A little photo shoot for an adorable baby tuxedo onesy called Tuxy Bear

Maternity for my dear friend

A delicious photo shoot for a wedding book for Fantasy Frostings

Our bridal boutique at Wine 661, in Valencia. With a lovely display from Enchanted Gardens and Cake Goodness

An engagement session in Griffith Park for a Napa Valley wedding couple.

Gorgeous baby portraiture for friend of Dana at Broke Ass Bride

Lovely display at the Americana in Glendale, Pop Bridal

Rainy day romance in Santa Clarita with the Man Registry’s owner/creater, Chris and his wife.

A colorful and fun baby shower with a cake by Fantasy Frostings

Tacos and crafts at Wedding Pantry with Broke Ass Bride

Maybe an inside peek on how cute babies can be even when they are crying. How can you resist her tutu?

This little angel wrapped in love

My parent’s new puppy

Wedding at Castle Green in Pasadena

Fabulous dessert bar from Bridal Bar and Fantasy Frostings, at Unveiled in Beverly Hills.

Private concert and photography El Javi, for his promotional materials, and album cover.

Lifestyle portraits in Pasadena

A favorite engagement session in San Juan Capistrano, with a couple getting married in Napa Valley

Boudoir hotness

Desert photo shoot with Cake Goodness, Enchanted Floral Garden and Becca Rillo

Union Station engagement session

Newport Beach engagement with one of my favorite couples

More hotness…

Gorgeous grand baby that will soon appreciate the wonder of buttercream

Long Beach EnGAYment with some adorable ladies

Boudoir for her fiance.

Such a good moment after their first look at Pasadena City Hall

Behind the scenes of My Fair Wedding, filming at Castle Green in Pasadena

They had a lovely Dodger Stadium engagement, and wedding at Dove Canyon in Orange County

A romantic skyline at Griffith Park for this engagement session

The lovely Wayfarer Chapel in Palos Verdes

Wine and dessert reception at Wine Crush in Long Beach

Paramount Ranch engagement

Wedding law work shop with Katy Carrier

Cute little engagement session at the happiest place on earth, Disneyland

My sweet niece’s senior photos

An intimate and sweet wedding, and the funniest ceremony I have ever been witness to seeing

World traveling couple, at their beach wedding in Malibu

Probably the nicest two people you could ever meet, in their limo waiting for their yacht in Marina del Rey

Fun little anniversary session for Jen of Prim and Pixie and her hubby at ACE Hotel in Palm Springs

Photo shoot at Castle Green Pasadena

Wedding love at Ranch Las Lomas in Silverado

My best friends’  brother ties the knot in Malibu

A small wedding with two bands and a wild cat, at Ramsey’s in Burbank

Solvang winery engagement with two good looking clients. So lucky.

Happy wedding at the French Estate in Orange

How cute is this kid?

Family photos in Descanso Garden in La Canada

My beautiful sister

A wonderful and fabulous wedding at the ACE Hotel in Palm Springs (soon to be featured on Style Me Pretty)

Sweet engagement session in downtown Los Angeles, starting at the public library.

Santa Fe destination wedding at La Posada

Romantic first dance at the Ambassador in Pasadena. (This was taken from outside by my talented shooter, Sabrina Hill)

Aboard the FantaSea in Newport Beach

Holiday surprise for their parents, a photo of all the families together

Lovely engagement/holiday photos

and last but not least:

A photo from my wedding day at Dodgers Stadium, taken by a stranger with my husband’s iPhone. It was such a wonderful and magical day. I love my Miss Tashina dress that I am wearing too.

Thank you for viewing my 2011 recap. Wishing you the best and happiest 2012.

Lots of love from Cakes and Kisses

Usually I post weddings that I have shot, but this is something special and different. This is MY wedding. The three words I would use to describe my wedding is personal, romantic, and fun.
I hope you enjoy the photos and video.

All photography and images by Adrienne Gunde Photography and Becca Rillo Photography

Sometimes I surprise myself with how out there my ideas can be. And most the time I am surprised if anyone is listening when I do come up with an idea.

This was the absolute best idea I have had besides naming my Wedding Photography, Cakes and Kisses. This project was amazing and the support/love that I received overwhelming.

Click the link to view the video: Wedding Testimonials for Photographer

On Saturday, I went to Cooke Pictures in Burbank and we shot a video of past brides and advice they would have for other couples. It focused on photography, and “capturing moments”. I didn’t realize how much I would be touched by what my past clients had to say about my photography and how it still effects them emotionally, even several years later.They made me cry, laugh and feel so special that I was their photographer. It is always good to get a reminder of what you do and why you do it, but this was absolutely the most inspiring thing I could do for myself and my Cakes and Kisses.

