Ahhh Venice.

A Little Diddy. About Aaron and Liana.

Oh, engagement shoots! No wonder why photographers flow to these love sessions. I barely ever do them, but when I do, I get nervous because I don't want to screw up some one's day with bad pictures. But in this case as with many we killed it. Of course these are some of my favorites, although I did get the money shots, kissing, ring on finger, smiles, etc... some of these are ones that the bride and groom to be would probably call outtakes... This guy's incredible, we found each other over the web through friends and colleagues. Really, really great guy. I think my girlfriend wanted to marry him after she saw their pictures. He hired a helicopter, took Liana to wine and cheese on a mountain top somewhere and then over to Santa Barbara airport. A friend picked them up and they went to a balcony where she used to live on the UCSB campus in Isla Vista, where they first met.


Meanwhile I'm in the neighbor's yard with the videographer, Ryan, and we're (also three drunk college kids, one of which wants me to pay him a $20 or some more beer) shooting through the fence paparazzi style so Liana didn't see us.


Aaron popped the question she says yes and they all lived happily ever after. Super super fun couple. Hopefully we'll do their wedding for them too. The END. :)

Palm Springs.

Ventura County Fairgrounds.

Carnies.

The New Cam.

Just got a new 5D Mark II and I'm stoked to say the least. The HD video I haven't even messed with yet, but its in the works. It was listed in the stores with an extra battery, which I was told "are rarer than hen's teeth" for about $3055. We got it brand new in the box (not opened yet) for $2700. So we saved ourselves the tax and got an extra battery taboot! Gotta love Craigslist. I got it Friday and I shot a children's birthday party, then the beach the next day with my 580 flash. I'm LOVIN' it. The dynamic range is light years from my original 1Ds. Business has been good to say the least and its nice to have a new paintbrush to work with. This and the image above are my favorite from the weekend.


It was Jordan's Birthday...


There is a metaphor here... *hint* I was as excited to shoot this new camera as this child is eating this cake.



Spider man was SO wasted on A&W...


Pinata's

I've Done Better.

Photo a Day. -July 6 & 7

Ok ok... so it hasn't been quite "A Photo A Day". But hey I'm trying. Here's a couple from yesterday at the beach.. with my little man, Isaac. Monday and Tuesday I really just didn't have the hootspa to do anything. The Beach is at the end of the street and believe it or not we rarely take advantage of it. Seemed like the thing to do.

Photo a Day. -July 4 & 5

Seriously I wasn't going to post on the 4th... too much work! Yesterday I forgot again but pretty much I was resting my brain... (much needed). On the 4th though I went on a hike with my lady, her friend and my dog, which to my despair I almost killed the poor thing. She has blisters on every paw and one of her pads, in the center, got a bit ripped off. She's limping around like an old lady. For a boxer/pit she sure is a big wimp. It was only 5.5 miles round trip for Christ sakes. So I thought I'd post 2 images from the hike to make up for my lack of photos on my Photo-a-day. We could call it 2 photos every 2 days...

The hike is pretty vigorous, definitely not for children or the weak at heart. It was a pretty daunting 98 degrees, up hill both ways as they say. You get down into this Canyon where during the spring there's an amazing 14 foot natural water slide into a beautiful swimming hole. This time of year though its all dried up and terrible arid. There were a few small pools where some snakes, a lonely turtle, and some polliwogs chill in the moss, but other than that its quite dry.

If you look over to the Far left, the tallest peak is "The General", and all the little ones across, are the soldiers. Or at least that's what I call it. Use your imagination.


This is an old iron gate about where you park and walk in.

Photo a Day. -July 3

This is #3 on my photo-a-day month... I do have one for July 2, but it'll probably be a studio shot because I was pretty much there all day. Will post it later. This one however is a picture of singer/songwriter Anthony Miller or "AM" as he goes by. It was of course taken on the trusty iPhone. Karen and I saw him play last night with his band and I picked up a CD as well. He and his band were actually pretty great. I have to say though, that there is just something about music that I've been missing lately that just needs more. And by more I mean like to really let out what's pent up inside with your instrument... it seemed like just when they got rolling they finished. I've found that with several bands I listen to lately, they don't just let it ROCK out. I dunno.

Photo a Day. -July 1

Thought I'd start a photo-a-day when I passed a worker in this field. Sometimes I get caught up in just shooting for money that I forget the real reason I shoot. Because I just love it. I love the sound of that shutter.