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Los Angeles Athletic Club Wedding : Anne+Cory
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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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H is great-great-Grandfather stood on his property almost 100 years ago with a dream to make the Los Angeles Athletic Club the premier club in Downtown. Almost a century later, Cory kept the dream alive, both as an allegiance to his family and his future wife. The high ceiling and dark mahogany walls gave the club a Mad Men appeal, but Cory promised Anne a new ballroom in light of their upcoming wedding.
For months Cory oversaw construction of his soon-to-be reception location and as the weeks draw closer to the wedding--and his feet remained covered in sawdust--people wondered if he'd be able to pull it together in time. Just past midnight the morning of his wedding, the new bookshelves were installed, and Cory filled them with hardcover books. The room was complete.
Anne happily prepared in a suite of the Los Angeles Athletic Club Hotel and wondered aloud how the ballroom appeared. Her bridesmaids smiled and said Cory did a great job...but nothing more because the reveal would be a surprise. As Anne walked into the ballroom, Cory waited for her in the center. They walked to each other and embraced in a room that would forever change the course of their lives. Together.
Anne and Cory...I hope you're enjoying every minute in Italy. I'm sure Cory is planning wild adventures and Anne is finding the nearest Gucci store...and making it all work along the way. Thank you for the honor of documenting your love and devotion. Your day was a total dream and I consider myself lucky to have been your wedding photographer. Much Love and Appreciation... j* |
| As if Anne's Vera Wang wedding dress wasn't enough, she went and made the day extra craze with a pair of Alexander McQueen heels... |
| Anne was one of the most laid-back brides. Ever. She planned her day to flow effortlessly, so by the time it came to get dressed, it was all smiles... |
| Oh, STOP IT. Anne, you're so fierce. I can't even handle all of your gorgeousness! |
| As Anne and I made our way to the ballroom... |
| ...JD was there to capture Cory's reaction to seeing his bride for the first time on their wedding day... |
| I love when couples opt to see each other before the ceremony for a First Look because we have plenty of time for wedding photos...and also finding favorable light...lovelovelove... |
| Why do I suspect I said something inappropriate right...about...now... |
| Due to the renovation of the Los Angeles Athletic Club, Anne and Cory wanted quite a bit of indoor wedding pictures, so I did my best to find window light where I could...thankfully window light loves them. |
| Anne and her bridemaids...all wearing Old Hollywood dresses... |
| The ceremony was held on the rooftop with a breathtaking view of Downtown Los Angeles...I love the city! Many thanks to Shawna Yamamoto for the floral design and the hand-made paper flower arch... |
| After the ceremony, Anne and Cory gave me extra time to photograph them on the rooftop and in the streets of Los Angeles...love them... |
| JD captured these photos... |
| ...and he captured this photo...and I love it so much because it's a perfect reflection of everything Anne and Cory are: wonderful. |
| Many thanks to Nam Lam of Modern LA Weddings for planning a fabulous day and perfect party... |
    
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Good Reads : Paula McLain + Melanie Benjamin
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| Without fail, he and Polo wait at the door for me when I come home. Without fail, he brings a glass of water to bed because he knows I'll ask for it at a later point in time. Without fail, I drive him crazy (no, really, Jasmine you're driving me crazy!!). Without fail, I'll beg to get into a photobooth...case in point at last Saturday's wedding: |
And without fail, he knows I need a book to maintain balance in my life (apparently watching Jersey Shore isn't considered an intellectual activity). In light of this, when I'm on the verge of falling over the edge, we go to a bookstore and roam the aisles for soul food. Because, without fail, it means he loves me.
Here's a few good books I've read lately...
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. Okay, so this book? Ah-maze. Written fluidly and I was lost in its pages for a few days...when I finished the last chapter, I made JD promise we'd live in Paris for a few weeks next year. No, really, Jasmine you're driving me crazy!! The story is historical fiction based on Ernest Hemingway's first wife, Hadie Hemingway, and their struggles to start his writing career. Her sacrifice, diligence, and love melted my heart and though it ends with sadness and pain, her life was truly remarkable. LOVED it.
A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway. Being so intrigued with Hemingway's personal life, I read his autobiography. It's incredible to read his words in light of McLain's research and juxtapose both versions. His tight, lean writing painted his life in Paris and Europe with beauty. I was especially fond of his chapter on hunger. Essentially, he says hungry artists are better artists because they want it more. It being writing for Hemingway, but I applied it to any artform, especially photography and how hunger for precision, success and authenticity reveals itself in need. And want.
Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus. This series of short essays by McManus was a nice break from my usual reading. Every chapter reveals McManus' insight on love, specifically the role God plays in loving humanity. More than anything, it challenged me to love beyond what I think I'm capable of. For this, I'm thankful.
Alice I Have Been by Melanie Benjamin. Oh, wow. This book hit me like a swig of Nyquil. Soon enough I was dreaming of rabbit holes and Cheshire cats. I bought this book and was glued to it since I've always been fascinated with Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. The story is told through the voice of Alice, the real life girl for whom the story is dedicated. As the daughter of the Dean of Oxford (where Lewis taught mathematics), he befriended Alice and their story unfolds in the strangest of ways, revealing a new side to this child protagonist...who eventually grows up outside of Wonderland. A truly delightful read.
If you have book recommendations (I prefer only AWESOME BOOKS), please feel free to let me know what they are since I'm always on the look out for good reads! Happy Tuesday! |
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Featured : Rangefinder Magazine : Uncomfortable
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Y esterday was my nephew's 4th birthday party, which normally wouldn't have been an issue with the exception that the night before we didn't get home until past 1am from a wedding in Los Angeles. I blinked my eyes open on Sunday morning then moaned immediately as my feet hit the floor. My body felt like it'd be tossed around in a dryer all night. Permanent press cycle.
We spent the afternoon at the park and--like always--JD was a hit with the kids...and I...well I ate my weight in snow cones, held a baby to avoid the water balloon fight, and took pictures of the birthday cake. I was way efficient. There were times when I was overwhelmed being around JD's super-sized family (he has 16 aunts and uncles), but I've somehow managed to come out of my shell through the years.
I suppose that's been the story of my life in the past five years. Getting Uncomfortable. I recently had the honor of writing an article for Rangefinder Magazine about this very notion and how it's helped me approach attending conferences like WPPI and ways a photographer can optimize his/her experience by Getting Uncomfortable. And, no, it doesn't require a person to eat his weight in snow cones. |
| You can read the entirety of the article HERE. Happy Monday! |
| Happy Friday...and Happy World Photography Day! Yup, you read it right. In honor of World Photography Day, I took a photo of my most favorite subject. Polo. He's been my most loyal model since the inception of my business and a single day hasn't passed that I haven't been incredibly thankful for his presence in my life. |
Go grab your camera and shoot something today! Happy Friday!
**Updated**
For those who asked, this photo was taken with the 50mm, f/1.2, 1/2500 160 ISO |
| Yesterday I worked on a personal project and in the process of searching for old gear, I came across an old hard drive. It was the hard drive I started my business with, so I thought I'd look through images of the first wedding I photographed. As I scrolled through the images, I shook my head in disbelief. No way. Then I tweeted the following: |
I'll be sharing more images from that first wedding soon, but I look back to that experience with a deep appreciation and pride. I'm so incredibly thankful to my very first bride, Christina, for being wonderfully gracious and taking a chance on a new photographer. I'm indebted to her.
Back in 2007, I met with brides for a initial consultation at Starbucks. I desperately longed to have a studio with sample albums in mahogany shelves and canvas prints lining the walls. Instead, I competed with a barista to be heard. Nonfat caramel macchiato extra caramel no whip double drip for JENNIFER.
Awesome. |
I'd arrive early to snag the best table in a corner and set up my laptop. And wait. By the time the prospective bride walked through the doors, I'd nervously made my way through one too many drinks. We'd introduce ourselves and I'd get her a drink while she watched the slideshow I'd set up on my computer. By the time I returned, the show was over so I'd close my laptop and we'd talk. About anything. About everything. And all things related to her wedding.
Every time I left Starbucks at the end of a meeting, I felt miserable...like I wasn't enough. I mean, who would hire me? No album to show, no studio, no prints. I felt ridiculous and convinced myself I'd never get hired. And yet. And yet these brides would email me a few days later ready to send a retainer for my services.
I'm thankful for my early days, appreciative for the moments of self-doubt for it was these moments that defined who I became as a business person. And extra thankful for the studio I meet my clients in today. For the past two years I've been fortunate enough to share a space with Julie Hill of Elysium Productions and I love it. I work from home, but on the rare occasion I meet with a client (most my meetings these days are done via Skype or on the phone), I am blessed to have a space in Orange County to do so. |
| Whether you're meeting in Starbucks, the lobby of a swanky hotel, or in a studio, own it. I met in Starbucks for the first two years of my business, a french bakery for the third year of my business, and later transitioned to a studio, but in every scene, I tried my best to focus on the only thing I had: me. And you have you, so make sure and let that shine for in doing so, it fades out the buzzing of the loudest espresso machine. Trust me, I speak from experience. |
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