New Year Plans..... 2011!!

So 2010 is the year I decided to fully drop all my classes at school and dedicate myself to really kick starting my photography business. When I want something... I dont stop until I get it, until I achieve what I want. I would say that 2010 was great to me and quitting school to get my nursing degree sounds CRAZY but was crucial for what I REALLY want in life. I managed to book myself weddings pretty much every month next year and I look forward to 2011 for a beautifully busy year of weddings and photgraphing wonderful couples!!! :D

The goals for 2011:

* Get myself in "The Wedding Cafe" (Friggen most brilliant and amazing store ever!)
* Take a trip to Chicago and go to a photography seminar
* Book more weddings and nurture and keep my business growing!!! :)

Happy New Years everyone!!! 2011 will be a GREAT year!!

xmas at 24 years old

So it's funny how the older you get the less of a big deal xmas gets in a sense of gifts and giving. When your younger all you can think about is when santa is going to be putting that bike under your tree or that sega genesis (OOOLD SCHOOL). Also waking up and dispersing the presents separating yours from your younger brothers and parents. Always feeling bad your mom and dad only have about 3 to open. You feel sooo awesome with 30 boxes surrounding you, you sit in a barricade of shiny wrapped gifts waiting for your mom to give you the green light. Christmas today at 24 years old... I sleep in. First thing on my mind when I wake up... When can we eat and what will we eat? Whats under the tree? There is no tree... its such a hassle to clean up the leaves and dementia grandpa will fuss with it way too much. ALL 3 of my presents were already opened from the moment I got it from my best friends a week before. But of course those envelopes from relatives are still and maybe even NICER at 24. :) NO this is not a bashing xmas Grinch stealing scrooge blog. Its just realizing how funny life is and the process of growing up. I still love December and xmas... yes its still my favorite time of year. Just for different reasons... I decided to make December my relax take a break month. I've worked so hard this past year with 3 jobs and kick starting my photography business. I had a nice week long vaca of nothing (kinda) Of course I ended up doing a family portrait and met with a couple of brides... I just can't really fully not do anything, its just in my blood to work!! BUT all in all I did a lot of partying and with the little bro whose home from SF. xmas is the time to enjoy the simplicity of being together and enjoying family time. I'd say this xmas was a total success! :)

BUUT here are some GREEEAAAT stuff i got this year!! Thanks Mung Bean and bro for the xmas gifts!!!

Dreaming of a wedding with Michi and Justin

One and a half more years. One and a half more years til Michi graduates from Law school at the university of Hawaii. One and a half more years til Michi and Justin remain just as a sickening cute couple! I always ask when are you guys going to "tie the knot"? She says marriage is not a topic until she graduates, so... I am waiting for that exciting phone call later down the road after one and a half more years. They been together for 3 years now and they are the epitome of the saying "oppisites attract." Justin is this laid back joke-ster guy, very affectionate and not afraid to be affectionate in public, very young and playful at heart and just always cracking jokes, very outgoing personality. Michi on the other hand is more conservative and reserved with the public affection and in general. She is more serious although if she's my best friend you know she's gotta be a little looney!! :) With her go get it attitude she always gets what she wants, she is the hardest working woman i know! Since elementary she's been doing remarkable things with her life and always amazing me with her accomplishments. Including her choice of her current man. :) Justin keeps michi laughing from all the seriousness in her life while she keeps justin from being too crazy and out of trouble! How do I know how this works? Because that is EXACTLY how michi and my friendship has been working for 19 years! So kindergarten bff... I commend you on your life accomplishments and the man you have chosen to be with. He has my absolute stamp of approval as long as he keeps you smiling and laughing and I look forward to the day where I can be standing next to you as your maid of honor (I BETTER BE YOUR MAID OF HONOR!! haha) as you officially give your heart to Justin for life. :) Love you both and thank you for doing this shoot with me!!

Much props to Jae and his wonderful flower shop/business "My Florist" If you want an amazing bouquet like the one used in this shoot hollar at him and visit his website at www.weddingsbymyflorist.com

oprah can even bring cats together!

Last night I was watching my 20th anniversary 7 disc dvd of oprah! I was stuck home watching my grandpa so I needed something to help make the night a little more fun. lol. Anyway I was enjoying my oprah marathon while crying and then laughing and then smiling uncontrollably and then crying again. Of course my family zoo was all in the living room with me (my 3 cats and one hotdog daschund sammy) Well later in the night this amazing thing happened and the only explanation I could think of was... Oprah. They were probably watching oprah with me and felt in the oprah mood and had to put aside stealing of catnip toys, constant hissing at each other, swiping at each other with their clawless paws, and growling when they walk by each other. Oprah managed to make them bffs for the night!! Oh Oprah how you really are GOD! haha Here's the bff moment of my two cats... of course they were back at it the next day fighting but it was cute to see them getting along while it lasted. :)

Kristin and Will Hale Koa Wedding

Had a wonderful time photographing a friend of mine Kristin and her husbands wedding at the Hale Koa. It started off as a ridiculously gloomy and stormy rainy day! It was not looking promising and I was prepared for the weather and thinking of strategies of shooting the wedding under the dark and harsh conditions. BUT while taking her getting ready pics in the hotel room things really lifted up and as the ceremony was to start, it didnt even drizzle! We even managed to squeeze in a beautiful sunset portrait sesh with the 2!! Overall had a blast with them, such a fun and silly in love couple!! The best kind to photograph!! :) Congrats to you both and please hollar at me when you come back to hawaii for a visit!

I love my cats... they keep me in check! Esp Missy...Dam Bitch!

So yesterday I was lying on the living room floor talking story with my parents about something and my mom made a comment that made me have the giggles and yes I am one of those really loud laughers and in general I'm a loud person who talks too loud and wasn't born with a volume button (my mom wishes she installed one in me before bringing me home from the hospital) And one of my "bitch" cats, Missy, came charging at me and bit my face!!! Aparently growing up in this house with my cats they have finally decided to find a way to shut me up instead of dealing with my loudness to themselves. JUST to test it, when she walked away and sat a few feet away from me I started to purposely laugh out loud again and BOOM here she comes charging at me but this time snatched the top of my hair (which was up in a ponytail) and with one paw pushed against my face and pulled with her teeth as if we were really in a chic bar fight!! My hair was all tore up and mangled! As she once again walked away I had to see if she would do it again... I proceeded to laugh... BOOM without even a slight notice before I knew it she's pulling the living daylights out of my ear but this time it wasn't funny because it hurt like hell. I'll keep the volume down... Lesson learned missy... you dam bitch!!

Not so cute and innocent as she appears!!!

Got my epiphanie camera bag!!!

So i mentioned in a couple blogs back that there was this camera bag that I wanted and it was everything I could ever wish for in a camera bag. It's very fashion friendly, girly, great space that can hold a lot, leather, beautiful colors, i just love it!! I was so sick of the regular boring black camera bags!! I love it so much and I'm so happy with it I decided to write a blog about it AND show pictures of my beautiful baby! :D yes i am aware of how ridiculous i look posing with the bag but i love it so much i had to show the happiness she brings me!!

Moving Day.... :(

SO I have not updated or written on here for a while because I have been in the ugly process of moving. Yes, moving... and it is just not fun at all! lol. Too many boxes, too many getting ready of things I love dearly but I have no room for, dust bunnies the size of hamsters!! The whole crossing fingers, sucking up and kissing ass to the property manager as she walks through the apartment with you so that you can get ALL your security deposit back! :) Blah Blah Blah. I am just about settling in now FINALLY and can get back to the photo world and find my happy place. :) Got a few shoots coming up for the Krave book I mentioned before. Meeting lots of exciting and talented women through this, i love it! I promise for a more interesting post in the next one. In the meantime I would like to pay tribute to some of the items that were sold during this rigorous moving process... i will miss you dearly. :(

Itzel Quinceanera!

So I recently covered my 2nd Quinceanera! Gotta say, I have a blast and enjoy it as much as weddings because well... It's just as of a big deal as a wedding!! I'm not kidding! The whole works... taking formal pics of her in her amazing white poofy dress with her family members and escorts (kind of like bridesmades and groomsmen), at the venue she is introduced and the ceremony of her becoming a woman occurs, a couple of peformances are done as a gift to her, she has a dance with her daddy, then singing happy birthday while she looks at this HUGE grand bday cake and does her own first cake cutting moment. One thing I must say I enjoy aside from the hospitality of their families making me feel as if I'm apart of their own and one of their auntys sisters brothers cousins... is the FOOOOOD!!! Oh gosh... nothing satisfies me more than being able to scarf down delicious food while I'm shooting a gig. And authentic home cooking mexican food just completed my soul that day. DELICIOSO!!! :) Itzel you were absolutely stunning and beautiful and look forward to seeing next quinceanera I do for another girl at your church and see how much you've grown up and turned into a sophisticated and amazing woman!