The Wedding of Ally and Brian 6-29-07

Will it rain? Hmmm the forcast says yes, muwahhahhhhhhhaaahaaa..... I say No! Ally ordered up the weather and she got it right. She must have remembered my comments during the engagement session when I said that I loved overcast days. The lighting is just perfect, well you guest it! Overcast and perfect, not a raindrop in sight! 9 bridesmaids and 9 groomsmen and the karate kid! There was this kid, he had on a karate uniform and wandered aimlessly into the background of our group shots. It was hilarious for the first 5 takes then we all started yelling in his direction to walk away, this prompted him to walk towards us....No Karate Kid, No...the other way. Minor obstacle, the rest of the night was effortless. Brian and Ally, thanks for working with me even though the nasty traffic wanted to do battle with us! I love clients like you both who take things in stride, trust in me and in the end we have beautiful images. Much love to you both! The dance floor was packed the entire evening making capturing the fun ever so easy! Thanks to all who attended for doing what you should do at a wedding, celebrating life and love...

Tribute - The Cardinal Part One. 6-28-07

Tonight I spent the evening with Lynn for an emotional and at times painful(for her) experience at 12oz Studios with the very talented Lara. After having had a consultation several weeks ago we went to the studio to see what vision Lara had created from the discussion. Here's the background info:

We all grieve and heal differently. I'm the type of person that internalizes way too much. I think it's my Asian heritage. I know that's not healthy so I pour my emotions out in other ways like my love of photography, capturing and showing emotion vicariously through my images and my love of cooking. I love to create the most amazing menu and entertain my friends and family, a true labor of love if you've ever eaten at my table. Lynn however wears her emotions on her sleeves. Those that know her know her to be an open book. Which is endearing. You always know how she feels, trust me... Happy, sad, mad, hurt, angry, joyful - it's all out there without masks. So enter the Cardinal. The Cardinal is a symbol for Lynn's mom who was her best friend and has since passed away. She got that nickname from Ralph, Lynn's brother. Having coined it after seeing their mom wake up after naps and having both sides of the hair on her head plastered upwards like a cardinal. Needless to say since Helen's passing we see cardinals often and in the least predicable locations and times. Almost like a reminder or sign of sorts that your loved ones are always nearby, thinking of you and a presence regardless of life or death.

We consulted with Lara about the story of the cardinal and that Lynn specifically wanted to incorporate cherry blossoms and a cardinal into the tattoo. Lara is truly a gifted artist. What she came up with almost brought us to tears. The scene once finished will have a cardinal flying away from a cherry blossom branch clutching a broken stem in its claws. Everything in color will symbolize life a lot of the tattoo will be in shades of gray. The Cardinal flies away from the living branch yet holds on. The stem may represent memories, love, who knows. I'm sure it can be interpreted in many ways, but for Lynn it's a way to keep mom close to her heart. So everyone, call your mother, sister, father, wife, husband, child, friend today and for no reason at all just tell them that you love them just because you can.

Check back for part Two the finished product.

The Design Sketch

Wasting Away Again in Margaritaville 6-26-07

I love parrot heads!!! A sunny Tuesday afternoon spent in a parking lot at the Tweeter enjoying friends, fun and Corona of course! I love the free spirited friendliness that you experience amongst fellow Buffet fans but my favorite thing to do is to walk around and consistently be amazed at the tailgating contraptions and portable blenders/etc that people come up with. It's amazing. Between the sand, pools bars and pong tables that wind up in the lot and the fans just enjoying the day you know that it really is 5'O clock somewhere. I close my eyes, recline in my beach chair and think of how simple things can be when people are just friendly because it's the cool thing to do...

The Wedding of Laura and Jon 6-22-07

Wonder twins power in shape of.....Bride and Groom?

Most of you know that I'm a softy. I pretty much cry or tear up at just about every wedding that I shoot. This day was no exception but now I can also add that at times I chuckled softly and at a few points laughed out loud hysterically. Laura and Jon, such a refreshing couple. They wanted the type of coverage that captured them just being them. Love, love, love it! Tender moments ran rampant, from the first glimpse he had of her - he had a hankie prepared for the occasion - to the vows. It was such a sweet moment when Laura placed the ring on Jon's finger and as he was pulling his hand away she held on for just a second longer. My emotions vacillated back and forth from joy to love to tenderness, laughter and on and on. I can only imagine what they must have been feeling. It was a blast spending the day with them and my pleasure taking the fun, serious and romantic images!

Cue Cards to our lives...

