So the other day I received an invitation to a joint baby shower for not one... but  TWO of my past brides... now this got me thinking... OH MY GOODNESS.. I have so many former brides who are about to expand their families just a bit and a couple who already have (congrats Sara & Gina)!!

Well.. I realized I not only want to see these pretty little things in person ... but I also would love to be a part of their first photo shoot!!

SO... I am offering 25% off any maternity or portrait session to any of my past couples. (and when I say portraits... they can be your grown up babies too).  Just email me to let me know if you would be interested in scheduling a session I'll be all over the country (maybe even Europe... Susannah).. over the next 6 months.

I am sooo exited for all of my happy couples as their families begin to grow!!  Congratulations to all of you... my love goes out to you and your cute little bellies!!

Love,
A

About a month ago I was part of a very special wedding... my two friends Heather and Brevin got married!!!  It was supposed to be raining... all day...was there even a drop.. nope...!! 

It was a gorgeous Mackinac Fall Day... and what made this marriage even more special was that it was an islander wedding through and through ... Heather and Brevin, met on the island... fell in love on the island... and were now married  on the island....

This wedding reminded me again why I love being a wedding photographer... I get a secret glimpse (although only a tiny one)... of how a couple acts when it's just the two of them...  I get to meet with the two before all the craziness...  in the midst of the craziness... and then, I get to be with them right after the ceremony...  when all the build up is released and they can relax with each other ... it truly is a special moment... and with Heather and Brevin I was able to see (in my mind at least) ... what makes them work so well...  there is such a sense of comfort between them... a sense of  acceptance for who each other is... and a feeling of family... especially with their ADORABLE little boy Kaden... a tight little unit of three.. that no one can truly understand but them.

Heather & Brevin... thank you again soo much for allowing me to be a part of your beautiful day. You two truly do have a bond that is beyond words.  May you have years of happiness, love, and may this bond just grow stronger!!  (btw... did anyone take pics at the Mustang or the Grand ... now those would be some goodies... ;-)

Love,
A 

After working late into the night Wednesday knowing that I would be out of the office all day on Thursday.. I awoke early . . braved the crazy 405 traffic... and had AN AWESOME day in LA!!!

So after meeting with possible new clients... and before my meeting with an awesome couple I will be photographing on Saturday in Malibu (Calamigos Ranch) ... (sidenote: can't wait for Rachael & Jordan's wedding... it is going to be GORGEOUS.. keep an eye out!!!).. I GOT SOOOOOO INSPIRED!!

I had such a blast... my very very dear friend Rob (another sidenote: I photographed he and Nat's wedding in July at Casa del Mar)...  we decided to go check out the new exhibits at this cool little artists/gallery space in Santa Monica called Bergamot Station.. it's an old train station transformed into art galleries (very Jack Kerouac meets...  Warhol's The Factory)... LOVED IT!

And I was sooooooo inspired (have I said that yet).  It was awesome to be surronded by amazing black & white film images ... the texture of the paper... the sturdy feel of everything... I'VE MISSED IT... not to mention the awesome discussions about the balance between concept and skill Rob and I had... and it was so cool to see the two of us were drawn towards our own styles...  I am ready to go back to my film camera...  in fact I am going to make Rob hold me accountable so that I don't get caught behind my computer everyday and I get out there and shoot outside the box more often ... go back to my original photo roots... many of you probably don't know this... but ten years ago all I did was shoot weddings in black & white film!!...  but these little adventures are going to be strictly conceptual...  and funky and fun . .pushing my artistic side. . .and even getting a cool little Holga... maybe even a class through adult-ed to get me in a darkroom... who knows anything could happen.

A few of the exhibits we checked out...

The Face of Fashion and Women by Lillian Bassman at the Peter Fetterman Gallery
Koo, Sung Soo Han-Il HIgh and other Stories  at Sarah Lee Artworks & Projects

May you all get inspired to think outside the box, get creative... and get excited like you want to jump up and down!!

Love,
A

 

Rob (www.robkalmbach.com) is an amazing photographer himself.... check out his work on his website.. .and keep your eye's open... he may be having a show in the near future in the LA area!! WOO HOOO go ROB!!!

 

P.S. I fell in love with 2 gorgeous framed prints ... and they were a mere $20,000 each .. maybe next year for my birthday!!  ;-).. but its free to go visit it!!!  Both of these are by Horst P.Horst...  one in Paris in 1939 and the other in NYC in 1987 (can you tell which is which??)

I have to say... this was probably one of the coolest packages I did all year...  I met Jenni and Kris over a year ago at the Mackinac Island Dream Destination Wedding Weekend...

Together we decided the best package for them would be to do an Elopement/Honeymoon package... since they would be staying on the island for a few extra days... I thought hmmm... lets photograph the two of you doing other fun things on the island... sooo the day after there touching intimate ceremony at Mission Point Resort and carriage ride...  I met them with my tandem bike and we went for a fun little ride up into the island around the fort and to Arch Rock...  then that evening they had a very special dinner planned at the Grand Hotel...so before there dinner we went around the property sneaking some pics (and some kisses ;-)...

Jenni & Kris... It was such a joy to spend not one but TWO days photographing the two of you!!  You two are a true example of symbiosis... you are so comfortable that you make others comfortable too... thank you for bringing me along for your Mackinac adventure... and even letting me be a WITNESS... that's a first!!

Love,
A

I just finished the Mackinac wedding Expo weekend yesterday.. and it was soooo much fun!!!

I've been fighting off a bit of a cold... so to be honest was kind of dreading last night... I was a little nervous I would not be able to talk to anyone.. and that I would just sit in the corner and hide...  well NOPE!!  There were soo many cool brides and grooms... and parents... and grandparents... etc.  I swear I never stopped laughing!!  How often does an expo .. talking to strangers... make you laugh. 

Mission Point  (and Zoe!!!) did such an amazing job for the closing night event. It was a lovely dinner party with Dancehall Dj's  (James & Amy) playing the tunes...  Kim & Lisa from Bella e Dolce providing yummy cake... and Jay at Webers doing absolutely gorgeous centerpieces...

And a very special thank you and props to Mary and Chris with the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau for organizing and hosting the whole weekend... it is SUCH an awesome event!! 

I can't stress how much fun it was... I even forgot I had a cold!!!!

To all you brides out there who made it... THANKS!!  You really did MAKE the whole weekend.  I hope to hear from some of you...  feel free to email or call me anytime with any questions...

and by  the way ..LEAVE A COMMENT HERE ... (I was shocked to see how many of you actually follow my blog... thats awesome... thanks!!)

Have a great week!  I'll be MIA for a bit...  my computer is being shipping away tomorrow... and I'll be heading back west to my sunny Cali on Friday!!  yeah ... time to go home .. just before the snow hits!!

Love,
A