making new photografriends

I like to think that two people with a passion for photography is always better than one. There's something magical that happens whenever I meet a like-minded soul with similar interests: I get excited. And not just excited in the "Oh-cool-you're-a-photgrapher-I-like-photography-too!" way. But excited in that I remember all the reasons why I started shooting in the first place. I get inspired all over again, and being able to share that energy and excitement with another photographer is fantastic.

Such an occurrence happened a few weeks ago when I met up with Kristina. I started following her work earlier this year, and was stoked to know that she lives in San Diego (since I knew I was about to move there). She's a photographer who shoots for West Coaster magazine, she recently was a part of Phoot Camp this past summer, and she's an all-around lovely person. That's her above!

She invited me to help her with a self-portrait idea she wanted to do, as well as just walk around her neighborhood of Pacific Beach to shoot, talk, and whatever else inspired us. You don't have to ask me twice. I'm pretty much always game.

The nice thing about hanging out with a fellow shooter (and we talked about this very fact that day) is that when you want to photograph something and need the other person to stand in the frame, you never feel bad/awkward/silly for asking. It's like ingrained in our photographic DNA to be totally fine with not only posing wherever they need us to stand, but to do what the average citizen might find downright insane just to get a photo. Oh, you need me to stand in a shallow lake fully clothed? What the heck, we've got towels in the car! Oh, you need me to throw leaves and a scarf simultaneously in the air twenty times for the perfect shot? Let's do it! No instruction is too weird.

{shot by Kristina, with my camera}

Kristina doesn't mess around; she brought her flash setup complete with umbrella onto the beach. Which is awesome. And also makes me feel like a chump for not being as ambitious. Just kidding. Sorta.

Whilst on the beach, she photographed a couple of surfers that were out and about, and then wanted to try something else. So we approached these two gentlemen and asked if they wouldn't mind being an impromptu model. They obliged. Kristina photographed the gentleman on the right with her fancy strobe setup, and I photographed the two of them with good 'ole natural light. Thanks dudes!

These are some snaps with my iPhone from that day. I'm finding that mobile photography is getting more and more addictive, but I'll save that for a future post :]

So here's to making new friends and photo adventures! And both in the same day is pretty darn sweet.

Merry Christmas! (and a look back!)

I guess I ended up doing a holiday portrait with the hubby after all. I call this the Ugly-Sweaters-Faux-Facial-Hair-And-Disgruntled-Cat holiday edition! How ridiculous are we. And kitty's face makes me laugh so hard. She couldn't have timed that any better.

This year has been phenomenal. Here are some of my favorite events/trips/moments that I was fortunate enough to experience this year.

My first photography fashion shoot in London.

An alternative Easter Sunday.

Photographing a beautiful family in a wheat field.

Wandering the Juderia in Córdoba, Spain.

Coffee dates and beach days with a fellow photografriend.

An ode to summer. And good friends.

And of course, sharing it all with the man you see above, wearing his fake beard and fake mustache, and holding a cranky cat. He is my rock.

Happy Holidays everyone! (actually, more like 'Happy Holidays to the two people who read this blog!') Let's get excited for 2012, shall we?

plants on the brain

 Now that I'm getting a little bit more settled in my new home, I desperately want to spruce up the interior with some greenery. Greenery that won't die within a few weeks, which has been a common theme in my house in years past. But I recently read this great article on how to buy houseplants, and I'm inspired to get it right this time. Not to mention the fact that I now live in a climate where plants like succulents and cacti practically thrive on neglect. Just one more reason I love living here :]

{all images via pinterest}

photoshoot // remember that time you were pregnant?

I don't consider myself a maternity photographer by any means, but when it comes to dear friends who are pregnant and in need of some documenting, I've gladly accepted the challenge. Here is the lovely Heidi looking all glowy and beautiful, like being pregnant is no big thing. Dang, I hope I look this good when I'm preggo one day.

This was a very impromptu shoot. Which is my favorite kind really. We shot outside of her home, and I remember Heidi poking fun at the fact that I wanted to shoot her in front of an overturned truck bed, but she graciously indulged me. Call me cuckoo crazy, but the texture of that thing was fantastic.

Pretty woods. Pretty Heidi.

These images were taken a few months ago, so she has since given birth to a baby boy. Heidi, thank you for letting me photograph you.

this time last year...

...the mister and I were taking silly-holiday-portraits-with-santa-hats-and-fake-snow. So much fun. So worth all the fake snow we kept finding around the house for the next two months.

I'm a little bummed this year though, because I really, really meant to do another Christmas-y portrait with the hubby. And not only that, but my goal was to have them done, say, by mid-November, so I could make Christmas cards out of them and mail them out. Crap. So not gonna happen this year.

But Christmas 2012, you better watch out. I'm gonna be all over it.

local gem // the neighborhood

Dear Neighborhood, you are a pleasure to live in. Your tree-lined streets and historic, pre-1940 structures are a treat. Cookie-cutter neighborhoods and homes are for the birds. Every time I take a walk, I discover something new. I love hearing the sound of the trolley in the distance. I love seeing my neighbors taking their dogs for a walk. Today, while I was taking a short walk, I heard someone practicing an instrument inside their home. From another house, I heard deep bellows of laughter. I came across one of the neighborhood cats on my walk, a black and white tuxedo cat like my own, but way more friendly and social to strangers. It's the little things really.