Camille Ann Photography

The Schenk Kids

2012-02-05T21:13:00.000-08:00

So I have these 2 BFF's. Sarah and Pam. We all live in different states. Sad face. I love being around them and their cute and crazy kids. I went to Arizona a few weeks ago and spent the weekend with Pam and her family. I had a blast because Pam is just hilarious and doesn't even mean to be. I was able to get a few quick pictures of her offspring. Love them.

This is Sarah Camille (Get it?!?)

Nate had a hard time smiling for me because there were so many rocks to play with. All boy.

Power to the people...

Frederick and the Groundhogs

2012-02-02T20:24:00.000-08:00

This is Frederick. He's my garden gnome. Not quite a groundhog, but I'm sure he has connections to the groundhog world. HAPPY GROUNDHOG DAY EVERYONE!!!!

Wall

2012-01-30T18:20:00.000-08:00

I've run right into one. No creativity in me at all at this moment. But that's okay. So to fill some blog space while I hurdle this wall...have you seen this video??? I'm slightly addicted to it.

Sedona & Jerome, AZ

2012-01-23T22:28:00.000-08:00

I had the chance to visit my BFF Pam in Arizona last week. She lives in the middle of no where. I cried for her when I got to her house. She actually lives in the middle of Sedona and Jerome. All 3 together in the middle of no where. We went hiking in Sedona which was beautiful in it's own special red rock kind of way.

Then there was Jerome. It's an old mining city turned artist colony built straight into the side of a mountain. It's bizarre and pretty awesome all at the same time. The locals say it's haunted. Sure, maybe. Here's the view from the city...

Lewis Family

2012-01-19T20:11:00.000-08:00

I've known Laura since the days of summer girls camp. This girl is f-u-n-n-y! Luckily her husband is equally as hilarious and they definitely pass it down to their kids.

Eliza Jean

2012-01-16T21:07:00.000-08:00

This little girl...I can't handle her cuteness. That smile of hers makes me weak.

Manhattan Beach, CA

2012-01-09T17:30:00.000-08:00

I kind of fell in love with Manhattan Beach this weekend. It's beautiful, of course. It felt tucked away from other beaches. Most importantly, there is this creamery right up from the pier that sells Maple Bacon Crunch ice cream. Oh sweet mercy! That stuff was delicious. When I own a home there over looking the ocean you are all invited to come sit with me on my balcony eating ice cream.

Levi Christopher

2012-01-07T17:28:00.000-08:00

Man, do I love this little guy.

Four Holiday Treats

2011-12-30T20:48:00.000-08:00

The whole Knecht fam was here this week. All 16. It's been all sorts of crazy up in here. But the best kind of crazy thanks to these 4 kiddos. Happy 2012 friends!

Scott & Brandie

2011-12-20T16:20:00.000-08:00

Just 2.

Christmas Treats

2011-12-10T21:27:00.001-08:00

The evolution of a caramel apple.

Jana, Jordan, Tyler, Jaden

2011-11-30T20:40:00.001-08:00

Siblings, cousins, friends. A combination of all. These 4 were pretty hilarious. Well the little guy wasn't really having it but we had a fun afternoon together anyway.

Armes Family

2011-11-24T20:29:00.001-08:00

It's Thanksgiving evening. So many things to be grateful for, including the delicious meal we ate earlier and this family!!! Do you know how awesome they are? Really really awesome. This is my BFF Sarah and her husband Greg and their clan. These kids make me laugh so much. Enjoy...

Reeks Family

2011-11-22T19:48:00.001-08:00

Happy and easy-going family in a beautiful park. We may have gotten lost a few times in there. Zach was all boy and running and jumping and swinging from trees the whole time. It was awesome, and so are they.

Hong Family

2011-11-15T19:09:00.001-08:00

Such a sweet and playful family on a beautiful Halloween afternoon.

Mother Nature

2011-11-09T20:19:00.000-08:00

Dear Mother Nature, I love you.

The Wilson Family

2011-11-05T15:54:00.000-07:00

Two thumbs up for this family. Such a fun morning with them. If you ever meet a Wilson, high-five them. They're awesome.

Alan & Jessica Wedding

2011-10-31T20:44:00.000-07:00

I like these two. A lot. Their wedding day was one of the most fun I've ever been too. Happy to call them family!

Lydia and her boys

2011-10-13T21:14:00.000-07:00

Lex & Nic

2011-10-11T18:39:00.000-07:00

Happiest little brothers ever. Lex had so much energy, he was running circles around me. And Nic, it was like he's been modeling for years as a 1 month old.

Happy Fall

2011-10-04T17:21:00.000-07:00

(taken in my brother's garden)

Huntington Beach

2011-09-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

While on a bike ride at the beach, I came across this little gem.

Serenity Now

2011-09-15T22:01:00.000-07:00

Do you know what this picture is?? It's a bubble bath on a stressful day. Peace of mind when your mind is cloudy. A Coke Slurpee on a hot summer day. Momma's home cooking when you haven't had it for a while. This picture, well, it was the perfect ending to one of those no good days. I called my sister up to be spontaneous with me, she agreed, and we sat on the cool sand at Newport late at night to decompress. Just what the doctor ordered.

Summer Rain

2011-09-10T11:46:00.001-07:00

I wish there was a way to capture the feeling and smell and gloriousness of a summer rain. Despite the fact that I washed my car about an hour before this rain, I was in a sweet summer bliss as the skies poured down.

