Signs of Spring

A Day at the Getty

In college I used to go to the J. Paul Getty Museum in L.A. to have a quiet day with myself and my sketchbook. I always found peace walking the grounds and overlooking the city. A few weeks ago, Joey and I took the girls to this magical "castle" as they called it. Taking two four-year-olds to a museum was a different experience than my days in college, but I must say it was a whole lot more fun! And for the record, I don't know any other kids that would be as well-behaved in a Rembrandt exhibit.
It had just rained so we could see all the way to the ocean, which almost never happens. Luck was on our side that day. We spent most of our time exploring the grounds and taking pictures.

Five Years Together

My dear friends, Darby and Aaron, were married March 5th, 2005. I've been wanting to photograph them for some time now and their five-year anniversary seemed like the perfect occasion!



This is one of my favorites. The sight of Aaron standing off to the side to snap some photographs of his beautiful wife was incredibly endearing. And the pictures turned out great! We may have a budding photographer in the midst!

Darby was a joy to photograph. Not only was she incredibly patient with being outdoors in 30 degree weather, but she still fit into her wedding dress after 5 years!

Bridals

I took these yesterday on my 35 mm Canon Rebel. Shooting with a film SLR is an entirely different experience! I've always been partial to film- it has such a rich and natural quality. It's one thing to be able to take the same shot over and over until you get it right. But there's something to be said for that exciting moment when you develop the film and you got it right the first (okay, maybe third) time.

We shot these photos at my home in Dammeron Valley. It was VERY cold that day so we did most of the pictures indoors. Enjoy!

Little Ones

I have always loved photographing children. I'm known for following my little cousins around snapping pictures as if I'm their mother. As adults we learn to play a role in front of the camera- smile, laugh, show your good side. But children are so honest.. They can look right at you without any guards up. This being said, I wanted to share. I shot these on my old fashioned 35mm Canon Rebel (yes, with actual film!) so please forgive the quality as the images did not transfer very well on a scanner.

Nikki and Brooke

This past weekend I did a photo shoot with two beautiful friends, Nikki and Brooke. Between changing outfits in the backseat of the car and telling people we were taking engagement shots, these two sure turned a lot of heads!

A New Project

I'm home sick for the third day in a row and I've finally decided to stop watching Brothers and Sisters reruns and be semi-productive. So here goes!

The other day I was talking to a dear friend of mine, a brilliant artist and person, about how I haven't been able to paint much lately. He challenged me to complete three paintings a week and bring them to him for a "critique." This may seem like a simple task for those of you who have the ability to stare down a blank canvas, pick up a brush and create a masterpiece. But for me, painting is a long and sometimes painful process where I turn myself into a human punching bag. Lately, my studio resembles a ghost town-- paintbrushes strewn about, unfinished paintings, and blank canvases. And so I've decided to except my friend's challenge and document the process. The purpose of this endeavor is to get away from myself, the thoughts that prevent me from starting and finishing a project. I'm sharing it with you in hopes that you can relate to my habitual self-deprecation and my progress in overcoming it (because, let's face it, it's time to let it go).

Day 1: Letting my inner child out.

As my friend put it, I have a little girl inside me screaming "Let me out!!" So yesterday, I let her have at it. Here is very blurry photo of my painting in progress.

P.S. I'm going to DC this week to visit The Willows (yay!) so the project will officially start when I get back. Stay tuned!