West Hollywood, The London Hotel Boudoir Photography

I absolutely LOVE shooting boudoir sessions! LOVE LOVE LOVE! My favorite thing about shooting boudoir, is getting to know so many beautiful women. And helping to show them just how gorgeous and sexy they are! Boudoir photos are not just a gift for your significant other... they are truly a gift for YOURSELF! So you can celebrate who you are in this moment of your life!!! So many of my clients show up to the session nervous and shy....but when the session is over? They are walking around like fierce divas, serving up a whole lot of confidence. And that transformation is why I love what I do. :)"Boudoir Season," as I like to call it, has arrived! If you are a summer bride looking to do pictures before your nuptials, now is the time! You should do your session no later than 6-8 weeks before the big day! So, girrrrrl, you better get on that!Still not sure if boudoir is right for you? I bet these photos from my most recent shoot could change your mind....

This boudoir session took place at the FABULOUS London Hotel in West Hollywood. The whole hotel is to die for, but the rooms are pure luxury! I absolutely LOVED the balcony too! It made for such a unique spot to take photos!

The smallest moments can be sexy....

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[love game] LADY GAGA wedding inspiration

It is no secret to anyone that I love myself some Lady GaGa. Like whoa. I really am a fan!So it seemed like fate when I was contacted by the fabulous Mai Hoang of Bunch Studio and Olivia Wu of Zoie Events asking if I'd like to be a part of a GAGA Wedding inspiration shoot they were creating! I said yes! And voila! Here we are today! I am sooooooo thrilled to be sharing this amazing shoot with you! So many amazing vendors put their hard work into this shoot and the details of it all still blow me away! I absolutely LOVE what we created, and  I can only hope we'd have the approval of GaGa too!!Thank you to Wedding Chicks for featuring this shoot as well!!And now let's play a love game...Our Lady GaGa model, Jessica Gabriella, served up a plate of fierceness! Rawr!The amazingly talented Amber Moon of Pitbulls & Posies created the most gagalicious stationary for the shoot!Laurie Mura of I Believe It's Cake created a jaw dropping wedding cake and cupcakes. I'm in awe!!! Look at the incredible detail! So avant-garde!Mai Hoang of Bunch Studio created the amazing florals!! I love how she incorporated these clear bubbles a la GaGa's bubble dress!In our world, GaGa has two grooms. That just seems sexier. LOL!I Believe It's Cake also created a fabulous dessert bar! LOVE it!And our GaGa had a costume change...of course!!! ;)Special thanks to all who made this shoot possible! Let the credits roll:

Event Coordination & Styling:
Olivia Wu of Zoie Events
Event Design & Florals:
Mai Hoang of Bunch Studio
Cake & Dessert Bar:
Laurie Mura of I Believe It's Cake
Hair & Make-up:
Susie Chhuor of Susie Chhuor Professional Hair & Makeup Studio
Paper Goods:
Amber Moon of Pitbulls & Posies Press
Bridal Headpieces:
Mai Hoang of Bunch Studio
Bride & Groom Jewelry:
Shop Ruche, Threadsence, various retail shops
Styling Assistant:
Mike Walrond
Models:
Jessica Gabriella
Khalif Boyd
Don Jeanes
Rentals:
Classic Party Rentals
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Featured Around The Web

Today it's like Christmas and my birthday came in March!!! I'm so excited to have two awesome features floating around the blogosphere today!!First up, remember that fabulous Serra Plaza Brunch?! Well today it is featured on one of my favorite blogs Grey Likes Weddings!Click here to see this Brunch Wedding Inspiration on Grey Likes:Secondly, I was so very honored to be a part of a fabulous Lady Gaga Wedding Inspiration shoot...and today it's featured on Wedding Chicks!!Ever wonder what GaGa's wedding will be like?! Click here to see our predictions:

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Serra Plaza Launch Party {Part 2}

On Monday, I blogged all the details from the Serra Plaza Launch Party which I had the honor of photographing! Well part of the event was a FABULOUS bridal fashion show, styled by the amazing Hope Stanley and made up by Vivian Tran and the All Made Up Team!!! :) LOVEEEEE!!! The models all looked so amazing and as each one walked the runway I found myself swooning and saying "oooh if only I was getting married again I'd wear that!" "No! I'd wear that!!!" Yeah, I'm kinda a sucker for wedding couture!After the show, I got to have a little photo shoot with the models who could hang around! The idea was that Serra Plaza could use the photos for promotional reasons, but hey, who am I kidding, I just wanted to take pictures of these amazing models!!!!! So I did. And I LOVED it! Here's a look at those photos!!I love this first look! It's not too formal and has a great casual-chic feel to it! I LOVE the look of layered necklaces with a wedding dress! Fab!!!

Aughhhhhhh. This look KILLS me!!! If I was getting married again I totally would go this route. Honestly, I originally wanted a dress like this but never really found one that worked for my uber petite body. SO I ended up wearing a lace dress! LOL! So opposite. But yeah, if I ever get a redo, I'm all over this!!

I had so much time with the last model, Amanda, and I had a great time photographing her! I also LOVED her look! So chic and retro! And I love that the dress is short! Some times I wish I would've worn a short dress because they are so unexpected and stylish. But truth be told I guess I'm just a little too traditional. Still...maybe for a vow renewal I could wear this?? AJ do you approve??

Hello shoes!!! I love you? Will you be mine? Oh what's that? You don't come in size uber tiny???? BUMMER! Okay fine, I'll just live vicariously through my photographs.

