Wedding Bells Ring

Hi All. June and July were a busy month for me, but I wanted to spend some time and post a few photographs from another one of the weddings I've shot this summer. This lovely couple (Arlene and John)flew in from Texas to be with friends and family. It was a small intimate wedding and in my opinion just the right amount of people invited to make the day special. So I headed east to the Barona Casino where the event was taking place and to my delight, the chapel had beautiful landscaping and a manmade lake surrounding it, which made my job that much easier.
As is the case at most weddings, things didn't get started on time, so we shot all of the pictures after the ceremony. Lucky for me the light just got better and better, which made just about every shot a winner. I love the purple behind the bridesmaids. It really makes the picture pop and have a bit of whimsy too.
This little girl stole the spotlight. She was only three, but had the personality of a forty-year-old. What a hoot!
Arlene and John made a handsome couple on the dancefloor. I like this photograph alot because I was able to capture the genuine love they feel for each other. It's evident in their smiles and in the warm glow they're giving off.
Just before the ceremony I happened to catch this image of the best man as they waited for the event to get started.
This is Arlene's father. He seemed a bit camera shy but I love that about this image. You can feel that he'd probably rather be taking the photos than be in them. He's a photographer too!
Another child who stole the spotlight. I think he looks very mature as he gets ready for the nuptuals. It would be fun to have this photo next to the adult pic of him getting ready for his own wedding. Wouldn't that be fantastic? I will post more pictures soon. I hope you like them.

Summer Breeze

Hi Everyone,
What a busy summer it has been. I haven't had a lot of time to keep up with my blog but today I decided to make it a priority. I know it's been too long since I posted anything so I apologize for being a slacker.
These images were taken about a month ago at the Wind and Sea Beach in La Jolla, CA. The Bride and Groom actually flew in from Milwaukee where they live in order to have an intimate wedding in San Diego. They wanted to take advantage of the gorgeous beach and the sun-kissed sky. They picked a terrific day for it.

What was really neat about Natalie was how petite and elegant she was in her gown. The dress had a 1920's kind of vibe to it which I thought gave the images a sophisticated flair. Kurt, the groom, was a good sport and and went along with whatever ideas I had and it was a such a pleasure working with them both.

This black and white image was one I took just before the ceremony was about to get started. We actually went on a Catamaran boat to do the vows, and this hammock was there for the taking just a few steps from the pier that led out to the boat.
The pic on the stairs is one of my favorite because it looks like they lead to a mansion just off camera. In reality, there were girls in bathing suits waiting to traipse down them. :)

This image was taken just a few minutes after the ceremony. I wanted to capture the feel of the boat, the city skyline and the gorgeous afternoon light. I asked her to spin around and I love the movement of her skirt. It just gives it a little bit of something special.

We're having a baby ~

Giving life is such an amazing thing. It never ceases to amaze me how truly beautiful pregnant women are. That outer glow really does exist and when I met Lindsey, that was very apparent. My goal was to try and capture that and the inner bliss that having a baby can bring.
These images were shot late in the afternoon on an overcast day. Even though it was about 75 degrees about ten miles inland, I was lucky that a thin layer of clouds had rolled in just before we arrived. I love creating a bit of drama when I'm shooting and the texture of the rocks really helped give these images what I was looking for.
One of my favorites is the close up of Lindsey's belly. You just feel the life within.

A Walk to Remember

A Bit of Buddah

Hi Peeps!
Sorry that it's been such a long time since I've posted on this blog. The new year has been full of changes for me in almost every aspect of my life, and I haven't had the chance to devote myself to blogging as much as I would like. I hope to get back on track and keep everyone updated on my work.

Just a few weeks ago I had the opportunity to photograph a very interesting event. A beautifully hand crafted Buddha made of jade and gold was on display to the public. It had traveled from Australia to California and was soon heading back to Europe. When I heard about it, I immediately knew I wanted to be a part of the experience.

It was a lovely sunny day - the first one after days and days of rain. The grass was the greenest I've seen in a long time and there was a wonderful breeze. Just one of those yummy sunny days. As I walked from the parking area into the monastery, I could feel the vibrations of energy begin to shift. There was a feeling of peace. Wafting towards me was the smell of jasmine flowers mixed with incense. I followed the crowd of people down a walkway and was immediately drawn into another land. Here are a few of the images from that lovely day.

Driving the backroads ~~

Sundays are always slow and languid. No work, no errands to run -- just time to enjoy a little slice of life. Wanting to get out and make the most of it, I headed to a gas station around the corner, filled up my gas tank and headed east.

Right away I came upon this windmill on private property. I couldn't get any closer so I made the unusual framing work for me. When I look at it, I want to climb through the branches.

A little further down the road I saw the lines of this barbed wire fence. The sky was such a gorgeous shade of blue I knew the contrast would make the wires stand out.

These two images are from a section of forest that burned in the summer fires. They are actually white trees limbs. What really got me excited were the ethereal clouds.

I think these flowers were once daisies. Now they are just dried up memories of life.

I stopped at a small town market on my way home and noticed this American flag draped on the porch. I saw the sun peaking through it and ran to grab my camera from the back seat. You just never know what lucky moments you will find on the road.

As I walking back to my car I noticed an abandoned old Cadillac just sitting in the back lot. I've never seen this kind of detail before. They just don't make classic cars like they used to. Sigh. More's the pity.

A Year in Pictures ~~

Merry Christmas Everyone. 2009 is fast coming to an end and it has been one incredible year. So much has happened with my writing and with my photography. I feel incredibly lucky to have had so many wonderful opportunities to photograph new faces. I picked just a few of my favorites from this year. Thanks to all of you who came into my life, who ignited the flame of creativity and who continue to inspire me. My best wishes to you and to those of you I have yet to meet - but will one day soon.
Happy New Year
Love ~
Dianna