Spaghetti and Meatballs.

Recently, my dear friend, Marita Madeloni, asked me to be a part of her project, Food, Love & Tradition. It's a little embarrassing, a little too much spotlight, perhaps, but I'm so proud of Marita… she did a great job. Grazie, cara mia, chiquita banana! Enjoy the full post on The Madeloni Photography Blog.

Suki's Story.

Meet Suki. He adopted us a few years ago. We had just moved to our new condo and he appeared one day huddled against the wall of our building wanting nothing to do with me. Something about his blue eyes and exotic coat drew me to him - but it was more than his good looks - dare I say we're soul mates? Clearly, he belonged to someone, so I admired him from afar mostly. Then, after a while, he became persistent about visiting us despite that Zeus, our orange tabby, despised him. Suki came to our patio, in through our kitty door and let us know he was staking his territory. He had balls, and I liked that quality about him.

We noticed he wasn't wearing a collar, hadn't been fixed and had fleas. So, we posted a sign asking if he belonged to anyone in the neighborhood and if so, to please call. We connected with his owner, a young bartender. Mystery solved and now my husband and Zeus had permission to forbid Suki into our home. But Suki didn't care. He kept coming around anyway. Cat lovers just know when one needs you, and I knew. He needed us. But out of respect for the men in my home, I didn't encourage Suki's visits.

Until one day, like most all days, he persistently attacked our screen door begging to come in. It ate at me, and I decided to override "the rules" of respecting his owner, Alessandro and Zeus and to see for myself why he was insistent on coming inside our home. He was covered - I mean absolutely covered in soars, missing patches of fur and desperately hungry. I locked us in the bathroom and combed at least thirty fleas from his coat and then gave him some food. The boys lost the battle. I was keeping Suki and taking him to the vet the next day despite knowing he had an owner.

From that time forward, we became Suki's adopted parents. He was allowed to come and go as he pleased. Remember, we had a cat door - he had indoor/outdoor access during daylight hours. He never once went back to his previous owner until I received an email on Christmas Eve that year that he appeared on the owner's couch as if seven months hadn't passed at all. He wondered if I had seen him since the springtime, because it was the first time since then that he had been "home" again. I explained the story above, and rightfully so, the guy sent me a few choice words.

Well, I've been raised never to come between two people, but a cat - well - I can't control what a cat does . And although I do feel badly that things unfolded the way they did, Suki seems to understand full well where he wants to be, where he is cared for, and who he wants to live with. So. After many months of earning Alessandro's and Zeus's friendship, we're now one big happy, furry family and we feel blessed.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Beverly Hills Engagement

Being liked is one of the most important things in the world to me. Being respected ranks even higher. Throw in the fact that I'm highly sensitive, and you've got a killer mix. One that I'm so grateful my husband has the stomach for. I tell you internet, I didn't earn any "likes" on this shoot!

This poor, poor couple saw me at my worst. I'll flat out admit it. We were chasing the light and wouldn't you know that they can't walk two feet in Beverly Hills without bumping into someone they know?! Or simply because they're so eye catchingly beautiful, strangers would stop to stare and ask questions. I was trying SO hard to be gracious but we really needed to hustle because I was due to fly back to San Francisco that night. Then, of course, wouldn't it be just our luck that a security guard took his time to explain at length how the area above the Rodeo steps is private property. Could I have embarrassed myself anymore by bluntly replying, "You're wasting my time, because I'm not shooting in that area, but thanks." I come from a long line of women that don't mince their words - it's no excuse - but what can I say - he caught me at a BAD time!

Maybe that's why this couple prefers to remain anonymous?!

All that aside and with a heart full of love and warmth for these two, I have to say, their love and devotion is contagious, gentle and compassionate. They wanted to include all of their favorite things in their session - their first apartment together, their Christian faith, strawberry cupcakes, Tabasco - their dog and my new heart throb, and their neighborhood where they spend free time together strolling hand in hand.

Just look how happy and in love these two are, and I think you'll agree: It was worth all my sass mouthin'. 

I wish you a LOVELY wedding next summer and a life full of love, light and laughter. XXXOOO 

Tania. Portrait Session. Santa Monica.

It's 8:30pm, but it feels like midnight. My house is cold and dark with one singular light glowing from my computer screen. A days worth of dishes sit in the sink waiting to be washed. In lieu of dinner, sliced cheese and crackers are my meal of choice accompanied by a rare iced cold Coke. Only, I can't finish my joke-of-a-meal, because the cats decide to play with my food as if it's a scared mouse mentally hoping for a distraction and a safe escape. I can work and eat like this on a rainy Friday night, because my husband is at the San Francisco Auto Show mingling with VIP's and fawning over fancy cars. Maybe I should be sad and gloomy, but oh, to the contrary! I'm happy in my little state of editing bliss, and I'm about to introduce you to Tania whose portrait I had the pleasure of taking last weekend in Santa Monica.

As you can plainly see here, Tania is off the charts beautiful. She also happens to be one of those phenomenons who is not only smashingly good looking and intelligent but passionate about what she does, too. She's a doctor, an Oncologist, in fact, and her goal is to specialize in children. I don't think they make 'em any more gorgeous - and I'm talking about the kind of pretty that comes from the inside out.

