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Alicia and Steven : Wedding
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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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H er roommate knew something was different. No, someone was different. Most likely surrounded by glitter, crafts, and more glitter, Alicia told her sorority sister she met a guy. Skeptically, Sandra asked, At Papas&Beer in Rosarito, Mexico?! Alicia insisted Steven was different. Kind, articulate, a low-confidant voice, a student at UCLA...and oh-so-handsome. And she was right. Steven was all those things, and more, so as their relationship progressed, they fell deeper in love.
Alicia and Steven are the type of people who let people into their own little world--complete with its own language--and welcome others with open arms and warm heart. Independently, they're two of the most dynamic and caring people a one could meet, but together they form bond--with ions of fabulosity floating around--and a nucleus comprised of unadulterated love. Last Saturday, Alicia and Steven committed their lives to each other, but it was just a formal declaration of something their hearts already knew. They plan on being together for like ever.
Steven and Ala, I know you're in the Dominican Republic awaiting this post...hopefully sipping on libations of the fruity kind! Okay, so I don't know how to say thank you without getting all mushy. I've loved you both since you brought me Sprinkles cupcakes to our first meeting, randomly emailed me to brighten my day, and just rocked my world. Just because. You're incredibly fabulous and joining you on your wedding day was nothing short of spectacular. On our way home from the reception, JD turned to me and said, Alicia's really into Steven, huh? I just smiled and said yes, they're both insatiably in love with each other. Much Love and Appreciation...J*
Alicia's into photography and Steven's into music... |
| The ever chic Alicia customized a pair of Manolo Blahnik heels for her wedding day... |
| I loved Alicia's Alvina Valenta wedding gown...and in the background you can see Lauren of By Lauren who did an amazing job with Alicia's hair and makeup! |
| Alicia decided to wear three hair pieces on her wedding day...here's the first...a bird cage veil...yay! :) |
| The bridesmaids dresses were totally fab...like, soooo fabulous! They're Two Birds Bridesmaid and they're one size fits all and you can wear them like ten different ways...how cool is that?! Alicia also bought decorative flower broaches for each bridesmaid to place on her dress from Beetle and Bloom on Etsy... |
| The ever-amazing and fabulous Kristin of Treasured Petal was on hand for all floral decor...love her! |
| Alicia and Steven opted for a first look, so we stepped outside of the Westin Hotel in Pasadena to start their day with wedding photos....LOVE IT! Here's JD's angle of the First Look, with the following two photos... |
| I love intimate moments when the bride and groom see each other for the first time...it's so special...and a moment just for them... |
| JD's photos....but I'm sure I had a little to do with the laughter! ;) |
| We then walked across the street to Pasadena City Hall for more photos....holllla! |
| Hair piece number two if you're counting....a gorrrrgeous mantilla... |
| Many thanks to Kristin and her amazing teamTreasured Petal for all the eye candy during the cocktail hour and reception...and thanks to Gabby of Weddings by Shaheen for coordinating the reception! |
| Below are just a few wedding photos of the amazing set-up at Villa Del Sol d'Oro...ADORED photographing this venue!! |
| Loved the simplicity and quirkiness of the cake table! |
| Alicia's shoes deserved a shot all their own! ;) |
| Because Alicia emphasized wedding photos, she allocated plenty of time for pictures...I was in love! :) |
| Loved these photos JD captured... |
| We roamed the Villa Del Sol d'Oro grounds for more wedding pictures, but the bride and groom kinda attracted a crowd... ;) |
| JD caught this shot as the couple walked away after photos and I think it sums them up quite nicely... |
| Being toasted (and roasted!)... |
To see more of their fabulous wedding, CLICK HERE for a slideshow!
p.s. Steven, I spent a lot of time trying to find the perfect Indie song for your approval! ;) |
    
I don't know when it started, exactly, but I do know I've been saying it for years. To JD. To my sister. To anyone bored enough to listen to me. I pride myself in efficiency, so if I could say one word instead of four, that's exactly what I'll do. So I kinda, sorta made one up. Well, it's more like an acronym I use to prove my point.
Whenever I disagree with something, I'll voice my dissension (oh, will I!) and if my point is later proven, I usually say, Itys! Pronounced It-tees. The acronym is for I Told You So. Itys! And if you ask anyone who I've told that to, they'll likely say it's the most annoying word. Ever.
A few days ago, JD and I stopped by the pet store for dog food. While JD was off reading health labels and fat content of kibble (I mean, really?!), I was in the clothing section. Obviously. It's for Polo, I insisted as I held up a miniature jacket. NO. JD always says no when I want to dress Polo in public, but I've somehow managed to sneak a few articles of doggy wear here and there. I whittled JD by the minute as we roamed the aisles, so by the time we arrived at the cashier he was all, Yes, buy it as long as you PROMISE TO STOP TALKING!!!
