So, you've heard me talk about my best friend Gianna, she's the one that said to me ten years ago.. you have to come out to Santa Barbara you can sublease my friends place for 3 montsh... its NOW or NEVER... my thought, "really, I'm not a California girl... I'm going east my friend... NY, Boston... here I come... BUT when someone says, now or never... there's an urgency that must be met.. SO my three months turned into ten years... and I can't thank her enough...
Here we are, how many years later... and G with her amazing family... in fact I'm sure you've seen her little boys Leo and Luca all over my blog. Well, I'm in the process of documenting Luca's first year... we did a shoot with him back in March... and now here he is in July... along with Luca, we've been doing a "lifestyle shoot"... life around the ranch was this day's outing.
G's ranch is one of my favorite retreats on earth... we sit on the front porch drink homemade lemonade .. its just like a CountryTime Lemonade commercial!!
G, you are my sister... and with everyone of these pics, my heart laughs with joy at the pure happiness that shines through you and to your boys! THANK YOU for being in my life and letting me be a part of documenting this golden era!!
Love
A
Here we are, how many years later... and G with her amazing family... in fact I'm sure you've seen her little boys Leo and Luca all over my blog. Well, I'm in the process of documenting Luca's first year... we did a shoot with him back in March... and now here he is in July... along with Luca, we've been doing a "lifestyle shoot"... life around the ranch was this day's outing.
G's ranch is one of my favorite retreats on earth... we sit on the front porch drink homemade lemonade .. its just like a CountryTime Lemonade commercial!!
G, you are my sister... and with everyone of these pics, my heart laughs with joy at the pure happiness that shines through you and to your boys! THANK YOU for being in my life and letting me be a part of documenting this golden era!!
Love
A
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Lemonade with Luca, Laughing with Leo
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I just had write this quick little story...
My long lost high school friend sent me an email the other day asking if I would be available for a portrait shoot on the island next week. OF COURSE... so this is what she wrote me next...
"Your photo shoots look so fun! I told the kids that a friend of Mommy's might take pictures of them having fun in MI. My daughter asked, "so we don't just sit still and say "cheese"?"
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!!!
Its exactly true... I don't want to photograph kids sitting still, uncomfortable, bored and unhappy... yet being forced to smile... I want to photograph them jumping around... having fun... acting their age... capturing this exact moment in their life!!
So, yippee... I love that a little girl gets this!!
.. so just to get into the spirit.. here are a few pics of fun kids... I just LOVE these two!!
My long lost high school friend sent me an email the other day asking if I would be available for a portrait shoot on the island next week. OF COURSE... so this is what she wrote me next...
"Your photo shoots look so fun! I told the kids that a friend of Mommy's might take pictures of them having fun in MI. My daughter asked, "so we don't just sit still and say "cheese"?"
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!!!
Its exactly true... I don't want to photograph kids sitting still, uncomfortable, bored and unhappy... yet being forced to smile... I want to photograph them jumping around... having fun... acting their age... capturing this exact moment in their life!!
So, yippee... I love that a little girl gets this!!
.. so just to get into the spirit.. here are a few pics of fun kids... I just LOVE these two!!
And I had to add this pic... its of Lily and I at Angelina & Jerry's wedding last weekend... we were having so much fun!! I think this pic is soooo great... its sooo us!!!
Theme today.. HAVE FUN!!! (and turn the camera on yourself once and a while ;-)
Love
A
Theme today.. HAVE FUN!!! (and turn the camera on yourself once and a while ;-)
Love
A
Angelina Stasulis:
So glad to hear you two were having a great time! So were we :o)
(07.01.10 @ 06:31 PM)
Heather Arthur:
Totally looking forward to it! The kids are too! :)
(07.07.10 @ 04:18 PM)
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My Portrait goal...
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I am back on the island after the most amazing trip back home to Santa Barbara. It was probably the most relaxing, fun week I'd had in almost a year... thanks to all my friends for making my visit home so awesome!!
