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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Wow have a I been a blogging slacker...
But for good reason I promise... I've been shooting like a mad woman and beginning my summer of duel citizenship... and it really is like two different countries... Santa Barbara California... and Mackinac Island... this should prove to be interesting.
So since last I wrote... I've moved into my summer place on Mackinac... been here for two weeks... photographed 6 weddings, placed my images in several stores, and of course tried to set up a house... and now on Tuesday I head back to Cali for a few shoots and a dose of home. But... my goal is to blog every day till then to get you all caught up with the photo shoots.
First a couple really cool engagement sessions I had prior to leaving for the island.
I met up with Erika and Brad in a gorgeous Chicago Park, on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. Erika and I had been chatting via email for months and I just knew we would hit it off. We laughed so hard. I felt like Erika Brad and I had been friends for years. They were so much fun... and it was even neater to be able to meet them in their hometown for the shoot. I can't wait for their wedding later this year on the Island... if its anything like the engagement session I'm sure we'll be laughing the whole time!!
Then the second engagement session was with Heather and Evan. This is going to be one of coolest weddings I have this year... I am going to be all over the country photographing these two. I met them last October on Mackinac during the wedding expo... we instantly hit it off. Well ,of course we did, they are getting married in Mackinac but live in Cali... how perfect could it get. So after chatting all weekend in October, we then met up again in December for a bite to eat in San Jose ... which one hour meeting led to two... then just last month we met at this awesome dive restaurant in Pescadero (north of Santa Cruz). We were there to do their enagegement session. So we started to catch up when all of a sudden (an hour later) we realized the time had flown by again and we were about to miss the sunset on the beach.. luckily we were right on time... and it was a beautiful evening. Now to follow will be their wedding on Mackinac... and then their wedding party back in northern California... how fun will this be... by the time they are married I think I might be a part of their adopted family!!
Good luck with all the last minute details you two and as always call me with any questions!! Can't wait to see you back here on the island.
And now... to work on the rest of my blogging images for the next 3 days... 7 weddings... pheww... wish me luck (I figure if I put it up here I HAVE to do it)!
Have a beautiful day and may you all feel at home where ever you are. As my home is constantly changing these days .. I've started to realize that as long as I have the amazing people for whom I care about and care about me nearby ... that's what makes a home.. . it is possible to have more then one home... I've decided it's allowed to not be able to answer the question "where do you live" easily!!
Love
A
But for good reason I promise... I've been shooting like a mad woman and beginning my summer of duel citizenship... and it really is like two different countries... Santa Barbara California... and Mackinac Island... this should prove to be interesting.
So since last I wrote... I've moved into my summer place on Mackinac... been here for two weeks... photographed 6 weddings, placed my images in several stores, and of course tried to set up a house... and now on Tuesday I head back to Cali for a few shoots and a dose of home. But... my goal is to blog every day till then to get you all caught up with the photo shoots.
First a couple really cool engagement sessions I had prior to leaving for the island.
I met up with Erika and Brad in a gorgeous Chicago Park, on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. Erika and I had been chatting via email for months and I just knew we would hit it off. We laughed so hard. I felt like Erika Brad and I had been friends for years. They were so much fun... and it was even neater to be able to meet them in their hometown for the shoot. I can't wait for their wedding later this year on the Island... if its anything like the engagement session I'm sure we'll be laughing the whole time!!
Then the second engagement session was with Heather and Evan. This is going to be one of coolest weddings I have this year... I am going to be all over the country photographing these two. I met them last October on Mackinac during the wedding expo... we instantly hit it off. Well ,of course we did, they are getting married in Mackinac but live in Cali... how perfect could it get. So after chatting all weekend in October, we then met up again in December for a bite to eat in San Jose ... which one hour meeting led to two... then just last month we met at this awesome dive restaurant in Pescadero (north of Santa Cruz). We were there to do their enagegement session. So we started to catch up when all of a sudden (an hour later) we realized the time had flown by again and we were about to miss the sunset on the beach.. luckily we were right on time... and it was a beautiful evening. Now to follow will be their wedding on Mackinac... and then their wedding party back in northern California... how fun will this be... by the time they are married I think I might be a part of their adopted family!!
Good luck with all the last minute details you two and as always call me with any questions!! Can't wait to see you back here on the island.
And now... to work on the rest of my blogging images for the next 3 days... 7 weddings... pheww... wish me luck (I figure if I put it up here I HAVE to do it)!
Have a beautiful day and may you all feel at home where ever you are. As my home is constantly changing these days .. I've started to realize that as long as I have the amazing people for whom I care about and care about me nearby ... that's what makes a home.. . it is possible to have more then one home... I've decided it's allowed to not be able to answer the question "where do you live" easily!!
Love
A
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Engagements around... Erika & Brad, Heather & Evan... yeah!!
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Wow... what a busy week home. After barely making it out of Amsterdam I came back to Santa Barbara to a FULL week of shooting... two weddings (that I helped on with two dear friends... more to come later)... and THREE photo shoots...
Two days after landing I was running around a back yard... crawling into "spaceships"... and playing musical instruments with Cosima and all her friends for her 4th birthday party...
Then... a few days later I was stoked to do Meredith and Tim's engagement pics in their new home together on the beach. These two exude such joy and laughter.. I couldn't get them to STOP kissing for the camera... even when I wasn't looking they were embracing and kissing (and goofing around)... Meredith & Tim... I had a blast with you guys and can't wait to visit again!!
