Noelle the Pilates Queen

Over the past year I've had the great privilege to work with Noelle Rox, owner of Simpatico Pilates in Montecito California. She is about to launch an all new pilates campaign geared towards pregnancy, this will be followed with a series of at home workouts (beginner-advanced) as well as a travel series for those who are on the road. Her goal is to focus not just on pilates but an entire lifestyle shift including eating and living an overall healthier life.

Below are just a few shots we've collected along the way to her new found stardom.
Good luck Noelle. . . you are truly a "Rox"star.

and so is Biscuit. . .

The Knot Wedding Submissions...

So about a month ago, I promised myself that I would start actively submitting to magazines, competitions, and anything else I could think of. In order to keep this goal fresh in my mind I challenged myself to do this once a month. .. last month was the National Geographic competition through PDN . . . this month The Knot.
I was inspired by my dear friends and fellow photographers Michael & Anna Costa who told me . .. just keep submitting, it may not happen right away but it will get your name out there and people recognizing you. So . . . here I am... ready to show the world . . . yikes!
I probably shouldn't be writing about this right after doing it (might jinx it) but it's not about winning... its about pushing myself outside my comfort zone, putting my work out there for all to see and taking my photography business to another level.. right?
Plus I kind of wanted to give props out to these special brides of mine from last year who took so much time and effort to meticulously plan each detail of their wedding by themselves. Gina, Emily and Christine . . .you girls rock . .thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of it all!
May all of you step outside your comfort zone once in awhile. . . it's kind of exhilarating!

Happy Monday!

Love,
A

Life's curve balls. ..

This post has very little to do with photography, Santa Barbara, Mackinac Island or the usual things I write about . . . and more about when life throws you a curve ball. This is my desk at the current moment (I know it's scary). One would think that if you own and run a successful business your desk would be nicely organized . . . not when those curve balls come your way and all of a sudden take over your life. So last Thursday I was happy as a clam in my amazing and wonderful little cottage (home for the past 4 years). When out of the blue my wonderful landlord (and yes he still is wonderful) informed me that he could no longer have a rental on his property (not by his choice) :( . . . I have a feeling he is more upset about this than I am. So all of a sudden everything had to be put on hold in a search for a new home . . . hence the mess on the desk . . . acceptable (I think so)...

Well, after a week of craziness which included a mild case of the cold, falling off a chair, dealing with identity fraud, magazine submission deadlines, client deadlines, losing all my keys and a quick trip to SF . . . I've survived AND am about to move into a great house with an extra office (and even a darkroom attached to the garage).

I take this as just another reminder that no matter what happens (and I acknowledge things could have been much worse)... Life never throws curve balls you can't handle, you may not be able to handle them the way you had expected but . . . you will survive!!

May you hit every curve ball life throws your way out of the park!!

Love,
A

Deal or No Deal . . .

So ... I completely forgot to tell you about my great intern Brian. For the past two months I have watched this guy come into work sporting every type of "Deal or No Deal" clothing you can think of. You see, this kid some how ended up on the infamous show. For two months all he would do is wear the clothing. . . not a peep about how well he did . . . I swear he was getting kickbacks for advertising!!

If you happened by chance to see the show you would have laughed hysterically and thought. . . is this kid for real?!?... Well... he is ... there wasn't one bit of scripted dialogue going on there. Brian is 100% entertaining all by himself!!! . . look he even does backflips for us at the office!!!
Way to go Brian . . .$167,000... just remember stay in school . . and keep listening to Disney...

A Hike Up a Mountain...

Alright I lied . . .not a hike. . .more like a very very long and winding drive.

This weekend I thought, "ya know, I've lived in Santa Barbara now for seven years and have NEVER seen the wildflowers on Figueroa Mountain.. I think it's time for me to explore." For those of you that don't know Fig Mountain is in the Santa Ynez Valley behind Santa Barbara (think wine country in the movie Sideways).


Now, I didn't quite realize what I was getting into. I pictured a quick little jaunt maybe 20 minutes roundtrip up a hill that would be covered with wildflowers. . .Well an hour later, what I found was a two lane road . . .that turned into a 1 and 1/2 lane road with no centerline . . . that turned into a 1 lane road. . . that turned into a gravel road... that turned into a dirt path (and that was just one way... granted I was shooting the whole way)!!

So there I am in my little old Corolla off-roading up a mountain by myself (probably not the smartest thing, but at least I had phone service ... so don't worry mom). BUT at the top it was completely worth it. . . there were so many beautiful wildflowers. . .and in two of my favorite colors... purple and orange!!

It's so nice sometimes to go out... just me... my camera .... and an adventure!!

May you all find your own personal adventure this week!

Love,
A

One Man's Treasure . . .

