So, you've heard me talk about my best friend Gianna, she's the one that said to me ten years ago.. you have to come out to Santa Barbara you can sublease my friends place for 3 montsh... its NOW or NEVER... my thought, "really, I'm not a California girl... I'm going east my friend... NY, Boston... here I come... BUT when someone says, now or never... there's an urgency that must be met.. SO my three months turned into ten years... and I can't thank her enough...
Here we are, how many years later... and G with her amazing family... in fact I'm sure you've seen her little boys Leo and Luca all over my blog. Well, I'm in the process of documenting Luca's first year... we did a shoot with him back in March... and now here he is in July... along with Luca, we've been doing a "lifestyle shoot"... life around the ranch was this day's outing.
G's ranch is one of my favorite retreats on earth... we sit on the front porch drink homemade lemonade .. its just like a CountryTime Lemonade commercial!!
G, you are my sister... and with everyone of these pics, my heart laughs with joy at the pure happiness that shines through you and to your boys! THANK YOU for being in my life and letting me be a part of documenting this golden era!!
Love
A
Here we are, how many years later... and G with her amazing family... in fact I'm sure you've seen her little boys Leo and Luca all over my blog. Well, I'm in the process of documenting Luca's first year... we did a shoot with him back in March... and now here he is in July... along with Luca, we've been doing a "lifestyle shoot"... life around the ranch was this day's outing.
G's ranch is one of my favorite retreats on earth... we sit on the front porch drink homemade lemonade .. its just like a CountryTime Lemonade commercial!!
G, you are my sister... and with everyone of these pics, my heart laughs with joy at the pure happiness that shines through you and to your boys! THANK YOU for being in my life and letting me be a part of documenting this golden era!!
Love
A
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Lemonade with Luca, Laughing with Leo
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://andrejkaphotographyblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/135
So.. wow... wedding season is definitely in full swing... I have been a blogging slacker FOR SURE. My excuse... although weak... every 2.5 weeks flying back and forth between my two incredibly beautiful homes Mackinac Island, MI and Santa Barbara, CA ...
I'm currently back in my SB home (after returning at 3am the other day to 100 termites in my bathtub... ewwwwww... no need to fear I won the batttle.. so far... I hope)... but so not the homecoming present I was looking for.
Anyways... last month when I was back in SB I photographed two weddings in one day... it was AWESOME... each couple and each wedding was completely different yet gorgeous and beautiful in their own way...
Elizabeth & Martin had an incredibly intimate and touching ceremony one Saturday morning, taking place in their Santa Barbara backyard. I love watching as the joy and connection between Elizabeth & Martin was clear. You can tell it is their shared joy of life that bounds them together.
Then I headed to the Santa Barbara Courthouse for Nichelle & Joe's wedding. I met up with this adorable couple in San Francisco a few months ago for lunch and we had such a great time. I loved that I had the chance to get to know Nichelle & Joe before the wedding... I couldn't wait for July. They were so much fun.. and so beautiful with each other. Goofy, laughing... but the best word to describe them.. SWEET... they were so sweet on each other. PLUS... I got to ride in a peddy cab (for once instead of chasing the couple on my own bike I was "riding in luxury").
Nichelle & Joe... I can't wait to see you two again in SF.. .maybe one of these days I'll be living up there myself! May the tenderness and sweetness you show with each other grow with every year!
May you all have an incredible weekend... and I promise I won't disappear again... at least not for awhile..
Love
A
I'm currently back in my SB home (after returning at 3am the other day to 100 termites in my bathtub... ewwwwww... no need to fear I won the batttle.. so far... I hope)... but so not the homecoming present I was looking for.
Anyways... last month when I was back in SB I photographed two weddings in one day... it was AWESOME... each couple and each wedding was completely different yet gorgeous and beautiful in their own way...
Elizabeth & Martin had an incredibly intimate and touching ceremony one Saturday morning, taking place in their Santa Barbara backyard. I love watching as the joy and connection between Elizabeth & Martin was clear. You can tell it is their shared joy of life that bounds them together.
Then I headed to the Santa Barbara Courthouse for Nichelle & Joe's wedding. I met up with this adorable couple in San Francisco a few months ago for lunch and we had such a great time. I loved that I had the chance to get to know Nichelle & Joe before the wedding... I couldn't wait for July. They were so much fun.. and so beautiful with each other. Goofy, laughing... but the best word to describe them.. SWEET... they were so sweet on each other. PLUS... I got to ride in a peddy cab (for once instead of chasing the couple on my own bike I was "riding in luxury").
