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The Perils of Taking the Family Christmas Picture
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| To: The Family
From: Jasmine Star Date: Monday, November 29. 2010 Subject: Family Pics hi family! a few things... 1. i love you. 2. please be ready to shoot at 4pm. 3. we are meeting on main street and 3rd (from main, make a left and there will be a parking lot) 4. please wear neutral colors (beige, light gray, light pink) 5. please do not wear patterns on clothes. 6. i promise to be loving and nice today. and speak in love. please hold me to this. and help me. xxx j* A couple hours later... We're late... He can't find the parking lot... Who said dark green was a neutral color?! She had a fashion crisis, something about silk pants... Can you move outta the way?! MOOOOOVE! Please stop fighting. Pay attention. Don't pull her hair extension! Jasmine needs to calm down. I'm losing light. Who's next? Pay attention. Dad, you're being too loud! Pay attention! I'm having a bad hair day. Who has a jacket for mom? Real Madrid is playing tonight. If you smile, I'll buy you a toy from Target! I know how to count to six in German. Please go give her a hug. You just made Kim Kardashian sad. It's a self-timer!! Smile. Darn it. Smile. No blinking this time. SMILE. I love you. |
| Words can't express how much I adore my parents. At Thanksgiving, my father apologized for not being the type of father he tries to be. Everyone sat in stunned silence. Our dad--in spite of his flaws--is the type of person we all strive to be. And he makes my mom even better.
Alexandria is is the middle child. And she suffered from the syndrome for a few years, but is back to normal now. I'm kidding. She's amazing, artistic, and finds a way to always help everyone...even if it's at the cost of herself. |
| And here are the teenagers. Dun dun dun.
I love Zoe Belle and Sebastian more than I can put into words. I'm older than them by a few years and I've always felt like a second mom to them. In fact, I'd say that Sebastian is the person who started my photo career. When I was eleven, I'd take him and pose him amongst my stuffed animals...or in a large pot on the stove (what the heck was I thinking?!)...or dress him like the Village People...and take pictures of him. In fact, I have albums dedicated just to him. Which is creepy, I know. |
| This is Parker and Ryen. My new niece and nephew. And--oh my goodness--these kids just kill me. They make my heart melt and they make our family even better. Bianca and Matt were married earlier this year, and our family was blessed with three new members! |
| Us. In an alley. |
| This photo will keep my mother happy until December 2011...when she'll be asking for a new family photo for her living room walls. |
| Happy Tuesday!
**EDITED TO ADD** For those who asked, all the individual portraits were shot with the 50mm, 1.2 at f/2.0. The family photo was shot with the 35mm, and all photos done with natural light. |
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New Kubota Photoshop Actions
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A few nights ago--after releasing Meg's wedding gallery online--I received an email from her. She, apparently, was viewing her gallery when she came across a few photos JD captured. And she began to cry. You see, unbeknownst to Meg, Tim surprised her with a diamond wedding band. He placed it on her finger during the ceremony, but she didn't respond. Initially. Because she didn't see it. While I was setting up the group formal, JD was standing off to the side. He captured the moment when Tim pointed out the new ring...and Meg's reaction.
It's moments like these I completely adore. And I'm so thankful to have JD on my team. Here's a few of JD's candid shots processed with my new Kubota Photoshop Actions. I've finally had the chance to sit down and choose my favorites...I love them! You can find these new actions in the Viva La Vintage action set. TenSeventies 16% Curves bump Magic Sharp 44% |
| Mr and Mrs Feingold seeing their daughter, Keren, for the first time in her wedding dress...
Hot Flashes 6% VintageTen 9% Magic Sharp 50% |
| Erin and Mike just outside Shutters on the Beach hotel...
Chai Stained 7% Golden Delish 20% Magic Sharp 45% |
| Saturation -100
Best Chocolate Ever 54% Curves Bump Magic Sharp 60% |
| Jody wiping the tears from Shannon's face at the Viceroy Palm Springs...le sigh
Saturation -100 BWXXX 23% Magic Sharp 45% |
| Like I mentioned before, these were all JD's photos processed with the new Kubota Photoshop Actions. To see archived photoshop/post-processing blog posts, click HERE or HERE for more... |
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Seeing Thanksgiving.
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I t's just what we do. At Thanksgiving, we go around the table and say what we're thankful for. It's all very After School Special-ish, but I love it. Gratitude dressed in words takes on a life of its own. And it's beautiful.