A Recipe

2011-08-27T21:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a recipe for a terrific weekend...

1 ocean view hotel suite
A kickin dance party
Ghiradelli Ice Cream sundaes
A bike taxi ride through downtown San Diego
A rental boat in Mission Bay
4 incredibly beautiful and hilarious friends

Combine in one beautiful city. Bake at a perfect 75 degrees for as long as needed.

Release Me...

2011-08-24T22:57:00.000-07:00

I have had absolutely no pictures to blog with in the last few weeks. Nothing. But really, my life has been really fun recently. I'm trying not to write as much on this blog, since I'm not a writer in the least and I don't wont to be a bore with my lack of writing skills. So I will leave you with one horrible picture of one fabulous night.

Wilson Phillips. Next to NKOTB, they were my favorite band as a child. I would go to my bff's house and we would make up dances to "Release Me" in their back yard. So when we saw they were coming to Cerritos (of all places) we jumped all over it. You can see at the top of this horrible cell phone picture the rafters to the venue. We were that high up, but it did not matter one bit. I sang my little heart out even though everyone around us was stuffy and lame and didn't have one dancing bone or thumb mic in them. It was a DREAM.

Peyton turns 1

2011-08-11T18:03:00.000-07:00

This little girl is so sweet, so happy, and so stinkin' cute. April and Wes, ya' done good. Happy 1st Peyton.

Carpinteria, CA

2011-08-08T12:24:00.001-07:00

Seriously. I will never get tired of a sunset on the beach. Never.

Rashelle

2011-07-30T20:54:00.001-07:00

This is my friend Rashelle. She is beautiful, talented, driven, and so kind to everyone she meets.

A Bullet List

2011-07-25T10:56:00.000-07:00

I'm listening to the Neil Diamond station on Pandora right now. Some times you just need a little Neil.

I did a fun shoot with this friend last week.

Went to see Les Miserable on Saturday with the sisters. We had a mezzanine box to ourselves and it was dreamy. We felt like royalty, or the Muppets. We snuck in Peanut M&M's. Genius. I had never seen the musical before and now I can report that this wont be my last time either. So incredible. And once again I was reminded that I missed my calling of being on Broadway. I'm pretty sure I was meant for the stage.

We played a pretty fun game of Boggle last night. I forget how much I love that game.

Thanks to the Mormon pioneers of years ago, I have today off. *sigh*

Going to the Dodgers game tonight. Viva Los Doyers!

Life is swell!

Monday, Monday

2011-07-18T14:57:00.001-07:00

If only every Monday were like this...

Logan and Karon Married

2011-07-09T10:37:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had the great opportunity to shoot Karon and Logan's wedding. It was at the LA Temple and it was a beautiful day. They are a fun and happy couple with a fun family as well. Congratulations guys. Thanks for a wonderful day.

And a big thank you to my friend Alex for helping me out with this one.

Let Freedom Ring

2011-07-04T22:50:00.001-07:00

My 4th of July in pictures...

And that, my friends, is why it is my all time favorite holiday.

Susan

2011-06-27T23:54:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time I was at a friends dorm room with this girl who had only been an acquaintance and we were trying to see how many gumballs we could fit in our mouths. If I had only known then that this acquaintance would become one of my closest friends. (I think my jaw still hurts from those dang gumballs). Meet Susan. She's spunky, sassy, hilarious and kind. We were college roommates back in the day. I have so many funny stories with this girl. She has been my nurse, my therapist, my motivator and my friend. And of all the friends I have she is the prettiest, and of all the people I know that I'm not related to, I like her the best. (Is that how you wanted me to word it...:D) Now she's off to London for a new adventure in life, and as sad as I am to not have her close by, I am beyond excited for her. Love ya ole' chap!

Okay, one more story. Susan was the Head Cheerleader at her high school. So I asked her if she thought she could still do a toe touch. Of course there was modest hesitation. I had my camera ready just in case. This is the first shot, first jump. No stretching and in jeans. You and your flexibility make me sick.

Rachel, Round 2

2011-06-22T22:36:00.001-07:00

Have you met my sister Rachel? She's pretty funny. Actually, really funny. If you are ever having a bad day or if you just need a reason to laugh, check out her blog.... Rachel Says So. And guess what? She means it.

Rachel in Action

2011-06-19T22:50:00.000-07:00

She makes the best faces ever. More to come....

Eliza Jean

2011-06-12T21:23:00.000-07:00

Really? Could she be any cuter? I'm sure you all have cute nieces, but for real....

I told you so.

The Purple Plant

2011-06-06T20:29:00.000-07:00

I've been taking a lot of pictures in our backyard recently. I saw this plant and didn't think much of it but the more pictures I took, the more I loved it.

Hello Summer

2011-05-27T14:46:00.001-07:00

Hi Memorial Day weekend! I welcome you with open arms. You unofficially welcome summer back into my life. You allow for delicious BBQ's. You present me with an extra day in the weekend to celebrate another year of my life. You are truly refreshing.
Hope you all enjoy your weekend as much as I plan to.

Just another day

2011-05-25T19:46:00.000-07:00

I'm having a blogger's block. Hopefully I will tap into some creativity soon.
I remembered today that I had some pictures on my camera from the Chino Air Show. It was one of those day-after-rain kind of days. I wish we had more of those.

