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!!

Another contest . . . PDN Top Knots

So, my whole goal of submitting to a magazine, competition, or contest every month has kind of been thrown out the window since summer. . .BUT , I'm back on it!! Today I submitted to a really cool competition that I am hoping to do well in (cross your fingers). PDN (PDN Top Knots)an awesome photo journal that focuses on fine art photography is holding a competition that will highlight how the new world of wedding photography is moving into a creative realm and pushing envelopes left and right. Two of the judges are from The Knot and The Wedding Library.

I'm really excited about this competition because its fun to see how photographers take one of the most traditional moments in a person's life and think outside the box to turn their images into true art!! How cool... I love seeing how other photogs put their own stamp of creativity on a moment.

Here are just a few of the pics I submitted...