Is Amanda fierce or is a Amanda FIERCE?!  You betta work!

The photo on the left is one of my favorites of all time! Ohhhhh Amanda! You are GORGEOUS!

So if you haven't gotten your wedding attire yet, you should definitely check out Hope Stanley. Because she will help you find the PERFECT wedding outfit and accessories. And then contact Vivian Tran and she will glam you up mayjah!!!
Special Thanks again to all the *fab* vendors who made the Serra Plaza Launch Party possible:
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Serra Plaza Launch Party {Part 1}

I am always thrilled and honored when I get to photograph an event or session for someone within the wedding industry. It really makes me feel that I am a part of the SoCal wedding community-- and not just that I'm a part of the community, but that I'm respected! So when Amanda Auer of In The Now Weddings and Events asked if I could come take some pictures at the Serra Plaza Launch Party her team was throwing, I was so excited! I'm pretty sure I did a happy dance!Serra Plaza is a brand new and super GORGEOUS wedding venue in San Juan Capistrano! I love it because its so close to the mission and the old town (perfect for bride & groom pictures) and the venue itself has wonderful Mediterranean charm! It's also an outdoor venue, with areas for the ceremony and the reception, which I LOVE! If you are still looking for a venue, or have a friend who just got engaged, I suggest checking out Serra Plaza! It's fabulous!The event was a brunch, which I think is so cute! I think the idea of having a brunch wedding is fabulous! And for couples on budget who still want a fabulous wedding, having a daytime wedding can save you big bucks! ;) Brunch lends itself to some super cute ideas, and Rachel of In the Now ,who designed the whole event, really took advantage of the brunch theme! They had a gourmet coffee station set up, and also a "Mimosa Bar." Guests could help themselves to half-filled champagne glasses and then choose from various fruit juices to finish filling their glasses with! It was super cute and delicious looking!I also loved the tablescapes Rachel designed, accented with lovely florals by French Buckets! I also thought the gift boxes they made, and the floral pin-on name tags were super cute!!!Take a peek at the details I snapped!

I love that the tables were so stylish, modern and chic...but also so relaxed! Brunch should be relaxed and not too formal or stuffy. These tables are perfectly brunch chic!
Love the florals by French Buckets!!
Here are the favor boxes all the guests got to take home! Love them!!!
The event was catered by several different companies. But they all adhered to a brunch tapas theme! Love!!! Did I ever mention brunch is one of my FAVORITES?
Here's a photo of the In The Now team that I quickly snapped! Love them!!!!!
The event also had a fashion show which is what this sign refers to.....
......and I will have more photos of the models to show you on Wednesday! But for now I hope you enjoyed these lovely details!
Special thanks to all the vendors on this event:
Creative Media Print
Cynthia Bower at Classic Party Rentals
Joel at Studio EMP
Martin at Waveform Events
Sugar Tart
Vivian Tran and the All Made Up Team
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Out of the Office!

It's that time of year again.....time for WPPI! The world's biggest wedding photography convention! This year, thanks to the generosity of Leather Craftsmen, I have a full pass so I will be going to lots of lectures and learning a ton! I also will be involved on a few shoots. And of course, there will be some socializing too! Woohoo! I'm not really a Vegas person but I had a great time last year and I think this year will be even better. I promise to come back an even better and more awesome photographer! ;)So I will be out of the office Saturday 2/19 through Wednesday 2/23. I will have some email access but I honestly don't know how much time I will have to sit at the computer and write proper replies. So please forgive me if I'm a little slow in correspondence next week!And now I'll leave you with a cute picture from WPPI last year...{Pictured above is Ellie M, Laurie Bracewell, Jenn King, Jasmine Star, moi, and Sarina Love}

