WEDDING WEDNESDAY: The First Prayer…..

By this time, I’m sure most have heard of the “First Look” concept on a Wedding Day.  A very modern notion of when the Bride and Groom get to see each other prior to the ceremony. From a traditional stand point, I can definitely understand why couples would opt to skip the First Look and wait to see each other for the first time when walking down the aisle. Truth be told, I personally was not fond of the First Look idea….. but that was probably the fairytale lover in me. Once I ventured into Wedding Photography I not only fell in love with the whole First Look part of a wedding but understood how beneficial it is for the wedding timeline. It is a beautiful moment between the Bride and Groom and also allows me the time needed to get those gorgeous couple portraits that every couple wants. All pros aside…. this idea is still not for everyone.

Enter the First Prayer.

During one of my Pinterest sessions – and yes, Pinterest requires its own time slot on my calendar - I came across a new Wedding idea know as the “First Prayer”…. a time right before the ceremony when the Bride and Groom would come together for a word of prayer and blessing upon their day….. without actually seeing each other. I knew right away that was something that I had to capture at some point.  As someone who believes in the power of prayer and the amazingness that God has planned for our lives…. this moment is everything. Giving thanks for the union that is to take place.

A few days before Diana and Israel’s wedding day, Diana sent me a few examples & idea shots for their special day…. one of which was the First Prayer. Que the happy dance! 

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As awesome as their entire day was, the moment Diana & Israel’s hands touched from either side of the wall was powerful…… Emotional……  Beautiful.

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If ever there was a heart-felt moment to have right before you say I Do… it’s this one. The trembles in the voices, the tears and the anticipation for a day that has been so long in the making is more than can be put into words.

I highly encourage partaking in the First Prayer moment! Not only is it incredibly sweet…. but what bride wouldn’t find it incredibly irresistable to hear her future husband get emotional over her? Exactly ;)

Happy Wedding Wednesday!

Follow CRYSTAL NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY on Facebook to view the galleries & get all the latest details. Visit Crystal-Nicole.com or contact crystal@crystal-nicole.com for booking & pricing information.

GRADUATING AND MOVING FORWARD….

You know that feeling you get, let’s say, a few months after High School graduation? You’re excited about the road ahead and feel ready to experience the adventures to come…. but you just can’t help but miss it.  Wish you could stay just a little longer. What if you missed learning something? What if you weren’t as prepared as you thought you were?! [Que freak out] It’s inevitable though. At some point you have to move forward and keep growing. Because really, who wants to be a 26yr old High School Senior?! Exactly….

I’ve hit this point in my photography “schooling.” [Que 2nd Freak Out, followed by Jazz Hands]

Second shooting for Jaime (Jaime Davis Photography) since last year has been more than I can Blog, Facebook or even Instagram about. I’ve learned so much and made a life-long friend in the process. To say that I am grateful is an understatement. The fact that this year is accompanied with a busy schedule for both of us in our individual businesses means that our time to work together is cut short. As excited as I am for both mine and Jaime’s accomplishments as Wedding Photographers and what the future holds for us I can’t help but feel like the graduated High School student…. Can I get a little more Crystal & Jaime time??!! ;)

Although we still have a few weddings coming up this year in which we will be 2nd shooting for each other [Yes, Jaime will be 2nd shooting for me.... Que freak out #3] Both of us will be expanding our photography circles and working with new amazing 2nd shooters and assistants. This is an exciting time and I can’t wait for both of us to build the same relationships with others as we have for each other. We’ve been lucky enough to get each other’s weirdness… hopefully everyone else will get our sense of humor also ;)

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to 2nd Shoot a Wedding with Jaime and it was hands down the most fun we’ve had…. there may or may not be a video floating around the internet of us lip-synching to Taylor Swift. We’ll just blame that on our need to “document life’s special moments”…. duh ;)

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So…. I’m completely okay with Jaime having other 2nd shooters and assistants. Let’s get a few things straight though:

1. I will ALWAYS be the favorite

2. Super Mario Kart driving skills will only be used with me

3. No one will ever sing Taylor Swift like I do

Holla! ;)

Happy Tuesday!

Follow CRYSTAL NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHYon Facebook to view the galleries & get all the latest details. Visit Crystal-Nicole.com or contact crystal@crystal-nicole.com for booking & pricing information.

