As I attempt to grasp what I’ve learned thus far here at WPPI (Wedding Portrait Photographers International) annual conference in Las Vegas, I am overwhelmed with ideas and dreams and Oh-I-don’t-even-know-how-to-describe-it type sensations. I’ve never been a big fan of Vegas, and I’m slowly getting used to the mirror on the ceiling over my bed, but hey, I’m totally trying to live it up vintage Las Vegas style. I have so much to learn and do and accomplish in my career, I feel like I’ve barely begun on my path. I have so many dreams. I found out the other day about the Palm Springs Photo Festival last week, and I can’t even begin to tell you how I would love to attend Keith Carter’s workshop. I can’t afford it; I can afford the time and travel, but not the workshop. Oh how I would love attending his workshop. I always know in my heart, if I’m meant to make it happen, I will; I will find a way to attend. Same here with WPPI. I love the commraderie and meeting new people, whether thus far the brief moment of meeting Elizabeth Messina at the workshop line, or hearing my friends talk about seeing the Boutwells and John Michael Cooper at the West Wing Bar tonight, I’m in love with being inspired with so much I can’t even begin. I am so thankful I am here (wondering about this mirror above my bed, or the jacuzzi five steps from my bed) and all that I am thankful and willing to learn and appreciate my time while here.

Last week I went with my bright and shiny happy smiley face to Sierraville, because I wanted to take some photos (and attempt to begin the education of Sean with photography so he can eventually become my permanent 2nd shooter), here’s a frame I have as my desktop, and I’m digging it so much I wanted to share. (Never thought you’d see me do landscapes or buildings huh?) I love the detail along with the mystery and feel of this frame. But that’s all me. I hope you enjoy. Thank you so much for reading my continual evolution!

Just a quick post to announce Ginger and Luigi who are getting married in October in San Francisco and Napa are my winners for my first ever Wedding Photography Giveaway! Very special thank you to all who’ve entered! More to come soon!

I set up my desk in front of the window in my bedroom, and as I watch the snow come down covering my backyard in white, my bright and shiny happy smiley face rests from a nasty cold, that I somehow don’t have worse than him. (Must be all the stuff I take for my immune system). I’m dying to get out in the backyard and make some photos of Sean, but I have to wait until he feels better. Thus nothing like being snowed in to get blogging on Laniee and Roger whom I photographed in January in San Jose at David’s Restaurant. Laniee was so sweet, very watchful of me, which I always find interesting of most brides I photograph. She was very curious to see how I would react to Roger’s massive family, (where when formal type photos always become interesting due to all the possible combinations). I let Roger’s father tell me and direct which photos he wanted of the family. Always completely happy to oblige. But it was funny, Laniee watching me and me catching her watching me, and me smiling my little knowing smile of I’m-here-to-make-everyone-happy-so-I-ain’t-stressing-out-about-all-the-portraits.  Laniee and Roger are so funny; they love being silly with each other; making blowfish faces and cracking each other up. Me and Sean do that sometimes, but we more make each other laugh with zerberts and overly being silly aggressive with each other. I do treasure the time I have with Sean in the winters, as summertime will come and he’ll go away back to San Diego and I won’t see him again until October. *sorry* got distracted there. I had so much fun at Laniee and Roger’s wedding, the silliness, the communication between Laniee and I without speaking a word to each other, and her knowing I understood, with the expression of “Don’t worry about it, just roll with it and have fun”. It was awesome. Congratulations on Laniee and Roger and to your new one coming up here very soon! Thank you so much for allowing me into your lives for your wedding! Thank you so much!

About a month ago, I took a few days to visit my friend, Sean, up in Grass Valley. I have always called him my bright and shiny happy smiley face, because I feel bright and shiny and happy and smiley whenever I’m around him. He’s such a great comfort to me, a great positive influence on my health. (I’ll call him up while having a glass of wine and ask what he’s doing and he’ll tell me - munching on greens and here I am with the glass of wine with the greens beginning to go bad in my fridge) He helps me to be a better person. And I greatly appreciate him for that. He is living on this amazing property where the owner practices Feldenkrais, which Sean periodically goes back to San Diego for his training. One of these days I’m gonna teach Sean to be my second photographer, so he can come photograph with me at my amazing couple’s weddings, and he’ll get paid so he can continue his Feldenkrais training. (Now if I could just talk him into transferring to Berkeley, so he wouldn’t be so far away!) So during my stay, we did some stick pickin’ for his landlord, and Sean got poison oak. He gets like just by looking at it. I’ve never been around poison oak, so thankfully I remain unscathed, but Sean is still suffering from it. It’s been a month. A few photos I made while playing with a CPS borrowed 45mm tilt shift lens. Happy Sean and the gorgeous property he lives on.

