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Monthly Archives: May 2008

My Sex and the City Review

NO SPOILERS, I PROMISE!

Although I’d love to tell you about Carrie’s…oh nevermind!

Let me preface this post with a disclaimer.  I am not a movie critic. However, I am a HUGE SATC fan.  One of my best memories back in Illinois was gathering in my basement to watch the series finale with all my girlfriends and a lot of Cosmos.   We all screamed outloud when Mr. Big’s real name was displayed on her cell phone!

I caught the 12:35 showing at the Regal in Escondido this afternoon.  I met my future sister in law, Melissa there.  When the opening song came on, she admitted to goosebumps, while I had tears in my eyes.  Yes, we were that excited.  So were the 60 other women (and 2 men) in the theatre.

My excitement lasted about 30 minutes in to the movie.  Then I realized that I am used to the show being 30 minutes!  I was ready for everything to be resolved and Carrie to type something profound on her Mac.   But I got over that feeling fast.  The movie continued to enthrall me the entire 2.5 hours (or something close to that). 

I cried 5 times.  Two of those times actual crocodile sized tears ran down my cheek.  These are characters that I have grown to know and love over the last 10 years.   I didn’t realize it had been 10 years until the last scene of the movie (if you are a hardcore fan, you will know what I mean when you see it). 

And to those of you that were only occasional watchers, you will enjoy this too!  They do a mini recap of the entire 6 seasons and the 4 main characters in the opening credits.

There was one little glitch with the projector at the theatre.  At a touching scene between Carrie and Big right in the begining, you could completely see the boom mic’s over their head the entire time!  Not sure what happened, but someone complained and by the next scene it was back to normal.

So bottom line is, leave your man at home, grab your closest girlfriends and get to the movies…tonight!

xoxo, M

ps You might see me there…I will be going to see it again!

 

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Joey and Cristi are engaged!

Last Saturday we met up with Joey and Cristi at Lake Poway.  I was convinced we were going to get rained out but it turned out to be a beautiful day! 

Cristi told me in our initial meeting that she does not like to be in front of the camera.  She lied.  She is a natural!  They were so incredibly cute together and laughed through this entire shoot!  Plus having their puppies along helped too!

They will be getting married in just a few weeks…June 7!  I’m looking forward to it!

 Meet Joey, Cristi, Max and Alice!

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Max is on the right, Alice on the left!

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This is the longest Max sat the entire day.  One shot.

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Now for some alone time…with me and my camera of course!

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Love this shot Tim got while he was dog-sitting!


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My favorite of the day :)

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Elizabeth and Crisanto: Part 2 – Surprise!

Here is the continuation from my last blog!  Elizabeth and Crisanto were married last Saturday on their rooftop over looking the city of Chicago.  Oh and did I mention the wedding was a complete surprise?  Only a small handful of people knew the plan.  I was in on it as well.  Elizabeth (I know her as Beth) was my good friend and sorority sister in college.

She met Crisanto (Cris) while on vacation in Acapulco last year and they fell in love.  She made 10 trips back there over the year which just rooted their devotion to each other.  Cris went through the legal parameters to come to the US and marry Beth.

They invited 60 of their closest friends and family to their condo for an “engagement party”.  I’ll finish the story below with the photos!


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Getting her makeup done by Carla at MAC in Nordstroms.


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We were able to steal away from the party for a few actual engagement photos.  This is the engagement dress she started out in.

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Handsome Crisanto


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Mid-party (when the rain decided to fall) Beth and Cris snuck upstairs to their neighbors place to change.  They brought her little sisters along and told them the plan.  The girls then handed out Surprise invitations to all the guests.  Below is Beth’s mom reading her letter.

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What a view!  Thats downtown Chicago.


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Everyone came up to the roof to find the couple standing there. Lots of tears were flowing.  Check out the rain on the ground…it was raining so hard at one point I had to put away my camera!

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First kiss!


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These were the best cupcakes I have ever had!


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This cracks me up. :)


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Mini Corona’s for the toast.  Cris hand tied each one – what a guy!


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Beth’s old roommate Julie making a toast


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And I had to throw one in of my sisters!  These are all my Sigma Kappas!
L-R: Courtney, Dawn, Erin, Beth, Kendra, Dawn, Nichole and me!

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And one more of Beth and Cris’ princesses, Nina and Farrah!

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It was such an awesome experience, even in the rain!  Seeing everyones reaction’s was so great!  And I had fun catching up with some college buddies I hadn’t seen in a long time.  Can’t wait for my trip back to Chicago with Tim in 3 weeks!

XOXO,
M
 

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Elizabeth and Crisanto: Part 1 – The Day Before!

There is a reason for this being a two-parter, but I plan on saving the reason for the next post (trust me, its a good reason!)

I’ll keep this text brief and get to the photos.  Here is Elizabeth and Crisanto’s Day Before Photos!  So glad we decided to do a day before session, the weather couldn’t have been sweeter in Downtown Chicago.


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My favorite spot of the day was in front of these trees:
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Obviously!
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It’s amazing…
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…what walking a few steps down can do…
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And we ended the night at Navy Pier!
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It was a long day!  Next up…their wedding!

