Katie, Rick & Kai {Hermosa Beach} .Family Portraits.

Last Sunday I had a great time photographing this wonderful family! I love my job.

After hours of talking and just hanging out on our photo session, I found that we had so many things in common.  We bonded over our love of the beach and years spent living and surfing in Hawaii, Oahu.

Katie & Rick have the most adorable little 2 year old boy Kai (meaning 'shell' in Japanese & 'the sea' in Hawaiian) that can pronounce five syllable words no problem, AND unprompted. Katie asked him "what does mommy do for work?", Kai with out stopping to think about the sudden change in topic says "Esthetician" (I had trouble just spelling that word correctly!) he pronounced it perfectly.  Rick then followed with "What does daddy use for work?" Kai replies "Fire-extinguisher" OK amazing right?!

The S. family and I all walked over to the beach just a block away where the whole city had clearly gathered for the beautiful Sunday afternoon.  We photographed near the pier, and took long walks on the chalk covered side walks... little Kia was getting sleepy so we decided to save that for their next family portrait session.

Photographic art I admire

Elle Moss is a female artist with a photographic intensity.  She was introduced to me by a mutual friend, I rarely find people so inspiring and consistent with putting out new work.  That is why I started following her blog Elle Moss & Elle Moss's Etsy  where you can purchase her work.

I am very inspired by the vintage feel she imposes on each image, I like how you can imagine yourself in her photographs even when there is a portrait of another person.

I try to recreate this same vintage energy & placement with my photography.  I am not interested in following a 'trend' because as I learned during my time at WPPI 'trends fade, but style is forever'.

So even though it seems like I am dating my work with this vintage feel, I think that this style will last forever... or at least your prints will!  I also include (unlike most photographers) and original copy of all the modified images during your photographic session so that you will have your original for years to come.... through trend & time.

Another thing I really enjoy about her photography is that she has a female photographer friend that she closely collaborates with, keeping idea's fresh & motivated.  I apply this same thing to my photography business (Blush Photography).  I work closely with my best friend & photographer Brandi Welles.  We are defiantly two photographers with two different views of the same world.  We compliment every photographic session with our clients by offering both our points of view every time. No ONE is perfect but Brandi & Marcella (I) come very close :) - follow for a post of our joined work




Elle & Susan: Yellow (their take on the theme yellow)

Green? Stainless steel.

I consider myself a little bit of a lot of things, I try to take the good I find in life and apply it to make ME.

I don't consider myself a 'hippie' jumping on the Green band wagon, but I know a good thing when I see it.  I saw some pretty cool stainless steel food storage containers at Sprouts Market today, unfortunately they were quite pricy and only came in one sized medium box (my food wont fit!).

SO! I did some research, and found this amazing company that does wonderful work out of India (which I can totally relate to, having heard stories about the poor conditions from a friend who just recently returned from a trip to India) with the people and recycling.  India is a very poor country with tons of waste. To-Go Ware helps combat both of these issues.... and helps support a healthy diet for me by giving me a fun way to pack my lunches so I don't munch on junk food during photo sessions.

Why I made the $30.00 investment...
~ Stainless steel, no chemical leakage onto your food
~ Keeps food hot/cold
~ Unique
~ Lasts a very long time
~ Re-uses products from waste reducing the size of landfills (little by little)
~ Supports healthy eating

~ Easy to use, you can stack as many as you like (1 - 3)

~ Saves you money on disposable silverware & plastic containers

~ Dishwasher safe 

~ You can cook with it (oven, open flame, camping etc.)

~ Looks great & plenty of convent add on's to customize your eating style (condiment containers)

~ No waste added to landfills
~ Creates valuable jobs
~ Makes me feel good and feel like a part of something greater

& I needed a lunch box for work!

Watch the VIDEO: http://vimeo.com/3110137
Listen to the (funny) SONG: http://www.to-goware.com/about/poem.mp3

my set: Green bag & Wheat utensil case

Continued... Haven360 Press Event for the Pre-Oscars

Yay! I have been finally catching up on some sleep and keeping up with posts *patting myself on the back*

During this shoot I really learned a lot about celebrities, the press, and DRAAAAAMA.  Mixing it up like this can be pretty fun, but I would like to keep my focus on 'real' posed portraiture... people who want to be photographed, want to be there, and have fun :) yay!  So here are some of the photo's of celebrities that I took for New York's Uptown Magazine as the 'house photographer' last week.  