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Tuesday Top 5

This is kinda a hard day to write a Tuesday To 5 because this afternoon I am going with my mom to put one of my childhood cats, Whiskey, to sleep. :( He is 16 years old and suffering from kidney failure.  It's so very hard to say goodbye to my long time friend. I was only 9 when I picked him out and took him home, so he's been a part of the majority of my life...If you know me, you probably know I am huge lover of animals and my pets are family...they are people to me. So today is very sad and it's hard to be cheery for this post.But never the less, I know this is life. It's bittersweet. There are very hard, trying and sad moments. But at the same time there are amazing, beautiful moments. If we don't take the time to appreciate the good, then we really aren't living life to the fullest. In fact, I write TT5 to remember & celebrate what I enjoyed about my week. I write to appreciate the fun and awesome parts of life. So on the saddest days it is important to write about the good...here goes:1. Industry Friends. I feel so lucky to have built so many wonderful friendships with my peers and colleagues in the wedding industry. When I first dove into the wonderful world of wedding photography in 2009 I knew not a soul except for my own wedding vendors. I had no one I could chat with and ask questions with. Of course, I did end up developing a few friendships in 2009 with other photographers, but my network was still small. In 2010 I really pushed myself to get to know more people, and luckily thanks to social gatherings, workshops and of course facebook/twitter it wasn't too hard. I feel so fortunate to know so many wonderful, smart, kind, creative people. It helps so much to get advice and to share stories about running a creative business! I am so thankful to my friends for teaching me so much and for helping me be a great businesswoman! I had some awesome revelations with friends this weekend, and I'm so thankful!2. Nutella Banana Crepes. I love nutella. I love bananas. I love crepes. And yes, I LOVE nutella, banana crepes! They are a trifecta of tastiness!! I had a very delicious nutella, banana crepe at L'Epicerie in Culver City last week. This week, I may just have to go back for more!3. Valentine's Day. Yesterday was a good day! I actually met a fabulous potential client in the morning! Then AJ took me to See's Candy so I could pick exactly what I wanted for my annual custom box of chocolates! I LOVE the caramels and chews at See's. I think my box is like 40% Vanilla Nut Caramels actually. For dinner, AJ and I went to one of our favorite sushi bars, U-Zen. It was very tasty! My favorite was the japanese scallop sushi. Two giant scallops with just a hint of lemon & salt. That's all they need. They are like pillows of heaven on my tongue! YUM!!! Being the romantics we are, we both pooped out around 10:00pm. But I had emails to finish so I did work kinda late. On Valentine's. While AJ snoozed away. It may not be glamorous always, but it's our comfy life. And I love it. Any day with my husband is a day well spent. Throw in sushi and candy and it's even better! ;)4. Booking season. You may or may not be aware that the wedding industry is in the height of booking season! Engaged couples are planning their 2011 weddings and finding vendors fast and furious! It's a very busy time as a photographer, but I absolutely love it. I LOVE meeting new couples. I LOVE the excitement of knowing a couple is the perfect fit for me and I'm the perfect fit photographer for them. And I LOVE getting emails from couples saying "let's do this!" It's very exciting and makes me oh so giddy! 2011 is shaping up wonderfully and I can't wait to shoot so many fabulous weddings this year!5. Sunny Days in February. I know that day is one of those gloomy SoCal winter days...but for the past couple weeks it has been just gorgeous, warm, sunshiney weather in Los Angeles! This past weekend was particularly beautiful! I loved going out with tank tops and feeling the warm sun beat on my skin! It's weekends like this past one where I feel sooooo incredibly fortunate to live in LA. The rest of the country is cold and longing for spring (I remember the feeling when I lived in Boston). But here in LA it felt like summer. Beautiful!{Photo Credits Left to Right: FunMunch.com, Sees.com, Japanese Restaurant Info- UZen, Awaiting Buddha}

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El Matador Beach Trash The Dress | Maria & Nick

Last weekend I got the amazing opportunity to photograph a beautiful couple on a beautiful SoCal day in a beautiful setting. Pinch me! I LOVE my life!!!! Maria & Nick attended Zoe & Nima's wedding and that's how they found me! I love that!!!Maria is from Argentina and Nick is from Turkey, so when they married stateside so far from both their families, they chose to just have a low-key courthouse ceremony. And that meant they never got any wedding photos. So I was thrilled to hear that they fell in love with Zoe & Nima's wedding images and they wanted me to capture some anniversary images for them! It may be several years late, but now Maria & Nick have some GORGEOUS wedding photos they can proudly display and share! And that makes me so happy!!! :)Maria & Nick chose to do their session at El Matador Beach in Malibu! The location fit them perfectly-- relaxed, natural, warm, beautiful. I am just in love with the photos!! And I'm also in love with Maria & Nick! They were so sweet, so interesting, and so much fun to hang out with!!! I'm telling you this session was everything I love about my job and more!! And now... the pictures...We started the session on the bluffs above the beach...

These two worked it out like super models and did it SO effortlessly! I'm gonna say it has to do with their innate international flair!

That light! Swoon!!!!

I love this photo! It really shows how much FUN these two have together!

Laughter and Love are my favorite.

Love the warm sunset light!!!!

Maria, you are adorable!!!!

GORGEOUS!

Awwww....I just loooove this one! All the pretty colors!

The sunset looks good on Maria & Nick!!

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Tuesday Top 5

Another Tuesday, another top 5! It's been quite a fun week and I can't wait to share some highlights with you! So let's get right to it then, shall we?1. DineLA at Craft. This past week was the last week of DineLA. My mom & I went to Craft to try their DineLA menu, and let me tell you not only was it DELISH but it was also quite a steal! We got a ton of food. Everything was served family style and everything was insanely tasty! I love the communal aspect of how everything was served. But more than anything I loved the food. The highlight was definitely the scallops which were seared to perfection. I also adored the desserts-- both panna cotta and cinnamon donuts. It was absolutely divine! Next time we have DineLA week I suggest y'all get to Craft!!2. WPPI Plans. Last year I went to WPPI for the first time and it was so much fun!!! And of course I learned a ton! So of course I knew I needed to go this year! I have actually been very lucky this past week because I won a pass to WPPI for free and I won a coupon to the Grey Likes/ Victor Sizemore shoot and mentor session! AWESOME! So I already know I will be getting my learnin' and my shoot on! I'm also rooming with some awesome photographers! The plans are shaping up swimmingly! I can't wait! It's just a few weeks away!3. John O'Groat's. Did I ever mention I LOVE breakfast? Well I do. I LOVE it. Breakfast/brunch is probably my favorite meal of the day...well besides dinner. LOL.  John O'Groat's definitely does one of the best breakfasts in LA. I absolutely adore this place! They have an artichoke eggs benedict that is seriously scrumptious! They also have this omelet called Bacara and it's filled with goat cheese and shitake mushrooms. HEAVEN! They also have deeeeelicious, fluffy, pancakes! But probably the best thing at O'Groat's is the BISCUITS! OMG. These biscuits are tall, and dense and just perrrrrrrrfect. Put some homemade raspberry jam on top and I am in biscuit buttery paradise. Yeah, now I'm super hungry. Dang.....anyone wanna go with me?4. Banana Bread with Nutella on top. My husband loves to bake. And I LOVE that. Because that means he's always baking me up something tasty. How I am not completely round is a miracle! So this week the hubby baked me banana bread...and then I put nutella on top! YUM! Bananas & nutella go together like diamonds & platinum. It's just a classic pairing! So banana bread and nutella? Well that's just sinful and tasty! Yummy!!5. Super Bowl Sunday @ Gardens of Taxco. I have a confession. I hate football. Honestly I'm not really a team sports person at all. My mom is the exact same way. So it has become a tradition that during the super bowl we leave our men folk at home and go out and be girlie together! This year our beloved Gardens of Taxco was having a special deal on their 5 course dinner in honor of the Super Bowl. So that's where mommy & I went. Just us two! It was really fun...and of course really really tasty! I had my garleeeeeeeeeeeeec shrrrrreeeeeeemp. YUM! Can it be super bowl next weekend too? I need to go back to the Gardens asap.{All photos from the official websites of Craft, WPPI, Nutella. Gardens of Taxco photo is via notfortourists.com}

