What an Awesome Weekend!!

I had the best weekend hanging out with 25 other photographers at a workshop in San Diego!

Just like any other profession, photographers take workshops to keep up on the latest techniques or to learn a little more about certain aspects of the business. This particular workshop covered studio lighting- something I am not at all familiar with, as well as some unique was to enhance images. The photographer who taught it has the coolest style! I can't wait to incorporate some of her ideas into my work!!

Some samples of the images I captured while there:

Happy Easter!

OK, I'm a day late- but I was a bit busy yesterday sitting on my tush- in the sand!!

Oh, it was such an awesome day here in Southern California! In the 80's and sunny- a perfect beach day!! And so.... after church, we went to the beach! I told the girls that the Easter Bunny left the baskets at the beach for us. One of them bought it- the just turned 13 year old- she was a bit difficult to convince!

I hope that all of you had a wonderful Easter Sunday! I sure did!


Easter feels like such a rebirth for me this year! I can't wait to see how the next few months go. I have so many things "in the works" right now that I am super excited about! The first being a workshop that I am attending next weekend. She is one of the "must attend" workshop teacher according to many of the top family photographers!! I can't wait!!

The other is a SALE! Who doesn't love a SALE!!! Check back on Monday the 31st for all the details!!

Stay tuned for more ideas to come!!

What happens in Vegas....

What happens in Vegas does not always need to stay in Vegas! Especially if the whole purpose of the trip is to learn!

I just got back from WPPI- a wedding and portrait photography convention held each year in Las Vegas. WOW!! It was fun!!! and educational!! I heard some top photographers speak and saw all the newest and hottest lines for albums and products- and I have to say- the companies I already use were the ones that were the most impressive (whew!)!

I did come away with a couple new ideas and a whole new direction for wedding photography! I am happy to say that my friend Tracie of Tracie Taylor Photography and I have decided to joined together for our wedding photography. I enjoy shooting weddings but I much prefer being the second shooter- as many of you have seen me post here. I like the ability to take in the small details and quite moments while Tracie really enjoys the challange of capturing the bigger connection between a bride and groom- together we really are a great team! So look for big things to come from our join venture!

Not only was Vegas inspiring for the new direction of my wedding photography, but I was also inspired and motivated in the area of my family photography- which will remain a sole venture. How can you spend 3 days with the best of the best in the business and not come away inspired!

photo by Tracie Taylor- processing by me:

A beautiful day for a wedding!

Once again I was the second shooter at a Tracie Taylor Photography wedding. My much preferred place to be at weddings! I love to be able to stand back and capture the details and the small things while Tracie's personality is much better suited for being the leader and helping make the bride and groom feel just how special their wedding day is! Together we work really well together!! As a matter of fact...look for a join venture in the future! We make a great team and I think we will go really far in the wedding industry together!

Well, we had another great adventure together last week when we shot the wedding of J and A, (along with J's two adorable daughters) here in Dana Point and Laguna Beach. They are such a beautiful couple together! And the wedding was spectacular! Once I convince Tracie that she needs to update her blog I will post links to it so that you can see her take on the day (she's not too into the blog thing...yet!). For now you get my view:

Once every 7-10 years!

"Once every 7-10 years expect a flu season that knocks you on your tush" is what the doctor told me. Well, it had been about 8 years. Lucky me! My time was up!!

I have spent the last 3 weeks fighting one thing or another! A cold which turned into a sinus infection, then bronchitis which almost made it to pneumonia with an ear infection and then to top it off....the flu!! Did you know they can test you for the flu?? Well, mine was positive! Influenza B! One lucky thing was, that because I thought my bronchitis was coming back I went to the doctor within 24 hours of it hitting me and they were able to prescribe Tamiflu. Let me tell you- that stuff works!! My doctor told me that she had just gotten over the Influenza B strain and was in bed for 5 days. I only had to watch reruns of "What Not to Wear" for 2 days with the flu!!

But I'm on the upswing!! Yeah!! And I am so happy to think that it will be another 7-10 years before I have to deal with this again!!! Sorry to everybody who's photo session had to be rescheduled! The weather is better now anyway!

Round one! Heavy duty antibiotics, an inhaler for the asthma that the bronchitis brought me and an inhalable steroid for the sinus infection. Plus, the second box of tissues that I went through! AHHHH!

Round two- Tamiflu! Yeah!! Plus something for the nausea and vomiting that goes with the flu (this stuff really worked too!!) and throw in some Tylenol with Codeine for the aches and pains and the bad headaches! Fun!

And the winner is....

Thank you everybody who voted! I had over 70 votes on the first poll, but since you could see the results before voting I uploaded another poll template and had an additional 22 votes!

And the winner is with an overwhelming majority is........#1.

# 3 came in a distant 2nd place. I've added the winner to the header on my blog and will be adding it to my website this afternoon. After that it will go onto a whole slew of new marketing materials I am in the middle of designing. I love marketing! I'm terrible at doing it for myself! It's something I plan on working on quite a bit this year. So stay tuned!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope today finds you with as much love in your life as I have right now!!

Engagment

I went along with Tracie Taylor to shoot this adorable couple for their engagement photos. I will be the second shooter at their weeding in April. I really like being the second shooter at weddings and not the primary one (as I've mentioned before). And Tracie is always so much fun to work with! I can't wait.

I'm not sure whos idea it was to do it in the morning?? AM shoots are not Tracie's usual idea of fun (AM is not Tracie's idea of fun at all!) It was darn cold at the beach at 7 am! There was frost on the rooftops as I drove to meet up with Tracie. But the sky was beautiful!! Crystal clear after weeks of rain!

