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Sneak Peek {Boojum Tree Wedding Photographer}

Venue: Boojum Tree
Flowers: Endearing Floral Design @ Thee Wedding Warehouse
Dresses: Jennyvi Dizon Couture
Jewelry: Two Sisters Jewelry Boutique
Hair: Yours truly =) and Trinidad
Makeup: Me again!

Oh Baby! {Tempe Maternity Photographer}

And baby makes 3! This cute little couple I had the pleasure of meeting early this year to photograph their renewal ceremony. She found me from another client's Myspace picture. They had another wedding to renew their vows before he was to be deployed. He has been gone for awhile and was back for a quick visit so we were able to get a maternity session in this time. I am praying, and I am sure she is too, that he will be back for the birth. I love photographing them because they are so darn cute together! No coaxing on my part, just sweet loving gestures the whole time. Well............ I take that back. Mimicking a preggar?? Dude, that may land you a punch in the face by a hungry, hormonal, woman!




Much, much better =)

Ugh! SO beautiful! AND tiny!

Thanks again J and J. Baby V is so lucky and gonna be sooooo cute! I can't wait to get my camera on him! I LOVE whasian babies! haha!

~Click here for their slideshow~

Sneak Peek { Arizona maternity photographer}

Wow.

So last night I went to hear Joe Buissink, celebrity wedding photographer, speak about his work and his style and just his philosophy. He has a love and passion for the art that shines through to his images. All I can say is Wow.


What I am seeing after meeting all of these amazing photographers, is that they are amazing people foremost. They have hearts for eyes. Truly. None of them talk about settings or post processing or all the technical jargon that all of us newbies are trying to figure out and get the "tips" and "secrets". There really aren't any secrets. The difference is us. You. Me. And no matter how much we learn, WE could never see what HE sees. Or feel what he feels. His moments are different than the moments you and I see. We have to learn to see on our own. And what you see is totally different than another person, and that right there is what sets us apart. He said something last night that had me nodding my head. Actually he said a lot of things that had me doing that. A lot of young photographer's today try to photoshop that image to perfection. Tweeking and tweeking. Or pulling 3 photographs together to make one. He said there is no perfect image. But there are perfect moments. Wow. I like this guy.


To be honest I had heard his name before but never have seen his work. Well, I did, and you have too if you read the celebrity magazines. I even contemplated going to see him speak because it was far. But I am so glad I did. His images are stunning but his mind and his heart are what hooked me. He encouraged us to "see". To open our eyes to moments. To try to see something different. To shoot with our eyes closed and just "see" with our other senses. To shoot and make sure we leave a little of ourselves in our photos. Once on FB a friend commented to me that she could see my personality in all of my photos. At the time I didn't think anything really of it. Now after hearing him speak that was probably one of the best compliments I have ever recieved. And it is affirming that I am on the right track.


He spoke about the charities such as Autism Awareness that he contributes to. What we do as photographers is so great. We have been given talents that can be shared and need to be. He encouraged us to get involved and get rejuvenated and give. Wow. I love this guy. His images were just breathtaking. His wedding clients the likes of Jessica Simpson, Christina Aguilara, Jenny Garth, Tiffany-Amber Thiessen, Brendan Fraser, Catherine Zeta Jones and Micheal Douglas, and Jennifer Lopez and many others. At first I had to think about which wedding was this when he showed JLO's. I figured it out though because I recognized her dress. It was the one to the dancer!



Then he talked about his most memorable wedding and it wasn't one of their fabulous weddings. It was one he shot for Make a Wish foundation for a young 8 year old girl with cancer. Her wish was to get married. So they had a wedding for this little girl. The lucky guy was her father. He said there were 150 people there. And it was perfect. And he shot her dancing with her father. And then all three, parents and her. And shortly thereafter she passed away. And I just sat there and tears just rolled down my face. Ugh. I hate when that happens..........because it messes up my eyelashes.







Here is a sneak peek of what's next..............

I HEART my clients!!

The thing I love most about doing hair and photography are the relationships I build with each and every one of my clients. As a hairstylist my clients become great great friends! We talk about everything when they come in. They can tell me their life stories and I tell them mine. We listen, we inspire each other, laugh together, even cry sometimes! I have clients of all ages. Ones who are younger, not married, or new moms who I can give tips or advice. Older clients who have grown children or married for 20 years who have helped me through tough times. Sometimes we just listen to each other. And I am the lucky one because I get that with each and everyone of my clients. I get to hear so many life experiences. And it is really cool.



As a photographer I don't necesarily get that intimate one-on-one time, however for those few hours they let me into their homes, their families. They allow me to be a part of the most important days of their lives. They welcome me as if I were family. I get to observe so much in that time. And my style of shooting I actually try not to talk too much to them when I am shooting, unless you are doing something funky with your face or eyebrows! I have been able to witness so many different kinds of relationships and love. All different and unique in their own way. All that work for the particular family or couple. And I am truly lucky to be able to capture them, the way they are. Real families. Real people. Real love.



Anyway I don't know where I am really going with this except that I HEART my clients! Here is a little gift that my client from last weekend's shoot gave me. Isn't it pretty! They were a super cute couple! Their session will be coming up next.......