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FAQ: The First Look
A First Look is one of my absolute favorite moments of a wedding day! I honestly can't believe there are still couples who don't know about this new, hip wedding tradition. But I am ALWAYS happy to educate my couples on this topic and explain all about the magic that is the First Look. So here is a FAQ post explaining everything you need to know about a First Look. Hopefully you will get enough from this post to know if a First Look is right for you. But if you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments! I am happy to answer! :)

What is a First Look?:

A First Look is when the bride and groom choose to see each other before the ceremony. We find a beautiful, private, quiet location to stage the First Look. Typically we will arrange it so the groom is standing facing the cameras. We will get the bride and have her walk up to the groom. At her own pace, the bride will tap the groom on the shoulder and turn him around to see her all dressed up for the big day for the first time. This moment is usually quite emotional-- whether it be laughter, tears, or a mix between the two, we will be there to capture it all. :) We don't interrupt this intimate moment. When you are finished whispering your thoughts and feelings into each others ears, when you are finished hugging and kissing, just let us know and we can move on to the next stage of photos!
What are the  benefits to having a First Look?:
There are several benefits to having a First Look. For one, you get an extra special moment added to your big day. Secondly, and the main reason typically for doing a First Look, it is that it allows for a much more relaxed wedding day schedule. A First Look means we can do all the group portraits-- both bridal party and family-- BEFORE the ceremony. The only pictures left to take would be bride & groom romantics which we will do for the first half of your cocktail hour, but then all the formalities will be over! You will actually get to spend the second half of your cocktail hour enjoying drinks and appetizers and mingling with your guests!! The First Look allows for so much less time line stress and actually gives you the ability to enjoy more time with your loved ones! And who doesn't want to spend more of their big day having fun with friends and family!
I'm worried a First Look will take away the emotion of walking down the aisle? I don't want my day to feel less special or emotional...?:
This is a very common question. Brides always share with me that they've always imagined walking down the aisle and having their soon-to-be-hubby see them in their dress for the first time. Brides are often worried that if they see their husband before the ceremony, all the emotion will be ruined. But as a former bride myself and as some one who has witnessed many weddings with First Looks, I'm here to say that's just not true. You will not lose an emotional moment by doing a First Look, you will only ADD another emotional moment to your day.
You see the two moments, the First Look and walking down the aisle, are two entirely different moments. The First Look is very intimate. Just the two of you. Walking don the aisle is a completely different feeling. You will be surrounded by friends and family, music will be playing, and you will be walking to marry the love of your life! Most of my couples cry during the First Look AND during the walk down the aisle. Both moments are unique and emotional in their own right.
Who is present during the First Look?:
This is really something I leave up to the bride & groom. While First Looks should be intimate and quiet, some couples would like their parents are bridal party nearby and able to watch the moment. I am okay with this if it's what my clients want! However, some couples just want it to be the two of them and I respect that too! It's completely up to you how you want your First Look to be!
Did you have a First Look at your own wedding?:
Yes!!!! I did have a First Look at my own wedding and it was one of the best wedding decisions we ever made! Our First Look was a very sweet and happy moment. And we were able to get all our pictures done before the ceremony which meant more time for partying after the ceremony. And the walk down the aisle?? Well I cried like a baby. My husband cried like a baby. And I think our parents may have cried as well. So that moment was pretty emotional!! My own amazing First Look experience is why I can confidently recommend a First Look to my couples! I know it will make their day as special as it made mine!
How many of your clients choose to do a First Look? What has been the feedback?:
I would say about 90% of my clients choose to do a First Look and they are always so happy with the outcome! Last year, only two of my clients opted not to do a First Look, and one of those couples told me they later regretted not doing the First Look as parts of the day had been stressful because of a jammed pack time line! I am so happy most of my clients choose to do a First Look and I'm so happy when they tell me how much it added to their day!! But of course, I totally understand when couples choose not to do a First Look. It's a totally personal and individual decision, and I am thrilled to document your day whether you choose to do a Fist Look or not! ;)
When must I decide about whether or not to do a First Look?:
You have awhile to make a decision on the First Look! You really don't need to decide until about 3 weeks before your wedding, which is typically when your time line should be finalized! You should have plenty of time during planning to chat with your photographer about the First Look and chat alone as a couple about this decision!
I hope this post has been helpful and has shed some light on the topic of First Looks! If you have any questions or anything to add please feel free to do so in the comments section below! :)
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Inspired Ideas: DIY Escort Cards

