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Viceroy Santa Monica Engagement : Amy + Will
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S he stood by herself and scanned the crowd. The birthday party was in full effect, but Amy lounged by the bar and sipped on a beer, scanning the crowd for something of interest. Little did she know Will spotted her from a distance and decided she was someone of interest. In hopes of getting the low-down on Amy, Will did what any guy would do: he sent his friend to ask questions. With an askance look, Amy stared over the lip of her drink and politely said she had a boyfriend. Thankyouverymuch.
Undeterred by the grim news his friend later relayed, Will decided to approach Amy on his own. It was a good move. They spent the entire evening chatting and comparing the similarities in their lives...childhood neighborhoods, same friends, they frequented the same bookstore...it was as if they should have met a thousand times before, but hadn't. At the end of the night, Will asked for Amy's number, but she refrained, asking instead for his business card. They parted ways, and Will doubted she'd ever call.
And he was right. Amy didn't call. She emailed. After a week of delightful correspondence, they met for dinner and spent the evening falling in love. NIne months later, Will took Amy back to the exact restaurant and proposed. I'm incredibly honored to be photographing their wedding next April at Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles...if their wedding day is anything like their love, it'll be nothing short of amazing.
We met at The Viceroy Santa Monica for their engagement pictures and had a blast enjoying the day! |
| I've phtotographed quite a bit at The Viceroy Santa Monica, so I wanted to try something different and start their engagement session in their ultra fab hotel room...Amy and Will rocked it out! |
| I love the way Amy's dress looks like it's a part of the room... |
| And, Will, you're looking quite dapper as well! ;) |
| Many thanks to some of my fav Los Angeles stylists, Tanya Bures and Tommy Cyr for making Amy look beautiful! |
| After a quick change, we walked down to Santa Monica beach for more engagement photos... |
On our way back to the hotel, Amy decided to flash me a little more fabulousness! ;)
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On Nerves, Colors, and Other Girlish Things
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E very morning when I'm about to host The Workshop, I wake up as a ball of nerves. Like usual, I have to take a sleeping aid the night before, because my mind is racing and I thinking of all the reasons why the students will hate me. Or want a refund. Or chase me down the street with pitchforks and fire sticks. Hey, it could happen.
For some strange reason when November 1st came around, I took a deep breath and was all, Finally, I can relax!. Somehow my calendar didn't get the memo because I'm still just as busy as I was in October, but it's all good because the group of students for today's workshop is awesome. And based on last night's mixer, they're also a wee bit crazy, but I reserve judgement until tonight...when they're true colors show!
Speaking of colors, I'm editing a recent engagement session and I'll end this post with a picture that makes me smile... |
T wo months ago, we sat in their Grand Rapids living room, the outside wind pushing itself against the vintage windows. David browsed the computer and read. Amy crawled over to the end of the sofa and leaned over to the chair he was sitting on. With her head resting on his shoulder, she whispered soft and nice things. I couldn't hear what she said, but by the slight smile that inched across her face, I'm sure it was soft and nice. And in that moment, I felt happy.
David and Amy Wenzel are two of the bravest and most inspiring people I've met. Ever. Earlier this year, David was diagnosed with a brain tumor and has since taken the world by storm, inspiring one person at a time. His battles are beyond comprehension, but he faces them faithfully, charmingly, and, best yet, with hilarity. There hasn't been a single conversation that passes when I don't walk away ready to CHANGE MY LIFE.
He's living like he's dying. And it's so beautiful.
We had the honor of taking Amy and David to Disneyland yesterday, and it was the first time they've ever visited together. At the end of a very long night, Amy asked what was my favorite part of the day. I thought for a second, smiled, and told her it was the Indiana Jones ride. David sat in the driver's seat, with Amy at his side, and as we whipped, dropped, and darted in Indiana's Jeep, I heard Amy shriek and David laugh. The sounds--the sounds of life--made me want to swallow their love whole.
My favorite part of the day was watching them live. Out loud. |
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Things I Love : Zara and Shootsac
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S o. I always start my emails with 'so'. Don't ask me why, I just do. I speak the same way. So. I went shopping today.... So. I burned dinner last night... So. A guy flipped me off on the way to the gym this morning.... Always the same way. In light of blogging my favorite things, I'll start this post the same way.
