Casual & Elegant Kerkvliet Engagement

I was so excited to meet Jamie & Kyle. I had met Kyle briefly a few years ago when he was working at my friend Kathleen's restaurant, Casual Elegance in Lake Arrowhead http://www.casualelegancerestaurant.com/ambience.asp. (If you're ever in our neck of the woods you should check it out!!) He had made such a great impression that I immediately remembered who he was when Kathleen called me and told me he would be contacting me about photographing his wedding. And since he was such a remarkable young man I just knew he must have met someone great. And he did!! Jamie is a doll. Alyssa and I had a really great time on their engagement shoot. After giving them some location suggestions they chose to go to downtown Riverside, one of my favorites spots. There are so many great spots to take photos there and they were so easy to photograph that the day went off without a hitch. Engagement shoots are really important to me because it gives Alyssa and I a chance to really get to know the bride and groom before their big day. So that when it's time for their wedding, the day goes smooth because they will already know what to expect from us and vice versa. So after Jamie and Kyle's engagement shoot, I was super excited about their wedding. They are so easy going and the chemistry is so obvious that they will make a beautiful bride and groom!

*Photo tip: When planning for an engagement shoot I think it's really important to make it as much about the couple as possible. I usually plan the photo shoots with the brides and I always tell them to choose a location that means something to them or that will best showcase their personalities. And dress in what reflects who they are. If they hate dressing up and like to be casual then that's how they should dress. I do recommend nice casual if that's the direction they are going. In addition, I love props! What do they do for fun together? Do they enjoy riding bikes together? If so, bring 'em.  Men: maybe you could surprise your fiance with flowers or a card telling her how much you are looking forward to your wedding day. What about a picnic? It's always possible to go to two locations if the spots are really close to each other so sometimes you can take some silly, fun photos and then end it with some romantics. How ever you want the day to go make it about the couple. If they are doing something that feels comfortable to them then they will have an easier time getting into the photo shoot and have fun while doing it.

Kyle & Jamie - Engagement from Alyssa Martinez on Vimeo.

It's not Just a Beach

I knew right where to go when Stacey and Jesse chose the beach for their engagement shoot. I have a favorite little spot in Laguna (you'll have to book a photo shoot to find out where...{smiling}). It has the beach of course but what I really like most is that has numerous other little spots that have unique textures and backgrounds. The beach is popular since we live in Southern California but I want to shoot at a beach that has more to offer than just water and sand. Stacey and Jesse are a beautiful couple and I am so glad we had this opportunity to meet and get to know each other better. I know their wedding is going to be fabulous and we can't wait!

Stacey & Jesse - Engagement from Alyssa Martinez on Vimeo.

Short & Sweet

A wonderful friend of mine had a holiday boutique for her friends and their kids. While she offered food, drinks, and shopping, I offered mini holiday photo sessions that were short but sweet. Each mini session was about 20-30 minutes and I had a few props to help occupy the kiddos while I snapped away. It was really a great opportunity for quick holiday photos since the kids were comfortable and relaxed in a friendly atmosphere. I was really flexible with letting the mom's pick their times and made adjustments for those who needed it. This was a great success and a great idea for any party!

I need to "prop" you up!

Here is sweet baby Ruby during her mini photo session. She was wearing a custom made tutu and hat from a great friend of mine who owns Little Diva Tutus.www.littledivatutus.com And since Ruby is still unable to really hold herself up I spotted a great prop...her parent's leather ottoman. I just love when I find really cool stuff in my clients homes to use in photos. Actually, I get really excited about checking out their homes inside and out to see if I can find something unusual and clever to use in my photos. I always bring some props with me but it makes the photos a little more special to use some of their own belongings. Especially in baby photos.

Yay for Happy Babies

This sweet baby girl was so happy during our mini photo session at the holiday boutique that I was able to get tons of great photos for her mom to choose from. I get so excited when the little kids I photograph are so cooperative. That usually means that I have more time to try new ideas and maybe get a little creative. Yay for happy babies!!!

Fast Hands

Now this sweet baby girl was super cute but we had to have fast hands to shoot her. She doesn't quite sit up on her own very well so mommy stood to the side, held her in place, and then moved her hands quickly once I counted to three and I took as many shots as I could before she fell over. It was almost like slow motion watching her slowly lean more and more until she lost her balance. But don't worry, no babies harmed during filming! Hee hee, actually she didn't seem to mind. Not only do I love relaxed babies, but I love relaxed mommies just as much! So much fun!!!

