Day Trippin' to the Salton Sea

When life gets crazy and "the biz" starts wearing on you...sometimes you just have to get away and shoot the "anythings" and "different-things" to feed your creativity engines again. This is exactly what I got to do with some new friends from [b]school last week. I was definitely feeling the fine art bug that day at the Salton Sea, so most of my images are not of people, but of lines and color...here's some shots from the day...

This place was "emo kid paradise" ... an abandoned night club right on the smelly dirty Salton Sea...

I was super surprised to find this bit of vandalistic art inside the night club...my first reaction was "well this is ironic"....but later I found out that the "Mamen" I was thinking of is actually spelled "Mammon". Mammon was the old testament pagan god of money...so I thought it was interesting how someone had taken such time to write "F*** you Mamen" on a wall of an abandoned nightclub that was trashed...

I was really feeling an Ansel Adams-ish style that day... probably because I miss my exploratory photography buddy Jonathan Lau.

One of the cool people I got to hang with that day was John Mireles. He's not only a fun guy but he's so helpful! He had an engagement shoot that day at the sea, but he totally let people observe and shoot with him.....so cool! For all you photographers, he's developed this really cool shooting tool called a Look Book! And he's totally using his own product here...haha

This is the beautiful couple John was shooting that day...and they were gracious enough to pose some for me as well! Thanks so much you guys!

The sunset was gorgeous...an amazing end to a very insightful and fun day!

Here's a shout out to all you amazing photographers I got to meet and hang with all day! Jack Ratana, Hannsie Trainor, Joe Photo, Becker, John Mireles, and Shauna Couri ...You guys are so talented, I'm honored I had the chance to hang with you! Until next [b] school day trip...

Happy Valentines Day!

Valentines Day has always been more of a family day in my house...my parents, Melissa, and I always get each other cards and we make cookies and give gifts...all for the sake of showing each other how much we love each other. I love Valentines Day...I always have...even though a "special someone" hasn't always been a part of my life. But this year, I do have a "special someone" and I was surprised when he brought me four of my favorite things last night (Friday the 13th...not Valentines Day). Originally he wasn't supposed to be around this weekend because he's Junior Winter Camp staff at Forest Home. But circumstances and weather forced him to head back home last night...and he was stoked he could actually do "special someone" things for me after all (poor guy was feeling like a horrible person for not being around on the day o' love). Needless to say, I felt loved and I enjoyed our impromptu "day before Valentines Day" celebration.  Here's a little sample of his surprise....the four things I love...

1. POM Pomegranate Peach White Tea

2. Brilliantly colored Gerber Daisies

3. Pinkberry with Strawberries, Pineapple, and Granola

4. And Him! :)

So Happy Valentines Day everyone! I hope you all get to celebrate the love you have in your life, even if it's not the romantic kind!

 "Love, Actually is....All Around" - Love, Actually

Jean-Luc and Jacqueline Lajoie's "I Do"

I love shooting for other photographers just as much as I enjoy shooting my own weddings...and I especially love shooting with Jack Ratana! The day began later in the afternoon so we made the long and, periodically rainy, trek down to Misson Bay, San Diego to shoot Jean-Luc and Jacque's wedding. Before we got there, Jack gave me the 411 on the Lajoie's and he began with saying "this should be a fun wedding..." and it definitely was fun! Jean-Luc and Jacque are so lucky to have the family and friends they do....and it was the coolest thing to see how highly they valued relationship with those friends and family. 

The ceremony was intimate and touching...and I found myself misty-eyed behind the lens as some of the most heart-felt things were said about the Lajoie's, to each other, and to the people gathered to celebrate with them....here's just a taste of the day...

Aren't these Shoes beautiful?!!!! Loved them!

This is probably my favorite shot from the day...I love how Jack's flash illuminated her veil! And I love the passion in this first kiss! Sigh....

By far, the most touching thing in the ceremony was how Jean-Luc not only wrote vows to Jacque, but he also wrote vows to her handsome little boy Tyler. After Jean and Jacque said their vows to each other and exchanged rings, he knelt down and called Tyler up to where they were on stage. He proceeded to tell Tyler how much he loves him and what he vows to do and be as Tyler's new dad...and then he put a ring on Tyler's finger too! This was such a beautiful picture of a Godly marriage and I was truly touched at the display of dedication to Jean's new wife and son.... AMAZING.

The ceremony was laced with the sounds of a familiar voice and it added just the right touch to the ceremony... I could feel the presence of God in that church. And as everyone worshipped with the music, Jack and I got to worship with our cameras :)

And yes...that IS who you think it is...Jeremy Camp. He happens to be the groom's best friend.

Such a beautiful bride! :)

Many thanks to the Dana, on Mission Bay in San Diego, for the beautiful reception!

After Jean and Jacque's first dance, they had another first dance with all three of them...another beautiful addition to the traditional ceremony and reception.

I know I mention it every time I shoot a wedding, but I really truly love being a wedding photographer... and I'm honored when clients choose me, because I get to share such a profound and beautiful celebration of love. So thanks Jack, Jean-Luc, and Jacque for allowing me a glimpse of heaven on your wedding day! Congradulations!

