So I know I just got back from shooting a wedding in Hawaii... that's coming... but before I talk about that trip I have to talk about the weekend before where I was so excited to do not one but TWO family portrait & baby sessions. The coolest thing I walked away with from these two sessions.. was finally knowing EXACTLY what my portrait style is... and you'll see it from the pics. I'm not a posey posey person... pictures with the whole family looking at the camera smiling are fine and nice... but to me... I love to capture the reality... the funny faces.. .the running around in the back yard... a family at home where they are comfortable and living their normal life. This truly captures a period of time in the history of the family... think about it... 15 years from now when the kids are in college, what pics are going to be more fun to look at... Sweet Casima jumping on the trampoline... or being forced to sit still and smile for the camera (I mean really how often do little girls sit still anyways).
as you look at these pics... they really don't need much explanation... its "A day in the life" on a sunny Santa Barbara afternoon. These pictures aren't "perfect". . . but life doesn't look like a perfectly painted canvas.
Hope you enjoy them...
Now I do have to say a few words about the next portraits ... these little little boys are like family to me... their beautiful mother Gianna is my best friend from college... I wouldn't have my glorious life in Santa Barbara with out this girl. It was on her suggestion "move to SB for just three months... its now or never".. .( how could I say no)... that I decided to check out this crazy California world... well that was almost 10 years ago... So now, here I am capturing the moments that make up her, Paul, Leo, and Luca's lives... I'll be honest, I've known this girl through think and thin, from coeds in a small school in Michigan through our roaring 20's.. and now as we become a LITTLE bit like responsible adults. .. well, looking at these pictures... and being able to see the pure love she has for her family truly made me tear up. To be able to see your closest friend stay the same in all the right places yet grow in such an amazing way is really what friendship is all about. And even more so when I can see and feel the bond that G & Paul have with each other and their adorable little boys... G you constantly inspire me... and I feel so blessed to have you (and your entire family) in my life.
(now I have to say this wasn't just a family shoot... it was also Little Luca's 1st baby shoot...)
May you all discover your strengths... who you are... and the blessings around you!! Today is one of those days that I am feeling grateful!
Love
A
as you look at these pics... they really don't need much explanation... its "A day in the life" on a sunny Santa Barbara afternoon. These pictures aren't "perfect". . . but life doesn't look like a perfectly painted canvas.
Hope you enjoy them...
Now I do have to say a few words about the next portraits ... these little little boys are like family to me... their beautiful mother Gianna is my best friend from college... I wouldn't have my glorious life in Santa Barbara with out this girl. It was on her suggestion "move to SB for just three months... its now or never".. .( how could I say no)... that I decided to check out this crazy California world... well that was almost 10 years ago... So now, here I am capturing the moments that make up her, Paul, Leo, and Luca's lives... I'll be honest, I've known this girl through think and thin, from coeds in a small school in Michigan through our roaring 20's.. and now as we become a LITTLE bit like responsible adults. .. well, looking at these pictures... and being able to see the pure love she has for her family truly made me tear up. To be able to see your closest friend stay the same in all the right places yet grow in such an amazing way is really what friendship is all about. And even more so when I can see and feel the bond that G & Paul have with each other and their adorable little boys... G you constantly inspire me... and I feel so blessed to have you (and your entire family) in my life.
(now I have to say this wasn't just a family shoot... it was also Little Luca's 1st baby shoot...)
May you all discover your strengths... who you are... and the blessings around you!! Today is one of those days that I am feeling grateful!
Love
A
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My weekend of Family Portraits...
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As I'm sitting in my hotel room in Kona Hawaii... prepping for my wedding tomorrow... and of course getting my "work" ready for the beach.. I am ALSO prepping for an amazing event I am going to be a part of next Saturday March 27th at the University Club in Santa Barbara, CA.
