mele kalikimaka..Merry Christmas!

So many beautiful events have been photographed this year. I'm overwhelmed with happiness. Grateful to be doing what I love. Will be sure and post more during this time of catch up! I'm off for over two weeks from photographing for Visual Photography, which I love doing, but so glad to catch my breath! Will also be updating my website for those of you who can't view flash sites on their phone or ipads. Keeps me on my toes technology wise! Anyway, wanted to wish all of you a happy holidays! Xo, Ronnie

While I was working...

Just a fun post to show images of me at work! Shooting Boudoir this weekend at TwylaK in Thousand Oaks :)

Thankful for everything!

We are right in the middle of Thanksgiving weekend.  Never been very organized about holidays, although I aspire to be!  Just take work when it comes and celebrate when I can.  Or do absolutely nothing, which is how I spent this last holiday. Been photographing some really nice weddings, but will share with you later, as I'm still processing all of the images.  In the meantime, I've been waiting to look through my slides from the 80's and while doing so, found about a thousand more to scan!  Here are a few images from my past.  Was shooting film back then, so images may appear a little grainy, but each one  holds so much history for me! Happy Holidays! Ronnie

It's not summer anymore

My summers are consumed with photographing people, so when Fall comes around, swoon!  I'm a happy girl!  Just finished editing three weddings from September and I'm hoping they will allow me to share!  Here is a photo taken of me, while shooting a wedding at CBS Studios this summer.  I love what I get to do and love it when my clients help me get the shots that  they love!   We were taking a shot of all of the guests at the wedding and Jeanne Tanner shot this of me!  This is New York Street at the CBS Studio on Radford, Studio City, California.  Seinfeld was shot here!

Today was a special wedding for me.  Had met Mary, the bride, about five years ago when she came into the portrait studio that I photograph seniors for, Visual Photography.  I took her senior photo :)  She then started working there with me and I was quickly charmed by her quirky sense of humor and her warm personality.  I then got the opportunity to photograph her sister, Julia's wedding two years ago.  Today, I had the honor to photograph her wedding.  Something she had told me I would do years ago!  We got some AMAZING photos, but how could we not with such a gorgeous couple?  This was taken today, at their wedding, at Paramount Ranch.  Congratulations to Nick and Mary!  Much love, your wedding photographer, Ronnie

Malibu Beach Inn Wedding

Loved photographing at Malibu Beach Inn (They have a live ocean camera on their website!)  My bride, Sloane, was introduced to her new husband, Craig, by his father.  Intimate.  Classic.  Coastal.  My kind of wedding :)  HERE is their slide show.

Wedding season

Been quite a busy summer and I haven't been blogging much!  Wiggy Ranch today!  The couple was so cute and quite a nice venue!  I'd photographed the bride's brothers' wedding almost two years ago, so it was nice to catch up with the family!  Even though I only live 25 minutes south of Santa Barbara, my heart belongs there!

Limoneira Ranch. Shannon and Jeremy

This summer was full of new places to explore and photograph.  Shannon and Jeremy had chosen Limoneira Ranch for their wedding and me, as their photographer.  Soo nice!  We had great light and great people to make beautiful memories for them.  HERE is their slide show if you would like to see more!  Such nice light!  From the people as well as the location!

Pipeline

So much of my work requires that I interact with people and with nature. Good thing I love to do both. Here is a shot of Davey Smith at Pipeline, on the North Shore of Oahu.   Dave is a goofy foot, (Right foot forward) so was a good location to showcase his talent. Remember being taken aback as to how many people were in the water at the time, competing for these giant, left barrels.  It was as if nature had created a ride for their amusement.  The photo was shot on Kodachrome 64 slide film of which I have recently been scanning.  Quite a project!

Tianna and Ryan at Hartley Botanical Gardens

Having shot many times at Hartleys, one of the most beautiful gardens for weddings in this area, I was thrilled when Tianna and Ryan chose me to photograph their day.  It was a perfect fit for this couple who loved a beautiful, natural environment to surround them and their families on this perfect day.  The Packard belongs to Tianna's father, who collects cars.  It fit beautifully with it's green colors and vintage touch.  Click HERE if you want to see more from their wedding.

