Fishnets + High Heels + Polaroid = Femme Fatale

I had an absolutely amazing Femme Fatale session yesterday at the Sheraton Hotel in Milpitas. Two friends married to two friends got together and decided they both wanted to surprise their husbands with a book filled with flirty images. It was awesome they each told their husbands that they were helping the other shop for their spouse and not to blow the surprise. How cool is that? And how clueless are the husbands ( no offense to any husband reading this).

Well here's a sneak peek on Film Friday.

Let me know what you think. Once I get permission to post more I will. Oh yea - as a note- I always post Femme Fatale sessions after the client has approved the images and gives me her permission to post.

Last Minute Valentine's special

How many of you are procrastinators? It happens! Luckily for you I have just the gift for you to give or to receive. ;-)

Ladies, there is just enough time for you to be able to give a beautiful Guilty pleasure album to your special someone! or yourself!

& Guys... if you are wondering how to tell that someone how much you love them and want to see more. Give them a Femme Fatale shoot!

Tease Me! $285 (regularly priced at $385)
includes 45 minute session, password protected online gallery of all proofs, and 20 page 5"x5" leather custom designed album



Last minute special must be booked and purchased by February 14th! Session must take place no later than February 4th if you would like to get your order in time to unwrap on the 14th.

Film Friday- Viejitos!

A few years ago I was honored to be the photographer at a vow renewal ceremony. It truly was an honor not only because I have known them since I was a freshman in high school but also because I think it's awesome to be married for that long and want to get "remarried" without never having gotten unmarried. Um did that make sense?

They belong to Viejitos car club, San Jose Chapter. All the beauties were at the celebration. I didn't lose a beat and while in between ceremony & reception I took teh opportunity to shoot a roll of Fuji in the parking lot.

This is a scan of a proof sheet of the whole roll. I've slowly been printing each frame on fiber paper in a wet darkroom, the old fashion way. ;-) I absolutely love Vintage cars!! What do you think?? Do you have a favorite vintage car or are you more of a modern car lover? Let me know I'ld love to hear.

My favorite English teacher ever!

Today was a sad day for many. It marked the official retirement of Mrs. Brown my high school English teacher. I went to an all girls high school, Notre Dame San Jose. HA! I know what you are thinking! Yes, that explains many things. However this post isn't about me, well it is, but let's talk about Mrs. Brown. She was awesome! Granted she made us read stuff like Grapes of Wrath (do you know how long that is??) and a bunch of Shakespeare UM hello they have movies why read and then discuss it and then write papers on it?! UGH. However, somewhere deep down it was for our good to make us well rounded young ladies. Mrs Brown (along with the rest of my high school teachers and parents) knew that this kind of torture was good for us. And (just a few) years later, here I am writing. Even though I'm sure Steinbeck, Miller, nor Shakespeare would ever nominate me for a Pulitzer Prize for my writing, they might come back just to look at the pictures. So without much more rambling... Thank You Mrs Brown!

If you leave a note for her- I will be sure to forward it on!



Just in case anyone is wondering what is currently on my bookshelf check it out... I do have a few of my old high school books up there.. but definitely way more books with big pretty pictures. ;-)

Today marks a historic day!

Obama takes presidency. And since everyone else will be blogging & commenting about it.

:-P
I instead will play a game. So, here is how it works. You leave a comment on this post, and I’ll assign you a letter. You write about ten things you love that begin with your assigned letter, and post it at your place or in my comments if you don't have a blog. When people comment on your list, you give them a letter, and the chain continues on and on.

Also if you don't want to be assigned a letter but want to leave a comment you can just ask me not to give you a letter, cause if I do I will be looking for your ten favorite things. ;-)

I was assigned the letter R by Jamelah.
Jamelah, who if you don't follow her blog you totally should cause she's insanely hilarious. Well at least I think so, assigned me the letter R I "met"/discovered Jamelah online through www.flickr.com & now (ok this is only my second year) we do Valentine's Day Swaps in a mail swap she helps coordinate.

So here are ten of my favorite things that start with the letter R:

1.) Railroad tracks! I love shooting on them ..I have shot everything except for a child session on tracks.

2.) Rabbits- not the fuzzy kind. I'm more of a top down VW 1984 Rabbit kinda girl. :-) Can anyone guess why?

3.) Randomness. I have many random thoughts & say even more random stuff and usually during a fun shoot I will try random stuff and take note of what works and what doesn't.

4.) Raspberry flavored lipgloss, well actually pretty much any flavor but i needed an R starting flavor

5.) Recycling. Honestly I recycle lots of things: glass jars, water bottles, vintage clothing aka found at the back of my closet, magazines, my favorite thing to recycle might be empty MAC lipstick and eyeshadow containers because you can take in your empties and turn them into new ones. ;-)

6.) Reading. I'm currently reading the 4th book involving a love triangle between a vampire, werewolf & a dumb girl.

