Vallentyne Photography

This Blog Has Moved!

2009-01-03T16:22:00.000-08:00

Please visit the new VALLENTYNE WEDDINGS BLOG HERE!

2009, a hopeful and happy year beginning & A NEW BLOG!

2009-01-03T10:31:00.000-08:00

The New Year of 2009 is here and I can feel that it is going to be a great one! There are so many new beginnings on the horizon and I just love the anticipation of great things. I have many wonderful new wedding clients who I can't wait to work with. The same goes for all the talented Coordinators, DJ's, Caterers, Officiants, and Venues who make up amazing work teams whenever we do weddings together. I am also happy to announce that Vallentyne Photography is truly becoming a family business this year! My husband (and best friend:) is joining me in the capacity of a full time graphic and album designer. We have lots of great things in store for all out clients and I can't thank you all enough for making our dreams in this business come true.

Speaking of new beginnings.... I am so excited to announce the launch of THE NEW VALLENTYNE WEDDINGS BLOG! This will be my last post on my trusty old blog so from now on, please check us out/ bookmark us/ subscribe to the feed (you get the point!)
Here:

http://vallentynephotography.net/

2008, a symbolic year end : a memorial to a wonderful mother

2009-01-02T16:30:00.000-08:00

Today when I looked at my blog (honestly, a little guiltily) I was not surprised to see that the date of my last blog entry was on November 25th 2008. I stared at that date for a bit and got the feeling that I have been swimming underwater for the last month and am just breaking through the surface to the fresh air.

I have been out of touch in the end of 2008 because on Thanksgiving, November 28th 2008, my mom passed away after a long battle with lung disease. My mom was an amazing and loving person who brought joy and laughter to a countless number of people who were lucky enough to know her. It was a life that touched so many people's hearts and blessed them with her kindness, generosity, sense of humor, and the way she persevered when she had all odds against her. She constantly surprised and inspired us with her strength, determination, and resiliency. She was a dedicated and supportive mother and our relationship was very strong. She wasn't just a mom, she was a best friend to me.

Being her only daughter, I was often spoiled by her attention. The irony was that being spoiled by her love made me a more grateful and down to earth human being in every facet of my life. My mom’s devotion to me has been unwavering, and her unconditional love has been my greatest source of strength. Her honesty and integrity have been my moral compass along this journey and she has made everything I do possible.

I debated for a while about sharing all this information. After all the sweet and concerned emails and phone calls I have received, I realized that every one of us will go through these major ends and beginnings in our lives. Sharing with each other is truly part of the human experience. Even though this event symbolizes the end of many things, it is also the beginning of many others and I know my mom will still be with me through it all.

“Life isn’t about learning to survive the storm but it’s about learning to dance in the rain”

From 2nd Corinthians 4:8: We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit.

From Eastern Scripture: “Our soul never dies; only the physical body dies. We neither fear death nor look forward to it, but revere it as a most exalted experience. Life, death and the afterlife are all part of our path to perfect oneness with God.”

{getting in shape for the big day!}

2008-11-25T14:04:00.000-08:00

I think that one of the universal things that every bride goes through, myself included, is when it is time to get in shape for the wedding day! When I got engaged I hired a personal trainer, cut out all alcohol and deserts, and got super serious about looking fabulous in the dress! Now, I have adopted a habit and lifestyle of fitness thanks to getting into a long-term routine. I really have my wonderful trainer to thank for this and wanted to share her info and services with any local bride, mom, or just person wanting to get in shape..... maybe lose 10 pounds over the holidays rather than gain it!!! Her name is Heather Cameron of Cameron Fitness and her classes and bootcamps are fun, inspirational, and challenging, I love them! Check out this super cool clip of her in action!

{a new blog!}

2008-11-08T09:21:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to finally be in the process of designing my new blog, along with several other brand identity projects! All year long I write ideas down in my notebook and now is the time of year I can finally make them reality. There has been fewer posts on this blog lately, because I want them all to go on the new blog! So stay tuned, there are great things coming soon!

{featured} The Bride and Bloom

2008-10-31T06:39:00.000-07:00

I just LOVE this magazine, and I'm so excited that one of my weddings is being feaured in the new Winter 08 issue. Congratulations to Stephanie & Kevin who's wedding is featured!

venue: The Lodge at Torrey Pines

coordination: Kiley Walker Events

It was also such a nice surprise that in the same issue, they featured 6 full pages of my bouquet photos! My background in commercial and editorial photography means I love shooting still life and all the details that go into making a wedding unique. It is awesome to see that published here!

{amie and sean}

2008-10-29T12:09:00.000-07:00

I knew Amie and Sean were going to have a fun wedding as soon as they booked me and my prediction was right! With a big bridal party that loves a good party you can't go wrong! And even more surprising (or maybe not!) was that most of this crowd were lawyers! The happy couple got married at The Prado in Balboa Park, which I have to say has some of the best dinner options I have ever tried. Everything was so beautiful thanks to Diane Kern who is a fabulous coordinator and always a pleasure to work with:) Here are a few pics of the day!
venue: The Prado, Balboa Park
coordination: Diane Kern, Exclusive Designs & Events
flowers: Paul Adams
cupcakes: Flour Power

{I heart october}

2008-10-24T12:37:00.001-07:00

October is such a beautiful month in California! The weather is crystal clear, sunny, and the light is so vibrant. All of my October brides and grooms got incredibly lucky with the weather on their big day. I have had some really amazing weddings this month and can't wait to share them on the blog. They are coming soon... stay tuned!

{it's my birthday!}

2008-10-08T09:29:00.000-07:00

Today is another year.... 1 year away from a milestone birthday... amazing how time flies! I will be out of the office for the afternoon and evening celebrating my birthday with my husband, dogs, and family:)

{justin and laurie}

2008-10-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

On August 31st 2008 I photographed the wedding of Laurie and Justin, whose under-water ocean engagement was just a few months ago! The wedding was at Morgan Run Golf Course in Rancho Santa Fe and we had a great time driving around in the golf cart and shooting after the ceremony! It was such a nice day out and the wedding was so much fun, Laurie and Justin are awesome for each other and you can really see it in these pictures:)
Venue/Catering: Morgan Run Golf Course
Flowers: Suzan M. Florals
Music: Andy Hagenah of Disc Go Round DJ

can you guess where I shot the rings?....yup, it's fire!

{so sweet}

2008-10-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

I just got this incredibly sweet email from my June bride, Heidi. It is so awesome to hear stories like this because you just never really know how your life and the things you do affect others. Here is the note they sent:

Hello Heather!

I had to tell you about this. My mom just told me this story about the ladies at her work. My mom had sent out the link of the slide show you put together for us. The ladies at her work love it so much. They will all stop and watch it just to feel good and happy inside for a moment during their long day at work. Isn't that great! I just thought you might like to hear that little story.

Hope all is well!
Heidi Davis

{kari and nick}

2008-09-30T07:02:00.000-07:00

The Hotel Del Coronado is definitely one of the most famous and iconic locations to get married at in Southern California, and especially in San Diego County. So I am always excited to shoot a wedding there, I know it will be beautiful and that there will be plenty of fun places to shoot. Kari and Nick got married at The Hotel Del Coronado on August 30th 2008 and both their wedding and reception took place right on the sand. It was an absolutely gorgeous day and I had a really fun time shooting with the bride and groom, and their entire wedding party, they were such a fun group. I also had a wonderful time working with Kelly from Mint Weddngs. We have known of each other for years and it was truly a privilege to shoot one of the weddings Kelly coordinated! Here are some of my favorites from the day.
Coordination: Kelly from Mint Weddngs
Venue/Catering: The Hotel Del Coronado
Flowers: The Twisted Twig
Music: Eddie Valenzuela from Boogie Nights, Inc
Fireworks: Pyro Spectacular

{Q5}

2008-09-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

"If you love what you do in life, you will never work a day."
unknown

{kelly and josh}

2008-09-26T06:45:00.000-07:00

Windansea in La Jolla is one of my favorite beaches in La Jolla to shoot at. It has so many great elements like reefs, a sandy beach, beautiful homes with interesting architecture, and of course the wave is so much fun...not that we were surfing! I met Kelly and Josh down at Windansea and had a great time getting to know them and finding cool spots for photos...here are a few of my favorites.

{david and sarah}

2008-09-24T09:24:00.000-07:00

On August 23rd, 2008 David and Sarah got married at The Beverly Hills Hotel. It was a sunny and beautiful day and the wedding was amazingly designed, decorated, and organized by Susanne Duffy of Crown Weddings. With all their friends and family in attendance I could really see how happy the couple was to be surrounded by everyone who cared for them. For me, it was great to be able to photograph a wedding at such an iconic hotel! Here are a few of my favorites!
Coordination and Design: Susanne Duffy of Crown Weddings
Venue and Catering: The Beverly Hills Hotel
Flowers: Enchanted Florist

{cristina and ubaldo}

2008-09-23T11:24:00.000-07:00

I think doing an engagement photo shoot is one of the best ways to prepare for your wedding photography. Once you see how easy and fun it is to have your picture taken with the person you love, the photos we take on the wedding day flow easily because you know there is nothing to be nervous about! Ubaldo and Cristina were so much fun to shoot with and so easy to photograph because the were laughing the whole time! I love to see relationships that are full of laughter, you can't ask for much more than that!

