My favorite band... Michael Franti and Spearhead. . . Rocks!!

SO Last night I was soo excited to see my favorite band Michael Franti & Spearhead. Not only were they AMAZING as always BUT I went with two of my dearest and closest friends in the world. . . we danced our hearts out and sang to every song...
It was so wonderful, we hadn't been together to hear Spearhead in years... and the last time was a music festival a long time ago...

Hey girls. . .here we are. . .THEN. . .and NOW...

I love you both so much and had a blast last night

Love,
A

THEN... (the pic is a little beat up but you get the idea)

NOW...

... and now I'm off to LA.. to hear Spearhead AGAIN tonight ( I did say they were my favorite)!!

A place for Mackinac couples to chat with each other...

I just wanted to let all you Mackinac Island couples know that I just started a "thread" on Best Destination Wedding. . . .this is a great forum for all of you Mackinac couples to chat and communicate with each other about your past experiences and/or your future plans...

click on the image below to access the forum... just sign up ... and look under the "east coast" section of the "Mainland US" category

BDW... Best Destination Wedding Forum...

Two great wedding resources . . . Destinations & Mackinac

I just found two great new resources that I had to share with all of you...

Best Destination Wedding
(http://www.bestdestinationwedding.com)
This one is AWESOME for all things destination (my good photographer friend Nate Thompson told me about this forum) . .. I just joined and am really excited to start exploring it more. I know it has great reference information having to do with Trash the Dress, and destinations around the world. Its a wonderful place to talk with other brides... and not be bothered by vendors (they have very strict rules about vendor participation... which I love... I'm not much of a sales girl)

Mackinac Island Weddings.. the blog (http://www.mackinacislandweddings.blogspot.com)
and THIS one is awesome for all things Mackinac Wedding style. Its a great reference for planning an island wedding, have questions answered directly from professionals, and see who, what where, and especially WHY things are done the way they are on the island... Keep an eye on this one, I'll be a contributing writer in the future discussing photography related issues and what all couples should know about their wedding photos.

Hope this helps!!

Love,
A

Candice & Michael... a Hawaiian Celebration

In the middle of this cold winter (okay chilly in Santa Barbara)... I thought I would talk about Hawaii... or to be exact Candice and Michael's amazing wedding in Kailua this past year (specifically at the beautiful Kualoa Ranch)

Not only was the weather as warm and sunny as can be but so was the love in their eyes. There was such warmth and joy between these two that you would have to blind to have missed it. The way that Candice would look up at Michael and the way that Michael smiled as he first saw her at the end of the aisle... the memory of this day can keep anyone warm this winter... as I'm sure it does for everyone who was there...

This was an espeically magical ceremony in that Michael's sister Alice, an amazing minister, had everyone (herself included) in tears as she married her little brother.

To my dear dear friends. . . I'm so happy for where life has taken you in the past year and am so thankful that I was able to share this "beautiful day" with you and your families.

Love, A

Click here to view a slide show

Wishing you a happy weekend!

I just wanted to wish you all a happy weekend...

Here are a couple pics I took with my phone when I went for a run this week... man I love a Santa Barbara sunset.

Love,
A

One more thing. . . I am so excited.. .I just decided to go to WPPI in a month... yeah! Can't wait to share everything I learn.

PUG meeting .. at my place ... I better clean!!

Last week I was so excited that Kacie Jean asked me to host the first Pictage User Group (PUG) meeting of 2009. It was so much fun... I love hosting parties and to be able to have 20 fellow photographers gather at my home was wonderful... but even more great was the amazing speaker Kacie arranged.

Mike Larson, a world renowned destination wedding photographer, gave such a great lecture. We all walked away knowing more about how to run a business, stay happy, and live a full life! I always love these meetings its a wonderful time to gather with peers talk about our passions and share our experiences.

Thanks to Mike for sharing, to Kacie Jean for once again arranging a great meeting, and everyone for attending!! It was great to see old friends and make new ones.

May you all find a circle of peers to share, laugh, and learn!!

Best,
A

The History before us...

I usually stray away from all "taboo" topics religion, politics, etc.. (in my opinion... as a wedding photographer. . .it really doesn't matter LOVE is LOVE) but... I couldn't help on a day like today to touch upon what is happening around us.

Wow, what a powerful moment in time we are all witnessing right now! With today being Martin Luther King Jr ... a day to honor a man who had a vision for the country and the world beyond the vision that surrounded him . . . and now tomorrow a day that will see the swearing in of our 44th president, Barak Obama, using the same bible as Abraham Lincoln. These three men represent eyes that see beyond the world in front of them to a place where we can be.

