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Laguna Beach Engagement : Mike + Monique
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I t's been said that women possess certain characteristics that can make a man stop in his tracks and notice--quite possibly--she sparkles. Not literally, but in this invisible way that draws him into her gravitational pull and circle her with delight and intrigue. Monique is one of those girls. Just ask Mike.
They were introduced by friends out one night while in Arizona. Monique chatted with Mike and with every syllable, she called into a different part of Mike's soul. Yes, this girl sparkled. When she asked if he'd like to join her the following day for a sporting event, he casually agreed. You like sports, don't you, she queried. He simply responded yes and then coyly smiled because she had no idea he was a professional baseball player. Monique and Mike hung out the following day. And the following day. And followed the same pattern until they found themselves on a private tour of the Vatican months later when Mike dropped to his knee and proposed to Monique. Totally befitting, he gave the girl who sparkled a very sparkly ring.
Mike and Monique are marrying this July at the St. Regis Monarch Beach and I'm incredibly excited to work with them and Michelle of Details Details for a splendid day ringing in Independence Day. Yes, they're marrying on the 4th of July and we expect a lot of sparks to fly! I had a blast shooting their Laguna Beach engagement session and I can't wait to hang out again soon... |
| I wish the Good Lord would've blessed me with legs like Monique's. F'real. |
| Only these two could make a utility shack in Laguna Beach look good... |
| That's riiiight...Mike can bring his a-game to working it for photos as well as on the baseball field... |
| Then things got a little steamy... |
| Mike, you've never looked better than with Monique in your life! ;) |
    
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The Workshop : April 2010
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I t usually works like this: I get nervous and a tad stressed out. I pace my hallway and insist I have nothing to wear, then quickly grab the closest thing to in the closet and dart out the door. I drive in my car and worry they'll think I'm way lame in real life. And then I bite my nails. Or sing outloud with MGMT. But the worry? It all goes away when I see them. The group of amazing photographers who've traveled from around the world to join me at The Workshop.
On Monday night I joined a small group for a pre-workshop mixer planned by the attendees and I had a blast!! They were nothing short of amazing and I was amped for what was in store for Tuesday. By the time everyone arrived, it was like seeing old friends and the day flowed perfectly...because this group was awesome. Their energy was palpable and the hunger to learn was invigorating!
The Workshop focuses on the Eight Components of Branding and my goal is for everyone to walk away prepared to develop, hone, and move their brand forward. One of the components deals with how shooting style and brand interrelate, and we were stoked to work with Michelle and Colton Cross, who flew out from Virginia for the workshop...Michelle is just starting her photography journey, but I heavily suspect she'll soon be rocking both sides of the camera! |
| How could the day be not perfect when shooting a natural beauty like Michelle? |
| We were lucky to work with Colton...he is a Marine based in Virginia and he's the nicest thing EVER... |
| This picture just kinda happened...everyone waited for the couple to get situated...and I snapped this photo. Something about it makes feel it's a nod to a different place and time... |
| Yesterday the day threatened of rain, so we decided to shoot in the morning to avoid getting wet...but in true California nature, it was a mix of BLAZING heat and diffused light... |
| One thing I loved about yesterday's impending storm was the presence of clouds...they made me so happy! |
| They have two gorgeous smiles... |
| Michelle...you're killing me...love you! |
| Please don't ask me what I was saying here...but, really, don't I look like I speak with specificity?! |
| Many, many amazing thanks to Kristin of The Treasured Petal for creating one of her gorgeous bouquets...I'm in awe of her work and this bouquet just made me so thrilled to shoot! |
This is my favorite photo from the day...it makes me happy. I just want to squeeeeeeze Michelle and Colton! :)
And if you lurve her bridcage veil, you can find more of Kristin's handmade wedding accoutrements at her Etsy Store... |
| Okay, so I lied...THIS is my favorite photo of the day!! |
To my new friends and peers...thank you for such an amazing day!! I walked away so refreshed and inspired by all of you and I'm incredibly honored to have spent an entire day by your sides. Thank you for making me see the world in new ways and I can't wait to see what the future holds for you! Stay Fabulous... j*
I don't have another workshop planned quite yet, but if you'd like to be the first to know when it's announced, be sure to sign up for the j* newsletter! :) |
O ne of the questions I'm most often asked is if I get sick of working with JD. My answer is always no. And JD's answer? Well, his fluctuates minute to minute. And if you know us personally, you know I ain't lying! I am one of the most annoying, outspoken, driven, type-a, OCD, perfectionist, and singer you will meet. Yes, I sing. While being annoying. And outspoken. And all of the above.
Ever heard a girl sing Aretha Franklin while scrubbing the bathroom tiles with a toothbrush? Come to my house and you'll be in for a real treat.
