I just can't even. And I don't say that lightly. This session had me in tears, in a good sobbing kinda way. First some back story; so I met Christina before both my feet even touched Austrian soil. I had posted a question in an online forum before I had moved to Vienna and she was one of the first people to respond. She was also one of the first people to invite me out to dinner when I got to Vienna. She's basically the first friend I had in Vienna. So I feel it's safe to say that she was my first girl crush I had here cause she was nice, helpful, and above all, caring. (How can you not crush on a person like that?) Our friendship was further solidified through an organization called Women of Vienna (this organization is a reoccurring theme in my life) and once I found out she also had some serious appreciation for Mexican food...well we're just friends for life now. #mexicanfoodloversunite
World, I would like to introduce you to Anastasia Popova of Bumaga. I first discovered her on Instagram through the hashtag #womenofvienna and ever since then I was hooked on her work. I appreciate all things beautiful and graceful and elegant and Anastasia's work is no different. Her calligraphy is the kind that makes angels sing and unicorns jump over pots of gold. Unlike the majority of calligraphy artists I follow on Instagram, Anastasia lived in my neck of the woods, right in the heart of Vienna. And I was fortunate enough to meet her in real life last year at a Christmas Market in Vienna.
Originally from Australia, the East family relocated to Vienna because Michael found an amazing job opportunity in Vienna that he just couldn't pass up. Naturally, he couldn't leave behind his beautiful wife and his adorable little girl, so he scooped up the two most important ladies in his life and moved to the City of Music. They had been living here for a few months when we had their autumn session in the heart of Burggarten. When I first laid eyes on this little family of three it was like watching one of those families you see in those advertisements walk off the page of a magazine. They're adorable, down-to-earth, fun-loving, easy to talk to, and better yet, fun to joke around with. Pretty much all my favourite things.
Manuel and Natalia met while working at an architecture firm in Europe and since then have been inseparable. For quite some time they had a long distance relationship; he would travel from Austria to Italy to spend time with her and she would travel from Italy to Austria to spend time with him. When she found out she was pregnant they both decided that Natalia would move to Vienna and settle in a newly furbished flat and they would begin their life together as soon-to-be parents.
They say Paris is the 'City of Love' but I'm pretty certain that Vienna could give it a run for it's money. I've heard stories from so many people telling me how they met in Vienna and the magic of Vienna made them fall in love. And Gabriela and Gerhard's story is no different. They met each other in Vienna and over the course of a few years built a wonderful life together. An integral part of their lives is a tiny little, magical, bubbling, joyful girl named Emma.