No matter what your political or personal views may be THIS IS HISTORY... taking place ... right now! How often do we know we are experiencing a moment in time that will be taught in the classrooms while it is happening.

It is an amazing time to be alive!

May we all be inspired by the visions in our hearts and reach for our dreams that are still to be discovered.

Love,
A

Just like the movies...

Last night I witnessed the most unique, creative and thoughtful proposal ever...

Brent (an amazing filmmaker) has been working for months to organize the perfect proposal for Polly. He rented a theater, invited their closest family and friends under the guise of a going away party (Polly is headed to Africa for 6 weeks), and then here's the kicker... he created his own personal movie all about how to propose to Polly fully cast with the people closest in their lives.

It started with what looked like a documentary about Africa... then next thing you see is Brent on screen with all his buddies at the bar giving him the worst advice. It was hilariously funny... and perfectly them. Polly had no idea . . .and was definitely shocked!

After the film was finished he pulled her in front and got down on one knee.... AMAZING!!!

and after all that, at the "real" going away/engagement party, all he kept saying was "I can't believe she said yes... I can't believe she is going to be my wife..." ... how sweet is that, was there really any doubt...

Brent has definitely set a high precedent for all men to follow... and Polly truly deserves it!!

Congratulations Polly & Brent!!!

Love,
A

Click here for the slide show

I guess I don't just cry at weddings. . .

Dog movies get me too...

Well, to be honest I knew this already about myself. All movies having anything to do with animals always make me cry... but I thought just maybe because this one was a comedy I could make it through . . . nope... the tears were a flowin'... but it was great!!

I was lucky enough to attend the "Hotel for Dogs" Premiere last night in LA. It was so much fun. And I can't wait to send my niece and nephew their little surprises. I had the star of the film (Jake T. Austin) sign little bags for them . . . I hope they flip and think Aunt Andrejka is the best!!! ... If that's what it takes...

SO... needless to say... take all your kids, nieces, nephews, cousins, neighbors, . . . and yourself to see this movie this weekend. In a world filled with drama this little 90 minute escape will make you laugh, cry, and feel good.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend... hug the people around you and all your special pets too!!

Love,
A

(Please excuse the iphone photos... didn't want to be mistaken for paparazzi... it was my night off) (Embarrassed to admit... but I cried at "Bride Wars" too (occupational research)... wouldn't suggest seeing it... but it was still a wedding. . .and it still made me cry... ( maybe I should stay away from the theater for a bit)

The French Paradox Party

My dearest and best friend Gianna celebrated her birthday this past weekend with the most amazing, unique and of course fun party idea, The French Paradox. This idea is based on the question of why the French are so thin yet they eat the richest, most delicious food (bread, cheese, butter, chocolate, etc). Well, one theory is because of the delicious organic wine that is grown in that country (which is the idea that us girls decided was the best. . . not the smaller portions, fresh produce, active lifestyle, etc).

Sunday night, 10 of us girls joined together to celebrate Gianna... she had arranged for an amazing French chef, Gael Lecolley (Your Chef Network), to not only cook us a mouthwatering meal but also TEACH us how to make it. While, G's amazing husband acted as our Sommelier. With each course our glasses were full with perfectly matched wine and champagne.

G, thank you so much for such an amazing evening of friendship, laughter paired perfectly with food and wine! May this year bring you happiness and joy beyond all your dreams (look below for the slide show)

Love,
A

Click here to view the slide show

The last of my winter holiday... and the end of 2008

I am now adjusted to being back home in California after two weeks in Michigan in the freezing cold (it's not hard to adjust when yesterday morning I was up running around in a tank top in the sun surrounded by palm trees and the smell of the ocean).

I must say I was quite impressed with my ability to adjust (granted my Michigan peeps who witnessed me shivering non stop would probably disagree). By the end of my trip I was finally able to brave the weather on the back of a snowmobile and photograph the island.

Here are just a few pics shot the last day of 2008 (and a few of me... proof that I really did do it--thanks Mary).

I feel so blessed that I can call two places my home Santa Barbara and Mackinac Island... two opposites that I love so dearly and could never replace one with the other.


May this next year find you feeling blessed around every corner!

Love,
A





This I had to add: notice it's "guacamole" BUT there's no avocado in it, only in the midwest!!