OK, I apologize ... I've slacked off a bit this week with my blog, but my excuse...I've been in debates what to write about. It's been a bit of a crazy week. My mind has been completely full of garage sale stuff (wasn't sure people would want to hear about that). Then I realized there was a little lesson in it. So, my dear friends, Kirsten and Nick, held a fun little enlightening garage sale this past weekend and allowed me to join in. I know it probably would have been a bit more sucessful had I posted this BEFORE the garage sale (but. . .oh well, better late then never).

Although I didn't necessarily rake in the big bucks it was an awesome time to clean out all the junk I hold on to, and to really think about the things I want to keep. It made me realize the value I put on things has very little to do with the initial price tag and more to do with the item's journey. For example I had a set of photo tinting pencils that I probably bought for $10 ten years ago. One would think at garage sale they would be maybe $1 . . . but everytime someone asked about them I said $5 (of course they didn't sell) and finally I realized these little pencils represented a time in my life. A time when I would hand color all the images (especially the ones I shot in Italy) I developed in the darkroom in college. In a way they represented a part of me and my story.

So just something to think about ... the next time your sorting through your closet, what do the things you keep around and hold on to say about your story?

On a side note the people watching is amazing. . .one could have a sociology class right there in the front yard!!

Lives Transformed!!

Way to go Nancy, Li-At, and Grant . . . and Doug, Jesse, Stacey, and Marisa!!!! You all rock!!!

This past Sunday night I attended an amazing event at Tonic here in Santa Barbara. It was the culmination of a wonderful program called the Conditioning Specialists' Lifestyle Transformation Challenge and also a fundraiser to raise money for a local non profit battling childhood obesity called Partners for Fit Youth.

The Lifestyle Transformation Program was a 12 week program that roughly originated out of the "The Biggest Loser" . . only in the real world. These participants had to continue with their normal lives (eating out, working, daily tasks, etc). It was developed by the amazing trainers at Conditioning Specialists (who I personally have had my life transformed by in the past year... Marisa you're my angel too;).

From what I understand (check out the links for more info), it was not about weight loss alone it was about changing the way we think and live our lives (from body to mind) . This is the type of program that should be in every city. It is the type of program that could change the face of America. It proved how anyone and everyone can become the strongest and healthiest "them" with a little support and guidance (check out their blogs to see how they inspired each other and all those around them).

I'm not quite sure if I can explain in words how powerful this event was. At one point everyone was crying (well, at least I was) and the next laughter couldn't be contained. The event alone was inspirational and touched all those who attended. I can only imagine how Nancy, Li-At and Grant are feeling right now.

What made this evening so special was the way in which EVERYONE was inspired. It was tough to tell whose lives were transformed more... the participants, the trainers, or those who were simply witness to it all...

A huge thank you to all of you for your determination, hard work, and loving spirits.. you have all inspired me!!

Love,

A

Mi Amica . . Mi Italia

Yesterday morning I had my usual "Wednesday Meeting". . . breakfast with G (short for Gianna). This girl is my closest friend in the world (basically my sister and knows all my little secrets). We met at a small school in Michigan, struggled through our turbulent (but crazy fun) years of college together, then realized there's life after college in a great beach town on the central coast of CA... and now ten years later we each have our own crazy lives but make it a point to meet once a week for a breakfast to talk about life, love, and the pursuit of happiness . . . and once in awhile reminisce about days gone by . . . such as our 4 month stint as art students in Italy.

Ahhhh . . Mi Italia--words can't and never will do justice to the emotion I have towards this little country shaped like a boot. There are moments when I step outside my house in the morning and for some really strange reason SB will have the smell of Florence have no idea why (could totally be in my mind) . . . but I love it!!

So, the reason this (Italy) is all is so fresh on mind ---my friend Claire is getting ready for her own travel abroad experience in Florence. I am sooo excited for her, in fact G and I have decided to take Claire out to an Italian dinner (hopefully my favorite place Trattoria Grappolo in the Santa Ynez Valley... yummy). Over dinner I'm sure we'll share all of our favorite little secret stories . . . well maybe not all of them ;)

I returned back to Florence about a year and a half ago to shoot a wedding (my first time back). Here are two pics I shot while there . . I have them both framed and hanging in my living room. They warm my heart everyday. It reminds me of my time as an art student studying abroad and how life has taken me full circle . . . returning me to the place I love, doing the thing I love . . . I never could have imagined then that years later I would return as a photographer!

Hope all the dreams you never could have imagined come true!!

Love,

A

Lots and Lots of Lavender

WOW  I have never seen so much lavender!!  Just a couple of days ago I was asked to shoot the front entrance to the San Ysidro Ranch (an incredibly beautiful and luxurious escape here in SB/Montecito).  They told me they just wanted a couple pics because some of the lavender was in bloom . . . SOME . . . geez, I'd say . . .  a lavender paradise!!  

Take a look...