WEDDING CONSULTATIONS (a.k.a. Pre-Gaming)

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Once I was sure that Wedding Photography was the Nutella to my peanut butter, the Edward to my Bella and basically the Justin Timerberlake to my N’Sync, I was immediately hit with the harsh reality of what is known as the “Wedding Consultation.”  This, my dears, was the proverbial Doctor’s appointment that I wished I could skip….

I love meeting and getting to know wonderful people but the thought of having to sit in front of them and explain why I would be a good fit to capture their special day was enough to make my speech slur - and nobody wants to be the girl with slurry speech ;) Plus my proneness to “you have got to be kidding me” moments was also a thought for worry. Of course I would be that awkward person with cappuccino foam on my nose, talking for 20 minutes before realizing it. PS- I’m totally not a hot mess….. those sort of things just happen occasionally with coffee drinks. I’m fine, really ;)

Now, not that I’m an advocate for showing favoritism or anything (well, maybe a little bit) but I’ve been fortunate enough to meet with Ah-Mazing couples who have completely changed my view of Wedding Consultations and have made it seem more like a “Pre-Game” event of how we’ll be getting along and working together on their wedding day. The idea of being myself, knocking down that wall of intimidation and showing them exactly who will be by their side on that day is a life saver. I’m not a salesperson, I simply want to be myself and pray that aside from my photography, that is the reason a couple will choose me. Blogging and Facebook updates help, but a live version of myself is so much better…. plus I get to use my hand gestures as I speak… and whip my hair back and forth as I let out a HOLLA!  ;)

My love for all things coffee has made coffee shops an ideal place for said Wedding Consultations (FYI- Starbucks is usually every photographers first “studio” and place of work…. those aren’t too shabby working conditions if you ask me ;) ) However, with this “Pre-Game” idea and the fact that I was neither joking nor exaggerating of the fact that the couple’s I get to work with are the coolest people ever and part of the in-crowd, I’ve had the opportunity to meet them at less conventional locations….

True story: I once posted on Facebook that Wedding Consultations at Chipotle were acceptable in my book. 

Was I joking? A little, but secretly I was game.  A few weeks later I received an email from Ericka, wanting to meet to discuss her wedding. We set the time and date….. and then her next message stole my heart – When it came time to choose our meeting location she asked “How’s Chipotle?” What I wanted to respond was “Do you want to be my BFF and wear matching friendship bracelets?” But considering that we had never met and I wanted to seem normal I replied with an easy-breezy “Chipotle would be good!” I mean, way to keep it cool, right? ;)

Meeting with couples has gotten a little easier but I know that the nerves may never fully subside. There will always be that vision of cappuccino foam on my nose in the back of my mind, but hey, better that it happens during the Pre-Game than the actual event!

See? Totally nonchalant. Just saying ;)

Follow CRYSTAL NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY on Facebook to view the galleries & get all the latest details. Visit Crystal-Nicole.com or contact crystal@crystal-nicole.com for booking & pricing information.

LIVING THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA….

Whether you love it or hate it there’s no denying that social media is all the rave right now. It’s the new black…. it’s bigger than Justin Beiber….. and it totally outdoes Twilight. It’s that major!

What was once used simply to stay in touch with family and friends is now one of the best marketing tools for businesses of all nature. Whether you’re a fashion designer, ballet dancer, coffee enthusiast….. a WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER…. there is a place for you in this online world. Not only does this allow you to spread the word on your services, but it also allows you to directly connect and engage with peers in the same industry or potential clients. Yes, it forces you to get personal but I feel that if I were on the opposite end I would much rather work with someone who I feel I share something in common with….. or, more importantly, feel like I already know before even meeting them.

After trying out a few different social media accounts the ones I actually enjoy and look forward updating are Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. All of these give me the opportunity to show my personality…. what I like do on my days off…. my crazy random thoughts…. in hopes that someone else would, you know, totally like to hang out with me and let me shoot their wedding ;)

Even with a busy schedule I try to update each account at least 2-3 times a day. It sounds exhausting but being the social butterfly that I am (as my 6th grade science teacher once called me) it’s right up my alley.

FACEBOOK: I use my Facebook page to share my blog posts, give sneak peeks of whatever I am currently working on and throw out a random thought.

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INSTAGRAM: (@crystalnicolephotography) Instagram and I go together like Mac and Cheese, for real. What better way to tell someone about your day then to show them and make them feel like they’re really there?

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TWITTER: Twitter allows me to let my hair down and expose my inner Shania Twain, if you will. Its conversational, opinionated and I love it!

