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!

Birthday Wishes: My Awesome Husband

I am so happy to share about one of my most favorite people:  my husband, Arnaldo.

He is the coolest guy and I just adore him to pieces.  We've been together for 10 years this year, married for 3 of those fantastic years and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us!  Time has flown by and we have had so many great experiences, travels, endless laugh fests together, it still feels like we've been together for such a short time, I so look forward to the adventures we will experience in the near future!

He is my biggest supporter in life and all that I do.  He cheers me on in my business every day, such a great listener when I need to bounce ideas around or when I just need to talk, loves me unconditionally and makes me laugh 24/7, he's so awesome!!

It's Arnaldo's birthday week, we celebrated yesterday and if were up to me, we would be celebrating all month long like I do for my birthday in November :)  I love celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, special moments and any reason to celebrate any milestone with all family members and friends, so prolonging Arnaldo's birthday, a little bit,  is awesome! 

Here's a look back on the last few months of some of my favorite pictures of this awesome guy!  Happy Birthday hon, you are the best, I love you!!!

In Hawaii earlier in January, what an awesome time we had!!

    

Feliz Cumpleanos mi amor!  (Happy Birthday my love)

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.

Distinguished Artist: Yvonne Porcella, Carnegie Arts Center, Turlock

This past spring I had the honor and pleasure of photographing a luncheon to honor the incredibly talented, nationally acclaimed artist, Yvonne Porcella.  Her works were on display from mid-January to mid-March.  She has created beautiful textiles that have been collected by the likes of the Smithsonian, de Young Museum of Art and the LACMA just to name a few.

Quite talented.

At the close of her show, she was celebrated for her contributions to the art world over the past few decades and it was a packed house.  The president of board for the Carnegie, Patti O'Donnell, was the host for the afternoon and a running slideshow of Yvonne's most popular works was running on repeat throughout the luncheon.

Guests were invited to view the annual Spring Juried Art Show in the gallery after lunch and I mingled with my camera, capturing all in attendance.

I do a lot of work with the Carnegie Arts Center and I'm so proud to be a part of such a wonderful art community here in my town!

 Yvonne with the Executive Curator and Director (and dear friend) Rebecca Phillips Abbott

What's new? What's next?

Spring is long gone and summer has just ended, I'm SO Happy it's finally FALL!!

This is favorite time of the year and not just because my birthday happens in fall  (next month, for those who are curious), but I love the cooler days, having hot chocolate or apple cider in the middle of the day just because, I can finally layer my clothing again and the fall colors are incredibly beautiful!

Here's a preview of the past 5 months and what's to come on the blog in the coming days and weeks!

Gallery shows and events at The Carnegie Arts Center.

 

Country Life, my dog-brother Buddy, at my parents ranch.

Collaborated on a fun project with a wonderful photographer.

Photographed my super cool husband one evening 

(we laughed SOOO much, it was awesome!)

Photographed some people in love in the spring time.

I also photographed some fantastic couples weddings, what an honor to be a part of their most special days!

This is just a taste of what's to come, can't wait to share it all with you!  It's going to be fun!

The Cuellar Family

Ah, the Cuellar's...

One of my most favorite families to photograph and spend time with :)

This lovely family has been featured on the blog a couple of years ago and my dear friend, Anita Cuellar and her larger than life, spunky and fun daughter, Annaliese were on the blog last fall.

I always love a reason to celebrate and when Anita called me to tell me her stepdad, Chuck, was graduating from college and wanted to do a celebratory session right after the ceremony, you bet I was there!!

The Cuellar gals are a blast to spend time with and Chuck is such a great guy.  It is always a great time with this family.

Congratulations Chuck on your accomplishments and best of luck to your future, you have earned it!  A huge thank you to Anita for always thinking of me and having me be your photographer, it is truly an honor!

Cristina & lil Nathan, City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Ukiah, Ca

Well hello there blog, it's been a while...

I have been m.i.a for quite sometime, but for great reasons! Photography has been keeping me so busy, it's wonderful, so fortunate and blessed to be able to do what I love day in and day out and it never feels like work!

Now that it is fall, I have to play catch up on my blog.  Poor blog has had no love for far too long.

That is about to change.

I am so excited to share with you a session from early in April featuring the lovely Cristina, aka my best cousin/friend/everything, and her little man, the always adorable Nathan. It's been a while since I last photographed Nathan, he is now 3 years old! Can you believe it? I can't sometimes.  He has grown up so fast and he talks so much, he is so sweet and loves his mama to pieces.

When I was visiting them in their hometown,Ukiah (if you've never been, you must, it's tucked away in Mendocino County on highway 101, 2 hours north of San Francisco) we went to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas to spend some time together and take a few pictures. I really enjoy going there because it is so peaceful and quiet, beautiful peacocks roam the grounds and it's a nice place to take a stroll and relax.

Enjoy a few goodies here because there is quite a lot more to come in the next few weeks ;)