Nichelle & Joe... I can't wait to see you two again in SF.. .maybe one of these days I'll be living up there myself! May the tenderness and sweetness you show with each other grow with every year!
May you all have an incredible weekend... and I promise I won't disappear again... at least not for awhile..
Love
A
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
A couple weddings from July...
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://andrejkaphotographyblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/133
I just came from Borders... and bought this season's edition of Bridal Guide. I opened it up to see a 4 page spread of one of my all time favorite couples Birdie & Matt. I was so stoked when the magazine contacted me a few months ago and asked if they could feature the wedding.
This couple is absolutely amazing... they are the epitome of true friends... to each other, to their families, and to basically anyone who crosses their paths. I was so excited that they were featured.. not to mention they are gorgeous and their wedding was AAAMAAZING!!
If you get a chance check it out on your new stands... (here's a weak pic taken with my phone) I was just so excited I didn't want to wait for the official jpg from the magazine.
Also, on the front... keep an eye open for an upcoming Knot Michigan where another wedding (Jennifer & Toby) are going to be featured... man am i lucky to be photographing such cool people!
This couple is absolutely amazing... they are the epitome of true friends... to each other, to their families, and to basically anyone who crosses their paths. I was so excited that they were featured.. not to mention they are gorgeous and their wedding was AAAMAAZING!!
If you get a chance check it out on your new stands... (here's a weak pic taken with my phone) I was just so excited I didn't want to wait for the official jpg from the magazine.
Also, on the front... keep an eye open for an upcoming Knot Michigan where another wedding (Jennifer & Toby) are going to be featured... man am i lucky to be photographing such cool people!
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
Birdie & Matt Rock Bridal Guide Magazine!
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://andrejkaphotographyblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/132
I would have to call the last week in May my "transition week"... from a touching small ceremony in the hills over looking Santa Barbara... to a crazy wedding pub crawl down the streets of Mackinac Island... such is my life.. me ... my camera . .and whatever happens to be taking place around me!!
My last wedding in Santa Barbara.. a day before I headed to the island to begin the summer was the perfect way to kick off the summer. Megan and Jeremiah are an amazing and sweet couple from Minnesota who decided to bring out their closest family and friends out to SB for a California wedding. I loved it... mid-westerners in Cali... my favorite... again... such is my life. And to top it off Megan and her mother are both wedding photographers. I felt incredibly complimented that out of all the amazing SB photogs they wanted me to document the special day. I loved watching Megan and Jeremiah together.. one would look at them and think.. what a sweet nice couple... which they definitely were but behind this sweetness was a bit of mischief ... a little eye rolling here and there, sneaking goofy faces, and some jumping up and down anytime they could ... I felt quite privy to be witness to this.... it helped me really see what makes these two click! Megan and Jeremiah, may your goofiness and laughter intensify with every passing year!!
My last wedding in Santa Barbara.. a day before I headed to the island to begin the summer was the perfect way to kick off the summer. Megan and Jeremiah are an amazing and sweet couple from Minnesota who decided to bring out their closest family and friends out to SB for a California wedding. I loved it... mid-westerners in Cali... my favorite... again... such is my life. And to top it off Megan and her mother are both wedding photographers. I felt incredibly complimented that out of all the amazing SB photogs they wanted me to document the special day. I loved watching Megan and Jeremiah together.. one would look at them and think.. what a sweet nice couple... which they definitely were but behind this sweetness was a bit of mischief ... a little eye rolling here and there, sneaking goofy faces, and some jumping up and down anytime they could ... I felt quite privy to be witness to this.... it helped me really see what makes these two click! Megan and Jeremiah, may your goofiness and laughter intensify with every passing year!!
I did it... day 2... blog 2... and I just might do another one later!!
Love
A
Love
A
Jared:
Andrejka!!! NEAT photos! Can't wait to shoot along side you sometime, hiopefully soon :) Keep it up, and keep in touch.
Jared
Jared:
Andrejka!!! NEAT photos! Can't wait to shoot along side you sometime, hiopefully soon :) Keep it up, and keep in touch.
Jared
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
My perfect transition wedding... Megan & Jeremiah!!
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://andrejkaphotographyblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/123
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)
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry:
My weekend of Family Portraits...
. TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://andrejkaphotographyblog.com/darkroom/mt/mt-tb.cgi/111