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Melissa’s are cool!

Meet wedding coordinator extraordanaire, Melissa Barrad of I Do…Weddings!   Not only is she one of the top wedding coordinators in San Diego, she is also MY wedding coordinator!We got together last week to take some shots at her new home and with her new puppy!  Melissa has some really awesome things happening this Summer, so be on the look out for her to make more appearances on my blog in the near future!

Melissa – I always love hanging out with you!  See you soon!  xoxo

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Meet her baby, Zorro, who was rescued from the animal shelter!

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Rylin Ashlee Salon

Last week I had a great oppurtunity to shoot some cool hair models for Rylin Ashlee Salon in Old Town Temecula.  They do all sorts of awesome things there from hair, to facials, to massages!  Definitly check out their website for everything they do! 


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Here are the models, in no particular order!

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The group!  The 4 lovely ladies in the front are the hair stylists!

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Belmont Park Shoot!

Lauren and I hit it off right away last March in Vegas.  I was so excited when I found out she was making the trip from Atlanta to San Diego for vacation.  I knew she wanted to do some networking, so I set up a little get together at Belmont Park last Sunday.

Usually, when my photographer friends and I get together, we just shoot each other.  But since Lauren was on vacation, she got to be the victim…I mean model for most of it!

The Big Dipper!
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Lauren posing in the middle of the road :)
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That’s April on the ground, doing whatever for the shot!
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I love this shot of Jamie, I hope she doesn’t kill me for posting it!
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My sweetie!
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When Rain showed up in her “No Photos Please” shirt, it was on!  Us photogs don’t like to follow rules!
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Lauren made a new friend!
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Oh Aaron, you so craaaazy!

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Brandon hears it from us all the time…you need a new headshot!  So I forced him to pose. He looks thrilled huh?

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Not too sure what Rain is trying to accomplish with her Dad.
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Lauren and some slow shutter :)
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April is an artist.  And she is darn good.
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April, Rain and Lauren decided to risk their lives and ride the Big Dipper.  No fatalities were reported.
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One last one of Lauren.
Lauren meet the freezing Pacific Ocean.
Pacific Ocean meet the brave Lauren.
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So glad we got to spend some time together when you were in town Lauren. And thanks to everyone for coming out on such a chilly afternoon!  A group shot does exist, but someone is slacking.  j/k
XOXO,
M

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Jessica and Duke are married!

On April 26th, I got a chance to assist my best friend, Jen Harris at a wedding in San Diego.  Jessica is the sister to Angela, whose wedding Jen and I shot last year

 The ceremony was at the Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala.  It was gorgeous!  The first mission ever in San Diego, I was blown away!

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Lovin these doors to the Mission!
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Meet Jasmine!  We brought her along as a 3rd shooter for training. This was her first wedding and she rocked it!
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This is Jessica’s neice Teegan:
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I couldn’t get enough of her!  Here she is with her mom, Angela (who is expecting again!)
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The beautiful Jessica. I love the detail in the dress
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And Duke! 
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Looking tough with his guys!
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Newly married!
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Thought this was fun!
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I’ve been looking for a good way to honor my grandparents in my wedding, I like this idea!
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Mmmmmm cake!
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Ring shot #1
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and #2 :)
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Thanks for bringing me along Jen!  And congrats to Jessica and Duke, it was a beautiful day!
XOXO, M

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Kirsten and Brett’s Wedding Invites!

Yesterday I arrived at the Post Office to find a little surprise in my mail box!  It was Kirsten and Brett’s beautiful wedding invitations! 

Kirsten is one of my best friends from College and I have the honor of shooting her wedding next month in Peoria, IL.  You may remember their engagement photos last September.

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These invites fit their personality perfectly.  When I wrote her and told her I got them and they look great she responded with: “Your photo was the inspiration”.  Every photographer wants to hear that! :)

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Can’t wait to get back to the town I lived in for 7 years during and after College!  And of course shoot their wedding!  Check back late June to see some amazing photos from their wedding!

XOXO, M

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My trip to LA :)

Last weekend Tim and I headed up to LA for several reasons:

#1 To see my parents one last time before they head home

#2 To meet my brand new God-neice, Marli

#3 Celebrate my father turning 65 years young!

 Last year, I took some shots of my God-niece Lisa.  Since then, baby #2 Marli has made an entrance in to this world!  The mother is my God-sister Michele…the closest thing I have to a real sister :)

Meet Marli, just 4 months old!

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She had just discovered her toungue that day!

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And of course, Lisa!  She did not like to pose for me….I had to snap quick!

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Here is my beautiful mother:

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And my parents!

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Of course, my God-parents 3 legged dog, Indie!

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Saturday was my father’s 65th birthday, here is the cake I requested.

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Lisa helping him blow out his candles:

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And the sunset view from my God-parents house in Palos Verdes Estates:

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One more of my immediate family.  Its just us!  Who do I look more like, mom or dad? 

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I love hanging with my parents so much, I miss them when they leave California (and they leave tomorrow) :(

xoxo, M

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