Ok so we weren’t in Venezuela but we pretended to be, and the beach was just over the mountains.  Hehe.  We were in Silverlake and technically the beach is just over the mountains, give or take 10 miles.  How lucky we are to live in LA!

If you’ve never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame. ~Adam Duritz  (“Mrs. Potter’s Lullaby” by the Counting Crows)

The wedding was so much fun to photograph!  If there is one word I could use to describe Julie & Rich, it would be plain and simply: FUN.  Playful and goofy couples are my favorite!! 

Can’t wait to share more!

The things that friends are willing (or actually WANT) to do always get me.  There are so many little things I want to write about here but I’ll just do an overview to save everyone from reading a novel.

Mark, Jessica, and Kevin planned a perfect, seamless day at Disneyland because WHERE ELSE WOULD A 30-YEAR OLD CELEBRATE HIS/HER BIRTHDAY?!  Mark & Jessica got engaged last year at the park and were able to whip out some fairy dust.  We had lunch at Club 33 (it’s an exclusive members club at the park and word on the street is there is a 12-year wait list), did not have to wait in ANY lines all day (they arranged for the same VIP tour that celebs get), got to drive the giant steamboat and toot the horn (!!!), and received VIP seating for the World of Color show.  On top of that we ate churros, pretzels, looked for hidden Mickeys, and all that usual good Disney stuff.  It was a GOOD DAY. 

Carla threw me a dinner party and if there’s anything I know, it’s that Carla’s dinners are Awesome with a capital A.  She knows I tend to eat “healthy” (with the exception of the occasional sweet tooth) so she prepared a baked Moroccan chicken, cous cous, and a kale/brussel sprout salad.  In the end, all of that was canceled out by the decadent PEANUT BUTTER chocolate cake she made for dessert, specially made with Trader Joe’s Creamy Salted PB because she knows it’s my favorite.

I got to see some of my closest friends who I haven’t seen in a while and have quality conversation until 2:00am.  Now that’s the good stuff!

I have some really amazing people in my life.  I’m excited because I am heading up to the Bay Area in a bit to see my family, and you know that will be the icing on the cake!  I am way too lucky.

Dear new decade:  I am ready for ya!

Taken in my kitchen with the iPhone 4S.  Edited using the Instagram App.

P.S. When I post pictures that involve my hands, I often get asked what color the nail polish is.  O.P.I. – Mermaid’s Tears. 

I had my first role as MOH this year and it is not an easy job.  Kudos, Kaity.

Stylish group of girls. 

The shower was held at Bouchon Bistro in Beverly Hills.

Dainee and her sister Kaity.  There is always something very satisfying about a simple, classic, B&W portrait.

Bouchon’s brunch menu is insanely delicious.  Looking at these photos again makes me HUNGRY!

Dainee’s fiance Steve stopped by at the end to surprise her.  So sweet!

Girls are so thoughtful and crafty with presents.  I love it.

They will be honeymooning in Bora Bora (one of my favorite places on this planet!), so she received a lot of beachy gifts. 

Steve even received some Speedos.  Ha!

Congratulations Dainee & Steve!  Best wishes for your wedding and beyond!

When I chose to be a wedding photographer, I thought my contribution as a career would be simply geared toward my brides, grooms, and their families.  I thought – I get to provide them with awesome memories for the rest of their lives, and that’s pretty cool!

It took me a while to wrap my head around the idea that I have the possibility of inspiring others too.  As a by product of expressing myself and sharing work online, I started getting positive comments and emails.  I got asked to speak at a local middle school for Career Day.  I had a casting agent contact me about a documentary series – they were looking for passionate photojournalists.

You might not be aware of it, but you have an impact on other people ALL the time.  All the little things you do (and don’t do) contribute to other people’s lives.

Overall, I think if you do and share what is important to you, it’s good for you and it’s good for everyone else. 

