Save the date! Engagement Session

Lauren and Anthony have been together for 9 years, now it's time to tie the knot. February 3rd 2012 is going to be their special day and I can't wait for it (from what I heard it's going to look AMAZING)

So here are a couple teaser photos til then

Silly Couple: Engagement Session

Noemi and Eric are a wonderful couple but most of all, they're great models! I had a blast with these two because they we're willing to do anything to get a fabulous image. Their wedding is Feb. 12th 2012, I wonder how they're going to spend Valentines Day? Honeymoon!!!!!

Til then...here are some snaps from the session

The Artist Collective -- First Event!

Jan. 21st 2012 Director/Host/Artist Kimmy Miklos set up a new event for all sorts of talented artists. There were painters, jewelery designers, wardrobe stylists, musicians and more. The venue was packed and kept the crowd pleased with the back to back performances and fashion shows.

 

Noemi and Hugo's Wedding

Noemi and Hugo's wed officially in Downtown San Diego Jan. 13th 2012. They plan on having a large event later this year to celebrate their new vows to each other, sharing their love to family and friends... til then here are some images from their Official Wedding Day

 

Runway Boutique and Modern Basic cosmetics

Late December, Nigate Mamo from MBC contacted me again to shoot the last edition to their California lookbook.
I headed to LA with my assistant for a quick shoot, everyone had fun but oh my lord!! Los Angeles was considerably hot that time of year :(
Anyways here are some preview shots!

 

Magical Wedding even for a child?

 

Chris and Tanya had their beautiful ceremony at the Talega Golf Club in San Clemente, CA on the 7th.
I was mesmerized by how freaking perfect everything was... from the sun-setting at just the right time before finishing our couples shoot to the last dance. Everything was extremely heartfelt that even as an insider looking in, you could see how much everyone was truly happy for them.
Something terrible did happen this day though, the children that were part of the ceremony stole the spotlight with how adorable they were :P !!
Every now and again I'd check to see what they were up to and Oh my!!! Little rascals, I loved photographing them as much as the newlyweds.
They did NOT stop until the party was over. It was pretty impressing considering how much they were running around, I personally thought they'd be super pooped out (that's my age catching up to me haha)

Beauty and the BTS Photographer

The first week of January I shot with a team doing beauty.
I wanted to get some shots of a MUA friend in action and practice behind the scene shooting.
Photographer Ramon Bryce was shooting beauty while I was totally in my own world, this test shoot turned out to be nothing short of awesome though!!!

 

And here is a weird edit that I did in with some photoshop actions. It's kind of like a sci-fi look right??? hehehe

Best way to enter 2012, go to a wedding!

Jessica and Rinehart got married in a delightful intimate garden ceremony in Santa Clarita, CA right before the sunset.
They both found each other while serving the military and have been unseparable since! Here are a few preview photos to enjoy :)

 Alhambra, Anniversary, backyard, Band Photography, Beach House, Belmont Shore, Big Bear, Birthday, Brookside, Equestrian, Camera Gear Capri, Laguna Cars, Casa Del Mar Castle, Catholic, Coast Hotel, Commercial Photos,Corona Del Mar, Dana Point, Disneyland, Dove Canyon, Downtown, Los Angeles, Ebell, Eisenhower Park, El Dorado Golf Course, Electra Cruises, Engagement Photos, Events, Family Photography, Fashion Island, Fashion Photography, Faulkner Winery Five Crowns, Fullerton Arboretum, Getty Center, Graduation, Graffiti, Griffith Observatory, Halloween, Hawaii, Headshots, Hilton, Hollywood, Huntington Beach ,Huntington,  Hyatt, Import Tuners, Indian Springs, Inn of the Seventh, Jewish, Korean, La Palapa, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Laguna, Occasions, Las Vegas, Latin, LDS, lighting tips, Long Beach, low-light photography, Malibu, Martial Arts, Masonic Temple, Methodist, Newport Beach, Pacific, Avalon, Pacific Edge Park, Pasadena, Pets, Rancho Capistrano, Red Carpet, RSM, San Clemente, San Francisco, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Monica, shoreline village, Sports Photography, St. Regis, Strobist, Tea Ceremony, Temecula, The Grand, Tivoli Terrace, Topanga Canyo,n Travel, UCLA, Vacation, Village, Victorian, Vietnamese, Walt Disney Concert Hal,l Wedding Photography, weekly pic

 

Christmas Portrait Session

A family whom I've worked for a couple times in the past asked if I'd be available Christmas day and I thought "why not?! after 2pm the gifts have been opened and the holiday cooking has just begun" so we worked out a good time and the whole family met up with me for a quick shoot before returning to the normal Christmas traditions.
My favorite photo was of the sisters' sons...TOO CUTE!! they remind me of a very young boy band!

Jamelle and Aaron Wedding

On December 18th, Jamelle and Aaron said their vows on a beautiful day in Temecula, CA.
Before the ceremony time came about the weather was gloomy and dull but, Jamelle being very laid back and easy going had no worries.
Low and behold... 10mins before she stepped out of a shiny corvette, everything had cleared up to perfection!!!

