I woke up this morning to the sun shining in my window and the birds chirping... and  instead of jumping out of bed running to the gym and starting my day... I stayed.. right there... and started reading a new favorite book... "Wedding Photography From the Heart"...

Now this book instantly grabbed me for two reasons... one... its my philosophy on life...I TRY to make it my goal to live and WORK "from the heart" (be it dancing at home or writing on my blog) ... so the title was perfect for me... and two... it's written by my favorite wedding photographer.. a man I greatly respect and admire.

First... a little about its author... Joe Buissink seems to do everything "from the heart"... his lectures, his photography, his philanthropic work... and the love he has for his family shines through in everything he does.  He is a man who openly shares his knowledge with the photography world without an ego or an agenda except to make this industry and the people in it better!!

So this book.... is inspiring to say the least... it just reaffirms what my goal has always been... to stop focusing so much on creating a perfect moment with the right lighting, background, pose, etc  . . but instead to wait and feel when that perfect moment arrives in front of me...  natural and real true emotion...  and really... how can I shoot from the heart if I don't know the hearts of my couples... which means we  become friends... and plus then its not work for me... its me getting to attend a friends' big party... and who doesn't like parties!!


A few quotes from the book:

I know I have been off the radar a bit... but its pretty hard to keep up with the blog when I am hopping from family to friend to family to friend all over the northeastern part of the US...

But I have a quick break from my niece and nephew (who are tired from ice skating... actually I think I'M more tired then they are) to hop on the computer and upload a few pics from New Years on the island... and this past week with my adorable niece and nephew...

I'll be hopping on a plane late tonight ... and finally back to my routine in my office Monday morning... in sunny California... (finally my feet with defrost)!!

Hope you are all enjoying the first week of 2010...

Love,
A

Here's some of a Wintry Mackinac....



And here a few of my favorite 4 and 8 year olds...

 

This morning I was so excited to reconnect with one of my very first couples.  It's been a few years since their wedding... and now they just had a beautiful baby girl Maria 6 months ago.  I absolutely LOVE seeing my favorite couples grow.  And can you blame me... take a look at how adorable Maria is...  and such a character... as the sneak peak at the pics show.  You can tell she is a baby FULL of personality... just take a look!!

A walk in the snow... some mulled wine... meeting with old friends... wrapping presents... holiday music...  and a little work too!!   Gotta love the holidays.



I arrived in Detroit on Friday and was instantly whisked away to Greenfield Village for some hot cider, caroling, Model T rides... and shivering while watching fireworks!!  Followed by an evening of reconnecting with friends from college.



And now, just prepping for the annual Sushi Stroll in the Snow... a tradition my friends and I do every December... who doesn't walk to a sushi dinner in the middle of winter in Detroit.

Below is a map of my travels for the next few weeks. If your in any of these areas... just let me know and we can meet up for some holiday cheer or even a photo shoot (I of course have my camera with me)!!! 



Happy Holidays to everyone...  stay warm... have fun!!

Love,
A
 

Oh BTW... here's a link to what I've been working on today.  Jenny & Simon's slideshow...

CLICK HERE for the Slideshow!!!

 

This past week I was so stoked to photograph one of my amazing wedding couples and closest friends (who btw had an awesome wedding in Hawaii last year)... and now look at them less than two years later with the cutest baby boy.. Jaxon....  

We started at Alice Keck Park in Santa Barbara... a beautiful location with so many amazing things to look at... well I think Jax was a bit overwhelmed by the trees and coy fish and turtles ...  just tooo much fun ...  so after a little bit of time here we headed to Candice & Michael's home...  where not only Jax, but C & M could relax too.  I've said this before and I'll say it again.. I LOVE photographing people in their homes... its your home... its where you can relax and take off your shoes... and be normal ... and isn't that really what you want captured... what your life looks like in a moment of time... plus then all of a sudden you forget the camera is there...

Take a look at these ADORABLE flippin pictures... although I must ask...  who do you think is REALLY in charge in these pics? ...  I love you C&M  but ... come on...  Jax is definitely the one in control of this photo shoot!!

Candice & Michael, I am soooo thrilled to see how your family is growing... and to have all three of you right back in SB where you belong.  May this first Christmas together as a family be filled with love, light, and lots of smiles.... I know Jax will have that part taken care of!!

Love,
A