The Photography of Jennifer Williams - Where Love and Light Unite

New Blog!

2009-11-08T11:44:00.001-08:00

The blog has moved to a new and improved location.

Visit the NEW BLOG and update your favorite links. :)

Arvin High School ROTC

2009-11-06T22:47:00.000-08:00

I was asked to shoot some photos of Arvin High Schools ROTC for a community poster. Back in the day, I also graced the walls and windows of several local business on the North High School Girls Basketball poster. I think #44 can still be seen with her cheezy smile on a poster in the Papa O's pizza parlor in Oildale.

So, no one knows better than me that athletes get all the attention. Until now! The boys of the AHS ROTC were amazing young men, and I think the poster we create will combat the cool factor of any football team. I hope my work inspires more students to "go green" with AHS ROTC and shines some light on these school leaders.

One of my favs from the shoot! It won't be a suitable format for the final poster, but I thought I would share here. Stay tuned for the final.

Teasers, Kern County Museum

2009-10-30T08:35:00.001-07:00

The Kern County Museum is truly one of the most unique places to get married in Bakersfield. I had the opportunity to do a shoot there and show off all the amazing photo opps at this location. I couldn't wait until I have them all done to share. I have been posting them one at a time on facebook so, I decided to blog a sneak peek.

I also shouldn't put off my thank yous for too long. Here is the quick "acceptance speech list," but expect more raving about these awesome wedding professionals in my next blog. :)
Big Thanks to...
Coy Townson for shooting with me
My Sorted Affair for the bouquets and hair accessories
Elizabeth Herrera from the Kern County Museum
AND... Mr. Tuxedo for being such a huge help in outfitting our gentlemen.

Pumpkin Patch Family Photos

2009-10-28T08:44:00.000-07:00

This family is absolutely beautiful. That's really all I have to say. :)

Jessica and Eric

2009-10-28T00:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my good friend Patrick Ang and I shot my other good friend Jessica Frey and her husband in Central Park. It's always fun to get a fellow photographer on the other side of the lens, and even more fun when they are as cute as these two! Check it out.

A treat for the eyes and the ears...

2009-10-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

Last week I was asked to take some portraits of a band. They were formally known as the Travis Byler Project but have yet to pick a new name. They are making the transition to the Fishlips stage as their regular entertainment on Wednesday nights. If I were going to make up a name for them that describes what they do... hmmmm... how about Awesome? I'm sure they would never go for it, but The Awesome Band fits pretty well. This band is made up of some true talent and they play some really great songs. Get on down to Fishlips next Wednesday and check them out.

After the portrait session, I had to catch some shots at their weekly Fishlips show too! They also had a special guest singer, Therese Muller, join them on stage.

The Shutter Clique: Night Shooting Meet-up

2009-10-12T20:05:00.000-07:00

So, the first Shutter Clique meeting seemed to be a success! I can't believe I never blogged about it!! Go to our facebook fan page here to see pics.
And now, our second meet up is just around the corner! If you want to be on the "exclusive" invite list there are few ways you do it. :)
1.) Get to know a current Shutter Cliquer and ask them to invite you.

Or 2.) Email me and ask to be on it.

Just a reminder, you must have a manual slr camera to participate in the shoots. Anyone can be a fan of the Facebook page. Until we get our official website up, the Facebook page is a great place to join in on discussions or find some talented photogs to ask for advice.

Camp Out

2009-10-12T19:50:00.000-07:00

Remember the time you had a friend stay over and your parents let you sleep in a tent in the backyard? This is one of those great childhood memories. My boyfriend's nephews got to do this Saturday night, and it was such an adorable sight, I couldn't resist grabbing my camera and taking a few shots of the boys.

Handmade Hair Accessories now available by My Sorted Affair!

2009-10-02T20:19:00.000-07:00

My Sorted Affair is already known for fantastic event design and coordination. Now, they have opened an Etsy Shop to feature their beautiful handmade bridal hair accessories. Personally, I wouldn't wait to be a bride. These would make fantastic accessories to any party outfit. Check out the Etsy Shop here and be sure to stay tuned for more handmade goodness from the oh so talented My Sorted Affair.

Here is a link to another great article about the genius behind My Sorted Affair.

The Day After...Randi and Josh

2009-09-28T23:41:00.000-07:00

This was such a unique and fun session! Big thanks to Moo Creamery. I really liked this place before the shoot, and now I like it even more. They made us the prettiest milk shake to photograph with bride and groom. Also, another big thanks to Patrick for asking me to photograph Randi and Josh with him. Be sure to check out their wedding photos too.

Randi and Josh...

2009-09-28T22:29:00.000-07:00

First I must give a big thanks to my pal Patrick for asking me to shoot this wedding with him Sunday evening. Randi and Josh are a gorgeous couple. The wedding was simply beautiful and moving. I teared up a bit during the ceremony. (I'm such a girl!) I didn't want to overload you because I am going to blog their day after session right after this. BUT, for those of you who still can't get enough, head on over to Patrick's blog for more.

All is Fair in Love and....

2009-09-27T00:47:00.000-07:00

Love....