FAQ- Live Love Style

So recently I was asked by a reader if I would post tips and such for amatuers. At first I was hesitant. Not because I have top secret information or something. But really who do I think I am?? And I didn't want other people to think does this girl think she's the shiz or something? Then I thought a little more and I was like I don't care! Obviously someone thinks I know something if they are asking me right?? I know I don't know everything so I am definately not Faking the Funk or even claiming I have have Funk in the first place. But if you think my so-called shiz stinks, Oh well. Plug your nose. So if you have a question feel free to email me. Might take me time to email you back if it is a detailed question but I will. I am just busy running this and doing hair and being a mom! I have answered some of your questions or at least try to give my personal experience. Editing questions are different because I don't use full version Photoshop. But if you use Elements or Lightroom I can help you! If you use Photoshop maybe you can help ME when I get it!

So first tip, backfocusing. I picked up this little tip online somewhere. Actually everything I have learned was found in the internet. So I guess this how I will pay it forward, BY INTERNET! Backfocusing is the little * button on your camera in the top right corner by the focus point grid (I am a Canon girl, and will be telling how to with a Canon. If you have a Nikon or other camera I am sure they can do the same I just don't know how. Try googling). This seperates the shutter button from focusing. You know when you push it half way to focus and then fully to take the picture and sometimes things move or whatever. Well this will seperate that and you will get better and more focused pictures. However I have heard some don't like using it when shooting kids because they are fast. I mainly shoot children and don't seem to have that problem. Here are the steps to activating the backfocus button:

On a Rebel:

Go to the menu and look for the button with the wrenches and go to Custom Functions. Under Custom Functions go to custom function 4 (Shutter/AE lock button) and set it at 1: AE lock/AF . Set on Al Servo and your done. Now you focus the the * instead of holding the shutter half way

On a 50D (probably the same on 20D/30D/40D but not positive):

Menu. Go to button with the little camera. Scroll to C.FnIV: Operations/Others. Go to number 1. scroll and set at 3-AE lock/Metering + AF start. Go to 2 AF-ON/AE lock button switch and enable it. Set on Al Servo.

On a 5D Mark II:

Its the same. Menu. Camera button. CFnIV:Operations/Others. Under 1 (Shutter button/AF-ON Button) scroll and set at 3-AE lock/Metering + AF Start. Then go to 2 at the top (Af-On/AE lock button switch) and Enable it. Set on Al Servo.

I am off today to meet and go to lunch with a reader who requested to meet me! I was in her Inspiration Blogroll. ME! =) Super cool!

Happy Tuesday and Happy Focusing!

And a post isn't a post without a picture! Some of you have seen this if you follow me on FB. I love my family! This image I will call Stay Focused and Backfocus! Haha. I'm a nerd.

Confessions of a Work-aholic

So I am starting to see signs of a work-aholic and I don't like it. Not. One. Bit. But right now I don't have a choice as I am the only one providing for us right now. I am doing things I once got upset with my husband for doing. I stay up late (I am talking 3am!), I am constantly on the computer or phone. When I am not home working, I am working at the salon. My mind is always turning, my body always pacing. My husband gives me grief for leaving without saying good-bye because I am not thinking about saying good-bye, I am thinking about where I have go and what I have to do next. And I feel like I am always busy. Busy doing nothing sometimes. I need to get a system down. I schedule. I can do it. Starting off with bedtime. I am going to go. Right now. Because my baby is starting up school again in the morning, yay! At a big girl school. She is very excited. And I want to see her off. Here is a picture she drew the other day. I have posted her art before. Maybe I am biased because I am her mom, but I think she is pretty darn remarkable for being only four years old. Although I love my jobs, and incredibly fortunate to have a husband who is amazing with our kids and two striving businesses........ I miss my "mom" job.

S & D {California wedding photographer}

When I was out in California the other week I was able to schedule an engagement session for these two. She was a referal from the J family whom I photographed earlier this year. The day we met up it had been a long day for these two working and being stuck in California traffic all afternoon since they drove 3 hours to see me. I had to wait a while for them on a soft sandy beach with a cool breeze and amazing views. Geesh, the things I do for my clients =). She wasn't feeling so fabulous after a 3 hour car ride, but I think she still looked amazing. Internet, you can be the judge. BTW, do any of you actually say the word fabulous?? I use it a lot when I write, but never say it. I think it is a funny sounding word and kinda annoys me when spoken but okay when written?? Why is that?? Anyway there I go rambling. Let's get to some images!

D was really cute with his future wife. So calm. He is another one who I could tell wasn't too sure about pictures. But became comfortable quick. I remember asking them how their wedding planning was going and he said he just had 2 chores, to get tan and get his teeth whitend!



So someone was on my side during this shoot. I had my shootsac on and I decided to put it on the beach. Well as soon as I did that and stood a little in the water, a huge wave came up and soaked me up to my booty!! And luckily, again, I put my memory cards in my shootsac which I usually have in my back pocket!!! Whew. Thank you Lord!

These next two are my favs!

This last one was a little The Notebook inspired! I was playing around when editing and came up with this image. I love how their bodies make a tiny heart! Do you see it?

Thank you S & D! I had fun hanging out with you guys and getting soaked!! Your love is fresh and fun and shows in these photos! I can't wait for the wedding =)

Click here for their slideshow

Sneak Peek e:session {California Wedding photographer}