happy halloween

So much to shoot today!!
It started at 7:30 this morning before school:

Caysen:
Bailey: Then we went to the parade at school and I shot all the kids in both classes..... so funny to see all the little guys in costumes!!

Later, we will be going trick-or-treating around the block=== more photos still!!!

love it!

amazing support

I received an email today that made me feel proud to be associated with such amazing people. However, these feelings were bittersweet due to the circumstances:

To all WPJA Members,

As some of you already know, we have lost a member of the WPJA family due to an automobile accident. Michelle Otto, of Texas, was returning home from a wedding when her life was cut short.

We are all shocked and deeply grieved here about the loss of this very special individual. Our most heartfelt condolences have been sent to Michelle's family.

I would like to personally thank all WPJA members who have offered their support to Michelle's family. I am extremely proud of these members who took the initiative to give their time to help with her business and current clients. To me, this proves that we truly are a family here at the WPJA.

The following came to me from the family of Michelle:

"We have been contacted by several photographers with your organization who have offered to assist and we are going to accept that help. Thank you for an organization that instills that kind of care within its members. We are blessed by your compassion."

Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this time of mourning.

David Roberts
WPJA

I just read over the posts on the WPJA forum and was elated to see how many amazing people there are in the world. I felt a sense of security knowing that there are so many beautiful people around us everyday, everywhere. Humans are still human.

David Roberts started WPJA a few years ago. He is a well respected press photography veteran as well as a great wedding photographer.

Way to go David!!

wedding dress event

Amy's Guide, the newsletter is always full of good wedding planning news and advice: www.amysguide.com.

The most recent issue contained sales and events. If you haven't gotten your dress yet, you might want to check out this event:

Brides Against Breast Cancer returns to Los Angeles!
Friday, November 10, 10 am - 8 pm
Saturday, November 11, 10 am - 6 pm
FREE ADMISSION
Hyatt West Hollywood, 8401 Sunset Boulevard, West Hollywood
100% of proceeds from this event enable the Making Memories Breast Cancer Foundation to grant wishes.
Every wedding dress is at least 50% off, most priced between $89 - $799*
Original Values up to $4,000
Sizes 4 - 24, arranged by size to make it easy!
http://www.bridesagainstbreastcancer.org/

There are other sales and events accross the country- check www.amysguide.com for more info.

Thanks Amy!

Shilo Eatin' Sand

I had the great pleasure in shooting a new baby last weekend. Shilo is the daughter of past wedding clients Ian and Sara. They had such a cool wedding in San Diego a few years ago. Shilo is just plain CRAZY cute!

Daddy kinda likes his little girl.... KINDA?
she makes Mommy smile a lot too!

Shilo is so lucky to have parents that love her so so much. And even though they are new to the Mommy and Daddy thing , they are total pros!!
I love it, Sara just emailed me:

"Okay they are AMAZING! Seriously I started to cry when I saw my little baby. I don't know how we are going to pick and choose!

Thank you SO much Joel for capturing so many special moments and for capturing the true happiness that Ian and I feel when we are with our baby girl. You have an amazing gift... and well, you definitely have lifetime clients in us.

Thank you again...

Sara"

New Slideshow

Finally, I have a slideshow together for Robert and Kim's wedding at the Hyatt in Huntington Beach last month.....
-check it here-
They were so cool to work with and they had the beautiful venue decorated with such great style! I can't wait to shoot at the Hyatt again!
Rob and Kim were even up for more shots after the wedding- it ended at 4pm and we went out to the sand and shot around the hotel too- so cool!

let me know what you think!

horsie pics

Had a shoot last Sunday- I know a little slow posting- at a ranch in Murieta. It was such a cool place, very relaxing and soothing. I hope to get the kids out for a horsie ride soon. The weather was just perfect: it was a little cloudy when I got there, then, as the sun went down the clouds broke up and this awesome light was coming through the trees and spots of blue skies were showing through.
The kids were a riot- each with their unique personalities. The youngest broke the record for the time it takes to smile or laugh at me.... she was a hard ball for sure.

Click here and enter 'martin' in the box.

So here's the tip as this is a 'tips and tricks' blog: don't pop open reflectors around horses... especially if a seven year old is holding the reigns!! Horses don't like them so much and may bolt- I learned that one the hard way!