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O n our drive from Grand Rapids (which I'm now referring to as "G Rap" since I'm way local now) to Lansing yesterday, we drove past beautiful, green landscape. Hills covered with wild flowers, fields of unpicked corn, trees of varying shades of emerald. Then--out of no where--I let out an audible gasp. OH MY GOODNESS...that's a FARM!! I squealed with delight, only to receive askance stares from everyone in the car. Apparently, farms are totally normal in this part of the United States. No, but really, I tried explaining, that farm was red...with white trimming! Hello...RED WITH WHITE TRIMMING!?! I mean, who does that?! It's like I expected Norman Rockwell to peek around the bend at any time and offer me a newspaper and pipe.
It was pretty awesome.
When we pulled into the University Club at Michigan State University, I was incredibly nervous. Like, way more than usual. We prayed before we entered the building and the night went smoothly from there. Everyone--and I mean everyone--was extremely kind and welcoming. I kinda felt the way I might have sharing a Thanksgiving dinner with extended family I was meeting for the first time. It was like we just meshed. And I loved every minute of it.
With many thanks to the fabulous board of MTPPA, I was able to give a new presentation and I was honored sharing with such a wonderful group of photographers. To everyone in attendance last night, thank you. I loved meeting you, I loved seeing this beautiful place you call home, and--most importantly--I loved YOUR FARMS!
JD snapped a couple photos last night... |
| Over 150 people showed up! |
    
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Marisa and Robert : Wedding
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© Jasmine Star. This post cannot be republished without permission. Stealing makes me sad. |
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S he nervously paced the length of the suite. With her right arm wrapped around her waist and her left hand tracing the shape of her collarbone, Marisa lightly smiled. A delicate smile, a polite smile. It's just that I'm so nervous...once I'm with Robert, everything will be okay... She peeked out the bridal suite of the Hotel Bel Air in hopes of seeing her future husband, but the lure of her wedding dress and shoes pulled back into the room. Just before dressing, Marisa was asked to sign paperwork and with shaking hands, she held the pen, but couldn't write. It's just that I'm so nervous...once I'm with Robert, everything will be okay...
As Marisa crossed the grotto to meet Robert for the first time on their wedding day, she said, He just holds me and makes everything okay...he places his hands on my heart and just makes me calm. And with that, Marisa descended the stairs and approached Robert upon bridge. As he watched her approach him, his eyes welled with tears and, once close enough, they embraced. They cooed and spoke in hushed tones--compliments, laughter, adoration--and then he did the very thing Marisa needed without asking. Robert placed his hands on her heart and, just like she knew it would be, everything was perfect.
Marisa and Robert, I don't need to do any explaining as you know I think the world of you. You're absolutely delightful by yourselves, but together...well, together you're just fabulous! Whenever I'm around you, I feel the excitement and optimism for the future, and to know I was lucky enough to document your love makes me swoon. I hope you're having the time of your lives on your private island just off Belize...and, Robert, I hope you're rocking your new Nikon D90 and taking gorgeous pictures of your new wife! Much Love and Appreciation, J*
I simply adored shooting wedding photos at Hotel Bel Air, but combining special elements from the bride and groom made things even sweeter... |
| Marisa customized her Monique Lhuillier wedding gown and she looked like a total dream... |
| Helllllllllo awesome day! Her 'something blue' was a pair of Manolo Blahnik heels and I was in lurrrrve with them! |
| Marisa making her way to see Robert for the first time... |
| I seriously adored Robert...he was a man truly in love with his fiance, but here he is getting a view of his wife for the first time... |
| I know I always say this, but I lovelovelove when a bride and groom see each other before the ceremony. Their moment is private, perfect, and totally belongs to them. Robert told me later that day that choosing to see Marisa before the ceremony was the best decision they made for their wedding...love it! |
| And just with Robert's simple touch of her heart, Marisa was a totally new person... |
| My angle on the right, and JD's angle on the left... |
| A very, very special must go to Carissa of JL Designs and Events for truly being awesome. I always adore working with her and her touches to the wedding day, along with her eye for design, blew me away...love her! |
| One of my favorites photos along the gorgeous Hotel Bel Air property... |
| My view of the recession... |
| ...and JD's view...and I happen to think his photo is better! ;) |
| The reception and details with many thanks to JL Designs and Events and the ever fab Courtney Toney of Joyful Weddings and Events. The very first wedding I ever photographed was coordinated by Courtney and working together again was a true honor! We come a long way together since then and she's still amazing... |
| I think Robert looks so amazing in this photo... |
| I'll end the photos on this happy note...I love LOVE! |
Y esterday I spent most of the day spinning like a top and pretending to know exactly what I was doing. If there was ever a day I wish contained oh, say, 29 hours, yesterday would be it. JD and I got home from Saturday's wedding at 1:15am after stopping in Little Tokyo for much needed ramen and gyozas as a post-wedding celebration. We woke early the next morning to clean the house, backup the wedding, go to church, run errands, and somehow find time to enjoy Sunday since it's our day. I was also preparing for tomorrow's photography presentation for MTPPA in Lansing, Michigan, which made things that much more complicated because as I prepared the slideshow, I'd walk around the house talking to myself--looking totally crazy--trying to connect my thoughts and words.