{Q3}

2008-09-21T22:37:00.000-07:00

"I have never spent much time battling my own psychology. If you wallow in your own internal housekeeping-restraining personal demons, comparing yourself to other people, worrying about things you can't change-then you don't have the mental energy left to figure out where you want to go and how to get there."
Sam Wyly

(destination wedding) San Francisco

2008-09-19T09:18:00.000-07:00

I am on my way to a destination wedding in San Francisco! It is my second wedding in the city so far this year and I love shooting there. It also gives me a chance to visit with friends while I am in town since I went to college in San Francisco! Photos of the wedding will be coming soon and I will be back in the office on Tuesday after a short detour to the Napa Vinyards!

{cedar and rob}

2008-09-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

There is nothing quite like a summer wedding on the ocean in Laguna Beach. It is such a gorgeous area and the color of the water in Laguna is so sparkling and turquoise...it is like no where else. Cedar and Rob got married at Laguna Village on August 16th 2008. There were so many cool elements to this wedding, from the orange J. Crew bridesmaids dresses to the shells and ocean themed table settings, it was not only well put together but also really fun. We had a great time shooting, especially with all the crazy dancing doing on! Cedar and Rob left right after the wedding for a well deserved 3 week honeymoon in New Zealand and Indonesia....now that is doing it right!

Location/Catering/DJ: Laguna Village
Flowers: Cyndi Devynn's Garden, 562-592-2610, cyndir@adelphia.net
Make Up: Team Couture Beauty

{elizabeth and david}

2008-09-15T09:13:00.000-07:00

On August 9th 2008 I photographed the wedding of Elizabeth and David at The Museum of Man in Balboa Park. Weddings in Balboa Park are always so beautiful, it is one of my favorite locations. The ambiance and lighting is gorgeous and just about every inch of this property is perfect for photographs. Elizabeth and David were super easy to work with and the looks on their faces as they stood together at the altar was just pure and glowing love for each other. Their reception was really unique with a musical theme that included Neil Young, The Grateful Dead, Pink Floyd, and lots of classics in that genre. The food was also delicious (with lots of vegetarian options that I loved!) it was all put together by The French Gourmet who had waiters mingling through the crowd with pitchers of beer for all the guests! It was such a fun day that fit their personalities perfectly. Here are some of my favorites.

{keely and scot}

2008-09-11T05:20:00.000-07:00

Keely and Scot were married on a Thursday, August 7th 2008 at Seagrove Park in Del Mar. The couple and their family came out from Colorado to get married at the beach and they were rewarded by a gorgeous Summer day in Southern California. Diane Kern of Exclusive Designs & Events (858-485-6843) coordinated the whole event and with the help of Paul Adams Florals (619-295-4022)doing all the bouquets and table arrangements, it was an exquisite family dinner overlooking the ocean. Since both the bride and groom had children already, I thought it was very sweet that they incorporated the kids into the ceremony to create a new and strong family unit. They seemed very in love, it was easy to take pictures of them! Here are a few of my favorites.

{elite hawaii weddings}

2008-09-10T08:43:00.000-07:00

I am so excited that a new Hawaii wedding guide website has launched! Elite Hawaii Weddings is in business. If you are a bride getting married in Hawaii, you will find only the most Elite Wedding Professionals. Elite Hawaii Weddings is the brain-child of a good friend of mine, Susie Linquist. I am so proud of what she has accomplished and am also very excited to be featured on the new site. I have a serious love affair going on with Hawaii...I have been wanting to move there (at least part time!) for a few years but circumstances prevent it. So I at least want to photograph as many weddings as I can over there! So far, I have one wedding in January 2009 coming up on the Big Island and know that with the release of the new site there will be more! So check it out if you have any ideas at all about getting married in Hawaii. Susie has done some major research to develop the company and you can only benefit from her hard work. Enjoy!

{jason and april}

2008-09-06T15:16:00.000-07:00

Jason and April were married on August 2nd 2008 at The Darlington House in La Jolla. It was such a pretty wedding, I loved all the colors they used in the flowers and decor. The wedding was coordinated by Anseth Richards of Creative Occasions With a Personal Touch. Anseth and I have worked together for a long time and I always know that one of her weddings will be stylish, organized, and fun! I was also incredibly impressed by a new florist in town, Chris Werdenberg of Indulge Flowers. Everything was so beautiful and the use of water and shells, and colors were awesome! Chris also told me later that he works hard to make every production green and to recycle all his materials which gives him major points in my book:)

April and Jason both have a love of horses, riding, and animals. It was so cool to hear their childhood stories in the toasts! It seems like they were really meant to find each other with how much they have in common! Here are some of my favorite photos from the day.
Here are a few more of their awesome vendors:
Behind The Scenes Catering: 619-398-5027
Caprice Strings: 619-460-9265
La Jolla Disc Jockeys: 858-354-8084
Event Party Rentals: 760-738-3881
In Motion Video: 760-631-8178 (Super cool Super8 Film, like at my wedding!:)

{rosanne and david}

2008-09-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

Rosie and David were married on July 26th 2008 at Luscombs Point in Point Loma. It was very fun (and a little surreal) shooting Rosanne and David's wedding since it was the first wedding I have photographed at the exact same place I got married! My wedding was August 19th and was soooo hot out! Luckily, Rosanne and David got the most amazing weather and gorgeous clouds which make the photos look heavenly. My good friend Natasha of Classic Creations did the flowers and was also a member of the bridal party (Rosanne is her mom!) and she did an absolutely amazing job, really over-the-top beauty! Here are a few of my favorite photos from their big day.

{an amazing wedding season}

2008-09-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

So far this year my wedding season has been so amazing! I have been having so much fun working with all "my couples" and it is truly an honor to be a part of such a momentous occasion in their lives. I have also been busier than ever! So...In order to keep up with the high standard of service and quality that I provide for each of my clients (I just refuse to compromise here) I have recently hired a new office manager and a photo editor. There are so many behind the scenes tasks that go into running a business like this. Now that my wonderful new assistants are here, I can set to work on making all the new ideas I have a reality.....oh, yeah, and I can keep up with blogging!! new posts and photos are on their way to inspire you for your wedding:)

{my first wedding anniversary}

2008-08-22T07:51:00.000-07:00

In the midst of this busy wedding season, I just celebrated my first wedding anniversary! August 19th 2007, we got married at Luscombs Point in Point Loma. It is really amazing how fast this year has gone by! We both felt pretty amazed to be having dinner in the same restaurant where we had our wedding reception, Old Venice Restaurant.

During the getting ready and ceremony part of the day, I had a good friend shooting Super 8 film. I love that vintage look. When we got home I was surprised by another friend, Darryl from Epic Affair, who edited together a beautiful piece for us. It was so awesome to come home and see this, I love it! Thanks sooo much Darryl!

{jeannie and darren}

2008-08-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

I love small and intimate weddings. Jeannie and Darren were married in La Jolla on July 20th 2008 in a very intimate ceremony at Calumet Park in La Jolla with just their best friends and family there to support them. They were such a sweet couple and the looks on their faces the whole time were honestly beaming with happiness. The reception was a romantic dinner party at Roy's Restaurant in La Jolla, here are a few of my favorite photos from the day!

{april and jason}

2008-08-04T08:25:00.000-07:00

On July 19th 2008, April and Jason Bellemy were married in Ramona, California with a beautiful reception at the Rancho Bernardo Courtyard. The RB Courtyard was a new place for me to shoot a reception and I was so impressed! The lighting and flowers and were gorgeous and the courtyard was so romantic and private! On the way from the ceremony to the reception, we got a chance to stop and shoot in some of the beautiful open spaces in Ramona. I think open countryside is one of my favorite places to shoot and I had so much fun working with April and Jason! The whole event was so well put together by Marjeri Smith of Events by Design and the team she assembled!