Yes, he used that many exclamation marks.
This morning on our walk, I dressed Polo in his jacket and took a picture of him... |
| I hope there are a few blog readers who'll have my back and agree my little porkchop looks fabulous. And if you do, I'll turn to JD and say, Itys! |
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FAQ : Reader Questions, VI
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I 'm in the process of editing a wedding right now, but since I like to blog everyday, I thought it was time for another round of FAQ's. Holllla! Over dinner last week, my non-photographer friends made fun of me because every time I post a FAQ entry, I preface each one with a disclaimer: I don't think I'm the bomb...a guru...a sage...if this post helps just one person, I'm stoked! They poked fun because it annoyed them I reiterated this point so often. Well, friends, JUST ANNOYED YOU AGAIN, didn't I?!
And just because posts are always better with a photo, here's a sneak peek of the wedding... |
Zarin asked:
Love your artwork. I like to know what camera you use and recommend?
I've mentioned it before, but I shoot exclusively with the Canon 5D Mark II. I simply adore it and it's changed the way I shoot, especially with the full-frame. The high iso capabilities are simply divine and provide the cleanest, noiseless files...love it!
I, however, started my business with the Canon 20D and that camera rocked my world. I shot my entire first year with that camera and it's such a solid starter camera...I recommend this camera to people who are interested in starting their business...partly because it's what I used (and know) and partly because it's a great camera for the price!
Christine asked:
What camera (and lens) would you suggest would be a good buy for first time photographers looking to make a start for themselves?
This definitely depends on budget and seriousness of your business plan, but I started with the Canon 20D and I loved it. Since I've started my business, Canon has also released the Canon 40D and I hear nothing but great things about it as well!
Becky asked:
I do have one question, which I'm not sure if you've ever answered in previous blogs. How do you manage to get such clean and crisp photos? Basically, how do you deal with camera shake especially in manual mode? Landscape photography is easier in a sense in regards to camera shake because tripods are nearly a must, but since you run around shooting moving people and in manual (which I still struggle with), I would love your advice on how to keep images clean and crisp like yours (should I decide to ever go into portraits!).
I've touched on this subject before (you can read more about it on this blog post), but I can add a few pointers...
1. I learned from Mike Colon that if you steady your feet and hold your breath, it'll help you remain still and focused (liability note: please don't hold your breath too long!).
2. In dark churches, I'll lean my shoulder against a pillar/pew and then shoot, as this helps steady my body.
3. Always focus between shots.
4. Have fun! So often photographers will stress themselves out with the technicality of the shot that they (we) lose the moment...I personally think the moment is more important than the perfectness of a photo (in relation to wedding photography, anyway).
Lyndsey asked:
I can only afford one lens some where around $400 which one would you recommend and which one would be the most important to have?
Hands down, I would recommend the 50mm, 1.4. I actually received this lens as a gift from a good friend (thanks, Liana!), but didn't use it for months. Months! I didn't like fixed lenses at the time and--really--it kinda intimidated me. Once I forced myself to use it, I fell in love. That lens is like the little boy who'd pull your hair in first grade who grows up to be a runway model. AN ITALIAN RUNWAY MODEL. Yeah, kinda like that.
Jade asked:
Do Photographers do much lens blur in photoshop or is it all the lens??
I can't answer for all photographers, but I never use Photoshop to blur my images. You can easily achieve this blur (also known as 'bokeh') by shooting with wide apertures (works best at >f/2.0) with subjects focused in the foreground. The background turns to a soupy mush and it makes me want to get a spoon and slurp it all up!
Amber asked:
I'd heard or read somewhere that it was a mistake to blow skies in photography....I've been underexposing faces all over the place to protect my skies...but on your site, I see lots of blown skies.
True story: JD was at a photo tradeshow hanging out with David Jay when a Photo World Guru (PWG) approaches David. They begin to chat and catch up and--somehow--my name was brought up. PWG proceeds to Ahh, yes, I think I know her..., and then says something along the lines of, You know, she'd be so much better if she just knew how to expose for skies! David quickly jumps in and lets PWG know that JD is my husband and the photo talk pretty much ends there.
When JD recounted the story to me a few days later, I was crushed. And totally EMBARRASSED. I'm all like, Dude, I so know how to expose for skies!!
And the truth is I do. I just choose not to.
