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J enny and Joe met in college. Just not the same one. Jenny was a student at USC in Los Angeles, and Joe was a medical student in Michigan. Their friendship was instant and though Joe flew thousands of miles home, he left a piece of his heart with Jenny. By the time he was ready to choose a hospital for his residency, Joe knew it had to be in California...to be close to Jenny...and his love for palm trees. Jenny laughs when Joe whips out his iPhone to take pictures of palm trees, drift wood (It's for my cousin, Jenny...my cousin likes driftwood!), or the coastline. Jenny smiles because her husband is becoming a California boy at heart.
Yes, Jenny and Joe are now married. They wed a few months ago in Taiwan and they're living happily ever after with their pooch, Cotton. Jenny contacted me and voiced her desire for Anytime photos because she and Joe didn't have an engagement session...and I was more than happy to oblige! We roamed the streets of Laguna Beach together and ended at the beach on a glorious day! Here are a few of my favorites... |
| Jenny is a wedding photographer of Fairytale Dreamer Photography, so I wanted to make sure I got a single photo of Jenny. Having a photo in a photographer's bio section is SOOOO important, so we had a blast trying to capture the best side of Jenny and this is one of my favorites... |
| Had to show a little love for Joe and his palm tree affair! ;) |
    
T oday is a special day. My father--who also happens to be my best friend--is another year cooler today. And wiser. And older. He's made me into the person I am today and I'm forever indebted into the time, money, and food he's invested in me. As I thought about this post, I challenged myself to think of three memories of my father that molded my perception of the world. And my backbone.
Memory One
It was the first time. The first time I had seen him cry in my eight years of life.
My father had a decent paying job cleaning septic tanks. He drove a large truck and spent his days hauling waste, but came home with a smile. Sometimes, there'd be smut in the creases of his smile and I'd wipe them away with the palm of my hand. One day he discovered the company owner ran a side business under the table, which compromised my father's integrity. That same day, he quit. I remember standing outside my parents' bedroom staring at my father's back as it shook in correspondence with his heavy sobs. He sat by a window and the curve of his silhouette was sad.
That day, I learned my integrity never has a price.
Memory Two
On my tenth birthday, I broke my leg. Badly. Two bones to be exact. I was rushed to the hospital but for some reason, I wasn't allowed to have a cast placed on my leg. The doctors told my father that my leg would be placed in splint instead. Behind closed doors, the doctors explained to my dad that I'd endure quite possibly the most excruciating pain of my life. With a somber face, he walked back into the room and patted my hair that fell on the tear-stained pillow. He pulled off his sweatshirt and rolled the sleeve into a ball and placed it in my mouth. He told me to bite down when the pain comes. As the doctors worked my mangled leg into a splint, I screamed for dear life. The entire time, my father held the sweater in my mouth with shaking hands.
That day, learned pain can be transferred, and shared by two people.
Memory Three
He told us he wanted to do it by himself. It was time to shave my mom's head because the chemotherapy was causing her hair to fall out in large, red chunks. We five children sat downstairs and heard the hum of my father's razor come alive. Then all was quiet. My parents descended the staircase with matching bald heads, like two comrades fighting a silent battle.
That day, I learned love is counting every moment together as life's most beautiful gift.
Dad, happy birthday. Thank you for everything you are, and--especially--the person who aspire to be. I love you. And, yes, I love you even more than my Little House on the Prarie book set. And, as you know, that's a lot. Te amo y estoy muy orgulloso de ser su hija... |
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Thirst Relief Auction 2009
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Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world, indeed it is the only thing that ever has. -- Margaret Mead
As many veteran WPPI attendees are aware, a group of photographers auction off their time to mentor other photographers as a way to raise money for Thirst Relief, an organization dedicated to providing clean drinking water to those in need around the world. Last year, I was stoked to be part of such a worthy cause (you can CLICK HERE to read about it) and I'm happy be a part of the auction again this year! Hollllla! |
Here's the deets:
What: Thirst Relief Mentor Action at WPPI 2009
Who: You...Me...and some Iced Tea!
When: Anytime you're in Las Vegas...I'll try hard to accommodate your schedule and even cover lunch if you'd like to meet in the afternoon!
Where: MGM Grand. We can meet anywhere in the hotel or at the Thirst Relief Booth on the tradeshow floor...or we can meet for lunch. Geesh, I sound like such a heifer with all this food talk, eh?
Why: Because providing clean water is something we can all work hard to do. And we can eat lunch together. Because, apparently, it sounds like I can't ever get enough food!
**THE AUCTION BEGINS TOMORROW, Thursday, January 29, 2009 @ 6pm EST and ends on Sunday, February 1, 2009 at midnight!!**
Along with the one-hour mentor session, the lucky winner will receive...
*Lunch with yours truly!
*A lifetime membership to Showit Sites!
*$100 Gift Certificate to the Kevin Kubota Action Store for some of my favorite actions!
*An autographed picture of my dog, Polo! ;)
The auction site will be live tomorrow at 6pm EST, but you can CLICK HERE to see the details.
Happy Bidding! |
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FAQ : Wedding Albums
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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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L ast week I was incredibly stoked because three new Leather Craftsmen albums arrived via a courier. I was so excited when I opened the door, I almost mobbed him, a la a Justin Timberlake episode from my not-so-distant past. Thankfully, my excitement was contained as I flipped through the album pages. It's always exciting seeing an album in my hands because it's like the cherry on top of the proverbial wedding cake. That is, of course, if wedding cakes had cherries.
I commission the ever lovely and talented Amy of Albumesque to design all my albums and we've worked hard in defining what I expect and desire from an album. I love clean, modern, and fresh designs...free from clutter, collages, selective coloring, colored backgrounds, and layered imagery. I'm not saying all album design should take the same approach, but I think albums are intended to last the test of time and simplicity always trumps trends. Always.
Here are a few pictures of the albums, as well as a few sample layouts...
You'll find this stamp of approval on every album that leaves my studio... |
| This is the last page and the back cover... |
| Here are few pictures and layouts of Kasey and Nick's black leather, 12x12 wedding album... |
S he must have noticed us from a distance. Two aimless shoppers hoping--hoping!--the right furniture would jump off the showroom floor and into our arms. She was sitting on a brown leather sofa in Z Gallerie when I plopped on the opposite side. Tiredly, I looked to JD and gave him a look that was all, THREE HOURS and we're just gonna settle on this?! I got up and walked around it for the umptheenth time and shrugged. That was when Amanda Zettel suggested looking for another sofa...one that perhaps was a little more comfortable and functional. Out of nowhere, this complete stranger offered me her advice...and I took it. I guess it was something I had known, just didn't want to admit.
We spoke for less than four minutes before she had to dash from the store, but not before giving me her business card. I went home and discovered that this stranger knew exactly what she was talking about because she's a professional designer. Duh. I then discovered her custom design site for do it yourself spaces and I was sold. After perusing her site and completing the furniture choices and vibes, the site made it super simple for me to find the right things for my home...all from my computer. Now, THAT'S what I'm talking about...home shopping in my PJ's!
Shortly thereafter, I contacted her to let her know how much I loved her site and to thank her for stopping me from buying a truly heinous couch. We corresponded and have since become friends, so when she contacted me for updated photos for her website, I was honored. Here's the ever fabulous, Amanda with Home Made Designs... |
| Amanda took me to a few places where she finds unique furniture to incorporate into newer home designs and I was in LOVE... |
| I'll end with these two photos because they are the truest reflection of Amanda...they were also the last two frames from our shoot and I couldn't think of a better way to end our time together: Laughing. |
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