Jimmy + Sarah: Engaged!

There is something very special about an engagement shoot. The love. The excitement. The anticipation. The passion. Jimmy and Sarah were no exception. Their love was palpable. It showed all morning, in their touches, whispers of love, and in the way they looked at each other. We did the photo shoot at the absolutely beautiful Muckenthaler Cultural Center, where they had looked at for their wedding (and I'd actually looked at for my own wedding!)

Jimmy and Sarah - Thank you for asking me to take your engagement pictures, and allowing me (and my fabulous assistant Megann) to glimpse into your most private moments. It was an absolute joy!

Jimmy + Sarah: Sneak Peak

I did a fantastic engagement session this morning for my friends Jimmy & Sarah. Here's a sneak peak of what I'm working on. More to come in the next few days!

Album Sample

My sample Session Album & cover samples arrived this week! This is my first order from Finao, and I am thoroughly impressed. Not only is the album gorgeous, it feels fabulous to the touch and arrived beautifully boxed.

I offer two kinds of albums, Session Albums and Designer Albums. Session Albums allow me to hand mount each print myself. I haven't created the album pages for the sample book yet ... for the meantime, just imagine your image there! (The photographs in my Designer Albums are flush mounted during the book's assembly.)
There are over 50 cover options for Session Albums. The cover material ranges from brocade to nature friendly faux ostrich leather. Really, how could you resist cover material like Platinum Blond, Envy, Green-Eyed Girl, Geisha, or Mimosa?

I was ticked about the toy that Finao included! I just love when vendors include a little special 'something' with the shipment. Finao includes a small plastic toy, and White House Custom Color includes a Tootsie Pop! Such a cute idea! =)

San Clemente Art Walk

Next Thursday, I'll have a few tables set up at the San Clemente Art walk. Stop by if you have a chance ... window-shop the boutiques, have a fantastic dinner, & check out the local artists!

When: Thurs, September 25, 5:30-8:30pm
Where: 165 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, CA 92672 (cross street: Ole Vista)
Why: Support your favorite photographer! ;-)

Hope to see you there!

EDIT: I'm not sure whether I'll be doing the September art walk after all. If you're thinking about visiting me at the art walk, please give me a call first! (714-300-5348)

Countdown to samples!

I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my sample album & cover swatches on Monday! My FedEx guy doesn't even know how lucky he's got it, to be delivering something of such importance!

In the meantime, we'll be relaxing in Casino Morongo's lazy river all weekend! I guess that will get me through Monday. Monday's delivery will be like the whip cream on top of a fabulous weekend!

TaTa! ;-)

Lucy

Earlier today, Bob picked Lucy up at his parents' house for an overnighter. Lucy's "mom" is away at a conference for a few days, and we're helping out by taking Lucy for a night. It's so much fun to have her at our house! She loves exploring the house, and spends a lot of time sniffing the air in our backyard. Having Lucy over for the night is a great band-aid until we live somewhere where we're allowed to have a dog.

Lucy is camera-shy. She alternates between avoiding my camera at all costs, giving me an occasional long look, and getting her face right up in my lens! I didn't use a flash & bumped up the ISO, so the images are pretty grainy, but they're all in fun! If only Lucy knew that I was making her famous ... she's kind of a diva, so I'm sure she'd love it! ;-)

Graphic Design: Monogram

As a photographer, I have been dabbling more & more with graphic design. I have created my own business cards, printed material, and newest logo. A few weeks ago, I was at my parents' house, and the topic of my mom's business card came up. She needed a simple, classy card with a hint of Film Noir. I created the monogram below, the highlight of her beautiful new linen buiness cards!

I use an industry leader in press printed products, and am available for small design projects as well as phototography!

(The dots are part of the monogram.. love it!)

Spoof!

Thank you to Jessica Claire for posting this hilarious clip! I never intend to get into politics on my blog, but I think this clip is hilarious from whichever side of the political fence you occupy. Enjoy!

(SNL skit featuring Tina Fey as Sarah Palin and Amy Poehler as Hillary Clinton)

Medley

I am a huge Tori Amos fan. Huge. As in, I have pretty much every CD she's ever released (including European singles that I scoured music stores for during a semester abroad in college). As in, seeing every concert that she does in LA or Orange County, mostly by myself. As in, when working a month-long assignment in Portland, driving over 200 round-trip miles to see her perform at the Cuthbert Ampitheatre. Huge.