The Latest Breaking News

So a couple weeks ago this guy named Ernie Castelo (an It's A Grind "everyday-er") comes up to me while he pours his steaming hot coffee at the counter... "So I was wondering if you would be interested in letting me do a story on your business."

Floored.

Me: "Sure...what does that mean exactly?"

Ernie: "Well, it would require a live interview...I'd ask you some questions about your business and how you started....and I'd like to get some of your best shots and some footage of you actually shooting a couple."

Floored.

Me: (stuttering) "That sounds amazing! Let's do it!"

Ernie: "Okay I'll email you with details later today. I'd like to get this done in the next couple weeks." He walks back to his computer.

So...that's how the initial conversation went and at that point...I didn't know what to do with myself. I was standing behind the counter with nothing left to do, but worry about hair and makeup and working out and clothes and what I would say.... all the things I don't think about unless I'M  GOING TO BE ON TV.

I'm still not sure of the exact details for all of you who read this in different countries or in different states, but the segment will be on ICTV-30 (the City of Irvine Channel... channel 30) on Wednesday, February 18th at 7pm PST. It will be airing everyday for a little over 2 weeks and after it airs on the 18th, it will be available online. So once it's all up and running, i'll post the link so all of you not in Irvine can see it too!

I'm super excited, but also super nervous because I'm not sure how I look or what I sound like...and frankly...I don't really remember what I said... :-/ So we'll see what happens...haha.

Here's some shots from the day... just some fun ones for Daniel and Heather to keep even though we already took some stellar ones at Angel Stadium in October...make sure you check them out!

John and Christina "Will You" Part 1

I was sitting in the loft above the Creekside Dining Hall at Forest Home Junior Winter Camp. It was Saturday night and we had just finished a full day of craziness with 4th-6th graders. Christopher (camp alias: Phoenix) and I (camp alias: Bam Bam) were sprawled across the couches contemplating foregoing hang out time for bed when Christina (camp alias: Sky) comes in and proceeds to tell me... "So John and I were exploring today during free time and we found this really cool looking run down carnival truck...and I was thinking it might be fun to take some pictures there...is that okay?" Blinking away the sleepiness and trying to manage my spastic excitement about old carnival trucks tucked away in the mountains....I managed a "Sure!" Probably a less enthusiastic response for how excited I actually was.... and that was how we decided to take pictures at the old abandoned carnival truck...who knew Forest Home was hiding such a genius photographic shooting location? I didn't.

If you didn't catch the images from the EPIC Stealth Shoot I did of John's proposal in November, make sure you check it out! 

Now before we get to my favorite shots of the day...I have to warn you...John and Christina are some of the most beautiful people I know (ahem...and handsome...) and they're truly electric together. I can't emphasize the importance of "being into your fiance" in engagement shots enough...it definitely makes the shots SO much better when I get to capture LOVE through my lens! So...with that said...I couldn't just pick a couple good ones. They're all SOOO GOOD! So I apologize in advance for the amount of images I had to blog this time around... I hope you'll forgive me....and I hope your mouse doesn't cramp as you scroll and scroll and scrooolll.

The entire weekend, it rained off and on...was warm...then cold....then sunny....then cloudy. And it didn't let up for the shoot...so I had to constantly adjust my metering and we bounced around different places trying to make the most of the weather and the lighting. We began taking pictures by the truck when suddenly the overcast sky lit up with sunbeams that illuminated the clouds that lingered at about 1500 ft. So being the young and agile people we are ;) we ran to the edge of the cliff and they climbed the mountain of half cut timber for these shots...and they are "SO HOT!" (Christopher's new favorite one-liner)

This is my absolute favorite shot of the day! Blue skies chased by dark clouds... leftover snow packed in the mountains for a background... beautiful lighting... and these two love birds :) (happy sigh...with birds twittering in the background)

For some reason... Vogue seemed to be my inspiration for a lot of these shots by the Truck...

Classic John face...

This happens to be my second favorite picture... aren't they amazing together?

This makes me want to jump up and down... I love it so much. That truck was a great idea huh?! I dig...

For this picture, I told them to give me their best "we're getting married" face...and this is what happened... I almost fell off the rock I was standing on I was laughing so hard...

And naturally adventure finds us when I hang out with these two... the mystery of why Moose and Filly would be chopping wood way up past the Noble's house and leave this sign for all the people who needed to bother them while they cut wood... way up in the middle of nowhere... it's a mystery...

We left the mountain and headed down to Redlands where we had more adventures. This is one of my favorites from the Orchard we walked through...

And for those of you who know Yucaipa, CA well... there's this house on highway 38 with a huge Paul Bunyan statue (among other things) in the front yard and all around the house. John decided he wanted some engagement pictures at the house. I didn't put the majority of them on my blog, but look for them on my Facebook. Love this shot of them looking over the fence into the yard...

I'd like to end with this shot. We all have grown to love John Kohlenberg and his beard... but this awesome woodsman shot marks the end of the "Beard Engagement Shots."

And just to clarify, I labeled this post "John and Christina 'will you' Part 1" because this is only part one of their Engagement Shoot. They wanted to have shots in several different locations, but our schedules only allowed shorter spans of time... so sometime in march, we will continue with their "No Beard Engagement Shots." Stay tuned...