So, you've heard me talk about my best friend Gianna, she's the one that said to me ten years ago..  you have to come out to Santa Barbara you can sublease my friends place for 3 montsh... its NOW or NEVER...  my thought, "really, I'm not a California girl... I'm going east my friend...  NY, Boston... here I come...  BUT when someone says, now or never... there's an urgency that must be met.. SO my three months  turned into ten years...  and I can't thank her enough...

Here we are, how many years later... and G with her amazing family... in fact I'm sure you've seen her little boys Leo and Luca all over my blog.  Well, I'm in the process of documenting Luca's first year...  we did a shoot with him back in March... and now here he is in July... along with Luca, we've been doing a "lifestyle shoot"... life around the ranch was this day's outing. 

G's ranch is one of my favorite retreats on earth... we sit on the front porch drink homemade lemonade .. its just like a CountryTime Lemonade commercial!!

So While I was in Cali back in July Lily was holding down the fort on Mackinac. She had two awesome weddings all over the island.

So.. instead of me posting pics and writing about weddings I wasn't there for... I thought I would hand over the blog reigns to Lily...

World... meet  Lily!!  ....


Hi there... I am so excited to be writing my first blog.. and for it to be about these two couples. 

It was an absolute thrill to shoot Rosana & Mike's wedding!  I am so lucky that my first couple to do on my own was so warm, fun, and beautiful (which made it easy on me!).  Rosana and Mike's wedding was specifically unique in that Rosana is from Brazil and Mike: from the States. Their wedding was incredibly touching... seeing two families come together, despite language barriers and the way little Yusof was included was very moving.

It was a gorgeous Mackinac summer day at Ste. Anne's and then the Island House.  It was my first time shooting at both places... and I can't wait to shoot there more!

Rosana & Mike,  I was truly honored to be a part of your big day, and inspired by the love I saw between the two of you! May your life together be filled with happiness and joy! Thank you so much!



Then a quick week later.. I was back behind the camera...  on my own as Andrejka was off in California ...  shooting weddings I suppose... but who knows (I bet she was at the beach)!.. just kidding, A...

I had the pleasure of shooting Kristen and Tim at Mission Point Resort.  The weather may have been a bit unsure of itself outside, but the love between these two was definite.

What an incredible couple! Kristen was practically fresh off the plan from Iraq, where she was most recently working as a diplomat, and Tim is an accountant for many foreign countries.  From the amazing things their family and friends shared about them, and their obviously generous and kind demeanors, I saw that these two are truly helping the world become a better place everyday.

May you both receive all the love you which hand out daily in your jobs and amongst your families! You deserve it! Thank you so much for letting me be a part of your beautiful day, I wish you the best!

So.. wow... wedding season is definitely in full swing... I have been a blogging slacker FOR SURE. My excuse...  although weak... every 2.5 weeks flying back and forth between my two incredibly beautiful homes Mackinac Island, MI and Santa Barbara, CA ...

I'm currently back in my SB home (after returning at 3am the other day to 100 termites in my bathtub... ewwwwww... no need to fear I won the batttle.. so far... I hope)... but so not the homecoming present I was looking for. 

Anyways...  last month when I was back in SB I photographed two weddings in one day... it was AWESOME... each couple and each wedding was completely different yet gorgeous and beautiful in their own way...

Elizabeth & Martin had an incredibly intimate and touching ceremony one Saturday morning, taking place in their Santa Barbara backyard. I love watching as the joy and connection between Elizabeth & Martin was clear.  You can tell it is their shared joy of life that bounds them together.

I just came from Borders...  and bought this season's edition of Bridal Guide.  I opened it up to see a 4 page spread of one of my all time favorite couples Birdie & Matt.  I was so stoked when the magazine contacted me a few months ago and asked if they could feature the wedding.

This couple is absolutely amazing...  they are the epitome of true friends... to each other, to their families, and to basically anyone who crosses their paths.  I was so excited that they were featured.. not to mention they are gorgeous and their wedding was AAAMAAZING!!

If you get a chance check it out on your new stands...  (here's a weak pic taken with my phone) I was just so excited I didn't want to wait for the official jpg from the magazine.




Also, on the front... keep an eye open for an upcoming Knot Michigan where another wedding (Jennifer & Toby) are going to be featured... man am i lucky to be photographing such cool people!

My first Stonecliffe wedding of the year... and it was beautiful as always.  Carole Erbel (of For the Love of Mackinac) did an awesome job coordinating this wedding... she constantly amazes me.. .she even have beer that is only made out of state... hand delivered by a friend do the "guys" could have it before the wedding... wow, what a woman!!

Angelina and Jerry have been chatting with me for quite a while... so when we finally met it was like we'd known each other for years.  These two made me laugh so hard... so, every wedding I take gander at the group, the environment, etc.. and try to guess if they are going to be dancers going crazy, or chatters ... I don't think ANYONE could have guessed what dancing maniacs the entire party was... I LOVED it... then again, I probably should have been able to guess this by the gusto in which they sand Clemson songs... over and over... these two love birds met their first day on campus at Clemson... and they incorporated their alma mater everyway possible... from the colors, to the chants, to the tiger tail on Angelina's dress!!  Needless to say I have a whole new appreciation for Clemson, fencing... and tiger tails.

Angelina & Jerry... it was so much fun to be a part of your party... you all cracked me up had me in stitches.  I know this is only a hint into what your lives together will be like. May the future find you smiling and laughing everyday!!

Love
A