Heather's Maternity Shoot

A few months ago I received a phone call from one of my closet friends in the world, Nicole. She wanted to give Heather a maternity shoot as a baby shower gift and wanted me to shoot it! What a great idea and what a great friend! All I can say is that I owe Nicole forever! Heather is stunning!!! With her striking eyes, long chestnut hair and her earth-mother vibe, she is the exact mom-to-be that I love to shoot! We met at Descanso Gardens and spent 2 hours in 96 degree weather chatting about her impending motherhood and my baby-crazy brain!!! Luckily there were lots of shaded areas and we were able to keep cool! Here are just a few shots from our day...

Do you see what I mean about her eyes?!!! Could she be more gorgeous!

I love this shot of Heather with all the flowers behind her!

Thank you Heather and Nicole ~ what a wonderful day!

Tying the Knott!

Wow! What a quickly moving three weeks!

I can't tell you how excited I was to shoot Ken and Betty's wedding at the Quail Botanical Gardens! It was a beautifully sunny day in Encinitas ~ one of those days that you sit on your porch and drink down a glass of ice cold lemonade and then head out to the beach. I met Ken and his groomsman at the hotel to grab some getting ready shots while Betty and her bridesmaids were at the salon. We had some time before the day started going so we headed down to the D Street Bar to wet our whistle. What a great group of men!

One shot and one onion ring later Ken and I left his boys at the bar and headed to the Quail Gardens early to get some shots before Betty showed up for the reveal!

Here is a quick preview of their day ~ will post more soon!

Los Angeles and the Grove

I had the chance to hang out in Los Angeles last week ~ see...I was born and raised in lala land and I miss everything but the traffic!

It's crazy how I took L.A. for granted...now when I drive up from SD I make sure I go visit one of my favorite locations and take in a great meal! Don't get me wrong...I love San Diego and I love that I pretty much only wear flip flops nowadays...but I miss knowing where I am at all times ~ I'm constantly getting lost in SD!! In L.A. I know what freeway exit I need ten miles before I get to it...whereas now I'm pretty much glued to a Thomas Guide or my Google map!

I made my way over to The Grove for lunch and a little photo action ~ I just love the Farmer's Market. It's a great place to just hang out and enjoy life! So many people, tons of great food, plus all the window shopping makes me happy!!

While dining on my yummy chicken salad sandwich, I popped off a shot of my favorite ice cream sign...just because it's ice cream! After lunch, I followed my heart into the french market...how I love cheese!!! Ohh!!! As I walked through the mall I passed J. Crew and noticed that their window display had a wedding dress in it! So exciting ~ they do brides now!!! Now, one of my favorite things to do is rest my weary feet on the trolley and people watch ~ but I was so busy looking around and enjoying that I didn't take any pictures...so I grabbed a shot of the trolley sign in front of the Cheesecake Factory for you! Can't wait to head back up!

San Juan Capistrano

I had the opportunity to visit the Mission at San Juan Capistrano on my way back from Los Angeles last week! Gorgeous ~ absolutely stunning! I wandered around the old mission with it's colorful gardens and fountains, the ruins from the original mission standing proudly in the midday sun. I can't wait to shoot there ~ it has everything from archways to beautiful paths, trees and old doorways ~ all the fun stuff that a photographer loves! I love scouting locations! I'm in the second courtyard at the fountain for this photo: Here is a great old Church sign that I really love! I love the old doorway in the ruins of the mission! Here is one of the five bells I had a really great time and even stopped across the street for a taco. What a relaxing day! The Mission at San Juan Capistrano is available as a location with reservations and like I said, can't wait to take one of my brides there! ~back to camera

How I Became a Wedding Photographer

I've always loved photography, but more than photography was my love of travel and keen sense of adventure! From early on in my childhood I would stare at maps and talk to my babysitters about where I wanted to go. That urge to get away and travel always stayed with me.

I finally traveled out of the country when I was 26. Going to Japan was amazing....both my mother and grandmother were born there. I took a ton of photos with my little camera but nothing that could evoke the grandeur and beauty of what I had seen. I needed to hunker down and practice.

My next trip was to Thailand in 1999 and the beauty and experience of it changed my life. Though I had an amazing desk job, the people I met and the experiences were such that all I wanted to do was wonder for a year around the world!

I finally took off off for a six month 'round-the-world adventure in 2005. My photography skills had developed and I was able to capture the wonders of the world the way I wanted to. I got back to the states and started shooting everything I could ~ waking up at dawn I would trek to a different destination in hopes of capturing something special. Still at a desk job, my photography skills were getting better and better...I still held wonderlust in my heart~

In 2008 I had another opportunity to backpack around for a bit. Mark and I took off for a 6 month adventure though England, France, Italy, Greece and Egypt. It ended up being only 4 months (didn't want to travel through the Middle East in August~ just too hot).

Back in the States we settled in San Diego and the opportunity to shoot weddings came up. I loved it! I mean really loved it...I've thrown myself into wedding photography and it's paid off. Following my dreams of getting out behind the desk and doing what I love to do has been joyful. I would hate to leave my wonderful little world! Though I would love to travel the world as a National Geographic photographer, I realize I want to have a settled life, one with children and marriage, dinner parties with close friends...I no longer yearn to backpack through the world with no responsibility...I love that wedding photography gives me the opportunity to do what I love and stay in one place! Seeing people start their life is amazing and wonderful!

So today I give you some pics of me on my travels...if you haven't gotten out to see the world....travel is cheap right now....enjoy!

Egypt Mark and me at Mont Saint Michele Londontown! India! Cambodia! and Paris!