Today I had an amazing engagement session with Janet and Cody. It was so awesome of them to let me step out of the norm and get some fun shots at the Kern County Fair.

I am so so excited to share these with you. I posted more than usual because I just had too many favorites!!!

See JenWillPhoto at the Kern County Fair!

2009-09-26T10:04:00.001-07:00

I have been working the booth for the Kern County Bridal Association at the Kern County Fair. This has been a great opportunity to promote my wedding photography services. It has been really fun getting to chat with people and getting to hear the positive feedback on my work. If you happen to be going to the fair this year stop by and check it out. You can also check me out at the Fairytale Bridal Event Oct. 18th at the Marriott.

The Funny Ones

2009-09-21T22:09:00.001-07:00

Today I took photos of little Conley because he just turned two. As I began to edit out the messy face in preparation to post a flawless photo of his adorable smile I thought, what fun would that be? I seriously cannot even glance at the photo of him hanging from the bars and not laugh out loud at his expression. These captured moments of his personality are what I chose to share instead. You have all seen a cute photo of a little kid, and maybe I will do a second post of the "perfect pictures." However, I find these much more enjoyable. Here are some smiles and laughs:

Boo!

2009-09-08T00:48:00.000-07:00

Halloween is coming up! Don't forget to make time to document those costumes or a take trip to the pumpkin patch for the little ones.

Got a costume that's a little more "grown-up?" There are plenty of photo shoot options for you as well.

Fall...ing for my favorite time of year

2009-09-07T23:49:00.000-07:00

Oh la la!- it's September and the weather today (not to mention a mini shopping spree for some new clothes) got me so excited that it is finally starting to feel like my favorite season. Fall is finally here. I am sure a few hot days will still sneak up on us, but I am already getting excited about all things fall- The warm colors, the fair, the boots and sweaters, Halloween, pumpkin and spice flavors popping up everywhere... I just love this time of year!

On top of it all, I was invited location scouting today with some awesome photogs and gorgeous girls. Check out the results and get inspired for your fall photo shoots! The fall brings some amazing weather and beautiful scenery in Bakersfield. Photographs make great Christmas gifts and the fall weather makes it a perfect time to book your shoots.

Moving Pictures?!

2009-09-05T09:46:00.000-07:00

We just couldn't wait to test out the camera!

This was shot in just a few minutes late last night because we had to see what the Mark II was all about... Then Brad wrote some music to go with it and made a youtube video for me. I still have a lot to learn because I only read enough of the manual to do this quick test. However, from what I've done so far, the camera is every bit as cool as it has been hyped up to be, but is that really a surprise? Having no musical talent at all (except for my attempts at ukulele) I am more impressed by the fact someone can sit down and write such cool music so quickly.

Accordion Wallet Books Now Available

2009-09-05T00:16:00.000-07:00

Now you don't have to pick just one photo to pass out to your friends and family. These wallet sized accordion books are super cute! This set was customized for Elyse to show off some of her best photos and her school colors. They come in sets of three, in sizes 3x3 squares or 2.5x3.5.

The Shutter Clique - Lovers of Light Unite!

2009-09-01T18:14:00.000-07:00

With the inspiration of some fellow and aspiring photogs, I have decided to start a photography club of sorts. We are calling it The Shutter Clique.

Isn't that a cool name? I wish I could take credit for it, but it is one part Therese Dozier of My Sorted Affair and one part Alan Urquhart from Urquhart Townson Design and Photography. I will take credit for being the super cool person that knows all the cool people, that think of the cool names. :) (kidding) Anyway... Expect lots of exciting things from The Shutter Clique. Soon, the theshutterclique.com will be up and running and activities will probably become more elaborate, ranging from mixers to shoots. Not too mention all the ideas I have in my head for super cool t-shirts! For now we are starting simple in hopes of encouraging some passionate, fun loving artists like ourselves to come join us and unite in the promotion of good photography. If you want to enhance your skills, talk to other professionals, discover some cool locations, etc... Join us!

The first get together will be a Shoot & Chat session on Tuesday, September 22 at 6:00p.m. Email me for location at jen@jenwillphoto.com. Models will be provided or you can bring your own.

Guidelines for Participation
All skill levels welcome. Participation is not limited to professionals, BUT you must have manual SLR camera. (No point and shoots allowed!)
Must be willing to share your knowledge and love for photography with your peers and uphold the standards and ethics of The Shutter Clique.

What are these standards and ethics you ask? Well, we will solidify them soon when the website is launched. Until then, in a nut shell, the purpose of the organization is to promote the teaching and art of photography, as well as educating our consumers. Lets face it, as photographers we are artists and business people and everything in between. So why not form a network and reach out to each other?

Little girls and flowers...

2009-08-31T18:38:00.001-07:00

Just a couple photos of some things that are pretty.

"No, Jennie do that!"

2009-08-31T18:14:00.000-07:00

Those are the words her mom told me little Presley said to someone recently when they tried to take her picture. Not only did that crack me up, I was delighted. It has been a year since I first photographed this adorable little girl. I first took photos for her 2nd birthday, then family photos for Christmas, and now she is turning three.