Serena Williams, Russell Simmons, Giuliana Rancic, Audrina Patridge, Miss Jay Alexander, Masi Oka, James Kyson Lee, Ross Arne Naess, Rachael Leigh Cook, Dennis Haysbert, Eddie Griffin, Charlie Runkie, Marlin Akerman, Toby McGuire...

These are all mixed from the day and night.  Sorry I don't have names for everyone, I am terrible with names :( If you know the names of the people shown here feel free to post it and let us know :)

The Closer up ones were really just for me, because for editorial purposes they need as much advertising/logos in each image as possible.

My first time: WPPI 2010 in Las Vegas & my personal experience

WPPI 2010 Las Vegas Nevada @ the MGM Hotel.

My fist time at a wedding and portraiture photographers convention was, in a word, AWESOME.

Talk about feeling like a kid in a candy store!  I attended Sunday, Monday & Tuesday with my close girl friends and fellow photographers.  My favorite part was seeing all the products that everyone had to offer and really refine my vendors so that I can offer the absolute best options and quality to all my clients at the best possible cost to them.  I have lots of tricks up my sleeve and can't wait to start 'wowing' them.

If you are a photographer thinking about going next year, I would really recommend it.  It was an inspiration being surrounded by so many skilled people, all very passionate about the photographic field.  If it was not for my close friend and business partner Brandi I would not have made it this year, and I am so glad I did! Thank you B!

~ Lots and lots of handouts and samples to keep on file ~

Couple Portrait Session at Abandoned Building

I had an amazing time photographing a couples portrait session at an abandoned building in Southern California near Lake Elsinore.  I have known Brenda and Jimmy for several years now and was so excited when they presented me with this great opportunity. Through a series of wonderful events we got special permission by the grounds keepers to photograph in this well maintained old building.  Because of the historical significance, this lake front property can not be torn down.

I came prepared for the low lighting situation inside, and ended up with some every 'edgy' hard shadow images that are very non-traditional.  The walls throughout the building were all very different and even a little creepy in some places.

* The drapes and wall paper from the 50's-60's is still standing! I brought the other items in the photo... I have a good sized collection of random props : ) *

After we had spent a good couple hours inside photographing and exploring the home we moved out for the 'softer' traditional type portraits, still keeping with the vintage look. These were some of my absolute favorites, and by the end of the day they were so relaxed and really started to enjoy themselves and joke around quite a bit. Being relaxed in front of the camera always makes for the best photographs, it just takes some time to get use to it and 'act natural'

.I Love Flowers.

.She's worth the wait.

I had a great time! and if you know me or follow my blog, I am a big fan of sets, props and themes.  I prefer to have tons of props and a game plan not just walk about snapping away. That's why I try to get to know my clients ahead of time. This was an amazing location that I hope to take another daring couple to explore the other parts of the mansion.

Preview Day 1: BMW & Uptown Magazine Honor Black Hollywood at Pre-Oscar Event

Ricki Lake

These last couple days have been filled with photographing celebrities and sponsorship products in Hollywood, California.  I was the 'home base' photographer for Uptown Magazine based out of New York so that means I got the most backing for every shot and was always in the mix. From the Red Carpet to the Meet and Greats and Penthouse Roof Parties.  These images should be featured in their upcoming Magazine as well as their website, I'll keep you posted. Residuals !?! (*crossing fingers).

I have put in 10 hour days being available for 15 hours a day both days because of the Oscars coming up. Needless to say I have had very little sleep and it's not time to start catching up on sleep yet, WPPI (wedding and portraiture photographers convention) in Las Vegas, Nevada tonight thru Tuesday.

Since I don't have much time to blog about my whole experience today, I wanted to show some of my favorite people & images from 'day 1'

 'Heros'

 'Mario'

 'Mad Men'