Shea McGrath Photography

Last month I had the pleasure of tagging along with lifestyle photographer Shea McGrath on one of her photo shoots as she gave me a lesson in portrait photography. Shea is a wedding and lifestyle photographer, specializing in natural light photography. She first fell in love with photography as a young girl, when she received her first film SLR camera as a gift from her Godmother. Shea says,

"I didn't really think about doing photography for a living until my study abroad experience in college; I created and captured so many wonderful moments which turned into unforgettable memories." 

When she came home from studying abroad in Spain, she purchased her first digital SLR camera and started taking her friends' engagement photos. She then began working with D&orfs Photography in Ames, Iowa as she finished her college career at Iowa State University.

"This hobby of mine has quickly turned into a passion and it is something that I truly love doing. Being a part of those special moments in peoples' lives brings me pure joy and happiness!"

As Shea showed me the ropes of portrait photography, it became clear to me how fun and easygoing she is to work with. She does an incredible job of listening to her clients' wishes and making them feel comfortable. She is full of innovative ideas, and has the ability to intuitively capture a person's essence in her shots.

During my photography lesson with Shea, I jumped in a picture with my friend Jennifer from Food, Love, & Life. Jennifer writes a fantastic lifestyle blog filled with fun photos of her adventures in Spain and a myriad of mouthwatering recipes! Check it out here!

I had such a great time learning about portrait photography with Shea, and I seriously hope that one day I'll be able to take photos as well as she can! If you are ever in need of a photographer in Madrid or Iowa, I can't recommend her enough. Check out more of her work on her website, blog and Facebook page.

Budapest's Great Market Hall

It's no secret that I love markets. I try to visit local marketplaces wherever I go, and exploring different markets around the world has undoubtedly become one of my favorite parts about traveling. Great Market Hall, or Nagyvásárcsarnok in Budapest is certainly no exception. Great Market Hall comes in second place for my favorite spot in the city, closely behind the extraordinary Széchenyi thermal baths.

This sprawling indoor marketplace is brimming with food stalls, eateries and vendors selling traditional Hungarian goods like paprika and embroidered tablecloths. Although there are many souvenir shops, I was surprised by how few tourists there were, seeing as most of the market was dominated by locals. 

I was mesmerized by the vibrant colors of the old fashioned stalls, especially the signs with vintage fonts that made me feel as if I had stepped back into Budapest's intriguing past. I could have spent hours wandering through the market, watching the bustling locals buy their groceries and listening to the strange yet enthralling Hungarian language.

The market itself is visually stunning, but what makes it truly remarkable is the personality found inside of it. If you are planning a trip to Budapest, I highly recommend visiting Great Market Hall for a distinct taste of Hungary.

Where are some of your favorite markets abroad?

Take Me Back To: Dublin

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everybody! Not only do I love St. Patrick’s Day because it gives me a legitimate excuse to spike my coffee with Bailey’s, but also because it lets me get incredibly nostalgic about my trip to Ireland in 2010. Dublin completely took my breath away, and despite being there for only a few days, I truly became infatuated with the city.

Dublin has a certain rustic charm that I absolutely adore. The picturesque brick buildings and musical accents make me believe in the “Luck of the Irish”, for anyone who lives there is truly lucky. Although my trip started off as an epic quest for good beer, charming accents and leprechauns (the last of which I didn’t quite find), I ended up discovering a delightfully friendly and mesmerizing culture.

We explored the beautiful Trinity College, wandered through the shops of Grafton Street, toured the Guinness Storehouse where I drank my first Guinness ever (obviously this was before I found about having Celiac disease… if only Guinness made gluten free beer too!), bar-hopped and listened to live rock music in the pubs of the Temple Bar district.

Fact of the matter is, I’d give anything to go back right now. Not only are the Irish by far the friendliest people I’ve met throughout my travels, but the country is simply stunning. I'm dying to visit again one day and spend more time exploring the rest of Ireland. (And perhaps by then, gluten free Guinness will exist!)

Have a great St. Patrick's Day, everyone!