Shannon and Barry's wedding at Sassi

Wow, what a gorgeous wedding! For those of you who don't know her, Shannon is so incredibly sweet AND beautiful!!

My absolute favorite from the whole day is right here!!!


But how can you go wrong with a beautiful girl in such an exquisite dress??


And a great location like Sassi for the setting!

The flowers were simply wonderful! This is the second wedding I've shot with this vendor, Artistic Flowers and I have to say how amazing Heather made everything from the bouquets to the boutonnieres. I would definitely recommend her to any bride!


A few orchids for the girls' hair...


They looked so great! It was pretty cold outside with no jackets but the girls toughed it out! :0)

And a few of the guys...



And the newlyweds!!



Shannon has the best smile- Barry you are a lucky guy!


I'm so glad I was a part of your day. You truly are two wonderful people who'll live happily ever after!

All the little ones! :0)

Ok, I have to say it... Is this the cutest thing ever??? I love this little girl- she just gives me the cutest looks when I'm helping out at the preschool and I know she knows exactly how sweet and adorable she is!! :0)

One of the mom's at our preschool was checking out my website and told me how much she liked this image below! Well, I've been meaning to write photo tips on my blog and she has given me the perfect oppertunity!

There are a few things going on in this image. First there's the wide angle lens. That's why his hand and the cricket (or is that a grasshopper??) looks much larger than the rest of him. It's a perfect way to characterize something specific in your photographs! The second is the depth of field. Notice how the cricket (oh, now does that thing still have all it's limbs??) is emphasized while the boy and the woods behind fade away.
There are a few ways to control this! One is setting your aperture. This may sound over simplistic to gearheads (like myself!!) But the lower the number the smaller your depth of field! Try your camera on an AV mode if you have it- the camera will compensate for you by setting the shutter speed and your exposure should be great! Another thing to try is zooming- for those of you who might not have manual controls on your camera, try zooming in and walking back! It creates a shorter depth of field too.
Just experiment! In these digital days, there will be no prints hiding in storage- just try something interesting!! Who cares how it turns out? And be sure to take another one the very next second! :0)

Here's an awesome image with the same ideas in mind...


But I mean seriously, how can you go wrong with such a cutie??!!!

Pismo Beach

Wow, what a weekend! I had the great pleasure of shooting with so many awesome photographers! I'm heading out of town again this weekend but I wanted to post a few images before I head out again.
Special thanks to these folks :0)
Jose Villa, John Michael Cooper, Erik Dugan, Colin Michael, Robin Pesa and JT

Serendipity

This week has been awesome! I was feeling a little bit empty- spiritually speaking and even had a deep conversation with my friend Carol about it. All the little things I do lead up to another. I took some pictures at a Christmas party and printed them up for a few parents. One mom, Oriana e-mailed me asking about a family shoot and I noticed her information was from Make A Wish! I had volunteered for them about 5 years ago and mentioned to her that I'd love to do it again. She knew just who to get in touch with and now I'll be helping out again. I was looking for something just like this and didn't even realize it! I can't wait to jump right in!

Then just last night I got a call from the church Ascension Lutheran where I send my kids to preschool. BTW- I just LOVE the teachers there and was absolutely blessed to have found it. My children and I would not be where we are today without them!! The church received a grant to produce some artwork and chose six artists to represent chosen scriptures and I am one!!! I am sooo excited! The best part about this is that I have no idea what we will be doing and the possibilities are mind boggling! I can't wait to see what scripture I'll get to discuss and work with!

To top off my busy schedule I am going to Pismo Beach, CA this weekend for a pretty big gathering of photographers. (We are calling it an Un-Conference! Way to be unconventional!) :0P We even have some models set up at a local winery and I will be teaching a photoshop workshop!! I have so much to be thankful for and believe me, I am!! I can't wait!

So here they are, A few images from my 5D, just messing around :0)



This is the one I've been waiting to take- this was done with no flash and a very dark room. The 5D is awesome in low light and there was hardly any graininess at all! Doesn't she look so peaceful!

Just wait till I get back to see what images the weekend will bring! It looks like rain but I really don't mind I'm just t

Pin the tail on the Skeeter!?!

But... skeeters don't have tails!!!