The Taylor Family

2011-05-19T19:20:00.000-07:00

I've known Nikki since we were teenagers. Of course we never talked to each other because I was just awkward and shy and Nikki was also pretty shy. Luckily we overcame that and now I can call her a friend and not just someone I know. And as a bonus, we work together. We went down to Balboa to take some family pictures since cute little Andrew just turned 1. This is where John and Nikki had their first date so it has special meaning to them. Fabulous day with the Taylors.

Gold Star Day

2011-05-18T22:50:00.000-07:00

Here are just a few reasons why today was a great day:

- I had an incredible hair day. It's rare. And it was raining. I don't think I have ever had a good rainy day hair day. Ever. That alone makes this day glorious.

- American Idol was especially grand tonight. Don't judge me. I would purchase a ticket right this instant to Hailey's first concert.

- The best news of all..my brother and sister-in-law welcomed the arrival of their baby girl tonight. First niece...so exciting!!

I love days like these.

And this is just a little something something from a family shoot I did this past weekend. This little guy is so fun. More to come of him and his parents.

Grandpa Knecht

2011-05-09T20:44:00.000-07:00

Thanks grandpa for serving our country so diligently, serving our family so lovingly, and serving the Lord so willingly. We love you!

Matix turns 1

2011-05-02T20:43:00.001-07:00

Do you remember those 'best friend' necklaces that one half of the heart was "Be Fri" and the other half was "st end"? Nicole (or Kambria, as everyone else in the world calls her, minus me, and that will never change) and I always talked about getting those necklaces but we never did. I don't remember who was be fri or who was st end but when we wrote letters to each other in 10th grade and passed them one seat down (because there was so much to write about during class that we just couldn't wait for class to end to talk about it, right?) we would address our letters that way: Dear Be Fri...Sincerely, St End. Because we were cool high schoolers for sure. Well now Nicole is Miss Mom, and a fabulous one at that. Her baby boy, Matix, just turned one so I spent a morning with them to take some pictures.

Mr. Serious

Brought the big sisters in for a few.

Adri and Sky, you are the cutest big sisters ever!

A few Easter pictures

Then we stripped Matix down to devour his birthday cupcake

Thanks Nicole for a fabulous morning with your beautiful family. I wish Mario could have been there. We will just have to do it again.

Logan & Karon Engaged

2011-04-28T20:02:00.000-07:00

What a fun afternoon I had with Logan and Karon. I knew of them through church and friends but never got the chance to know them until this shoot. They are such a fun, happy couple. They were down for anything and were happy and smiling the entire time. Logan & Karon, you have a sweet love for each other and I loved seeing it for a short time. Thanks for this opportunity!

La Jolla, CA

2011-04-23T19:48:00.000-07:00

Beautiful day in one of my favorite places in all of southern California.

I really wish that was me gliding over the ocean...

Monday, Monday

2011-04-18T21:42:00.000-07:00

It's a Monday evening. We had gloomy weather today and I loved it. I went walking tonight and it was really misty outside. It felt so good on my face. I feel like it's going to be a great week!

Every time I look at this picture I feel warmth and happiness. The colors. The taste. The memories.

Spring Flowers

2011-04-12T19:10:00.001-07:00

If you visit the Knecht home anytime soon, you just might see these gracing the walls. I love ranunculus and the fluffy, vibrant, happy ways. Happy Spring!!!

RT '011: The Final Chapter

2011-04-07T22:42:00.001-07:00

I know, you are all probably sick of this road trip business, but I love reliving it and I had a ton of pictures. Here are just a few random pictures from all over. Seriously, this country is so beautiful. I have been to 35 states so far and can't wait to visit the last 15, then see them all again. Who's in for the next road trip?

RT '011: New Orleans to Home

2011-04-02T21:33:00.000-07:00

I know, it sounds like a long way, Louisiana to California but we did it in 3 days and still managed to stop and live it up in San Antonio for a day. Leaving Louisiana was pretty cool because it's pretty much a ridiculously long bridge over the entire southern state to get to Texas. And then there was Texas. Oh my Texas, you are vast. We made it to San Antonio on Wednesday night and stayed with some friends (thank you Smith's, so good to see you). We spent all Thursday in San Antonio. If there was a contest for the most visitor friendly city in the USA, San Antonio would win hands down. Seriously, on every street corner there is a map and signs pointing you to every hot spot in the city. It was so helpful. Enjoy....

Downtown Houston. I just love skylines.

The wildflowers in Texas were all starting to come up. These blue bonnets were so beautiful. Oh the Alamo. We just giggled the whole time we were there. Thank you Pee Wee Herman and your Big Adventure for making the Alamo so funny. So Lindsay has an old Polaroid camera and we took a picture in front of the Alamo (obviously) and this teenage boy was looking at the camera so weird. Oh, kids these days.

We ventured to the top of this tower. Beautiful view.

Shopping down at the river walk. I really wish she would have purchased this.

The River Walk. Loved it!

And for our dear friend Valerie...food pictures. We ate at a BBQ down on the river and it was delicious, even though I don't eat meat. The fixin's and this homemade bread were to die for. And don't even get me started on their peach cobbler.

We drove from San Antonio to Chino all in one day. It was about a 20 hour drive, Texas being about half of that drive (blah!) but totally worth it to be in my own bed again. God Bless America, I love ya. Fabulous trip!!