Now that I'm back to Home #2 .. .I thought it would be fun to start doing more island portraits AND vacation shoots... last year I had a blast photographing my brother and his family at the beach and it gave me the idea.. how cool would it be to have your family vacation documented every year... have a book made.. .and then over the years you begin to see how your family has grown up and multiplied all while on vacation... laughing, smiling, doing things you don't necessarily get to do everyday!!
Another thought I had was this... just think it's November... all of a sudden the year has gotten away from you and you think.. "OH SHOOT... holiday cards... darn it and we don't have an updated family picture"... well, again ... why not do it while on vacation...
so if you are headed to the island at all this summer and are interested in having some pics taken look me up!
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Mackinac Island Portrait Special*
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I am back in Cali but thinking about the awesome weekend of weddings I had a couple weeks ago. I really feel blessed by the couples I've photographed so far this year and this weekend was unbelievable... its started on Thursday with a vow renewal between Kristin and Joachim, then a surprising turn of events with Jennifer and Matt... and the weekend of weddings ended with me tearing up (no.. straight up crying) over Kristin and Ian's thoughtfulness!!
First up ... Kristin and Joachim... Kristin and I met up in NYC when I was there a little over a month ago and TOTALLY hit is off... we were talking all sorts of girl talk as if we'd been BFF's forever... and then when we met up again on the island a month later for her wedding.. we just continued (Kristin, I still can't believe everything we talked about you.. YOU ROCK). I had such a good time hanging out with Kristin and Joachim. They had a beautiful wedding at Little Stone Church then dinner up at the Woods Restaurant. While there, Joachim (who is Swedish) led the group in a traditional shot of some traditional liquor (which really smelled more like lighter fluid).. Kristen & Joachim, I can't get over how perfectly your timing was and I'm so glad I was able to be a part of it. Thank you!! You two crack me up and I have no doubt that you two will be having fun the rest of your lives together!!!
Then Jennifer and Matt and I had a blast!! I don't always get the chance to hang out with my couples too much prior to the wedding... but this time I did... after photographing them biking around the island the day before the wedding I was surprised they were still talking to me. I had them running, jumping, and RACING around the island... easy for me I was on my 21 speed bike... they, on the other hand were on their single speed cruisers... well... not only did they talk with me the next day... but after their beautiful ceremony at the Mission Point Gazebo they took me on a little adventure to Sinclairs Irish Pub in the middle of their recpetion (leaving everyone behind) to go do Irish Car Bombs (a specialty of the establishment with Mackinac Fudge Stout)... it was something I'd never experienced before... they were my first "runaway couple".... Jennifer & Matt... Thanks for including me on your adventure... it was so much fun and goes down in the record books!!! You two have such a connection that it transcends everything you do... on a bike, at a wedding... and in the bar... it was a blast to be witness to it ALL!!
And then .. .to finish off my crazy weeks of weddings... Kristin and Ian... now this couple and I have been chatting for years.. no joke I met them both at the Mackinac Island Wedding Expo in 2008 if you can believe it.. .I felt honored... Kristin walked in .. saw my logo gift box and started jumping up and down that "she's the one"... (seriously I think she was just excited to see a pretty package ;-) none the less... I was very complimented and we instantly bonded in fact I feel like I became part of the family (and the planning process) for the last two years. It was almost sad when the wedding was over knowing that I no longer had any reason to "bother" her for photo stuff. Kristin and Ian, I feel like I've known you forever, that I wasn't just a photographer, that I was truly a guest at your wedding. Kristin, your genuineness and pure heart is clear to everyone that meets you,,, and your jumping-up-and-down-excitement-dance is contagious. Ian your love for Kristin and pure gentleman nature is something all men should strive for. You two have a balance of tenderness, joy, and fun that is awesome!! And the necklace you two gave me (still right now.. makes me tear up)... it was so incredibly thoughtful... it will from now on be a part of my permanent shooting jewelery...
To all my couples... you all are so amazing in so many ways.. each of you is different and touches my heart in a different way. I feel so lucky to have met you all!!
Love,
A
btw... I'm back in cali.. adjusting to mainland life for a week before the island calls again...