Each couple was asked to come in, have a bagel, enjoy the lounge and chat. Being on video was the easy part, because they got to talk about their wedding. Some couples’ wedding day were from 2006 up until two weeks before the shoot. I tried to get a wide spectrum for the time frame. It was perfect because the couples who had been married more than a year could reflect on how the wedding photography made them feel, even today. While the ones that were married a few weeks earlier, were still on the wedding high, and were reflecting on the entirety of the wedding and how the photos captured everything for them so vividly.

I love each of these couples so very much. Each of them as special and I picked for every reason imaginable.

Not to brag (but I am going to), but I am so extremely lucky I have clients/friends like theses.

Mellisa and Pete (I did their engagement photos back in 2005) offered to come and do some behind the scenes magic. Mell did the girls’ makeup and she also makes jewelry. (Check it out for handmade goodies) Pete did all the behind the scenes artsy shooting. Basically capturing all my awkward moments on film (like when I started crying when the couple talked about their father daughter dance). That is the part I will be most embarrassed to see, but it shows alot about my photography, which is what this video is all about.

Pete my behind the scenes camera.

My besty friend Chandra, helped me set this whole studio up, along with a camera man (awesomeness) and the goodies from Noahs’ Bagels. Really having my best friend there to be so supportive was wonderful. But the real story even behind that is she is the person that got me shooting weddings in the first place. It was her wedding I shot back in 2003, that made me want to shoot weddings forever! (oh how I heart film grain)

Yay her! This is me and Chandra testing out the light and the coffee.

I think what I was most surprised with was how willing everyone was to go on camera and chat about their wedding day. My 07/07/07 couple absolutely are my biggest fans. I know that no matter what I will be a part of their lives and vice versa. Sandra and Brian are pregnant, so newly pregnant, they revealed it on the video that they just found out!! Yay!

Sandra and Brian said this about their wedding photography: “Our pictures are amazing! We get compliments all the time. She captured every moment, every smile, every tear… I have our wedding pictures displayed at our home, office AND the entertainment company that we booked to host our wedding, has OUR wedding pictures all over their office. Holly has a gift. She was born to capture priceless and unforgettable moments. Her personality and experience were priceless on our wedding day. She is also very professional. Just look at her work and you will see for yourself why she is such an amazing photographer.”

shucks

My shy and supportive boyfriend is off camera asking questions to the couple. Yay! He also was able to take photos for me after the interview!

Next couple was the fabulous Jeanette and (her words) her work-a-holic husband, that couldn’t make it for the shoot. We put a mic next to her in case he decided to come along. But then I had to jump in with her. :) Also if you want to check out her amazing fashions go to Isabella Baity, for vintage dresses. Her motto is “Isabella Baity has paired the flattering silhouettes of vintage dresses with modern comfort.” I think it is really amazing she is following her dreams and talents. Plus, her design aesthetics are to die for, did you see her dress? CUTE!

This is what Jeanette said about their wedding photography: “Holly gives you 110%. She has a great eye for composition as well as great Photoshop skills to give you amazing photos. I really love her passion and commitment to capturing the most special moments on your wedding day.” wow. I would describe her wedding day as elegant, classic and beautiful, just like her.

Another amazing couple is my 08-08-08 couple. They had a surprise wedding, an incredible reception, and the most wonderful friends and family. They made me feel so welcome in their homes, and more importantly in their lives. Her mom makes amazing flower arrangements, bouquets and has amazing taste, look at her website.

This is what Mary said about my photography, “Holly is AWESOME!!! We love, love, love her to pieces. She is amazing at what she does and has a true gift for capturing the magic and love of a wedding in her beautiful photographs.” Aww. I love love love them too!

During their interview I cried 3 times. 1) when they talked about how they picked me as a photographer. 2) when they described how I was able to capture the most important moments of their lives. 3) when I cried like a baby during the Father/Daughter dance to “I Loved Her First” by Heartland. Personally, I think that her dad thought I was insane, but it was very tender and made me think of my very own dad, who I love and adore.

Oh my gorgeous Sona and Nico. They melt my camera with their hotness. If you didn’t get a chance to see their wedding photos, here is the slideshow! They talked about their fabulous engagement session, the traditional/nontraditional wedding, and the perfectly lovely first dance. I can’t believe how amazing they are and how much they make me laugh. They are adventurous, passionate, and most important to me, dear friends.

I gave them little Moo Cards, I had printed with their wedding/engagement photos on it. And here we are with our true loves. Both Nico and I love our iPhones and had to get a photo with it in there. Sona only laughs because she doesn’t understand. :)

Here is the photo we did with the iPhone on the wedding day… Yay! Apple would be so proud.

Like the kind of friends you can talk to once every blue moon and still feel as close and comforted as the last time you met.

This is my bride/friend/twin look-a-like contest winner. She got married at the most scenic hotel in all of Santa Barbara, and I love her wedding photos. Oh and I love her and her hubby too.They are so wonderful together. They go on vacations and talk to the locals with accents from different countries, just for kicks. They brought their two beagles on their honeymoon, up the California coast. They laugh at all my jokes, good and bad.

