Engagements: Rob & Mary

I first met Rob and Mary a couple of months ago for the first time at a Cafe in SOMA. I remember leaving that cafe and having a huge smile on my face because I could really feel their excitement. About their wedding, about meeting with me, about each other. I LOVED IT! I secretly wished that they'd book me, and I'm so lucky because they did!

Fast forward to the first weekend of April, we spent the afternoon in San Francisco taking shot after engagement shot. Laughing, telling stories, and me saying, "Rob, look over here." ;) I was nervous because it had been raining the days before their shoot, but because they're awesome...the sun was out and about that Saturday afternoon :)

Rob and Mary, there is something about the two of you that I really love. Maybe its the quiet love, or how relaxed and chill the two of you are. Maybe it's that Rob looks all around during photos, or maybe it's Mary saying "Rob, we're taking pictures" (hahahah) Whatever it is, I think you two are wonderful. So here they are, the photos we spent taking around the city. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Xoxo

Below are some of my favorites

Enjoy!

My most favoritest

Look at Rob rockin his cool hat

Rob and Mary practice smizing at home. Can't you tell? Ok they don't, I'm just jealous that they're so good at it ;)

Thank you Rob for looking at me and not at the abandoned backpack

Always admiring his love

To see more, click here for a slideshow

24

Go shawty, It's my birthday. I'm gonna party like its my birrrthhhhday. Yup, that just happened because heeeeeyyy I am a shorty. Booya!

Yes, today is my 24th birthday. I know what you're thinking. "24? Shut up. You look like your're 14." Well guess what, I really am 24 years old. Please don't ask me to whip out my id and tell me that it's fake because I don't look old enough. (YES, YOU Lady at the post office!)

I'm sitting here in our room at the Clift and I'm watching the most amazing sunrise. Chris told me that the sunrise is just for me. And because it's my birthday, Id like to believe that ;) But last night during birthday eve dinner, I looked at Chris and told him that I loved him. Told him that I'm so happy because I'm living the life that I want. I'm happy, I'm in love, and I'm doing what I love. That's all I need. It's the best present that I could ever ask for on this 24th birthday. I then proceeded to stuff my face with churros and ice cream for dessert to celebrate my happiness. You know, because I've been told that calories don't count if you celebrate your birthday 3 days in a row. Birthday eve. Birthday. Birthday after :) You better believe I'll be eating cupcakes this weekend.

So heres to a wonderful day. Not only because it's my birthday, but because everyday should be spent doing things that make you happy. And today, I'll do just that! You should too because...

"you don't have to have a crown to be the queen"- Anthony from Project Runway

Happy Birthday to others that were born today, and Happy Saturday!

JOIE

When I started my internship, I had a desk and drawer filled with goodies. Lots of post its in different colors, lots of pens, lots of pins, lots of pencils, lots of office goodies that made my heart skip a beat because I'm a nerd. There was also a stack of cards that stated the following...

WEAR AN OLD PAIR OF JEANS. TAKE A WALK ON THE BEACH. BUY SOME FRESH FLOWERS. TREAT YOURSELF TO SOMETHING SWEET. ENJOY THE SUNRISE. PAY THE BRIDGE TOLL FOR THE CAR BEHIND YOURS. GIVE UP YOUR SEAT ON THE BUS. TAKE A BUBBLE BATH. SMILE MORE. RIDE A CABLE CAR. CONTACT AN OLD FRIEND. TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH HE OR SHE MEANS TO YOU. CREATE JOY. - joy of life club, joie de vivre

I took one of these cards home and its currently on my desk. I read it every time. Every single time. Because it's the little things that make the world go round. And it's a good reminder to always create joy for ourselves, and to those around us. So go do it. Give Joy! Because lets face it, happiness is like a table covered with cupcakes. Who wouldn't want at least one bite? ;)

Photographs make me happy. Below is a sneak peak of the session I'm working on...

Enjoy!

Gnoss Field Session: Alisa and Sean

It was simple. Two people, myself, and a camera. That's all I wanted. But one night before bed, I started to think hard about what I really wanted. After all, this shoot was for myself. I wanted to make something beautiful. Step out of the box and get creative. But I thought too hard and I couldn't come up with anything. The next morning, I woke up and it hit me. I dreamt it. It happened in my head while I was sleeping. Two people. Airport. Airplane. And the rest is history...

I know the importance for us photographers to shoot for ourselves. I didn't put this together because I was asked to. I put it together because I wanted to. Being behind a camera brings me happiness, and I...I wanted to create something for me. I don't have the words to say how I felt that day. To see it come to life. It was incredible. And I'm happy and grateful that I had the chance to make it happen.

Complete coincidence, but this is my 100th blog post. I like to think that it was meant to be that way. Because to me, the 100th blog post should be special. And this shoot, it's my something special...