Marjeri Smith of Events by Design
Catering: Continental Catering
Flowers: Linda Lopez (760) 315-5291
Cake: Marina Martin (760) 789-6970

Here are a few of my favorite images:

{baby dylan}

2008-08-01T06:52:00.000-07:00

I had so much fun photographing Dylan and his sister at their family's home in Fallbrook! They live in such a beautiful area with plenty of space for the kids to run and play every day with their dogs. Here are a few pictures, taken right in the backyard on a sunny summer afternoon:)

{laurie and justin}

2008-07-30T22:22:00.000-07:00

I love all the new experiences that being a photographer presents to me, there is always something new to learn. When Laurie and Justin told me they would love to do a water shoot for their engagement session, I decided it would be a really fun way to try a whole other category of my profession, water photography. Luckily, after years of working at surf magazines, I had the resources to borrow a water housing to give it a shot. Wow. I really have a whole new point of view now on the amazing skill, timing and endurance it takes to be a water photographer. Especially when there are waves involved! I have surfed for years so I feel I know the ocean pretty well but this was on a whole different level of multi-tasking for me! I was so glad to have tried it and really hope to continue to develop my skill in this area. Laurie and Justin surf together all the time (like me and my husband:) and for them, it is very special and an important part of their time together. Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot that started on land and moved to the water!

{christine and tom}

2008-07-28T10:35:00.000-07:00

Christine and Tom were married on July 12th 2008 at L'Auberge in Del Mar. L'Auberge has recently undergone a major remodel so I was very excited to work there again and see all the beautiful changes they made, every detail turned out amazing, from the new floors and furnishings to the stunning and modern water features!

Christine and Tom were so sweet together. I was amazed at how similar they were to each other in temperment, like 2 peas in a pod I can see how they are perfect for each other:) The wedding was coordinated by Susanne Duffy of Crown Weddings and as is my usual experience working with her, the event was pulled off with precision and style. There is really nothing more important in wedding planning than having a great coordinator who knows how to put together a good timeline of events.

In addition to this, the flowers and decor were stunning with color pops of blue and natural elements like shells and bamboo. The whole look was put together by Dawn of Embellishmint Floral and Event Design. There really is a difference between hiring a "florist" and an "event designer", one does the flowers only, and the other does the style, look and feel of the whole wedding! Here are a few of my favorite images from the big day:)

{jamie and david}

2008-07-23T08:27:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite venues in La Jolla, California is The Darlington House. Once the seasonal home of Mrs. Sybil Darlington, Darlington House still echoes a lifestyle of gracious living, elegant dinner parties and delightful musical concerts. I love the architecture, vintage furniture and style, and I almost got married there myself! I recently shot the wedding of Jamie and David at the DH and it was one of the most beautiful events I have ever seen there. Jamie looked absolutely amazing and hot in her Va Lena Valentina dress. The whole house and garden was perfectly decorated as only Kathy Wright and Co. can do. Really, the flowers and centerpieces were beyond gorgeous. At the reception the music was amazing with a band from Los Angeles playing blues and motown from City Connection Entertainment. The dinner was also delicious, I am always happy when I know TK&A Catering is working at one of my weddings, they are amazing! The whole event was perfectly pulled together by their coordinator Erin from Behind the Bride. It was my first time working with Erin but I hope to do so again soon, she was awesome! When a wedding is so well done with so many amazing elements, it is really hard to choose photos to put on the blog. There are just too many great ones! Here are a few I loved:

{heidi and trevor}

2008-07-22T07:25:00.000-07:00

A new trend in weddings seems to be emerging. Not Friday or Sunday weddings but now other days of the week too! Heidi and Trevor were married on a Monday and I was so happy to be there to shoot it! Their wedding was truly one of the more unique ones I have ever seen since they got married in an actual theater! The ceremony took place at The Lambs Players Theater in Coronado. The couple are very artistic people so this fit the perfectly. Heidi's dad helped found The Lamb's Players and Trevor is an awesome musician, check out trevordavismusic.com. So from this unique event, here are a few of my favorites:)

{tilt shift photography} San Francisco

2008-07-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

I had such a great time visiting San Francisco and shooting Jennifer and Chris's wedding. On that trip I also decided to rent a tilt-shift lens for an artistic personal project, you will see some of these photos below. Tilt-Shift Photography is also called Miniature Faking. The lens is frequently used in architectural photography to correct distortion, which rather than create sweet spots of focus keeps an entire frame in focus but minimizes the effects of convergence. I loved the effect and can't wait to practice with it more. I think that when art becomes a career, as it has in my life, it is important to do projects that make me happy for the sake of doing them. Hopefully you will also enjoy some of the architectural details I feel compliment this wedding so well!

{jennifer and chris} San Francisco

2008-07-18T08:05:00.000-07:00

I really love when I have the chance to shoot a fun destination wedding. When I got the call from Jen to shoot her wedding in San Francisco I was so excited. I love the city and actually went to college there for a while in between travels. Jen and Chris were amazing to work with. Jen is a wedding videographer so she knew exactly what type of light I was looking for and put together the perfect timeline for pictures. Their friends and family were all so close, supportive, and fun, it made the day great for me!

They were married in the famous Saint Peter & Paul Church where Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio had their ceremony in 1954. Oddly enough, this amazingly beautiful Catholic church is located at 666 Filbert Street...only in San Francisco. After the ceremony and lots of great pictures around San Francisco, we headed to the reception at Marine's Memorial Club near Union Square. There are so many fun pictures from the day, here are my favorites!

I loved this idea of a dual-garter-bouquet toss, very original.

Here's Jen, having a blast at the reception and rapping to old school rap with her bridesmaids!!

{bride and bloom magazine} 19 Stylish Bouquets

2008-07-17T08:44:00.000-07:00

I had a nice little surprise this month when the Fall 2008 issue of Bride and Bloom Magazine came out! They decided to publish 6 of my bouquet photos, each on a full page! This is so exciting because I have so many beautiful detail shots that deserve to be shared:) My background in commercial photography means I love shooting stills and getting the lighting just right. Detail shots of the dress, jewelry, shoes, and flowers are some of my favorites! Here is what you can find in the current issue on the newsstands!

Flowers by Magnolia Flower Shoppe, Allison Stevens, 760.529.5487

Flowers by LaVonne Zamora Adorations

Flowers by Kathy Wright & Co.

{fotoworks} Professional Photographic Printing

2008-07-15T21:07:00.000-07:00

Many people have asked me about the photo lab I use because of the high quality of my prints. My lab is always right on, both on the color and on time! Fotoworks is in Orange County, California. They are a professional photo lab dedicated to the highest quality printing, no shipping charges, and the best quality service I have found. If you are interested in using them call them at 1.949.450.0059!

{jessica and shane}

2008-07-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

I think The Sheraton in San Diego has one of the best views of the bay. It is also an awesome place to have a wedding right on the harbor. Thomas Bui designed and coordinated Jessica and Shane's wedding there recently and did a beautiful job along with Organic Elements who did the beautiful flowers! Here are a few of my favorite images from the day.

{happy 4th of july!}

2008-07-04T14:42:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite holidays! This year my husband, brother-in-law, and two dogs piled into the car and headed out to Lake Tahoe! It was an amazing retreat and perfect timing for a mini vacation...although there is never enough time to do everything! We rented a great little cabin and spent the weekend hiking, swimming, and floating down the river. A few pictures below:) Happy 4th!

{judy and hung} modern romance in san diego

2008-07-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

There are so many great locations I see that I hope to use one day in a photo shoot. It is always so much fun when I get to use one that I have been thinking about for a while, especially when the couple just happens to fit perfectly into the scene! Downtown San Diego has changed for the better 1000% over the last few years. I grew up around here and am really impressed by how great of an atmosphere it has become. When Judy and Hung got married last year I was unfortunately already booked on their wedding day. But that didn't stop them from booking me this year on a trash the dress shoot! I absolutely love doing these post wedding shoots because there would have been no way we could have spent as much time going to great locations on the actual wedding day. The couple still had that new love glow about them, but without all the stress of a wedding day timeline. Here are a few of my favorite shots of Judy and Hung, who were really great models:)!!

{it all starts with and idea}

2008-06-26T22:04:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that my background in advertising and editorial photography plays a major role in my wedding style. I love the inspiration the two branches of this craft lend to each other. I also love working with other creative professionals on projects that usually start with just a small idea. So when Paula Rae of Rae Florae asked me to help work with her on new advertising, I jumped at the chance! Here is the idea that we started with...I love the quality of pencil drawings...whether on notebook paper or a napkin...so many great ideas start here.
We were so lucky to find two beautiful models for the shoot, they were so much fun to work with! Here are a few of my favorite photos, it will be a hard decision to choose just one for the ad!

Why, yes! This is actually my wedding dress! I got married in August and it was funny to see the dress on someone else....thank goodness she's a redhead too:)

{TaylorMade US Open Party} Bernard Gardens

2008-06-18T09:15:00.000-07:00

Last week The Lodge at Torrey Pines hosted one of the most prestigious and entertaining sports events, The US Open. While thousands of fans gathered to watch the show in Southern California, there was also plenty of fun and excitement going on behind the scenes. Before the big event started, I photographed The TaylorMade US Open party at Bernard Gardens in Rancho Santa Fe. It was an amazing event with golfers and golf industry pros from around the world.

