Archive for February, 2008

{ Joyce & Yuki: Engaged! }

I was sitting at a burrito stand in Westwood when she called me with the news. “I’m engaged!!” she told me, her voice brimming with happiness and disbelief. After getting all the juicy details, I hung up and turned to Scott, my dining partner, and babbled excitedly about my friend Joyce who he had yet to meet – how we had been friends since junior high, how we shared laughter and heartbreak over bags of Hot Cheetoes throughout high school and college, and how she was now GETTING MARRIED! (She is actually the very first of our group of girlfriends to take the plunge.)

So of course I was ecstatic when she not only asked me to be a bridesmaid, but to do an engagement shoot for her and Yuki. Unfortunately they had a plans for 4 pm on the day we decided to shoot, which meant no pretty afternoon light. So we went for the next best thing: pretty morning light! Which is how we found ourselves at the Santa Monica pier at 7 am on a Saturday morning. Even though I am the antithesis of a morning person, I have to admit the conditions were great – the sun was out so it wasn’t too cold and the beach was not yet full of people. We even had time to drop by UCLA for some fun shots in the Sculpture Garden.

A big thank you to Joyce & Yuki for a wonderful shoot. I can’t wait for the wedding!!




 

* A couple of the above photos utilize Photoshop actions created and graciously shared by the Furious Photographers!

{ Becca & Keiji: Engaged! }

A month or two ago I had the opportunity to shoot an engagement session for my good friends Becca & Keiji. I met Becca through taiko in college and we immediately bonded over making really lame jokes and laughing incessantly over the most random things. Keiji is also a taiko player and leader of the group Yoki Daiko, and now Becca plays with Yoki as well.

For the shoot we headed to the Getty Center where literally every corner is an awesome photo opp – it was the perfect place! They were both so natural and full of ideas, making the whole thing really fun and easy. They’re getting married in June and though I’m super sad I won’t be able to make the wedding, I’m so happy for them because they really are so ridiculously perfect for each other. Congrats!!



{ One year. }

and to this day
when everything breaks
you are the anchor that holds me



For our one year anniversary Scott and I took a trip to Griffith Park since neither of us had ever been. We had to park a bit far down the windy road, but it made for a nice hike with some awesome views of the city and plenty of fun photo material. Once inside, we marveled at the Tesla coil and watched the planetarium show. I may just be behind the times, but when did planetarium shows get so awesome??? The last time I went they consisted of some little lights on a black ceiling and a dude with a laser pointer. But now they’re like full-out movies with scenes that change from the daytime sky to the night sky, to Galileo walking around his workspace, to close-ups of planets and  moving tours through galaxies, all with exciting music and sound effects and a man who walks around narrating with a headset mic and holding a glowing globe (no seriously). I was so amazed. Given, the last time I went to a planetarium show I was probably like, 8, and playing Oregon Trail on a computer with a black screen and green graphics. Boy was that game awesome.

After Griffith Park we headed to The Kitchen for dinner, but on the night of our actual anniversary we decided to stay in and cook. Because what could be classier than bacon-wrapped hot dogs?

*Most of the above pics were taken with my snazzy new f/1.4 50mm lens, courtesy of Scott. I love it!!*