Many thanks to those who helped make my vision turn reality. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I truly, can't thank you enough.

Models: Alisa Grant and Sean Leon

Photography: Gladys Jem

Assistant: Chris Allen

Dress: Jenny Han

Stylist: Hannah Yanow and Gladys Jem

Bouquet: Lynn Allen

Bi-plane: Tom Ryan and Rich Gaines

Coordinator: Joe Allen

*after this shoot, we went to a field and shot some more. in different outfits of course :) will blog those soon!

Happy Saturday!

Something to get me through the week

I swear to you, the weekends fly by much faster than weekdays which is LAME. To even things out, weekends should be a full Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Not just get off at work late Friday and then Saturday and Sunday. That's just how I'd like it at least :)

Here is a sneak peak of what I did this Sunday. I can't wait to share it with you because this shoot had me squealing, shrieking, and just overall happy. And yes...I know how lucky I am to shoot with a beautiful bi-plane. Ok ok, Alisa and Sean too ;)

HAPPY MONDAY!

The Perfect Day

It happened. This weekend. My perfect day happened and it was everything I dreamed of and more. You see...I've had this vision of a perfect day. And this Sunday, I lived it...

The sun gleamed through the windows as the city started to rise. With the street noise as my alarm clock, I rose from bed and opened the blinds to let in more sunshine. It was one of those days in the city, when the sun shines brighter than usual. I gave Chris a kiss and wished him a good morning.

We rise and get ready for our weekend routine, morning walks to the ferry building. I grab the camera and head out the door. Hand in hand, we walk the empty morning sidewalks of California Street. Enjoying the sunshine, we walk. We talk, we laugh, I snap photos, and we watch the half empty trolley cars pass us by.

Overlooking the water, we eat eggs and talk about our passions for creating. Movies, photographs, you name it. We talk, we laugh, I snap photos. Afterwards, we head back inside and I spend some time deciding on what fragrant flowers to purchase for our apartment. This time, it's dried lavender. Perfect for our new place. We wander around some more until it's time to head back.

We spend the rest of the day relaxing. Drives through the Marin headlands, and a home cooked meal with a movie to boot. More talking. More laughing. As the day comes to the end, I smile to myself and thank the Lord for the simplest day. A day with sunshine. With talking. With laughing. With snapping. With Chris.

p.s. can I be more in love with the light in our apartment? no. it's simpy divine :)

Bringing it back to life.

I don't fly like paper, or get high like planes. But I have been, MIA. It's not because I don't want to blog, or I banned myself from the internet (that's just crazy!) but my life has been ummm...how do I put this properly. "Well, I don't have one."

Chris and I moved last weekend to a fabulous apartment in Nob Hill. AT&T couldn't come and install the internet until Thursday. I cried about it. Fa real. When Chris told me, I said "But how am I suppose to blog?" AT&T doesn't care and couldn't give us an earlier appointment. Trust me internet, I shook my head and fist.

But besides not having internet, my life consists of: Getting up, going to work, going to the gym, going home to unpack, and going to sleep. It's been like that since Monday and I've never felt so dead in my entire life. That's until Thursday. I sat in my office with an hour to go and a headache that made me want to cry to my Mom. But I sat there feeling the need to be alive. So I went home, I picked up my camera, and I cardioed (I know thats not a word, but whatever) myself up and down and up some more of the hills surrounding our neighborhood with my camera. It was the only moment this week that I did something I truly wanted to do. Something that made me smile. It made my heart happy like a little dancing leprachaun. I finally felt alive.

Below are some of the snapshots I took of our new neighborhood.

This is one of the reasons I love our new place. Our view from the rooftop.

I love the next series.

Left: Our Lobby

Center: Grace Cathedral (Just up the block)

Right: My favorite Hotel on California St., The Mark Hopkins

And this...this is one of my favorite street photos I've ever taken. This is Chinatown.

We've still got a lot of unpacking to do, but once it's all done I'll post photos of our new place. We have these big bay windows in our bedroom and living room that pours in the most amazing light.

But until then, I promise I will blog more. I look forward to March because it's my birthday month, engagement sessions, and a special shoot next Sunday. Then April begins my wedding season for this year! So much to look forward to!

Happy Saturday!

143.

I opened the door, and to my surprise found a box along with sunflowers. You were nowhere to be found until you decided it was time to reveal yourself. I was shocked, excited, and most of all happy. Happy that you showed up unannounced. Happy that you brought sunflowers, and happier that the box contained cupcakes. We'd been only dating a couple of weeks. But it was then, at that moment, I knew I loved you.

I didn't tell you this at the time. But i'll tell you now, and for the rest of our lives. I love you.

Je t'aime. Mahal Kita. Wo ai Ni. I love you.

