Brides.com Party

I apologize for my delay in blogging lately. I am still working on developing my new website. Brides.com hosted elegant party at the molaa in Long beach last week. a team of beautiful ladies at the Details & Details did awesome job of planning this party with Brides.com
My brides, you should definitely check out Details & Details blog for more details on awesome vendors that helped to put this amazing party together.

*all photos are used with permission by brides.com*

I met Sandra P. at Jose Vila's workshop and we immediately connected! so when she invited me to be her date for the Brides.com party, I leaped for the joy. I love this fun shot of Sandra Pan. When I meet people I see only one thing, genuineness of their heart. She definitely has a good heart and she is so talented. I am glad we became friends! Attending networking events are definitely helping me gain more friends that I keeps me grounded.

In this photo: from the left Jacqueline Phung from Brides.com, me, Marianne, Sandy and Roberto Valenzuela
photo provided by Sandra P.photography

photo of us from Marie's Canon 5D! Marie, me, Marianne, Sandy and Marissa Lopez

A+ Jose Villa- PPA Super Monday

I came across Jose Villa's work many years ago and I fell in love with them at first sight. I am so happy to see that he is featured in PDN magazine this month because he is the most talented photographer that I know of. He "knows" photography and his work is just simply beautiful. So when I saw his name on PPA Super Monday , I told everyone about it. It was so much fun driving up with Marie & Rowena and we spent awesome day in Solvang, CA with Jose Villa. He delivered A+ workshop. I believe that photographer's heart and soul translates into his work. Let me just say that the man behind his beautiful work is also as beautiful in person.

I tried little bit of Jose Villa + Me on these images.

Simply beautiful bouquets were provided by Renae's Bouquet

Stunning Make-Up and hair service was provided by Mar from T.E.A.M make-up & hair. I wish I knew Mar when I got married. Her style is so elegant. I just love her! I am thinking of an excuse to get Mar to stylize me. Super fun and beautiful Lacie was wearing dress by Jenny Lee collection. I am happy when I capture true spirit and personality of a person I photograph. There were other gorgeous shots of her, but I think this image is my favorite of Lacie. Hope you like it as much as I do Lacie! Shelbie and Gerado was our couple of the day. Sweet Shelbie was wearing this elegant dress by Melissa Sweet. Shelbie, I hope you enjoyed your modeling debut. Thank you for being so accommodating and patient with us.
There is a big advantage of having talented photographer as a friend. They know how to capture you more beautiful than you really are! I love this picture of me, Marie shot. Can't you just feel how happy I was that day? Thank you Marie!

Bye Bye Kodak HIE

When I need the break from fast pacing life of mine, I go out to shoot landscapes.
I love photographing children and weddings but those are fleeting moments. It's no joke that many photographers have ADD. I need to be grounded at times so this is my way of finding peace in my life. I find myself focused and centered when I am composing my shots on film cameras. I practice using zone system and pretend to be Ansel Adams for the day. I can now pretty much see things in B&W and control my exposures based on the effect I want in finished prints. I love printing in the darkroom even though I can easily do everything in Photoshop now. I learned to do alternative processing and printing and I would love to use same process creating fine art portraits for my business. There is something about "old way" of doing things. Few days ago, I found out my favorite film Kodak HIE ( high-speed infrared ) discontinued. I am so bummed. I called everywhere to find left over stock, but there were none left. I hope Kodak HIE comes back in the market just like Ilford SPX 200. Here are the few images taken with my LAST role of infrared film. (Zone system was not used for this specialty film) I know some will say that we can now shoot infrared with digital cameras or apply action in Photoshop but I still think it's different. I hope you can see that too.

Boulder, Colorado March 2008 Kodak HIE rated at 100 ISO

Boulder, Colorado March 2008 Kodak HIE rated at 100 ISO
Paris, France December, 2007 Kodak HIE rated at 100 ISO