Photographing the happy couple was an absolute dream for me as a photographer, too in love to worry about everything except for the fact that they're celebrating their special moment.

Modern Basic Catalog "California Style" Shoot

November 18th my assistant and I drove down to Laguna Beach for a beauty shoot with a cosmetic company, Modern Basic.
As I arrived the waves were splashing and the clouds had past by, leaving the sky nice and open.
Our models helped make the shoot possible, sacrificing their body heat to the vicious November cold and here's a preview!

 

OC RAW Semi-Finals at Sutra in Newport Beach

RAWartists.org's Orange County Semi-Finals held November 18th was a crazy night to remember! I got there about an hour early so I wouldn't have to worry about traffic, ect.
Most finalists were at the club since 3pm or earlier, hustling their butts off preparing for the night.

Among the finalists were many artists I have gotten the pleasure to know and work with.
I couldn't help but cheer for them.
At 7pm the doors opened and the venue was instantly packed! Cocktails in hand and good conversations for many.

Fashion Shows and other Performances were back to back. The time literally flew by and then it was time for the votes to be tallied up.
As all of the winners were announced, I was most happy for my favorite Make-up Artist, Desiree Foote won her category :-D

Everyone was amazing and deserved to be there and oh my! Look at these model with such interesting hair!! Hours and hours of work! Love it!

Holiday Photos...The beach for winter time!

Last Sunday I had a wonderful family shoot with the Cornejo family. I was very afraid of shooting because the weather was terrible a couple days before. We arrived at Sunset Beach about an hour before the sun went down. The lighting was challenging of course since we were shooting in the middle of sunset but they were patient with me and I think I was pretty darn fast at adjusting each time we moved to a different location. All and all it was very successful! We got the shoot all wrapped up in time and then the sun was gone. Here are a couple photos of the kiddos..

Noah's 6th Birthday

Noah and friends celebrated his 6th birthday at Bounce-U in Orange November 5th. U-Bounce is has two separate rooms filled with bouncy fun and awesome lighting to make the experience all the more exciting for the kiddos. It was a real challenge photographing this because it was extremely dark and everyone was running around having the time of their little lives!
I had attempted to get in the bounce machines as well but apparently my balance sucks hahaha
Earlier this year I did Noah's older brothers birthday, Abie, So I remembered a few faces and the kids were more comfortable with my presence there.
I felt like a war photographer because of the chaos!!
At the end everyone was escorted into the birthday room where Noah got to be a king and open a ton of gifts.

Dani and Justin's Wedding

Early Saturday morning I drove over to Palos Verdes for Dani and Justin's wedding ceremony October 29th. This is a quick ceremony with close friends and family members only. Dani is from London so half of her family had never visited the beach here in California before, they're first visit required a photo shoot! (what a great way to remember it)
After the ceremony, we headed on down to the beach for more photos.
Dani and Justin were not your typical couple, she was wearing a lovely red dress and he complimented her wearing all black and a red tie, a rockabilly theme? :)
The heat was on our backs for a while and it took its toll of everyone so I brought the happy married couple aside for some fun pictures.
Wish you guys a rockin' happy life.

Baby Briar Was Born!

I was supposed to photograph a live water birth at the English's home however the baby didn't want to come out after the mother's water broke. I waited and waited for the phone call but the baby didn't want to come out! so I finally went to sleep October 16th and woke up to a text the following day. The baby was born around 7am! I was busy in the morning but headed over as soon as I could. Briar is a little baby girl who apparently thinks she's a Japanese tourist here in San Diego!
Below is a photo I took of her with the peace sign, 100% luck if you ask me

New Model?

August 12th 2011
Model Tylene Turner just got signed with Wilhelmina Hawaii and needed a variety of photos taken. We started at 9am and ended at 3pm which lifestyle, fitness, glamour, editorial and headshots taken. For a new model she had the natural charm and confidence that helped everything go smoothly (also big thanks for Desiree Foote for doing hair/make up/ AND styling!)

RAW Santa Ana Opening!

August 4th 2011
RAW Santa Ana debuted at the Copper Room in the Artist District of Downtown Santa with a bunch of great artist, even I few have returned from previous shows.
I personally loved the fashion designer Daniel Magana and his effin' amazing dresses.

I am very behind in my updates

I want to let everyone know that I am still alive.. just too busy lately!
and here is proof that I've been working hard! (my camera hand: thumb has a callus)
August will be a busy month too! every weekend is booked, a few events to cover and birthdays galore... I love the rush and being busy however wedding season will be over soon and then everything will slow down and give me time to prepare for next time ;) 

Kareenas Trends Shoot

June 10th 2011
A long wonderful day of shooting.
There was a team:  Make-Up + Assistant / Hair + Assistant / Stylist / Me + 2 Assistants and of course, The Model!
I got in contact with a Clothing Designer and Jeweler and they both let me borrow some pieces for the shoot. Our model Quinn was so sweet and easy going so we had a break in the middle of the shoot for lunch.