Summertime!

Kangaroos at Anglesea, Torquay, Australia

Stubbies Surf Contest, Burleigh Heads, NSW, Australia

My son's father, David Pu'u at Duranbah, Coolangatta, Australia

This is Davey Smith.  He is an awesome surfer and taught my kids how to surf!  Haleiwa, Hawaii.  North Shore

It's finally summer and I'm super excited for all of the amazing weddings that I will get to photograph this year.  Just finishing up one for Tianna and Ryan at Hartley Botanical Garden.  Such a beautiful location and couple.  Then there is Jennifer and Josh's wedding on the Scarlett Belle. Another project that I'm working on is the scanning all of my slides.  When I first started in photography, my favorite subject was surfers and the ocean.  There were no digital cameras and Kodachrome 64 (slide film) was my film of choice.  It was how magazines wanted shots submitted to them.  Since the slides are now termed 'vintage,' the magazines have expressed an interest in reviewing the photo for print, but want them submitted digitally.  It's quite a task, so this year, I was able to have them done at ScanCafe.  Still waiting for some to come back (There were hundreds!) and then will begin sorting and identifying them.  Above photos are from those slides.  They are photos from about 30 years ago in Hawaii and Australia.  Looking forward to seeing more soon!

The month just flew by!  Proms season, with a few weddings and engagements sprinkled in.  And maternity!  Got invited to a baby shower for one of my brides, Roxanna and another bride, Lydia, was there!  Glad to squeeze in a maternity session with Roxanna before she delivered baby Luna, just yesterday!  We took them during last Sunday's luner eclipse!  Beautiful light!

One of my favorite places in the world and why

My fascination with a piers came at an early age.  I remember my feet could hardly pull me forward as they inched over the rough wood and held onto my Mother's hand. This was part of our Sunday afternoon ritual, growing up in Santa Barbara.  I'm sure my brothers were entertained as cried.  Really thought my body would just slip through the cracks into the sea. as my parents forced me to walk out over the calm, ocean water.  I was scared to death! To this day, I can picture in my mind the color of the water, under my toes. as they clenched to hold on to my life.  Surely, at any given time, I was going to fall through the cracks, to that water below?   Couldn't we just stay safely at the bottom of the pier, where they sold pinwheels and Cracker Jacks?  Adrenalin and beauty.  All in one spot.  No wonder they are now my favorite place to be at any given time!

Fast forward decades of my life, a pier now holds a safe facination for my mind.  I still can tell when I walk on any pier as the ground below me transitions from sand to water. Even with my eyes shut.  On any given day, you will find me there, on one of them.  One of my favorite places on this earth to be, with my body holding close, as it walks over the sea.

Alex and Tiffany's Wedding

We were so excited to photograph at the Pierpont Inn!  It's always soo pretty and the room that they provide for getting the bride ready is, well, perfect! ... and it's filled with vintage furniture and an ocean view.  What more could you ask for? Tiffany and Alex were so easy to photograph and the light just made it that much easier!   The wedding was scheduled to take place in the garden, but the rain came and plans got changed, but the wedding, well, it went the way it was supposed to go.   The Pierpont changed the location to the Vickers Estate.  Warm fires, candles and music were perfect!  The rain even let up enough for us to go to the pier as planned.  And as the rain came back, it was in just in time to head to the reception where dancing, candy and fun was had by all!  HERE is the slide show!  Thank you so much Alex and Tiffany for letting me share in your day!

Heading into the holiday weekend.  Trying to catch up on editing and I wanted to share these, because, they just make me happy!  Tiffany and Alex were married at the Pierpont Inn, on a rainy day, but we were able to sneak out to the Ventura Pier for a few shots between the showers.  The pier is one of my favorite places to be in the world to be and since the Pierpont is only minutes away, was so glad that the weather cooperated enough for us to get these shots, although this couple would look good photographed anywhere!

Will post the slideshow later this week!

The "C" word!