I don't know how he does it, but my son came up with this game for his birthday party! We had a great time with the family. When we get together it's a party in itself! We have nine kids between myself and my brothers all 7 and under!

So here it is- my husband drew a mosquito and the kids all drew body parts to stick on... mostly wings and stingers :0)


Followed up by a nice game of tag!


Even my Aunt Paula came from Michigan with her traveling bunny!

And one of my favorite images is this one of my niece...


I love these days where all the kids need for a great time is each other!

New Camera!

I'm so excited! Yesterday I received a special package that I have just been dying for! A new 5D!!!! Woo Hooo!!

I have been just waiting ever so patiently for this exquisite piece of equipment, I actually high fived my photographer friend Kim tonight! -she got one the same day I did!!! (I’m so not the high five girl!!!) ha ha!

I have been hearing great things- especially about its low light capabilities! Another friend of mine, Robin second shot an entire wedding with no flash with her 20D! She is amazing and I figure if I could do half as well as she could with the 5D I’ll be set! Have I mentioned I'm shooting with her on my birthday weekend in Pennsylvania??? I’m so excited!!! AHHHHH!!!! :0)

Give me one week and just see what I come up with!!!

Rachel and Mark

Another fun wedding! I was shooting with the fab Bruce Erik Steffine and I gotta say, I really enjoy working with him! And what a wedding- I am so in love with these getting ready shots I can hardly weed out any! Mind if I post a hundred??? :0)


The dress... also my first time using the showit script. I like it! Too much?!? :0)


The shoes...
And the bride!

My what long legs you have!! :0)

I really like this one too- I just love candids!

A quick shot of the bride before she sees her groom for the first time!


They meet... but no kissing yet! :0)

About to walk down the aisle- her sister was trying to make them laugh so Rachel wouldn't cry!

A simple basket of rose petals on each chair for throwing on the bride and groom


I think this is one of the few moments I saw Mark without a smile on his face! Just a moment before their entrance...

The reception was a blast! They hired a Brazilian dance troop! I wish I could find a link for you- it was so cool to watch. It was the perfect entertainment for dinner.


I feel like I've already written a book in pictures and I haven't even finished editing all the images yet!

Update!!! Racchel left a comment and the link for the Brazilian Dance Troop!!! Ahh.. why not go ahead and post one or two more??? :0)

Happy New Year!!!

Well I've finally recovered from lack of sleep! We had a great time at our New Year's Eve party!

Every year we've done out own music but this time our friend Bill Rogers hired a DJ which was so fun!

Well- just look at all the cute girls dancing!! :0)


I love this pic of Hannah she's having so much fun and you can even see her front teeth missing!


Renee' and Kevin...

My photographer friend Paul and his girlfriend Maria...


A Happy New Year kiss... awww!

Carrie and Dave dancing to 'their' song, L.O.V.E by Nat King Cole (L- is for the way you look at me...) hehe- I'm gonna get it stuck in your head!

Bye guys...


I had a blast!

Merry Christmas :0)

Ok, I'll admit it- I'm a blog slacker!

But wait, I have an excuse! My two adorable children keep me happily occupied especially around this time of year. Everything is magical when you have kids this age. I love it!

My daughter (an angel in the school play) and my scruffy husband!!! :0)


My daughter Jacq and her cousin Sammie (another angel, below) are best friends and it is so cool they go to preschool together!
Two of my adorable nieces...


This was one of the Christmas parties we went to this year. A lot of Jacq's preschool friends came and there was even a special visit from Santa! I think I had one too many glasses of wine at this one but I sure had fun!


awww... :0)


Another party. A friend of mine, Kerri Hill holding her little girl Addison. We don't see each other enough but when we do it's great to catch up with each other and our sons who are about the same age are great buddies! Check out her website, Kerri designs the most awesome purses and lamps. She's starting to do furniture too- it's so unique!

Little Addi again...


Jacq around the house...

By the way, each one of these images in this post were taken with ambient light. I avoid flash at all costs! Just turn off the flash on your point and shoot and check out the difference!

And here we are, Christmas morning. Please no making fun- the kids woke us up at an ungodly hour! he he :0)



A hug from big brother... he loved her present!