One detail I absolutely LOVE to photograph at weddings is a fun escort card display table! Escort Cards are a great way to get crafty and show off your wedding style and theme! And if you ever dreamed of seeing your wedding on a big blog or {gasp} in a magazine, you should know editors LOVE cute escort card displays! So when planning your wedding don't forget to find time to make something extra special to point your guests in the direction of their seats!I have seen so many cute escort card set ups in my day, both at weddings I've shot and on the blogosphere. Here are a few of my fave DIY escort card instructions to help get your creative juices flowing!DIY MAGNET CARDS via Ruffled:DIY LIGHT BULB TERRARIUM ESCORT CARDS via Ruffled:DIY SILHOUETTE ESCORT CARDS via 100 Layer Cake:DIY ECO FRIENDLY SUCCULENT ESCORT CARDS via Wedding Chicks:These are just a few fun, stylish, cost effective DIY escort card projects for you to check out! As you can see there is an idea out there for every wedding theme & style! So get your craft on and have fun adding some uber chic details to your wedding!!

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Published in Brides Southern California

I am soooooo excited to share this news with y'all!!! Today we saw for the first time ever, one of our photos IN A MAGAZINE! I die! I don't think I ever thought that would be something that would happen to me! So to see a photo of mine in such a highly regarded magazine is purrrrrrrrrty exciting!!I may be getting a little too excited. You see, it's just one little picture. I photographed some of Erica O'Brien's GORGEOUS cakes for her portfolio, and Brides Magazine chose to feature it in this issue of the magazine! So without my friend Erica and her absolutely stunning cake design, this little moment of excitement would not be possible! Thanks Erica for trusting me to capture your amazing cakes!!! :)If you happen to pick up a copy of the spring/summer 2011 Brides SoCal magazine. please turn to page 166 and see my little photo!!! Or check out this scan below (sorry for the bad quality, apparently I suck at scanning!):*The photo credit is in the crease so I couldn't scan it! But mine is the photo of Erica O'Brien's cake (pink background, bottom row left corner).So that's my exciting news!! YAY!

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Tuesday Top 5

Well folks, I'm back!!! I must apologize for my very long absence, but believe me, I would have much rather been blogging than stuck with the flu. Yep, I got hit with influenza. Hard. Like 102.6 fever hard. And it sucked. All I did was sleep, cough, sneeze, and barf. I couldn't even eat for most of the week, which in my world is TRAGIC! But a lot of bed rest and liquids later and I feel a lot better. And I can't wait to get back to blogging. So it's Tuesday and let's celebrate with a healthful Top 5!!! It's also February!! Can you believe it?? I sure can't!!1. Lee's Philly. Last night AJ & I hit up West LA Din Din A Go Go which is basically a bunch of food trucks parked in a lot around dinner time! We mainly went because AJ wanted to try the Grill Em All truck, but since I don't eat red meat, that gave me the option to try a bunch of little items at several trucks. And try I did! One of the highlights was the spicy shrimp taco I got at Lee's Philly truck. MMMM. I LOVED it. It had the perfect amount of crunch thanks to some rockin' kimchee! It also had a delicious avocado lime salsa! And the shrimps were very plump and juicy. For $3 a taco, I'd say it was quite a steal! I'd love to have another one. Right now.2. Fishlips Sushi. I also tried a spicy tuna hand roll from the Fishlips Sushi truck. I was pretty skeptical at first. I mean, I am a self-proclaimed sushi snob. Could sushi from a truck really be good? Cause super market sushi sure ain't. Well, friends, let me tell you. FISHLIPS MAKES TASTY SUSHI! The truck basically looks like a sushi bar. And you just walk up and order almost as if you were eating at a sushi bar. Everything looked good and fresh. And I will definitely hit them up again to sample more of their offerings. But I can say that the spicy tuna rolla was delicious! It was everything you could want from a spicy tuna roll. The fish was well seasoned and had a great texture. It tasted super fresh. The rice was warm. The cucumbers were crunchy and the nori was snappy and chewy. Nom nom nom. Apparently they will be in my neighborhood for lunch tomorrow. It will take all my will power not to go have some more!3. Nobu for Dine LA. YAY it's DineLA time again! Woot!! When I was sick, I had but one simple goal. Get better so I can still go to Nobu. Well the reservations came and I certainly wasn't 100%. But I wasn't feverish, and I held down the previous day's Matzo Ball soup...so I figured I was good enough to go to Nobu! Wow!!! It was so worth it (even though there were a few points during the meal I thought the room was spinning). The DineLA menu was a 5 course tasting menu so we really got to try a lot of various dishes....AND...we also ordered two extra items off the menu to share! Hey, you only live once! The highlight for me was the dry miso whitefish sashimi! Mmmm. It was very refreshing because of the yuzu sauce it came with. The other thing I loved was the yellowtail tartar with caviar that we ordered as an extra! Divine! Though I wasn't totally myself, the outing was tasty! And I'm glad I pushed myself to go!!4. Matzo Ball Soup. There is no greater comfort when I am sick than a good ole bowl of Matzo Ball Soup. I thank my Aly (that would be what I call my stepdad Al) for bringing me a quart of the goodness when I was too sick to move.  I definitely think I healed much faster because of this goodness. :)5. New Brides!! January has been exciting month because I've gotten to meet several new brides!! I love how the 2011 roster is shaping up, and meeting new clients is always so exciting!! I am just giddy over the new couples I've met this month that have decided to book with me! And it looks like February also holds a lot of potential to meet more couples!! So exciting!!

