I made it... Mackinac Island Winter style...

Yesterday was quite an adventure to Mackinac Island ... it started off quite normal . .. clear road and even some sunshine for the first 3 hours . . then things changed... after stopping off to have lunch with a friend from Bella e Dolce (amazing wedding cakes in Northern Michigan)... the weather did a 180
Now this California girl does not know how to drive in snow anymore, so after white-knuckling across a very windy Mackinac Bridge and making it safely onto the boat I could finally relax . . . almost there... maybe

All of a sudden the boat half way across the lake stops... imagine Titanic... there we were stuck in the ice in the middle of the straights. I have to admit it was kind of cool... and I got amazing photographs.and we made it....

Merry Christmas from Cleveland...

I just finished a busy but wonderful 48 hours in Cleveland visiting with my very large, very loving Slovenian family. Everyone here is a person of their own, we all have different passions, different lifestyles, and come from different areas. . . but the one thing that seems to bond us all together is a true sense of family: anyone is welcome whether you are related by blood, by marriage, or simply because you live next door and have no where else to be.

Every year I travel across the country because it is worth it... every bit of travel hassle, freezing weather and lack of sleep, ... imagine 50 people under one roof for one reason. Tons of kids running around, food beyond explanation, and then my favorite part . . .THE EXCHANGE... 20 grown adults fighting over a pile of presents... stealing, bribing . . no rules allowed... in the end . . .tons of laughter. . . a lot of wrapping paper thrown around... and ultimately it really isn't about the gift but how you acquired it and played the game.

The holidays are the only time that I get to be with the BIG family... from my amazing cousin Jess who, this year, broke her own record and baked FOURTEEN different types of holiday cookies, to my many crazy uncles, aunts, cousins, second cousins (and so on), and of course no Eastern European holiday is complete without an unbelievable amount of sausage (Polish, Sicilian, and Slovenian . . .but we all know the Slovenian Klobasa is the best).
One of the most important and special moments of my holiday is the time I get to spend with my grandmother... my beautiful, amazing, and unbelievable Stara Mama . . . age 104 . . .yes that's right one hundred and four years young. . . and as strong and capable as ever!! She still walks to church every day!!

I know its a bit blurry but mom got the pic better the second time

It is a time like this, after being with my family, that I am reminded why I love shooting weddings so much. A wedding, just as the holidays, is a time when everyone is together... I love family dynamics ... no matter how unique, no matter how stressful at times ... ultimately there seems to always be a river of love that runs through the moment no matter how quiet or loud that river is.

To my family... I love you all... to those of you who made it this year and to those of you who did not (you were DEFINITELY missed)... I hope we will all be together next year.

May you all find joy in the people around you this holiday season . . .be them family by blood, by love, or by friendship!!

Merry Christmas!

Love,
A

Click here to view the slide show...

One more thing, tomorrow I am on my way to the Lansing, MI area. If anyone is interested in meeting with me please feel free to email. I may be organizing a get together on the 27th if you are a past, current, or future client. . . or heck you just want to say hi. Let me know if you are around.

Peace!

Michele & Jeff... a wedding with Holiday flare

The first week in December I photographed the lovely wedding between Michele and Jeff. It was the beginning of the season that is now upon us. The tables were covered with evergreens and red accents.

After watching this slide show you'll have to agree.. what warms my heart most about this couple... Michele's laughter and the obvious look of joy in Jeff's eyes as he watches his bride's pure happiness expressed. There were so many moments that evening of this love that it makes me tear up just thinking about it... (yet again).

To Michele & Jeff, wishing you the most magical holiday as you spend your first Christmas together. Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your special occasion.

Again I have to give a special props out to Janey for second shooting with me, and to the Crowne Plaza, and the Ventura Mission for helping to create such a beautiful event.

Love,
A

Click here to view slide show

Lobsterfest Detroit style . . . cold but adjusting..

Last night, as I am slowly adjusting to the weather I ventured outside the house at 8:00 p.m. for Lobsterfest 08... now one would wonder if Lobster... in the middle of winter... in Detroit... on a Monday is a good idea... does it really matter, we had fun. I got to visit with friends I hadn't seen in years. Isn't that what it's all about this season...

May all of you reconnect with long lost friends and laugh out loud!!

Love,
A
And check out Winter Image #2... that is ice on the INSIDE of the window ...

