 |
|
OC SmugMug Meeting : Jasmine Star
|
I kinda feel like I'm throwing my own surprise party. Except there's no party....officially, anyway. Anytime you gather a group of photographers, there's bound to good times and someone inevitably dancing shirtless on a table (sorry, Becker, I just sold you out!). This SmugMug meeting will be slightly different because I'll be both hosting and speaking. Holllla! Like usual, I always get nervous and pace my house for hours on end before I speak, but I think we'll have a good time. And if I suck, you can kick me out of the meeting. JD said he'll even bring tomatoes for you to throw.
I'll be giving a presentation entitled Netmaking: A Response to Pointless Networking. If you know me, you'll know I'm not the biggest fan of networking, but a huge proponent of getting to know (and care) for people on a real level...what I commonly refer to as 'netmaking'. I'll share personal examples how of how I've implemented this in my business and explain how netmaking stimulates growth, starting at the beginning of my career to the present.
The meeting will be held at Mesa Verde Country Club on Thursday, November 5, 2009 at 7pm. Please RSVP in the comment box so we can guarantee seats and ensure everyone is well taken care of. See you there!
{p.s. I was just kidding about Becker dancing on tables!)
|
    
|
Cicada Los Angeles Wedding : Christina + Mike
|
© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
|
T here's something uniquely beautiful about the way they love each other. A quiet confidence that rubs off on those around them, and makes people smile. Christina is organized, type-a, and has the prettiest handwriting this side of the Mississippi. The type of writing where are the t's are crossed and the i's dotted with points that resemble hearts. Mike is...well...Mike is free-flowing, caring, and lovable. They're the human depiction of ying and yang, each holding a small version of the other in their souls.
As they prepared for their wedding at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, Christina and Mike texted back and forth, each smiling as they anxiously tapped their keypads. Beyond all else, while there was joy and smiles, the day was particularly special for Christina as she carried the memory of her father in her heart. Throughout the day, every time her father was memorialized, Mike grabbed Christina's hand and squeezed it tightly. It was his way of reminding her she wasn't alone.
As the girl with the pretty writing vowed to love, honor, and cherish, the boy with the free soul responded in an unexpected way: by reading his neatly written wedding vows to the woman of his dreams. Perhaps this is why Christina loves Mike so much. In his own unique way, he shows the world Christina makes him better. And she, in return, learns to love, care, and free-flow in way that makes him proud. They're the human depiction of ying and yang, each holding a small version of the other in their souls.
Christina and Mike...I just wanna hug you again! I can't stop thinking of how special your wedding was and how lucky I feel to have documented your perfect love. You both have been so over-the-top supportive and caring, and I can't thank you enough for your kindness. I hope you have the time of your lives in Antigua...and Christina I can't wait to see how you use your Canon 20D capture awesome pictures! :) Much Love and Appreciation...j*
The wedding day started marvelously at the Biltmore Hotel...shooting gold shoes in golden light! |
| Christina's stunning Carolina Herrera wedding dress... |
| Like always, I adore working with my fav LA styling duo, Tanya Bures and Tommy Cyr... |
| Christina's Maid of Honor, Katie, was amazing at everything she did for the wedding...including holding a mirror! :) |
| While Christina waited in the Biltmore Hotel lobby for wedding photos to begin, JD captured these photos of her. And I can admit it...I'm jealous! ;) |
| After a few hiccups during the start of the wedding day, Christina turned to me and said seeing Mike before the ceremony was the best decision for their day. It made me feel so great knowing my clients appreciate my advice and it's always in their best interests. For their First Look, Christina and Mike began their wedding photos in a historic Los Angeles corridor in the Biltmore Hotel and their moments together were so sweet... |
| While JD was shooting this.... |
| Just outside the Biltmore Hotel, we discovered an alley that got the most fabulous light and we parked out there for a while to complete the wedding photos of the bride and groom, as well as their amazing bridal party... |
| Christina had a little fun in her wedding dress and I could've photographed her all day! |
| Just before walking to Cicada for the wedding, we stopped for a few more pictures in the lobby... |
| For an old school Hollywood vibe, Christina and Mike married at Cicada and the evening was amazing... |
| Mike's dad toasted (and roasted) him...and he couldn't resist the urge to glory in the accolades! ;) |
| Mike wasn't so indiscreet about blaming Christina during toasts... |
| And this is how they spent most of the night on Cicada's dance floor.... |
I 'm having one of those days. Days when you wake up and know it's going to be a day of deep sighs and moments you hope to pull the blanket over your head and hope for the weekend to run into your arms, wearing a billowing white dress running through a field of poppies.