Tonight I was poking around on her website to see if any information has been released about her next album. No news on that yet, but I came across a quote that really touched my heart.

"When you stop putting yourself on the line, and you don’t touch your own heart, how do you expect to touch other people?”-Tori Amos

I'm not sure how to express the way that this quote touched me. I really want to be candid and open and honest on this blog, to really put myself on the line. Connecting with my readers ("friends without faces," as the fabulous Jasmine Star puts it) is as important to me as showcasing my photography sessions.

In the spirit of Tori's astute quote, I'll put myself on the line a little...

I am soft-spoken but every now and then I'll make a joke that will knock your socks off. If you catch me after too many cups of coffee, I'm super-chatty. I am a Cancer, and perfectly fit the Cancer astrological sign's homey, nesting, nurturing characteristics. I know who I am. I think that there is tremendous power in thought. For this reason, I'm working on becoming more aware of my thoughts & emotions. I am getting better at following my intuition. I have always had interest in metaphysical topics. I am fascinated by the unknown. I enjoy using all of my senses. I love rich and varied textures, and deeply smelling roses as I walk by them. I pay attention to unexpected butterflies & dragonflies. I am taking baby steps towards putting myself on the line!

That's enough for one night! Good night! =)

Apple Pie

Every fall I pick a dessert & try to perfect it. A few years ago I worked on the Sweet Potato Pie, and last year it was the Apple Pie. I'm not sure what my dessert of choice will be this year, but I'm tempted to continue my work on the Apple Pie. I think last year was more of a year for working on the pie crust than the pie filling. Pie crust is really difficult to get right, and I didn't start to get good at it until the end of the season. Thanks to my uneven pie crust, I started calling it a Rustic Apple Pie. When I made French Apple Pie, the struedel crust often got too crispy, but it was really good & Bob liked it more than a traditional crust. One of the beauties of of making a French Apple Pie is that I can make a double pie crust, and save half of it for the next pie! It's all about working smarter, not harder...

Last week on Football Sunday, I talked big about baking something for tomorrow. If I can get my act together & go to the grocery store, I'll bake a French Apple Pie!

Have a look at my oh-so beautiful and trusty baking partner:

Football Sundays

Football season is here!

Now, I don't care much for football. I'm not a big sports fan. When Bob is swearing at the tv and trying to make his teams to cover by the sheer force of his determination, I'm likely sitting next to him flipping through a magazine. Every year he hopes to teach me how to get into football, but it hasn't happened yet. And I am so excited that football season is here! Seriously.

I love football season because of our Sundays with friends. The boys spend most of the day on the couch, watching every game that they picked in their football pools. Julia & I often run errands or Christmas shop. Sundays are a day to relax with friends, with our extended family. Football Sundays are special and, well, just different than Sundays the rest of the year.

Football Sunday dinners aren't a simple meat, salad, and starch combination. Oh no, not Sundays. Dinner discussions start early in the day, followed by a trip to the grocery store (or two!). Mike starts preparing dinner mid-afternoon, filling the house with delicious smells. Last Sunday we had braised chicken thighs combined with sausage, vegetables, & rice, along with garlic bread smothered under caramelized onions & gorgonzola. I never know what Sunday dinner will be, but one thing is clear, Mike always spoils us with his elaborate plated dinners!

Oh how I love our Football Sundays!

Ordering samples

I am pretty darn excited because I just ordered my first sample album and cover swatches. I am using Finao, a young but fabulous company based right here in the United States. I think albums are important heirlooms, and I am so excited to offer Finao's gorgeous & high quality products. Watch for pictures when the album and swatches arrive in a few weeks!

On a side note, I just love that Finao has a quote on the top of each page, which changes as you navigate through the site. Here are a few that caught my eye:

"Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible. I think it's in my basement ... let me go upstairs and check." -M.C. Escher

"About half my ideas are controlled fantasies, 15% are total madness, and the rest are bread-and-butter designs." -Manolo Blahnik

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." -Albert Einstein

"Be who you are and say what you mean because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." -Dr Seuss

"Chocolate makes your clothes shrink." (This one is my favorite!)