To many more laughs, moments, and love.

Happy Valentines day my love!

GJ

*Photo by Michelle Ocampo Photography

Monday, Monday, Monday.

Cue Natasha Bedingfield's Unwritten...

SO today, I felt like Lauren Conrad. My life was an episode of the Hills except without the drama, Speidi (Thank God), crazy Kelly Cutrone demanding that I can only wear black, and an internship at Teen Vogue. What I did get was a beginning to a 12 week internship for the fabulous JdV Hospitality. I know it's not teen vogue, but whatevs. For 12 weeks, I'll be immersing myself in all things Operations, Sales, and Food and Beverage. Then in May, my parents will get just what every parent would like for their child, a college diploma.

I'm excited for all of the things that I'll be learning within the upcoming weeks. At one point in my life, this was what I wanted to do. It was my dream. Be a business woman in downtown San Francisco. Sit behind a desk and sell hotel rooms/plan events. But today, when I sat in my big leather chair, in my cubicle, hearing only the sounds of people typing and phones ringing, all I wanted to do was connect. Connect with my clients. Connect with my camera. Connect with those that love.

Don't get me wrong. Though one was a dream of my past, at 23 years old, I am grateful to be able to say that I've experienced \do my dream jobs. It's truly something that I am grateful for.

In other news, I met with my fabulous graphic designer Shelley Szudera. She's been working on my branding and sent me some mock-ups last week. I knew she was great, but i LOVED what she created for me. Tonight, we met to talk about making last minute edits to my logo and my brand in general. I love Shelley because she knows just what I want, and delivers that and more. I am so excited for it all to come together, and even more excited to show you the final product. I'm working on a new blog, and a new website so please stay tuned for that.

Hope you have a fabulous week!

Follow your heart

I've been looking at my old blog a lot lately. A blog that contains entries from last year. Entries from the open book that was my heart, filled with chapters of passion, love, and a zest for life. An open declaration of my life at the time of realizing what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, and what I wanted my life to be...

This weekend, I sat in a cafe with that same heart. Except this time it was with more passion, more love, and extra zest. I left feeling like I made the best decision in the world, because in reality I did. Though I'm still at the beginning of my journey, I can look back with no regrets. I know that I've made the right turns, even with the bumps that I've encountered, and the many more I'm sure I'll come across. But when your heart knows where to go, and you don't give up, you'll get to the destination just fine.

To the many dreamers out there just like myself...a dream is just the beginning. And eventually one day, it will all be reality. When your heart speaks to you with intensity, don't ignore it. When the little spark inside of you feels like it's going to burn out, light it again. Trust in what you are, believe in what others believe you can do, and most of all, follow your heart.

The Style Lab!

It rained. A lot. But this didn't stop us from heading outside and shooting. That's until the 90 MPH winds, tornado warnings, and a whole lotta side ways rain decided to show up. But because it's the OC, the beautiful sun decided to grace us with it's presence after all, and that is when we rocked it out some more.

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending Chenin Boutwell's Style Lab. Along with the Wedding Chicks, and Totally Rad Actions, Chenin hosted her first workshop in 2 years. Rain or shine, Chenin, Jocey, Amy, and Doug shared their knowledge. And because these are some of the top professionals in the wedding industry, us attendees soaked it all up. All up until the last drop. I learned everything from how to figure out my style, what photos I want to achieve, my brand, how to shoot details, how to get published, post processing, and how to bring pretty back. That's right, how to bring pretty back.

What I love about workshops is being able to see and learn from others. Whether it be Chenin, or the Wedding Chicks, Doug or other attendees. Information was shared that helped me find what it is that I want to achieve. Defining my style, figuring out my brand, etc. We as attendees were encouraged to be our best. To be the best photographer to others, to our clients, and to ourselves. And that to me, is truly important.

Chenin, Jocey, Amy, and Doug: Thank you for a fabulous workshop! I am so lucky to have won that giveaway. I walked away with so much information. More information that I could have ever asked for. I highly recommend it to everyone, rain or shine! You guys are awesome! xo

And to the wonderful and incredibly talented vendors: Thank you for an amazing set up! It was incredible, even in the rain :)

And here are the photos...

"My Love" Amanda Rae and her hubby Mike. You guys are wonderful! So glad I got to know both of you. You both are such sweet people. Thanks for being fabulous models.

Founders Of Style Lab

Boutwell Studios

The Wedding Chicks

Totally Rad Actions

Vendors Involved With Style Lab

Venue: Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club

Styled By: Angel Swanson of Events of Love & Spendor

Stationary: Wiley Valentine

Floral Design: The Treasured Petal

Rentals: Classic Party Rentals

Dress Designer: Joan Shum

Makeup & Hair: All Made Up Team

Deserts & Goodies: Vanilla Bakeshop