I'm trying not to get down about a few things that haven't exactly gone as planned, but it's kinda hard. I'm hoping for the best, but until then, I'm simply reminding myself that the things that truly matter are fine. My loved ones are healthy, I'm healthy, and I'm loved. And at the end of the day, I'm content with this. Afterall, if everyone threw their problems in a pile and we had the chance to compare, I'd gladly take my woes back.
I'm editing last Saturdays wedding, so I'll end with these photos because they make me smile...
|
|
Kisses and Disses : Funfetti and BlogStomp
|
I make no beef about it. I'm a total nerd. Seriously, if pocket protectors came in a Louis Vuitton print, I'd wear one. Happily. But it's one thing for ME to be able to call myself a nerd, but if someone else even implies it, my feathers get ruffled. And feathers could get in the way of my pocket protector. You know, if I wore one.
A couple nights ago, over tikki masala, samosas, and naan, JD asked me about WPPI. Like, our plans and stuff. Notoriously noncommittal, I muttered under my breath and brushed over it. Jaz, last year you stayed in the room and watched Antiques Roadshow...you should go out a little more... He went there. JD got between me and my beloved PBS. Oh no he di'ent! But he was right. Even on our most recent getaway to Napa, he stayed up late playing poker with our friends and I...well...I stayed in our room and read. I ranked -2 on the Cool-O-Meter.
I sipped on lemon water to cool the effects of the Indian food and tried convincing JD I'm working on my coolness (I plan on staying up late with empty bottles of Pellegrino, not wear heels one night, and perhaps play a hand of Go Fish...mi vida loca!). I also promised I'd go out more while at WPPI in Las Vegas next March. As long as the events didn't conflict with specials airing on PBS.
Now for another installment of Kisses and Disses...
|
This week's DISSES go to:
*Poker. It makes me appear way uncooler than I really am. Honest.
*Unpainted walls. Yes, my walls are STILL not painted. We've been living in our home for way too long to still have white walls. I just haven't had time to choose a color. Okay, so that's a lame excuse. The truth is I don't even know where to start, I keep on pushing things off. If my walls are still white in 2010, I'm flogging myself.
*Funfetti Cake. It's staring me in the face. Asking, begging, pleading to be eaten. There's a part of me that hopes our kitchen counter creates a black hole and that epic piece of cake just disappears! |
This week's KISSES go to:
*Izze - Sparkling Grapefruit. This drink drives me batty. Seriously, I wake up in the morning dreaming of it and if left to my own devices, I drink enough to float away.
*BlogStomp.. Okay, photographers...here's what we've been DYING for! A simple, one-click Photoshop action to make your photos blog ready. The best part is that they're customized with your logo and suuuper easy to use! With one click, it sizes, borders, sharpens, and saves as a new file. I nearly died when I started using these actions....hello easy blogging! Click here to visit BlogStomp.
*"The People of the Book" by Geraldine Brooks. I couldn't put this book down. At all. I finished while in Napa and it's been the best book I've read out of the books I've read in the past few months. Mix of facts and fiction, but a delightful read and the perfect escape from life. To be honest, I think I might have kissed the book while reading it. Okay, I did.
Happy Friday! |
|
Vibiana Wedding : Damaris + Donald
|
© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
|
I t's in the way they speak to each other. Big, smart, passionate words they're willing to speak in front of hundreds. Perhaps it's their brazen willingness to expose their emotions is what makes them so real. During their personal vows, they wrote words to each other that could make anyone's soul long in contentment for a true love found. Damaris thanked Donald for marrying her, and his responsive vow was that as long as she smiled--a smile that changed his world--he'd be honored to stay be her side. Forever.
