Christmas Peace

Okay, so this should be profound, enlightening, since it's Christmas Eve, now after midnight turning Christmas day. Nothing profound, nothing happening here and that is good!! I spent quite a few years in drama and we all know how the holidays bring that out in the best way :( Tonight, no drama. No tears. Just family, a little work, but the GOOD kind of work capturing families being together for just one day in a whole year! And I was there! But no drama. Soo happy and peaceful with my dog lying at my feet and my boys asleep in their beds and a couple of heartfelt presents wrapped under the tree and peace. Beautiful, glorious peace!!

Happy holidays to all of you!! xo

And enjoy the photos of the girls that I was with helping them with their christmas list!

Katie and Bill

I received a call from Stephanie, that she was already booked and would I like to photograph the wedding of Bill and Katie? Oh course! My favorite thing to photograph is two people in love, joining their lives. Enter Bill and Katie. They were planning on a big wedding and then the fire in Santa Barbara changed their paths forever, and they decided to just get on with their lives by being married at a small ceremony, with just a few family and friends, at the Arts and Letters Cafe in Santa Barbara. What a beautiful ceremony on a warm, November day. What a wonderful thing to be a part of! I was so honored to capture that for them. I'm hoping they have lots of GOOD memories for their future lives together!!! Congratulations Katie and Bill for overcoming life's curve balls and joining your futures together!! Much love, Ronnie

For a slide show of their wedding, CLICK HERE.

Brian and Pamela Westlake Village Inn

So glad to meet these two and fellow doggy lovers. Brian met Pamela when she was teaching a spinning class. Love soon followed. The wedding was at Westlake Village Inn . Beautiful location filled with lots of flowers and friends. Thanks and blessings! Ronnie

click here to view their slide show

Westake Village Inn

I've been editing Pamela and Brian's wedding on November 8, 2009. Pamela is a personal trainer and it shows :)

50's Engagement Session: Chris + Casey

When I got a phone call from Casey, wanting to set up her engagement session, I was walking on Ventura Pier, enjoying the last day of 2008. She told me that she had arranged for a vintage car and was going for something different for her and Chris's engagement photos. The location, Mugu Rock on Coast Highway, was chosen because it was a sort of touch stone in their relationship, starting with when Chris had gotten his drivers license and had drove them there together for the first time. I was so excited when I drove up and saw the car and their matching outfits. I wanted to share it for some time and now I can! To see their wedding slide show, click HERE.

Trent and Christina The Vineyard Simi Valley

After meeting in college, Trent and Christina decided to be married in California. Trent's family flew in from Chicago and the two were married at The Vineyard in Simi Valley, California. The location was perfect, the bride in her Maggie Sottero dress and the groom, looking like a very classy hip hop star. The grooms' father, a pastor of a large church in Chicago, performed the ceremony. The amazing, colored lighting and music were provided by Kris Bunya at DJFX. To view a slideshow of this wedding, CLICK HERE . Such a beautiful event, that brought two families together for a lifetime, filling the evening with laughter and smiles. Thank you soo much Christina and Trent, for allowing me to capture a part of you lives and to witness your lives joining together-Ronnie

Surprises

So I got a call yesterday from my groom last week, Trent, needing photos of his family because "in case you didn't know, my father's a senator" and they need a photo for a magazine asap as well as a photo of the couple for their Chicago reception this weekend. I had no idea, although his father did perform the ceremony as well, so I knew he was a minister. Small detail...I've been editing their wedding and well, they are just a fabulous couple!!!! Check them out!

Been shooting all summer!

I just realized I haven't updated my blog in two months. I've been busy editing all the weddings and events that I've shot this summer. I am caught up to all of them, except this past weekend and then I will post them all. It's been a great summer and I've met some amazing people and they have invited me to document a special day in their lives. I'm honored. This past weekend, I shot HERE . Although the bride's very sweet Maggie Sottero was captured in a very simple hallway at The Grand Vista in Simi Valley.

Christina + Trent Engagement Ventura, California

Christina and Trent met in college. Christina lives here and Trent lives in Chicago, where they both will live once they get married. When we met downtown Ventura for the photos, I took a moment to ask them what they had in common and what would they like their photos to capture. Both share the same faith and both like to work out. Trent told me they wanted something young and street smart. We spent the afternoon shooting, walking around Ventura, discovering areas downtown that I had never seen. They had also just recently added tatoos to their arms, to bond them from across the continent for now, as reminders for their futures together later. I think these photos of them show such a wide interpretation of their spirit and their future together, no matter what city. Click HERE to view their slide show.

