So I had mentioned last week that I was so excited to be heading to Kona Hawaii to photograph Rachel & Elie's wedding.  It was even better than I had imagined. It was so fun to see these two again.  The last time I saw them Rachel was a bridesmaid at her best friend Michelle's wedding on Mackinac ... and here I was months later with them in Hawaii... man I love my job!

I arrived to the rehearsal and was instantly welcomed by their family and friends.  Everyone there was so incredibly warm and welcoming. It is just a testament to Rachel and Elie.  The ceremony was one of the most intimate ceremonies I have ever witnessed... everyone circled around the hoopa.. everyone was involved with the ceremony by reading and just by being so close.  It was incredibly touching. 

Now I'll be honest I don't usually go through all the pics before I blog... I quickly pic a few of my favorites and that's it. Well, for some reason this time I've already looked through all the pics... and you know...  I have never felt this way... I walked away feeling like I know Rachel and Elie even more ... seeing the procession of images... the looks they give each other... the little touches between moments... it is clear that these two are not only madly in love... but incredibly comfortable  and happy with each other.  Some couples are bubbling over with excitement... some couples are filled with butterflies in anticipation... Rachel and Elie seemed to be truly serene.  I loved it!!... then again being on Hawaii doesn't hurt!!

Rachel & Elie,  thank you so much for asking me to be a part of this incredibly intimate and beautiful celebration of your love.  I truly feel honored.  I can't wait to meet up with you again.. maybe for a little reunion in SF!!!

Love,
A





 

Okay... this is going to seem like a random post... but.. such is my life sometimes. I've been a little behind with blogging and I completely skipped chatting about my trip to the island back in February...  and then last week I was in Hawaiii...  so hence the title within one month I went from snow covered below zero weather of Mackinac Island... to 85 degree palm tree covered island of Hawaii.... (obviously I have an island thing.. I love them whether hot or cold) .. there is just something about the island life... 

So... My Presidents Day-Valentines Day-Chili Cookoff weekend on Mackinac....  It was an island first for me... flying into the island in the dead of winter... granted I was hoping to experience the infamous ice-bridge...  but to no luck ...this winter the lake never froze... needless to say even without the usual freedom TRUE islanders look forward to year round...  most were still in high spirits  ... and ready for the annual Chili Cookoff  (granted the three bars (Sinclairs, Mustang, & Village Inn)  open helped with the dispersion of such "spirits")...   but all was not lost, beautiful sunsets, great friends, and awesome chili was still to be found in abundance.  As always, Mackinac never ceases to amaze and surprise me... even after ten years I constantly discover new joys on the is Magical place.

(You'll notice the last pic is a collage of people.. these are just a few islanders that always make me smile and keep the island going year round when the rest of us are scared of the winter  ... a few are missing (you, for example Mary... how were you not in any of my pics :-)... but I just wanted to pay props to these awesome people who always welcome me anytime of year. also...  Heather & Chris...  you'll be soooo missed!!!)

 

What a way to kick off the 2010 wedding season... jetting off to Kona tomorrow morning.

I'm especially excited about Rachel & Elie's wedding... obviously because it is in Hawaii... but ALSO because I met this  awesome couple last year on  Mackinac while photographing one of Rachel's best friends' wedding (Michelle & John).  I just love being a part of a circle of friends... I get to really know the friends and family in the group that much more.  So I was completely stoked when Rachel contacted me last fall about HER wedding. 

As always, I'll still be reachable... just not AS tied to the computer as usual...  this girl might pull herself away  from her laptop long enough to dip in the ocean and get a little tan... (but always use my sunscreen...  :-)

I wouldn't want to leave you with nothing to look at... so here are a few pics from my last time to Hawaii (when I photographed Candice & Micheal's beach side nuptials)...  is it sad it's been over a 1 1/2 years and I'm just now posting my fun "travel" pics from that trip!!

OH... and on a side night... speaking of fun travel pics... my little trip to Samy's today lead to me purchasing a new holga film camera... SOOO excited to play with that on this little adventure!

It's finally sunny and warm here in Santa Barbara... sun is setting later ....  summer is just around the corner!!

Sending you all a ray of sunshine... whether your basking on the beach right now or anxiously awaiting June... may you find a little "sun" somewhere in your day today and bask in it... even if its the simple smile of the loved one sitting next to you!!

Love,
A

Last week I was so excited to meet up with three of my couples from years past who all happen to live in SF... (my favorite city!!...  even more than New Orleans... but if NOLA were in Cali... it might be a toss up)

My weekend started Friday night with Amy & Michael... an incredible couple that lives in SF and Australia... but travels all the time in Asia... and had their wedding on Mackinac ... can you believe it.  I was able to photograph their wedding in Fall of 2008... it is was so much fun to reconnect .. they've now convinced me I need to start shooting in Australia and China... sounds awesome!!



Then it was a Saturday lunch with Michelle & Jeff at the classic SF joint Tadich Grill... I met up with these two a year and a half ago at a coffee shop in SF... then months later I was photographing their touching wedding in Ventura...  I had such a great time I could have sat and chatted with them forever (even if they are PC/Nikon users... I won't hold that against them)!!

About a month ago I was part of a very special wedding... my two friends Heather and Brevin got married!!!  It was supposed to be raining... all day...was there even a drop.. nope...!! 

It was a gorgeous Mackinac Fall Day... and what made this marriage even more special was that it was an islander wedding through and through ... Heather and Brevin, met on the island... fell in love on the island... and were now married  on the island....

This wedding reminded me again why I love being a wedding photographer... I get a secret glimpse (although only a tiny one)... of how a couple acts when it's just the two of them...  I get to meet with the two before all the craziness...  in the midst of the craziness... and then, I get to be with them right after the ceremony...  when all the build up is released and they can relax with each other ... it truly is a special moment... and with Heather and Brevin I was able to see (in my mind at least) ... what makes them work so well...  there is such a sense of comfort between them... a sense of  acceptance for who each other is... and a feeling of family... especially with their ADORABLE little boy Kaden... a tight little unit of three.. that no one can truly understand but them.

Heather & Brevin... thank you again soo much for allowing me to be a part of your beautiful day. You two truly do have a bond that is beyond words.  May you have years of happiness, love, and may this bond just grow stronger!!  (btw... did anyone take pics at the Mustang or the Grand ... now those would be some goodies... ;-)

Love,
A