Kristin has been saving her hard earned money for her first major purchase. A camera of course, but not just any camera... Her "baby". The value in her having to log hours of work in order to afford the $650.00 price tag speaks volumes. Needless to say it seems as if I haven't seen her in days, it's one adventure after another. She loves to shoot, has a wonderful abstract eye and embraces natural light. Every night she comes home excited to show me what she got and I look at the display and am amazed at the content while I appreciate the sheer simplicity of it all. Taking pictures just because... because the light was nice, because the background inspired, because there is beauty, just because...it is and without it do we even leave our stamp? Is there a record of our lives. Gone may be the days of shoe boxes in basements over flowing with images that were stories in themselves. It's the dawn of a new age but let us not lose sight. Let's not forget to capture the everyday event and find a moment that becomes a memory.

Tonight I pulled out my camera, leaving the flash in my bag and embraced the dim light being emitted from my lamps. At that moment Kris walked in the door and as per her usual scooped up the babies and gave them some love. Here are a few snaps with my added touches.

Leslie and Pete E-Session 6-18-07

You never have to twist my arm to go hang at the beach! Today I spent a few hours with Leslie and Pete. Her flips almost said it all... I do think the company got it wrong though, one should have said I heart him, the other I heart her because these two needed very little directing. If they felt uncomfortable in front of the camera I sure didn't get that feeling. They made my job easy just being together and in love!

The Wedding of Karen and Michael 6-16-07

I don't know what impressed me the most. Was it the pureness of their love, her sweet and angelic disposition, his handsome and composed presence? All I know is that Karen was beautiful and carried herself with poise all day and Michael was a prince by her side. They were so lovely and made for a serene and enjoyable day free from the rush and anxiety that can sometimes accompany a wedding. One of my favorite moments was when we were in the limo driving to the park. Karen leaned down and lightly touched one of the medals that Michael wore proudly. She admired it and as we rode quietly to our destination I was touched. I have the utmost of respect for those choosing careers in the military. The sacrifice can sometimes be so much more than any rewards. Having a strong foundation and close family ties is so necessary. I know this because my father is retired from the Air Force and we spent the first 18 years of my life traveling from base to base every 2-4 years. The experience afforded me an education on cultures and experiences that I would never have had otherwise. My mother was always there with her support from his tour in Vietnam through any and all adventures his career set before him.

In seeing Michael and Karen together, beginning their journey, I feel a sense of hope and love. They have each other now and a wonderful foundation in their faith and a loving family who it was indeed my privilege to meet. So congratulations to you both and I wish you many wonderful years together!

"Honey wi dew" Tara and Rory 6-9-07

I've known Tara for about 5 years now. She has always been a free spirit, self assured and an amazing soul. When I met Rory I knew almost immediately that he was the one for her. I can't quite put my finger on what it was, it could have been their love of all things good in life - by this I mean great wine, Double IPA'a, excellent Thai food and so much more or it could have been the way that they just gelled together. He was her ying to his yang and it was evident for anyone to see. I was thrilled when they asked me to shoot their wedding! What better gift to give them then to capture the way I see their love for each other! An intimate ceremony and reception at The Manatawny Creek Winery. Lovely touches everywhere including a very special Wedding wine made just for them called "Honey wi dew." I often get teary eyed when I witness special moments. I think that it's the romantic in me. These moments are one of the reasons I love my job. Today was no exception but it will stick in my mind forever. Just a few simple words spoken so softly almost inaudible. These words were not meant for anyone to hear, they just were. As Tara and her dad drew near, traversing the distance between the bridge and the altar area, a whisper a smile and a tear...."Wow.....she's mine.....mine.mine....."

The Wedding of Susan and Mike 6-2-07

Today I wake up and I'm so happy that there is no rain in sight. Every Country Club wedding last year was you guessed it...Sprinkling, drizzling, showers - pretty much every form of precipitation was experienced. Now don't get me wrong. I love the rain, the smell of rain and the wonderful and fresh glistening that's left after the raining has stopped. It's the full on blocking of light and limitations that can really dampen (no pun intended) the opps at a wedding. Regardless, we didn't need to worry about that today. An absolutely gorgeous day and a beautiful couple as well! From beginning to end Susan had every detail worked out to perfection. The time line left plenty of time to get in everything. The guys were all ready when I arrived for their getting ready shots. Unbelievable! Every single one of them! Thus was my indication that this day would be smooth sailing and it was. Susan was so much fun at her getting ready, relaxed and taking everything in stride. The ceremony was beautiful and afterwards we headed to Springford Country Club for the reception and their portraits. What I appreciated most about this day and this couple was how much everyone involved with this wedding executed every single detail just the way that Susan planned. What an amazing way to show your love for someone - helping to make her special day everything that she dreamed of. Thanks to you Susan and Mike for choosing me to share in it!