Receiving emails like this always make my day!:

Hi Christine (:

My name is Manelle. I personally just want to send you a message just to tell you how much you have truly inspired me. I am currently 15 years old and very clueless. I had no passion in life and what I wanted to be. I was lost and confused. One day I stumbled upon your blog and I was simply amazed. Right then and there, I knew I had a passion for photography. I never really thought I’d love it but you truly inspired me to go big and get out there! I want to be a successful wedding photographer like you. Although I am still a freshmen in high school I have made it my goal to make this a career. I want to do whatever it takes to make my dreams into a reality and a big part of it is all because of you. (: I simply want to thank you. I want to find happiness in what I do for a living just like you (: Best wishes in all that you do and never stop inspiring young individuals like me (: I really really really hope to hear from you.

xoxo Hugs and Kisses from Hawaii

At Emerson Middle School for Career Day.  The curiosity of the kids was refreshing.  Their questions were VERY simple and straightforward (I love that).  How much do you make?  How do people know about you?  What if someone doesn’t like their pictures?  It made me laugh.

I met with a casting director last week.  Being on the big screen has never been a goal of mine (minus my cameo in “The Fast & the Furious”, which I will discuss some other time … eek).  I didn’t respond to the calls at first because it wasn’t something I wanted to focus my time on.  “I’m not an actor,” I thought.  The last voice message said that they really wanted to meet with me and that they would send a rep to my place.  If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that things flow a lot easier (and more fantastical!) when you say YES.  So we met, it was great, and we will see what happens from here!

Share what you are passionate about.  Look at someone when you are having a conversation with them.  Show appreciation.  Flash a smile at a stranger.

What are some ways that you contribute to others?

One day in London, so many things to do and see.  Top priority?  Food.  We basically ate our way through the city.

Afternoon tea.

I usually don’t miss my dog while traveling until I see one that reminds me of her.  This one was named Beans!

Chinatown = comfort food.

Simpsons in the Strand.  British cuisine at it’s finest.  Super cute and friendly staff!

Cheers to a fabulous (and gluttonous) day.

I love exploring new cities.  Thanks to Smelly Fox Photo for showing us around!

Some photos of the Kessmans at home.

This guide is completely my own opinion based on personal taste. It is primarily based off what I have observed through photographing weddings for the last 5 years.

1. Get an event planner.  This is one of the BEST investments you can make for your wedding! Planning and executing a large party is not easy and there are so many little things to remember.  You might be organized but it’s the last thing you want to be thinking of on your wedding day.  That day is supposed to be an enjoyable (right?) so let someone else handle the logistics so you and your friends can HAVE FUN!

One of my favorite planners based in LA, Amber Events.  Photo by Troadec Photography.

2. Plan your wedding with the guests in mind.  This rule applies when throwing even the smallest dinner party.  Guests should NEVER be uncomfortable and that includes waiting around for long periods of time, being hungry, thirsty, too hot, or too cold. To avoid this:

-Start to serve drinks and apps before the ceremony.  Too often, guests will rush to the bar as soon as the ceremony is over.  After they get their drink and some food, then they start to relax and enjoy themselves.  Why not have them feel that way from the start? 

-Think about the weather.  If you have an outdoor wedding and it might get chilly at night, you can provide heat lamps and pashminas for the ladies.  If the weather could be very hot, providing parasols could make it a lot more comfortable during the day time.

3. Keep it small. People are different. Cultures are different. But what I hear 99% of brides say when asked if they could do anything differently about their wedding is have a smaller one.  They want to spend more than 2 minutes with each guest.  They want quality.  They would have whittled down the invite list.

Possible alternative: Have a smaller (destination?) wedding, and then have a casual, larger dinner reception back home afterward for everyone else who wasn’t able to partake in the intimate wedding ceremony.

4. Clump the formal activities together. Example: If you are planning to do formal dances, a cake cutting, slideshow, bouquet/garter toss, etc. at your reception, try to do it all at once, one after another. That way you:

-Have everyone’s attention
-It all gets done so that you can relax and get back to hanging out with your guests instead of constantly getting interrupted by someone saying, “It’s time to do this now….”
-You have efficient photography/videography coverage of everything

5. End it on a high note. If most of the guests have gone home when there is technically still 2-3 hours left to party, it brings the energy down.  An hour for dinner and a couple hours of dancing is a good amount of time.  I’d rather have guests say, “Aw man, the night has to come to an end!” than yawn and say, “Can we go home yet?.” It’s nice when people leave a party feeling good.  The hard core party animals can always go out to a bar after.

I’m sure there are some other little things but of the top of my head, these are the main things I would take into consideration.  I guess I’ll REALLY think about it when I need to.