I was first introduced to Presley because her mother was tired of trying to fight all her energy and personality when getting her to sit still at the Picture People. After all, when it comes to childrens portraits you want to make sure, above all, their personality shines through. That's when she was referred to me. We had a photo session where Presley could play and enjoy herself while I captured real smiles.

A year later, Presley is just as cute and just as energetic.

The Padre...

2009-08-25T15:52:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to take the time to share a photo with you. Nothing extravagant today, just a simple image shot from the balcony of my old apartment on G Street. As I was driving home from work I noticed the big red letters on the roof, which usually spell out THE PADRE HOTEL, are no longer up. Being as nostalgic as I am at times, it made me a little sad. I heard the hotel is re-opening soon so I really hope it's only temporary. I will be disappointed if it is no longer a part of the downtown skyline, but at least I have this photo.

It all started with a dress...

2009-08-23T08:44:00.001-07:00

A few months ago my sister found this gorgeous vintage dress at a thrift store for $10. So, being the totally awesome sister that she is, she brought it to me thinking I could use it for a bridal shoot. The minute I saw it I couldn't wait to plan a shoot centered around it! From there it spiraled into the photos you see here. I couldn't get those old images of Bonnie and Clyde out of my head from the old 1967 movie. Most of my inspiration was centered around that, although I mixed and matched decades into my own take on vintage fashion. Then I found out we had permission to shoot at this salvage yard and the shoot became this beautiful classy take on grunge. As weird as it sounds, that is the best way I can describe it.

Big thanks is due to the models: Rigo Vindiola and Taylor Theis
Make-up Artist: Mary-Ann Jones
Coy Townson: owner of awesome location!!
My sister
And once again, the fellas at Urquhart Townson Design and Photography who had the connections for the awesome salvage yard and accompanied me on the shoot.

Here are some of my favorites photos:

Teaser: Bonnie & Clyde Vintage Style

2009-08-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

Here is a taste of what we did today. I couldn't be more happy with the results! Stay tuned for lots lots more. AND- Thanks to everyone who helped out for this shoot. I'll add a detailed link love and name names in my next post. :)

Movie Inspired Vintage Fashion

2009-08-19T22:44:00.000-07:00

Remember when men were men, and women were glamorous?

Well I don't. You see, I grew up thinking stretch pants were stylish and my favorite t-shirt had the word BUM across the front. We had MC Hammer pants and jelly shoes. We tied flannel shirts around our waist - so unflattering! Even as I got into high school I can't remember one trend that jumps out to me as original or classy.

As I was preparing for a photo shoot this Saturday I Googled some old movies for inspiration. Old movie men make me swoon...and the women! - oh! ... They make me so jealous. What I wouldn't give for it to be socially acceptable to dress like this for a night out.

Even while I was wearing my jelly shoes in the 90's I still admired the old movie fashions. I watched Mary Poppins a hundred times as a kid. I still love it. One of my favorite scenes is where Mrs. Banks in the yellow dress puts on her charming periwinkle coat as she sings "Vote for Women!" Not a scene that sticks out to most people in Mary Poppins, but oh how I loved her yellow dress!

As for the men, Burt would look totally silly hanging out at the club, but in this scene he is absolutely dashing!

Even the child catcher had style!

And if you see me wearing something like this the next time I’m out and about, you’ll know I couldn’t resist my urge to dress like my old movie style icons much longer.

Lady and the Tramp

2009-08-16T22:31:00.000-07:00

Even though we set out to do a trash the dress, Brutus (our lovely male model) decided it would be more of a "trash the bouquet." The outcome couldn't have been cuter! Jackie looks lovely and was really having as much fun as it looks posing with her puppy pal.

Lake Day

2009-08-16T09:27:00.001-07:00

It seems like this past week has been nonstop photos but it hasn't been all work. It's also been a lot of fun. Wednesday I got the opportunity to go to the lake with some of Brad's family and friends. When I was in high school wakeboarding was actually part of my normal summer routine but I haven't had the opportunity to go since my freshman year of college. I was nervous about being able to do it again. Luckily, it really was just like riding a bike. I got up, let them pull me around the lake for a while and let go before I ever came close to falling. I'm really not a risk taker when it comes to these type of sports. Even though I am a boring wakeboarder it was still really fun to try it again. At first I was totally intimidated and with good reason. Just look at what some of these guys can do!

Adam Cole getting some air on the wakeskate.

Sneak Peak - Trash the Dress

2009-08-16T09:21:00.001-07:00

So you won't see any trashing happening here yet, but I couldn't wait to share a few pics from my shoot yesterday. Enjoy these lovely photos of Jackie and I will post some more soon.

a few more...

2009-08-14T08:25:00.000-07:00

New blogs coming soon! Until then, I thought I would share some more of Elyes's senior pics.

Composite photos can be a lot of fun. So, what better way to photograph her in her cheer uniform than create her own squad.

We All Have Senior Moments....

2009-08-10T23:22:00.000-07:00

... and I'm sure we all wish they were as adorable and gorgeous as this girl. Here are some of my favorites from Elyse's senior class photos:

The good, the bad, and the ugly duckling...