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Aside from blogging I highly recommend embracing social media as the awesome tool that it could be. I cannot express the incredible friendships and opportunities that have blossomed from every one of these accounts. Yes, it’s putting yourself out there to be judged but the reality is that it’s not as bad at it seems. Showing up at a photo shoot and having clients mention something that I posted, or expressing their love for something because they know I love it too really is worth the few minutes out of my day to put myself out there.

And you know, if you’d like to get social then feel free to follow ;) Happy Monday!

[ Planning a Wedding or Special Event? Follow CRYSTAL NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY on Facebook to view the galleries & get all the latest details. Visit Crystal-Nicole.com or contact crystal@crystal-nicole.com for booking & pricing ]

LIFESTYLE SHOOT: Josie & Brisa…

One of the greatest gifts in life that we could have are siblings. Yes, I said it… they are a gift. We may not feel this way 100% of the time, like for instance, when they take our toy, borrow our clothes and “forget” their wallet when it comes time to pay for the dinner bill. We may even feel the need to accidentally notify them that they are indeed adopted – for the record, I totally never pulled that one…. my brother’s know that they were left on our doorstep in a basket ;) – but they complete us. They’re life-long friends who we would do anything for… even after they bring your car back with a scratch on it.

As someone shares a close relationship with their siblings, I love to capture these special moments. Especially with sisters. Perhaps it’s the fact that I grew up with brothers only that I find that sisterly bond so fascinating and unlike any other friendship. An older sister going out of her way to make the younger one happy…. the younger one wanting to mimic the older one’s every move…. their ability to just look at each other and laugh over the same thought. It’s amazing and that much more precious when it starts at a young age as Miss Josie and Brisa are right now.

I first met these adorable sisters earlier this year when I had the lovely opportunity to have a photo shoot with their parents, so it was to my very delight that they trusted their world with me…. their sweet daughters Josie & Brisa. Not only did they let me capture these moments but they brought the fierce better than Beyonce in perfectly put-together outfits. Sparkly Toms included ;)

Meet the mini fashionistas…. Josie & Brisa

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Josie, you are an awesome big sister! Even at four years old, Brisa knows it…

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This smile right here is contagious. You can’t help but smile back….

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Life is better when you have someone twice your age looking out for you ;)

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To answer Brisa’s question of why I was laying on the grass too… It was to take these photos. Okay, and maybe to join in their girl talk a little too ;)

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Girls, you pull off leopard print and red like it’s your job. Heey!

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And just like that, they made the grass their runway ;)

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Brisa gets 10 points for bravery. After being semi-chased by a duck she when right back to her spot and got back into character. What a pro ;)

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Meanwhile Josie was busy telling me of just how much she liked all things Christmas. I may have high-fived her because Christmas is my favorite too….

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The hand on the hip pose can only mean one thing… they’re Little Girls going on Stylish Teenagers! Yes, they get it from their momma ;)

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Josie & Brisa… enjoy this moment. Play together, laugh together, dance together and sing together because once you get older you’ll keep these memories with you forever. Ten years from now my hope is for you to look back at these photos and remember everything. Josie, remember how much Brisa hugged you and held your hand. Brisa, remember of when it started raining and Josie gave you the umbrella and told you that the duck wouldn’t bite you. More importantly, keep being the loving sisters that you are! There is an awesome road ahead and together you will be able to face it all ;)

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Happy Sunday!

[ Planning a Wedding or Special Event? Follow CRYSTAL NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY on Facebook to view the galleries & get all the latest details. Visit Crystal-Nicole.com or contact crystal@crystal-nicole.com for booking & pricing ]

LIFESTYLE SHOOT: The Mejia Family…

I spotted them from across the parking lot and knew it just had to be them. She glowed with excitement and scurried around in sparkly heels, he gathered their bags and packed everything neatly and both glanced over at the stroller in front of them every few seconds. And the look in their eyes? Well, it was of nothing but abundant love for this tiny person in the stroller. Yes, this just had to be the beautiful family that was there for their photo shoot…. and the tiny person in the stroller was obviously none other than the birthday girl herself.

Noelle and I had been exchanging emails and texts for the last few weeks to coordinate a very special photo shoot for her, her husband Alex and their baby girl Kaleesah. With Kaleesah’s first birthday just around the corner, Noelle wanted to plan something special and went above and beyond for a fabulous photo shoot. With her bubbly personality and passion for amazingness, I knew we would totally hit it off ;)

Alex, Noelle and Kaleesah…. you are all kinds of fabulous!