In prepping for her shoot, Tania gave me a celebrity to help identify her style. It was Jennifer Aniston. She described her love for the beach and wanted her portraits to represent her casual, laid back style. I hope the results meet her every expectation.

Thank you for a fun morning together, Tania! It was such a pleasure to meet you and to work with you - you're a celebrity in my book! Here's a sneak peek of some of my favorites. Enjoy! XX

Friendship + Beer Budgets

What is the difference between excelling and competing? Are the two often confused? Is it a tabu in today's society to choose to strive for excellence? Does striving without achieving mean failure? Or can the reward in reaching for greatness be the moments lived and the small accomplishments along the way? 

Personally, from a young age, I always wanted the best. I couldn't shop at a store without unknowingly reaching for the most expensive blouse. Couldn't eat at a restaurant without wanting the filet mignon. As my mother would say I had champagne taste on a beer budget. I would braid my hair ten times before I was satisfied with the result. My closet was color coded and every item was perfectly pressed. I was a perfectionist in training and without knowing it, I would have a long way to fall, many hard lessons to learn. 

Now, I call myself a recovering perfectionist. I strive to be perfectly imperfect. It's humbling, and this character trait will cripple me each day if I let it. I have to deliberately let things go. I have to mentally remind myself it's ok if a few dishes are in the sink, you can fix that throw pillow later, yes, the bed spread may be crooked but Alessandro made it so be grateful and don't fix it! I'll be very honest, I'm able to let go of two out of the three scenarios here. That's why it's called recovery - it's about progress not perfection.

So, why does all of this come up? Because this next wedding that I second shot was for Adeline and Grace Photography. I worked with their associate shooter and my dear friend, Marita Madeloni. She is a new friend of two and a half years, but boy does she get me. We get each other. And I can't thank her enough for our morning chats, shop talk, and mostly for letting us be exactly who we are with each other. For every neurosis, for every mistake big or small, for every quirk there's no judgement, instead just a nod of the head and an "okay, so what's the lesson here, chiquita?"

And there you have it, great friendship. That alone is the highest achievement I can think of. So, whether my business is successful or not, whether my pictures are pretty or plain, or my house is pristine or full of dust bunnies, I have good, solid friendships that endure and that makes me feel like a millionaire who has won the Nobel Peace Prize who is enjoying the journey for all its ups and downs and learning the lessons along the way, one small awkward step at a time. 

Tennis Anyone?

Lately, the similarities of tennis and photography have been on my mind. Random? Maybe. But for a gal who's dad likes to relate life to football, relating one's vocation to tennis seems somewhat natural. Although, my father wouldn't be caught dead playing or watching tennis. It's just not macho enough, nor is it a team sport - something he highly values - believing it builds good character. Course, I don't know what that says about all the years he spent as a bookie while I was growing up, and how much I used to love answering the phones for him when he needed to hop in the shower, "yes, I have it written down, Jimmy "the worm" wants a 5x parlay on San Fran. Got it." ----- but that's throwing us way of course.

My husband, on the other hand, is an avid tennis player (don't worry, my dad doesn't hold this against him nor any of the other "clean cut" aspects about his appearance and behavior, but there I go again, digressing) and, so as I was saying, on Sunday's we've been playing together. Although I played a little in high school, I was more interested in touch football, double dutch and I even rowed crew for a couple years. So, what's got me all curious about the game of tennis is that it's all about being ready, alert and focused. That there, is similar to photography. It's also important to line yourself up with the ball, get your body and racket into position, and hit the ball at just the right time at just the right angle. Then, you must quickly prepare for the next oncoming ball. If you're not concentrating it's really easy to become distracted and the whole system breaks down completely. Again, ever-so-similar to photography, just swap out the ball for your subject.

So, this is where I have an opportunity to up my game - where photography can help me with tennis and tennis can help me to take better pictures. When I'm shooting, all I can think about is the shot. I'm obsessed like a squirrel with its nut. When I'm playing tennis, however, I'm thinking, "oh, that girl behind the fence has cute shorts on. Oh, those kids over there are alone, wonder where their parents are. Man, those birds are loud." In tennis, I need to de-clutter my mind, and in photography, I need to slow down and really prepare/set up the shot. If you hit the ball too soon or too late when you're on the court, it's sloppy. The same for photography. It's about taking a breath, having all the bells and whistles lined up and knowing just when to snap the shutter so you hit the image clean over the net.

Not sure if any of this made a lick of sense… But oh, well. At the very least, it's interesting to recognize and be open to diverse activities that help you strive to be better at whatever it is you do. Next time I'll blog about the trip I took with my uncle to Bike Week in Daytona - seven days on a Harley - and how my images were published in Outlaw Biker. : 0

Rachael + Tim. Carmel Valley.

A few more pix from Rachael + Tim's wedding in Carmel taken for First Comes Love. Does anyone else see the notable difference in Tim's disposition once they've taken their vows?