Reconnecting

Today was a great day!  It's a summer Saturday and somehow found it wedding-less.  I'm shooting one tomorrow and had one last night, so life is good!
Met up with a former couple that I had photographed their wedding for eight years ago, at the Adamson House in Malibu.  We had reconnected again through Facebook and I found out they were headed through Ventura to camp for the weekend.  We spent some time at the beach, with their 3 year old daughter.  It felt so right to photograph them now, eight years later, with a family.  Life, for one moment, stood still.  As I was there when they became husband and wife, many years ago, once again, we were on a beach honoring their commitment to each other, now as a family.  They are wonderful people.  So honored to once again be a part of their lives as they shared their time with their  daughter.  Kind people. Amazing parents.  And well, quite easy on the eyes.  Will check with them to see if I could post a couple of photos, but even without an image, there is one in my heart.

Ventura Engagement

My kids attended Pierpont School in Ventura.  We had recently transplanted our family here from Santa Barbara and once I spotted this public school, right on the beach, I knew it was a perfect fit for our beach oriented family.

Josh and Jon attended their entire elementary years, kindergarten through 5th grade, them making lifelong friends as well as myself.  This area will always hold a place in my heart, both good and bad, as some of you may know, but that's been the yin and yang of my life.

Last year, a very pretty bride contacted me to photograph her wedding.  Jeannine and David Shellenberger had fallen in love, and wanted me to photograph their wedding at Eucalyptus Lane.  When I met with Jeannine, a stunning blond, she smiled at me with recognition.  I had no clue as to who she was until she spoke of her mother, Jennifer Loudermilk, who was one of the village of people who helped me raise my boys at Pierpont School.  I was thrilled to be a part of their wedding and my son, Josh assisted me.  I loved seeing Josh's former kindergarten teacher at the wedding.

This year, Jeannine's brother, Jacob, contacted me and asked if I would be interested in photographing his wedding.  Only problem was, it would take place in Arizona.  I was honored to be asked and chosen to be a part of this wonderful family once again.  Jacob and Georgianna have been living in different states.  Georgianna lives in Arizona while Jacob lives here.  That is going to change soon.  In honor of the fact that Ventura was a part of their story, they had their engagement session here, amongst the antique stores and the ability to still walk to the beach in the evening.

HERE is their engagement slide show:  Enjoy!

Montecito

So my sister, Theresa Hayes, just emailed me about her day.  Theresa is a wonderful nurse, although you would much rather run into her in a grocery store,  rather than at her "day" job, which is an intensive care nurse at Cottage Hospital in Santa Barbara.  Apparently she ran into friend of mine.   At the Montecito Vons, yes, where Oprah is known to shop. I almost said, old friend, but I do consider her a friend for life, as she was one of the first people whom I trusted the care of my oldest son, Josh. 

Theresa had commented on how my parents raised us.  Her, being forcibly put into a Register Nursing program and to me, forced to do, nada.  My Mom passed away shortly after high school and  I graduated being able to do whatever the h*** I wanted to.  And she was grateful.  Sometimes, I wish I had been forced into a profession that is honorable, but generates a nice, steady income, such as nursing, but the reality of what she does on a day to day basis.  Not sure I could do it.  People die in intensive care.  Maybe, not on her watch.  Some do recover and their families bring them home.  But what she has to deal with on a daily/weekly  basis?  Just makes me grateful for the things I get to see.  I get to do something honorable, too.  Document people's lives and somehow,  been able to provide for my family, and now, myself.  And I love it!!  Did my parents know something about us that we didn't quite see in ourselves?

Montecito to Santa Barbara, shot from the sky while flying with Danielle Quinn, Avex Marketing Director, in her cute Cessna.

Santa Barbara.

My hometown.  Born at St. Francis, which is now shut down, youngest of a family of eight, we were a large family of fish in a small town....Everyone knew one another.  Stores closed at 8pm and you played tennis in the street in front of your home,   Tomorrow, I go back to my hometown to shoot a wedding.  The actual ceremony will be at SBCC, where I attended college.  It perches above the Pacific Ocean.  Once, long ago,I remember walking back from an accounting class to where my car was parked.  Wondering in my head, why I was taking business classes when all I wanted to do was be a photographer?  I could see my shadow, falling on the soil ahead of me;  there was no pavement.  Could picture me photographing someone while they were walking and I was documenting.  Tomorrow, that image takes place.  Will be where I'm supposed to be, doing what I was meant to be doing.  Feeling overwhelms  me.  Will have to share this with the couple.  And be grateful that my business administration and marketing classes, that I took on that very soil, have actually taken me to that place where I WANT TO BE!!

2am on Sunday

Really is 2am on a Sunday.  Just shot wedding for Christine and Mark at The Secret Garden.  Soo beautiful!  Forgot to ask them if I could share their images or not, so, guess that will have to wait.  Also shot this week for Native Daughters of the Golden West.  Brought back memories from my growing up in Santa Barbara and Fiesta.   Started shooting seniors for 2011 at Visual Photography this week as well.  Went really well.  Glad people come to have that moment captured.  So much changes after high school!  For me, it was a good thing.  My mom got really sick and passed away, right after I graduated.  She wasn't able to attend my graduation from Bishop High in Santa Barbara, but I have recently discovered people on Facebook that went there and now we can just be ourselves and support each other, even if just over the internet.  Even, at 2am!!!

Saturday Mornings.