2009-08-07T00:45:00.000-07:00

If any man had to spend a day inside my head, he would without a doubt, come to the conclusion that I am clinically insane. Nevertheless, I don't like to think I am out of the norm. Most women have a growing list of insecurities stored inside their head. There are those rare lucky women, like my fictional role model Peggy Hill, who are blessed with either a lack of self awareness or extreme confidence. I would settle for either, but I am not that lucky. I am completely self aware of my flaws, and I have self confidence that fluctuates more than Jessica Simpson's weight. In order to make myself feel better I like to believe that like me, most women are functioning lunatics when it comes to self esteem. We all just hide it - until now.

Yes, that is me. That is my fourth grade class photo. Allergies and hairspray are a bad combination on photo day. It is probably the worst photo I have ever taken in my life. I still cringe when I see it, and I have to keep reminding myself that I am now a mature, confident women of 25. Bad photos happen, that is not what I really look like! ... right?

So what inspired this ability to share something that until now has been an embarrassing memory? Well, Jessica Simpson of all things.

You see, most of my insecurities have been rooted deep inside me from the time I was a kid. Sadly, most of these insecurities involve looks. Everyone wants to role their eyes at the gorgeous model who claims to have been the ugly duckling. Yet, for the most part, even when she becomes a swan, most women never totally shed that duckling mentality.

Kids are innocent. We don't know we are different or have flaws until they are pointed out. Unfortunately, I distinctly remember beginning to notice and having my differences pointed out to me at an early age. Being a tall awkward semi-Hispanic girl was difficult at times when all the boys seem to like the tiny blond girls. Speaking of which, back to Jessica Simpson. She was the epitome of what I had longed to be when I was a girl. Short, skinny, and blond. Seeing my poor 4th grade self makes it's hard for me to be sympathetic towards her. Even after reading this article it didn't give me much sympathy. She discusses her body image in a fairly eloquent way, but "boo-hoo" you're still Jessica Simpson. Then, just like the gossip sites want, I was baited by those links woven into the article. That's when the shift occurred.

I clicked on this link: See how Jessica Simpson's body has changed through the years

Sure there are a few, ok a lot, of bad outfits. Other than that, it is photo after photo of a totally in shape- hot Jessica Simpson. Then when I realized I had clicked on the last photo I felt really sad. Not because my celebrity gossip fix was cut short, but because of what the last photo represented. Unless you have been living on Mars you've seen it. The high waisted Jeans! (Oh the horror!) Let's all be honest, regardless of what her weight was at the time, it is a bad photo. Bad photos happen. Personally, I thought it was totally unfair to title a slide show "how Jessica Simpson has changed through the years" and end with her worst photo ever. That is not a good reflection of who she is anymore than that fourth grade photo is who I am.

I have hid from my photo for years, and today Jessica Simpson of all things, inspired me to take a stand. She isn't the kind of girl I aspire to be, or even normally defend. Yet, every women deserves to be comfortable with who they are. So, with my fourth grade photo, I am taking a stand for women everywhere. Let's all stop running towards these ideals of how we should look.

If you would like to join me in taking a stand, go ahead and email me your best and worst photo. I'd love to post it along with your story of what makes you feel confident and beautiful. It's actually quite liberating, like conquering a fear.

What's that you say? You don't have a best photo? Well, you're in luck. It is now my job to capture people at their very best. In fact, a free photo session goes to the person who sends me their best-worst photo! Email me at jen@jenwillphoto.com

...and go ahead, laugh at my class picture. I know it's bad.

Oh No!!!

2009-08-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

It has just come to my attention that my online contact form hasn't been working for everyone! :( I'm so sorry if I have been missing your emails. If you have tried to contact me recently via my website contact form and got an error, please try to email me again at jen@jenwillphoto.com. I am going to get this fixed today.

And... so I don't leave with with only complaints, check out this shot from an amazing photo shoot I did with the one and only Shelley Lubben.

RocknRoll Bride

2009-07-22T08:09:00.000-07:00

My photos of Heather are featured on RocknRollBride!!!!

This is one of my favorite blogs of all time. The author is based in the UK but features photo shoots from around the world to provide brides with some rockin inspiration for their big day.

Go check it out!

http://www.rocknrollbride.com/2009/07/suicidal-bride/

More Heather!

2009-07-20T08:49:00.000-07:00

I had so many great pics from this shoot I had to post another set!

Model Me

2009-07-19T21:32:00.000-07:00

What do you do when you have a great setting for a photo shoot and no model? Well, sometimes you gotta take one for the team. I have been dying to get some bridal shots while the beautiful water lilies are in bloom. However, I realized asking a girl to step into the mucky Kern River was a lot to ask. So, I strapped on my river shoes, called for back up and hopped in myself. Two members of my wedding team took these photographs of me in beautiful Oildale, CA. When you book a wedding with me you don't just get me, but as you can see, I come with excellent back up. If they can make an awkward klutz like me look good, just imagine what we can do for you.

After the shoot I had to get my hand in on it too. Sometimes I love photo editing as much as I love actually taking the photos! I did some processing to give it a fairytale vintage look. There were a lot of good shots, but I'll admit I am a bit addicted to the vintage texture right now. So, I picked out some to process that I thought went well together. Now, for my modeling debut... :-P

Links of Love x5! (5)

2009-07-19T17:49:00.001-07:00

“The law of love could be best understood and learned through little children”. Mahatma Gandhi

Heather Rocks!

2009-07-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

Nothing makes me happier than having a killer photo-sesh with an awesome model. Heather was more than happy to rock a wedding dress for me, jazzed up with her own personal accessories. I especially love her "something blue" Doc Martins! She was also more than willing to strike a few extra poses in her non-wedding attire.

It was so hard to narrow down the photos for the blog, but here are some of my favorites:

Highlight of the shoot - being pulled over by the Kern County Sheriff! Heather and I took a few shots at a bridge. Little did we know what a scene it would cause. When I left Heather sitting at the bridge while I went to get the car (her shoes were cute but not so comfortable) people called in reporting a suicidal bride getting ready to jump! Lucky for me, the sheriff thought it was really funny when I explained we were doing a photo shoot and a run away bride wasn't about to jump off the bridge.

My Week in iPhone Pictures

2009-07-19T14:07:00.001-07:00

I have been dog sitting this little Yorkie for a few days. Monday he will go to a new home and Apollo couldn't be happier. Although they are tolerating each other pretty well, Apollo likes being the king of the castle. This pic pretty much sums up their relationship.

This made me laugh so hard I actually pulled over to take a picture. There are a lot of signs posted around my neighborhood, but they are usually for yardsales or lost puppies. So, you can imagine my surprise when I looked over and saw this! It's actually to promote a youtube site, but it sure got my attention.

Across the street from the downtown Mexcali Restaurant in Bakersfield is this totally odd little shop. Brad and I got a kick out of it and I had to take a picture.

As seen on Twitter, this odd little toy was left in the flower bed outside my office. The kids who live in the house next door probably left it there. I was informed after my tweet that this is a toy from Night at the Museum, but if you haven't seen the movie, wouldn't you think this is the weirdest toy you have ever seen? ...(and) I still don't know why Octavius is riding a squirrel.

Teaser: 3 new blogs coming soon!

2009-07-19T10:04:00.000-07:00

I have been a part of some really amazing photo shoots lately and have been slacking on the blogging. So, here is a taste of what is to come.

First up is a preview from my photo shoot with Heather. I have yet to find something this girl is not good at. Lets add model to the list of musician, writer, and amazing person. Not to mention, this shoot was responsible for the most hilarious incident to ever happen to me on a photo shoot. It may or may not have involved law enforcement and a suicidal bride on the bridge.

Next, I decided to brave the waters of the Kern river to get some shots I have been dying to shoot. Yet, after realizing I was asking a lot for one of my beautiful models to wade in the muck, I stepped up to the plate. I was the model and two of my photographers from my wedding team shot the photos. My first modeling experience was interesting to say the least. Can't say I will be doing it again soon. I either cringe at the site of myself or get green with envy that there is absolutely no way I can take credit for the shot. I did however, add my own vintage processing style to complete my vision for the shoot... control freak I know! :) Oh and I realize this preview isn't even of me in the river so it looks like you will have to check back soon.

Last up, since I got my iphone I have been documenting a lot of random stuff I see. So, I am starting a new semi-weekly article to show off these random iphone images. Here is one from my week in iphone pictures that really made me laugh.

Links of Love (4)

2009-07-07T20:53:00.000-07:00

"Love is like quicksilver in the hand. Leave the fingers open and it stays. Clutch it, and it darts away." -Dorothy Parker

Links of Love (3)

2009-07-07T19:13:00.000-07:00

"The secret of a happy life isn't buried in a treasure chest...it lies within your heart."
-Author Unknown

Red Hot Headshots

2009-07-01T22:02:00.000-07:00

Ok, so there may have been a better way to describe my portrait session with Brad today, but lets face it - it was also kind of perfect. You may recognize this familiar face from an old post, or simply because Brad finds himself modeling for me on a regular basis. What can I say? Photogenic people should avoid me if they don't like their picture taken. :)

This time we were actually doing a shoot for his own use. We started off with some simple headshots and then mixed it up a bit. Yet, for a guy with aspirations to be in Stomp or Blueman group, what more would you expect?

Here are some of my favorites.

Links of Love (2)

2009-06-28T23:56:00.000-07:00

I'd like to share another wedding ring photo. These rings belong to two good friends of mine who are big fans of the Angels. Simple and sweet concept.

Backup Johnny

2009-06-28T23:32:00.000-07:00

This Friday was the CD release party and summer tour kick off for a favorite band of mine, Backup Johnny. My friend Alan, from Urquhart Townson Design and Photography, and I were asked to photograph the festivities. The show was a blast, as usual. Their new EP, Dive, has some great songs. The guys also played their usual crowd pleasing covers. If you want to hear their music or find out where you can catch them live click here.

Cats and Dogs

2009-06-25T08:27:00.001-07:00

Since I mentioned dailypuppy.com in my blog yesterday I thought it be nice to share some of my own puppy photos with you this morning. This is Brutus the Boston Terrier and Braxton the Westie. This website is seriously the ultimate pick me up. If you ever need an instant smile just go look at an adorable puppy. If you don't smile, then your heart is made of stone or maybe you just don't like dogs (which I also find weird).

I am a dog lover even though I don't have a dog. Dogs are not allowed in my apartment, but if I could I would get one in a heartbeat. Instead I have a cat. Don't get me wrong, I love my cat. I'll even post a photo so he doesn't feel left out.

Cats are great, there is just something about puppies that just make you smile no matter what. Everyone loves a puppy. With cats it's either a love or hate thing. People are rarely indifferent to cats. For some reason it is even acceptable to hate cats. Puppies on the other hand... if someone said, "I hate puppies."... you would probably think they are some kind of sociopath.

This is my cat, Apollo, right before he attacked my camera.

Time Machine

2009-06-24T23:12:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been getting a lot of comments on my driver’s license. Normally people don’t even look at your face when they ask to see your ID. They look at the birth date or just check if the name matches the credit card. Rarely are they careful enough to actually take a look at your face to make sure it’s you.

The person on my ID is not me. It's not just the face looking at you from my driver’s license that hardly resembles the person who owns it. There is an entirely new person in her place - a person with a little more self-confidence, new opinions, evolving philosophies on life.... and bangs.

This weekend I was carded buying a movie ticket to see the Hangover. I may look young on occasion, but it is hard to believe I look under 18. This made me laugh. As I headed over to the Mexican restaurant nearby (for pre-movie margaritas with friends,) I wondered if I should have rethought my attire for the evening.

Once I was at the restaurant I had a new perspective on being carded. Go ahead and card me for drinks. In fact, if you don’t, this makes me a little sad. When the server arrived I didn’t even have to worry because we were all carded as usual. Yet, when I was carded the server asked, “So you got rid of the long hair?”
...

“Well, sir… in that photo I am 19. Now I am 25, so... yes, I guess you can say I got rid of the long hair. Furthermore, am I that weird looking in the photo that you had to comment on my ID after carding the whole table?” Of course that is not actually what I said to him, but I did say a version of that to my friends. Then we immediately started to compare our IDs,

My favorite belonged to my friend who still has her 16-year-old self awkwardly smiling back at you. If I were our server, it would have been hard for me not to laugh after comparing her ID photo to the beautifully put together women at the table.

One thing I love about photographs is how they are the closest thing to a time machine that we can get. No matter what kind of photos it is, it has the power to take you back. I can look at a photo from years ago and still evoke that emotion. For this reason, I only carry one photo in my wallet. I keep it in there because no matter how much time has passed it always makes me laugh. It’s like having dailypuppy.com with you everywhere you go (you can’t look at it and be sad). I also can’t I look at it without evoking “rolling on the floor” kind of laughter. This is why photos are awesome.

The memory and the personal connection people have with photographs is why it is my favorite form of art.

This is more fun if it's a two way conversation...

2009-06-19T19:57:00.000-07:00

Comments are now open for everyone, and you don't have to register or sign in. A big thanks to KP who pointed that out to me. I didn't know I had that setting turned on, all this time I've just been talking at you! So leave me some love, opinions, thoughts, etc. If you have been lurking say hi! If you are actually reading, tell a friend to read too. AND - if this is your first time here, welcome. :)

Links of Love

2009-06-19T10:43:00.000-07:00

I was going to wait and share this photo with you after I got a collection of them together, but I couldn't wait. This is a photo of my parents wedding rings and after I shot it, I realized how special it was to me.

The wedding ring shot has become a staple in wedding photography today. If your photographer didn't steal your rings away to take this photo, then contact me and we will do one for you now. It doesn't have to be the day of your wedding to create this personal little symbol of your love, and that's what inspired me to borrow my parents rings for a quick minute last time I popped in for a visit.

Weddings span from an extravaganza to simple civil service. However, today the wedding norm is some variation of celebration for family and friends.

When my parents were married they got one wedding photo and they are the only two people in it. My sister and I love that photo. It was a simpler time and that was all they needed. Yet, the photographer in me now couldn't wait to create a new style of wedding photo for them 29 years later.

It was so sweet, when I asked my dad if I could borrow his ring for a minute, he was very hesitant to take it off. Yet, my parents are always super awesome about indulging all of my photographic subject needs. So, after some struggle with his ring and his finger, he handed it to me and said, "this is the first time I have taken it off since i put it on." I couldn't believe it, that was one of the sweetest things I have ever heard. My mom had a similar struggle removing a ring that she never takes off.

No fancy ceremony or clothing. Only one photo to commemorate it, and yet here they were years later, letting their daughter go back in time to create a symbol of love for them they never had... but also never needed.

The photo (sorry for the poor quailty, camera phone of a photo)...

Mixer Mania!

2009-06-17T21:16:00.001-07:00

Take a drive out to Shafter, California. Drive through town, keep driving... a little further now, and just when you think you probably missed your turn, there it is! The Park Place - a unique venue with a romantic country vibe located in Shafter, California. It was also the meeting location for my first Kern County Bridal Association mixer. Mingling with other people in the local wedding industry was a lot of fun. It got me pysched to participate in my first bridal show in October and inspired some projects I will be sharing with you soon.

The photos I am sharing with you this evening were all taken at the mixer. A pond, complete with paddle boats and fountain, is responsible for the majority of the ambiance at the venue. I also thought the cowboy style men's and women's restrooms were adorably charming. However, my favorite thing was the bold red bench. Can't you just see an adorable couple dressed in vintage wedding attire posing on the bench together?

The doves and butterfly you see are courtesy of MaryAnn's Country.There was no way I would pass up an opportunity to get that close to doves and butterflies and not attempt to take their photo. I thought the live monarch displays were a super orginial idea for wedding decor, and MaryAnn breeds them herself. She was even kind enough to let me hold her sweet little dove and snap a photo with it. It was the nicest little bird, if it weren't for my cat, I would have tried to take it home!

Random Acts of Kindness and Karma

2009-06-16T20:51:00.000-07:00

Today I said some really mean things to someone I really love. I'd like to say I didn't mean them, but sometimes words start flowing out of my mouth like water from a broken dam. Before I know it, I do my best to patch it up, but I can't put back what already got out.

So, for that reason I am feeling a little melancholy tonight, and what better to cheer me up than doing some random acts of kindness for other people. I made little note cards I will be sending out to future brides. I also put together a little photo package for the most polite bouncer I have ever met, Andre, who is the bouncer at Sandrini's on trivia nights. (my favorite night of the week!) One night I happen to have my camera and took a few photos for him so I am finally following through on my promise to bring him some prints.

I would also like to spread some link love and point you towards these hairpieces on Etsy. I recently stumbled across them during a webs surf session. These feathered and flowered creations are beautiful. Not only will you probably see me wearing one soon, I hope to center some photo shoot fashion around these gorgeous pieces.

Well, I hope that balanced out my karma for the day. I am assuming since I misdirected my anger, I can misdirect my kindness and everything will come around full circle. Or is that not how it works? :)

Sometimes I can be a book worm...

2009-06-15T22:52:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine gave me a gift card to Barnes and Noble for my birthday back in March. I love gifts like this because it encourages you to go and look for something you would never think to buy for yourself. I browsed the aisle for about an hour trying to decide what I would purchase. A new design book? A CD or movie? Honestly, the possibilities are endless at this "book" store. Then, I saw it. I don't usually read non-fiction. I am a sucker for almost anything imaginary with a good story. Instead on this day I was drawn to a very simple photography book about a photographer I greatly admired, Annie Leibovitz. I highly recommend this read for anyone who shares a passion and love for photography... and a love for Leibovitz's work. It is not a step by step technical book, or is it a coffee table book full of images. The book also doesn't dive deep into her personal life and only lightly touches on her childhood. However, what is unique about the book, and what I liked most, was the way Leibovitz explained how each shot came to being and her thoughts on this experience. This is the first non-fiction book I have read since I was in college and I highly recommend it.

In fiction, I am recommending The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin. All I can say is that this book is most definitely funny... to me. I can't promise it will be funny to you. However, if you dig the sometimes dry, sometimes quirky, but always smart humor like I do, you will enjoy this book. Most likely, it is not what you will expect but in a good way. It is a quick read and it will leave you being jealous of how gosh darn talented this man is. Some people just have it... and Steve Martin... well, he's got it. It is one of the most unique books I have read in a while.

Get them on Amazon:
The Pleasure of My Company
Annie Leibovitz at Work

Love for the Kern...

2009-06-13T15:04:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would share with you a few little snippets of my weekend. While on a hike along Brush Creek, which runs into the Kern River, I couldn't help but snap a few photos of sights along the way. I've spent a lot of time paddling and guiding through the white water of the Kern this season, but I haven't had a lot of time to take photos of the experience. This will be a new goal of mine, and hopefully I will have more to share with you soon.

Jeremy & Ninfa, Engagement Session

2009-06-11T22:03:00.000-07:00

I'm very happy to be sharing these images with you. Jeremy & Ninfa are an adorable couple from Tuscan, Arizona. In their own words: "We Are In Love and not afraid to show it or talk about... I couldn't imagine life without my other half... We Love spending time with each other and making each other happy...." So, what's left to for me to say really? We'll just let the photos speak or themselves.

Welcome to my new blog!

2009-06-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

I created this blog as a place to share my work, thoughts, and everyday life. Once you get to know me, I think you will really want me to take your picture. :) If you already know me, then I will continue to entertain you by creating unique images and sharing little snippets of my life. I have taken some of my old blogs and re posted them here. I am also going to try and add new blogs daily.

If you haven't yet, also check out my website and feel free to follow me on twitter or add me on myspace.

Lets get to know each other shall we?
Some random info about me:
I am a 25 year old designer and photographer who currently resides in Bakersfield, California but will travel anywhere... anywhere.
I am in love with humor and originality.
I believe everyone has a story to tell and not one of them needs words, just a photo.
People in love touch my heart.
I am fearless with my camera in hand. Without it, I am afraid of heights.
Hugs are the best medicine and laughter is a life necessity.
My favorite pass times, other than art related activities, are trivia nights, learning to guide the Kern River, watching movies, and running.

