After working late into the night Wednesday knowing that I would be out of the office all day on Thursday.. I awoke early . . braved the crazy 405 traffic... and had AN AWESOME day in LA!!!

So after meeting with possible new clients... and before my meeting with an awesome couple I will be photographing on Saturday in Malibu (Calamigos Ranch) ... (sidenote: can't wait for Rachael & Jordan's wedding... it is going to be GORGEOUS.. keep an eye out!!!).. I GOT SOOOOOO INSPIRED!!

I had such a blast... my very very dear friend Rob (another sidenote: I photographed he and Nat's wedding in July at Casa del Mar)...  we decided to go check out the new exhibits at this cool little artists/gallery space in Santa Monica called Bergamot Station.. it's an old train station transformed into art galleries (very Jack Kerouac meets...  Warhol's The Factory)... LOVED IT!

And I was sooooooo inspired (have I said that yet).  It was awesome to be surronded by amazing black & white film images ... the texture of the paper... the sturdy feel of everything... I'VE MISSED IT... not to mention the awesome discussions about the balance between concept and skill Rob and I had... and it was so cool to see the two of us were drawn towards our own styles...  I am ready to go back to my film camera...  in fact I am going to make Rob hold me accountable so that I don't get caught behind my computer everyday and I get out there and shoot outside the box more often ... go back to my original photo roots... many of you probably don't know this... but ten years ago all I did was shoot weddings in black & white film!!...  but these little adventures are going to be strictly conceptual...  and funky and fun . .pushing my artistic side. . .and even getting a cool little Holga... maybe even a class through adult-ed to get me in a darkroom... who knows anything could happen.

A few of the exhibits we checked out...

The Face of Fashion and Women by Lillian Bassman at the Peter Fetterman Gallery
Koo, Sung Soo Han-Il HIgh and other Stories  at Sarah Lee Artworks & Projects

May you all get inspired to think outside the box, get creative... and get excited like you want to jump up and down!!

Love,
A

 

Rob (www.robkalmbach.com) is an amazing photographer himself.... check out his work on his website.. .and keep your eye's open... he may be having a show in the near future in the LA area!! WOO HOOO go ROB!!!

 

P.S. I fell in love with 2 gorgeous framed prints ... and they were a mere $20,000 each .. maybe next year for my birthday!!  ;-).. but its free to go visit it!!!  Both of these are by Horst P.Horst...  one in Paris in 1939 and the other in NYC in 1987 (can you tell which is which??)

I have to say... this was probably one of the coolest packages I did all year...  I met Jenni and Kris over a year ago at the Mackinac Island Dream Destination Wedding Weekend...

Together we decided the best package for them would be to do an Elopement/Honeymoon package... since they would be staying on the island for a few extra days... I thought hmmm... lets photograph the two of you doing other fun things on the island... sooo the day after there touching intimate ceremony at Mission Point Resort and carriage ride...  I met them with my tandem bike and we went for a fun little ride up into the island around the fort and to Arch Rock...  then that evening they had a very special dinner planned at the Grand Hotel...so before there dinner we went around the property sneaking some pics (and some kisses ;-)...

Jenni & Kris... It was such a joy to spend not one but TWO days photographing the two of you!!  You two are a true example of symbiosis... you are so comfortable that you make others comfortable too... thank you for bringing me along for your Mackinac adventure... and even letting me be a WITNESS... that's a first!!

Love,
A

I just finished the Mackinac wedding Expo weekend yesterday.. and it was soooo much fun!!!

I've been fighting off a bit of a cold... so to be honest was kind of dreading last night... I was a little nervous I would not be able to talk to anyone.. and that I would just sit in the corner and hide...  well NOPE!!  There were soo many cool brides and grooms... and parents... and grandparents... etc.  I swear I never stopped laughing!!  How often does an expo .. talking to strangers... make you laugh. 

Mission Point  (and Zoe!!!) did such an amazing job for the closing night event. It was a lovely dinner party with Dancehall Dj's  (James & Amy) playing the tunes...  Kim & Lisa from Bella e Dolce providing yummy cake... and Jay at Webers doing absolutely gorgeous centerpieces...

And a very special thank you and props to Mary and Chris with the Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau for organizing and hosting the whole weekend... it is SUCH an awesome event!! 

I can't stress how much fun it was... I even forgot I had a cold!!!!

