As I sat down to blog this morning…. I found myself without anything super exciting to say… except that the wedding I shot on Sunday with Amanda Patrice left me utterly inspired and full. If you ever get the opportunity to spend a few nights in a hotel… choose Hotel Maya. It has gone down, in my book, as one of the coolest hotels I’ve ever been to. Here’s just a sneak peek of all the deliciousness my camera ate up…. more to come later in the week!

Wednesday I had the chance to help my friends Hanssie and Garrett out at the Socal LA Photog Shootout workshop at the Ebell Club in Long Beach. The theme was “wedding day” and all the participants rotated through five stations that included The Engagement, Getting Ready, The Ceremony, Bridals, and the Romantics. I helped lead the Bridals portion of the morning and I had a blast with everyone! The cool thing about Photog Shootouts is there’s absolutely no pressure to get the “perfect picture”… and it’s a completely safe place for new photographers to ask questions and experiment in different techniques they’d like to develop more.

The model assigned to be the bride had a name that fit her beautifully… her name was Phoenix. How cool is that name? (for those of you from camp who are currently gawking at the irony of a model named Phoenix being assigned to my station while my guy Christopher …with the camp name “Phoenix” … is gone for the summer… don’t worry… it took me a second to process it myself, before I just chuckled at His sense of humor and moved on to the shoot.) Phoenix was pretty much a dream to work with. Not only was she gorgeous, but she was very good at trying to play the role of a bride who has no idea how to look on her wedding day. In addition, she was so gracious and patient with all the photographer who came through the station and did everything that was asked of her with enthusiasm and elegance! The day wasn’t as much about me shooting as it was about making myself available for tips and providing a learning environment for the participants… so I didn’t get many shots, but here are a few to give you a taste of what the workshop was like…

There were a couple other photographers that helped out that day… and I wish I could have snuck into some of their teaching sections…. maybe next time ;). Thanks to all who contributed to the day, to the preparations and planning, and all those who made the learning experience so valuable! Till next time…

Shooting weddings is fun. That’s all there is to it. Waking up with the anticipation of a great wedding day is like drugs for me…. and I can’t get enough! That’s why I jump on any opportunity I can to shoot a wedding… whether it’s my own clients I’m shooting for, or helping another photographer… I do it because I love it. In April, Amanda Patrice asked me to tag along on a wedding that took place in Pomona, CA and despite feeling “slightly under the weather”… it was such a great day! There are many reasons I love shooting with Amanda… the main ones being: She’s very seasoned in the technique of photography, she’s got a uniquely awesome eye for beauty and art, and she’s sooo fun!

Shooting with other photographers is a great way to expand your technique, learn lighting, and play…. all while helping out another photographer capture their clients’ wedding day. Playing leads to learning and becoming better. I’ve found that the more I play around with lighting and technique and colors and poses… the better I become when it’s game time. I thoroughly enjoyed shooting with Amanda and Miguel & Dina…. here’s the results of my day 2nd shooting….

Amanda, you rock my socks off every time.

Miguel and Dina, Congratulations on a beautiful and super fun wedding day!

Everyone else, keep playing… keep working hard… keep dreamin’.

I was always the sassy troublemaking staff member at Junior Winter Camp. Alissa was the sweet one whom everyone loved to pieces. Billy Jack was the boss man. Every year Billy Jack’s March birthday fell during Winter Camp season and every year we, as good staff peeps should, threw him a birthday celebration after all the campers went to sleep for the night. One year… I convinced my new friend Alissa that it was a good idea for both of us to smash cake in his face. I didn’t think she’d do it because she was such a nice person. I was wrong…. she totally did it… she shocked both Billy Jack and me…. and thus began our friendship. Haha. Really though…. it was that year that we became friends… and we never would have guessed back then, that a few years down the road, they would be  falling head over heels in love.

Not only was their wedding a beautiful and ridiculously fun day, but it was quite sentimental. Billy Jack and Alissa are the rare type of people who are DEEPLY vested in their relationships. They care about people. They thrive off people. Looking out into the faces of everyone at the ceremony, I saw family….. in the biggest sense of the word. And throughout the day, tears of immense joy and gratitude streamed down just about every face… including mine. And as we drove away from the reception, I heard Alissa say over and over…. “This was the best day of my life. Seriously.”

There’s so much I could say about these two… so many stories and fond memories of how they’ve touched my soul and helped mold me into the person I am today… but, for your sake… I’ll just stick with the pictures.

The day started at the Se San Diego Hotel… hands down the COOLEST hotel I’ve ever had the privilege of setting foot in. I LOVE that place! Alissa spent the morning getting all prettied up for the big day… and by the time she was done, I had to take deep breaths to keep from crying… she was so beautiful. Every detail was perfectly “her”… and they all came together to make one BEAUTIFUL bride!

As we waited for the car to arrive, Alissa and I spent some time taking these breath-taking bridal portraits… and they’re easily my absolute favorites from the day… I think you’ll agree…

While Alissa and the girls were getting ready, Billy Jack and his party were waiting at Presidio Park… eagerly awaiting his first look at his beautiful bride. Christopher and my good friend Regis hung out with these guys and took some sweet shots while they waited for us…

Alissa and I finally arrived at Presidio Park and he finally got to see his bride…. it was such a touching moment!

We took a few group shots and then made our way to the ceremony site– Solana Beach Presbyterian Church…

This look is one of the main reasons I do what I do…. I have the privilege of capturing the look on the grooms face when he sees his bride walking down the aisle on the day they promise forever to each other. This look is the one every girl dreams about her whole life… and, I’m not even kidding, I cry EVERY TIME. Billy Jack was sooooo happy…

During the lighting of the unity candle, their friend Molly Jenson performed a poignant rendition of Joshua Radin’s “Today”… Molly… you’re amazing!

This is another one of my favorites… they are SO HAPPY walking back down the aisle as newlyweds!!! Hooraaay!

This cracks me up every time…

At the end of the night, I rode with them downtown in Lance Haynes’ 1929 Deluxe 4-Door Durant… and we took some “vintage Las Vegas” style shots with the car. There are so many good ones, but they’ll have to share them with you

Boom.

Billy Jack…. Alissa…. you two rock my world. I’ve been so blessed working with you and being a part of your wedding day was a highlight of my career. I hope you’re having a blast in the Mediterranean and I can’t wait for some hang out time!! Many thanks go out to all the spectacular vendors who helped make their day perfect… and Regis… friend…. I LOVED having you along to shoot with me! Thank you so much!

Flowers: Diane Reichenbach of Whimsey Florals

Caterer: Ki’s Restaurant

Chauffeuring: Lance Haynes

Officiant: Greg Fields

Videography: Steven and Michael of Lomaland Productions

Cake: Grove Pastry Shop

Music: Molly Jenson

To View the Slideshow, Click Here.