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Mom and Dad pretty much showered their little angel with love and snuggled to keep her warm on that chilly morning….

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Alex, your awesome dad skills come naturally, really. The bond you share with Kaleesah is priceless….

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This mini-fashionista takes after her gorgeous momma. (Lets take a moment to oooohhhh and aaahhhh over those heels!) Oh and the bubbly personality must run in the family because Miss Kaleesah is exactly the same ;)

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Noelle, you light up at the sight of your little princess. This is what the world sees when the two of you are together…

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The leaves, the love, the laughter…. I mean, they pretty much sparkle in the sunlight. And just like that I had my very own real life Twilight family ;)

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In the battle for Kaleesah’s attention between me and the leaf, sometimes the leaf won…

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  …. but I came back strong in the next round ;)

Final-4385_BLOG   Major high-five to Noelle for finding this adorable romper and hair piece for Kaleesah to sport for the shoot. Way cute!

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Happy babies make my heart skip a beat :)

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So here comes the confession: the real treat came after the family photos. Noelle’s vision for the shoot was to celebrate Kaleesah and capture her having the time of her life. For this a “Smash The Cake” session was needed ;) Custom cake, balloons, hand-made hat, matching outfit, pearls…. Noelle went the whole nine for her baby girl.

Here’s a little sneak peek of Miss Kaleesah’s Smash the Cake adventure. Be sure to check back next week for the full blog post because we obviously cannot reveal it until her official birthday. Obvi ;)

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Alex, Noelle and Kaleesah…. I could hug you all right now for being so wonderful! Thank you for looking fabulous at 10am on a weekend, for bearing the cold weather and for allowing  me to capture this special moment in Kaleesah’s life. Her cuteness steals heart, for real…. and this is only the beginning ;)

Happy Friday!

[ Planning a Wedding or Special Event? Follow CRYSTAL NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY on Facebook to view the galleries & get all the latest details. Visit Crystal-Nicole.com or contact crystal@crystal-nicole.com for booking & pricing ]

THE SECURITY CREW…

So maybe Kim Kardashian & Jennifer Lopez each have security, but you know what? So do I… and I have two of them ;) Holla!

My brothers Marvin (left) and Julian (right) are the official security team for Crystal Nicole Photography…. and really, for my life in general. Even though I am their older sister they seem to think that just because their  6′-1″ stature overshadows my 5′-2 1/2″ size, this makes them the “big brothers”. This mind-set of theirs, however, goes out the window when it comes time to pay the dinner bill or bake dessert. According to Julian, it’s my duty as his big sister to make sure they are fed. Awesome! Among my many duties I also must have “Make sure Marvin & Julian are happy with full bellies” on my To Do List…. and if you ask them, that should be at least item #3 on my list ;)

Aside from their requests, they really do have my best interest at heart and fully support everything I do, no matter how far-fetched the idea is. I couldn’t imagine making a decision that they did not support because their opinion means a lot to me… and because they are my favorite people in the whole world and my best friends :) They really are at the top of my list and right along with “Make sure Marvin & Julian are happy with full bellies” is “Make sure I am a good example to Them”…. just don’t tell them I said that ;)

Speaking of family support, this past Saturday I had the wonderful opportunity to shoot my cousin’s wedding as she exchanged vows with her long time love. Here is a sneak peek of the happy couple…

I am so grateful to them for allowing me to be a part of their special day. Check back for their full feature on Wedding Wednesday ;)

[ Planning a Wedding or Special Event? Follow CRYSTAL NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY on Facebook to view galleries & get all the latest details. Contact crystal@crystal-nicole.com for booking & pricing ]

FEATURED: King Harbor Redondo Beach Wedding

We totally paused, for real. As Jaime and I drove around Redondo Beach scouting locations for the bridal photos, we crossed an intersection with stop signs and were honked at. Yes, completely and utterly honked at! This was pretty uncalled for because just as Cher did in Clueless… we totally paused at the stop sign. Whatevs ;)

Now, call me crazy but I think that Jaime and I fit together like Monica & Rachel from FRIENDS… and let’s be real here, I’m usually Rachel ;) Raul & Jessica’s beautiful Redondo Beach wedding was the 4th wedding that I would be 2nd shooting for Jaime Davis Photography this season so I think it’s safe to say that I am her favorite. Which is why she gave me an awesome purple water container that attaches to my camera bag. If purple water containers don’t scream “You’re My Favorite” then I don’t know what does…

We began the wedding day with Jessica as she prepared for her special day. Blue satin heels? All kinds of fierce…

They say a woman should be two things… classy and fabulous…. and wear Chanel of course. Maybe I added the Chanel part ;)

Jessica, this is how much your mom adores you… she climbed a ladder in a dress and heels simply to rearrange items for Jaime & I to get the right photos. That right there merits the Mom of the Year Award ;)

With a romantic spanish lace dress and flowing vail, Jessica took breaths away as she walked down the aisle….