Love ReUnited

Last Memorial Day, I came across this organization which allows me to give back to those who have chosen to serve our country in the military. My admiration goes way back. My parent's wedding photographer photographed their wedding for them and in turn, they were published for a magazine. Here's the link.

Creative Business Ideas

June is a super busy month for me. Business has been good, but as a small business owner, I'm always looking for ways to grow. Check out these unique business cards. If nothing else, the will get you to think of other ways to share your company brand.

Speaker for Juvenile Justice System

Today, I spoke at the Juvenile facility in Oxnard for girls. My friend, Kelly had asked me to talk about the how being a women gave me an advantage or disadvantage to be a photographer. It started kind of emotionally for me, as my path as a full time photographer had been a strange road, to say the least. It was rewarding to hear positive things from the girls. I was hoping to convey to them that self esteem had a large roll to play in how we establish ourselves and to not let others' dictate our future if we are truly striving for our dream. Kelly has worked at the facility as a probation officer and now teaches photography there thanks to Girls, Inc. And since every blog post is better with a fabulous photo, here is Roxanna, who had her wedding shower yesterday. Roxanna: I can't wait to shoot your wedding. It's going to beautiful, happy and emotional! Hang on for the ride of your life!

Misc Monday

Today was "get ready for the summer day." Officially! I got everything checked out, everything except my dog, who is overdue for her shots, but, refuses to go to the vet without drama. She is tramatized by just the parking lot at the vet. My son was the one who chose her from the Humane Society . She was the only dog not barking and was too cute. But she is CRAZY! I have to remove her hair from my camera bag every time I shoot. She us pure joy on every other level though. You cannot be down when she is with you. She is happiness on four legs. Oh, and in case you have never met her, her name is Heidi. They named her in the shelter. I shot a wedding for the owner of this store, Petropolis in Camarillo. I went there to get something to calm my dog down before her shots. They gave me some natural drops...we will see how well they work. Thanks, Shauna!
Support your local Humane Society. With love, Heidi

My home

I've been all over the place. I've driven so much in my Hyundai that the IRS likes to audit me and my miles. My odometer just turned 100,000 miles today. That was in just over three years. It's amazing the places we've been to together. I took this photo from the plane on my way back from Vegas. I was not expecting such a pleasant flight. I was landing in Santa Barbara, but as the Allegiant Airlines plane hit the coast, I looked down and saw this, my hometown. Enjoy your time with your families.

Love's Secret Domain

I'm a Mom. Through and through. I'm also a businesswoman. My kids' grew up watching me run a surf shop and being a mom. I thought that since they were older, they would need me less. I could pursue my photo career dead on. They are supported of that, but then my eldest son, Josh tells me about two weeks ago, that he "needs me now, more than ever" while he pursues his dream in the music industry. I was floored. My heart fluttered. Really? I was still needed? Wow. Words that ring true in my ears. He asked me not to come to his show last night. No problem. I'm "the mom" and I understood, but 25 minutes before he went on, my cell phone rings. It's Josh, asking me to show up and to photograph him performing. He wants to know: can I come? Can I come? In a heartbeat, I was there in 20 minutes. Here's an image so you get the idea.
Have fun this weekend and be sure to hug your family:) Hold them always close to your heart! No matter how old they are. Ronnie

Rincon Beach Club, Monique and Dennis

I received a call from Monique, just a few weeks before their wedding. Since I had photographed her friends' wedding, she was wondering if I would be available to shoot her wedding as well. I have photographed several times at Rincon Beach Club and I was thrilled to be available. I was able to have Kelly of Kelly Segre Photography come with me and second shoot. That made it even better! Congratulations to Monique and to Dennis, and to their future family! All my Best, Ronnie
If you want to view their slideshow, click here

Dawn's 40th Birthday Party

Darrell and Kara's wedding at Mandalay Beach

Kara came into the studio. Out of breathe, she told me that her wedding was in a few weeks and she wasn't sure how to start. Her trust and instincts had kicked in, having been voted "Woman of the Year" in Camarillo, California last year our paths had crossed and she as she sat there, in front of me, booked me to shoot her small, intimate wedding to Darrell, not knowing anything about me, other than I shot for Visual. Fast forward to May 1st, when I found myself staring at this happy, beautiful woman, about to marry this lovable, gorgeous firefighter. She'd carefully planned the details, simple wedding at sunset. On the beach. Close friends. How could anything go wrong? Except the weather! It was insurmountable. The wind sang it's song as Darrell and Kara said their vows to one another, amoungst their closest of friends. I was one of the selected few that witnessed this joining of two lives. The two of them clung to each other, laughing and just enjoying the moment and realizing that some things are not to be controlled. Their lives together started on the beach, holding onto one another, staying still long enough to commit to their future, whatever the weather!

