Love Locked In Time

Everyone should have a motto..a couple of them actually. I think of it this way...a personal motto ~ the standard by which you live ~ and a business motto ~ something that encapsulates what you do and who you are. Love Locked in Time is my business motto. I shoot weddings for a couple of reasons...first...I am in love with love! Big...Fat...Juicy LOVE! It doesn't matter how old you are, how young you are...life just tastes better with love! The plethora of emotion...the anticipation and the beauty of being in a moment where everyone is open-hearted and happy! The the celebration of life! It's this big basket of emotion! The second reason I shoot weddings.....Excitement! I love excitement...it's why I travel the world and try new things. I want to be excited about life...and it's impossible for me not to be excited at a wedding! I love meeting people and I love the energy that radiates from the bride and grooms' family and friends...it's magical! The third reason I shoot weddings....Beauty! I love beautiful things. I love the wedding dresses and the shoes....all of the tiny details that come together to make the event. The flowers and silverware, the beaches and churches...I just love it all! I have an the heart and sentimentality of an artist. So my motto...Love locked in time...it's what I strive to accomplish..I want your children..and your children's children to see the love! Corny? Totally!!! But when I'm shooting...that's what I'm thinking! My photo of the day requires a bit of an explanation..... In 2005 I took off and traveled for six months ~ with my final destination being Manchester, England, for Jody's wedding. Jody and I had worked together in Los Angeles for a few years before she met her future husband, James, in London. To make a long story short, they took off on a round-the-world trip and he proposed while they were in Thailand! This is one of my most prized photos...their wedding was so beautiful and it reflected very much of who they are! Jody is now expecting twins and I had the opportunity to shoot her maternity photos while she was visiting last month! I've got to say she will always be one of my most favorite subjects!!! ~back to camera!

Fusion

I love to be creative and I'm focusing on searching out unique and fun ways to expand my photography business. Right now I'm hooked on the idea of Video Fusion and the possibilities that it provides to my brides and grooms. Now please understand...I am so not a videographer...but the idea of capturing a few precious moments and editing them into a slideshow with some fabulous photos has got me hooked! Wedding photography is all about telling the story of your wedding day! As a photographer my goal is to create a beautiful pictorial full of emotion. I like to work with couples starting from the engagement session right to the end of the wedding day...from walking down the isle to cutting the cake... and of course...I love to get a shot of the bride with her shoes off after dancing up a storm! It's these moments that really capture you as a couple and it's my infinite pleasure to do so. Then I go to photo seminars and learn how to do it better! And how do you make it better? I ask myself...how can I add to your day? David Ziser introduced me to a fab idea! Incorporate video (just little snippets) into a DVD with your photo slide show. Perfect! Then I ask myself...how can I do more??? Really? More? Of Course! Poor Dianna! She's always up for a good idea and I bounce them off her like mad! I know she loves it though! So now I have this action plan...capture some video of the bride and groom as they walk down the aisle...then take pics of the ceremony. As the officiant says, "you may now kiss the bride" I'm back on video capturing the kiss. Then for the reception, while Dee is taking table photos and all the fun stuff that goes with professional quality photos...I get to run around with...get this...a point and shoot! Crazy? I don't think so. There's an intimacy when you have a regular point and shoot...plus they are able to do some pretty crazy stuff now ~ from black and white shots to twilight portraits....really fun stuff! I don't plan on running around the entire time shooting 1600 ISO grainy shots...but when the wine starts flowing and the guests are really enjoying themselves...why not? I'm known by all my friends as the girl with the camera and some of the most candid and fun shots are with my point and shoot! It just adds to the night and people are not as inclined to pose!!! I've offered it to a few of our couples and they are really gung-ho on both ideas (video and point and shoot). Sometimes I think they might be looking at me a bit funny...but I've got to say that I'm really enthusiastic about the whole thing. So I'm trying it a few times for fun and gifting it to our couples. I have high hopes that it's going to be great! Above is a photo from a wedding I did last summer San Diego. It's the mother~son dance..I just love how much fun the mom is having! ~back to camera

My Favorite Wedding Photographer Blogs!

I love the internet! I think it's the best invention ever (well ~ except for pasta and spa tubs!) I'm always on the lookout for a great blog and I absolutely love Jessica Claire , Nick Abidilla and Jasmine Star! They inspire me to blog and keep in touch! Speaking of inspiration..I've come across StillMotion in Canada. Their wedding videography service is incredible...check out their same day edit of Raj and Caroline...it brings tears to your eyes and leaves me breathless! As you are all learning, I like to take some time everyday to search the internet for interesting sites. I love to learn and one of the great things about photography is that the process is never ending. I also try to keep on top of the business of wedding photography as well as checking out the new tools of the trade. This past month I had the opportunity to hear celebrity wedding photographer, Joe Buissink, speak for Pictage and I can tell you that it was outstanding! Joe tells it like it is...how he shoots, how he edits, how to work with your client. He even showed an unedited slideshow of his digital images from a wedding....crazy!!!! Unedited! Really cool to see the images before going through the post production process! He shared some really great lessons for life and business! I also went to David Ziser's Digital WakeUp Call Seminar and had a blast! I wrote about it last week in my blog post here. I love me a seminar and look forward to more when the wedding season is over. I always want to keep the photos coming and today I am posting a very special picture. This is my mom and my brother ~ I grabbed this while we were at lunch the other day. I love it and them. ~ Back to camera!

Kids Portrait Party

Portrait Party time! Imagine fourteen 7 year olds together under one roof for a birthday party! Now, I've got to tell you...I've NEVER been around a big group of kids and it was a bit of a shock. I adapted well though...I mean with my love of all things loud and crazy it was bound to happen! I zipped around with my camera shooting as fast as I could....those little beasties move FAST!!! I managed to get some good ones as all the kids were running wild around the yard and skipping through the house. A big thank you to Dianna, as it was her brilliant idea to do the portrait party! She also got some family portraits and candids of the kids and I know the moms are just going to love them!

Speaking of moms...mine is the greatest! My mom volunteered to be my assistant (THANK YOU MOM!) and she wrangled the little devils...I mean darlings...like a pro! She didn't even use her "mom" voice...wait...I'm having an ahhh moment!!! This is what she'll be like as a grandma...I just know it! She was sweet and kind, knew all the kids names...and she had a lot of patience...I couldn't have asked for a better assistant! I was worried there for a second because it was sprinkling on my way to Coronado Island but it soon settled into a cloudy and (thank goodness) non-rainy day. I've posted a photo of all the little muddy shoes on the porch for you!

After the party, Mom and I headed to Kansas City BBQ over in Downtown San Diego for some down home food...Top Gun style. See, this is the location of one of my most favorite 80's films and I got a kick out of hanging out and enjoying my brisket and baby back ribs while imagining Maverick and Goose at the bar! My brother joined us as well and we had some great family time before I headed home to take a nap!

Well ~ it's that time again! ~ back to camera!

Quail Gardens

I headed over to Quail Gardens in Encinitas to check out the lay of the land for Ken and Betty, a fantastic couple who have chosen this beautiful site to get married! What a wonderful location ~ truly beautiful with many international gardens to choose from. My personal favorite is the Bamboo Garden which is richly shaded and full of texture and shape! I am also in love with the pond ~ it's hidden in a little grotto and is adorable! I'm looking forward to shooting Ken and Betty's engagement photos with my business partner, Dianna Ippolito. As Bésame Photography (it means "Kiss"!), Dianna and I have come together to shoot weddings and it's been a lot of fun working as a team! Well...Back to camera!