Your turn! Feel free to tell me about you.

Musical Collaboration!

2009-05-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

This video uses stop motion to capture the mood of a solitary man floating through a day of his life. All music was written and performed entirely by Brad Cordova. (He is also the guy who stars in the video.) I had been wanting to create something using stop motion for a long time. Then Brad started writing this song and I knew this was the project!

Some fun facts: We shot the video on a Saturday taking over 800 photos. Only one beer was consumed while shooting this video, and it tasted awful after pouring it into five glasses. For a few months I had been taking a polaroid of every guests who came into our apartment. So some of our friends and family make a quick appearance in the last scene. If you like some of the unique shirts Brad is wearing in the changing scene you can find them here and here.

Here are some of my favorite single photos from the different scenes that we shot.

Roots

2009-05-15T08:25:00.000-07:00

This is my entry for the BMOA Juried Small Works Exhibition. The theme is roots, size 8x8. I created a piece inspired by my mother... and her hair. :) (get it hair roots?) not to mention the fact that my mother is a huge part of who I am. So its also an expression of my own roots. You can see this piece exhibited at the Bakersfield Museum of Art until August.

Bridal

2009-04-10T22:18:00.000-07:00

Don't forget - I also do weddings.

Little Faces

2009-04-10T08:22:00.000-07:00

I have been taking photos of a lot of super cute kids lately. I thought I would share a few with you all. I will also add some new stuff to the galleries soon. If you haven't checked them out lately, I added a maternity album and new photos here and there. Check it out.

A day in the life of...

2009-04-07T08:01:00.000-07:00

These are photos I did a while back and intended to share...

Brad gets stuck modeling a lot, but these photos were based around a strong concept I had. I like to call it, "A day in the life of___" Basically, it tells a story of a musician constantly being plagued by the presence of his art, even when he seems to be avoiding it. I had a few more ideas to shoot based on this concept, but haven't completed them yet. So far, I am very happy with the four part series.

The Scarf- love it or hate it?

2009-01-04T08:19:00.000-08:00

The Scarf- love it or hate it?
Current mood: amused
Category: Art and Photography
In order to explain the inspiration behind my newest photo, I must take you back to a beautiful sunny day in Hollywood California. Tyler, Brad and I took a trip down south for a weekend to watch the Swell Season and Iron in Wine at the Greek Theatre. It was an amazing concert, we all had a blast, but one thing continued to plague our trip every time it was flaunted in front of our eyes. This one thing my friends, was scarves.

Scarves were everywhere! They decorated mannequins in the windows of H&M and American Apparel. They walked the streets dangling around the necks of countless men and women. Not too mention the flocks of middle aged Glen Hansard wannabes who filled the Greek, walking around displaying their scarves proudly. Every where you looked it seemed like 70 degrees was optimal scarf wearing weather for just about everyone in Hollywood.

Tyler continually express his disdain for this accessory throughout the trip. However, the scarf overload, and Tyler's total rejection of scarfs finally came by what we saw on our way to hike up to the Hollywood sign. Now, if any of you have seen our photos from the hike, I'm sure you can tell it wasn't a totally pleasant experience. We were hot, sweaty and unprepared. Tyler and Brad were even shirtless by the end because it was a warm sunny day. Yet, on our way there, we passed him. The epitome of Hollywood Trendiness - sleeveless tight shirt, tight&saggy jeans, ipod in ears, and of course.... a scarf! As we watched him walk down the street- Tyler and Brad decided they had enough of this ridiculous trend and preceded to launch into a rant of epic proportions.

From that day on, Tyler hates scarves and all who wear them. Now, being that I am a scarf advocate, (Yes, all but one of the scarves in Tyler's photo are mine, and even the one that isn't mine, I wish I owned) I have since been able to minimize Tyler's scarf hate to males wearing them in inappropriate situations. I got this idea for a photo after hearing several scarf complaints and I am so happy I finally got to create this image.

Thanks T.M. - you're the best!

Twilight Tribute

2008-09-08T07:27:00.000-07:00

Recently one of my good friends introduced me to a new book series called Twilight. When she gave me the first book she said, "this is the best substitute for Harry Potter I have found," and she was right.

Since finishing the Harry Potter series last year I hadn't really picked up another book with the same interest, but the Twilight was so entertaining I was immediately hooked! Little did I know that the Twilight series was hardly a new discovery. People were fanatical about it, and a movie was even coming out this fall.

I am now reading the third book, and when I heard about the movie I of course went straight to the web to see photos of the cast. Its always interesting to me to see the casting after first being introduced to a story through reading. One of the first things I noticed about the cast photos was the treatment that gave the vampires their beautiful non-human look. (oh did I mention Twilight is about vampires?) The vampires in the book are suppose to be really beautiful, cold and pale. The photos of the cast reflect this idea.

Last week I also stumbled upon a website for photo retouching that was super impressive. So, these two things inspired me to create some vampires of my own. I decided to use some extra photos from my Irving Penn series. Its amazing how different these photos can look with an entirely new digital treatment.

Below are images of what I think Brad, Kailan, and Caroline might look like, if they were adopted by the Cullen Family. :)