Bernard Gardens is such an amazing location for parties and even weddings!

Sergio Garcia, one of TaylorMade's top pros, had a great time and I was very impressed by what a nice and easy going guy he was.

Grey Goose Vodka was one of the sponsors of the event and martinis were in abundance.

One of my favorite parts of the entertainment was magician Kevin Viner, his magic tricks were so entertaining and perfect for a party like this.

Josh Kelley performed and the music and show were perfect for the summer evening party!

And what night would be complete without a little fire dancing!?!

Surfboards signed by Kelly Slater decorated the event. Surprisingly, when I arrived I actually recognized the boards since they were glassed by my husband! small world...

{the calhoun family}

2008-06-16T09:09:00.000-07:00

There are so many definitions of a happy family out there today and the Calhoun's are very similar to my own family right now. Jillyin, Kyle, and their 2 adorable dogs were so much fun to do family portraits with! I am definitely a dog lover so this shoot was much more like play than work for me! We started off at their home in Mission Viejo, stopped by a nearby park to play, and then headed to doggy heaven...the beach:) Here are a few of my favorites!

nope...I've never really been a believer in this rule!

{long time, no blog!}

2008-06-16T09:05:00.000-07:00

Wow! Wedding season has officially begun. I have been shooting non-stop for the past few weeks and while I love to keep my blog updated there has been no time! I have so many shoots to share, the first is coming very soon...a unique family portrait session that I loved shooting:)

{casey and josh}

2008-06-05T00:29:00.000-07:00

On May 24th, 2007, I had the pleasure of shooting the wedding of two of my closest friends. Casey and Josh are so awesome for each other and it was truly a pleasure to have been a part of their big day. Casey is so much fun to hang out with at her famous (and delicious) dinner parties, and you can always count on Josh to be a big brother to everyone. They each have amazing families to support them and now they are coming together to make their own. Congratulations Mr. & Mrs. Spengler (#2)! You deserve every second of happiness. It was so difficult to choose favorites on this one....I love them all for different reasons...here are a few:)

Location: Paradise Gardens
Coordinator: Charmed Events
Florals: Classic Creations
Catering & Cake: Slice of Heaven
Music: Mike Farmer
Hair & Make-up: Beauty and the Beach

{i heart polaroid} emulsion lifts

2008-06-02T10:07:00.000-07:00

It's no secret that I love working with Polaroid in both emulsion transfers and lifts. It is a process that can take up the whole day so I don't get to do it as often as I like to but Friday I just had to have an art day:) The lifts don't scan as well as the transfers (they are so beautiful in person!) but here are a few of my favorites. This time I did a few wedding ones where I usually only do landscapes...I think the subject matter was surprisingly good for this medium.

First the landscapes...

And the weddings:)

{anne and andy} laguna beach engagement photos

2008-05-29T09:25:00.000-07:00

Engagement shoots are such a great way to get to know a client and for them to get to know how it is to be in front of a camera! Anne and Andy met me in Laguna Beach for their engagement shoot and it was awesome just walking around the downtown area. We found so many great backgrounds in a small area and the beach there is beautiful too. I think it is so cool that the couples I have met actually look like they fit together. I could definitely see it with these two, here are a few of the shots that really stood out to me!

{april and jason} encinitas engagement shoot

2008-05-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

There are so many great places to shoot around Encinitas, really any kind of background you could hope for. For April and Jason's photo shoot we walked around the downtown area before heading down to Swami's for the sunset. It was a beautiful day and April and Jason did a wonderful job having fun and looking completely head over heals in love with each other....this came completely natural for them! I am so excited to shoot their wedding! Here are a few of my favorites:

I started to have a little fun with this image....here is the new:

and the old school:

love the grainy quality here:)

{wedding generosity} gift registries give back

2008-05-27T09:30:00.000-07:00

I am always so impressed by the generosity and creativity of the brides and grooms I am lucky enough to work with. Recently I have been noticing that many couples are opting for less traditional registries and there are so many great ideas for gifts that go far beyond Tupperware! I would like to share one of these now, with more to come in the future. I hope it can be a source of inspiration for couples looking for a way to share the happiness of their big day with a new kind of gift registry.

Alternative Registry Idea #1: Sponsor a Student in a Poverty-Stricken Country
Lizzy + Tom, February 2009

"Tom and I have decided to have our guests donate to the School of St. Jude in lieu of more traditional wedding gifts. I discovered the School of St. Jude while working in Tanzania. The School of St. Jude is a primary and secondary school that is designed to educate the brightest but poorest students in the Arusha region of northwest Tanzania. Students must test into the school and once they are accepted, their school feeds, room and board are 100% paid for by private sponsors. Education, uniforms, transport to and from school, and room and board for a primary or secondary student at the School of St. Jude costs less than $1,000 per year. The model is both sustainable and personal in that students are financially supported by specific individuals and donors have full transparency into where their donation is going. Powerful relationships between student and donor often form and academic excellence is a cornerstone at the School of St. Jude.

I have supported the School of St. Jude through 3 Peaks 3 Weeks and we visited the school together for the 3 Peaks finally in January 2008. We now sponsor a young student named Salome. We get regular updates on Salome's progress and she hand-writes us beautiful notes. We really feel connected both to the school and to Salmone.

Having lived near the School of St. Jude, worked with their teachers and students, and received Salome's report cards, I'm confident that our donation is driving positive change. Tom and I are excited that our guest generosity will be used to help fund a student's education at the School of St. Jude for one year or more! We think it will be fun for everyone involved in our wedding to collectively jump start a Tanzanian student's education and then watch the student's progress over time. To ensure the student's wellbeing, Tom and I will pick up where our wedding group leaves off by supporting the student through the end of their education. We hope that by introducing our guests to St. Jude as supporting a student as a collective group, we inspire others to support St. Jude in other capacities."

{life is in color} my new book

2008-05-23T09:08:00.000-07:00

With so many shoots on the books these days, it gets difficult to stay on top of editing for my portfolio. I have so many new images that I love but not enough time to show them! Last year I made the mistake of putting it all off until the end of the year, Big mistake! I ended up editing through close to 30,000 images, seriously. This year I am staying ahead of the game by compiling favorites after each shoot...or after every few:) Already there are so many that I love and am proud of so I decided to design a quarterly portfolio. Life is in Color is a title I have used before and always loved. It just fits. If you are interested in viewing more just go here. Hint: if you click on 'book preview' there is a glimpse! If you are a coordinator or vendor who would like to have one of these for clients to view, just send me an email and I'll see what I can do;)

{annie and cuong} a pre-wedding shoot

2008-05-22T08:42:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite types of shoots, is one where I can completely direct the timeline! I absolutely love the growing popularity of pre and post wedding shoots where the couple gets to dress up again! It is much more of a creative fashion shoot without the constraints of the timeline on the wedding day.....and without the fear of getting a little dirty! Depending on culture, some couples like to do a shoot before the big day, they are okay with seeing each other in what they will be wearing to the nuptials. One such culture is Traditional Vietnamese and in this shoot, Annie and Cuong had 2 different outfits, one Traditional and one Western. It was so much fun to go to different locations and have a completely new look for the second half. While it was very hard to pick favorites out of this shoot, here are a few that I love:)
PS. Gorgeous make-up done by James Overstreet!

Great job Annie and Cuong, I loved working with you!!

{let's go green} ABC

2008-05-20T17:01:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of attending a special "Let's Go Green" event hosted by The Association of Bridal Consultants - this is a group of SoCal wedding professionals from all areas of San Diego County and the meetings always offer continuing education and a great chance to hang out with the talented people we work with on weddings every weekend! The Let's Go Green event was right up my alley because it is something I think is important to make an effort about, and I love to share these cool ideas with my brides:) There were 3 important key points that I wanted to share in green wedding ideas, 1. Location, 2. Catering, and 3. Flowers. Here is some info on the talented vendors who shared a little about their own green efforts!

We met at The San Diego Water Conservation Gardens which is a lovely place to get married in SD if you are focusing on an earth friendly wedding...especially if you live in Southern California! Don't be fooled by those vivid green golf courses everywhere! The Gardens are a prime example of the natural look of Southern California. The Water Conservation Garden has nearly five acres of displays that showcase water conservation through a series of beautiful themed gardens, such as a native plant garden and a vegetable garden, as well as how-to displays such as mulch and irrigation exhibits. We took a little tour of the area and I was really impressed by the beauty and the photo opportunities.

There was a special presentation given by René van Rems floral designer and educator who is originally from Holland. René van Rems is the owner and inspiration behind René van Rems International and author of RENE’S BOUQUETS- A Guide To Euro-Style Hand-Tied Bouquets.

