Months before we were even contemplating getting pregnant I bought this print.

I just couldn’t stop envisioning this baby giraffe next to a baby human.

I am really impressed by Sharon’s work. It is thoughtful and beautiful.

(Images via Moop)

I had been eyeing these  Moop handmade bags for months and finally ordered these three beauties.

They arrived in perfect timing wrapped in brown paper with a handwritten note and are now joining me on my travels abroad.

I thought I loved them online but once I had them in my hands they were even better. So well made.

Thank you Moop!

Melanie emailed yesterday to suggest, “You should push that little belly as far out as possible and maybe they’ll upgrade you so you can lie down? Worth a try…..” I love a bride looking out for mama and wee babe.

Grant and I are so excited to shoot shoot shoot and get a little vacation time squeezed in before and after.

Here is a photo of me last time I was in Australia. It was about 8+yrs ago. Now I can compare pouch sizes with the kangaroos.

Oh! and last time I was in Sydney I happened to be in the lobby of our hotel and the Dalai Lama happened to be staying there and happened to walk past me right as I was walking past him… AND I happened to be holding my 1st ever digital camera the nikon coolpix. I just happened to get this photo of him looking right at me and smiling as I was being swept away by security. I think I had a moment with him, don’t you?

It was awesome. I wonder if he ever thinks about me…

I will have internet but limited phone so email if you need me but don’t expect a super quick response unless you are my Brisbane bride or His Holiness.

When I was invited to photograph this family reunion they booked me a year in advance.  I don’t think my family can plan a month out let alone a year.

I don’t usually do this for groups this large but I decided once I was there to take invidual shots of every member of the extended family. This was my favorite part of the whole shoot.

I was inches away from their faces and had a few seconds to really *see* everyone.

Thanks to Heather for rounding up the troops and including me in family time.

Also thank you for the delicious sandwich. xo.

One of our best friends is getting married tomorrow and yours truly is shooting the festivities.

Still trying to figure out how Grant is going to be a groomsmen AND attend to my every need while I shoot?

Congratulations to Candice and Purr. You are two very cool cats.

(Above image from their 11pm engagement shoot at LACMA)

Early in my career as a photographer a lot of  my work came from family, friends or friends of friends. Although those sources are still strong referral bases, most of my work now comes from clients I have never met previous to working with. We meet, we chat, we shoot.

This is how I met Molly and Andrew. I think they found me through my blog…and when we met for the first time at their engagement shoot, we chatted, we shot and we became friends. They were and have been fiercely loyal and supportive of me and my work. On their wedding day I felt more like an old family friend than hired help. This is how I always want to feel. This is how I always want the families to feel. I want to be a participant. I DON’T want to draw attention but I want my presence to be comfortable, natural and right.

I was so happy with Molly shook me out of work mode for a moment and asked for a photo of the two  of us together. Brides remind us to do that!I am never more honored than when someone trusts me to document their wedding day. All of my precious brides, couples and wedding day famalies mean so much to me.

Molly and Andrew are a solid couple. Happiness follows them.

Ceremony: Baldwin Hills Overlook, Culver City, CA

Dinner/Party: Rush Restaurant and Bar, Downtown Culver City.

(Grant and I have spent many evenings being tossed around by the wind, watching the sun set at the overlook. So when Molly asked if I had any suggestion for ceremony locations…It was the first place that popped into my mind.  I guess she likes wind as much as I do. Both locations are within 5 minutes walk of our house. Loved shooting a wedding in our neighborhood…I love traveling for work too (you all know that) but there was something about walking out my front door for a wedding that was nice. You can’t blame me.)

It’s not every day you photograph a tiger and a wedding at the same event.

Beautiful couple. Beautiful locations. Beautiful day.

Ceremony: San Diego Temple

Reception: Rancho Las Lomas

I am off camping for the rest of this week. This is my 3rd year helping to plan a church camp for teenage girls. It is a lot of work and the pay off is being at camp getting to enjoy the months of sweat and tears that go in to planning.

Our theme for camp is “Staying Connected”. Discounting from the the distractions of the everyday and re-connecting with the sources that bring us ultimate strength and focus.

One of my projects was designing these small custom puzzles for them to gather pieces to during a scavenger hunt. I ordered the puzzles from portrait puzzles and the tins from specialty bottles. The stickers I printed myself.

With carpel tunnel setting in to my right hand this theme and week break from the computer couldn’t come at a better time.

And so I say goodbye for a few days while I breath in some mountain air and give my poor hand a rest.

(Service may be spotty so unless it’s a photographic emergency, don’t expect a response until next Monday).

xxoo-

Rachel

A little taste of some of the great weddings I have shot in the last month or so.

August is notoriously a super busy month for me and I really appreciate all of my brides and grooms for being so patient. I know the anticipation of getting to relive your day through your photos.

In true August fashion I am posting this at almost 5pm on a Friday…It was suppose to be up this morning. Oh me.

Tomorrow amidst all the stress I think we are trying to fit in the beach. I’m sure I will be sitting there making lists, emailing on my phone and calling people back. (I promise to try and actually enjoy some time off).

BUT

I am grateful I am busy.

Happy weekend. xo.

I was sensitive even before.

I am sensitive to smell. Even the normal fabric softener I love smells like a flower bomb exploded in my nose….and not in a good way.

I am sensitive to taste. What use to taste like magic…basil, garlic..spices, spices, spices! Now taste 2^nd rate. I actually don’t really want to taste any of that. My body doesn’t (but my heart does).

I am sensitive to sounds. Too loud, too soft, too harsh. Negative sounds, negative words weigh heavy on me. I cry and find something “light” to help me feel better.

I am sensitive to sights. My eyes sometimes sees things that don’t even exist.  Things look more. My usual glances turn into stares with each color and each shadow and each contour holding meaning it never held before. What are they trying to say? Have they changed or have I? Plus, I see way more more spiders.

My subconscious is sensitive. My dreams are tender and emotional. They tell me things I’m not ready to know yet.

My  heart is sensitive.

My mind is sensitive.

My body is sensitive.

My thoughts are sensitive.

My spirit is sensitive.

I am a mother.

I am an animal.

I am a mammal.

Without choice, I am fiercely protective of something I can’t feel, see or hear.

I stand at ready surveying the environment ready to attack, destroy, ROAR if anything trys to harm you.

I feel exhausted.

I feel inadequate.

I know my nature but still fear I will throw the covers over my head and decide….not to.

Then,

There you are, the first on my mind. And really the only thought that means much anymore.

I don’t even try.

It’s just natural.

Without choice, I’m sensitive.

With choice, I am learning what that means.