First up ... Kristin and Joachim... Kristin and I met up in NYC when I was there a little over a month ago and TOTALLY hit is off... we were talking all sorts of girl talk as if we'd been BFF's forever... and then when we met up again on the island a month later for her wedding.. we just continued (Kristin, I still can't believe everything we talked about you.. YOU ROCK). I had such a good time hanging out with Kristin and Joachim. They had a beautiful wedding at Little Stone Church then dinner up at the Woods Restaurant. While there, Joachim (who is Swedish) led the group in a traditional shot of some traditional liquor (which really smelled more like lighter fluid).. Kristen & Joachim, I can't get over how perfectly your timing was and I'm so glad I was able to be a part of it. Thank you!! You two crack me up and I have no doubt that you two will be having fun the rest of your lives together!!!
Then Jennifer and Matt and I had a blast!! I don't always get the chance to hang out with my couples too much prior to the wedding... but this time I did... after photographing them biking around the island the day before the wedding I was surprised they were still talking to me. I had them running, jumping, and RACING around the island... easy for me I was on my 21 speed bike... they, on the other hand were on their single speed cruisers... well... not only did they talk with me the next day... but after their beautiful ceremony at the Mission Point Gazebo they took me on a little adventure to Sinclairs Irish Pub in the middle of their recpetion (leaving everyone behind) to go do Irish Car Bombs (a specialty of the establishment with Mackinac Fudge Stout)... it was something I'd never experienced before... they were my first "runaway couple".... Jennifer & Matt... Thanks for including me on your adventure... it was so much fun and goes down in the record books!!! You two have such a connection that it transcends everything you do... on a bike, at a wedding... and in the bar... it was a blast to be witness to it ALL!!
And then .. .to finish off my crazy weeks of weddings... Kristin and Ian... now this couple and I have been chatting for years.. no joke I met them both at the Mackinac Island Wedding Expo in 2008 if you can believe it.. .I felt honored... Kristin walked in .. saw my logo gift box and started jumping up and down that "she's the one"... (seriously I think she was just excited to see a pretty package ;-) none the less... I was very complimented and we instantly bonded in fact I feel like I became part of the family (and the planning process) for the last two years. It was almost sad when the wedding was over knowing that I no longer had any reason to "bother" her for photo stuff. Kristin and Ian, I feel like I've known you forever, that I wasn't just a photographer, that I was truly a guest at your wedding. Kristin, your genuineness and pure heart is clear to everyone that meets you,,, and your jumping-up-and-down-excitement-dance is contagious. Ian your love for Kristin and pure gentleman nature is something all men should strive for. You two have a balance of tenderness, joy, and fun that is awesome!! And the necklace you two gave me (still right now.. makes me tear up)... it was so incredibly thoughtful... it will from now on be a part of my permanent shooting jewelery...
To all my couples... you all are so amazing in so many ways.. each of you is different and touches my heart in a different way. I feel so lucky to have met you all!!
Love,
A
btw... I'm back in cali.. adjusting to mainland life for a week before the island calls again...
Kristin:
Yay! We are on your blog and the preview of pics are so cool!!!
(06.18.10 @ 01:27 PM)
Terry:
Beautiful work! I love them. Thanks!
(06.18.10 @ 03:09 PM)
Cathy:
Fabulous, fabulous pictures, We can't wait to see more, Cathy and Glenn Hollis
(06.21.10 @ 12:51 PM)
Heather & Michael:
Judging by these pictures ... you had a wonderful day
(06.27.10 @ 01:29 PM)
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Another weekend of Island weddings...
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but not really... just heading home to SB for a bit... see my place... do some shoots... and drive a car (its amazing how novelty that can be when your other home is an island with horses and bikes ;-)
If anyone is interested in a quick photo shoot or consultation or if you just want to catch up and chat.. I'm around... just let me know...
Here are a couple pics of the island from the last few days... bye by Mackinac, I'll be back again soon!!
Love,
A
If anyone is interested in a quick photo shoot or consultation or if you just want to catch up and chat.. I'm around... just let me know...
Here are a couple pics of the island from the last few days... bye by Mackinac, I'll be back again soon!!
Love,
A
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And off I go again...
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