Hi all! Today’s the last day to enter the 2010 Wedding Photography Giveaway. The contest ends tonight at 11:59pm. See this post for all the details!

Hot damn! My favorite saying at any wedding. And soft porn. Most of my couples are so freaking amazing; when they are so comfortable with each other and me..they provide me with soft porn. Seriously, the couples I am so blessed to photograph have that so intense connection, they are oblivious to me and my camera. Which totally makes for the best in-the-moment photographs. *ahhhh* Jane and Logan from today at Edgewood. You have no idea how lucky I feel to follow these two and their friends and family on their so incredibly amazing wedding day. More to come so0n!!! (Wow, I’m in such ecstasy right now all I need is my bright and happy smiley face that lives in Grass Valley!)

I proposed the idea to my hair dresser, Stephanie, as I was getting my hair done last month about doing a creative shoot. Stephanie is one of the owners at An Epic Salon in Reno, and I am so stoked she was excited as I was about this shoot. I wanted to play with artificial light, and Stephanie wanted photos for her website, and I figured I would have some serious fun photographing this for Stephanie. Three other girls showed up for the shoot at O’Skis in Sparks, where we played with the girls, and I’m so stoked to photograph a “rockabilly” theme with the models. We had so much fun playing with the models and working with light. I used on the inside location, a video light, a softbox and a ring flash adapter. Very tough and time consuming to play with with the artificial light, but as I evolve as a photographer, I am loving every moment of learning. Here’s a few of my favorites!

Okay, okay, me and my previews. I just get so excited to see the photos, I can’t help but post my favorite from my initial edit. This is Pheenix from our shoot today at O’skis in Sparks. Four models, two hair stylists, and two makeup artists. It was such a hugh production I was so excited to see all the work Stephanie Pierce (my hair stylist at An Epic Salon in Reno) put into getting this shoot together and having me and three other girls come photograph. So much fun. The creative goal today was to play with artificial light: umbrellas, softboxes, ring flashes, flash lights, whatever artificial light we could find. This initial frame of Pheenix was lit with my tiny soft box. I need a gorrillapod so bad. On my purchase list. More to come soon.

I couldn’t resist. I’m almost in the middle of my chaotic week. Moved to Truckee on Wednesday, teaching skiing and snowboarding to kids at Northstar….Wedding in South Lake Tahoe today at Edgewood, tomorrow a full day shoot in Reno and moving teaching at Northstar next week. So much for sleeping in! I pray for the Plumas County Longboard races next Sunday…I hope. I’m thinking Holga. Today I photographed Deanna and Greg in South Lake at Edgewood.  I couldn’t resist after seeing this image. I had to post this one. Deanna loves the outside-the-box-images and I had to include the red Stuart Weitzman pumps. As I listen to Massive Attack on my iTunes, I think this photo is definitely a keeper. I love the action, the expressions, the realness and fun of this frame. I have one frame I know I can’t wait to post soon of Deanna and her mother in law..soon. I so loved being a part of their wedding. Their wedding makes me so happy to re-confirm I have found my path in my life. Thank you so much Deanna and Greg for allowing me into your lives for this day…..I am so so incredibly thankful…. More to come soon!

I’ve never played before around the Sand Harbor area of East Shore Lake Tahoe, and when Melissa And Ryan came into town from D.C. to have me photograph their engagement session, we were both so excited to explore a new area for us. This was Melissa’s first visit to Tahoe, as Ryan has family in Truckee; they decided since most of their family will be flying in for their wedding, might as well have it in the most amazing area (what I believe anyway). They’re getting married at Northstar, which will be my first wedding there, and all I know of Northstar is covered in snow. I work part time teaching SuperStars and AllStars snowboarding and alpine skiing, and most of the time I spend my time in the Galaxy, which is in the Village at Northstar. And to think that’s where Melissa and Ryan will be getting married…in the Galaxy…I am so excited to see what Northstar looks like without snow! I couldn’t resist taking a peek at their images after their session, and post one before I resume packing and moving to Truckee tomorrow! (I tell ya, looking and playing at photos and hanging out with cool couples is a million times better than packing!) Melissa and Ryan, thank you so much for playing in the snow with me! I’ll see you soon!