The morning started at Damaris' childhood home and it was filled nothing but unadulterated love. It percolated in every room and seeped through the window sills. Damaris' family hails from the Dominican Republic, so merengue music filled the air and laughter danced along the bum-bum-ba beats, only competing with Damaris' gleeful proclamations I'm getting MARRIED today! When she arrived at Vibiana for her wedding, she took a few deep breaths and waited for her groom in the gold dome she envisioned since booking the historic venue. From a slight distance her aunts, parents, and cousins cheered as they saw Donald approach his bride. Laughter. Donald laughed in disbelief at the sight of the gorgeous woman he was going to marry. The girl who took his breath away when he was college freshman at USC, had morphed into the woman of his dreams. And as long as she smiled--a smile that changed his world--he wanted to wrap his arms around her and stay by her side. Forever.
Big D and Little d...just like you promised it would be, your day was perfection. Moreover, your wedding day was filled with everything it should be: Joy, Laughter, No Drama, Hugs, and Kisses. I know now how and why you are so fabulous...you are mere reflections of your amazing families and I feel like an added member. So much so, I fully intend to visit your aunt's Dominican restaurant for some serious grub! :) Thank you for calling me from New York and booking me...our first conversation was just the start of this new friendship and I can't wait to see what the future holds for you. Have fun in Thailand and sip on coconut soup in my honor! ;) Much Love and Appreciation...J* |
| Damaris found her Lazaro wedding dress shortly after getting engaged two years ago...and it was perfect! |
| While I was shooting wedding details at Damaris' home, these little cuties wanted to follow me and make sure I was doing my job! ;) |
| A little merengue on the wedding day never hurt... |
| JD hung out with Donald as he reviewed his wedding vows in the Groom's room at Vibiana... |
| Just moments before starting wedding photos at Vibiana... |
| I know I say it all the time, but, really, I lovelovelove when a bride and groom opt to see each other before the ceremony...their moments are so beautifully amazing and a time for them to share their first views as husband and wife together. And just look at the amazing light pouring in for their first wedding photos at Vibiana! |
| Damaris just radiated fabulousness... |
| While the ceremony was still being set up at Vibiana, I worked around the others because the light was pretty amazing... |
| I could take wedding pictures at Vibiana and never run out of places to shoot...this place is amazing! |
| As I was shooting family formals, Damaris was waiting patiently with her parents for Donald's family to join them. I usually have the mother stand next to the bride, so when I asked if her father wouldn't mind trading places, her mother told me in hushed tones that he wanted to stand next to his daughter for the remainder of the pictures. It's just that he's so proud today, she explained. I assured her it was fine and with that, Damaris' father quickly kissed his baby and this candid is my favorite from the day... |
Okay. So I'm not Tyra Banks' biggest fan (com'on...she's gotten a little crah-azey lately!), but I'm gonna steal a line from America's Next Top Model because it's so fitting. This bridal party drank some "Fierce Juice" before coming ready for pictures...just LOOK at them! They're all so ultra fab.
In more sensical terms, I'd like to point out that by a bride and groom opting for a First Look, they're afforded the luxury of capturing all family and bridal party pictures beforehand, allowing them to relax and enjoy the rest of the day. Love it! |
| The newly minted Mr. and Mrs... |
| Just after the ceremony, Damaris and Donald took some time to relax on their own and we ventured to the Vibiana rooftop because the light was simply insane for more wedding photos.... |
| Damaris...thanks for 'smiling with your eyes'! ;) LOVE IT! |
| Just before heading down to cocktail hour, Donald asked if we'd be able to photograph Damaris in the Groom's Lounge of Vibiana because...wait for it...the light was good. HELLO?! Is he not the most perfect groom ever?! Donald, you're my fav! ;) |
| Both the wedding ceremony and the reception was held at Vibiana, but the main room was transformed during cocktail hour... |
| JD always focuses on getting a few tight shots during the First Dance and I always appreciate them... |
| Talk about knowing how to throw a wedding...Damaris and Donald's friends and families rocked Vibiana until 2am! |
2013
|
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