Usually my Saturdays involve lots of preparation for my event later in the day.  Charging batteries, organizing my camera gear and making sure that everything is in order for my wedding that day.  Today is a little different.  Needed it to be.  Don't want to take any aspect of my life for granted.  Even the little things like being able to walk my dog, run in the park and have a talk with one of my sons.  Was a little busy these past few weeks.  Very grateful for all who have trusted me with their lives and their business.  Always forget to ask if I'm allowed to share, so some of the images and memories will have to wait to be shared.  Quite diverse.
Will be shooting downtown this afternoon for a brother of a former bride who is getting married next year in Arizona.  Have the honor of being their photographer as well.  Can't wait to get to know them better and to create beautiful images for them as memories.  And make some of my own as well.

Photo of Scarlett Belle Billboard that is on the side of the 101 freeway north, in Oxnard.  Photo of boat was taken by me.

Photo of me on the roof of Avex, Inc.  hanger while shooting for them in Camarillo.

My youngest son, Jon, getting ready for a fight at Hollywood Casino.

Huber and Maribel celebrating their one year wedding anniversay with a photo shoot in Malibu.

Respect for Relationships.

It's been a week since I posted and been shooting a lot, so I got a lot to share!!  But one thing I don't do is share something that my clients haven't yet seen or don't want me to share, so don't worry!!!  Those nude shots of you will never see the light of internet if you don't want them to!  My work is for my clients.  If they have given me permission to share, then I might.  If I forget to ask them or they prefer that the images remain private, then, I always respect their wishes, no matter how I would love to show them!!...Now, off to edit, and hopefully get permission to share some of the amazing people that have crossed my path these past few weeks!

My life through the lens.

Been so busy and have neglected updating this blog.  Do go on Facebook alot, so become my friend if you haven't already done so. 
Last month was amazing.  Met so many and photographed soo much.  Honored to be a part of so many lives.  Leaves me with editing, which has taken so much of my time, therefore, no blog.  I'm posting an image now.  It was shot with an under water housing, with film, a flash back to my previous life in the surfing industry.  Decided to combine them both and will be offering underwater sessions for those of those who wish to do so!

This one was taken on my last morning in the Virgin Islands.  I had traveled there to photograph a wedding.  It was a referral from a friend and amazing photographer, Kelly Segre!

My week photographing people....

I will post soon.  I have been so busy shooting and enjoying life....One wedding with 4 photographers and 2 video people.  I set the bar a little higher for myself by shooting FILM for some of the shots.  Karissa and I finally got together to give her her boudoir photos...An engagement session at Reagan Library....Engagement session at Garden of Hope at Pepperding=surreal location.  Family session with friends at the beach.  Husband got deployed just short of retirement!  Bryan and Danica engagement in Vegas...

Take me with you. I love adventure.

This week was a sensory overloaded one, but for those of you that know me, that's what I thrive on.  So I'm thriving.  Started the week out meeting up with my son, Jon, the Muy Thai fighter, for lunch in North Hollywood, his new home.  He drove me to the airport to go to Vegas.  My car's tire went flat, so I left him in a parking lot and left.  Sorry to do that to you, Jon!  I got on the plane.  Jet Blue.  Nice, but someone was in my seat.  No problem.  Flight attendant informed me that they would pay me $1000 if I got bumped off of the flight!  I thought I hit the jackpot before I even reached Vegas:)  No such luck.  They found me a seat, but then decided EVERYONE had to exit the plane.  What?? I had things to do when I got to Vegas.  Few hours later, we landed and I got ready for party at the Mandalay with Pictage.  I have to tell you that I jumped on the bed, in a pent house suite, overlooking the strip.  I'm just saying if you can't do it in Vegas, where else would I ever do that?  (Mexico :).  I recruited a couple of other victims in my jumping.  Next day was WPPI.  I had engagement session with a couple who are getting married in Newbury Park, but live there.  Danica and Bryan, you were both such good sports...!  And soo cute together.  Can''t wait to shoot your wedding.  Two days of shooting for Pictage.  I got to see Jasmine Star's platform, which apparently 2 thousand people got turned away.  Kind of Rolling Stoneish...people were fighting.  Not pretty.  Flew back to Burbank to yet another flat tire, so I took the tow truck express all the way to Ventura, where I got a ride to work at  6:30 in the morning.  Not a pretty site, I'm sure.  Last two days were a blur.  Today, I shot an engagement session at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley.  Uri and Bethany were such good sports, and well, can I say I didn't see a single book at the library, but we have some amazing and unique images for them..and they are soo sweet.  They will be getting married in August.  Then I sped back to the beach, where I shot the easiest family shoot, ever.  Sorry about the bracelets, Jacqueline.  Soo nice to catch up with long ago friend and her growing up fast family before her cute, Navy husband leaves for a year :(  But  what a nice evening I had!!  Then yesterday, I shot John and Julia's engagement session at El Matador beach in Malibu and then at the Gardens' of Hope at Pepperdine.  If you have never been there, it's a must see.  It was so peaceful there that I could feel angels.  It was built as a memorial to one of the passengers of flight 93 that went down on September 11.  So amazing.  And John was such a good sport climbing all of the hills that they don't have in Texas, where he's from.  I will post photos as I get them done and get permission...

Let's start with Danica and Bryan.  HERE is their slide show.

And Julie's family.  How do they all look so good?? 

And then, Uri and Bethany at the Reagan Library.  I will post their slide show soon!