RT '011: New Orleans

2011-03-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

Deep down in the bayou of Lou'sianna were 2 California girls petting alligators and flying on water. That's right folks, we took an air boat tour through the swamps of New Orleans. **Public Service Announcement** If you are ever in the New Orleans area, you must take an air boat ride. You will thank me. This was just about the best idea we have ever had. It was unbelievable. First of all this air boat goes over 60 mph and you aren't even buckled in. It was better than any roller coaster I've ever been on. We saw so much wild life and had the funniest tour guide, Greg, who had the thickest deep south accent I have ever heard. I probably only understood half of what he was saying to us but that was the fun part of it all. I know we had gator pictures earlier this week but this was infinitely better. They were everywhere. We were up close and personal...

Meet Big Al. He was huge!!!

The back side of Big Al. Believe it! I'm holding a 12 foot gator's tail.

Greg picked these water lilies for all of us girls. They smelled sooooo sweet.

With Greg after the crazy ride.

After the bayou we went to the most beautiful plantation. It's called Oak Alley and you will see why in the next picture. This is just one of the massive oaks they have there.

Hello Oak Alley. There were 28 oaks lining the pathway to the home. It was so incredible.

We then went to the French Market downtown and ate beignets at Cafe Du Monde. Oh my were they delicious. We didn't spend too much time downtown because there was severe weather here tonight. Crazy rain and lightning and even tornado's.

This one is for Gina. If you lived in New Orleans I would expect you to make this your permanent job. This lady was standing on top of a steam boat playing a pipe organ that was so loud it could be heard through the entire city. She looked so happy up there. And why shouldn't she be happy? She's playing music for the whole city atop a boat.

RT '011: Georgia to New Orleans

2011-03-28T19:54:00.000-07:00

Guest commentary by Lindsay: Hallelu!!!! We're out of Georgia...Don't get me wrong I absolutely loved Georgia but the roads there make as much sense as naming New Mexico the Land of Enchantment. We made our way through Alabama and Mississippi to New Orleans and it was a gorgeous drive but too hard to capture on film so we apologize for the lack of pictures. We did manage to get this first picture in an Alabama city that has an odd fascination with boll weevils....

(from Camille: we did an impromptu photo shoot on the side of the road) Downtown Mobile, AL

Beautiful wetlands in Mississippi

Penny surfin' in the USA

The lovely sunset heading into Louisiana

Commentary by Camille: As we drove over the bridge into New Orleans, picture Lindsay dancing and singing her heart out to Harry Connick Jr.'s "Big Parade". It was a sight to behold. Totally appropriate for NO, LA

RT '011: Southern Georgia

2011-03-27T18:20:00.000-07:00

Howdy! Are you sick of us yet? Too bad. Another great day in the south. Humid and a little rainy but beautiful as always. We made our way from Savannah to south west Georgia today via Florida. A little out of the way but close enough to just stop by. Our big adventure of the day was at the Okefenokee Swamp. Have you heard of it? Its full of gators and you better believe we saw some up close and personal....

We are behind a fence at this picture but all 4 of these guys are asleep, so they want us to believe. She makes it look so easy.

Okay, so we are standing about 20 feet away from this guy with nothing between us. It was crazy...

Luckily we didn't look tasty enough for him.

But this is for real real. We were, no joke, 10 feet away from this guy. He was just chillin on the side of the parking lot. You can't tell but he is about 8 feet long. We were living on the edge today.

We took this really quick so Lindsay's back wasn't to him for too long because he kept eyeing us. I promise there are pictures of me in them too but Lindsay is just more photogenic.

RT '011: Savannah

2011-03-26T19:28:00.000-07:00

Hellooo Georgia!!! Today was the first day we didn't have to drive anywhere. It was a little piece of glory. We spent all day in Savannah and fell in love. We are lovin' this southern charm. To make up for the lack of pictures yesterday here's a whole load of pictures from our day in Savannah.

We sat here and ate gelato for a little while this afternoon. It was fantastic (the gelato and the view).

The trees down here are incredible.

These are little walkway bridges to store fronts over an alleyway. I just really liked them.

More trees.

Hi there Mr. Magnolia. They are everywhere and so beautiful.

We took this picture for Laura (Hi Laura) because she said pictures are always better with the people in them. I'm just going to say we haven't been looking our greatest in this humidity and living out of a suitcase and car but we knew we needed to get a picture of us in Savannah. Done.

Walkway to the main park in the city. This picture doesn't even do it justice. It was gorgeous.

RT '011: Raleigh to Savannah

2011-03-25T20:38:00.000-07:00

Well, we made it across the country. Touched the Atlantic Ocean today. It felt so good. When you get on the 40 fwy in California there is a sign that says Wilmington, NC 2--- something miles away. Well we made it all the way across the 40 today.

It's late and we are in a fabulous hotel in downtown Savannah so I want to enjoy it. Let me just recap the places we went today:

Wilmington, NC: Great city, but what we really loved was Kure Beach down the strand (as the locals say). It's this adorable beach city that I'm sure comes to life in the summer. It has bright colored beach house rentals that have their own private walk ways to the beach. It was just fabulous. We wrote down rental names and specific beach houses we love so we can do a huge summer trip out here. Anyone want to join? I'm sure it's so expensive so the more people, the cheaper it will be.

Myrtle Beach, SC: Cute but overrated, for us at least. Even though we did stop at the beach there to eat lunch and take a quick nap on the beach. That was super relaxing.

Charleston, SC: This is how I would describe it....If there was chocolate drizzled on that city I would eat it up. Oh, Charleston, how I will have sweet dreams of you tonight. We seriously fell in love with that city. Too bad we had so little time. We got a taste of it and want to go back desperately. Listen here people of America, you must visit Charleston. It's dreamy and magical and quaint and historical and lovely all wrapped up in to one glorious city on the east coast.