A groom always wants to know how his bride is doing before the ceremony. When we told Raul of just how beautiful Jessica looked he couldn’t help but grin with excitement. I may have shrieked with joy also, a little ;)

Jessica & Raul got to drive around town in a Classic Blue Mustang.  This may have been for Raul, but it also matched perfectly with Jessica’s shoes. Obviously ;)

My guess is a ’71 Mustang. And by “my guess” I really mean my brother’s guess….

After the lovely couple said their I Do’s we set out to the beach accompanied by their bridal party for some fun in the sandy sun. No really, as in we literally walked in the sand a few feet before the shore… dresses, suits, equipment and all. This group is daring like that. Holla!

Jessica’s bridesmaid not only made sure her day went flawlessly but did it all with big smiles and lots of cheering. Even in the sand ;)

Raul’s groomsmen were real life entertainers, for real. Their jokes definitely made our time at the beach a fun one. On top of being funny they are also the nicest group of guys… not laughing at me when I stumbled and almost fell over? Totally nice!

After the bridal party shots Raul & Jessica got to spend some alone time enjoying the gorgeous sunset along the water, looking ever so stunning….

Major thanks to the Harbor Management team for allowing the gorgeous couple to sneak a few photos along the private deck :)

This one belongs in a Vogue spread, right? So gorge!

The reception was held in the upper ballroom at the Cheesecake Factory located right along King Harbor. Complete with amazing views of the sunset & sailboats, the room’s romantic feel added that extra sparkle to their day.

Candles & flowers in every nook…

Beach inspired details were placed though out the venue. Perfectly suited to showcase the couple’s fun side ;)

Sneaking in some love before their grand entrance. Heeey Now! 

The couple received heart-felt toasts from their maid of honor and best man. He laughed and she cried… the perfect combo ;)

Raul & Jessica… I cannot tell you how much of a beautiful couple you are. From climbing a hill to take photos,  visiting every table at your reception to greet and thank your wedding guests, being the last ones to have dinner and even checking with your vendors to make sure everyone was taken care of, you two are incredibly lovely. I hope your wedding was a dream come true and that you enjoyed every minute of it. May you be blessed with many happy years… filled with lots of slow dances to romantic spanish music ;)

To Jaime Davis Photography… thank you for this incredible wedding season! This is just the beginning of not only working alongside each other but also of a wonderful friendship. Holla!

Happy Monday!

[ Planning a Wedding or Special Event? Follow CRYSTAL NICOLE PHOTOGRAPHY on Facebook to view galleries & get all the latest details. Contact crystal@crystal-nicole.com for booking & pricing ]

LIVING THE DREAM, ONE FRIEND AT A TIME…

If anyone were to have told me this time last year that I would actually be working in photography today I would have probably thrown out a double-snap in the air, followed with a “don’t be crazy!” remark. Head bobbing included.  That’s how unsure I was about everything. No really, as in everything photography related. Including how to use my camera…. which just might be an important factor in this industry ;)

After two classes on camera basics and photoshop, 376,452 and a half hours of googling, using my brothers as models – and by that I mean sneak attacking them with my camera whenever they weren’t looking. So not paparazzi style! ;)and putting myself out there on Facebook, I can take back my double-snap and replace it with a high-five because it IS possible…. and that right there has to be the longest sentence, ever. My bad.  I blame my competitive side for wanting to see how many words I can say in one breath…. because of course I read out loud as I type. Duh ;)

So what made the difference in going from talking about wanting to be a wedding photographer to actually doing it? Supportive friends! Sure, it also took me actually buying a camera, enrolling in classes and staying up late to Google (at this point I feel the need to bake Mr. Google some cupcakes… while I’m on Cupcake Wars. Because one day I will be there! ;) ) but it was mainly with the help of friends who allowed me to use them in photo shoots to build my portfolio. Who liked my Facebook page and gave me feedback. Who promoted my blog to their family and friends because they “totally get a laugh out of reading and can imagine me telling them these stories face to face” Now… whether they are laughing at me or with me is yet to be determined. Either way, they are reading ;) And even better, they are spreading the word… Holla!

