Beautiful Day Photography’s Weblog

Since I joined the Step Up Women’s Network 4 months ago, I have had the time of my life not only with teaching their 9th grade Photojournalism class, but getting to know the other instructors and Women members.  This program not only is one of the best networking groups I have been a part of, but the philanthropical work that they are doing to help girls in Los Angeles and New York to graduate and pursue their goals in college and beyond is amazing.  I am sure that these girls will become Step Up Members when they are business professionals one day and that they will give back and the cycle will continue. I HAD to share some photos of my 9th grade Photojournalism class that I teach at Gertz-Ressler Highschool every Tuesday afternoon.  These girls are so creative, fun and they inspire me as much as I hope I inspire them.  So far they have learned How to operate Cameras, Find good lighting, How to take Portraits, How to manipulate photos and soon how to BLOG.  So this is our FIRST of hopefully many blogs to come.  I can’t wait to see these girls grow into even more talented young ladies and to see what careers and schools they choose.  My 9th grade  year was my FAVORITE year growing up.  I finally had discovered Photography and it really was the year that marked the beginning of my path to my adult life and to discovering my passions and what I love to do.  I am blessed to be able to do what I love to do as my career and I am sure that these girls will find their own passions to pursue in the next few years.  

So introducing Magdalena, Kelly, Lizzet, Juanita, Mayra, Dalia, Krisbel, Yadira, Susana, Leonor, Sarai, Mirca, Kimberly, Melinda, Elizabeth, Alejandra, and Stacy !  My girls!

What I LOVED about this wedding was that it was yet again a reunion of the USC Posse that I have shot now I think 8 weddings for!  Lisa Tuccio-King referred this one to me and EVERYONE there knew all of my previous brides and grooms that I had shot and even the whole Bali crew that I spent a week with overseas.  I ALSO, got to work with one of my FAVORITE coordinators and great friends, Ryan Larson with Savoir Flair Weddings.  She had also worked Lisa’s wedding with me, so that was a mini reunion as well. Vanessa and Michael completely fit the mold so far with what I have experienced with this crew.  EVERY single one of them are fun, extremely caring, lucky in love, and probably going to remain or become great friends of mine.  Seriously, I wish MY college crew was half as amazing as these guys.  They are all just solid people with great energy, so I knew this would be a fun wedding before it even started.  They got married down at St. James Church in Redondo Beach and then we raced back up to do photos on the beach in back of Casa Del Mar in Santa Monica…Sorry guys for getting wiped out by that wave!  It was SO worth the photos though:)  The reception was super fun, the photo booth a HUGE hit and best of all, I got to chill at the upstairs bar with everyone after the party shut down.  It was great to actually sit down and talk to people now that I felt I knew them after stalking them all night with my camera:)

To see more photos from this event, just click on this link.  You guys BETTER not be logged in online looking at these from Italy!

So Danielle not only bailed me out at Vanessa and Michael’s wedding, but she showed up dressed like my TWIN without even planning it…LOL!  People kept on asking me if it was the Beautiful Day uniform or something.  Too funny.

SO Jennifer and Brian are two of the CUTEST people I have met!  Their story is DEFINITELY a Match.com success story:)  So much so that I am hoping to get a little write up about them in a magazine.  They met online, had a chance to get to know each other for a month before they ever even met, and then the rest is history.  I wanted them to put their online profiles blown-up at the wedding, but they went a more “classy” route for their wedding details lol. Their wedding took place at Grand Tradition in Fallbrook, CA.  Having been to the Temecula area numerous times for weddings, I was expecting the typical arid “winery” feel to this place.  Instead, it was a tropical oasis in the middle of the desert.  Only 20 minutes from Pechanga Casino.  Seriously, it felt like you were in Hawaii with all of the waterfalls and privacy and foliage.  It was STUNNING.  I would get married there!  The only thing is that the location shuts down early, but the casino nearby is open 24 hours…so that didn’t stop ANYONE from continuing the party:)  You know how those Venezuelans are, they never stop!  I was so bummed that I couldn’t stay and party after the wedding….I owe you a rain check Jen and Brian!  But they had SO many cute and touching details throughout their wedding.  From their hilarious choreographed first dance (probably the best I have ever seen), to the candy bar with cute labels, wine bottles with their photos on them, old photos of themselves on the tables, and how can I forget the caste of Brian’s balls that made their way through all of his friend’s possession and even into Jen’s Dad’s speech at the wedding!  Either way, I had a blast. I didn’t want to leave and I hope I know these two for a long time.  Thanks again to my photo posse who came with, Lori Yohe and Ivonne Kirk.  They made the day even more fun and special