7.) Records!! oh how I miss good old records, now referred to as vinyls. My first Record ever was Donna Summer's Hot Stuff album. Yikes did i just age myself? I was very very young btw.

8.) Robes the fluffy kind that keep you warm.

9.) the "Rat Pack" and all things of that era. Who doesn't

10.) Rainbows!! I don't see them too often around here but when I do I always stare and stare.

As no post is complete without a picture, here is one. Can you guess why I love this one so much.

Everyday is Christmas with film!

ok not everyday but definitely every time you develop a roll of film if you've forgotten exactly what will be on it. I mean you have a recollection of what you took just not exactly what you were composing in the viewfinder.





All these images were taken with a Holga while in Montevideo, Uruguay. The day we decided to go to the capital of Uruguay it was like a ghost town! Hot & Deserted! Barely anyone in town and actually I liked it! I was fortunate to be able to capture scenes in Montevideo where not a soul was to be seen. Hmm I guess souls can't really be seen. But you guys know what I mean.











However I do loove people shots too! My last shot on color in Montevideo did include 2 of my favorite things: an old nice man and his dog. This image isn't the best technically but I like it a lot. This man was just hanging out on the steps of a bank we had gone into - u see they have tiny lobbies with atm's in them and although most banks were locked up tight this one was nice enough to leave the lobby unlocked so people could access the atms.

Please excuse the mess...

You might notice a few changes around here. I am revamping my blog for the new year!!
Also if there is anything you would like to see around here, please be sure to let me know!!

Film Friday on Monday..

Oops! Hey everyone sorry I'm late. I've been working on so many things that I let Film Friday slip. But on the bright side you will get 2 Film Fridays this week.

So one of the things I've been working on are Valentine's Femme Fatale shoots!! there's still time to book one! I will also be holding a last minute all day session if you would like to get in on that. Details to come tomorrow.

Anywyas...Back to film
These two images were taken in San Francisco at Lovefest 2007. I think the main reason for my Photography addiction is people. I love people watching! I think I've said it before and I'm sure I will say it again. Events like these are especially awesoem becuase people of all walks of life come out to have a good time and listen to great music and just enjoty being outdoors.

As you will see... I got caught! he he!
let me know if you were at Lovefest that year. Maybe we walked past each other or MAYBE I have you on film ( or digital). I was shooting both that year.

Film Friday!

Hello! I hope everyone had a fabulous New Year's!!

As many of you know and some might not, my first love in photography is FILM! I continue to shoot all variations of film, both commercially and personally. Many times you will see a Polaroid or two incorporated into my sessions.

Starting today I will be posting at least one image shot on film every Friday. The work I will be sharing on Fridays will include lots of old work as well as new work. I hope you enjoy Film Fridays as much as I have enjoyed creating the images.

If there is anything specific you would like to see feel free to ask for it in the comments section! For example: more holgas, polaroids, transfers, medium format, B&W color anything... as long as it's film related!

For the First Film Friday I would like to share some polaroids I took on New Year's Eve at a friend's party.

This couple is absolutely adorable. They currently reside in Italy. We were so happy to spend a little time with them. He claims he hates having his picture taken, but he doesn't look too tortured, does he?



I was very sad that jet lag kicked in and they left shortly after the stroke of midnight so in order to get every last second of Quality Time in I walked them out to get this next shot.



This next image I love. I'm not sure why, but I think it maybe for the plastic lei around his neck.



The final image is a must. It was a theme party. Brownie points if you can guess what the theme was.



I hope you got if nothing else a giggle from my first Film Friday post.

Hello 2009!!! {Ricky & Natalia: couple session}

Hello all 2009 is here!! For my first post of the year I wanted my blog to include a variation of images. You will find some B&W, color and special effects. It's also very long. In 2009 I will try to post lots & lots more images!!

In this post you will also find one of the things I love most. Travel & location shooting ok well technically that can be two things but they are very related. I love travel & location shoots because they allow me to explore a new place, meet new people while challenging me to deal with something I cannot "prepare" for. The Unknown.

The following couple session was shot while I was in Buenos Aires a "few" weeks ago at the Japanese Garden. I had only emailed with Ricky a couple of times to set up the date and time. I was to meet them just inside the garden at 10:30am, the season late Spring therefore the sun would rise very fast. I will admit I was a little nervous. However upon meeting them the nervousness quickly disappeared. besides being such a beautiful couple. They were also so much fun! Kidding with each other non-stop. By the end of the session I felt as if I had known them a life time. We ended the session by finding a very cool urban park right outside the amazing Japanese gardens. I hope to see them again!! Oh and a special appearance was made by Mr. Duck.

















These next two images are similar but different. I wanted to show how it's very easy to make soemthing look so different just by changing the composition and dimensions. Also because I have a very special love for square images. ;-) let me know which one you like best!!

















What do you think? Can you feel the love?




Here we had a special guest join the party:



And of course if you would like to do a session like this one I DO TRAVEL!! Or we can go explore a not so far awy place here in the SF Bay Area!