What I have found most surprising is not only the number of people willing to help, but who those people were…. friends who I had not spoken to or seen in years and friends who I had met only through Facebook photography groups. Crazy, I know! I feel the reasoning behind this support has been a result of me being super opened about every step I take. Whether it was right or wrong…. and let me tell you, mostly I’ve been wrong. That’s okay because starting something new will come with its mistakes, which just might be what keeps people from moving forward with their own dream ventures. Seeing someone else travel the bumpy road may even give them that extra nudge. And really, who better to be an example of embarrassing failures than the girl who got caught singing Living La Vida Loca at a red light with the car windows down? Exactly! ;)

Here is a quick look at the bride with her adorable flower girls from the Long Beach wedding I was the 2nd shooter for this past saturday, with Jaime Davis Photography….

Meeting amazing and helpful photographers, like Jaime and the awesome Jessica of Jessica Danielle Photography, who have allowed me to 2nd shoot for them at weddings and do not hesitate to answer my questions and point me in the right direction are another example of this friend support. They deserve cupcake’s too ;) Except I have stiff conception as Jessica is related to the Cake Mamas…. REAL winners of Cupcake Wars. I’m not jealous, really ;)

I could not thank my family, friends and blog readers enough for the encouragement to keep going…. and for not laughing when I mess up. Every comment, email, referral and text message high-five counts so keep them coming ;) HEEYYY!!

 

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PHOTOGRAPHY: The Second Shooting Experience….

In life there are certain things that you just shouldn’t do. Like for instance, swimming immediately after eating… or devouring an entire pint of Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Ice Cream in one sitting. But being the rebel that I sometimes am, I can proudly say that I have thrown both of these rules out the window. On more than one occasion ;) Heeey Now! Thankfully I’ve been a bit more conscious during my photography journey and have made an effort to steer clear of the things that  I just shouldn’t do…. like shooting a wedding on my own without experiencing it from the passenger side.

When I was just a few weeks into my photography classes I was anxious to get out there and begin shooting weddings – because, really. How hard could it be to take photos? Luckily I had my good friend Frank, who is also a very talented photographer (check out his work here) with plenty of wedding experience, to bring me back down to my rookie seat. He suggested I second shoot weddings (basically assist the lead photographer throughout the wedding day) before attempting to be the lead photographer myself and really learn the art of photography and the hard work it entails. I rolled my eyes and said something along the lines of ”Yeah… whatevs!” But it did make sense to sit back and observe what a wedding day is like… especially because the bride and groom deserve the very best. So I’ll say it…. Frank was right ;)

I had my very first second shooting experiences back in April with Jaime of Jaime Davis Photography.  (Read that story here and here) Actually this was the very first wedding that I had ever photographed. In life. For Real. So was it necessary? Absolutely! I stood corrected because it is definitely not “just taking photos”. It’s knowing your camera & technique. It’s being proactive and encouraging a group of people to stick to the schedule. It’s remaining professional no matter what hot messes arise. It’s the couple entrusting their special day to you. It’s standing and walking ALL DAY LONG… and really, the list goes on and on. Fortunately for me Jaime is awesome at what she does and really helped me understand the process of a wedding day and how to handle the different scenarios. Thanks girl! 

Over the last few months I have had the opportunity to second shoot a few weddings and with each experience I have learned something new. Something that I can incorporate in the weddings that I am the lead photographer for… which will be later this year. Holla! For anyone interested in pursuing wedding photography I strongly encourage being a second shooter at a few weddings before hand. And by “strongly encourage” I really mean you need to do it because you have no idea what you are getting yourself in to ;) Just saying..

Last saturday I had the pleasure of second shooting for Jaime again at a beautiful Orange County wedding. Here is a sneak peek of the fierce couple, simply gorge….

So… one of the best things I have learned while second shooting is the importance of snacks and water. Wedding days can be quite long so yummy snacks can definitely keep your stomach from growling in front of everyone… because that is so not cute ;) And I’ll keep it real and say that I go through water bottles like a camel lost in the desert. For three months. Also not cute.

See? Totally important things to know ;)

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