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Tuesday Top 5

Wow, I can't believe this is my first Tuesday Top 5 of 2011! Sorry for the brief holiday hiatus with these! But now I'm back in the swing of things and ready to share! So without further ado let's talk Tuesday Top 5 Two Thousand Eleven!!!1. Hirozen Sushi. This is hands down one of my top 5 places to get sushi in LA and I had lunch there yesterday so it's fresh on my mind! I love love love this place! What makes Hirozen so special? Fresh sushi. Unique and exotic fish. Good ambiance and service. And their lunch special. You see, on weekdays they have the BEST lunch special ever called "Chef's Special Assorted Sushi." You basically get a platter with tuna roll and 7 pieces of Chef's choice ngiri. But the thing is you are getting really unique and tasty fish-- not your average tuna, salmon, whitefish, octopus platter. I've gotten to try so many exotic things on the lunch platter from abalone to white salmon to Tasmanian sea trout. I absolutely loveeeee getting the chance to eat at Hirozen and highly suggest you do too!2. Three Day Weekends. I work from home soooooo a lot of people don't get why I'd even care about 3 day weekends. But I do. Because 3 day weekends mean I get extra time with my hubby and/or an extra day to get weekend lunch with my mom! It can get kinda lonely working from home and during busy wedding season I'm not usually around on weekends which is when of course my family is. So yeah, 3 day weekends are awesome! An extra day to just be with the ones I love. I'm thankful I got to spend yesterday with them and can't wait for the next 3 day weekend to roll around!3. Breaking Bad. OMG! So AJ and I just started watching this show from season 1. Currently we are mid season 2 and dangggggg this show be gangsta homies! Seriously, I love Weeds and this show is kinda like that...but different. I always think its fun watching a show or movie where an innocent person goes bad! Maybe that's because I'm a goody-goody and I need to live vicariously through someone! Whatever the case this show is awesome and I'm hooked! I guess season 4 starts soon and hopefully AJ and I can catch up to it by then! Sweet!4. American Pickers. Double OMG! Who watches this show? If you don't you should! The title does sound a bit odd and its on History Channel so for a long while I had written it off as most likely lame. Then I gave it a chance and realized I didn't even know what the show was about. Basically the show chronicles these two guys who run an antique store in Iowa as they travel America looking through people's "junk" and finding some amazing antiques! I'm blown away by the stuff they find, it's pretty amazing!! I'm also blown away by their patience and willingness to dig through dark, dusty, bug and rat infested crevices just to find some "rusty gold." I don't think I could ever be a picker but I'm sure fascinated by what they do and what they find! If you have any interest in vintage stuff and antiques you gotta check this show out! It's awesome!5. Big Love Season Finale Premiere. Ahhhhhhh! Big Love on HBO is, like, my favorite hbo show! And this season is the last! SADDDDDD! But like any good HBO fan, I have been waiting for months hotly returning the Premiere of the final season! It happened Sunday and the show did not disappoint! It's so good though which only makes it that more painful that this is the last season! Still, I can't wait to see what's in store and how the story of the Henrickson's unfolds!! :)

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Kentucky Derby Wedding Inspiration

Last week I posted about being featured on the front page of Wedding Chicks and how completely giddy I was over the feature! Now, finally, I'm sharing more images from the fabulous shoot with you here!! :)I was totally flattered when back in November florist extraordinaire Kate Baker asked if I could come photograph some details of an event she was working on. Though not a wedding, this event had AMAZING details and a unique Kentucky Derby theme! Honestly, there was so much inspiration to be had everywhere! I could totally see a bride getting married on a ranch, equestrian center, or country club taking some of these horse racing motifs and running with it! From the delicate florals, to the pennant escort cards, to the vintage horse racing props...every detail was thought out! I am so thankful to have been a part of this shoot and so thankful to Wedding Chicks for featuring it! I hope it will inspire many brides out there!! ;)The amazing vendors who worked on this event are:* Floral Design and Décor: Kate Baker Floral Design  www.KateBakerFlorals.com* Event Production: Kat Napolitano of Entertainment Plus Productions  www.eplusproductions.com* Stationary Design, Peilin Chen-Breller Style and Design  www.peilinbreller.comAnd without further ado...the pictures!!!

The horse-shoe shaped head table was a true show stopper, decorated with tall and low floral arrangements!

The programs were adorable! Thanks to AJ for hand modeling for me ;)

Bling, silver, delicate flowers...the event was luxe all the way!

LOVE these pennant escort cards!!

And if you haven't checked out the feature on Wedding Chicks yet, you can do so by clicking here!!
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Featured on Wedding Chicks!

YAY!! It has been a goal all of 2010 to see my work featured on the front page of Wedding Chicks. Because, seriously? I LOVE that blog!! So when I woke up this lovely January morning to see my photos there, I did the happiest of happy dances! Awesome. 2011, you already rock!! The pictures featured are wedding inspiration for a  Secretariat/Horse Racing theme wedding! It's a must see!!Check out the Secretariat themed wedding inspiration on Wedding Chicks here:And come back here tomorrow for more exquisite photos from this shoot!! :)

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Claremont Wedding Photography | Quyen + Daniel