Here is a little peak at what I captured:

Weekends filling up!

It's going to be a busy Spring!! Hurry and book soon if you are interested in a weekend session!!

I only have one weekend available in February! And there are a limited number of openings in March and April as well! If you are thinking of squeezing in a session before Easter, you better hurry!! Only a few spots left! Easter is Sunday, March 23rd this year.

Working on some new speciality items!!

Well, since everyone has had to reschedule lately because of illness I have gotten some work done on some new products I will be offering this year! It's been fun putting together templates and samples!!
If you are a client who has had a session in the last 6 months and you would like me to do some collages, storyboards or books for you I will repost your gallery without the reposting fee for the next 3 months.

Here are a couple sample of the new storyboards! I would love to hear what you think!! Leave me a comment below.

Gettin' back in the groove

I have been feeling less then inspired the last few weeks. The craziness of Christmas, the let down of all those New Years resolutions broken in the first week and the cold that would not go away all combined to stifle my creativeness.

Well, thank goodness for friends! My good friend and fellow photographer Tracie Taylor dragged me along the other day to help her with a group senior photo shoot. I warned her I was in a funk (I don't think she ever has one!) and that the cold medicine I had taken so that my sinuses would not explode might not make me the best of photographers!- but she had me come along anyway.

At first I had a hard time "seeing the shot", but it wasn't long before I was warmed up and ready to roll!! Thanks Tracie for always believing in me! Here are a couple the more creative ones- there were plenty of more traditional ones- but what fun are those when you've found your creativity again!!

Tracie reflected in an old mirror!

Another Catch Up

Another "Catch Up" session! If you frequent my blog you may recognise these adorable kids. I did the three "M" kids a few months back. But Little Miss Spunk, "M" decided that she would stick her tongue out in almost every shot! So I asked mom if I could come back for "Round 2".

These turned out much better!! I did a few of baby bother "N" too. Amazing what a difference a few weeks can make in a baby's appearance!! He looks so much more "boy" and less "baby" in just those few short weeks! Aren't they both adorable!!? Big sis is just as cute! She is the one eyed girl in my header bar!

Playing Catch Up!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas season! Ours was great, but as hectic as always!!

We own a retail clothing store (Killer Dana Surf Shop- see the link in the side bar!) so I don't see my hubbie for most of the month of December! I am no longer active in the business (lets just say I decided I wanted to stay married!!), but there are so many other things to stay way too busy with! Such as keeping up with 2 kids and all their Christmas activities as well as trying to get everyone's Christmas pictures to them on time!!

Luckily I had a few sessions before Christmas that I only had to get the family shot done and they let me off the hook on the rest until after the holidays. Well, that time has come!! So now it's back to work!!

Here are a few images from the "A" family. Mom is one of those "super moms"! Our youngest daughters are in class together and our oldest daughters are the same age. She always looks great (unlike me in my sweats!) when she is at school, and is always so sweet and up beat even though God didn't give her the smoothest road to travel! Her youngest has Down Syndrome. "K" is an awesome kid but stubborn as the day is long!! She was great for me though! Here are a few from before Christmas that I am just now editing (with the exception of the family shot, which I did in time for their Christmas card).

Good bye 2007- Hello 2008!!!

Click on the images above, enter the website and choose "2007- a year in review"
Once you're there, you have to click the image to start the slide show

Thank you to everyone for making 2007 such a great year! It was my first year in business! And I just can't wait to see where 2008 takes me!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from my family to your!!


(our actual Christmas card!) A few days late!! But better late then never, right?? If it makes you feel any better, I don't think my family received theirs until yesterday!!

Like I Said...

Like I said, I've been photographing a lot of bellies lately!

It was not the warmest day to be running around with belly showing but we found some great spots and got some cute shots! I love the rustic feel of the barn doors!

Another Baby on the Way!

I've had quite a few maternity sessions in the last few weeks!!

I shot my first baby shower and maternity combo for a friend of a friend last week (still trying to catch up on my posts!!). I love the idea and I am planning on offering it as a package, I just have to work out the details.

We began with a maternity session about an hour before the party at the house the shower was to take place. This was convenient because it gave mom-to-be something to do and the hostesses were able to finish up last minute details. After we were done and the guests began to arrive, I stayed and photographed mom-to-be with her guests, opening her presents, playing games and enjoying the afternoon.

Here are a few from the day as they celebrated the arrival of "Baby N":

One Well Loved Baby Brother on the Way

The "M" family is expecting a new member at the end of December and let me tell you, he will be one well loved little guy! His 3 adorable siblings couldn't get enough of kissing and touching him- and he hasn't even arrived yet!

We did the shoot at their house, which was a nice relaxing change from the beach- and I think it helped make the kids feel more at ease. They were a busy bunch! I probably should have bumped up my shutter speed more! Here is a quick peak:

A One of a Kind Wedding

I was asked by my mom to photograph the wedding of two of her friends. They were going to have a civil ceremony before Christmas and a more formal church wedding sometime in the spring.

Let me tell you, it was one of the most unique weddings! It was so sweet! Both are in their 80's and widowed for a number of years. She had told my mom that she never imaged that she would ever marry again but she found her prince charming. And he just radiates kindness. Here are a few from their civil ceremony wedding.

Crazy time of year!

I have been so busy with clients and my own family that I have not taken the time to post anything in the past few weeks! So I will try to catch up!