Off to Portland for Jane & Glen

I leave tonight for Portland to photograph the wedding of the adorable couple below. See you two in a few hours...
These pics were taken during Jane's bachelorette/shower afternoon last week, where she was to re-enact... "This is your love affair ... Jane & Glen" . . a retrospective around SB of how the sweet couple met and fell in love... only she had to carry around this goofy pic of Glen the whole time... (sorry Glen . . . the hat... a little goofy... it IS Santa Barbara not Alaska.. but I know for a fact, Jane thought it was cute ;)

I can't wait to be a part of this very very special day.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend...

Love,
A

A new favorite gadget...

Check it out.... its the flip video... personalized and everything... its a mini-HD video camera (smaller than an ipod).

I can't wait to start experimenting and incorporating it into my photography... stay tuned... I'll be playing with it this weekend at a wedding in Portland, Oregon.

Wedding Wire recognition... 2009 Bride's Choice Award

I woke up this morning, checked my email and was surprised to see that I got this award... how cool is it to be honored by my brides and not even know it!! may life bring you little surprises this week!!

Love,
A

Here's the press release... take a look..

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that Andrejka Photography has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards™!

In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. That means Andrejka Photography is one of the very best Wedding Photographers.

Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews.

“We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community,” according to Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”

Andrejka would like to thank her past clients for speaking on her behalf and helping Andrejka Photography to win the 2009 Bride’s Choice Award!

WPPI... my mind has been blown wide open!

Imagine...
10,000 wedding photographers in 1 hotel for 1 conference from all over the world...

How could one not be blown away by this!!

I was so thrilled (and nervous) to attend my first WPPI... it was all I had imagined... and WAY more. The people I met were amazing, helpful, and supportive beyond expectation. Everyone of us were there for the same reason, to support and celebrate each other in an industry we love!!

Too much entered my little brain this weekend to even try and filter it for you. Just know that I am so stoked, inspired, and ready to take my photography, my clients, and my passion to a whole new level.

There are a few people I want to throw out props out to for personally expanding my horizons beyond what they were a week ago...

You all rock in so many ways!!! Some of you I met personally ... others , I was one of many listening from the crowd taking notes as your words shifted my mind into new and exciting directions... thank you to...
Marcus Bell
Joe Bussink
Nancy Emmerich & Rose Coleman
Jim Garner
Justin & Mary Marantz
Frank Salas
JB & Deettee Sallee
And a special thanks to ... Mike Larson...
(dude, seriously... your "party of 4" and support for my business has inspired me to lead more and make a difference with my photography beyond my clients and myself.. and to Rachel... your brownies ROCKed girl!! It was such a pleasure to meet you both.)

Oh, one more very special thanks to ShootQ . . . the AWESOME new studio management program I'm using. All you guys and Jennifer are amazing. I am so stoked I got to meet you. Jonathan thanks again for answering all my questions... I can't wait to start utlizing everything ShootQ does. yippee... it actually makes me excited about the business side of photography...

May you all be inspired by those around you; be them peers, mentors, or strangers on the street... then take this inspiration and pay it forward! ...that's what I plan on doing!

Love,
A

I promise pics will be all over the next blog entry.... I just had to share about WPPI!!!

WPPI here I come....

I am just dropping a quick note before I hop on a plane to Vegas...

I am so excited to be attending my first WPPI (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International) convention... I just know it is going to blow my mind to be surrounded by my peers and my mentors ... and all the latest and greatest "toys" in the industry!!

Not only am I going to be attending the convention . . . BUT I am also taking a "party of 4" workshop with the awesome Mike Larson . .. an all day seminar with only 4 people .. super intensive and super customized... . yippee



Can't wait to tell you all about it...

Happy President's Day . . .and Love Day...

May you all find love all around you this weekend

Love, A

Cevin & Peter's Royal Ball

It was a beautiful Santa Barbara evening. . . and all sorts of royalty were arriving for the Anniversary Ball of Queen Cevin and her King Peter...

Lillet was being poured, a beautiful array of cheeses were being paired with wine... it was a true evening of elegance... and goofiness... and laughter all rolled into to one!! The PERFECT kind of Ball.

Congratulations Cevin & Peter... it was such a lovely affair and I was so happy to be a part of it!

Season's Catering did an amazing job...

Love,
A

The King & QueenThe youngest member of the Royal Court
(who's crown just did not make her happy, so she left it at her castle)

Kali & Carey's Engagement...

A couple of days ago I was thrilled to meet up with Kali & Carey to photograph their engagement pictures. I will be shooting their wedding in May . .. and I can't wait.

As I was saying yesterday, I love to shoot engagement pictures. They are wonderful opportunities to get to know my couples, have fun, and figure out how to help them relax in front of the camera before the big day.

Kali and Carey were no exception. We laughed and laughed. It was hard to miss the way they looked at each other. Out of nowhere Carey would just pick Kali up and hold her tight. I love it when I see such joy between two people. To see more pics, take a look at the slide show below.

Congrats again Kali & Carey!! I can't wait to be a part of your beautiful day!

Love,
A

Click here for the slide show

On the other side of the camera...

I figured since I just experimented with my hair (a first . . . almost blonde .. . yikes) and my mother (who is across the country) is dying to see what it looks like... it was time for me to step in front of the camera.

Every year I force myself from behind the lens to step in front of it for once. It really helps me remember what it's like to have a camera in your face. . .and how flippin' uncomfortable it can be . . . I don't like having my picture taken to begin with much less doing it with "experimental" hair... (and as every girl knows ... one's hair can say a lot.... and I am not quite sure what mine is saying right now) ... Okay enough about the hair...

I think often times photographers forget what its like to be the subject of a photo shoot. When your photographing brides and grooms who aren't used to being surrounded by the paparazzi its important to step into THEIR shoes once and a while. . . . Every time I do this (even if its only for a few minutes) it reminds me how important it is to make my couples and clients feel comfortable with me and almost forget that there's even a camera there. I try to chat with them, relax, put them in a general pose then let them be free and natural... its really up to me to catch the moment. . .not to create it!!

This is one reason I think an Engagement Shoot is important its kind of like a "practice run" before the big day... I get to hangout with my couple, without any nerves or schedule... its probably one of my favorite things to shoot!

So when looking at photographers. ... think about asking them how they handle formal shots, how they postion their subjects. . .and most importantly... TALK with them .. decide if you like their personality and if you want to hang out with them your entire wedding day (since you will be spending more time with your photographer than with anyone else)!!!

Hope this helps a bit. . .

Here's to stepping outside your comfort zone once in awhile!!

Love,
A