Sandra didn’t even have a boyfriend/fiancee. She had a crush on an unattainable man, a fast sports car, and a crazy party lifestyle. As for me, I didn’t have a photography company, or a blog. I was carrying heavy bags filled with another photographers camera equipment, and had a data entry job in Burbank.

Time changes everything. I get a call from Sandra that she is engaged. Wow. Not just that, but she is getting married on the busiest day, July 7, 2007. She was engaged to a boy that lived across the street from my family when we were kids. If this isn’t all a twist of fate, I am not sure what is… I gladly shot their engagement, and wedding. The wedding was amazing, complete with Columbia Dancer in feathered headdress,  two incredible wedding dresses, and a bubble/smoke filled first dance with huge television screens. It was also filmed for a pilot episode on TLC (sadly it never aired).

I did a fabulous testimonial video that I knew she had to be a part in with her husband. It was wonderful to hear her tell the story of her wedding and the importance of photography. I think that I started crying when her husband started talking about how appreciative he was to have so many beautiful images from their wedding day. (To see the video click here, they are about 1:35 in…)

I was excited when she called me to tell me that she was “trying” to get pregnant and wanted to make sure I would shoot her maternity photos. While most people wait till they are actually pregnant to schedule an appointment, I appreciated her enthusiasm and scheduling so far in advance, she held true to her word and was pregnant within a month or two of the phone call.

When she was about 7 months pregnant we did a beautifully chic maternity shoot at Laguna Beach. She wore a fantastically elegant black gown, and a greecian styles blue and gold gown. Both were stunning. She is my ultimate muse. She never complained, she stood on rocks, flowed her body like a dancer and moved with the wind. I know that not every maternity shoot will be like this one, but in my heart of hearts, I know that it wouldn’t of been as beautiful without Sandra.

Then the arrival of this little magic bundle happens. He is so sweet and polite. And they invited me to take photos of him upon his first few hours. I am so honored to be a part of this family’s milestone moments.

This is a very personal blog posting,  all these beautiful moments in my life and I am so lucky, I get to share them.

I love to do it. It is a fun time, we laugh and play alot.

This photo is a visual statement on who Vanessa Brooke truly is… photographer/mom

Here is what Vanessa says on her blog about her photography “Her background in Advertising and Photography has given her a vision that has emerged to a stylish portraiture career.  ‘I love to  bring in my  fashion sense to create the “look” of Portrait meets Editorial.  I hope to bring a new perspective to every shoot. I love moving forward with the new, it keeps me feeling artistic.” How I adore her.

I think that being a photographer is a wonderful way for me to be more in touch with my inner thoughts and emotions. I find myself seeing beautiful things through my lens that I would never be able to express with words as clearly.

Hand in hand with weddings is lifestyle and portrait photography. Married couples carry on with their lives after the wedding day. They buy houses, adopt puppies and have beautiful babies. Life goes on after the wedding, despite how it feels when you are planning one. (My prayers and thoughts go out to the brides planning right now, and stressing over DJ time lines and seating charts…)

Well, I wanted to dedicate a website towards my Lifestyle Photography. It is a site that will feature new families, skilled musicians, talented artist, and of course portrait photography. Please take a look and check it out.

xoxo

Cakes and Kisses Wedding Photography is featured vendor for So You’re Engayed!!

Preview: I got to know a lot about the fabulous Holly Steen of Cakes and Kisses Photography through this interview. For example, Cake Wrecks and Wedding Chicks are her blog addictions, her guilty pleasures are watching America’s Next Top Model while eating Nutella out of the jar, and her weakness is dancing. Enjoy the interview!

Check out this site for all your same sex marriage planning, coordination, ideas and news.