I apologize for the lack of pictures today. We got a lot but I am in no mood to weed through them. More to come later. We learned the hard way tonight that Savannah is a ridiculously difficult town to navigate so after a long drive I'm off to dream about chocolate covered Charleston.

RT '011: Knoxville to Raleigh

2011-03-24T18:36:00.000-07:00

This whole changing of times zones almost every day is throwing is off. Our goal was to get from Knoxville to Raleigh today by 2 so we could enjoy Raleigh. That didn't happen. We took our time this morning and slept in and went to the most delicious breakfast at a pancake house in the Smokey Mountains. It was glorious. We didn't get to Raleigh until almost 6 then we were sooo tired so we both took naps before we went out and discovered that Raleigh wasn't really the most happening city around. But what it did have to offer, we really liked. We didn't really take too many pictures today. We drove through the Appalachain Mountains which were absolutely gorgeous. All in all, we love North Carolina.

PS...sorry if these are boring posts. Its late when we blog and it's mainly for our journaling purposes. We did leave a little video for one and all. This will just show our love for the Tennessee accent. It's so fabulous!

Just hangin' with Dolly. We really wanted to run out with her but how do you sneak a life-size cutout of Dolly without anyone noticing?

Raleigh at night.
A little Smokey Mountain love.

RT '011: Memphis to Nashville

2011-03-23T21:17:00.000-07:00

Hey folks! Another glorious day in the south. It was actually a super fabulous day. We left Memphis, and took a really long way to get to Nashville. We went down into Mississippi through some really small towns like Guntown. It was as awesome as it sounds. Then we got on a scenic route that goes through Mississippi, Alabama, and up to Nashville. It was the most beautiful road we have ever seen. We were on it for about 4 hours and could have gone at least 4 more. There were all these pull-offs along the way that took us to waterfalls and beautiful outlooks. Seriously, we would recommend it to anyone that was in the area. We made it to Nashville and had very little time but did have some dinner. Our short time in Nashville made us realize we would LOVE to come back to this city. Enjoy the pics...off to North Carolina tomorrow.

RT '011: Arkansas to Memphis

2011-03-22T19:18:00.000-07:00

Guest Commentary by Lindsay:

Who put Arkansas in between OK and TN??? It totally threw off my game, but it turned out to be a beautiful state. And who knew the Mighty Mississippi was so mighty??? And did you know there was more to Memphis than just Elvis? Although his presence can be felt on every street corner. Today was quite the eye-opening day....for me at least.

The Memphis skyline

Lookin foxy on a riverboat tour

Beale St. Great music. Great food.

Ya see!

RT '011: Texas Panhandle and Oklahoma

2011-03-21T20:22:00.000-07:00

Another day in the great U S of A. Today we drove from Santa Fe to the east border of Oklahoma. Lots of driving. About 12 hours and about 800 miles but it was actually really fun. The more east we go the greener it gets and we are thrilled with that...

So happy to get out of New Mexico and happy to see the Texas sign.

We stopped at this gas station and in the bathroom they had butcher paper all over the wall that said "Tell your story" so we did.

Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, TX. The wind was nuts there. I still have sand and dirt everywhere from it blowing all over but it was pretty cool.

The leaning water tower of Texas.

Thank you Oklahoma, we like you a lot.

The Oklahoma sunset. This really doesn't do it justice, but it was stunning.

And a special treat for you all. Enjoy...

RT '011: New Mexico

2011-03-20T19:53:00.000-07:00

Well Day 2 was....interesting. We decided before we left on this trip that we would try to find the beauty in all the places we drive, including the desert. Today that became a challenge. But we had some good times. We drove from Flagstaff to Santa Fe today. We stopped in Grants, Katie's birthplace and where the fam lived for who knows how long, but probably too long considering it appears to be the armpit of the desert. Sorry Katie, I'm sure it was much better back in the seventies when you lived there but nothing special today. We made our way up to Santa Fe and discovered that we don't like it. Took a road trip to figure that out but it also might have been the circumstances. There were very few people and very few stores open in the plaza. Its just not as pretty as we pictured but at least we saw it. Good thing we are in a nice hotel. Tomorrow is a long driving day. We can't wait to get to green.

We haven't seen the enchanted part yet but we still have some ground to cover...

RT '011: The Grand Canyon

2011-03-20T15:22:00.000-07:00

Good glory, thank you La Quinta for your exceptional free wi-fi service. Just know this post has taken alot out of us. So the Grand Canyon was amazing as expected but freezing cold. The wind was painful but it was worth it. We stayed there for a few hours then drove down to Flagstaff to stay the night. Fun adventurous first day!

The Great Southern Road Trip

2011-03-13T22:16:00.000-07:00

PLUS

EQUALS

THE GREAT SOUTHERN ROAD TRIP

Get excited friends! Next Saturday Lindsay and I are heading on a 2 week road trip across the southern United States. We will be in 14 states in 14 days. We're nuts! We will be blogging as much as possible with pictures and videos from the road. So from March 19th to April 2nd, stay tuned if you want to live vicariously. Feel free and pass some tips if you have them or funny things to do while on the road. Dirty South....we're coming for you.

Images of Disneyland

2011-03-06T21:40:00.001-08:00

Newport Beach

2011-02-25T16:55:00.001-08:00

It's going to be a wet weekend here. As much as I love the rain, I just wanted a little sunshine in my life. I decided to drive down to Newport Beach on a whim and enjoy some refreshing solo time with puffy clouds, my sun roof open, and the little bit of sun we will get this weekend. It was magical.

