Sneak peak at the wedding of Piyali + Tariq!

Pre-wedding photo session - Piyali + Tariq

Winner announcement for our End of the year giveaway

*UPDATE* WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT!

I want to thank everyone who took the time out and made an EFFORT to nominate someone special for this contest! Honestly, it was very very difficult to make the final decision and choose just one winner :(   After careful consideration I narrowed it down to 2 nominations and could not decide on just one. so I thought WHY choose just one? :D yes, thats right, there are TWO winners for this giveaway!

So the first winner is SANNA and the second winner is AYUB KHAN!

The first winner, SANNA was nominated by her sister AMINA. I chose Sanna because I could relate to her in many ways. At one point in my life I, too,was dealing with self-esteem issues and wished a million times that someone could lift me up and take me out of that hole. I was very shy and kept to myself most of the time.  I believe we all need that 'push' from someone as we go through our teenage years and try to find our own place in the world. Taking up photography was that 'push' for me. It gave a huge boost to my confidence and changed me inside out as a person. I'm still not quite there yet :) but read her story below to know why I selected Sanna as one of the winners:

SANNA

"I just saw this giveaway and i got so excited because i would like to nominate my sister, Sanna. I feel she deserves this so much because she is such a beautiful person inside and out but sometimes she doesnt feel that beautiful. I know this will higher her self-esteem and make her feel very important. Her skin does have alittle acne and she feels insecure about her nose and we all tell her she is beautiful but sometimes you need that speacial push or change in life. When she was younger she was always skinny and shy so noone outside paid much attention to her it was always me or my brothers, and now having a daughter and being a mother i feel even more emotional. She is already interested in makeup and wants to become a makeup artistt so i know she can learn a few tricks fromRabia. I had such beautiful wedding/walima pictures and i want Sanna to also feel the way i did that day. At times when the whole world seems against you, you have that special person who is always there and in my case its my sister. I havent been able to ever give her the best birthday or Eid gift and if she wins this giveaway i know it would mean the world to her and she would love me more :) She works hard in college and home so it would be a great change in her teen life that she would always remember :) My family and me respect you alot and you did alot for me even being a stranger you made me always feel like you were a sister, so thanks for that and i know you have two sisters and without them we are incomplete so please do consider my sister and give us a chance again to work with you!" 

The other winner, Ayub Khan, was nominated by his lovely wife Uswah Khan. I have tremendous respect for people who follow their dreams and don't give up no matter how many obstacles come their way. I don't know what else to say :) read on to know why I chose him as a winner :)

AYUB KHAN

"I'm nominating my husband. Not because hes my husband, but because hes the most hardworking, dedicated, caring individual Ive seen. He never complains, theres always smile on his face and hes ready to tackle all of lifes hurdles no matter how difficult. Out of everyone I know, hes most deserving in my eyes. He decided when he was young that he wanted to be a doctor. Now, after completing medical school, after having passed his board exams, he has had some unsuccessful attempts at obtaining residency. He doesnt give up though. Two years ago, he went on a countrywide quest to look for a research position, after receiving no replies to his numerous emails and letters to directors searching for research. He went door to door, in person and met with residency directors from Connecticut to New York, New Jersey to Pennsylvania, and finally he found an open door in Ohio. He had to be away from his children who he adores, and dedicated himself to clinical research with patients who suffer from diabetes, cholesterol, and women with PCOS. Besides getting well wishes from the patients he sees, and God Bless yous, his hard work has paid off physically. One of the studies he worked on was published in the American Journal of Cardiology (not an easy task to accomplish ask any doctor who would tell you how selective the American Journal of Cardiology is), and he was a recipient of the Travel Trainee Award for one of his abstracts presented to the Central Society for Clinical Research American and Federation for Medical Research (CSCR & MW AFMR). At their meeting in Chicago of 2010, 4 of his abstracts were selected for presentation. Not only has he been doing research, he is taking classes at the University of Cincinnati for their clinical and translational research program. I am so proud of him for continuing to make a difference to field of medicine. He is still waiting to hear back from hospitals to see if he has been accepted into a residency program, so he can be licensed, but while he waits, he doesnt waste a minute of his time. He helps random strangers on the street; he helped a man and his family whose car was stuck in the snow. Hes a surrogate father so to say to a child with bi-polar disorder and cystic fibrosis whos seen 17 different foster families in his 14 years of life. Anytime people call for advice on medications, he takes out his time to speak with them, and give them guidance to better their health. He either makes renovations to his house, (recently he helped his brother during his house renovation), and he will be going back from break to his research. As a hobby, he loves to take photographs, and always has us pose in remarkable ways to make sure our best pictures come. Unfortunately, I cant reciprocate his picture taking skill. However, I know that a photo shoot focusing only on him, getting his pictures professionally taken will be a way to say thank you and I appreciate all that you do. And not just a thank you from me, but from the community as a whole who hes always ready to assist and give back to. He may not be your traditional candidate, but I bet a secret desire of his would to be a male model, and while he may have been married 14 years ago, he can pose as a newlywed groom anytime! 14 years ago, when we were married, our parents were both immigrants, and our weddings were amongst the first of both families. We didnt know about the concept of hiring a photographer to take wedding photos. Our wedding pictures are a conglomeration of friends and family taking shots here and there. So yes, it would not only be a great gift to him to have him pose on his own, but would be a nice belated anniversary gift to finally have professional photographs taken."

