Turlock Journal Reader's Choice Award 2012

As I write this, I am sitting here with a huge smile on my face because I am so honored, humbled, overwhelmed, excited and touched.  An emotional jumble, but a good jumble.

I was notified yesterday afternoon that I was selected as "Turlock Journal Reader's Choice Favorite Photography Business".

Me!  Little ol' me, out the many talented photographers in this city, I was voted by the people of Turlock as their favorite!  Tears welled up in my eyes reading that last sentence.  

What a surreal feeling.  Absolutely surreal.

I had to re-read the email I received about 10 times to make sure it wasn't a joke and when I read it aloud to my husband he responded with a resounding "HELL YEAH!!"  and a high five, gotta love him :)

So this has definitely kept the wonderful high from my recent trip to Hawaii going.  I'm so blessed to do what I love, day in and day out.  Because I know that I would continue to do photography even if I wasn't being commissioned to do so because I love it so much!

The people I've met on my journey in photography have been incredible, without them I would have no business.  I attribute my success thus far to the many clients, family and friends who have believed in what I do, love my work whole heartedly and love me, it is because of you all that I am where I am in photography right now.  I am just at the beginning of this wonderful road of photography, I am so excited for what is to come!

Thank you to everyone of you out there who have taken the time to vote for me, it means the world.  I am truly honored.

Cheers!

Aloha 2013!

2013 is going to be an incredible year!

2012 was a year of immense blessings, growth, love, life and amazing-ness and I am so looking forward to this year even more than last!

I began this month working in Hawaii, photographing a wedding, making new friends at the airport who have now become friends for life, having a second honeymoon with the love of my life-my incredible husband and taking every second to enjoy this life I've been given.

A couple of years ago I never would have imagined I would be where I am today being able to do what I love day in day out and actually being good at my work.

Dreams have been realized and have truly expanded my perspective on life, future goals and new dreams and all this by looking through the viewfinder in my camera.  I realized that this is just the beginning and I'm so excited for the journey I am about to go on!

I spent the first couple of days in Hawaii last week in absolute awe and amazement because planning this trip was a little over a year in the making and to actually be there breathing in the fresh Hawaiian air and sharing a meal with my husband, I actually began to tear up.  Tears of joy, of course, because I was actually living my dream life, as a destination photographer.  It's everything I've dreamed of since I first picked up my camera (well, my mom's camera) when I was a kid.

Wow.

I will be catching you up on the fantastic shoots I did in the fall time, weddings, family portrait sessions and so forth, but for now, let's enjoy the view.

Aloha.

Amanda, Bridal Portraits

Every girl dreams of the day she will get married, what it will be like, what her dress will look like, who her future Prince Charming will be, what her first dance song will be, amongst many other wonderful details that go into planning a wedding to the love of your life.

Recently, I posted pictures from my brother and sister-in-law's wedding and talked about what a wonderful ceremony and reception they had and how fun it was to be a part of the planning process and to actually see the wedding come to life, truly a neat moment. Since we had such a whirlwind of a day on their wedding day, I scheduled a special bridal session for my brand new sister-in-law, her very own pampering day and another chance to wear her beautiful wedding gown. Because every bride should wear their gown more than once, it's too fun!

I have been recently doing some fabulous Indian wedding collaborations with my dear friend, makeup/hairstylist, Happy Bassi and I knew she was fabulous at what she did. So I called her up and asked her if she had time to practice her skills on Amanda and she gladly accepted! Happy opened up her home to us in early November, we packed all the bridal essentials for the shoot (dress, shoes, bouquet, hair pieces and veil)and let Happy create the beautiful "American Bride" because her work is primarily Indian brides.

We had so much fun together, Amanda had her relaxing time, we talked about all things wedding, laughed and had fun doing her shoot. 2 hairstyles and 2 looks (simple and dramatic) later we have the following shots, I love them and I hope you do too.

Thank you Amanda for being so willing to do this fabulous session, you are a beautiful bride!!

Jorge + Amanda, 10.15.2011, Silver Legacy Casino/Resort, Reno, NV.

My brother-in-law, Jorge married the love of his life, Amanda in October and it was a beautiful wedding, lots of love, fun and great food to share in the celebration of two families coming together. They chose Reno as the city for their destination wedding because it held a special place in Amanda's heart, a family-vacation spot for her and her family growing up. Amanda and I spent most of the summertime planning the details of her wedding, grew closer together as future sister-in-laws, and had a blast!

Jorge and Amanda were married in a small chapel surrounded by their close friends and loved ones, it was a very special and romantic ceremony. Following the ceremony was the reception at the Silver Legacy Hotel, which included time to mingle with family, dinner, traditional wedding celebrations (bouquet & garter toss, 1st dances) and of course the party, everyone got on the dance floor and boogied the evening away! It was definitely a fabulous weekend to remember!

I had the amazing opportunity to photograph Amanda's getting ready pictures, we were limited on time between getting ready and the ceremony so there will be a second post featuring Amanda's personal bridal session we did earlier this month! So excited to share those with you, but for now, enjoy these favorites!

Amanda's "Something Old" was her grandfather's wedding ring with a cross attached to it and made into a bracelet. Her "Something Blue" was given to her by her dad, it is called a "demand clip," something her dad would bring home every day from work when Amanda was little and let her play with them because they make a loud popping sound, great entertainment for kids :)

  

Amanda had 2 garters custom made as keepsakes. 

She and Jorge are HUGE Giants fans and she had to pay homage to
their former World Series Champs. 

  Teagan, my adorable niece and honorary flower girl, with her Grandma Vickie.  Some details from the reception.  First Dance as husband and wife, such a special moment.   The father/daughter dance always touches my heart, I always tear up. It is such a sweet moment between a father and his daughter.   Jorge did a special dance with his mom, my mother-in-law and it was beautiful, not a dry eye in the room.

Danielle + Chad 9.24.2011, Johnson Residence, Ballico, CA. Part 2

I love weddings because they are all so different and unique, fun and full of love. Danielle and Chad have an amazing love story that spans across 8 years from meeting in high school and growing together and getting married on the date of their first date all those years ago, their relationship came full circle. And what a better way to celebrate that than with a wedding!! These two know how to party and have a blast, that's what I love about them and their relationship, it's all about fun, great times with the people they love and enjoying every moment of it all!

The wedding ceremony was beautiful, their family and loved ones by their sides as they exchanged vows and shared their first kiss as husband and wife.

As I began to think about it more, why I love weddings, it's because of the little things that I get to experience throughout the day as I photograph, meet new people and document. I will always remember asking Danielle's dad to come and see his daughter for the first time as a bride before they walk down the aisle together and tears of joy streamed down his face as he kissed her cheek, or as the groom got ready for his big day the family dog, Duke, was lying on the couch watching Chad put on his tuxedo, or when the bride was walking down the aisle and I was by the bridesmaids and they were tearing up as she made her way to Chad, special moments.

Priceless.

I decided to start this post with Danielle's dad, Richard, entering the parlor room to see his daughter before the ceremony. Moments like these make me love what I do and feel blessed to be a part of the biggest day in my wonderful clients lives.