Crystal Cove. In all my years of living here, I have never been to this State Park. And I didn't really get in today either because I was not about to pay $15 just for a short drive through. So I got as far in as my 15-minute free parking would allow, which apparently I was not allowed to park there because Miss Park Ranger in her khaki shorts pounced on me the instant I got back to my car. Whoops!

Driving south on PCH.
Skillful self-portrait. The end.

Deadlines and Solicitation

2011-02-21T20:33:00.000-08:00

I made it a goal this year to post something at least once a week. Almost 2 months through the year and I have done it. Today is my week deadline and I had nothing, until I decided to solicit myself. It's my blog, I can do what I want. So, get 'em while they're hot folks. Hardy har har! I really have a lot of fun discovering new things to do on Photoshop. I have been playing around with these pictures I took of the Redlands temple. It's really fun for me. So if you are interested in a custom high-resolution picture of a temple of your choice (all southern California temples up for grabs) shout it out to me (insert cheesy music and flashy lights, Price Is Right style). Here's hoping something picture worthy happens in the next week or I could be in trouble.

Karaoke

2011-02-14T11:38:00.000-08:00

Have you ever been to a karaoke box? Go!!! Had a blast with a bunch of friends on Saturday night. Here's the proof...

The Queen Mary

2011-02-07T21:41:00.001-08:00

My people

2011-02-04T17:03:00.000-08:00

I like my family. A lot! These are just a few pictures I took on Christmas Eve. Katie and I are only in the last two family pics which are courtesy of Lydia Tolman. Our beauty is just too much for this blog. Enjoy...

Redlands, CA

2011-01-28T14:40:00.000-08:00

Just another sunny day in southern California. Having every Friday off is already a bonus, but having sunny day's off like this, week after week, is gold!

p.s. Thanks Dre for being the canvas

p.p.s. Sorry to my friends in frozen areas. Come visit me!

Huntington Beach

2011-01-22T14:02:00.000-08:00

A delicious Friday afternoon in Huntington Beach with Rachel.

Heidi

2011-01-17T21:01:00.001-08:00

Hello 80 degrees in January. I fully welcome you. I had an itch for creativity last weekend so I called my dear friend Heidi and asked if she would be my model. After driving around the 91710 for a little bit I found the perfect spot for a creative outlet. Bless Heidi's good lovin' heart for putting up with me and my desire to always learn and have fun with photography. She was a fabulous remedy for my itch on this gorgeous Saturday afternoon.

Colors

2011-01-14T10:35:00.000-08:00

I miss this color. I call it Ohio Green. It's hard to find in California. Go figure.

Hello Friday night

2011-01-07T21:37:00.000-08:00

Its almost 10 pm. I have been in my pj's all day (don't judge me, I have had a cold/cough for over 4 weeks now). Father of the Bride is on TV. I have been browsing through some old pictures. Here's to a lazy Friday night.

Cheers to '011

2011-01-01T19:10:00.000-08:00

I love the week between Christmas and New Years. I would love it more if I didn't have to work all week, but we will look past that. This past week has been filled with an outrageous 1000 piece puzzle that was just finished an hour ago, lots of See's candy, lazy pajama filled days and plenty of nephew time. Here is one of my very favorite pictures from Christmas morning.

Happiest of new years to you all.

The Christmas Tree

2010-12-11T17:28:00.000-08:00

When it comes to Christmas tradition at my house, we don't mess around. Christmas has been the same for as long as I can remember and I wouldn't have it any other way. Our Christmas tree is my favorite. Its filled with so many ornaments from various times in our lives; my sister's toothpick picture, my brothers drum from when he was in band, my macaroni angel. Every year when we unwrap them, we still giggle at each one and talk about the memories of them. We even put on the same gold garland that I swear we have had since before I was born. Gold garland? Who does that anymore? We do, and Christmas wouldn't be the same without it. And who has an angel on their tree? Not even just a simple angel, one that glows and is bright and big that barely fits. This is our tree.

How great are these little guys. They were my Grandma's and they have become my favorite ornaments. Dear siblings, if you are reading this...tap tap.

And just for fun...

MERRY CHRISTMAS

The Brockway Family

2010-12-01T20:16:00.000-08:00

Meet the Brockways. Oh my goodness they are a fun family, and so good looking. Let me tell you, this family, they have magical powers. Rain was in the forecast all day on the day of this shoot, but they were willing to risk it. It was heavy rain all day, but when we all got to the park there was zero rain and even some sunshine and as soon as I drove away there were rain drops coming down. Meant to be. Dear Brockways, I'm seriously a huge fan of each of you. Thanks for a fun afternoon.

Louie and Caitlyn Wedding

2010-11-29T22:34:00.000-08:00

What a fun wedding day this was. I was able to assist my dear friend Heather at this wedding. Louie and I have been friends for a few years. He is so talented and so fun to be around. When Caitlyn came into his life I knew she was a winner. They were married in the Los Angeles LDS Temple. Afterward, we were able to spend some time taking portraits of them. It was just about the windiest day ever. Aside from a few wardrobe issues due to the wind, we had a fabulous time. Louie and Caitlyn are a beautiful, kind-hearted, and hilarious couple.

Love the detail of her dress so much.

Just a little glimpse of their goofy personalities...

Louie being, well, Louie...

And Caitlyn's reaction to my singing. I think she really liked it.