Believe it or not I still have two weddings from 2010 that I still must share on the blog!!! So here is one of those weddings, because there is no time like the present!!Sarina Love had me along to shoot this wedding with her! I had SO much fun as usual with Sarina and I absolutely loved being able to share in Daniel & Quyen's big day!Daniel and Quyen are perfect for each other. He is strong-- a soldier actually. And she is so creative. She even made all the flowers for her wedding herself!! Daniel makes Quyen laugh and smile the biggest smile ever. Quyen makes Daniel's face radiate with happiness! Though they come from different cultural backgrounds, these two just make sense. He's the yin to her yang. And their bilingual Catholic ceremony was the perfect example of this! Also, their reception fused East-West traditions with traditional Western activities like a bouquet toss and cake cutting, and also a Eastern tradition of a celebratory Lion Dance which was SO much fun!!! Together Quyen & Daniel are the perfect blend. They are quiet yet confident! Ready to conquer the world together and also ready to whisper every day to one another I love you. These two just warmed my heart and I am so grateful to have been a part of their big day!! So without further ado....photos!This photo warms my heart! Daniel was full of emotion seeing his bride walk down the aisle!!

The ring bearer was very good about safely holding the ring pillow in his lap!
Sometimes my favorite moment is not the kiss itself. It's the moment right before and right after. This is the moment right after Quyen & Daniel kissed, and they are gazing at each other with such joy that it makes my heart melt!!!!
The bridal party was so cute!!
Quyen you are fabulous!!!!! Love the way you are workin' it!!
See what I mean? She is FAB!!!!! And FIERCE!!! Just how I like 'em!!
This photo is just so tender! Totally reflects the relationship these two share!!
J'ADORE!!!! Everything about this is fierce & fabulous!!
We shot the romantics on the campus of Claremont College. I LOVE shooting around there! The architecture is great and has a very historic feel! It definitely feels like you are in a small town and not in SoCal!!
I LOVED Quyen's bouquet and I am still in awe that she made it herself!!
This photo is everything I love. It's vibrant, fabulous, fierce and FUN!
Back at the reception, I loved Quyen & Daniel's first dance! Sooooo tender!!
And the Lion Dance!! I had never experienced one before and it totally blew my mind! Those dancers in the lion costumes are amazing!!!
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New Year's Goals, Incentives & Giveaways for YOU

It's a new year!! Can you believe it's 2011 already?! I surely can't! But, I'm sooooo excited for this New Year! We have an exciting year ahead of us here at Ashleigh Taylor Photography! We have weddings all over SoCal and also a wedding in New Orleans!!! Laissez les bon temps rouler!But we still have slots to work with about 15 more couples in 2011! And that is our biggest goal for this new year-- to work with an AWESOME roster of soon-to-be-married couples in 2011. And also, a huge goal is to work with some of our favorite wedding vendors at some of our dream wedding venues. I really want to take my business to the next level in 2011 and I also really want expand my horizons, so my goal is to work with awesome clients who have awesome wedding plans in the works!! ;)When I set a goal, I don't rest until I achieve it! So, I came up with an idea... I have TWO giveaways in the works that I'm hoping will help me fulfill my goals of people and places I'd love to work with in 2011 and also GIVE BACK TO YOU! So here's the deal for giveaway #1. Below is a list of people and places I'm wishing and hoping and dreaming of working with in 2011. If you are a couple getting married at one of these places, or working with one of these vendors, I will GIVE you a free 16x20 canvas gallery wrap OR one free parent album* when you book any one of my 2011 wedding collections!! Yes, a free canvas gallery wrap or parent album (a $550 value)  just for booking! But hurry, because this offer is only valid through February 14th, 2011!*You must book a collection which includes a wedding album  in order to qualify for the free parent album. The canvas is available with all of our collections.Here is my wish list of venues I'd LOVE to shoot at in 2011:

The Viceroy, Santa Monica

The Viceroy, Palm Springs

The Oviatt Penthouse, Los Angeles

Smogg Shoppe, Culver City

Marvimon, Los Angeles

Vibiana, Los Angeles

Adamson House, Malibu

Crossroads Estate at Firestone Winery, Los Olivos (I die! I LOVE this venue)

Four Season's Resort The Biltmore, Santa Barbara

The Canary Hotel, Santa Barbara

The Skirball Center, Los Angeles

The Athenaeum, Pasadena

The Sunset Restaurant, Malibu (this is where I got married! LOVE!)

Shutters, Santa Monica

Greystone Mansion, Beverly Hills

Craven Estate, Pasadena

Il Cielo, Beverly Hills

Geoffrey's, Malibu

Malibu Nature Preserve, Malibu

The Parker, Palm Springs

The SLS Hotel, Beverly Hills

Villa Del Sol D'Oro, Sierra Madre

Calamigos Ranch, Malibu

Inn of the Seventh Ray, Malibu

The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood

The London Hotel, West Hollywood

Montage, Laguna Beach

Seven Degrees, Laguna Beach

Reef Restaurant, Long Beach

Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles

Union Station, Los Angeles

Figueroa Hotel, Los Angeles

Condor's Nest Ranch, San Diego

Rockwood Santa Barbara Women's Club, Santa Barbara

Bacara Resort, Santa Barbra

Pelican Hill, Newport Coast

St. Regis, Monarch Beach

The Bungalow Club, Los Angeles

Mission Inn, Riverside

La Venta Inn, Palos Verdes

The Wayfarer's Chapel, Palos Verdes

Hummingbird Nest Ranch, Simi Valley

Santa Barbara Courthouse, Santa Barbara

Casa Romantica, San Clemente

Serra Plaza, San Juan Capistrano

ANYWHERE IN HAWAII (yes, seriously, I'm dying to shoot a destination Hawaii wedding)

ANY DESTINATION BEYOND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (I LOVE destination weddings! Traveling is my favorite!!)

