Ten years after meeting him, she is sitting in the bridal room of Westchester Lutheran Church, her mother’s home church, about to marry her soul mate.  I hadn’t met Shannon until her wedding day - she was introduced to me by a friend and we had an eight-month email friendship.  I couldn’t wait to meet Shannon and Cesar and when I met up with Shannon on her big day, I knew I was going to love them.

Shannon and Cesar have a love for Los Angeles and their city-urban wedding theme was further elaborated upon with a reception at The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion.  The DCP is an absolutely beautiful venue to photograph, both inside and outside.  Despite the 3,000 people in attendance for an opera there that night, Shannon and Cesar braved the sea of impeding people and rocked it out for the camera.

Shannon and Cesar, thank you for inviting me to share your day with you.  You two are absolutely beautiful and I wish you both nothing but happiness, laughter and a lifetime of love.  Cheers!

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Welcome to another installment of my personal travels with the husband. To celebrate summer and the start of a very busy summer wedding season, we took a few days off to adventure around the Santa Barbara wine country. We decided to partake on a bit of the “Sideways” tour, by visiting certain landmarks from the movie, while also visiting a few fave spots and a few never before visited places. The husband decided to call this trip the “No Reservations” adventure. This trip was planned very last minute and thus, we made no reservations (but we did have a back up plan just in case).

Our adventure started with a bit of driving - through Los Angeles to the Los Padres National Forest for a day of hiking and camping, where we planned to look for an open camp site for the night.  Voila we found two camp sites, picked our favorite and settled in for the day.  We came upon the Paradise Store, where we grabbed a quick bite, food for the night and snapped a few photographs for memories sake.  Afterwards…we indulged in a bit of swimming at a small water spot in the canyon and then we came upon a small little tavern in the middle of nowhere…truly paradise.  This trip was starting off fabulously, which is a great thing!

The next morning, we drove into the small towns of Los Olivos, Solvang, Buellton and Los Alamos.  There, we wandered around, shopped through antique stores, perused through local family owned farms for fresh fare, and went wine tasting.  We found the most interesting places, tasted some amazing wine and made friendlies with the locals.

A little blog love for some of the places that we stopped in…if you ever have a chance to visit these places, spread some love and enjoy!

Foxen Winery, Santa Maria

Enjoy Cupcakes, Los Olivos

Alma Rosa Winery & Vineyard, Buellton

Full of Life Flatbread, Los Alamos

Skyview Motel, Los Alamos

Ostrichland USA, Buellton

Needless to say, this trip was amazing.  This adventure provided a bit of everything for me…therapy, motivation, inspiration, relaxation, spending time with my best friend, and falling in love with the locals. Check out some of our fun…

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One of the best forms of flattery in my industry is the referral.  99% of my clients are referred to me by old friends, family, and previous clients, whom have become new friends.  This is why I think I am so lucky to do what I do…and to be able to do what I love.  My circle of friends and family rock my world.

This is how I met Laura and her family.  Laura emailed me about a family session a few months ago.  When I asked how she found me, she said that she was referred to me by a friend.  Laura is now living in Georgia with her cute daughter Harper and her husband, Pat…but grew up in Orange County and both Laura and Pat went to college at my alma mater, UC Irvine (Gooooo Anteaters!  Zot, zot!).

Laura, with the fam in tow, was going to be in Orange County in June and wanted some family photos taken with her entire family.  I spent an afternoon with them, at her parent’s beautiful home in Yorba Linda, and was welcomed by her entire family.  Laura’s family was amazing - they laughed through the entire session and had so much fun together, it was such an awesome experience.

It was such a pleasure to spend time with your family Laura!  Nancy & Dominic, thank you for inviting me into your beautiful home (and thank you for teaching me about Irish moss).  Tony and Christina…you two are so hilarious, thanks for making my day.  And to Laura, Pat and Harper…you three are absolutely beautiful, thanks for introducing me to your wonderful family.

Check out the fam…

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It’s refreshing to go back to the beach, especially as summer approaches.  The one reminder I wish I would remember, as the warmer weather approaches, is to check for high tide when photographing the beach.  Luckily, the Knox family are natural swimmers and could save me, if they had to.  We met in Laguna and it was fabulous June gloom weather…no sun = perfect photo weather.  Perfect photo weather makes me a happy girl.

We tempted the high tide a few times and made it through, whew.  No casualties, except for maybe a pair of flip flops or two.  The Knox family (immediate and extended) are no strangers to me…Tracy & Dave were married three years ago and I was their lucky photographer…and Debbie is my aunt-in-law, which works out perfectly - they are all family!!  They decided it was time for an all-family-in photo sesh and it worked out great…they were up for anything and everything!!

What I love the most about having a connection to my subjects is that you have the opportunity to watch them grow together, as a family…from birthday’s to weddings to family gatherings…simply the best!

Check out the family fun at the beach…

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The hubby and I have always tried (really hard!) to be healthy eaters.  We get comments from people in our lives about the food decisions that we make all the time.  I admit, eating healthy is very difficult, especially when other food choices are available at every corner.  All of my friends and family know that my downfall is ice cream…anything that ends with cream, actually, would be the harbinger of any of my many diets that resulted in “falling off the wagon.”

