It is that time of  year again.. time for the annual WPPI conference in Vegas...

.. and here I am again...  almost midnight... the night before I leave... unpacked... and of course what am I doing...  PROCRASTINATING... I've been on facebook .. twitter... and now  blogging... and I think its all because I don't want to face the fact that I HAVE to fit 4 pairs of boots, a pair of heels, tennis shoes, and flip flops (along with my clothes) into my small suitcase...  but come on... doesn't everyone take all of these shoes for 4 days in Vegas!!  You never know... it is Vegas baby!!

I'm starting to get excited... seeing old friends... meeting new ones... and hopefully learning A TON from all of the amazing speakers... and of course maybe a little equipment shopping (granted there may not be room in my suitcase for more camera gear... but a girl can always make it fit)!!

Have a fun week... 

Love
A

Yesterday I was having one of those days where everything seemed to be going backwards and for some reason I just couldn't bring myself to smile... well... that was until I started working on these photographs.  I couldn't help myself...  every other pic I looked at was making me smile from the depths of my soul.  I mean come on...  how could I not...  just look at the pure joy and excitement that flows out of the faces of Kasima and Niko!!

Looking at these photos truly warmed my soul and made me so happy to be doing what I love!! 

This is the 3rd photo session I have had with these adorable cuties.  I first photographed Ulrike when she was still pregnant with Niko and Kasima was as shy as can be...  not anymore!!  granted even though they know me and my camera... Kasima & Niko still ran circles around me... LITERALLY... these two would not sit still...  I was amazed they weren't just blurs in every image.    But I guess that's what makes the pics so special... they were having so much fun!!!

May true joy and happiness find you when you need it... and may you be present enough to feel this sun when it shines upon you!

Love,
A

For being a one year old... this little boy has more expressions then anyone I've ever met!! 

A few weeks ago while others were prepping for their super bowl parties I was driving in Michigan to meet up with my dear college friend Jackie... it'd been ten years since last we saw each other... amazing how time can fly yet we both look and feel the exact same as we did when we were 21...  and here I was showing up on her doorstep with a camera in hand to photograph her adorable baby boy Brady (well some things have changed.. we're a little bit more responsible now)!! 

We had so much fun.  He is a little rascal...  and an explorer.  I just love letting kids do what they want and follow them around with the camera.  Plus as many of you know the minute you put a little one in place to sit still ... what do they do... cry or  crawl around... so why not go with the flow!!  The cutest part was every time Brady was crawling towards unknown territories he would look back to mom and dad...  "can I go here?"... and of course he did anyways!!

Just check out little Brady's eyebrows... sooooo expressive... he had us in stitches!!

Jackie... it was sooo wonderful to see you after all these years and to get a glimpse into your family. I can't wait to see how Brady grows.  I'll see you soon... we still have a dinner date with the "Dale" girls to plan!!

May you all experience the joys of reconnecting with friends and family from years gone by!!

Love,
A

Rachael and Jordan may look a little familiar...  I photographed their wedding back in October... because the sunset a little early that day I decided it would be fun to do another photo shoot with this happy couple in their backyard... Santa Monica pier... so I headed south

Well, it turned out to be quite a little adventure... after being kicked out the carousel...  almost kicked out of the arcade... and then  taken into security...  (note to self... make nice with the Santa Monica Pier security guards) ...  we were on our way... and what a beautiful afternoon.. .the lighting was perfect.  I had such a blast with Rachael and Jordan.  One minute they look like supermodels... the next their hysterically laughing... and then all of a sudden there would be an incredible tender moment. 

Rachael & Jordan, I'm so excited to have been able to spend time with you guys not once but twice!!  How fun!!  So glad we've become friends!!

Love,
A

I woke up this morning to the sun shining in my window and the birds chirping... and  instead of jumping out of bed running to the gym and starting my day... I stayed.. right there... and started reading a new favorite book... "Wedding Photography From the Heart"...

Now this book instantly grabbed me for two reasons... one... its my philosophy on life...I TRY to make it my goal to live and WORK "from the heart" (be it dancing at home or writing on my blog) ... so the title was perfect for me... and two... it's written by my favorite wedding photographer.. a man I greatly respect and admire.

First... a little about its author... Joe Buissink seems to do everything "from the heart"... his lectures, his photography, his philanthropic work... and the love he has for his family shines through in everything he does.  He is a man who openly shares his knowledge with the photography world without an ego or an agenda except to make this industry and the people in it better!!

So this book.... is inspiring to say the least... it just reaffirms what my goal has always been... to stop focusing so much on creating a perfect moment with the right lighting, background, pose, etc  . . but instead to wait and feel when that perfect moment arrives in front of me...  natural and real true emotion...  and really... how can I shoot from the heart if I don't know the hearts of my couples... which means we  become friends... and plus then its not work for me... its me getting to attend a friends' big party... and who doesn't like parties!!


A few quotes from the book: