I just wanted to inform anyone and everyone about my dear friend Chris's new business he is bringing to the Straights of Mackinac...  The Black Prince!! 

I am sooo excited for him to start this new endeavor. He will be offering all sorts of tours, private and public, on the beautiful straights.  

This would be the perfect activity for a rehearsal dinner,  family reunion, or just the two of you getting out on the water with many of his different adventures. 

So spread the word...  The Black Prince is going to be such a wonderful and unique addition to this gorgeous area!!

Thanks Chris... can't wait for a fun 2011 summer!

Love,
A

My dear friend Rob (who is an amazing photographer himself) gave Tahnee my information. I am so glad he did.  I had such a fun morning with her and her lovely family. 

I didn't realize until I arrived that Tahnee is also a photographer. Photographing a fellow photographer can either add more stress or make it a lot easier.. .  Luckily Tahnee was so nice and we hit it off right away.  As most of us photographers say when faced with the front of the camera..  no posing make it more natural... Since I had a fellow camera-slinger in front of me  I thought much more about what I was saying and doing to make her feel comfortable and NOT posing... but I then realized  I do kind of "pose" people in a very loose sense.. . but the pictures are not of the pose... its the moments before and after that appear natural that get captured...  I guess pose isn't the right word...  its more like creating moments through interaction and activities... does this make sense?!?

The wonderful thing about photographing another fellow photog is that as I was working we chatted about the nature of photography .. what is posing... what is natural...  its always great to have the opportunity to bounce ideas and concepts off another.

Thanks Tahnee!!  It was so much fun to hang out with your lovely lovely family!! I look forward to keeping in touch in the future..  next time your up in SB we will have to get together!!

Did I mention.. Lila (her  adorable 3 year old) even invited me to go get Pinkberry with them afterward.. she was VERY excited about the photo shoot... he even pulled out her own camera and helped!!



May you all see the opportunity to gain a new perspective from lovely unexpected places..
.
Love,
A

It was a beautiful weekend in Santa Barbara...  one couldn't ask for a better day to do a sunset engagement shoot... and I think Emily & Chris especially enjoyed it since they were coming all the way from the frigid windy city of Chicago.

In order to get as  much out of the California beach and background as we could I met them at one of my favorite portrait places, Miramar Beach in Montecito,CA.  The beach is right there, as well as railroad tracks, palm trees, bougainvillea lined path, great stairs, rocks, gates...  basically anything one could want.

It was so much fun to meet Emily & Chris...  they found me through their gorgeous venue the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, they grew up in Michigan, live in Chicago, and just happen to be in Santa Barbara.  How great is that!!!  After spending a few hours with them taking pics, answering questions, and getting excited about their wedding (yes, me too!), I feel like I completely understand their vision, ideas, and what they want their wedding to be like ... and it is going to be awesome!!

Plus... come on... do you see how gorgeous this couple is... its a photographers dream.. and their super cool!!  Anyone who's willing to get in the water gains bonus points with me!!




Emily & Chris, It was so much fun playing with you guys on the beach. I can't wait for your wedding. Just from the look of your save-the-date I just know it is going to be a blast!


Love,
A

I've got one week left before I hit the road again... and about 2 weeks before I hit the  freezing  (and I mean FREEZING cold... we are talking -22 degrees) weather of northern Michigan.

So... the last week I've been soaking in the gorgeous SB sun... hiking, wine tasting, hanging out at my favorite ranch in Santa Ynez, eating my favorite seafood on the harbor.. and catching up with all my favorite SB people...  basically doing some of my favorite things.

Here are just a couple pics from my phone of my little life in SB... (I know I live on the beach and there are no beach pics...  I forgot my phone if you can believe it . .believe me I was there too).

A few years ago I was honored to be a part of TNT's "Wedding Day" television show. It was an awesome show that created a dream wedding for lucky couples who deserved it.  It was kind of like Extreme Home Makeover meets a wedding.  During that experience I got to know Jennifer and Shawn Locke...  one of the happy couples!!

A few months ago, Jennifer asked me to photograph her maternity pictures.  It was so wonderful to see this happy couple again. 

Jennifer,  Thank you so much for welcoming me into your home. It was such a fun afternoon!!  I am so thrilled for you and Shawn and the little Tristan!!