Leah & Quentin

I had the pleasure of meeting Leah & Quentin a couple of weeks ago for their Thursday wedding last week.  I swear, it feels like I’ve known them forever!  Such a wonderful couple.  They have been together for 11 years and thought that what better day to get married on than their 11th anniversary!  Hence, the Thursday wedding.  The decision to exchange their vows on a weekday had no hindrance on their loved ones making it to the wedding!  It was an incredible day and very emotional ceremony.   Leah and Quentin decided to see each other before the ceremony which allowed us about 2 hours to shoot around!  Because of this…  this blog post is HUGE! 

The Ceremony & Reception was held at the gorgeous Berkeley City Club

Naroth & Melvin | engaged!

I had an instant connection with this gorgeous couple from the first moment we met! They decided to start off their engagement shoot at the spot that they first met – Union Square in SF. They were a little shy with so many people around, so we headed off towards our next stop and found some cool areas along the way. Our next stop was actually their first date (and I think kiss too!) at the Metreon! We shot a few inside the theatre and fortunately didn’t even get kicked out! We ended at Alamo Square which is a sweet park across the street from the famous Painted Ladies!

 

New Years Resolutions!

Well…  I know, I’m a little late.  I guess I should take ‘Blog more’ off the list! I am happy to say though, that I am doing a good job on my resolutions, which is a little out of character for me.

1. The Power of Now  

Lately I’ve really been concentrating on living more positively and focusing on my life as it is right here right now.  All too often do we worry about getting from point A to point B and we never really take a moment to experience the journey we take to get there.  For example, getting engaged.  There is sooo much that goes into planning the wedding that I think we forget the fact that we are ENGAGED!!!!  It was really such a wonderful time in my life and I really enjoyed planning my wedding.  I remember two days before our wedding, I was up at 3:00 in the morning printing and cutting programs, menus and place cards.  Scott walked by and stated laughing “You were born to do this, weren’t you?”  he said.  I laughed and agreed.  I was anxious for the wedding to be here, but was really having so much fun in the midst of things and I don’t think I enjoyed it to it’s fullest.  Being engaged is a feeling I miss, it was a really exciting time and a moment that I had dreamt of my whole life.

One more example of this:  My mom, sister, aunt and cousin all go to the city the day after Thanksgiving for the biggest shopping day of the year.  We have done this every year for about 10 years now and we have a blast.  More recently, we’ve ate and drank more than shop since we are now of age.  But anyway, back to my story.  The weather was cold but clear and beautiful, the big Christmas tree had just been lit, and there were carolers on the street.  We were literally running from one shop to the next through Union Square and for a split second, I slowed down and took a deep breath.  There was so much going on in that one instant and we were missing because we were preoccupied with getting from point A to point B in time.  I wished we would have soaked everything in just for a few minutes to recognize the wonderful time we were having.  This is defintiely somethign you MUST doing the day of your wedding – otherwise it will wimply pass you by.

I had expressed my thoughts and feelings with one of my good friends and old boss, Marc.  He knows how much I stress about insignificant things and what a waste of time it really is.  I can spend all day repeating the same dialog in my mind over and over again - it doesn’t matter if it is my interpretation of something that has happened in the past or if it is something I think will happen -  my mind will literally just drive me crazy!  He recommended I start reading (which I REALLY don’t do!)  and suggested I start with ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle.  Reading generally puts me to sleep and I really don’t ever sleep, so I figured I would get myself a nightlight and either I get some reading done or sleep done, either one would be good!  So, while I’m not the fastest reader, I will admit that I have been enjoying this book.  It has helped me identify when I let my mind go crazy and how it doesn’t accomplish anything.  In fact, when I allow my mind to think like this, I am completely unproductive! 

In a nutshell – I’m enjoying the moments that I am living today and I’m not going to worry about tomorrow because it will be here soon enough!  I’m feeling a lot more free and happy!

2. Make time for your loves

Toward the end of 2007 I was a bit depressed and couldn’t really put my finger on it.  I have the best job ever, an amazing family, wonderful friends and my dream guy for a husband.  What the heck could I be depressed about?  Well, I shot about 33 weddings, got married and had a plethora of other shoots all in a matter of 8 months.  I was working every waking minute and missed out on many family and friend events.  While I couldn’t be more excited about the success of 2007, I was definitely missing something and I felt that the people I love were missing something too.  I had been pretty much completely absent in their lives all year.  While I’m toying with the idea of starting a family soon, I started to get a little freaked out the thought of being a horrible motherwho never has time for them.  So this year, I’m working on changing my patterns of life.  While I still don’t remove myself from the computer when my husband arrives home, I am making an effort by spending more time with friends and family and reducing the amount of job committments I take in for the year.   I’ve made several attempts to reconnect with the people I care about and while I haven’t reached everyone yet, those that I have reached have been very vocal about having me around more {because I’m so great! }.  It’s been really wonderful and sort of goes hand in hand with enjoying the power of now.

I figure, I only have a couple more months of being 30 years old and I will never get to be 30 again!  Time flies.  It is so important to enjoy every moment we are blessed with.

3. Meet more fabulous people!

I met so many people in 2007 – really wonderful clients, photographers and other wedding professionals.  It is so fun shooting a wedding where you know part of the bridal party or guests or vendors!  It’s like a mini reunion!  I want more!  through my efforts thus far, I’ve joined a few wedding networks and I have vowed to actually attend my NCPP {Northern California Professional Photographers} meetings this year!  No excuses!  I will also be going to this year’s WPPI {Wedding & Portrait Photographers International} convention in Vegas, which I am sooo pumped about!  I’m teaming up with other wedding professionals to get linked in a little more within the community, there is so much talent out there!  I just want to surround myself with it! 

OK, last one… 

4. GET IN SHAPE!

I really wasn’t even going to write about this, because it is ALWAYS my NY resolution and I NEVER do it!  {Except for when I hired a personal trainer 3 months before my wedding}  But, I would rather not let myself go in my first year as a wife.  It’s bad enough that my husband gets to come home to me every night in my sweats and bathrobe!  We had yet to make it to the gym until my dear friend Susan called me yesterday and mentioned she was going to a ‘The Bar Method’ class this morning.  So, I got myself up at 7:50am {much earlier than my usual 11:00 rise and shine time} and met her for an 8:30am class.  I’m having a hard time typing because my muscles hurt so bad, but it was a really great class.  I signed up for their introductory offer of unlimited classes for one month {$100}.  So, we shall see how it goes…  I’m going tomorrow morning too.

Ummm… Hello Gorgeous!

A Taste…

Of Danielle’s Bridal Session.

More to come.