That's all! :)

Ok, Ok, Ok so I know I have been on this whole "love" kick lately but it just keeps popping up everywhere.... perhaps to serve as a reminder or maybe I need to learn a lesson...either way, I am learning how it permeates every aspect of our lives ...
I read this scripture today that always gets me... and it fits so well with what I have been learning lately...

If I speak with tounges of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love I gain nothing.
2 Corinthians 13:1-3

Yea for Spontaneity!

My friend Rachel tagged along with me today on building shoot and at the end of the day, we were walking past a MetroLink station when I saw this great elevator... I only had a 12 -24 lens on the camera at the time but I didnt care, I was inspired!! I told Rachel she'd didnt have a choice and that she would have to let me take pictures of her! It was totally random but It was quite an experience!! The elevator smelled of urine but she was such a trooper and didnt complain too much :) Then during the 'shoot' I totally dropped down to lay on the ground for a few shots and this guy came running over because he thought I passed out or got hurt! Haha... I thanked him for his concern and then he proceeded to tell us his entire life story!! Its amazing how some people just need someone to listen to them... We werent in a hurry or on a schedule so we just sat and talked ( actually we listened and he talked) but it was nice :)
Anyway, I absolutley love love love to shoot, so this was just soooo great!... :D
So, thanks Rachel for being spontaneous...I cant wait to shoot your wedding next year in NC!!

All you need is LOVE…

People are driven by emotion…If the emotion centers of our brain are damaged in some way, we don’t just lose the ability to laugh or cry but we lose the ability to make decisions!! Decisions are intertwined with emotions!!! Could that mean Business decisions are intertwined with emotions?? OF COURSE!
I am reading this book called Lovemarks by Kevin Roberts and loving it! Every book I’ve read lately is vocally or non-chalantly centered on Love as a verb. Intertwined in those four letters is the revolutionary way forward for businesses small and large. This book specifically focuses of reinventing the idea of branding by encouraging “lovemarks” which is the idea of connecting emotionally with consumers and providing a reason for them to fall in love with you and with your products. Roberts describes how business has evolved from products to trademarks, to brand,s and now lovemarks, while passionately explaining that lovemarks are the only way to differentiate yourself from nowhere “blands”. Profoundly explaining how each progressive step from product to lovemark has pulled emotion closer and closer to the center of it's purpose. His solution to brands that have ran out of juice (so-to-speak) is creating product and Experiences that have the power to create long term emotional connections with consumers. Where you have a customer in love, you have a lovemark!
Interestingly enough the lovebug virus of 2000 infected computers around the world all because unsuspecting victims clicked on a unknown attachment that said “I love you!” What does that tell you about the innate human need for love? Now imagine how you can utilize this basic human need in your business… I am almost overwhelmed with the possibilities!

“I don’t think there is anything higher than Love. I am not sure what could possibly come after Love because Love is so expansive. I had such a difficult time coming up with a definition of Love in my book but the way I define Love is the selfless promotion of others. If you selflessly promote the growth of your customers and your colleagues, that’s true love. I don’t know what more you could do for someone.” - Tim Sanders

Gee, I could keep going, but I think you get my point! All you need is LOVE! :D

Cake!

Tonight was DJ's final PUG. It was here in L.A. at Picatge and he definately rocked it! Anyway, a bunch of us met up for dinner beforehand and the supersweet Jasmine had brought a cake for DJ to celebrate his sucessful tour. It was sooo cute because the waiter brought it out right as we were leaving so they had to box it back up and we took it with us. We stuck it in the fridge once we got there and were hoping to bust it out afterwards but it just didnt happen. They ended up sending the cake home with me because DJ is leaving tomorrow and wasnt going to eat it and no one else wanted it soooooo....because I have 4 roomates, I got sent home with it!
So I walk in the door and open up the cake and the girls flocked to the table like moths to a lantern... I made them wait until I could grab a picture ( for Jazzy's sake) and the devouring began... I couldnt help but take pictures...especially when the fight broke out!... They totally destroyed the cake! It was all over the table, floor and our faces! I grabbed some shots in between but these cant replay the laughter! :)
I debated posting these pictures because I was so sad that the cake got destroyed and I didnt want Jazzy to feel bad! But the girls told me that they will finish off every last bite so I decided It was ok because at least it made for some yummy entertainment! :)






I just realized Its 1:30 am and I have to be up in 5 hours so I'm off to bed! :)
Thanks Jazzy and Deej... You both are simply amazing and give so much... I am honored to have you two in my life!

More Photobooth fun...

I got to hang out with the kiddos again today...sooo fun! We laid on the floor and had some fun with Photobooth!! I am so easily amuzed and it worked great keeping Zelun & Kami occupied too!! :)

Kids!