Rene talked about suggestions on how to make weddings more green by using locally grown flowers, not those shipped in from across the world. Flowers from other countries use so much fuel in transport that it really justifies buying organic and local products to your wedding.The arrangements he showed were truly beautiful and creative. I honestly have no talent in this department so I was really impressed. He showed examples of using all different types of containers such as coffee cans, wine, bottles, and even soda cans! I think my favorites were the tea leaf wrapped coffee cans and the sunflower bouquet contained within the trimmed roots of their own stems, beautiful! I also loved his hand-tied bouquets....pretty enough to make your bridesmaids fight over the toss;)

For lunch, we were served a delicious sampling of the dishes offered by the San Diego based company, Eco Caters. It was created by Chef Nicholas Brune and Adam Hiner to bring organic eco-friendly catering to Southern California. It was perfect for me since I am a vegetarian! The food was creative with a great blend of different flavors, and very light and healthy feeling. Eco Caters is dedicated to protecting the earth, the source of the cuisine. They do this through the use of biodegradable products, using only organic foods and buying produce from farms where fair trade practices are used. In addition 2% of the proceeds are donated to organizations supporting renewable energy and a sustainable lifestyle.

There are all kinds of ways to make your wedding more green, the key is just making the effort. You don't have to do everything but a few thoughtful allowances by many people will make a big difference!

{modern bride magazine} real bride, real beauty

2008-05-19T08:33:00.000-07:00

Keep your eyes out for the latest issue of Modern Bride Magazine! There is a full page from my wedding in New York last September in the Real Bride, Real Beauty section! If you have seen the New York slideshow on my website or seen my sample albums then you will recognize Maie, she has such a unique style and I am so excited that she could be featured this issue. I am also very excited because this is the first time I have been published in a national magazine! Here is the magazine:

{baby sky}

2008-05-16T07:42:00.000-07:00

There are some moments when I am editing photos that actually surprise me and take my breath away. I had a few of these while going through the pictures from my last shoot with baby Sky. Her eyes are amazingly big and round and BLUE! It looks like something I did in Photoshop but this is the way her eyes really look. Sky is the daughter of Elizabeth and Brian who are an amazing couple and great new parents. Elizabeth is one of my longest friends and it is so wonderful that we are still in touch. Since we have known each other since we were kids, I am still blown away that one of us has one:) Here are a few of my favorites of her lovely daughter.

{the wedding chicks} launch party 2008

2008-05-08T09:59:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday night I attending the Launch Party for the Wedding Chicks at Arroyo Trabuco! It was so much fun!! I had a great time meeting great vendors from Orange County. It is amazing that although San Diego and Orange County are so close, the wedding industry doesn't mix as much as you would think. I love shooting weddings in new locations so I am really looking forward to branching out in 2009. Here is a shot of a few of the great girls I met!

Platinum Weddings by Kerrie, me!!, JoceyBella Invites, Kiley Walker Events

{polaroid emulsion transfers}

2008-05-07T12:33:00.000-07:00

There is something so tangible and unique about doing Polaroid transfers. It is something I have always had fun doing and am now just starting to offer to my wedding clients....at least until they are out of business and the film runs out...so sad. Last week I got together with my friend Jessica Davis to have an art night doing transfers and drinking a little vino:) Here are some of the photos I used from my recent trip to Costa Rica.

I love Land Rovers....and also have a fascination with the grills of cool cars:)

Sunset at the beach in Dominical, playing guitar and enjoying a cerveza.

Doug, carrying my longboard, small waves that day.

The biggest tree I have ever seen, seriously. The other trees are normal-big-tree size!

{making my job worthwhile}

2008-05-06T10:32:00.000-07:00

I truly love what I get to do as a career. Photographing weddings is so amazing because I get to be a part of one of the most important moments in a couple's life. It is a milestone, a turning point, and often definitive of what the future will bring. I always remember this and am thankful for the moments I see and am able to capture. Even after shooting weddings for so long, just seeing how special this tradition is makes me get a little teary-eyed sometimes!! That's when I hide my face with the camera and pretend like I am shooting something really interesting!! I thought of all this today when I got such a nice email from one of my newlyweds.

Heather,
You are the the best of the best! We've gone through every one of our photos so many times and EVERY picture is a favorite. You captured so many sweet moments without us even knowing you were around. You really outdid yourself, we couldn't be happier or more honored to have you a part of our wedding day. A sincere thank you from all our family, friends, and from Scott and I for your outstanding talent of photography. We will keep you in our lives for future celebrations!
With love and many, many thanks,
Caroline and Scott Smith

...letters like this really make my job worthwhile and I wanted to share it:)

{cameron and buck engagement session}

2008-05-02T18:17:00.000-07:00

Maybe I'm a little biased because I got married at Sunset Cliffs but I love, love, love shooting in Point Loma. It is such a naturally beautiful area and Cameron and Buck are lucky enough to live right there! We decided to start the shoot in the downtown area and then moved over to the cliffs for a beautiful sunset. Cameron and Buck were so easy to work with and I think Buck even had fun!! I am so excited to shoot their wedding in October, it will be a wonderful day:)

{ella catherine condon}

2008-04-30T11:35:00.000-07:00

During our trip to Costa Rica, we were lucky enough to be able to meet up with some of our friends who live on the Big Island, Hawaii and are from Doug's hometown in New Jersey. It was so nice to stay with them, thanks so much for the hospitality, we had a great time! CJ, Nina, their daughter Ella, and their cousin rented a house in Dominical for a month and a half just to take a little break and spend quality time with their daughter. I think this is such an amazing thing for a young family to do. Those first years with a new baby are some of the most precious and they go by so quickly. The house they rented was up on top of one of the peaks overlooking the Dominical coastline and was surrounded by Costa Rican jungle. It was truly peaceful. Here are a few of the pictures I took of Ella, she is a very sweet and happy baby and I am sure that their upbringing is the reason why.

{costa rica 2008: pavones, dominical, and manuel antonio}

2008-04-30T10:55:00.000-07:00

My husband Doug and I love to travel. Surfing together is one of our favorite hobbies and strongest bonds. In the past year or two, we have both become increasingly busy with work obligations so travel has been moved further and further to the back burner. Doug is a surfboard shaper and my career in photography means that we both have the same busy seasons. Sometimes it can be hard to schedule down-time (ha! scheduling down-time!) but it is so important to keeping our attitudes, work, and relationship fresh. A few weeks ago, he spotted a swell moving into one of the surf spots we have always wanted to visit, Pavones, Costa Rica. We booked tickets on Sunday and left on Wednesday. Luckily enough, a few of our friends happened to be renting a house in the area for a few months so we were able to visit them too. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the trip:

While we were visiting with our friends and their 1 and 1/2 year old daughter I got to take lots of cute pictures of her...what a great way to grow up! In the next post I will put up a few pics:)

{caroline and scott}

2008-04-28T09:08:00.000-07:00

On April 12th 2008, I photographed the wedding of Caroline and Scott Smith in Rancho Santa Fe, California. It was a beautiful warm day and the entire family cam out from Texas to see the two tie the knot. On my first meeting with Caroline and Scott and their families, I was so impressed by how straight-forward and easy going they were. I knew it would be a fun day and everyone had a great time. Caroline and Scott are one of those couples who really fit together perfectly and you can see it in the way they treat each other and in how close they are with their families.

The reception at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe was beautiful. Trena Lozano was the coordinator and Kathy Wright did the flowers so they really had the dream-team for San Diego weddings. Here are a few of my favorite photos:

{home from costa rica}

2008-04-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

I just got home from a wonderful 10 days in Costa Rica with my husband. It was probably one of my favorite trips so far and I can't wait to post pictures...coming soon!

{baby townsend}

2008-04-15T17:24:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the honor of photographing baby Townsend, first son of Kelly and Jeremy, who are also good friends of mine. It is so exciting to meet a friend's new baby for the first time. Townsend is so sweet and full of personality. I love all the little faces he makes. It was really easy for me to get adorable photos of him. And, his nursery is so cute and modern! Here are a few of my favorite photos of the morning:

{santa barbara weekend :part 3: couture wedding fashion}

2008-04-15T14:42:00.000-07:00

The 3rd day of my trip was something I have been looking forward to for a while. I have always loved the California coastline North of Santa Barbara. From camping at El Capitan, surfing at Jalama, to wine tasting in Los Olivos, it is an incredible place to visit at any time of year. Since I already knew I would be up there (see the previous 2 posts:) I decided to self-produce a bridal fashion shoot. I started my career in photography coordinating editorial fashion shoots so this is familiar territory for me, and something I love to do.

I was luck enough to be able to borrow 3 gorgeous gowns from Chez Bride Moderne, all designed by Valena Valentina....they were amazing!!

Here are a few of my favorite images from the shoot:

Thank you so much to my 3 beautiful models, Lauren of JetSet La Jolla, Sarah, and Melissa of Sleek Models Santa Barbara. You were all wonderful to work with and I look forward to doing it again in the future!