Born to Model

Another beautiful baby girl that was such a joy to photograph. She was born to model! All I had to do was bring in the props and she made 'em look good. What a great day!

Priceless Memories

The Eslinger family was so cute and adorable and it was such a treat to be able to photograph their sweet little girls. I just get so excited when I have the opportunity to photograph brand new babies and them with their siblings. Since I have three small children of my own it so precious to me to capture these priceless memories. Your children grow and change so fast when they are this young so it is so important to me they we take every chance we get to hold on to these memories. And I especially know how hard it is to get everyone ready and looking their best even when you don't feel like it. So I give props to this mom for making it a priority to take family photos! Way to go mom!

One, Two, Three...Open!

Dana Point offered a beautiful landscape for photographing the Horan/Van Dusen family. We spent a couple of hours on the beach and found a little pathway with a gorgeous green backdrop. Since it was mid day and the sun was really bright it was nice to have different spots to work with. It was such a joy getting to know this family better. Thank you Horan/Van Dusen family!

*Photo tip: When taking photographs in the mid day with no shade blinking and squinting can be a big problem. Have everyone close there eyes and then count to three and have everyone open their eyes at the same time. If you try this a few times your odds are better to get a photo with everyone's eyes open at the same time.

A Fortunate "Fortunato" Wedding

I woke up this morning to pouring rain. Just what I had dreaded most. I picked up Alyssa (my assistant) and we headed to meet the bride and groom at their hotel where they were getting ready. All the pre-shots went great and we headed to the church...uh oh, still raining. But when we were almost there we saw grey skies ahead with no rain. We were so excited and giggled; we were getting lucky. And as we entered the church the sun broke through and the light shined in through the beautiful stained glass. Everyone around us made comments about how special that day seemed. Their ceremony was extra special since that was the church where the bride's parents were married and on that same very day! After the ceremony we headed to the Nixon Library for the reception and on the way it started to rain again. Ugghhh! Our happy faces soon drooped with disappointment with the thoughts of shooting in the rain. But as we pulled up to the Library the rain stopped. Can you believe it? The clouds moved over for us again and we were able to take some of my favorite wedding portraits outside. Again we were smiling from ear to ear and chuckled at the good luck we were having. But to top it off, the groom found a four leaf clover in the grass. So if ever a couple was blessed with good fortune...it's the Fortunatos!

An Inspiration Indeed

I had the privilege to spend the afternoon in Irvine with one my most favorite families. Michele was one of the reasons I pursued my photography career. She has been one of my biggest cheerleaders and has given me the inspiration and encouragement to go for my dreams. Thank you Michele!

*Photo tip: When posing for photographs try different styles. You don't always have to group up tight in photos. I often prefer to have a family with this many people spread out a little. I think it makes for a beautiful portrait.

A Great Day

A wonderful woman Monica contacted me and asked if I would photograph her family. She wanted to give them a thoughtful gift of precious memories. So she gathered all of her family and we met near her house in Lake Arrowhead. It happened to be very windy and cold that day so we had to drive around to a few places to find somewhere sheltered with a beautiful back drop. Even though it was freezing they made the most of it! I can tell they are a very close family. The hugs, the laughter and the joking made this day great!

*Photo tip: Even when you think you have everything planned you never know what may happen. So it's best to always think of an alternative location.

Twins

When I heard Hanan's message that she wanted me to come and photograph her brand new babies I immediately started obsessing about twin photos. Twins are a special treat and I was so very excited to say the least. I felt right at home when I arrived. Hanan and her mother-in-law treated me like we were old friends. It was a very special day. Thank you Hanan!

*Photo tip: Photographing babies requires lots of patience. My best advice is to make sure you're not in a rush. If you're lucky you'll get your shots right away but more often than not you will have to take your time, move slow, shoot fast and have fun!

Memories

Another great day with another great family. The Williams family recently moved off the mountain but couldn't stay away. We had perfect cloud cover for a beautiful setting. I really enjoyed my time with Derek and DeeDee and their kids. They were really relaxed and had fun with everything I asked them to do. Thank you Williams family!!

*Photo tip: When ever I speak with any of my clients I like to ask them to bring anything that might represent or describe their kids personalities. This time DeeDee brought her daughters ballet shoes and her sons martial arts belt. I really love when I can incorporate the kids personalities in my photos. I think it also adds great memories for mom to keep.