Every year, when it's my turn, the family holds their collective breath...and wait...for the tears. Every. Year. I'm not the crying type, but put me in front of the people I need the most, at a table full of things we didn't have growing up, surrounded by the soft sounds of jibaro music, and I'm a goner. Every. Year. My mother's battle with cancer was long and it left a scar on my heart. The type of scar that protrudes from your skin, so others can see if it they stared hard enough. She's tired, she tells me on a phone conversation earlier this week, and she thinks she's losing her sight. From all the radiation. I don't know what to say. Because life is breathtaking and I want her to see it. Forever. Last night at the dinner table I cried. I said I was thankful for my mother's health. Though fragile, she's here. And even though the turkey was still frozen at dinner time, and her yams not thoroughly cooked, she celebrated life. With us. And it's beautiful. |
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Viansa Wedding : Gladys + Chris
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I t's in the way he anticipates her moves, the sound of her laughter. If Chris could stand at the bottom of a ravine and catch the echo of her voice, he would. Because he adores every last thing about Gladys. She always becomes the center of a room, regardless of the size. With her petite feet making their way from one thing to another, Gladys draws people to her with one flash of her smile. And the smiles come with greater rapidity when Chris is around.
Chris is witty and his voice carries far. Perhaps his voice and her echo were what first met. But that was years ago and they have since only focused on what lies ahead. In the future. Chris anchors their love with his humor, sensibility, and strength, and where Gladys may have fears or doubts, he wraps his arms around her. To cover and protect. Together they're walking into the future being the center of each others' lives. On a rainy day in Sonoma, Chris and Gladys promised to love, honor, and cherish. And push. Each other to follow their dreams. Surrounded by their closest friends and family, they vowed to walk through life together. Whether that be in the center of a room, or a bottom of a ravine. Chris and Gladys...efpaie aeorihaoe aoihaeonae aouwroa!!!! I said this before, but I'll say it again: I adore you. Thank you for allowing me to be your wedding photographer, but--moreso--thank you for becoming my friends. I couldn't think of two people more perfect for each other and I've been honored to see how beautifully life is unfolding for you both! Have fun in the Ca-Ca-CaribbEAn (don't worry, Gladys, I can teach you how to pronounce it) and I wish you only the best! Much Love and Appreciation... j* The wedding day started at Viansa Winery...with a pair of Manolo Blahnik's and gorgeous Romona Keveza dress to make things extra fab... |
| Many thanks to Lila B Design for such amazing florals for the wedding day...just look at that bouquet! |
| Esther Yoo was on hand to ensure all the girls looked their best... |
| While Gladys prepared, Chris eagerly awaited seeing his bride for the first time on their wedding day... |
| Gladys is a photographer so it was easy for her to opt for a First Look and see Chris before the ceremony. Not only did it allow more time for photos, but it rained later in the day and this helped us navigate the inclimate weather... |
| JD captured this moment of their first moment together... |
| Then! The! Fun! Started! I love working with clients who are carefree and fun...walking the grounds of Viansa Winery for wedding photos was a breeze with these two... |
| Before the rain began, we headed to the vineyards for wedding photos...Sonoma offers some amazing colors...photo by JD... |
| JD captured this... |
| JD's view on the left, my view on the right... |
| There were SO many places for wedding photos at Viansa and the overcast day made for perfect light... |
| Rock those blue shoes, girlfriend... |
| The wedding ceremony was supposed to in the Viansa courtyard...and Gladys did everything she could to keep it there. Until it started POURING. Twenty minutes before the ceremony, the chairs were brought into the wine cellar... |
| Chris and Gladys had a personal and heartfelt wedding ceremony...complete with vows that didn't leave a dry eye in the house... |
| Again, many thanks to Lila B Design for their perfect touch to the wedding decor... |
| I thought I loved cupcakes. Then I met Gladys. She's a cupcake connoisseur and a sugar buff, so naturally she'd have a cupcake station... |
| And what wedding be complete without a hilarious toast or two... |
| The First Dance... |
| To see more of Chris and Gladys' Sonoma wedding at Viansa Winery, feel free to CLICK HERE for a slideshow |
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Shadows.
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| Dear JD,
I tried to run away from my shadow as a kid once. I attempted to trick it by juking side to side, like I was competing for the Heisman. Except I wasn't athletic. Then I told my brain to stick out my right hand, but I extended my left. You know, to throw things off and stuff. But there it remained. My shadow. In all its roundness. Many years later, I'm happy I never outwitted my shadow because its permanence means something to me. A whole lot, in fact. It's proven my love, much like your shadow, won't be going anywhere without you. This past year has proven to be much of muchness, and there were times when we felt spread thin...so thin. And there our love remained. Like our shadow on a hot summer day. I once heard it said it's rare to publicly thank those you love. So. Here I am. Publicly thanking you. For, basically, keeping me from falling into a thousand misshaped pieces. For keeping my shadow connected to yours, and reminding me muchness is nothing without the person you love. Appreciatively yours, j* |
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| © 2013 Jasmine Star Photography | Blog by infinet design |
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