Gowns on loan from Chez Bride Moderne, La Jolla
All gowns designed by Valena Valentina
Hair and make-up by Hanalei Spengler and Jill Hedeler
Geena of Bella Fiori Flowers: Solvang, CA, Phone: (805) 693-1111

{santa barbara weekend :part 2: jose villa workshop}

2008-04-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

On day 2 of my trip I attended a workshop in Solvang, CA taught by one of my favorite photographers, Jose Villa. I am so inspired by the natural way he poses people, his eye and understanding of beautiful light, and the business and brand he has built. It is an amazing combination and I have admired his fine art style for a while. I have never been to a workshop before but this one was completely worth it. It turns out that Jose is just as nice as he is talented and also a great teacher. The locations and models were beautiful and I learned so much.....Jose also does week-long workshops around the world and I am extremely tempted to sign up for the one in Mexico!

Here are a few of my favorite images from the day:

Thank you so much to the models, stylist, florist, and Jose!
Shelbie was wearing: Melissa Sweet
Lacie was Wearing: Jenny Lee
Make - up : T.E.A.M
Flowers: Ranae's Bouquet
Jose Villa .. http://www.josevillaworkshops.com .. http://www.josevilla.com .. http://josevilla.bigfolioblog.com

{santa barbara weekend :part 1: justin and mayumi}

2008-04-12T08:10:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I headed up to Santa Barbara to visit friends and do a few photo shoots I have been conceptualizing and thinking about for a while. I absolutely love shooting weddings but when it comes down to it, there is always an important schedule to follow. This is what makes it different from a commercial shoot where I can direct the whole thing according to my shots.

Last summer I shot the wedding of Justin and Mayumi in Carpinteria, California. Justin and I already knew each other and I quickly discovered how sweet and perfect for Justin his fiance Mayumi was. The reception was held at their family's home on an avocado grove overlooking the ocean. I was completely amazed by the beauty of the area and since we didn't have time to shoot around the property I already knew I wanted to go back to do another shoot with the couple. Some people call it a "trash the dress shoot"...I am not sure about that name but I absolutely love doing post-wedding photos. These are some of my favorite images from the day!

Destination Wedding Winner .... KATIE AND KOSTA!!!!

2008-04-11T09:28:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Katie and Kosta! They will be married on September 12th in Newport, RI!
I am super excited for you! I can't wait to take your wedding photos in Rhode Island:) Thanks for entering and thanks so much to The Wedding Chicks for hosting such a fun contest!

{last day to win a destination wedding!}

2008-04-10T07:48:00.001-07:00

That's right! I am actually giving away an amazing destination wedding package! And, today is the last day to enter! All you have to do is got to my favorite wedding news and ideas website, The Wedding Chicks to enter:) Good luck, am so excited to announce the winner!

{beautiful invitations}

2008-04-05T09:11:00.000-07:00

Invitations and Save the Dates are such an important part of the wedding. It is the first glimpse all your friends and family will get of the look and feel you have worked so hard to create for your big day. I absolutely love fine stationary and invites. I could look at beautiful papers, textures, colors, fonts, letterpress for hours on end. KenzieKate Invitations is an invitation company I found and just had to share with you because I love the designs. Here are a few of my favorites:

KenzieKate Invitations is located in Brooklyn, NY.

email:
info@kenziekate.com

phone:
1.718.928.3946

{amazing wedding dress sale: chez moderne}

2008-04-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

To all my Southern California brides! If you happen to be in the area today or tomorrow please make it a point to get down to Chez Bride Moderne! They are having a sample sale of the most beautiful dresses available. I was just there last night checking out the selection and it truly makes me want to get married again! In fact, this is where I bought my wedding dress for my wedding last August. The whole experience was amazing. The boutique is impeccably decorated and their customer service is totally personal without any "snooty-ness":) They have been named one of the top 10 bridal boutiques in the whole country! If you are still looking for the perfect dress, here is the info you need:

chez bride moderne
5726 la jolla boulevard, suite 105
la jolla, california 92037
858.551.1295
info@chezbridemoderne.com

{save polaroid!}

2008-04-03T10:49:00.000-07:00

Save Polaroid. Save the World.

On February 8, 2008, Polaroid Corporation announced that it will discontinue production of all instant film. This site will document the aftermath of this announcement and will serve as a home-base for the effort to convince another company to begin producing the cherished technology that Polaroid has so carelessly abandoned.

This site is not about saving Polaroid, the company, rather the remarkable invention of Edwin Land, the instant film that made Polaroid a household name.

What We’ve Done So Far

Since this announcement, we’ve been assembling articles, links, stories and planning out the best way to create a joint effort to save instant film. We’ve contacted Polaroid, Fuji and Ilford about licensing. We have more in the works and will update this site regularly.

What Can You Do?

Join the flickr group. Upload your photo and a description of what Polaroid film means to you.
Download the Action Pack. It contains pre-addresed postcards to send to Polaroid, Ilford and Fuji with information about why Polaroid should license manufacturing rights to other companies. It also has flyers and other media to distribute to camera shops, film labs or anywhere else.
Write to Ilford and Fuji (or any other potential manufacturer) yourself. Nothing will convince a company to produce something more than the knowledge that there is a large market for it. Here are their addresses.
Sign the petitions. There is a list of them in the sidebar of this site.
Digg this site. Or blog it. Or add it to any of the bookmarking or social networks out there. It all helps.
Contact us with other ideas. If you have an idea, a skill, connections or any other way to help this effort, let us know.

{a free destination wedding?!?}

2008-03-31T08:14:00.000-07:00

This morning begins the start of my new contest in partnership with The Wedding Chicks! I am givnig away a photography package for a destination wedding to one of the WC readers! The lucky chick and her man will receive:

• Complete photographic coverage for their destination wedding
• An online gallery of all images to share with friends and family
• A hi-res dvd with all images
• 8x10 Handmade Leather Album with 24 pages up to 36 photos!

All the winner has to cover are the travel accommodations!

If you would like to enter, start by going to The Wedding Chicks website and leaving a comment here with your name, wedding date, and destination location!

Next, send an email to heather@vallentynephotography.com and include:
1. name
2. wedding date and location
3. the story of how you met and fell in love
4. a picture of you and your man

Entries must be received by Wednesday, April 9th, 2008 midnight. Winner will be
announced on The Wedding Chicks website on Friday, April 11th, 2008.

{the knot: real wedding awards!}

2008-03-29T19:03:00.000-07:00

Calling all Vallentyne Brides and Grooms! Have you entered your images in The Knot's first annual Real Weddings Awards? Just go to The Knot's website to submit your favorite 7 images from your wedding by March 31st, and have your friends and family vote for your photos. Anyone who submits photos is automatically qualified to win a 10-day safari worth $20,000!

Good luck!

{wppi print competition}

2008-03-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

This year I entered the WPPI 16x20 print competition for the first time. WPPI is Wedding & Portrait Photographers International. I decided to enter the print comp to see how I would do and received 2 accolades of Excellence! There was some really beautiful and inspirational work from all over the world in the competition so I feel pretty lucky to have been selected! If you scroll down a little, you will see the prints I entered:)

{the wedding chicks}

2008-03-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

There are lots of websites out there who provide information for new brides looking for unique ideas on how to make their wedding amazing. My new favorite one is The Wedding Chicks , they are connecting wedding professionals and real brides to feature the best ideas and vendors so you don't have to search the web for hours! They are talking vendors, fashion, details to help inspire and create the wedding that suits you.

Yesterday Vallentyne Photography was featured on The Wedding Chicks website and traffic to my website tripled! It says a lot about what a great job these girls are doing! Check out the nice things they had to say about VP by clicking on the links above:)

Thanks WC, I can't wait to see your next ideas!

{making your logo into a brush}

2008-03-25T19:47:00.000-07:00

First off, sorry about this one to all my brides! It is a totally nerdy graphic design tip for my fellow photogs reading this:) Here is the tip of the day, Making your logo (or anything really...) into a brush for quick stamping onto images and designs.

Step one: Turn your logo to 100% black on a transparent background, usually with the wand. I did it in color at first but it just means that you will never get the stamp to 100% opacity in the future.
Step two: Marque the area closest to the object becoming a brush.
Step three: Select Edit - Define Brush Preset...
Step four: Select Window - Brushes to open your brush palette.
Step five: find and select your brush at the end of the list

Step six: choose your favorite color:)Step seven: Use the right and left bracket keys to make you logo bigger and smaller and stamp away!!!
.............just try not to make something as hideously ugly as this example here!!

Enjoy:)

{exquisite weddings features}

2008-03-24T19:59:00.000-07:00

Today I got an email from one of the editors of Exquisite Weddings magazine! They are featuring 3 of my weddings in their Real Weddings department and considering another for print! What a great email to wake up to:) This year I have been actively pursuing editorial coverage and it is really starting to pay off....there will be a wedding in the summer issue of Modern Bride and another under consideration at Martha Stewart Weddings!