Adventures

2010-10-30T23:18:00.001-07:00

Here is a bullet point list of my adventures today:

Watched college football this morning. One of my favorite things to do on Saturdays in the Fall despite the fact that my team lost today.

Took a spontaneous adventure with Katie to Malibu. This adventure included beach house envy, dolphins at Point Dume, C&O Trattoria (the garlic knots are to die for), and an impromptu dance party on the 10 fwy due to "police activity" (we were actually parked on the freeway, jokeland)

Created this crazy guy...

Watched the last hour of Clue. It doesn't matter at what point you start watching the movie, it will always be funny ("1 plus 2 plus 2 plus 1, no 1 plus 1 plus 2 plus 1...")

It was a great October 30!!!

Cameron & Lauren Wedding

2010-10-18T22:22:00.000-07:00

I had the great pleasure of working with Lydia Tolman again at Cameron and Lauren's fabulous wedding. Seriously, such a fun day. Not only is Lydia such a fun interactive wedding photographer but the bride and groom were so awesome. Okay so I've known them for a little while, but still, they were so chill and so relaxed on their big day.

I had the lucky opportunity to be with Cameron and his groomsmen in the morning. They were a pretty funny bunch.

Sweet shoes, right?

The newlyweds...Okay this picture may seem random because nobody is actually looking at the camera. This is when Lydia is working her magic to get everyone situated but I love how Lauren and Cameron's mom Beth caught each other's eye at this moment. Two fabulous ladies.
My favorite from the day...Lauren is absolutely stunning!

After the ceremony Cameron and Lauren had the fabulous idea to go to Pink's hot dog stand in L.A. The line was wrapped around the building but Cameron used his newly married status and skills to weasel their way into the front of the line. Everyone was cheering for them and even taking pictures along with us.

The Pink's employee's couldn't have been nicer. They even made some customized hot dogs for them and gave them a bag of gifts on the spot. It was so rad. Seriously, mustard personalized hot dogs...genius.

Lauren and Cameron, I'm so grateful to call you friends. You win for funnest wedding day!!!

Wedding Preview

2010-10-12T22:23:00.001-07:00

More to come....

Re-visit

2010-10-11T22:13:00.001-07:00

I was playing around on Photoshop tonight and wanted to re-post this picture because I can't get enough of it. And the lovely girl in the picture is far far away from me and I miss her, a lot.

PS...I have some new wedding pictures to post later this week from a wedding I assisted at this past weekend. Get excited.

Carlsbad State Beach

2010-09-18T21:45:00.001-07:00

I love that feeling when memories flood back into your mind. Good, happy memories of course. My fabulous sister Lindsay reserved a site at Carlsbad State Beach for the week. I got to go down on Thursday and camp over night with her. As I pulled into the campsite memories began to pour into my mind. From the age of 8 to about 14 or 15 my family went to Carlsbad every summer. It was heaven. We would wake up and watch dolphins in the morning, play at the beach all afternoon, sit by the campfire and play games every night. It was perfect. I hadn't been back in several years. It was so refreshing to be back there and remember the good times with my family.

These pictures are pretty random below but I love them. Let me explain...

This is pretty self explanatory...the view from the campsite at night.

First of all, Lindsay is beautiful, even after camping for 4 days. But this picture sums up what we do for a good portion of the day at Carlsbad...lean over the fence at the edge of the cliff and just stare. It is so peaceful for some reason.

This picture might just look like some red string, but its the power of fire and photography making magic :) We had a little too much fun around the campfire.

Andrew and Mia Wedding

2010-09-10T10:11:00.001-07:00

I had the opportunity to work with the fabulous Lydia Tolman again as her assistant for this wedding. Let me just say, Lydia is amazing at what she does and I could follow her around all day taking pictures.

Andrew and Mia were such a sweet couple. They had a very intimate wedding with just a few family and friends. Here are just a few pictures of the newlyweds after the ceremony...

Labor Day

2010-09-06T22:15:00.001-07:00

This is a glimpse of Labor Day at the Knecht home. Inside the doors was corn on the cob, homemade ice cream, and some college football. God Bless America!

Reyes Family

2010-09-03T14:22:00.000-07:00

Meet my friend and co-worker Mariah. This girl is so fabulous. So fun, so happy and so driven. I was excited to finally meet her husband Justin and son Gavin. What an adorable family. You can tell they have so much fun together and that there is so much love in there family. Gavin is a little charmer too. He was a little shy at first but once he got used to me he was a natural. It was a perfect day at Irvine Regional Park. Justin, Mariah and Gavin, you guys are winners in my book. Thanks for this opportunity. Hope you enjoy!

Body Works Lifestyle

2010-08-23T20:09:00.000-07:00

My friend Vanessa's husband owns a personal training company called Body Works Lifestyle. They do personal training and boot camps throughout the week. They asked me to take some pictures of one of their boot camp sessions for their website and advertising. This was a unique experience but pretty fun. Fun, because I wasn't the one sprinting and doing push-ups and lifting weights. While they were getting worked over by the trainers I was up in their sweaty faces taking pictures. I'm sure they loved me. Seriously, check them out if you are looking for a great boot camp or personal trainer. They were fun to work with and they whip everyone into shape.

Benjamin & Thomas

2010-07-24T14:03:00.000-07:00

Also known as the cutest nephews in the world. My fabulous sister-in-law Stacy came down to visit with the nephews for 2 weeks (Sam we missed you!). We had so much fun with them. It's fun to see their relationship as brothers and their personalities growing. Stacy wanted some pictures of them since it's been a while and they are getting so big so fast. We went to Claremont and had a fun morning playing around.

