Alex and Doug have been behind my camera more than once and they are always a pleasure to photograph! They came out and modeled for a mini workshop I did with  my interns last year and, as always, they killed it!

Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend! xoxo

Molly on the left… yours truly on the right..

I had a weekend off and I feel like a new woman. Tim and I spent it working on the house (what else is new?) but it was so nice to just enjoy each other and our friends and family without the crazy pressure I put on myself when I have a wedding One time I was getting ready for a wedding and Tim was on the way out the door and said, “Is there anything you need at Target?” and I snapped… I CANT THINK ABOUT A TARGET LIST! I HAVE A WEDDING TODAY! Thank God Tim knows sane Meg too because I wouldn’t have blamed him if he had fled for the rest of the weekend. Seriously.. wedding weekends are so much more stress than just the actual shooting part. I know you wedding photographers can relate So! Needless to say, it was nice to just take a couple days to regroup!

Malini and Greg are not shy to my camera- they have been in front of it before. Malini emailed me a few months ago and told me that her and Greg were going to be spending much of this year living miles and miles apart from each other due to work and really wanted to document their love during a getaway trip to the Bay Area so they could remember the moment during the tough times ahead. I was so excited to meet up with them again and had so much fun running around the grounds at their Olema bed and breakfast.

Let’s get to the images, shall we?

One of my 2011 goals was to offer my shooting skills to people who I find particularly inspiring. It’s easy to get lost in the wedding world and its nice to feel inspired by something other than a Louboutin sometimes. Tim and I frequent the open mic night at Cafe Trieste in downtown San Jose and when I heard John perform I just knew I had to photograph him. He’s so creative and has such an interesting presence. He was down for whatever so he came over to our place and we had some fun!

Onward!

Just for fun, here are 27 things I am loving right now for your Valentines enjoyment!

27. BHLDN – Anthropologie does weddings! | 26. Bittersweet NY | 25. Bi-Rite Creamery | 24. Steel-cut Oatmeal | 23. Live the Dream | 22. Emerson Made | 21. Labokoff | 20. With Style & Grace | 19. Pininterst | 18. Ban.do | 17. On to Baby | 16. Fashion Photography Blog | 15. Le Love | 14. Colour Lovers | 13. Not Too Shabby | 12. Alexa Meade | 11. Jessica’s Daily Affirmations | 10. Sean Flinn and the Royal We | 9. Paper cuts | 8. My instax | 7. The Dainty Vegetarian | 6. Nie Nie | 5. Postsecret | 4. Daily Drop Cap | 3. Decade Diary | 2. Rockstar Diaries | 1. Tumbling

That’ll keep you busy at work today!

On another note- HAPPY VALENTINES DAY ALL YOU LOVERS OUT THERE! Whether you are celebrating your single status or kissing your significant other I hope all of you guys feel the love today. Style Me Pretty is featuring the following shoot today in honor of all things l-o-v-e. Check it out!

I am a worker bee, always have been. I constantly feel the need to be growing, moving, creating, learning… I don’t like having an idle brain. It’s said that hard work is rewarded with more work and that has never been more true for me. My business is flourishing and it seems the harder I work the less I am physically able to decompress. I’ll be honest and say that I don’t sleep well. To-do lists and ideas for the future constantly run through my head until I either get up and take care of something or pop a Tylonol PM (don’t judge) . I rarely watch TV without photoshop open on my laptop and drive Tim mad responding to client e-mails from our Sunday morning coffee spot. The concept of “coming home from work” doesn’t exist for me. That moment when you walk through the door, throw your purse down, kick your shoes off, and ahhhhhhh you’re home? Nope, rarely. Or the feeling of Friday? Oh to feel that again! The end of a productive week and now I can relax and bbq and hang out with friends and stay up late…. Nope, rarely. Fridays only mean the end of 5 valuable work days (that, dang it, I should have used more efficiently!) and the beginning of two shooting or meeting days. It never ends, it’s a vicious cycle of work and more work. Obviously, we business owners and photographers love our jobs to death. I couldn’t be luckier and more thankful for the abundance of people who allow me to do what I love and make money doing it- but man, some days don’t we all need to call our boss and say, “I’m taking a personal day for no reason at all.”

I kept my goal list for 2011 short- 5 items only. See number 5?

I’m still working on the schedule part but taking back my life is in full swing. I am not a slave to this business – there are no shackles on me. I am my boss so I make the rules and if I need an afternoon to peruse Anthropologie sale racks every once and awhile- I’m taking it! (by the way…. BHLDN???) Two weeks ago I spent 4 days and 3 nights with 11 other female wedding and portrait photographers in a cozy cabin in Big Bear. When I lived in Los Angeles me and a few of these gals used to occasionally grab brunch and chat photography and other stuff over mimosas and waffles.  Last summer Amanda and Mary were dying to get out to The Ace Hotel in Palm Springs and sent out an e-mail to a bunch of us seeing if anyone wanted to join. I was in full wedding planning stress mode and couldn’t take a week away from work (surprise surprise) but most of the other girls were able to make it and the rest is history! This trip, 11 out of the original 13 shacked up in a cabin, took pictures, danced, played pool, ate a lot, drank a lot , and most importantly laughed a lot. Our relationships with each other have gone way past photography now and I feel so blessed to have them all in my life.

We are Amanda, Ala, Adrienne, Diandra, Gladys, Heidi, Heather, Meg, Megan, & Mary ( Ashley and  Jackie too! A just had a baby and J is expecting soon so they sat this one out. )

If you like Aubrey’s headband, make one! I used an old headband I had lying around, fresh flowers, and a glue gun. It made the most lovely crown- I wish I would have made one for our wedding!

This “crown” fell off of the bottom of a vase Yelena had and, remembering the always amazing Elizabeth Messina’s crown portraits, I snagged it and did a quick one of Aubs. I think she looks positively regal.