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What a fantastic trip! We got home late last night and spent most of the day today decompressing (literally and figuratively). Lots of brain food, for sure! :)
The babies were happy to have us back. We were gone for 2 weeks... that's a long time to miss our girls! Here's Emka snuggling with Emir on the sofa in the loft...
Special thanks to everyone we had the pleasure of meeting on our trip. We already can't wait for next year!
Our visit to Napa started at the visitors center. If you've never been before, it is HIGHLY recommended. Those people really know their stuff. While exploring, we stumbled upon this darling deli/shop/espresso bar where we loaded up on baguettes, salami, cheese and wine which made for the perfect afternoon picnic!
The town of Calistoga was high on my list of cuteness. Loaded with art galleries, boutiques and coffee shops, Emir and I were both in heaven!
When I travel, one of my favorite things to do is connect with people. Our recent trip to Vegas and up the California coast gave us a number of opportunities to meet up with great people. In Orange City, we met up with the ever fabulous Kjerstin & Joel and together with the Bui Brothers, we spent the afternoon working on a special project for KaBloom. :)
Since we were shooting in "Orange City," I thought this was apropos. :)
Vu and Lan workin' their movie magic....
They suggested we shoot in this field of clovers. Which meant, we had to search exhaustively for a 4-leaf specimen. Apparently the odds of finding one are 1 in 10,000.
Vu had Kjerstin & Joel's comfort in mind and brought along Shoot Sac sample swatches to give them a clean and cushy spot. (Sorry Jessica!)
I shot this photo because of the clover behind Joel's ear. Later I found out he didn't even know it was there. Very sneaky Kjerstin! :)
Here's Kjerstin giving me a wink before the Bui Brothers kicked Emir and I out suggested that Emir and I take a "romantic walk" (away from the camera). :)
Thank you ALL so much! What a treat to bring so many incredible people together for an afternoon of fun, capped up with a yummy dinner! xoxo
You know that good friend you've had since high school... that you don't get to see very often... but when you do... it's as if it's only been a day or two since you last hung out? That's my friend Tam. We first met in Mr. Crew's 9th grade geometry class and became friends over isosceles triangles and pythagorous' theorem. By our sophomore and junior year, we had each other's back when it came to tangents and cosines, imaginary numbers and solving for 'x' in algebra and pre-cal.
In my 'early days' of shooting film, Tam was kind enough to let me shoot her with my old Pentax K1000 (which I still have!) in my parents' basement with bed sheets staple gunned to the ceiling (sorry Dad!).
Now, more than 10 years later... Tam, her husband Loren and their two girls Evie & Lyla currently live in San Francisco... where Emir and I just happen to be at this very moment!
Long over due for an updated version of the photos I shot of Evie when she was first born.... I was eager to give Tam some new images to make her smile until my next visit. Here are a few of my faves...
Whenever I head out on the road, I try as best as I can to connect with friends near and far. Our journey through California brought us to Redondo Beach where we got to visit my friend Robin, her husband Eric and their gorgeous daughter Kylee. Today while Eric was at work, we took Kylee to the beach to play. It was her first time playing in the sand since learning to walk. What a treat! :)
So great to see you guys again and meet the newest member of your family!
After nearly a week in Vegas, the ocean (and ocean air!) was a welcomed treat! We woke up early on Friday morning to wander around San Diego before heading to Oceanside for a shoot with Nate (more on that as soon as we see the proofs!). Here are some sights from southern Cali.
What trip to southern California would be complete without a visit to Disneyland? One of my favorite things we did there was to visit a 'museum' they had set up celebrating the first 50 years of Disneyland. To think that the whole thing was built on what was once considered an undesirable chunk of orange grove farm land in the middle of nowhere, is amazing. Walt was a true visionary. I like to think we can all learn something from him in that way. :)
We are THRILLED beyond belief to have had the opportunity to work with the famed Bui Brothers on an exciting KaBloom project. An extra special bonus? Kjerstin and Joel live somewhat nearby and were able and willing to join us on Sunday. Thank you all SO MUCH!
To belong to this fabulous field that gives me the opportunity to be creative, to take care of people and give them something as special as custom images of their loved ones.... well... it's just pretty darn awesome. This week was a chance to connect with other professionals who truly loves their craft and care not only for their clients... but also for each other. Emir and I had the chance to connect with some old friends as well as meet some incredible new people we already can't wait to get to know better. Thank you to all my photographer friends (new and old!) for your companionship on the journey we share together, and a huge gracias to my all my beloved clients who so generously trust me with their memories and hearts!
This morning my genius musical friend Christian treated us to breakfast (thanks Christian! Can't believe we forgot to take a photo!) then we picked up our rental car and headed west! This part of our trip is focused on fun and photos for our own enjoyment. Here is some of what we shot along the way...
Emir makes me look good! (The red shoes don't hurt..... ;)
Shooting in the desert is always fun!
So handsome!
More as we roll onward!
Our last night in Vegas was filled with treats! This beautiful serving of eye candy is none other than the famed collection of hand-blown glass flowers by Dale Chihuly that greet you in the lobby of the Bellagio.
We caught up with my friend Charles (currently a musician in the Blue Man Group band at the Venetian) after an incredible dinner with photog friends including Cathy & David, Hanssie and more!
Two lovely ladies asuka book who actually remembered my Alphabet Book! Great to meet them in person after all this time!
How crazy is THIS!? While cruisin' the trade show floor, I stumbled upon an album that someone had built using the Alphabet Book design template they bought from me! My first alphabet book design was featured on Asuka Book's Book of the Month club. Since then, I've been flooded with requests to purchase the template. If you're interested, let me know!
Proud moment, for sure. :)
We've been in Vegas since just last Sunday... but it feels like forever! The hotels (and casinos) have made an art form out of helping you slip into a vacation coma and completely lose track of time, what day it is (and how much money you've spent).
Here's a shot of the New York, New York hotel. I think it looks more like New York meets Miami (check out that color scheme)!
This is the MGM Grand where the conference is being held. They even have a lion habitat inside where you can get all up close and personal with a couple cats... made me miss our two little wild ones. :)
This is the view from our room....
The escalators are the glue that hold the whole conference together. It's estimated that there are nearly 10,000 people in attendance. The show is spread out over three floors and several buildings.
Here's Emir chilaxin' in the blogger's lounge on the 2nd floor. :) He has been such a good sport putting up with 10,000 crazy photogs! :)
I'll admit it. I've never been much of a sucker for traditional Valentine's Day gifts. It's not that I have anything against teddy bears, diamond earrings, or oodles of long stemmed roses..... it's just that.... it's not my thing. Thus, I was surprised when I recently found myself wanting a necklace. Not an expensive diamond crusted 'collection' piece that seems to flood TV ads in early February, but just a simple charm. Something that I can wear all the time that means something special.
But... of course, I'm picky. And impatient. So, a week or so ago, I ran into something I liked, and bought myself my own v-day present. (ha!) BUT.... last night after Emir's and I enjoyed some fine mexican cuisine, I was surprised to find this gorgeous necklace waiting for me back in our room! What's even cooler is, he picked it out all on his own from a local fair-trade artisan store (Ten Thousand Villages). It was hand crafted by an artisan in Indonesia.
Now that's cool. Zales.... eat your heart out! :)
(a few quick pics we just snapped at the MGM Grand awaiting the annual Canon sponsored 'wedding dinner.' I'm starving!)
Khara Plicanic. Instructor, Photographer, Designer, Advocate. Here you'll find tools, inspiration, and empowerment to help you on your own creative journey.
