matt and ananda's engagements

It is so fun photographing friends. I am so happy for them and can really feel the great connection, love and respect they have for each other.....plus how good looking?!!! va va voom! they were naturals. so easy..too easy.

we took their engagements at the getty in los angeles. it was a beautiful saturday night and I really enjoyed being able to be outside, taking photos and hanging out with two people I really like. how great was the light? I was in hazy, flare heaven. never thought warm golden light could make a girl so happy.

3 weeks and counting! I felt butterflies when I typed that. are we all getting married in a few short weeks?! let's get our marriage on!

xo.

big images

still trying them out...at least through this week.

I hear you anna, and there is nothing worse than shouting photos. lets give it a few days and see how we feel.

out.

we love cameras.

ali was the cutest pregnant photographer, I have probably ever seen. she is the master mind behind the blog, "your heart out".


brion looks like a castaway in this photo. stranded on a deserted island with the most important necessity. (is that your camera or jons?) talented photographer and all around good guy. any single ladies want his number?


fancy cameras where everywhere during our workshop in laie, and the man working most of the magic was jon canlas. he is a wiz with film, a brilliant business man and another all around good guy (sorry ladies he is taken plus 4 1/2 kids). I am proud to announce our wedding photographer of choice, jon!! how lucky are we? grant is excited to meet you and I promise to keep goofy faces to a minimum.

check out his film is not dead workshop, july in san fransisco.

sneak peek- matt and ananda

we spent sunset at the getty for their engagement session. so many great images. love these guys.

more coming.

(ps. playing around with posting larger images....what do we think? larger better or bad?)

sky and sand- north shore, oahu

red & green- north shore, oahu (film is not dead workshop)

remember that super fun week I spent in hawaii shooting film with jon canlas? here is one of our hot humid days mixing it up with some super fine models.

(ps. guess who is shooting my wedding, just weeks away? hint: FILM. answer coming later this week!!!!!)

laie inn- november 08

cheap, awesome location, possibility of bed bugs and right next to a mcdonalds!
plus look how good the best drink ever looks kicking it on the table (buy a six pack and never look back).

north shore, oahu. nothing but love.

bake shop interview

(source of images)

meet the fabulous bake shop blog creator. montage creative does documentaries on random interesting people and caroline's interview just went live on their blog. see/hear.

not only does she bake delicious treats, but she is a talented graphic designer and art director AND one of my best girls. there are only a handful of people you can call at 3am during a crisis, she is one of mine.

love you care! here is to you and the celebrity that you are!

froth

I am a girl who really digs some froth. this drink is a thurston family breakfast staple. orange juice and banana whipped into a frothy delight. I've pretty much been drinking this a lot lately. my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

hello mr. president

(photo source)

just watched him be sworn in with tears in my eyes. It just felt so good. I even started the process with a dream last night where I explained my support for him to a car full of family driving up a mountain side.

now, lets see what happens.

jen's year at a glance

I love this idea found on simply photo. one photo moment for every month of the past year. I should do this.

new years eve

righteous mac and cheese

once upon a time I ate the best mac and cheese. It was in NYC and was made by JD. the key ingredient..blue cheese. blue cheese lovers get ready for obsession.

I emailed JD for the recipe, after YEARS of craving and these are the directions he sent me:

"I've got to say you timed this perfectly, I just whipped up some mega mac for my woman's grandmother, who thinks she knows everything about cooking, and I humbly blew her mind.

Ya know babe, the problem is that there is no specific recipe, its a balance of strong intuition and spiritual logic. Just focus on what makes the mac most delicious, and work with that. Take a deep breath in through your nose and imagine the breath as a blue light filling all the dark spaces in your body, then say "creamy mac"...

Honestly though, noodles cooked just right, a little al dente, the creamiest cheese you can find, a mild cheddar is best, if its sharp it tastes weird with the other garbage. Depending on how you feel add some seasoning, fresh basil, and some love. Make that into a traditional mac-n-cheese. Put that shii into a pan, like a brownie pan. Sprinkle the top with a super lite layer of bread crumbs, not too much that it sucks the juices out. Then put some blue cheese on top of that, bake it for like 10 minutes in the oven as hot as you want. Then usually I put some crumbles on it, or if you can find some legit blue cheese dressing put that crap on and wamo kablamo you've made new friends!

And if you're looking for love grill some brown sugared peach slices topped with a sweet (just mixed with a little sugar) mascarpone cheese for dessert. Get creative baby!"

JD, I made it. I added fresh basil...some aged cheddar, blue cheese and lots of enlightenment. the result... a few extra pounds! who cares! g and I are getting fat and happy together! WE LOVE CHEESE!!!!!!

bus stop- culver city- nov08

out front

one week last month I walked past my front door and saw this on my front lawn....and then I saw the gathering every day for about week at approx 1pm. um, weird! (photo doesn't really do the creepiness justice).

I'm back!

I didn't make a single post all last week!!! I am ashamed of myself. BUT I do have an excuse, planning a wedding.

Seriously, all I want is a really simple, low key wedding but even with simple, planning logistics takes time. please forgive. post march I should be back to normal with LOADS of new and improved stuff, like a website and blog overhaul, going "green" wedding photography and other budding ideas.

The new year has started off nicely but with most of my focus on march I haven't even had a chance to goal set...but not to worry I am not goal-less.

Until my wintery Utah photos from last week are developed I leave you with bright and beautiful Santa Barbara.

road trip

(photo taken from the back porch of my parents house)

we are off on our first road trip of 2009 to this beautiful place. wedding errands, family stuff and possibly sledding are all on the agenda. winter would not be right without some of my utah snow.