Santa Barbara Wedding Couture is going to be a wonderful place for brides who are getting married in the Santa Barbara, Central Coast, and Southern California areas to meet some of the best vendors the area has to offer... and have fun!! I promise... Armando of Alegria by Design along with the Santa Barbara Wedding Guide always put on events that are classy, elegant, and of the utmost quality. I feel quite honored to be a part of it and among the vendors that will be there.
You can check out more information on the website at http://www.santabarbaraweddingcouture.com
Alright... off to the beach to do some work... and take some pics.. of course!!
Santa Barbara Wedding Couture is going to be a wonderful place for brides who are getting married in the Santa Barbara, Central Coast, and Southern California areas to meet some of the best vendors the area has to offer... and have fun!! I promise... Armando of Alegria by Design along with the Santa Barbara Wedding Guide always put on events that are classy, elegant, and of the utmost quality. I feel quite honored to be a part of it and among the vendors that will be there.
You can check out more information on the website at http://www.santabarbaraweddingcouture.com
Alright... off to the beach to do some work... and take some pics.. of course!!
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An AWESOME event for Brides!!
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What a way to kick off the 2010 wedding season... jetting off to Kona tomorrow morning.
I'm especially excited about Rachel & Elie's wedding... obviously because it is in Hawaii... but ALSO because I met this awesome couple last year on Mackinac while photographing one of Rachel's best friends' wedding (Michelle & John). I just love being a part of a circle of friends... I get to really know the friends and family in the group that much more. So I was completely stoked when Rachel contacted me last fall about HER wedding.
As always, I'll still be reachable... just not AS tied to the computer as usual... this girl might pull herself away from her laptop long enough to dip in the ocean and get a little tan... (but always use my sunscreen... :-)
I wouldn't want to leave you with nothing to look at... so here are a few pics from my last time to Hawaii (when I photographed Candice & Micheal's beach side nuptials)... is it sad it's been over a 1 1/2 years and I'm just now posting my fun "travel" pics from that trip!!
OH... and on a side night... speaking of fun travel pics... my little trip to Samy's today lead to me purchasing a new holga film camera... SOOO excited to play with that on this little adventure!
It's finally sunny and warm here in Santa Barbara... sun is setting later .... summer is just around the corner!!
Sending you all a ray of sunshine... whether your basking on the beach right now or anxiously awaiting June... may you find a little "sun" somewhere in your day today and bask in it... even if its the simple smile of the loved one sitting next to you!!
Love,
A
I'm especially excited about Rachel & Elie's wedding... obviously because it is in Hawaii... but ALSO because I met this awesome couple last year on Mackinac while photographing one of Rachel's best friends' wedding (Michelle & John). I just love being a part of a circle of friends... I get to really know the friends and family in the group that much more. So I was completely stoked when Rachel contacted me last fall about HER wedding.
As always, I'll still be reachable... just not AS tied to the computer as usual... this girl might pull herself away from her laptop long enough to dip in the ocean and get a little tan... (but always use my sunscreen... :-)
I wouldn't want to leave you with nothing to look at... so here are a few pics from my last time to Hawaii (when I photographed Candice & Micheal's beach side nuptials)... is it sad it's been over a 1 1/2 years and I'm just now posting my fun "travel" pics from that trip!!
OH... and on a side night... speaking of fun travel pics... my little trip to Samy's today lead to me purchasing a new holga film camera... SOOO excited to play with that on this little adventure!
It's finally sunny and warm here in Santa Barbara... sun is setting later .... summer is just around the corner!!
Sending you all a ray of sunshine... whether your basking on the beach right now or anxiously awaiting June... may you find a little "sun" somewhere in your day today and bask in it... even if its the simple smile of the loved one sitting next to you!!
Love,
A
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Off to Aloha land... first wedding of 2010
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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
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Off to Vegas... Yeah Baby!!
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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
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
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Brady the Expressive Explorer!!
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hhmmm..not that you have found your 'portrait style', maybe I should think about cashing in my x-mas gift :) I know you are crazy busy...maybe we can work something out for Fall-ish...we'll talk. Love ya!
(03.25.10 @ 05:04 AM)