To all you brides out there who made it... THANKS!!  You really did MAKE the whole weekend.  I hope to hear from some of you...  feel free to email or call me anytime with any questions...

and by  the way ..LEAVE A COMMENT HERE ... (I was shocked to see how many of you actually follow my blog... thats awesome... thanks!!)

Have a great week!  I'll be MIA for a bit...  my computer is being shipping away tomorrow... and I'll be heading back west to my sunny Cali on Friday!!  yeah ... time to go home .. just before the snow hits!!

Love,
A

So there are not enough words I can say about this couple... they are seriously my new best friends!!!  .. and I may now become a Notre Dame fan (granted my Dad has ALWAYS been an ND fan.. he'll be quite happy)...  even though the big Michigan ND game was the day of the wedding.. .they ALL still showed up anyways ... granted I made sure group pics were done just in time for kickoff...  so the happy couple and their families could watch at least a little of the game!!

ALthough ND lost...  all was not gloomy as Faith and Mark walked down the aisle .. the sun was shining tears were in eyes... and laughter (a lot of it)... was just around the corner!!

Seriously.. I had soo much fun with everyone at the wedding...  they were funky, fun. musically inclined (as Mark showed his skills on the drums later that night at Horns Gaslight bar)... and were dancing fools (which I am ALWAYS a fan of).. I love being right there in the middle of the crowd dancing along taking pics... heck its the best way to really capture the feeling. .and show off my moves ;-)

This wedding will definitely stick with me...  not only because of the wedding day but most of the guests stayed around the island for a few days after... and I love running into everyone on the street... it really was like we were all new friends... I mean come on how can you not love a group that is out dancing EVERY NIGHT boogie down on the multiple dance floors found around the island.. (granted I think they were more just DJ Brevin groupies.. but who wouldn't be.. he rocked their wedding and then transformed into the club DJ seamlessly making the whole island shake it)... even Mom and Dad were out their jamming!!

I also have to pay props to Margaret's Garden at the Grand... Mimi, you are amazing... Faith and her mother had spent the last year collecting antique glasses to fill and use as centerpieces and Margaret's did  an amazing job making mini arrangements for each piece... soooo beautiful!!

Faith & Mark... I feel so lucky to have been a part of your beautiful and amazing day...  You two made me so happy to be a wedding photographer!!  I wish you both the a lifetime full of joy love and laughter... you two truly deserve every bit of it!!

Just a couple more props...
Bella e Dolce Cakes... did a classy and elegant job as always.. Kim .. you never cease to amaze me
Inn at Stonecliffe... did an amazing job making sure everything went smoothly and the beautiful locations

And a very special thank you to my dear dear friend Kim for backing me up and assisting me... she and I met up on the island in 2000 (she was a photographer for the grand back then) and we have been BFF's every since.. .this was her first time back to the island since then... and what an amazing time!!

Hope you all get inspired by the people around you doing what they love... I feel blessed to be surrounded by people and their talents and their passions... it is so inspiring!!

Love,
A





 

 

I'm not sure if you remember this couple.  I shot their engagement pics in Cincinnati a couple months ago... and they introduced me to Skyline Chili (btw I'm still craving that stuff... Thanks guys...  don't know what I'm going to do now)

Okay sooo.. .the wedding was absolutely gorgeous. Laura (and Dale) did such an amazing job designing it... I loved all the little details.. from their logo to the flowers tied to every chair.. .to the cute"L-O-V-E" buttons on her bouquet... sooo fun.

And the carriage ride was even better.. my awesome assistant Kate Levy (one amazing island photographer by way of Colorado) and I had a blast piggy backing our way across the island chasing their carriage.

Laura and Dale have such a sense of laid back elegance... I think that's the best way to put it... they knew how to have fun... laugh .. joke all the while with total grace!!

L&D I hope you too are having an amazing fall and not traveling too much!!  Can't wait to be back in Cinci this time we'll get the ice cream too!!

Love,
A

I can't let this blog go by without mentioning the amazing team of vendors that made it all possible...

The wedding was held at the Inn at Stonecliffe

Weber's Florals... flowers... GORGEOUS, Jay!!!
Bella e Dolce... cake...  BEAUTIFUL, Kim!!!!
Dancehall DJ's... music...  right on cue as always, Brevin!!!