And here is my wish list for the wedding vendors I'd LOVE LOVE LOVE to work with in 2011:

Intertwined Events

Honey and Poppies

Jesi Haack

In The Now

Fabulously Wed

Dandelion and Grey

Simply Modern Weddings

Just Chic Events

V3 Events

Found Rentals

Sterling Engagements

Sassy Girl Weddings

Kate Baker Floral Designs

Summer Watkins

The Stylish Soiree

Alchemy Fine Events

Events of Love and Splendor

Lauryl Lane

Sweet Emilia Jane

Details Details

Lindye Galloway Events

JL Designs

Bash Please

Carter and Cook

Type A Planning

Mary Dann

Chic Celebrations

Jacqueline Ashley Events

Joyful Weddings & Events

Amorology

Moonlight Event Planning

Sit In A Tree Events

Zoie Events

So as a reminder, if you are getting married at any of the places listed above, OR working with any of the vendors listed above, I will give you a free 16x20 Canvas Gallery Wrap OR a free parent album (valued at $550) just for booking one of my 2011 wedding collections! If this sounds good to you, please fill out an inquiry form and let me know who exactly you're working with, or what awesome place you're getting married at, and of course your wedding date! Then we can set up a consultation and chat more about details! This offer will expire February 14th, 2011, and all weddings must be booked by this date to receive this deal!

But wait...there's more! I know that there are still plenty of awesome people that I'd LOVE to work with that may not be getting married at any of my dream venues, or working with any people on my dream vendor list! So for giveaway #2, I will be giving away a free engagement/couple's session to take place in March 2011 in the Los Angeles area. Want to win it? Sure you do! To enter to win this engagement session you can do one or more of several things:

  1. Follow me on Twitter and Tweet about my New Year's Goals. Simply tweet this message: "Help @ashleightaylor8 achieve her 2011 goals! She's giving free goodies to couples w/ fab wedding plans! info here: http://bit.ly/e2lmUP" Doing this will enter you 1 time into the contest!
  2. Facebook about my New Year's Goals. First, you will have to Like us on Facebook so that you can tag us in your post. To tag us begin typing @Ashleigh Taylor Photography. Post this message as your status: "Help Ashleigh Taylor Photography achieve her goals for the New Year! She's giving away free goodies to couples w/ awesome wedding plans! get more info here: http://bit.ly/e2lmUP" Doing this will also enter you into the contest 1 time.
  3. Blog about it. You have a personal or professional blog? Sweet! Write an awesome post about my wish list and link to it on your blog! Make sure to leave a comment on this post linking back to where you blogged about it! Doing this will enter you into the contest 2 times.
  4. Do all of the above! If you are able to do all of the above you will be entered 5 times to this contest!!! Score!!

Lastly make sure to leave me a comment on this post to let me know where you have posted about my wish list! This way I can keep track of everyone who has entered! The winner will be selected at random and announced on February 14th, 2011. So make sure to stay tuned!!

Thanks to everyone for continuing to support my business and helping make my wildest dreams come true! I LOVE every single one of you more than you know! Happy New Year to everyone and may you each achieve all of your New Year's Goals as well!

xoxo

Ashleigh

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2010 Year In Review: The Features

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Wow, I can't believe its the first day of 2011 already! 1.1.11!!! How cool is that?! On Monday, I will be posting about some exciting goals I have for 2011, and some big GIVE AWAYS for you!!! But today I wanted to post one last "Year in Review" entry for 2010!When setting goals for 2010, the biggest dream I had was to be featured on wedding blogs! I LOVE wedding blogs! They are such a great resource for engaged couples trying to plan the biggest day of their lives. In 2008 and 2009, I must have read 10 wedding blogs a day! I was  planning my own wedding and was thoroughly obsessed with every wedding blog I could find! No lie. ....but I never thought I'd ever see any of my photos on these big blogs!To see how many wonderful features we got in 2010 blows my mind! The blogosphere likes me, they really like me! I definitely feel like I accomplished that big goal of 2010, and to review all our features makes me feel super proud! I can't wait to submit more work in 2011 and see where we get featured next!!! But for now, before I dream forwards, let's look back just once!Our first big feature was Rachel + Mark 's wedding on Style Unveiled:Here's another screen shot...Jenni + Jamie's wedding was featured on Elizabeth Anne Designs (one of my all time FAVORITE blogs):Zoe + Nima's engagement session was also featured on Style Unveiled:Mike + Serene's wedding was featured on Wedding Yentas:Dani + Tony's elopement was featured on Perfect Bound:Brides.com featured a photo I took of one of Erica O'Brien's gorgeous wedding cakes:Justin + Susannah's Mr. and Mrs. session was featured on Hot Pink Brides:To cap it off, we already know of a few big & exciting features coming in 2011!! So stay tuned! :)And check in on Monday for our give away announcement!!!!!

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Out of the Office

YEEEEEEHAW Y'ALL!! I'm ponying up and spendin' the New Year in Cowboy Country aka College Station, TX! What am I doing here you may ask? Just visiting my pappy, er daddy! Yeah, my dad hates when I call him pappy, which makes calling him pappy SO much more fun!Anywho, I will be out of town until January 7. I will have access to email but am trying not to be online too much since I only see my dad like 2 weeks every year! So it MAY take a little longer than usual for me to reply to emails-- please allow up to 72 hours!Thanks, and I hope everyone has a FABULOUS NEW YEAR!!!!

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