An Orange County Engagement Session Fri. March 26, 2010
Believe me, it is not lost on me that at some point I need to stop posting a photo a day and pony up with the full posts, but hey--at least you're getting more blog, more often, right?!
I've been traveling so much lately that I'm so excited to have the next month with NO traveling at all--what a relief! That should give me the time I need to share everything that's been going on here in my world with you!
Yesterday I shot an engagement session right here in Orange County! I don't know what it is about this year, but I am just so excited to be shooting all the time and I really look forward to every shoot. I met this particular couple well over a year ago now, and their wedding is finally coming up in June. They have a great team of people on board for their wedding, and I just adore them. Here's a sneak preview of their shoot:
And in other news, it is FRIDAY! My brother is coming into town tomorrow to visit for a few days, and next week is going to be quite eventful in more ways than one. There will be some good times, some sad times, and some FUN TIMES--I can't say I'm looking forward to it all, but it promises to be an adventure and an exciting week :)
Today I spent the afternoon on a tugboat on the San Francisco Bay. It is days like this when I realize how much I am blessed to be living this life! I've got lots in the works to blog fully, but this can tell the story in short for now:
An Engagement Session in 14 Minutes Wed. November 25, 2009
When superstar wedding coordinator (my wedding coordinator) Angel Swanson of Love and Splendor asked me if I would be able to do holiday photos of her and her husband Erik, I was flattered, and a little nervous. Angel & Erik have been shot by some of the best: Amelia, Jasmine, and Nate & Jaclyn (twice). So I had an impressive roster of photographers to live up to.
We settled on the shoot being here in Orange County yesterday, and since it is getting dark so early these days, we would have limited time to shoot. Meaning, we'd only have an hour and a half or so, in which I would create these beautiful, Anthropologie-style photos that they would treasure and have from this year.
But, as fate would have it, there was a terrible accident, which caused Angel & Erik to be trapped in their car on the way down here for well over two hours. When they arrived, we scrapped the original location and headed to the hills of my neighborhood, Ladera Ranch, chasing the sun as it slipped behind the horizon. I knew that we had limited time to shoot, so we worked FAST!!
This shot was taken at 4:38pm:
And this last shot was taken at 4:52pm, 14 minutes later:
Here is what happened in between.
It was a rush of laughing, walking, and kissing :)
With a little sweetness:
And a little silliness:
And a bow:
And a favorite:
Not to mention some beauty:
A lovely moment:
Don't forget kindness:
And it wouldn't be fun without a little attitude:
Some teasing:
A dash of looking really really good:
At the end...relaxation:
And holiday cheer:
Angel and Erik--thank you for the most lovely 14 minute shoot. I'd say it looks like we shot for at least 30 minutes!
Lisa & Shaun's San Antonio Engagement Session Sat. October 31, 2009
What is the proper beginning to a love story? Is it traditional dates with roses and candy? Is it a setup through friends of friends? Lisa and Shaun might tell you it's going to Jamaica on spring break in college, recognizing an electric connection in someone you meet randomly, and five years, several moves, long distance dating, and two dogs later becoming engaged to the love of your life.
it's not typical, but then again, neither are Lisa & Shaun.
Lisa is dynamic, petite (4'10" and that's taller than some members of her family!), quick witted, stylish, and kind. Shaun is intelligent, tall (over 6 feet), easygoing, friendly, chivalrous, and so incredibly sweet to Lisa.
I hadn't met Shaun before I arrived at their house in San Antonio at 9am this morning, but he immediately welcomed me with a hug and a warm "come on in!". I liked him immediately.
Lisa and Shaun are people of very varied interests, so we decided to incorporate a few of them into their shoot. Two of their interests are their dogs, Dexter (the big one) and Pixie (the small one). The dogs are just like them--one big one and one small one :)
Dexter was quite rambunctious, so as I do with children at family shoots, I decided it would be good to let him run around to blow off a little steam:
A little family photo:
Shaun and Lisa have such an easy rapport with one another. They were very natural and even if they felt a little awkward, they were so comfortable together that it was easy for them to show their personalities:
I love the bottom photo because both dogs are looking at me but neither of the people are:
We were actually scheduled to shoot the evening of the previous day, but the forecast called for rain. Lisa and I decided to postpone the shoot to the following morning, and of course there was no rain on the original afternoon and a nasty forecast for our new morning! When I woke up, it was hideous out--cold, rainy and windy, but it cleared right up and became a perfect day!