Here are the 3 weddings they chose to feature today, thanks EW!

Deborah & Jeff, September 8, 2007

Heather & Adam, March 31, 2007

Alli & Ryan, May 27, 2007

{kimberly and scott}

2008-03-24T10:25:00.000-07:00

On March 15th 2008 I photographed the wedding of Kimberly Spilker and Scott Medwar. The wedding was at The Darlington House in La Jolla, truly one of my favorite places to shoot! It was such a beautiful day and I can honestly say that everything flowed perfectly. Kim and Scott were so much fun to work with and I could really see how much they love each other. I was also touched by the closeness of their families, it is so refreshing to see people who care about each other so much. Here are some of my favorite photos of the day!

{two birds bridesmaids}

2008-03-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

One of my October brides, Kacie Corey, just turned my attention to this awesome new bridesmaids dress company, they can be worn so many different ways and even offer coordinating ties for the gromsmen and wraps for the chilly evening. I actually want one of these dresses for myself! The one universal criteria that I hear all the time from brides but is the most difficult to accomplish is....they want the girls to be able to wear the dress again!! I think this might be the dress:)

DRESS
What: TwoBirds dresses come in one size (fits 0-16) and can be worn ten different ways to flatter all figures, so you’ll have pretty maids all in a row.
Why: Kill two (or ten) birds with one stone.
Where: Online at twobirdsbridesmaid.com.

{just released: the wedding chicks blog}

2008-03-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

Wedding Chicks is an amazing new resource for brides started by my good friend Amy Squires. I am already totally hooked on this blog, they have some really great ideas and suggestions! Here is a brief description of what it is all about, but you really have to check it out yourself to see how great it is!

"A wedding resource that speaks to our clients – or anyone who is interested in weddings. We are connecting wedding professionals with real brides. Everything that cool chicks need! We are talking vendors, fashion, details, you name it! Wedding Chicks has it all! We want to help inspire and create the wedding that suits you! This is wedding info for real wedding chicks. We've got all sorts of great tips from engagement to honeymoon and everything in between!"

{off to wppi!}

2008-03-15T23:44:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow morning I am leaving for 4 days in Vegas....WPPI is an international photography conference and tradeshow where photographers from around the world get together to view the latest technologies, products, and share information about our profession. In between all the sensory overload I really hope to get some sunshine time in by the pool:)

This year I am pretty excited to have entered the 16x20 print competition. There are actually thousands of entries so the odds of actually winning the thing are pretty slim....but hey, you never know until you try, right? Here are the images I entered, I would love to hear your feedback in the comments section!

{I love Blurb}

2008-03-13T12:44:00.000-07:00

I have known about Blurb Books for a while now but lately I have discovered some great uses for these amazing little books. You can do virtually anything with them but I am using them as cross-promotional pieces for some of my favorite vendors such as coordinators and florists. After all, they need beautiful books to showcase their creativity and talent also! Check out a few I have done lately:

Another great thing you can do with these books is to make gifts for your family of your wedding day or engagement, make your own album, put together a cookbook, or even do a bound blog compilation....so many options!

Also, if you want to look inside of any of these books, just go to the Blurb website and do a search for my name: 'Vallentyne'

{my new lens bag}

2008-03-11T13:29:00.000-07:00

Speaking of my camera bag, I just bought a new one! I have been dreaming of a bag like this to make my life easier and was about ready to invent it myself. It is called a Boda Bag and it is awesome. Even though they totally beat me to the bag idea I ordered it immediately because I am tired of carrying around my improvised shoe string/lens pouch (don't ask, it's really sad!). Here it is in all it's glory:

{what is in my photo bag}

2008-03-10T21:28:00.000-07:00

At nearly every wedding I shoot someone asks me about the gear I use to do my job. I love this because it is what interests me too! Photography started as a small hobby in junior high and high school and quickly grew into the amazing (but very expensive!) habit that it is today. There are always more items that I would like to add to my gear but for weddings, I try to travel lite:) I want to be unencumbered by heavy and obtrusive equipment but still have enough to produce high quality work.

So, I love Amazon.com (big online shopper here!) and today I discovered the joys of an A Store. This is where I have listed the things I use regularly, great idea books for photography that interest me, and also some cool wedding stuff I like. Check out "Whats in my Bag" here or in the sidebar to the right, I will update as I buy/find new stuff!

{totally original first dance}

2008-03-10T16:59:00.000-07:00

ok, I will be so, so happy when I get to shoot a wedding with a totally original first dance like this one! It is true that my husband wanted to have the "chicken dance" as our first, now I really think we should have done it! This one gets tons of points for just being cool. And I have to thank Jesh for bringing it to my attention:)

{tagged by amy squires}

2008-03-08T10:57:00.000-08:00

Amy tagged me with this little blogdea:

What was I doing 10 years ago?
: : 10 years ago I was 18 years old and living in Cambridge, England. I was studying foreign political science during the time that Tony Blair was being elected British Prime Minister and the IRA was very active...pretty eye opening for a young and sheltered American student.

Things On My To Do list

: : set up my photography business to be a successful, self-running enterprise

: : travel, travel, travel, and be able to work while i am doing it

: : find a way to shoot lots of destination weddings and have them published

: : find and buy a commercial space where i can put my studio and my husband can have his surfboard business next door

: : surf more

: : do more camping trips with my husband and dogs

: : find a way to split my time between living in So Cal, Hawaii, and the East Coast

: : live in hawaii and have an organic garden and tons of fruit trees

Bad Habits
: : i don't like to clean

: : i love plants but always forget to water them

: : i am on the computer WAY too much....like now, blogging on a beautiful Saturday

Places I have Lived
: : oceanside, ca

: : okazaki, japan

: : santa barbara, ca

: : cambridge, england

: : san francisco, ca

: : malaga, spain

Things Most People Don’t Know About Me
: : i am a vegetarian and was actually raised that way

: : i love to cook and and bake and watch the food network while i work

: : i am an only child but want to have lots of kids someday

: : i love to read and also love audiobooks

: : i am super ambitious and like to have friends who are the same

: : i exercise nearly every day for an hour or 2...either yoga, running, swimming, weight training

I tag you!

: : Summer Hogan

: : LaVonne Zamora

: : Suzanne Hansen

: : Kristy Tootle

{heather is going GREEN}

2008-02-29T15:02:00.000-08:00

Well, I think it is never too late for a new years resolution. So I have decided that it is time, long overdue, to go GREEN! I have been inspired by so many things lately all pointing me in this direction so here we go! I am hoping that blogging about it will keep me on track and also give me a few tips from anyone who reads this and wants to share.

One of the more recent inspirations for doing this was from a friend of mine, Amy Squires. Check out her website, she is an amazing photographer! She is also has an awesome blog and on one of her posts I read about this cool book that I am totally getting as soon as it hits the shelves, here it is:

I thought this post was so cool and really started thinking about doing it too. My lifestyle has always been somewhere along this line anyways but it is so easy to be lazy! For instance, my excuse for using plastic grocery bags is that I do have 2 dogs, who go on lots of walks, and in turn, recycle those bags! But it got to the point that not even my dogs could use all those. So I started thinking about using paper bags instead...but it turns out that those harm the environment far worse than the plastic, go figure. So today, I decided...here we go, Green 2008.

At the grocery store I decided to take it a few steps further and go Green in laundry and dishwasher detergent...don't you just love Trader Joe's?

And, since I love the smell of fresh lavender and hate using all those fabric dryer sheets (so wasteful!) I found these cool pouches that you can use up to 10 times! Did you know that lavender is also a natural bug repellent? This is great news for me considering that bugs love to bite me. Here it is:

So I guess I looked a little crazy when my husband came home to find me snapping pictures of our laundry soap! But hey, he should be used to that by now:)

My next thing I want to learn about is cleaning supplies that don't have chemicals in them. I heard vinegar works miracles...if anyone has a comment or tip for me I would love to hear it!

{engagement shoots}

2008-02-28T12:05:00.000-08:00

I love doing engagement shoots. I feel like it really allows me to get to know my clients as a couple, and also how they feel about being in front of the camera! When I have done an engagement shoot before the wedding, the big day goes so much easier because they are already comfortable having their picture taken and are ready to have a little more fun! Also, since they have already seen how great the photos come out, they understand my direction as I shoot a little better which is a big plus.

As far as clothing goes for the shoot, I am not a big fan of the matching outfits but I do like outfits that go together. For instance, if you wear a classy dress and he wears a collared shirt in a similar color or tone. Or if you both wear jeans and he wears a sweater and you wear a cute top. Here is my advice on the clothes: you will have these pictures forever so try to make it timeless. No crazy prints or really trendy cuts of clothes and no logos on shirts...stuff like that. I also think it looks good to stay in either the dark or light end of the color spectrum. It doesn't have to be black or white (although that looks good) but dark or light colors look better than all mid-tones because they look more contrast-y and defined. And of course, I love dresses on girls, it is so fun and feminine. It is also easy to slip into if you want to change your clothes quickly!