Been working a lot this winter, even though it's supposed to be my 'slow' season.  One thing that is different this year is that I have been diagnosed with Cancer.  There, I said it!  The 'C' word!  Feeling really good!  Worked a lot last year doing what I loved.  Kept complaining to my doctor that it felt hard to swallow!  Did tests...nothing..told me I had allergies, maybe?  Kept telling them that I feel SOMETHING!  When I swallow and tend to loose my voice, although if you know me, that's not such a bad thing!  Finally they do a test.  NOTHING!  But, I insist they dig deeper...and they do.  So Thanksgiving weekend, they tell me I have CANCER...the 'C' word!  Didn't even know how to process that!  I feel sooo good!  So how can I have that? I don't feel sick so how can I be sick?   Turns out that I have thyroid cancer, known as the 'good' cancer since you don't die from it!  Okay, so now what?  I had my thyroid removed.  Luckily, it didn't spread since I got it so early.  Now just have to adjust to taking a little colored pill every morning.  That's been weird for me since I typically don't even take advil or any of the allergy meds that my doctor would like to see me take.  Didn't share any of this until I was sure of how it would all affect my photography life.  You know what?  It has, but only for the better!  It's increased my awareness for peoples lives and thoughts.  And from here I learned.

Shannon and Jeremy Engagement at Camarillo Library

When I spoke with Shannon about about a location to take hers and Jeremy's engagement photos, she knew exactly where she wanted them taken.  A place that she'd spent many hours studying.  A beautiful, peaceful place surrounded by books and some gorgeous lighting.  Camarillo Library.  I had to agree with her and was so glad they shared this location with me and we were able to take the photos there, without disturbing the other people who were enjoying this beautiful Sunday afternoon.

HERE is a link to their online slide show.  Can't wait for their wedding this summer at Limoneria Ranch

Love between people. Shared it grows stronger.

It's early in the morning as I write this post.  Sometimes my mind is not quiet enough to sleep and I find myself checking up with friends on Facebook.  This morning I saw a post from a client/friend of her dog waiting in the car, early in the morning, while her husband was being deployed today.

So much emotion came into my mind that it overflowed down my face as I thought of this cute little family that I had just met and photographed last week.  They had shared their time together on a beach while I captured them together.  Reminds me how important photos are and about how lucky that I am to get to be a part in their creation.

Todays post is dedicated to Jerry and Elise and their dog, Riyu.  Many more times like this ahead :)  You are in my thoughts and prayers!  Ronnie

Vegas calling.

Sitting on the floor in my hotel room at Bally's, with the most beautiful nigh time view I could possibly have.  Always loved a good skyline and Vegas doesn't disappoint, even at one am.  My words just had to leave my head and find their way through my fingers to this keyboard before I could go to sleep tonight. To write how grateful I am that I am here.  At this moment.  Getting ready to do the thing that I love to do the best:  photographing people.  It's been a long winter, for lots of reasons I won't go into right now, but here's a hint:  two weeks ago tonight, I was in a hospital room.  (Will share that story when it's time but for now if you are a new or existing client, don't worry! I will be fine!)  Just can't believe how life has taken me on a journey past my dreams and close to people that I could never have imagined just by following my heart. Vegas calling?  Yes, I guess it did.  Bring it on!!

Isaac and Lauren Engagement

Spent a sunny, fall afternoon photographing Lauren and Isaac at the beach.  Together they made each other laugh.  Made it really easy for me to capture these images! They will be married at Jalama Ranch this summer.  It's the same location that Isaac had proposed to Lauren.  One of my prettiest areas in California as well as a great place to surf and to camp.  And to photograph their wedding!



HERE is a link to their slideshow :)

Nydia and Jesse

Jesse whistled, as Nydia walked down the isle on her father's arm, toward him, at Santa Clara Catholic Church, on September 10, 2010.  This beautiful church (one of my favorites to shoot at, not only because of the beautiful architecture, but because of their friendly staff and photography friendly policies!) has witnessed hundreds of families joining together, as mentioned by the priest during their ceremony.  The two could not stop smiling at each other.  HERE is a link to their online slide show.  And as a reminder how important stopping to take photos with those people who make up our lives, Jesse's Grandfather passed away shortly after the ceremony, making these images even more priceless!