Something New & Different

I found a new favorite spot for family photos. It was a beautiful cloudy day that gave me the perfect lighting for fun photos. And the Hazelett family was up for anything I wanted to try. We spent a couple of hours together and we got some amazing shots. The kids were great and very patient. Thank you Hazelett family for an amazing day!

*Photo tip: Plan ahead and bring props, especially for the kids. Don't be afraid to try something new and different!

Dream Location

The Holzer family lives in one of my favorite locations in the mountains. I couldn't stop dreaming that their place was mine. They told me it took them at least six years of writing letters and contacting property owners in that area to try and find someone who would be willing to sell. People just don't want to leave that area and after visiting I know why. We had a great time together and their kids were beautiful and fun to work with. Thank you Holzer family!!

* Photo tip: When looking for locations to take photos it's best to find a shaded area without any spotty lighting or sun patches.

Ambrozic Family

I got to know another local family today. Michelle and her Husband Gus own Timberwolf Construction in Lake Arrowhead http://timberwolfconstruction.net/Contact.html. They are a beautiful couple with two adorable little girls. Thank you Amrobzic family!!

*Photo tip: When photographing children be prepared. They run the show and they know it! Props help for creative photos and also help to elevate their mood if their getting frustrated. This may be just enough distraction to give you some sweet shots!

Young and In Love

Annie and Frankie met at summer camp in Big Bear and have been together ever since. The mountains are special to them so they met me at Lake Gregory for their engagement shoot. They are young and in love. They seemed to be comfortable right away and had no problems when I asked them to get close, cuddle and kiss! It was a beautiful day at the lake and we had fun capturing these special moments. They are getting married this summer at the Disneyland Resort. Stay tuned for their wedding photos!

*Photo tip: Going to a location that allows the couple to walk around and sight see may be just what they need to relax so you can catch some real personal moments.

Family Time

Kara and I met when I photographed her office for their website. I was so excited when she asked me to take family photos for her holiday card. It has been wonderful getting to know her and her family. We went to Lake Gregory so I could capture some sweet moments of them spending family time together walking around the lake. That usually helps keep the kids in a good mood and makes the photo shoot run a little smoother. Both of their girls were so sweet and their personalities shined. Since I have three small children my mommy experience really helps when working with small ones. We had a great time together and I really enjoyed getting to know the Weiland family better.

*Photo tip: Kids don't have the patience that we wish they could have while taking photos so it's important to start with the whole family first to make sure you get a good one before the kids decide the photo shoot is over.

Capture It All

My work has allowed me to meet some wonderful families, and this is one of them. I had so much fun with the Williams family. They were relaxed, smiling and laughing the whole time. And their girls were little super models. I didn't need to prompt them much because everything seemed to come natural to them. I could really feel the love that they all have for each other. What a great day!

*Photo tip: When photographing families I still want to make sure I capture moments of just the mom and dad together. Don't let the kids take all of your focus. So I often pretend it's an engagement shoot while asking the parents to pose. They may feel a little awkward at first but if all goes well, towards the end of the photo shoot they'll be kissing and hugging without you even asking!

It's Miller Time

My cousin Gina asked if I could meet up with her and family in Huntington Beach to take a few family photos. We went to a nearby park to capture some great family memories. The kids were adorable and playful. We had a great day together! Thank you Miller family.

*Photo tip: It's real important to me to capture "moments", so even though parents may be behind me calling at their kids to smile, I always tell them not to worry. "Stop calling at them and let's just see what they will do on their own, let's just let them be themselves". Now don't get me wrong coaxing a smile is usually needed at some point. But when working with kids going with the flow is a must!

Baur Wedding

I had the privilege to photograph Laurie and Chris Baur's Wedding on September 25, 2010
with my friend and fellow photographer Alyssa Martinez. When we met Laurie and Chris for the first time they took us here to show us around. We were pleasantly surprised to see that they had chosen a church that our families go to during the summer. This is a beautiful Dana Point church that has a breathtaking ocean view.

*Photo tip: When shooting a wedding make sure you scout out the ceremony and reception locations as much as you can. Sometimes you may plan for photos at one spot but due to weather, lighting, or time constraints you may need to be able to improvise, and fast.

Welcome to my blog...

I am very excited to share about my adventures in photography. After each photo shoot I am always excited to post photos and tell about my experiences and what I have learned. I hope you enjoy taking a peek at my passion. -Jessica