Let me just say we have far, far from a perfect marriage, but I will say we work very hard at making things work. At the core of everything, we choose love. We choose to love when we're frustrated...choose to love when we're angry...choose to love even when it's the last thing we want. And working together adds another component many people don't have to deal with, but we always adhere to keeping things in order: God, family, work. |
Here are the Top Three Tips I suggest when asked how to make things work, when working with a spouse...
1. Keep regularly scheduled dates. Just yesterday JD and I decided to have a lunch date because life got hairy (i.e. I was barking at the moon) and we needed time to just talk and get refocused. Open and frequent communication is the cornerstone to a healthy working relationship...and a nice meal is always an added bonus!
2. Turn off. Yes, like turn everything off. Cell phones, computers, your brain. Sometimes I find myself so caught up with technology I want to tell people I'm living my life, instead of actually living it. I need to make a concerted effort to simply focus on the moment and relish real-life connectivity.
3. Never speak when angry. Oh, yeah. I just went THERE. Nothing will be accomplished when one or both parties are upset, and next thing you know you're talking about his mamma...and, well, that's never good. When you work with a spouse you're bound to disagree, but taking a few minutes (or hours) to rethink the situation and possibly see it from his/her perspective can really make for a productive environment.
I hope this creates open dialogue in our industry and if you have extra tips, I'd love to hear them! I'll make a list of all the good ones and make sure JD memorizes them...because, ya know, he's the one who's always WRONG. ;) |
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Skirball Center Wedding : Amy + Will
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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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W ill nodded politely when an older gentleman leaned over and said, It's a good thing your parents made you learn Cantonese, huh? Will's smile broadened and looked onto Amy and her family as they posed for family pictures. Yes, it was a good thing. But there were so many good things it might have been easy for him to lose count. The girl of his dreams smiled and waved from a shirt distance, and when it was time for Will to squeeze in for family pictures, he did it with an easy mix of English and Cantonese. Yes, it was one of many good things that day.
The rain that threatened the weekend forecast disappeared when the sun decided to behave and shine brightly on the Skirball Center for Amy and Will's wedding. They laughed together as they strolled through the pewter walkways and focused on the marriage, as much as they focused on the wedding. Throughout the day friends and family roasted and toasted the couple, but the common theme was perfection. The perfect meeting, the perfect date, the perfect proposal, the perfect union. Glasses and flutes were raised in honor of their love...and their perfect day.
Amy and Will...I woke up incredibly excited to join you for your wedding. The planning process has made you feel like friends and I can't thank you enough for the constant notes and gifts of thoughtfulness. You are the type of couple that makes me fall more in love with what I do and I'm incredibly thankful to have you as clients...and friends. Enjoy your two weeks in Tahiti and I hope you come back more in love! Much Love and Appreciation... j*
The wedding day started at the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica and when I saw the wedding rings and the Manolo Blahniks, I knew it was going to be a great day! :) |
| Hellllo fabulous wedding dress! |
| The floral arrangements and details were done by the ever fab Nisie of Enchanted Florist...I simply love working with her as she's positively the sweetest thing ever... |
| Amy looked radiant with a little extra help from Tanya Bures for makeup... |
| It never gets old to me...when a bride and groom opt to see each other before the ceremony, I get choked up. The moment is so poignant and powerful....and happy! |
| Why, yes. Yes, Amy looked gorge... |
| The slate color of the bridesmaids dresses and the gray colors at the Skirball Center made everything work so well together...and, of course, bows will make everything better... |
| The processional photo on a wedding day is one of my favs to capture every time... |
| After the wedding ceremony, we roamed the grounds of the Skirball Center for more pictures of the newlyweds... |
| With many, many thanks to Kerrie Underhill of Platinum Weddings by Kerrie for orchestrating a perfect wedding day...not a moment, detail, or thing was overlooked! Kerrie, Melissa, and Amy worked to ensure the day flowed smoothly and I'm so thankful for their help. |
| Again, Nisie did a wonderful job with decor, and Amy of Vanilla Bake Shop provided a stunning cake. And in case you're wondering...yes, the flowers on the cake were designed to match Amy's wedding dress... |
| The amazing Julie and Alex of Elysium Productions were on hand to film the wedding and I simply lovelovelove working with such great videographers...I especially like the lights they use because it makes my job easier to shoot during the reception! ;) |
| Here's to a perfect night... |
M y parents think it's obsessive. And you know what I say? Nothing. That's right, I say nothing because I'm too busy speaking Spanglish. Polo travels with us pretty much everywhere within driving distance and he's pretty much our road dog. Literally. When we go out to dinner, he hops in the car and waits until we've finished our meal to join him back in the car. When I make trips to FedEx, all the guys know him by name and Polo usually sleeps in between my legs while I ship my goods. When we make hotel arrangements, we order a dog bed for him.
Wait, what? You think it's obsessive, too? I'm sorry, I can't hear you. I'm TOO BUSY SPEAKING SPANGLISH. |
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