They are good friends to have when you need a laugh, hug, or a look a like to take a quiz in school.

And then, poor Oliver in the middle of a redhead sandwich.

One of my favorite moments, from Santa Barbara, Four Seasons Resort, The Biltmore.

Another amazing couple is Jess and Mike. Here is a slide show from their wedding … joy.

She has amazing artistic talents, and ultimately the funniest writer I have ever met. She makes me bend over from laughing and her little smirks tug my heart strings. I think that is how she captured Mike’s heart, oh that and she is drop dead gorgeous. She is camera ready all the time, despite how shy she is… Here is a video when she talks about her Michael Jackson art piece, (she is about 4:50 in).

This is a posed shot, in an open fields that we had to hop a fence, and brave the thistles to get. But I think it is just lovely. It is about the little things, like the sun flare, and her toes curled. What an awesome kiss.

Do you remember your first? The one that made it all “click” together, and TaDA! Well, this couple took a chance with me. When I met with them, they were newly engaged, friends of friends, and looking for a photographer. They got married at my favorite wedding locations, The Wayfarer Chapel in Palos Verdes.

They are just adorable for each other. Wait oh wait till you see the video and the beautiful way they talk about each other and their wedding day. Even though it was 11/07/06… so cute.

This is my all time favorite wedding image… from their wedding. I think I will always have it on my website, blog, portfolio and whatever. It is magic.

Thank you to all my friends for helping me make this video happen. What started off as a badly planned idea, turned into a great achievement that I will be able to share with other couples, and to inspire me to do my best.

To see more wedding reviews go here.

Wedding Photographer Testimonials Video

So happy start of the festive holidays of Fall/Winter. Embrace your loved one, cuddle in front of whatever source of heat or cooling (depending on your location) and enjoy the spirit.

Happy Halloween from Cakes and Kisses!!

Our lovely Halloween mascot. Next year I am going to try to get her into a costume …. yah, next year.

I did a portrait session for my sister… And of course I had to self timer and get myself in there :)

I could go on for days and days how proud I am of my sister and how much she has achieved. It is beyond me how someone could raise two lovely kids, have two masters degrees, a successful marriage for 17 years, and still find time to be an amazing sister.

Of course I love my sister and with all the health issues she has had in her lifetime, I was happy to show her how beautiful she is from the inside out.

Rawr.

I hope everyone has an amazing labor day.

My favorite part of Labor or any three day weekend is most definitely the amazing BBQs !!

Yum yum!

Wedding photography has always been important to me… But on a beautiful day at Dodgers Stadium, I truly understood, how important.
Special thanks to Becca Rillo, for our amazing pre wedding shoot at an empty Dodgers Stadium. Take a look at her website and see her amazing work.
The photoshoot was styled and organized by Alex from Sterling Engagements.

A list of all the wonderful vendors that made the shoot possible:

Los Angeles Dodgers
Enchanted Garden Florals
Prim and Pixie
Lili Bridals
Proper Suit
New Classic Films
Fantasy Frostings
Becca Rillo
Sterling Engagements

(all images on this blog post are by Becca Rillo)

And our engagement video by New Classic Films

All the best to you and your loved ones on this very special July 4th.
Lots of love,

Cakes and Kisses!

]]> http://cakesandkissesblog.com/happy-july-4th/feed/ 0 http://cakesandkissesblog.com/personal-im-getting-married/ http://cakesandkissesblog.com/personal-im-getting-married/#comments Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:32:59 +0000 Holly Steen http://cakesandkissesblog.com/?p=5748 This weekend I am getting married.. to the most amazing man I have ever met. He makes me so completely happy, I can’t possibly express in words. In two days, I am going to be a Mrs.
While the whole process of wedding planning is overwhelming, I never realized how much the love and support of others can be overwhelming too. From my bridal shower, to my groom’s bridal shower, to the bachelor/bachelorette party, and the wedding weekend. We are surrounded by love and understanding.

But back to my soon to be husband… If you have met him, I imagine you were surprised on how quiet and shy he is… or maybe by how sweet and considerate. While he is very sweet and shy, there is so much more to him.
We met in 1996, reconnected in 2006, and got engaged in 2010. I wouldn’t change a thing about how it happened.

Since I am a visual person, I wanted to post photos of us dating, and our engagement… And then in a few days, I will post one or two wedding photos. Wow.

Our first and last family portrait…

This is a photo from my birthday party at Micel’s. We had a great group of my friends, and this was the first birthday we celebrated together.

This was first time I met all of his friends… Little did I know they would become my best-est friends too.

This is a from a wedding that Jeff was in … and his first time in a formal suit. And I got my first spray tan…

Our first trip to Vegas with his friends… It was so fun and incredible. That’s why we had to go back for our bachelor/bachelorette parties.

The sweetest guy in the world… first of many extreme haircuts I would get in our relationship.

Us at his cousin’s wedding

The day he told me he liked me… in 1998