Sure, I could shoot with a flash on at the beach to capture my clients with perfectly exposed skies...but I hate the way it looks. It's just not me. I'm sure there are TONS of photographers who can rock this look and make gorgeous photos, I'm just not one of them. I often get asked how I manage skin tones at sunset and salvage the sky...and I just say I don't worry about the sky. If I cared about the sky, I'd be a nature photographer, ya know?
It all just boils down to a matter of taste. Some people like flash, others don't. Some people like tofu, others don't. Some people like singing off-key in the kitchen and dancing with her dog...okay, that's just me. If your tastebuds like perfectly exposed skies, rock on! If it's not too much concern, then definitely experiment with new forms of shooting and see what floats your boat!
Happy Wednesday! |
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Damaris and Donald : Engagement
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T o say they met in college would be slightly trite. But they did. Meet in college, that is. There's so many layers to their story and it just proves destiny, fate, and fortune all lead a person to their soul mate. Damaris and Donald first met as seniors in high school as they visited the campus of University of Southern California; he the cute boy wearing the backward baseball cap and she the Untouchable. Donald saw Damaris and was smitten from the start.
In his words: Damaris is the most gorgeous woman I've ever laid eyes on. Seriously. Have you ever seen her smile? Like, really smile? Her cheeks fill, her jaw line lifts. There are two soft dimples that appear just outside the border of her lips and her teeth are brilliant. That's just the start. Where her smile really shows is in her eyes. She has these beautiful, warm brown eyes. If she is really smiling, her eyelids soften somehow, relaxing toward her cheek bones and inviting you to be a part of her world. It almost knocks you over. And I fall for it every time.
They met when they were 18 years old and though many years have past since their USC gradutation, they've become cemented at the hip, knowing they're bond will only get stronger with time. And Damaris knows just how lucky she is to have found her soul mate.
In her words: Donald is the man that will always catch me when I fall (literally, I test him on this all the time – I throw myself towards the ground and he always catches me…he loves this game). He gives me piggy-back rides when my feet hurt from wearing beautiful but painful shoes to make me taller. He makes me laugh and laughs at my antics. He loves me when I'm mad at him. He makes me feel beautiful. He gives me butterflies. He’s the best man I’ve ever met. Trust me - I absolutely do know how lucky I am.
I am beyond thrilled to shoot Damaris and Donald's wedding later this year at Vibiana. They live in New York City and somehow found my blog online...after our initial conversation, Damaris gave me a link to their wedding website and after reading their love story, I was DYING to shoot their wedding! They are two of the most amazing people (ever!), and I'm honored to photograph the day that makes forever, forever.
We started their engagement session in the classroom where Donald realized Damaris was "out of my league"... |
| Here, Donald is recounting the story when he saw Damaris finish the Spanish placement test AN HOUR before anyone else...talk about intimidation! ;) |
| Many thanks to Sheree Pouls of Lips and Locks for doing a wonderful job with Damaris' hair and makeup... |
| I was super excited when Donald took me to unexplored parts of the USC campus...I had so much fun shooting in new areas! |
| Do your thang, mama, do your thang... |
| One of my most favorite things about Damaris and Donald is their openly goofy side...here are just a few of D+D's priceless expressions... |
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Memorial Day and Leather Craftsmen Winner
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L ast week, I announced a Leather Craftsmen Contest and I'm beyond thrilled to see so many submit their stories. Stories of hope, joy, and memories...memories thick as molasses and strong as a triple cord. A major theme of most submissions surrounded family and friends...moments when loved ones were around and memories were made. So often, we get caught up in moments that we fail to see their significance until time has passed.
On this Memorial Day, let's make some memories...together. Grab loved ones...grab some yummy food...and spread a little love. Time is short and fleeting, so make the most today has to offer.
I'm happy and and honored to announce that Khrista of Memories To Last is the winner of a FREE Leather Craftsmen Sample Album, complete with free print and bind! Choosing a winner was SOOO hard, so I enlisted help from industry peers to collaborate on the decision...and I thank everyone who made this contest possible.
The amazing team at Leather Craftsmen was so impressed with everyone's submissions, they're stoked to offer a discount to everyone who's interested in getting an album of their own! So awesome.
If you're new to Leather Craftsmen, you can receive a 50% Discount for a print&bind sample album if you use the Jasmine50StudioSample. You can also receive a 15% Discount for a print&bind client album if you use Jasmine15Discount. I'm incredibly thankful Ira, Howard, and the entire Leather Craftsmen team sponsored this contest with such a generous contribution.
And because I plan on making memories with JD, here's a photo of us hitting another photobooth...we shot Alicia and Steven's wedding this weekend and we had a blast!!!
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