Polo just stared at me from the couch in bewilderment.
I'm on my way out and won't be back until late Thursday, so emails responses will be delayed. In light of everything that's going on right and the craziness of wedding season, I also won't be at this month's SmugMug meeting. The good news is that Jeff Jochum will be taking my place as leader and giving a presentation on Fusion, the art of combining film and photos. It'll take place on Thursday, October 24, 2009 at 7pm at Mesa Verde Country Club. Should be quite informative! :)
As I was packing for the trip, I kept on thinking back to Saturday's wedding...specifically about the bride's most awesome shoes! As I was editing a few photos, I'll I could do was think of how I was throwing these Manolo's in my bag today! Hey, a girl can wish, right?!
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Shooting Group Wedding Formal Photos
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I received a number of emails this week all pertaining to one thing: Formal Group Pictures. Some emails were light-hearted and funny, others filled with dread and disdain. One emailer even asked if I took any formal pictures at all, and it made me crack up. The answer is yes. Yes, I take formal wedding group photos....but I hardly blog them because I don't feel the photos are truly reflective of my ability as a photographer. Truth be told, just about anyone can line up a group and snap a photo, so I don't really showcase them since they're not overwhelmingly unique.
I, however, wanted to show a few samples of my formal photos because a few readers asked about them. So much so, I'm wondering if a group colluded and planned to email me all in the same week! ;) My goal as I shoot wedding formal pictures is to keep things as fast and fun as possible. No one wants to spend all of cocktail hour standing around for 13 combinations of group pictures. No one. Trust me. I try to breeze through family photos in 25-30 minutes, and bridal party photos in 25 minutes. Keeping things professional, fun, and quick has been a huge base for wedding referrals from bridal party members...which is something I totally cherish. Basically, people just want to have fun and if they're stuck waiting in a church for 10,000 photos to be complete, it makes me look bad. I'm just sayin....
Here are a few samples of my wedding formals...like I said, they're nothing too special, but I wanted to reassure my readers, that I'm not THAT diva to not shoot formals! :)
Here are a few from Alicia's and Steven's Wedding in Pasadena...
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| While I'm shooting the traditional group wedding photo... |
| ...JD is off to the side getting a different angle... |
| While I was shooting these formal pictures... |
| ...JD was capturing this awesome photo... |
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Cypress College : Wedding Photography Class
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A t the start of my career (or, what felt like the beginning of a series of unpredictable events), I was frustrated. I distinctly remember throwing myself on our bed and yelling in frustration. In the pillow, of course. I have some class! I was frustrated and felt like I couldn't get the wheels to turn. I knew I found what I wanted to pursue...my passion...my dream. But I didn't have anyone who would let me shoot with them. I felt like I could handle the stress of assisting, but no one threw me a bone.
That is, of course, until I met Greg Bumatay of Bumatay Studios. I met Greg in a large group of photographers (all of who were a part of OSP Photo Forum) and we immediately became real-life friends...instead of just on the web. He'd been shooting a couple years and had a successful business in Orange County and I was immediately drawn to his humility, kindness, and openness. We swapped business cards and a few weeks later, he asked if I'd like to be a third shooter at one of his weddings. I nearly combusted after reading his email, but realized combustion would kinda ruin my chances of becoming a photographer, so I remained calm. Sort of, anyway.
That summer, I moved from third shooter to second shooter...and he was the first person to ever give my a paycheck for my services. I'm still blown away by his kindness. He encouraged me and told me I'd become something one day...and while I don't think I'm there quite yet...I know I've come a long way. And I owe him a ton.
When Professor Bumatay asked if I could speak to his wedding photography class at Cypress College today, I was honored. To the many students I met today, thank you for the splendid afternoon...I can't wait to see what the future holds for you all!
Thanks to JD for the following photos....here's Greg making an introduction... |
| What a fabulous group of students if I say so myself! |
2013
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