To see more photos from this event, just click on this link

I have to give a HUGE thanks to Leila Khalil with Be Inpired PR for giving me this Blog Love on Shannon and Tyson’s wedding in Ojai.  I first met Leila when she was Mary Dann’s and Linda Pittelli’s right hand lady (two of my FAVORITE wedding coordinators) and since branching off from them, she has started her own PR business for high-end , unique wedding vendors called, Be Inspired PR.  Her blog is www.inspiredbythis.com  and is chock full of upcoming trends and useful information for brides. Her business has exploded (as I KNEW it would:) and she is definitely a lady to watch!  Congratulations too on your recent engagement Leila..Love you!

Real Wedding Wednesday: Lavendar and Succulent Themed Wedding at Ojai Valley Inn and Spa

October 21st, 2009

SO I won’t give it away JUST yet what I am going to be…all I can say is that it involved a pre-make-up trial that scared my neighbors and made me look like a Dead French Mime:)  My great friend, Tara, Goddess and Owner of Make-up Therapy did a great job of not only making me look terrifyingly hot, but also taking photos. We decided to take photos as the make-up continued to build for her blog.  She should put on her website “Not only does she do Beauty, but she does UGLY as well” …Check it out! I am sure Tara will do a better job explaining the make-up steps on her blog….the hard part is having to do it on my OWN for Halloween!

Ps Tara, If I’M going to be on here with no make up, so are you!:)  Love you!

Enough said….

Jay Nash is not only a great friend of mine that I have known for a decade since my days at Syracuse University, but he also is a former Groom of mine and I have had the pleasure of shooting his sister-in-law’s wedding and countless concerts of his as well.  He is truly one of those people that was just BORN to be a musician.  He thinks, eats, drinks… DRINKS:), and BREATHES music.  You can tell the passion by just listening to him and OF COURSE the talent:)  He has inspired me during times that I doubted my existence as a starving artist in Los Angeles in my early days, living poor off the floor of my apartment, because I couldn’t afford a bed and saving and rewashing my plastic silverware from Wendy’s, because I couldn’t afford REAL cutlery..and made me realize WHY I was doing what I was doing out here.  Because I LOVE it and I am passionate about it.  He deserves to be famous and living large and I know he will get there soon.  Until then, I will keep supporting and shooting and I HAD to celebrate his first time of Headlining at the Troubador!…GO JAY!  You SO still owe me two guitar lessons by the way:)  Please check his music out if you get a chance at www.jaynash.com.  You WON’T be sorry.

One of my best friends, Tasha Mobley, helped style this shoot.  Her husband, Amilcar…better known as “Pro” owns and operates Create Management Firm and reps both Paul Kim and John Ho; two up-and-coming, talented artists.  Over the weekend we had a great day of shooting in Downtown LA; starting at a rad loft and ending at the Disney Concert Hall. Some of the shots were so rad I just HAD to blog a sneak peek of this shoot. The group shot is SO CSI Miami:) To check out more photos from this shoot, just click on this link.  And definitely check these guys out on Myspace. They rock!

SO I HAD to share a TON of images from Jhordice and Mauricio’s wedding, because there were so many amazing details that helped make the day extra special.  Of course most of this is due to the FABULOUS Laurie Davies with 5 Star Weddings and Events.  I know that every time I shoot one of her weddings that we will be submitting it to a magazine…I swear!  Jhordice looked SO beautiful and her bridesmaids dresses were very elegant and made the event feel like the Oscars.  Their ceremony was at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels in Downtown LA.  It is such a modern (only 6 years old), yet magnificent building.  It is known for its unique architecture, which is what I believe drew them to this church (Mauricio is an Architect)…but also to our second shooting location, the unusual Disney Concert Hall designed by Frank Gehry.  I mean, check out the amazing colors!   Laurie, of course, transformed the Sheraton Universal into the set of “Dancing with the Stars” with performance after performance during dinner of real professional ballroom dancers…which not only WOWed ME, but the guests, band members, kitchen staff…I mean EVERYONE stopped what they were doing to check out the dancers.  The cool thing about it was watching the guests break it down on the dancefloor after the performances…They were SO inspired to try to flip around and dance like the professionals.  SO funny!  Other cute details were the Chocolate/Caramel Favors, the chocolate fountain in addition to the funky cake…and MY personal favorite which I plan to steal one day at my own wedding…The Newlywed Game, where Jhordice and Mauricio has to sit back to back and try to answer questions about each other…It was TOO funny!

To see more photos from this event, just click on this link