The silly faces of Ben...

I had to get Stacy in a few. She was seriously stunning in all of them but the boys were getting sick of me telling them to smile or say stinky cheese, the silly word of the day.

I wanted to end with the next series because it makes me laugh so much. Introducing the dancing machine. This kid has some serious moves.

Laura & Mike Engagements

2010-06-24T10:04:00.000-07:00

I had the fun and fabulous opportunity to take some engagement pictures for Laura and Mike. I have known Laura for....well I don't even know how long, but a long time. She has been good friends with my older sisters for a while now and luckily we built a friendship as well. She is always up for a good time, so incredibly kind and so beautiful. I don't know Mike too well, but after spending a morning with him, I'm a huge fan. He too is such a kind person and so in love with Laura which makes me like him that much more. They are so sweet with each other and so playful. We had a blast especially at this rad park. Friends, this park has an island in the middle of it with a castle and bridges and all sorts of crazy fun things. I am dying to go back and just play there. It was awesome. Mike and Laura, I am so happy and excited for you. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to capture this time in your life.

Okay, because I am who I am and proud of it, I kicked a dad and a son off of this boat and forced Laura and Mike on it for this pose. I had to. It's just in me. And the dad that I kicked off (I didn't really kick off but asked nicely if we could use it really quick) was laughing pretty hard off to the side which made it that much better. Thanks for putting up with me guys. And don't hate me for putting it on here. :D

Recovery

2010-06-22T16:29:00.000-07:00

Well last Friday I had the great pleasure of having my gall bladder removed, so this week has been the week of recovery which means sleep, magazines, books, movies, and more sleep. Yesterday Lindsay came over to keep me company and we made it a day of our childhood. We started out by watching this...

Do you remember this movie at all?? I swear, Lindsay and I would watch this all the time. It was probably a bad idea seeing that as soon as the opening song started playing we couldn't stop laughing. Laughing and post gall bladder surgery is not a good idea. It was painful but so funny. And the theme song came right back to us.

Then we made egg salad sandwiches for lunch and played this little game...

I won, of course. Well by default because Lindsay guessed and she was wrong. Honestly, who would use the revolver in the study to kill Mrs. Peacock. Absurd! I remember playing this all the time and thinking I was sooo good at solving mysteries.

Then we put on this little movie...

If you don't know what it is from the pictures, we need to talk. This movie is definitely in my top 5 favorite movies ever. Again, not a good idea when it hurts to laugh. There are so many quality lines from it. "I coupon clipped your way through law school, Neffler the Muffler Man." "Well thank you Phil Donahue. I saw it on Oprah!" "This is a very deep ravine and only an idiot would go across. I'm going!" If you still have no clue, it's Troop Beverly Hills, and you better be on your way out the door to rent it right now.

It was so much fun reliving my young life yesterday with Lindsay. We could fill up days and days with the memories we have of our childhood. Unfortunately I only have a week to recover, then it's back to work.

The Hartman Family

2010-06-20T15:51:00.000-07:00

Meet the Hartman Family. They are funny, happy, helpful family. They get it from their 2 loving parents. They were cracking jokes from the minute I got there. It made for a fun time on a pretty hot day. I love seeing extended families together. It's fun to see cousins interact and in-law's laugh together. Hartman's: You are such a beautiful family. So photogenic and so fun to work with. Thanks for the opportunity!

Armes Family

2010-06-07T21:54:00.000-07:00

I'm back. Sorry for the hiatus. Did you miss me? Good! Well let's just chat briefly about my dear friend Sarah. She is one half of my 2 BFF's going on 26 years now (Pam we miss you. Please move back to the west coast so we can all hang out and eat lots of ice cream). Our families lived about 2 blocks away from each other. For just about my whole life, Sarah has been part of it. It doesn't matter how long we go without seeing each other or talking to each other, we just pick up like it was yesterday. Sarah and her fabulous husband Greg and their 4 kids (that makes me feel really really old) now live in Utah, but are a California beach family through and through. They were down here visiting for 2 weeks so I went with them to the beach for a day and was able to snap a few, okay a lot of photos of them. My plan was just to be there with them for a few hours but lucky for us it was the day of the truck explosion on the 91 freeway, so instead of being stuck in traffic for hours on end we played at the beach all day. What a rough day :)

Be warned, there might be a lot of commentary with these pictures.

Sarah, thank you for living life to the fullest. Thank you for being funny and pretty and kind. You are an incredible mother to your 4 beautiful children and a loving and supportive wife. You inspire me and you make me laugh.

So Greg is a big time surfer. This picture makes me so happy because I can only imagine how excited he is to teach Kai how to surf.

So stinkin cute!

I love these next 2 for this reason: for a few years growing up, my family went beach camping and out of all of my family members I wanted my dad to always go out in the water with me. Of course he was fun to play with but I always felt so safe when my dad was with me. It was so fun watching the kids want to hang onto Greg as he took them out a little bit farther than they normally would have. They completely trusted him and enjoyed every bit of it.

Don't you wish you were a kid again???

The Nephews

2010-05-05T19:24:00.000-07:00

My whole family just spent a quick weekend together in Utah. It was so fun for all of us to be together despite the snow. I was able to get a few fun close up pictures of my two nephews. I just couldn't resist their faces. So give me a moment to show off these two little studs of the family: Ben and Tom.