I saw this field on the way from Jeff's parents home (they live in San Antonio--very convenient!!) to Lisa & Shaun's house and just HAD to shoot there:
California light? Please! Texas is where it's at!
It can't hurt to have a few cacti in the photos (actually it can--I STILL have a few needles in my jeans!)
Well worth it, thought:
I love this one:
Lisa told me that they have a frame that says, "Home" and wanted an image to suit. I think these two would work very well:
Especially this one:
We headed down to the riverwalk so they could show their more fun side:
I just had to poke a little fun at the height difference:
Lisa mentioned to me while we were at the house that she had gotten into smoking cigars! We happened to be near a cigar shop, so we stopped in so they could snag a couple--it made for great photo ops:
These two are my faves of the day:
We really wanted to shoot some colorful things and we did!!
love the colors in this one:
and the attitudes in this one:
And the feel of this one:
Lisa & Shaun, thank you for letting me into your lives today! I had an amazing time with you and can't wait to be a part of your wedding next year!
an engagement shoot in beverly hills. On a rooftop. Of the raddest hotel ever. Fri. July 31, 2009
I remember my life by milestones, and by before and after's. Before I moved to California....before I was a photographer...after I discovered the 50 1.2. I am currently living in "before I knew about the incredible-ness that is the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills".
I got an email from Jay that went something like this:
"Jessica, we need to set up our engagement session with you. We want to do a dawn shoot for our E session with you snapping at us on the roof deck pool area of the SLS hotel in LA... very renegade. Please let me know your thoughts, but this could be the coolest event since mr and mrs pacman back in 84."
I find it impossible to express my joy at receiving an email like this for several reasons, which I will now list out:
1. I love shooting at new, amazing locations, and I love when someone else drops them into my lap.
2. I immediately wanted to go break out an Atari and play Pacman
3. My clients are awesome
4. I got to spend the night at a rad hotel. (**sidenote--I left my car in drive at the Valet when I got there and my car drove into another car without me in it. oops!)
So we went to LA and shot at dawn. The whole scene at the hotel was very cool, modern, offbeat, eclectic, and surreal, so I gave some of the photos processing to match. I used my trusty totally rad actions and dirty pictures textures, and shot the whole session RAW to be able to change the white balance to throw the color off more easily.
Enjoy and happy friday!
** I should warn you, that if you are going to shoot at dawn, you might want to have a makeup artist handy--it's tough to look like perfection that early! Carrie's makeup was done by Stacey Craven, who did an incredible job!
The patio of the hotel was so cool and softly lit at dawn that I wanted to shoot everything all at once! So I started with these silver chairs, which I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to include on the patio of my house:
A slightly different angle:
Aren't the chairs (and Carrie's dress) cool?
I had to incorporate this yellow chair. Luckily, Carrie brought outfits to match most of the furniture :) :
I just adored the lines and oversized frames and mirrors behind them:
Carrie doesn't like being photographed alone, but she's so beautiful I couldn't help myself. Also, yet another chair I would kill for:
Jay thinks Carrie is too beautiful to stay away from though, so the solo shoot was short lived :)
They're hot. And cool. Life's just not fair sometimes:
Something about this shot makes me happy:
I want this whole scene in my house NOW. I found the couch, bought it, then immediately cancelled my order because it's so expensive I felt sick about it. Now I feel sick about not getting it. What should I do?!
Maybe just shoot at the SLS every day:
Yeah, yeah, they're cute...
Went downstairs to shoot in the lobby. I almost liked it even better:
The colors and style here look and feel so retro in the coolest possible way:
A more serious portrait, but it works:
Look at that lucite buck in the background--GENIUS!
One of my faves:
My fave:
Jay and Carrie, you are superstars. Your wedding will be phenomenal and I can't wait!!
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