Congratulations to you both! It is an honor for us to get a chance to take your pictures which you will cherish for life! 

Once again, many thanks to everyone who entered this contest. We are planning another wonderful giveaway :) the details will be revealed next month so check back soon!

Ending the year with a GIVEAWAY!!!

Okay everyone! Thanks for waiting! :)

Here is our BIG END OF THE YEAR GIVEAWAY!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!!

Here it goes...

- 2 hours photo session by LAAJ STUDIOS!

- 16x20 Fine Art Float Wrap! (NEW! and great alternative to framed prints)

- Selected retouched low resolution images on a CD!

- Photo session video on a DVD which will be shot and edited in a music video style by our cinematographers!!

AND...

- Makeup/Hair/Styling by our very own makeup artist Rabia!

This GIVEAWAY is worth more than $2,000!!! and we are giving it all away to one lucky winner!!! :))

and there is more... :)

The winner will be able to choose anybody they like to be photographed together!!

How and who is going to win all that you might ask?

Read on...

1. Nominate someone who you think deserves our GIVEAWAY! It can be anyone, your spouse, a friend, sister, brother, mother, father, a neighbor, your child, or someone who you think did a great deed!

2. Explain as to why you think they deserve this GIVEAWAY! We want to hear why the person is so so special to you. We want to hear great stories!! Be CREATIVE!! :)) We LOVE creativity!!!!

3. And of course you CANNOT nominate yourself. Sorry :) but you can share this blog link with your family and friends and ask them to nominate you :))

The Rules are simple:

1. You must LIKE us on FACEBOOK. {since you are interested in this GIVEAWAY we assume you like us :)}

2. Follow us on TWITTER:@Laaj_Studios and tweet about this GIVEAWAY and don't forget to say hello to us :)

3. Nominations must be submitted through this FORM <---- Click here

4. You must be willing to allow us to put your submission on our blog as well as the resulting photos/video from the session.

Fine Print:

1.The photoshoot will take place in the Tri State area within 50 miles traveling distance from us.
2. If the winner resides outside of the traveling distance, the winner is responsible for all traveling charges.
3.The GIVEAWAY cannot be redeemed for cash.
4.The deadline of the contest is JANUARY 13, 2011 at 11:59 p.m.!


so go on...Nominate that special someone!

THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON JANUARY 14, 2011!!

GOOD LUCK! :))

We can't wait to hear from you all!

Thaakat Foundation Rutgers- 'We Clean Up Nice'

Laaj Studios recently had the opportunity to become a part of a very special event. On December 4th, Rutger's Thaakat Foundation in collaboration with Rutger's CARE organized a fundraiser for 'We Clean Up Nice'. 100% of the proceeds were donated towards the 'Put it in the Can Project', which will assist approximately 3,500 people in the adopted village of Gutwala, Pakistan to sustain their lives.

The night was full of fun, with comedy act by Abbas Rattani, fashion show by Alina & Amor,
Resham Collection (Ashi's Boutique), FNK ASIA & Profound Aesthetic. Makeup for the models by Rabia of Laaj Studios, DJ T was running the tracks and great performances by DIYA, Emil K. Parikh & RUDE, and our very own Dhoom Bros! Catering was provided by Taj Banquet.

Thaakat's mission is to promote charitable giving among students and young professionals in the South Asian community and beyond. Check out their blog to see the great work this foundation is doing! 

Thakaat Foundation & Blog

Abbas Rattani

Dhoom Bros

And finally we would like to thank Ridah Ayesha Mannan for inviting us to become part of this amazing night!! 

Enjoy the slideshow!

We've been blessed yet again...

Today, Khurram and I are very excited to share with you all the pictures of our newborn son! We were blessed yet again with a beautiful healthy baby boy 7 weeks ago! We had totally forgotten how awesome it was to hold a tiny baby in our arms again. There is no other feeling like it! And seeing our 5 year old daughter so in love with him melts our hearts <3 <3 We just can't thank God enough for all the blessing he has showered upon us! :)

So we did his session when he was 7 days old which is the best time to get a newborn photographed. If any of you are planning to get their newborn photographed, plan ahead so the session is scheduled when the baby is between 5-10 days old. Babies are easy to photograph at this stage because they are asleep most of the time, are less fussy and of course the curled poses look so so cute!

We hope you enjoy the slideshow!

Sabrina + Rhonny Sep 10, 2010

In our profession of wedding photography we get to meet all kinds of people. but sometimes a couple came along who is so in tune to each other that it makes our job a pleasure. one of such couple was Sabrina and Rhonny. We were fortunate enough to capture the beginning of a new chapter in their love story on Sep 10, 2010 in New Jersey. From getting ready to the dance floor it was all one big party. Their love for each other was evident in the pictures and we are happy to have a chance to give our friends a  glimpse into their fun filled wedding.  

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