Cup of Joe Photo

Texture Images

This year has been so fun and experimental for my images. I began applying a lot of textures and roughness to my usually pristine wedding images. I was inspired by the street shooting. I liked them so much I used 2 of these for ads (which I'll show you in another post soon).

Henri Cartier-Bresson

"Above all, I craved to seize the whole essence, in the confines of one single photograph, of some situation that was in the process of unrolling itself before my eyes." -Henri Cartier-Bresson

Samantha and Bejan

Style appeals to my brides. They have a "passion for fashion" just as I do. Samantha and Bejan were a pleasure to photograph. Their wedding was at the fabulous Montage Resort and Spa in Laguna Beach. Photographers ask me all the time, "how do you get your brides to do the things they do?" I reply "Be enthusiastic and simply ask." Enjoy!

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Herb Ritts

"I'd go down to the end of my street, to a garage that had a certain feeling about it, or a particular light; I'd take a picture of a friend who needed a head shot. That's how I learned, instead of having school assignments and learning camera techniques." -Herb Ritts

Maistrellis / Woolverton Engagement

I really enjoy doing something fun and exciting with engagement sessions. I did this one last summer when the water was warmer. Alex & Jeff live in Atlanta and we shot in Santa Monica while they were visiting Santa Barbara to prepare for their wedding. I used David Jay's showit web to show off the images. Wow, what a killer response I got. Happy clients make for great word of mouth advertising! Check out the video.

Book of the Week

Merry Christmas to all Friends and Family! God is with us and has a purpose for our lives! May you be filled with His Grace and Peace!

Every Monday I post a new book recommendation. As a kid, I didn't like to read. Actually, I still don't. But Audio Books have changed everything. I've made it a habit to listen to a book a week. I'm amazed at how easy it is to listen to a book on my computer while I'm working or on my iPod as I'm exercising. If you prefer to read, that's great too. The most important thing is to get the knowledge of these great books into you. And then you can share that knowledge with others. Today is the perfect day to recommend "The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren. In his book, he walks us through the deepest question of our hearts, "What is the purpose of our lives?". Heartwarming, thought provoking, and deeply hopeful, this book is a great resource for this life's journey.

The Purpose-Driven Life will help you understand why you are alive and God's amazing plan for you, both here and now, and for eternity. Rick Warren will guide you through a personal 40-day spiritual journey that will transform your answer to life's most important question: What on earth am I here for? Knowing God's purpose for creating you will reduce your stress, focus your energy, simplify your decisions, give meaning to your life, and, most importantly, prepare you for eternity.

This recording offers a blueprint for Christian living in the 21st century: a lifestyle based on God's eternal purposes, not cultural values. Using over 1,200 scriptural quotes and references, it challenges the conventional definitions of worship, fellowship, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism. In the tradition of Oswald Chambers, Rick Warren offers distilled wisdom on the essence of what life is all about. Full of hope and challenge, The Purpose-Driven Life will be a classic treasured by generations to come.

Joy to the World

It's good to home. The vacation was awesome, but it's good to be home. After two weeks in the Caribbean, I'm completely relaxed and my heart is joyfully ready to celebrate the birth of the Savior.

May the Joy of God fill your life with meaning and purpose this Christmas!

"Joy is prayer - Joy is strength - Joy is love - Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls."
-Mother Teresa

"Joy, rather than happiness, is the goal of life, for joy is the emotion which accompanies our fulfilling our natures as human beings. It is based on the experience of one's identity as a being of worth and dignity." -Rollo May

"Joy to the world All the boys and girls Joy to the fishes in the deep blue sea Joy to you and me" -Three Dog Night

Images of TJ

I shot these images on the streets of Tijuana on a photo field trip with Parker J, Becker, and Mike Colon. Four gringos with nice cameras....good times!

Robert Doisneau

"A hundredth of a second here, a hundredth of a second there - even if you put them end to end, they still only add up to one, two, perhaps three seconds, snatched from eternity." -Robert Doisneau

Carrie and Rhys

"Tweaking" images is so much fun for me. All of my clients' images are retouched, and many of them get the extra "magic". Parker J has been such a profound influence in the shift in my image making. Enjoy!!

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