I have decided that the greatest form of birthcontrol is babysitting overnight! Haha... Dont get me wrong, I LOVE kids but (aside from the fact I am not married) I realized I am way to selfish to have kids of my own right now :) I dont know if we are ever really ready to stop being selfish but I know that once you have kids you can no longer be that way :)
I watched my friends kids for a few days while they went out of town for their anniversary and I had fun playing mommy for a few days but at the end I was sooo exhausted mentally and physically! I was dying for adult interaction!! I honestly dont know how single parents get along by themselves... I realllly admire them!
So... my point is that as much as I love playing with kids, its great when you can give 'em back! Haha :)
Anyway, I decided to do a little shoot with the kids to get us out of the house and also as an anniversary gift to the parents.
Here are a few shots from the day...

Kami...







Zelun...



And this is my lil' Oliva! She is NOT Camera shy! :)

We launched a really cool rocket and I snapped this shot right as the rocket took off :)

Read Read Read!!

Life has been CRAZY this past week... I completed my first full week at Pictage and trying to adjust to having a real job. Thankfully, I LOVE it and honestly couldnt ask for a a better opportunity to build that next layer of foundation as I begin to build a business. Working with Mike was just the beginning, I learned and grew soooo much, he was the perfect person to get under and watch and learn. Now the next layer of that foundation is being laid and what is sooo exciting is that it is all still intertwined with the first one! So, now I am focusing more and more on just trying to grow it right. One of the ways I feel I can do that is through reading!
As I was going through school a professor once said...

"If your not reading, your not leading"

I really believe this is true... If you want to make an impact then start filling your head with some real solid knowledge! "Fast-food" knowledge is available to everyone through TV and such, but imagine how much more you can offer through information that isnt just bottle fed! Through Television everyone knows the same stuff...but through reading you can offer so much more above and beyond what is "common knowledge"!
I think we sometimes have to really discipline ourselves to not get comfortable with spoon fed information but really make an attempt to take it to the next level :)
This applies to reading the Bible too... its so easy to fill up on the 'fast food' stuff that is simply to get us by ( i.e... Sunday/Radio Sermons, Christian Music, Christian books etc) But that is all only meant to supplement...the true nutrition comes from a daily immersion into the unadulterated word of God. This is where I struggle! I LOVE to read but have been so focused on the really cool business books ( I bought 3 new ones this week alone!) and soaking up as much as I can that I have let slide what is truly the most important! I truly do desire to be effective in my Christian walk because I want to help others, but in business and in life.... if I am not reading, I am not leading!

I DID IT!

I shot a friends wedding up in Oxnard last night and the big proclamation of the day is...

"I did it!!!... I showed a slideshow!!"

After the first wedding I did on my own I got...uh...repremanded for not showing a slideshow, so I wasnt about to let that happen again! ;) Anyway, it was BIG sucess... everyone LOVED it! ( Especially the bride...she couldnt stop hugging and thanking me...I think that alone was worth it !) One lady came up to me and said " I'm already married but I hope you dont mind I took one of your cards...you know...just in case." I just laughed!
Overall, it was a great experience...But It was kinda hard because they only had a cake/punch reception so I didnt have the luxury of creating the show when the guests were eating... Plus, I didnt have an assistant so I had to downlaod while we were driving back from family formals at the beach (before the ceremony). I was driving with one hand and navigating the laptop with the other...I was so determined!! I couldnt make them look that cool in iphoto but I did my best.
Oh and I almost forgot the best part... A couple who saw my slideshow is getting married next year and wants me to do their wedding! Yippee! :)



I pulled up to the house and saw the groom hang something on the front door and the get in his car... Check out the prize he left for is future wife!...haha



Here are a few pics from the slideshow...


















The bride is hiding behind all her bridesmaids and they blindfolded the groom...

The classic DJ pose... I just couldnt help myself... I simply LOVE this pose for groomsmen!

Wedding with the Lyons...

I had the awesome opportunity to shoot with Justin & Amelia Lyon on Saturday and I had a BLAST! I simply adore this couple and they are such a dynamic husband & wife duo. If you havent met them yet, dont miss the opportunity because they are just sooo great! We shot for 14 hours!! HOLY COW! We shot the traditional Cambodian ceremony in the morning and the american ceremony in the afternoon/evening! The bride wore 4 different outfits before she even got into her traditional american gown... I LOVE culture so it was really facinating witnessing the different traditions. We ate the most amazing authentic food too!! ( I think that's one of the best parts about experiencing different cultures...the food!!) It was a craaaazy day and I had a blast...but then crashed hard once I got home :) The lucky part was that we couldnt wear shoes during the Cambodian ceremony so our feet lasted alot longer than if we would have shot the whole day in shoes.

when I was picking out shots to post I narrowed it down to 47! But I cant post 47 shots...Thats ridiculous! Sooo, I had to settle for a few handfuls, enough to show you a lil' bit of each part of the day :)

The American Dress...










I snapped this right as her attendants shoved a bobby pin into the back of her head... OUCH!


During one part of the Cambodian Ceremony.. ( it had 4 parts!)


Holy FOOD Batman! Everyone went outside and they had a parade where each guest carried one plate of food and then came back inside... very interesting








Ami was sooo fun, she laughed ALOT!




A groomsman was giving us a show...



The happy Couple




There is so much more too, but it takes forever to load these one by one! :)