Kara and Darrell, I was so proud to be a part of your day, capturing the many memories as you started your lives together! Thank you again for your trust, kindness and humor! For allowing me to capture the beauty in your moments.

All the best, Ronnie


Special thanks to Claudia Craig for coming with me to second shoot!

Wedding of Jeannine and David, Eucalyptus Lane

We started photos at Jeannine and David's beach side home where both of them had been raised. The guys headed down to the beach, the same beach that Jeannine and David live by and enjoy walking with their dogs together. The same beach where Jeannine attended school when she was a child. Jeannine is quite a woman. Beautiful, obviously, but her beauty actually arises from her inside, beaming through her bright blue eyes. David is a fireman. A hero, articulate, kind. Very similar to Jeannine's father, Jeff, whom I've known for years as well as his lovely wife, Jennifer, who was part of the "village" that raised my two grown sons, one whom assisted me at this special wedding.

The day moved onto the secluded Eucalyptus Lane, where under the shade of the trees and surrounded by their friends and family, David and Jeannine said their vows to each other, over the quiet undertones of the local birds. Their day moved me in many ways. From the way David's mother danced and held her son. From her Mom holding back tears as Jeannine proudly walked down the isle towards her husband. From her Father reaching out and touching her as thy both exited as husband and wife. To the shoes kicked off while their friends danced at the end of the night. Thank you to ALL of you who let me capture this moment in time. And to witness it in such a spectacular way. All my best, Ronnie

Thanks you to all the people who made this wedding possible, including these amazing participants:

Location and coordinator:
Eucalyptus Lane, Jamie Lunsford- Stewart

Floral Design:
A Beautiful Day, Jocelyn Kellogg

Dj:
Joshua Jones - Goodbeatproductions

Video:
Gina Jones- Lola Video

Cake:
Janas Creative Cakes

Dress:
David's Bridal

Assistant:
Josh Pu'u

Special thanks to Jeanne Tanner

Wedding on Scarlett Belle

Merri and Kimo were from the Bay area. Merri's Mother, Judith, had heard about me through a friend, Peggy. I had photographed the Scarlett Belle's owners/captains wedding years ago, so I was very excited to actually be on their beautiful boat.

Merri and Kimo were just so happy that day. Thanks for sharing it with me!
Ronnie S

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jETv3NURwLc

This is an interesting, funny take on our present day lives...check it out!

Graveyard session of Paul and Roxanna

I think it's okay to share these as there are a few that they are saving for their wedding day to share.

Scarlett Belle

Today, I photographed on a beautiful boat, The Scarlett Belle . I had photographed the owners' wedding a few years ago, and was so glad to see them as well as spend such a beautiful day with Merri and Kimo. They had so much chemistry!

Achieving a life goal...Elton John Concert

Recently, I went to Las Vegas to attend a photography convention. It's the biggest in the world, and, being that I make my living as a photographer, thought it was my duty to attend. But to those close to me, they know that the real reason I went was to see Elton John. He did not disappoint! I have been waiting over 30 years to see him! If you get a chance, you should go!

Roxanna and Paul's Engagment

This is Paul and Roxanna. You may remember them from the time that I photographed their actual engagement at Disneyland in June. Paul and Roxanna wanted something different for their engagement photos, so they chose their location carefully...in a graveyard!
Roxanna's laugh rang out in the silent afternoon, her daughter, Arrianna and Paul's sister, Violet, were in attendance. The peacefulness of the area was broken by the sound of their feet, stepping carefully between the headstones, mindful of the lives that lay underfoot. Not wanting to disrupt the quiet. The birds flew off from the trees as we walked through the grave sites. The beauty and the powerful presence of being together.
Today, all things came together and life felt peaceful, even in a graveyard, for the moment, just as it should. Thank you to you both for that moment of peace.