I hope that helps, if you have any questions that are more specific, please send me an email or leave a comment here!

{laura and tom}

2008-02-22T14:29:00.000-08:00

The wedding season has officially started! On February 17, 2008 I photographed the wedding of Laura and Tom at Cuvier Park in La Jolla. The reception was held at the La Jolla Women's Club and Carol Beradino of Elite Events did an amazing job on the coordination as always:)

A few days before Laura and I did a pre-ceremony bridal shoot at the beach and it was so much fun! I really felt like we got to know each other and I could tell by the time the wedding day came on Sunday, Laura was a pro at the photo shoot. She is such a nice, easy going person and it really showed in the photos. Here are a few of my favorites from the bridal shoot!

The wedding day had some of the most beautiful weather I have ever seen at Cuvier Park, and I have shot there many times! The sky was a clear deep blue with a crisp horizon and the ocean was a turquoise you usually see in the Caribbean. I was so happy that all of Laura and Tom's out of town family got to see California at it's prettiest! Not surprisingly, La Jolla was packed that day and the wedding drew quite a crowd! I was really lucky to work with Laura and Tom, two extremely nice people who deserve tons of happiness in their marriage. Here are some of my favorite wedding photos:)

{angela and mark}

2008-02-14T12:11:00.000-08:00

On February 2, 2008 I photographed the wedding luncheon of Angela Chiu and Mark Quin. The luncheon took place at The Four Seasons, Aviara in Carlsbad, CA. Aviara's Geena Urbina handled all the coordination details while Jennifer Cole did an amazing job on all the floral arrangements!

Angela and Mark were already married in Taiwan but hosted the luncheon for Mark's San Diego family who were unable to attend the wedding. It was an afternoon filled with such warmth, laughter, and family closeness, I truly felt honored to have been able to capture the moments for them. My impression of Angela and Mark is that they make a really wonderful couple who have found true love. We went to Ponto Beach after the luncheon and you can really see the happiness on their faces. They were one of the nicest and most generous couples I have worked with in a long time. Here are a couple of my favorite photos from our beach shoot...so genuine!

{my favorite web designers}

2008-02-07T18:57:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to be featured this week on the Livebooks website! These guys have designed and put together two websites for me so far and they are AMAZING! I love the functionality and the clean designs. I would really recommend them to not only photographers, but all kinds of other creative professionals who want to show case their work in a convenient and user-friendly space on the web.

{shari is engaged!}

2008-01-14T07:39:00.000-08:00

I am so excited for Shari! Her boyfriend just proposed in Paris, here is the romantic story she told about the event!

On Sunday evening, Shari's fiance Mike took her to an area across from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, sat her down on a bench to take a picture, got down on one knee and proposed. She said yes of course! After the proposal they boarded a dinner cruise on the Seine River and had a wonderful dinner with dancing late into the night.

Shari Mager is an amazing and talented wedding coordinator who coordinated my wedding and did a wonderful job! Her website is Charmed Events and I would highly recommend her to any bride. It gave me such piece of mind to not have to worry about every last detail, especially on the big day!

Congratulations Shari, I am so happy you are joining the married club!

{welcome to vallentyne photography}

2008-01-10T10:05:00.000-08:00

Today my new Vallentyne Photography website launches. I am so excited about it and everything that being in business for myself entails. I think 2008 is going to be an amazing year and I am really looking forward to all the photos I will take and people I will work with and meet.

For the last 3 years I have worked under the umbrella of True Photography. It has been an amazing experience for many reasons. I have not only learned a lot about the wedding industry but also about how to run a good and honest business, what works and what doesn't. The goal of Vallentyne Photography is simple. I want to give my clients amazing images that they will treasure for a lifetime.

Going independent in business is just the natural next step for me and my work. I also feel lucky enough that True Photography is still wanting to refer me when clients are looking for my work. I truly respect and treasure the relationship of mutual respect we have developed over the years.

So here we go! Happy 2008 everyone, I am really looking forward to working with you, exchanging ideas, and just enjoying the kind of work that is also so much fun.

Luck to all, Heather Moreau of Vallentyne Photography

{erica murphy...bridal fashion shoot}

2008-01-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

As you will see in my most recent post, I photographed Erica's wedding on June 16, 2007 and we decided to have a photo shoot of Erica after the wedding. After all, it is so much fun to wear the wedding gown, why not put it on again?!?

I love the time I get in a wedding to shoot with the bride and groom. Especially when they have fun getting their pictures taken and we have a beautiful location. I think the only thing I always want more of is time!

Weddings, by nature, are always on a schedule and it is important for me to keep that schedule moving. So it seemed only natural to me that if we could do a shoot on another day with no time constraints, and use a location we would never get to go to on a wedding, we would get some beautiful shots. And of course, what bride doesn't want to wear the dress again!

So here is Erica's, bridal fashion shoot. These are available to any of my brides who want to put on that dress one more time!

This was taken in a forest where a controlled burn had taken place a few months previously. The ground and trees were still scorched but new green growth was beginning to peak through.
This presents a beautiful contrast while wearing a white wedding dress. We had so much fun and we're so happy with the photos! Here are a few of my favorites. . .

{erica and patrick}

2008-01-03T17:35:00.000-08:00

On June 16th 2007 I shot the wedding of Erica and Patrick.
Ceremony: Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church
Celebration: Georges at the Cove in La Jolla
Cupcakes by: kissmecakes

Erica and Patrick had already done an engagement shoot with me that turned out amazing so I was really excited to shoot their wedding. For they engagement shoot, they arrived, and it immediately started to rain! They were totally ok with it and we did the shoot anyways with me shooting from under an umbrella! It actually worked out better that we could have imagined because the streets were shiny and reflected all the lights from the down town area where we were shooting. Erica said it was "Murphy's Law' since her no name was to be Murphy but everything turned out great in the end.

For the wedding, there was no "Murphy's Law" in site. Erica was as calm and collected as any bride I have ever seen. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the day.

{danielle and tim}

2008-01-03T17:17:00.000-08:00

On April 29th 2007 I shot Danielle and Tim's wedding at the Coronado Community Center and the Hotel Del Coronado.

It was really beautiful and very cool because they did everything themselves. They are pretty young but you can really see the love and commitment in their relationship. I got so many beautiful pictures that I just couldn't narrow it down so I am going to post a lot!

{allison and ryan}

2008-01-03T16:39:00.000-08:00

On May 27th 2007 I photographed the wedding of Allison and Ryan which took place The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe .
This wedding was extrodinary!! To see some of the finest wedding professionals please visit each of the sites below.
Event Planner Mary Noble's Classic Weddings.
Floral design by LaVonne Zamora of Adorations.
Videography by Taylor Films.
Makeup + Hair by Diane Serns of You By Design.
Rentals by Classic Party Rentals - Event Specialists.
Desserts by Michele Coulon Dessertier.
Entertainment by de Bois Productions.
Photo booth by Red Cheese.
Martini Glass Luge by SoCal Ice Productions .
VERY COOL touch by - Painter Rich Flynn "The Painter of the Moment".

Needless to say the wedding was pretty incredible. Alli in Ryan our two of the sweetest people I have met in a long time. Even though the wedding was a huge production, Alli kept her cool the whole time and looked radiant!

{heather and adam}

2008-01-03T16:00:00.000-08:00

On March 31st 2007, Heather and Adam got married at the Ranch0 Valencia Resort.
I love the architecture at the Rancho Valencia. growing at the Southern California, I have always loved the Spanish hacienda style. since incorporation of architectural elements is something I love to do in my photography, the resort is full of endless possibilities for me....this was also the wedding of the best cake in the face smashing I have ever seen....not pictured here...for obvious reasons.

{cory and erin}

2008-01-03T15:35:00.000-08:00

On March 17th 2007 I photographed the wedding of Erin and Cory which took place Strawberry Farms in Irvine, California.
Heather Howery was the on site coordinator.
Floral design by Lavender Hill.
Photo booth: Red Cheese Photo Booth.

The first wedding of 2007 definitely started off the right way. Cory and Erin are friends of friends, my friend Rachel referred me over to them and they all work together at Roxy. Both Cory an Erin are successful clothing designers who work together. Their wedding was truly a reflection of very unique style and it turned out beautiful.

{bethann and brian}

2008-01-03T14:54:00.000-08:00

On October 22nd I photographed the wedding of BethAnn and Brian. They exchanged rings and vows at Seagrove Park in Del Mar and they celebrated with friends and family at L'Auberge Resort.

BethAnn and Brian were such a quirky and cute couple, they are both very artistic and had a distinctive style that I loved. Here are some of my favorite shots of them on the big day!