"Most images that make us go "wow" were taken from the heart"-Joe Buissink

Gina & Chris,  I am so happy and thrilled to have been a part of Maria's first photo shoot... first of many I'm sure... she's such a little model!!  It thrills me to see you three together.  May this year bring you much laughter and joy as you play with your little angel and watch her grow!!

Sooo.. I thought what better blog to end the year as one with a new beginning!  May you all have a wonderful New Years (I will try and do another entry but who knows... with all this traveling I'm never sure when I'll have internet)...  I am off to Mackinac to ring in the New Year!

REMEMBER... have fun on New Years Day... my mother always said  "What you do on New Years Day .. you do all year long"... which is why she refused to ever clean on January 1st!!

May your new year be filled with fullfilling your goals (even though they may shift)... reaching for your dreams (no matter how big and huge they may be)...  realizing the love around you (whether it be your closest companion or a stranger on the street)... and OF COURSE LAUGHTER!!

I love you all!  Happy New Year!

ANDREJKA!!

You two are soooo flpping cute and fun!!

I had SOOO much fun at Rachael & Jordan's wedding...  not only was this couple ABSOLUTELY gorgeous outside... but inside too... truely... I cried not once not twice but FIVE times... I was so touched by the connection they had with their families (like when Rachael's mom was putting on her grandmother's earings)... to the connection then had with each other (like the looks they would constantly give each other)... to the connection they had with their amazing friends (you should have seen the slideshow their friends put together... awesome!!).

So for all the tearing up I did... there was just as much laughing (and dancing.. yes I couldn't help but dance a little while shooting pics on the dancefloor).. .EVERYONE was dancing...

and did I mention the OHIO loyalty in the room.. half the people at this wedding were from LA...  lived in LA... worked in LA... but with an even louder representation was teh OHIO contingency!!  They would hoot and holla' every time that little (but not quiet) state was mentioned!!

This wedding was the perfect match for me... a little bit Midwest, a little bit West Coast, a little bit of tears.. .and a whole lotta FUN!!!

Take a look at the slideshow and get a better feel for the day...

RACHAEL & JORDAN'S SLIDESHOW click here

Rachael & Jordan,  you two are amazing... your amazing friends and family and the way they would speak of the two of you are truly reflections of your Warm hearts and shining souls!  I truly feel blessed and honored to have been a part of your amazing day and for becoming one of the lucky ones to call you my friends!  May your life together grow more and more joyous and may you conitnue to touch the hearts of all those around you!

Love,
A

I'm in a hurry... so Will add to this entry tomorrow.. paying props to all the vendors..

But first must thank Jim MInics of Kelly Segre Photography for assisting me on this... you rock and it was so much fun to have you there!!

Then it was on to an amazing dinner with Missy & Christian.  I was honored to photograph this couple just a few months ago on Mackinac.  We had so much fun chatting about the island... AND California... I just love it when my two worlds join together. 


It was soo wonderful to be able to meet up with everyone... I can't wait to see them again.  Man... I love that I can keep in touch and become friends with my couples... no matter where they live!

THEN on Sunday ... was all for me... a day of photography .. a day to be inspired by my favorite city... by the people... the food... the sounds... everything!!  I even ended the day by catching the Richard Avedon exhibition at the SF MOMA.. he is amazing... it totally started me thinking about my own photography.  If you are in the bay area this week check it out... it ends Sunday Nov. 29th.

Here are a few pics from my favorite places in SF... Chinatown (and my dim sum... yummy.. no I didn't eat it ALL... my eyes were a little bigger than my stomach)... then on to City Lights Bookstore and the Vesuvio (in North Beach).. home of the beatnik poets... Kerouac, Ginsberg... etc... now THESE guys are awesome... just being in the bookstore makes mind open up and reminds me how much I love 20th century literature... (yup, that literature degree comes in handy once in awhile)

I hope you all have a wonderful happy joyous Thanksgiving... I'm off to go pick up my mom from the airport... first time she's in Cali for Turkey day... then... your not going to belive this but her and I back up to my fav. city... SF yet again.. I just didn't get enough last time!

May you all find gratitude in the smallest of things... and through that find joy in the world around you!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,
A

And now... couple number 2.. Stephanie & Adam...  they have re-inspired me.. .and  reminded me again why I love what I do...  I first met this couple... two days before their wedding... in a TORRENTIAL STORM... I mean it was raining sideways... and it was FREEZING...  I could tell they were a little concerned about their upcoming outdoor ceremony and carriage ride... (and to be honest.. so was I... but I didn't tell them that (sorry S & A...  now the truth comes out... I really was a little concerned)... well the sun broke through by noon and stayed all day.   I think one of the coolest things about this couple was that their wedding was all about THEM and who THEY were... for example on the carriage ride... we stopped at Starbucks (yes there's a Starbucks on the island... but its owned by a local so its okay ;-)... obviously these two (well, Stephanie)  LOVES their Starbucks... this was just one example of how they made their day so unique and touching!

So I have to share with you a few emails... and why they have reminded me how I love what I do . ..and I love when others are happy!!

I finished their slideshow late last night... and this is the email I woke up to this morning (needless to say it was an amazing way to start the day)

Hi,
 
Oh, Andrejka!   We just had a good cry watching the slideshow!  It is absolutely amazing!  It is way better than any expectations I had.  We both just said how thankful we were that you were our photographer!  We know our families will love it too!  Thank you so much!  We can't wait to see the rest!  You truly do have a gift! 
 
Thanks again!!
Adam and Stephanie

So, I of course wanted to share this with you all...  and I wrote back...

Oh my goodness!! You are so nice...    I am soo glad you love your pics...  would you mind if I used this email on my blog? It is just so touching.. and reminds me why I love shooting weddings!

AND then... another amazing email.. by now I HAD tears in my eyes ...

You definitely can use the email.  I would recommend you to everyone!  :-)  Our families did see the slideshow and our moms both cried!  Jami loves the picture of Benjamin and Natalie hugging!  Everyone has a favorite...well, many favorites!  :-)  I love how you captured so many special moments throughout the day!  I guess that's why you call it photojournalistic!  And, the starbucks pictures are so cool!  :-)  My co-workers love them!  They say it's so me!  I am going to have a hard time choosing which ones to frame!  :-)   I have a feeling we will be looking at these pictures everyday for a very LONG time!  :-) 
 
Thanks again!
Stephanie

HERE'S Stephanie & Adam's SLIDESHOW (click here)

I couldn't make these up if I tried...

Thank you so much S&A.. I so appreciate from the bottom of my heart all of your kind words. It truly was such a pleasure to meet you and share in your day.  It is so clear to see the love you two have for each other and the joy in your eyes when your with each other.  Thank YOU...  I wish you both years and years of true joy and happiness.

Love,
A