We’ve often perused through the countless stalls of veggies at our local UC Irvine farmer’s market (every Saturday across from UC Irvine’s campus - highly recommended!) and we decided, during one of our visits, to figure out just how we could make the farmer’s market a part of our daily routine.  In comes Local Harvest, a website which connects the community to nearby farms that supply their harvests to the public!

We have currently become a part of the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program.  Want to know more about CSA?  Per Local Harvest, here’s what they’ve got to say…

Over the last 20 years, Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) has become a popular way for consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from a farmer. Here are the basics: a farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public. Typically the share consists of a box of vegetables, but other farm products may be included. Interested consumers purchase a share (aka a “membership” or a “subscription”) and in return receive a box (bag, basket) of seasonal produce each week throughout the farming season.

CSA is an amazing program!  We pick up our basket from South Coast Farms every other Thursday at our favorite local restaurant, which coincidentally was a drop site for our farm.  The baskets are fabulous - full of seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables, with some flowers on the side!  I’ve learned that fresh fruits and vegetables don’t look as pretty as the fruits & veggies that you buy at the supermarket, which kind of makes you think…OH, and the hubby laughs every time I see a caterpillar in our greens (I’m not so good with animals…haha).  We have taken on the bi-weekly challenge of identifying fruits & veggies that we have never seen (or eaten before).  It really makes you think about what we eat and what is truly in season as Mother Nature has intended!

So, check it out, if you’d like!!  :)  Maybe some photos from our last basket will set you on your way…enjoy!

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Commencement….graduation….you can smell the anticipation in the air…it starts months before the actual ceremony and you get into a “mode.”  It’s similar to when the high school kiddos start to lose focus right around May, knowing that their last day of school is around the corner.  It’s the same with the hubby, a teacher…he goes into “summer hubby” once June begins and then, there’s no turning back.  Summer takes over and we’re in full summer mode.

One of my favorite corporate event clients is the crew from the UC Irvine Graduate Division.  I have worked with them for a few years now, helping them document their events…from symposiums to last Saturday’s Graduate Hooding Ceremony.  As I walked through the blue doors of the Bren Events Center, my graduation day memories flooded into my mind.  I too, was feeling the anticipation of walking down the center aisle in my cap and gown, to the “graduation march” song.  I looked around at these graduate students and they had so much to be proud of…getting a Masters or PhD degree is a huge achievement in life and I was proud of each and every one of them (despite not knowing a single soul there!).

So, CONGRATULATIONS to the Graduate Class of 2010!!  To much success in your futures!  Cheers!

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Meet the Ewart’s new addition…Patrick. Patrick is seven months old and such a bundle of total cuteness. Keri and Jeff add to the family their sense of humor and their love of laughing. They are such an adorable family - throw in Dexter, the pup who stops all skate boarders in their tracks, and you’ve got the Ewart family! I’ve known Keri for some time now and it’s amazing to see her go from blushing bride to mom of a seven month old baby! And let’s not forget Jeff…handsome dad to Patrick and one of the funniest people I have ever met. He makes me laugh in mere seconds…and he has the same effect on Patrick. Check out this beautiful family…and Keri, I will meet you at the bar for a Big Ginger…

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Easily stated…I have a sweet tooth. If I could describe my addiction to sweet treats, it would not be just a sweet tooth, it would be more like a sweet mouth.  I firmly believe that dessert should follow every meal, everyday.  And you know what they say about people who don’t like sweets…they’re crazy (and you can’t trust them…no, just kidding!).

Growing up, I always remembered someone saying that it would be great to have a friend who was a lawyer, a doctor, an auto mechanic…but what about a baker…a treat maker!?  While I don’t know many lawyers, doctors or auto mechanics, I do know a special treat maker and she is a near and dear friend of mine.  She makes me treats for my photography business, my personal business..heck, she makes me treats for whatever my heart desires!

So, if you’re out there looking for a treat maker for whatever occasion, check out Moore Sweets.  Kelley is amazing, very talented and she herself is a sweetheart.  Her treats are made with the best and yummiest ingredients and best of all, her treats are made with love!  Check out the latest tasty treats she made me for an anniversary gift I was sending out…and if you’re interested in some treats, Kelley can be reached via email:  cali_kelley@yahoo.com

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Midwest boy meets his California girl…meet Jackie and Kevin, they are absolutely adorable and so in love.  Isn’t it great when real life sounds just like the movies?  I met up with these two lovebirds a few weekends ago…we started the day at the Mission San Juan Capistrano and moved our way north to downtown Santa Ana.  With an awesome wedding party in tow, these two were having the best time of their lives on the biggest day of their lives.

Congratulations Jackie and Kevin…you two are truly fabulous.

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Meet Deanna…proud and fabulous mother of three boys:  Mack, Merrick and Maverick.  The bond that these boys share with each other and with their mother is inevitable.  It’s my awww moment - these photographs make me smile.  I met up with Deanna and her boys on a Sunday evening for this session and let me tell you, the boys were rip roarin’ ready to rock and roll…and man, they rocked these photos and so did their hot mama.

The entire family was absolutely picture perfect and they made these photos E.A.S.Y.  Simply put, they are a beautiful bunch!  Boys will be boys and it was so cool to experience their bond, I love seeing the relationship between siblings, especially when they are either all brothers or all sisters - I flashed back to my Stand by Me days and it was inspirational.  Deanna and her boys were having so much fun, especially working it the way they were for the camera!

Check out the fabulous fam!  :)

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