And then I rounded off the week, just the other day with a drive out to Santa Ynez valley in order to photograph Koehler Winery for their new brochures and marketing campaign. Ohhh it was such a beautiful spring day... fresh cut grass... sun shining... and an amazing drive (I just love the valley)!!
Okay... its almost one in the morning... I'm a tad bit tired and blurry eyed... but pretty proud of myself for getting these three shoots up here so quickly. I am off on another adventure on Friday... Chicago (for an engagement shoot and some meetings)... then to Ibiza Spain (for a wedding... yippee!)... then to New York (to see the family and a couple magazine meetings in NYC)... should prove to be quite a busy but productive trip.
I may go to bed tired every night but when I do I remember that my day was full... visiting with friends... meeting new people... and taking pics!!
May you all rest your head at night knowing your day was a full one full of at least a few smiles!!
Love
A
Two days after landing I was running around a back yard... crawling into "spaceships"... and playing musical instruments with Cosima and all her friends for her 4th birthday party...
Then... a few days later I was stoked to do Meredith and Tim's engagement pics in their new home together on the beach. These two exude such joy and laughter.. I couldn't get them to STOP kissing for the camera... even when I wasn't looking they were embracing and kissing (and goofing around)... Meredith & Tim... I had a blast with you guys and can't wait to visit again!!
And then I rounded off the week, just the other day with a drive out to Santa Ynez valley in order to photograph Koehler Winery for their new brochures and marketing campaign. Ohhh it was such a beautiful spring day... fresh cut grass... sun shining... and an amazing drive (I just love the valley)!!
Okay... its almost one in the morning... I'm a tad bit tired and blurry eyed... but pretty proud of myself for getting these three shoots up here so quickly. I am off on another adventure on Friday... Chicago (for an engagement shoot and some meetings)... then to Ibiza Spain (for a wedding... yippee!)... then to New York (to see the family and a couple magazine meetings in NYC)... should prove to be quite a busy but productive trip.
I may go to bed tired every night but when I do I remember that my day was full... visiting with friends... meeting new people... and taking pics!!
May you all rest your head at night knowing your day was a full one full of at least a few smiles!!
Love
A
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Pheeewwwww.. what a return week home...
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So you'll have to excuse anything in this note that does not make sense... I am trying my hardest to stay up to 10:30 p.m. and beat this jet lag... I will win.. oh yes I will win...
I arrived home last night... THANK GOODNESS... my flight out of Amsterdam was the VERY last flight out before the whole place (or should I say all of northern Europe) shut down for what they are saying could be 6 days.... THANK YOU!!! That's all I have to say.
So here I am in front of my computer... with 30 minutes to go before I am allowed to lay my head down to rest.... must be ready for tomorrow's wedding with Janey here in Santa Barbara (so excited to see her... its always fun to shoot with a friend, especially such a talented one).
Okay... I digress... while I was in Paris I had mentioned that I was lucky enough to meet up with Fady and photograph some head shots. He is an extremely talented Opera singer. It was quite interesting and super fun. As you know my style is super lax and comfortable my favorite portrait shoots are done over a conversation and a coffee... so this one was especially up my alley... LITERALLY at a Parisian cafe right near the Bastille Opera House... then a little walk to the steps.
Here are a few pics from that afternoon...
Thanks Fady for the photo shoot... and the cafe! Good Luck with all your upcoming adventures.
I just love it when projects appear out of no where... may you all have unexpected little gems pop into your horizons!!
OH.. and don't think I forgot to blog about ITALY... its coming.. I just had SO many pics... I'm trying to narrow it down... it will be up shortly!!
Love
A
I arrived home last night... THANK GOODNESS... my flight out of Amsterdam was the VERY last flight out before the whole place (or should I say all of northern Europe) shut down for what they are saying could be 6 days.... THANK YOU!!! That's all I have to say.
So here I am in front of my computer... with 30 minutes to go before I am allowed to lay my head down to rest.... must be ready for tomorrow's wedding with Janey here in Santa Barbara (so excited to see her... its always fun to shoot with a friend, especially such a talented one).
Okay... I digress... while I was in Paris I had mentioned that I was lucky enough to meet up with Fady and photograph some head shots. He is an extremely talented Opera singer. It was quite interesting and super fun. As you know my style is super lax and comfortable my favorite portrait shoots are done over a conversation and a coffee... so this one was especially up my alley... LITERALLY at a Parisian cafe right near the Bastille Opera House... then a little walk to the steps.
Here are a few pics from that afternoon...
Thanks Fady for the photo shoot... and the cafe! Good Luck with all your upcoming adventures.
I just love it when projects appear out of no where... may you all have unexpected little gems pop into your horizons!!
OH.. and don't think I forgot to blog about ITALY... its coming.. I just had SO many pics... I'm trying to narrow it down... it will be up shortly!!
Love
A
Kerry:
Great job of multi-tasking!! These pictures are wonderful - as always - and I'm impressed that you were able to edit pics, post on your blog and talk to me on the phone all at the same time and while fighting extreme jet lag!! :)
(04.18.10 @ 09:25 AM)
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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
Jess:
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)
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My weekend of Family Portraits...
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