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!

Just a little love note

Chris has always written me love notes. Always. Ever since we started dating, they'd pop up out of nowhere on my pillow. Inside my macbook. In packages he puts in my suitcase whenever I travel alone. Our engagement. Always. He does them now, and I have no doubt in my mind that he'll write them until we're old and gray. Together.

Yesterday, as I walked out of my building to head home. There he was, standing there holding a note. A little love note that he wrote while he waited patiently for me at starbucks across the street. Lucky for me because I left my keys at home. And there he was, saving the day. With just a little love note. And keys.

I'm not really sure where I'm going with this post. But I do know how it feels to be loved. How it feels when someone tells you that they love you. How it feels to give and receive that same love back. So to those who read this very post today, tell someone you love them. Because sometimes, that's all they need to hear. Sometimes, it's all they need to put a smile on their face. Sometimes, it means a lot more than I'm sorry. Tell them because you love you them. Tell them because you mean it. Always.

Happy Friday!

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!

Wedding Wednesdays: Wedding Blogs

I love being engaged because I can relate to my brides. I too, am planning a wedding and I know how tough it is to make decisions about your big day. I mean hello! You are reading the blog of the girl who changed her wedding colors 3943947 times until her fiance finally said "We really need to stick with one because we need to set up a meeting with a florist soon!" Easy for him to say, he won't be holding a bouquet ;)

Let's be honest, planning a wedding isn't the easiest thing in the world. So many decisions to make, plenty of flowers to choose from, and we can't forget the most important part...what flavor will the cake be? ;) I know for me, the biggest challenge so far was picking out colors. I spent hours and hours online looking at inspiration boards on wedding blogs. I know for a fact that my sister spent hours and hours online looking at inspiration boards as well. I have proof if you'd like to see it. EMAILS galore! But besides having those close to you help, one tool that has helped me out a lot with planning and inspiration are wedding blogs.

I don't know if you remember, but a couple of posts ago I blogged about finally deciding on our colors. This happened one Sunday afternoon. Chris was taking a nap and I was going crazy on Style Me Pretty. I went through pages and pages until I stumbled upon a fall inspired affair by Custom Event Group. It hit me like a trolley car on California street and I knew just by looking at the photos what our color palette was going to be. Ever since then, I haven't gone crazy with colors in my head. (Thank you Style Me Pretty!)

Another favorite blog of mine is the Wedding Chicks. Here you'll find everything that is pretty. Pretty, DIY, and pretty DIY. I love love love this blog and I love the two ladies that run it even more. (Hi Jocey and Amy!) I did a workshop with them in January, and they are fabuloso! One DIY in particular that I love from the blog are the DJ request cards. For brides who don't want just a clipboard with a piece of paper for song requests, these cards are just for you. I know I love them. Plus they say "Hey Mr. DJ, Play a song for me!" Fabulous right?

Besides the two blogs I mentioned above, here are a couple more I love. I check these blogs daily to find inspiration for my wedding, or because I just love anything wedding related :) And to my brides reading my blog, if you haven't gone on these blogs...go now! Pretty please :)

Green Wedding Shoes

Ruffled Blog

Lolliblog

100 Layer Cake

P.S. Pictured above is the Modern Bride Survival Guide Book. LOVE it!

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

Wedding Wednesday: Venue

This one time, I promised that I wouldn't show anyone what my wedding dress looked like because I wanted everyone to be surprised. I swore this while I was in it. Then, this other time I ended up sending at least 12 people the picture of it. I officially suck at keeping promises to myself.

So tonight, when I was trying to decide what little portion of our big day to share, I realized that I don't want to share anymore details about our wedding because I want people to be surprised. But knowing me, in 2 weeks, i'll probably share with you what our favors will be, but it's not my fault that I'm so excited. So excited that I just have to share with the world ;)

Anyways, tonight I thought I'd share our venue. Our little gem of a venue located on a hill in Sonoma. I remember the first time Chris and I ever went, I headed straight for their wedding table set-up and I thought to myself "This would be an incredible place to get married" And I'm so happy to have that thought come true!

I took this photo during my first trip there :) But this is only a small part of the place. You should see the view, our reception area, the barrel room, and everything else about it. I love it, and I can't wait to get married there! Almost 9 months left to go!

Happy Wednesday!

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!