Thank you so much for visiting!
As an artist in both photography and painting, as well as a catechist, I hope to share on these pages all things beautiful that inspire.
For the Love of Beauty is inspired by St. Augustine's reference to God as 'Beauty' in his Confessions (X, 27) when he writes, "Late have I loved Thee, O Beauty, so ancient and so new."
His name for God is both poetic and revealing. Beauty has been defined, since ancient times, as that which is perfectly ordered or that which is as it should be. Both definitions reflect a profound truth about God: that He is perfection, and His perfection is beautiful.
It is for the love of God, and for the restoration of all His creation to His own beautiful perfection, that I pursue my mission: To create images and share the Catholic Faith using only techniques and content that reflect His Truth, Goodness and Beauty.
I currently work for myself as a Catholic wedding, portrait and event photographer in the DC/MD/VA areas. My intention is to use this blog to not only share some of my photography and photo tips, but to also share other images and ideas from the broader world of art that inspire me and help shape my work. I love using art to teach from and pray with, so I’ll look forward to sharing from time to time some of my favorite paintings that are rich in contemplative beauty.
An overview of my professional background:
Experience
• Photographer: Weddings, Portraits, Events, Fine Art
• Artist: Exhibit and Work on Commission
• International Speaker and Catechist Trainer at Schools, Parish and Diocesan venues, Conferences and on EWTN's Life on the Rock
• Consultant: Art, Catechetics and Conference Planning
• High School Teacher of Religion
• Director of Religious Education
• Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
• Youth Ministry
• Write and Evaluate Religious Education Materials
Education
• M.A. Theology and Christian Ministry with a Specialization and Certification in Catechetics, Franciscan University of Steubenville, 1997. Ohio, USA.
• Dip. Ed. Sec. (Graduate Diploma in Education, Secondary: Grades 7-12), Australian Catholic University, 1992. Melbourne, Australia.
• B.A. Fine Arts (Photography), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, 1991. Melbourne, Australia.
• Additional Studies in Art, Washington Studio School, DC (1998); Instituto Michelangelo (2000) and Angel Academy of Art (2002), both in Florence, Italy.
• Additional Studies in Theology, Catholic Theological College, (1993-94). Melbourne, Australia
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Thanks again for stopping by!
-Renata Grzan Wieczorek
My websites:
Weddings & Portraits
Events
Artwork
I’m impressed with how you were able to capture the massive space of the shrine — I’ve been there, and it’s not an easy building to take in all at once! Also, the couple is totally adorable. Great shots!
Thanks, Margaret! It’s also a very *dark* massive church given the style, so finding the light (and making some) was a challenge. Oh I know, the couple is just darling. I get teary just watching the video and remembering them on the day. Sweet, kind and tender; so Franciscan!
Thank you! Renata the pictures looks so nice and the bride looks so beatiful make sure her husband don’t read this jajaja. I love it!
Thank *you* Manuel! It was an honor to photograph your wedding. Love and prayers to you both for a very blessed marriage!
HI there! The wedding was beautiful and what I was able to see is gorgeous, but I couldnt enter the event page 🙁
Thanks, Dr. Kat! The event hasn’t been released yet, but you should be able to sign in and get on the guest list to get an email when it does go public. By clicking on it should do the trick. ….Just checked. You’re on the list as of today, so keep an eye out for a notice in your inbox.
Beautiful photography! Where in the city is this beautiful church?
Thanks Pete! It’s on 16th and Park in NW DC. There’s a hyperlink on the name of the church in the post above. They’re a little heavy on the banners at times, but nothing like B&W photography to bring out the old world charm that’s screaming out from under all that fabric. 🙂
It looked *almost* as pretty as my wedding! 😉
Seriously, love the black-and-white, Renata. I’m embarrassed to say that I have never visited that shrine, mainly because U of M is closer to NE.
Blessings and Congratulations to Manuel and Yenis!