage. See, I had completely edited the session when my Lacie hard (where the files lived) drive decided to fail on me. I did everything in my power to recover the files but could only recover about 10 shots -- 10 of my outtake shots to be exact.

Ugh, technology man. I guess I learned the hard way the need to double back up everything I shoot.

Regardless, while I know these aren't my best shots, or my best work, I'm surprisingly happy with them.

Maybe its because I loved the trip we took so much, or because I'm currently injured and can't shoot (long story -- see P.S. below), but looking at these photos just makes me smile.

P.S. I'm hurt right now (fell and sprained my AC joint while doing a handstand in yoga class!) and won't be shooting for a least a few weeks, which sucks. I'm getting better though -- its been almost two weeks and I'm finally out of the sling! Wa-hoo!

Grip the Mat Photoshoot: Dancin' in the (DC) Streets

Now that its the second week of September, I think its safe to say that summer is slowly coming to an end. Enter pumpkin spice lattes, cute booties and colorful scarves... ahhhh, how I love autumn!

But before I get too far ahead of myself, I thought I would share one of the last photo shoots I did earlier this summer for the awesome DC Grip the Mat team.

If you follow my blog, then you'll know that I do a lot of work for Grip the Mat -- a pop-up yoga events company that was founded in Washington, DC. Currently, the company has events in LA, Boston, NYC, Tampa and, of course, DC.

While I've done a ton of event photography for Grip the Mat and a couple of other seasonal shoots for them (winter 2016 -- not my fav --  and spring 2016 -- slightly better), this was one of my favorite shoots to date.

The photos just came out so light, airy and fun, which is PERFECT for their brand!

I mean, wouldn't you want to do yoga with this crew? Or at least grab a drink, chat and talk about all the good things in life? I know I would.

#TBT to the Summer of Yoga Video I Shot for lululemon Washington, DC!

Guys. This is big. Like huge, ginormous, Totoro-size big!

A month or so ago a Facebook invite lead to an email that lead to a few phone calls that led to an awesome gig... for lululemon. Yeah. You read that right. THE lululemon. The lemon to the lulu. Excuse me for being ridiculous, but six weeks later I still think that landing *this client* totally warrants a ridiculous response.

Anyway. Back to the details.

Summer Yoga Series | lululemon athletica | Washington, DC from Sandi Moynihan on Vimeo.

Long story short, I got to shoot a short highlight reel for lululemon Washington, DC at their fabulous Summer of Yoga event on the Georgetown waterfront.

Originally, I was supposed to paddle out on a kayak with my camera and shoot SUP yoga, but it was too windy outside, so yoga was relocated to dry land (which, in all honesty, I didn't mind at all -- bringing my gear out on the water = YIKES!).

The yoga itself was awesome and featured local instructors from FloYo Standup Paddleboard Yoga (who did a great on-land class) and a post-workout refuel from Nooma. After the sunset, lululemon moved the party Malmaison for cocktails, small bites and smiles.

All in all it was an awesome (picture perfect!) event to be a part of. I can't wait to work with lululemon Washington, DC again.

P.S. Washington, DC is one of several stops around the country lululemon is making this summer as part of the Summer of Yoga series -- maybe there's a stop near you!