Day 1.... Brrrrrrrrrrr

So I have officially survived Day 1 of Holiday Vacation 08... which I really shouldn't call a vacation don't get me wrong I love visiting with all my family and friends but a vacation should include relaxation, comfortable beds, a beach, and maybe some fruity drinks with an umbrella... but for what its worth I can't complain... I was met at the airport at 5:00 a.m. with Hot Coco and 2 smiling faces (even though they had just driven an hour in snow covered Detroit streets). Becky & Pete you two are ROCKSTARS!!!

I've flown into Detroit a million times but this was the first time I actually HEARD the ice and snow beneath the plane as we landed...

Just look at the wing....

Then once I slept off my red eye, I looked around and was happy to see (from inside a warm home) a snow covered porch, lovely lights and a beautiful Christmas tree... ahhhhh the holidays have arrived (even if they are cold)... luckily I have mulled wine to keep me warm!

Michele & Jeff are married!!

This past weekend I had the great honor and soooo much fun photographing this wonderful couple's wedding. I met Michele and Jeff last spring in San Francisco and totally hit it off. I've been waiting for months to photograph this December wedding... what a wonderful way to ring in the holiday season. We started at the San Buena Ventura Mission for a beautiful ceremony then moved down the street to party it up at The Crowne Plaza!!

I have to say (and I think everyone in attendance would agree)... there was definitely a higher power taking care of the light... gorgeous and sunny in the morning, perfect overcast right after the ceremony (just in time for group shots), and then the clouds broke like magic into the MOST AMAZING sunset I have ever seen in California...

Michele & Jeff... thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your special day. It has been so fun getting to know you over the last year. You two have such contagious smiles and laughter that light up a room. I can't wait to visit you up in SF this spring!! Congratulations!!

Here are just a few pics from this fun and lovely wedding...

A special special thank you to Janey for second shooting with me... you rock girlfriend!!!

Ahhhh . .technology...

So I just realized that my email has been down for two days... it is now up and running but if anyone has tried to email please resend your message...

Hope you are having a technically easy day...

Good thing Patrick Windmiller was around to save me once again...

Thanks Patrick!!
A

Engagement pics. . . a million uses...

I am so excited. Next September I am going to be shooting this wonderful couple in Mexico... I just love destination weddings... there is always this extra sense of vacation and relaxation thrown into the whole affair... always adding for an amazing party!! Everyone who is there is there because they want to be there!!

So, I did Elizabeth & Will's engagement shoot a few months ago (check out their slideshow to the right). They are so much fun I can't say enough great things about them... well, I just recieved their save the date in the mail... another reason I love them . . .they used one of the pics.

Which brings me to my point... I love Engagement shoots not only does a couple walk away with a ton of pics showing their different personalities from goofy, to casual, to the "I'm so in love I can't take my eyes off you look" BUT there are a million ways to use them throughout the year of wedding stuff... below is just a list of a few ideas... but there are plenty more and a million ways to be creative...

So next time you wonder why have an engagement shoot think of these:

Save the dates
Thank You cards
Event Cards (that give the website to your wedding pics)
Guestbooks
Casual Invitations
Special Table decor
Specialized Stamps (seriously . .they are cool)
You could even have the images transferred to cookies if you want

Ideas are endless...

Another great thing about these shoots it gives you the opportunity to get to know your photographer and get comfortable before the big day!!

Can't wait for Mexico you two... yeah!!!

Love,
A

The Holiday Party...

Tuesday night I had the opportunity to attend this wonderful party. It was the 5th annual "Holiday Party" hosted by Armando of Alegria by Design. It was a fabulous party with a 1920's Hollywood Glamour theme held at the University Club here in SB.

What a wonderful idea. It was a party thrown by event professionals FOR event professionals. It was such a fun opportunity to reconnect with friends in the industry now that the wedding season is starting to slow down a bit . . . for some (I've got a great wedding coming up this weekend that I will for sure be blogging about next week). I'm constantly amazed by the support all of us industry peeps give each other... there is such a genuine sense of friendship. How lucky!

Who better to party with than professionals... and how often are WE the guests!

Thanks Armando... it was great!

Love,
A

Brothers will be brothers...

So the other day I had the pleasure of shooting portraits of Derick and Miles. . .brothers through and through. One minute they were laughing with each other. . .the next they were putting each other in headlocks. Well, the pics are definitely candid... and captured their different personalities. Whether or not any of them Mom can use for a holiday card is up to them (I think so)... I did capture a couple quick ones here and there when they were smiling and looking like they loved each other... if nothing else it was fun to wander around the Santa Barbara Courthouse on a beautiful afternoon.

And Guys... remember beware of ledges without glass... this ain't Chicago!! Isn't mom a little daredevil!!