Well, it turned out to be quite a little adventure... after being kicked out the carousel... almost kicked out of the arcade... and then taken into security... (note to self... make nice with the Santa Monica Pier security guards) ... we were on our way... and what a beautiful afternoon.. .the lighting was perfect. I had such a blast with Rachael and Jordan. One minute they look like supermodels... the next their hysterically laughing... and then all of a sudden there would be an incredible tender moment.
Rachael & Jordan, I'm so excited to have been able to spend time with you guys not once but twice!! How fun!! So glad we've become friends!!
Love,
A
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
So cute, this makes me so excited for your visit with us!
(12.16.09 @ 10:29 AM)Smiply Precious!! :) Love the photos, thanks!!
(12.30.09 @ 12:16 PM)oops ... that's ~ SIMPLY PRECIOUS!!
(12.30.09 @ 12:17 PM)I had SOOO much fun at Rachael & Jordan's wedding... not only was this couple ABSOLUTELY gorgeous outside... but inside too... truely... I cried not once not twice but FIVE times... I was so touched by the connection they had with their families (like when Rachael's mom was putting on her grandmother's earings)... to the connection then had with each other (like the looks they would constantly give each other)... to the connection they had with their amazing friends (you should have seen the slideshow their friends put together... awesome!!).
So for all the tearing up I did... there was just as much laughing (and dancing.. yes I couldn't help but dance a little while shooting pics on the dancefloor).. .EVERYONE was dancing...
and did I mention the OHIO loyalty in the room.. half the people at this wedding were from LA... lived in LA... worked in LA... but with an even louder representation was teh OHIO contingency!! They would hoot and holla' every time that little (but not quiet) state was mentioned!!
This wedding was the perfect match for me... a little bit Midwest, a little bit West Coast, a little bit of tears.. .and a whole lotta FUN!!!
Take a look at the slideshow and get a better feel for the day...
RACHAEL & JORDAN'S SLIDESHOW click here
Rachael & Jordan, you two are amazing... your amazing friends and family and the way they would speak of the two of you are truly reflections of your Warm hearts and shining souls! I truly feel blessed and honored to have been a part of your amazing day and for becoming one of the lucky ones to call you my friends! May your life together grow more and more joyous and may you conitnue to touch the hearts of all those around you!
Love,
A
I'm in a hurry... so Will add to this entry tomorrow.. paying props to all the vendors..
But first must thank Jim MInics of Kelly Segre Photography for assisting me on this... you rock and it was so much fun to have you there!!
Seems like they have a lovely wedding. You take some excellent photos! I love Santa Barbara for a wedding; best place by far in California to do it! I was just there and had a great time too! Stayed at the Sandman Inn (www.thesandmaninn.com). So affordable and the location was the best; close to all the action SB has to offer.
(10.18.11 @ 07:21 PM)Seems like they have a lovely wedding. You take some excellent photos! I love Santa Barbara for a wedding; best place by far in California to do it! I was just there and had a great time too! Stayed at the Sandman Inn (www.thesandmaninn.com). So affordable and the location was the best; close to all the action SB has to offer.
(10.18.11 @ 07:24 PM)Seems like they have a lovely wedding. You take some excellent photos! I love Santa Barbara for a wedding; best place by far in California to do it! I was just there and had a great time too! Stayed at the Sandman Inn (www.thesandmaninn.com). So affordable and the location was the best; close to all the action SB has to offer.
(10.18.11 @ 07:25 PM)These are some great photos! I love Santa Barbara; seems like the perfect place to have a wedding. I'm so excited to go back in a few months in the spring to enjoy all the fresh flowers and hike some trails. I'll be staying at the South Coast Inn (www.santa-barbara-hotel.com). So elegant and the perfect place to escape all of the chaos downtown.
(10.19.11 @ 09:45 PM)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)!!

Then it was on to an amazing dinner with Missy & Christian. I was honored to photograph this couple just a few months ago on Mackinac. We had so much fun chatting about the island... AND California... I just love it when my two worlds join together.

It was soo wonderful to be able to meet up with everyone... I can't wait to see them again. Man... I love that I can keep in touch and become friends with my couples... no matter where they live!
THEN on Sunday ... was all for me... a day of photography .. a day to be inspired by my favorite city... by the people... the food... the sounds... everything!! I even ended the day by catching the Richard Avedon exhibition at the SF MOMA.. he is amazing... it totally started me thinking about my own photography. If you are in the bay area this week check it out... it ends Sunday Nov. 29th.
Here are a few pics from my favorite places in SF... Chinatown (and my dim sum... yummy.. no I didn't eat it ALL... my eyes were a little bigger than my stomach)... then on to City Lights Bookstore and the Vesuvio (in North Beach).. home of the beatnik poets... Kerouac, Ginsberg... etc... now THESE guys are awesome... just being in the bookstore makes mind open up and reminds me how much I love 20th century literature... (yup, that literature degree comes in handy once in awhile)
I hope you all have a wonderful happy joyous Thanksgiving... I'm off to go pick up my mom from the airport... first time she's in Cali for Turkey day... then... your not going to belive this but her and I back up to my fav. city... SF yet again.. I just didn't get enough last time!
May you all find gratitude in the smallest of things... and through that find joy in the world around you!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Love,
A
AND we're doing a trash the dress... I can't wait to get down there and shoot shoot shoot...
So, because of this little international jaunt I will be a little difficult to reach for the nest week .. so hang in there. AND to top it off my email just went down earlier today so I hope to get this fixed but if you are trying to reach me please email me at andrejkaphotography@gmail.com
Thanks... have a great week!!!
Love,
A







I love these! Especially the second to last one in the gazebo-like structure... good job! =)
(03.04.10 @ 12:01 PM)I love these! Especially the second to last one in the gazebo-like structure... good job! =)
(03.04.10 @ 12:02 PM)