So. I've been loving a few things lately and I thought posting them would shed some light into my big head. No, really, I have a huge noggin.
I was featured in the Shootsac Newsletter this month and it highlighted my Shootsac. Namely, the story behind my Shootsac . I lurrrrve my Shootsac. I've had it for three years and it's my most coveted item for shooting. What the feature omitted, however, was Jessica Claire's pleading to get a new cover. It's shabby, it's old, it's outdated. That's what she hinted...but I didn't care. It was a one-of-a-kind cover, and it was all mine. So there. Last week she bribed me with a new cover and said it was a prototype that never made it to the assembly line. Maybe it was pleading in her eyes...maybe it was the pressure from her husband, Jeff, and JD looking at me with eager anticipation...maybe it was the truth. Whatever it was, I gave in and retired my old cover. Here's my spankin' new cover and I love it!
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| Have you heard of MailBigFile.com? A client turned me onto this site to help send large files. I used the free service for a couple weeks, then I recently upgraded to the pro account. For two years, it was $23! It's a great deal and I've loved the service thus far. |
| I'll be speaking in Northern California later this month! The awesome crew for PPA Sacto Valley invited me to share with their group at The Dante Club in Sacramento, and I'm stoked to be there on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 at 7pm. To register, just shoot Jon an email (jon@jorfanosphoto.com), and he'll take good care of you. If you'd like to join us for dinner, it'll start at 6pm, so feel free to come by for a jolly good time. Yes, I said jolly. I'm part English in my heart. |
| Last night, after a shoot in Santa Monica, I stopped by Third Street Promenade for a little retail therapy. I needed (okay, wanted) a new outfit, so I stopped by Zara. I first discovered Zara while traveling through Europe and I fell in love. When their stores started popping around the US, I knew I was in trouble. Lots and lots of trouble. Last night was case in point. |
| Oh, and before I end this Things I Love post, JD said I should mention him. You know, that I love him and all. Because I do. Although if I had to choose JD or Polo as my fav, I may stutter and get a nervous twitch. |
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San Juan Capistrano Engagement : Brandon + Kristin
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T hey passed each other in halls, smiling as they passed long corridors of metal lockers. They'd IM each other late into the night, make each other laugh, and found excitement in every correspondence. It was perfect. Brandon and Kristin liked each other. A lot. As each day passed, life inched closer to their high school Homecoming dance, and Kristin impatiently waited for Brandon to ask her. Obviously. It wasn't until she asked him if he was going to the dance when she realized Brandon had no intention of going. I don't dance, was his short response to her question.
And that was that. Kristin went to the dance with another guy, and later developed a relationship that ended Brandon's late night IM's with the girl who stole his heart.
They graduated, went their separate ways, but every Christmas, Brandon called and wish Kristin happy holidays. And on her birthday, he called. He always remembered to call. It was during one such call when Brandon discovered Kristin wanted to pursue photography, and since starting his own business, he was more than ready to help. He planned a photo trip for the two of them on Santa Monica Pier and though Kristin was determined not to fall in love, she did.
They've been making pictures ever since, and I'm thrilled they'll be doing it for the rest of their lives together. Brandon and Kristin are getting married in January and I'm honored to document their love...here are a few favorites from their San Juan Capistrano engagement session... |
| Bradon can say almost anything and make Kristin laugh...they're so beautiful together... |
| Have you noticed Brandon's skin?! It's impeccable, like porcelain. He has my vote to be the next Proactiv skin care model! ;) |
| After a quick change, we had a little fun at a nearby park...perhaps a little too much fun because we got kicked out by a park ranger, but not before capturing a little of their fabulousness... |
| They don't need it, but a good luck charm never hurt anyone... |
| ...but I like Brandon's reaction more! |
| Kristin, you put the awr in RAWR. Seriously. |
| I love my clients....they didn't even bat an eye when I suggested posing in front of a bathroom. Love them! |
| Okay, so, a lot has changed since high school for Brandon. He's now, apparently, a dancer. He claims to have smoother moves than me, but we're gonna have a dance-off in the future to prove he's wrong. Until then, I challenged him to show me some poppin' moves...and I think he and Kris rocked it out! :) |
| As we ended the session, we chased the light to find the last bit of sunset...and it proved to be gorgeous...I love Orange County! |
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