Archive for September, 2007

Katie is from Southern CA. She and Charlie were married in a city of citrus groves–there was a dry wind during their wedding shoot, and you could totally smell the fresh scent of citrus filling the air making the wedding day seem that much more magical!

But Katie is the real magic. Katie is an overcomer in life. She has been through a lot, and even though there has been pain, Katie’s very being has this incredible beauty that is strong, gentle and so willing to love and be loved.

It was really moving for Brian and me to photograph two people who have overcome so much. The tenderness between them made me stop. Such a gift.

If you need a pick me up at the end of your day, check back to see their wedding slideshow. It will be live on the blog by this afternoon.

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Ornery: ugly and unpleasant in disposition or temper

These two partners in crime are totally not ugly, but for today I’d say the whole UNPLEASANT IN DISPOSITION OR TEMPER? Heck Yeah!

School is underway, and I’m dying! The flexible schedule of home school sounds so good right now.

So help me out moms and dads because the transition is a bit brutal! I don’t know if the kids are just ornery today or if the schedule change is just tough on everyone. Either way, Blaze and Pascaline have got me so tired and the week just started! You can just see Blaze plotting his next move of mischief!

I would love any suggestions you have for lunches and snacks! I found some great snack stuff at Trader Joe’s (love their mini pbj sandwich crackers), but do any of you have any other good ideas on how to do this? AND you must keep in mind that Pascaline is the child who says “I’ll only have feta cheese if it’s made from sheep’s milk.” (nice, huh) Today she’s taking rice, tofu curry and seaweed for lunch. I think I’m in trouble!

Pascaline is also a S-L-O-W mover in the morning. She takes her time getting out of bed, washing her face, getting dressed, kissing Prince Phillip the cat (over and over again), then LA-DI-DA-ING down the stairs to eat breakfast. How do you get your kids to move faster without killing each other in the process? Any DVD series on this type of stuff? If not, someone needs to do one!

How about any tricks for getting lights out early at night for bedtime?

Really and truly, any tricks, tips, or a “hang in there Me Ra” is welcome! :)

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Pre Teens and Upcoming News!

First the Upcoming News! :)

The last few days have been a blast since our Big Fat Fabulous Wedding has started airing on VH1! Thanks so much for all the wonderful emails, calls and posts! We’ve had great response from the show! If you missed it, you have another chance to catch it today at 1pm PT.

Mom Nominees for the Workshop Announced!

I’m going to announce the winner of the “Running On Empty” contest a week from today. The nominations have been inspiring, as so many have already expressed. Picking one mom is way out of my league, so I’ve asked a few moms in the photography industry to be the ones to decide who wins. But we’ve also got some other fun things in store for the ones who don’t win. Tune in this Monday! :)

Beginner SOLD OUT!! and Only THREE Upcoming Workshop Seats Left!

There are only 3 spots left in the Two Day Advanced Workshop! We are so pumped! Both Beginner Photography Workshops for Women are SOLD OUT!!! YEAH!!! We get to start sending out emails now and getting these workshops rolling! I’m so excited I can hardly stand it! Be on the look out for an email with all kinds of details and an exercise to do “before” the workshops start!

Now for Pre Teens!

When I announced the August Portrait Special, one of my original clients from “way back when” signed up right away. When we did their first shoot her little boy had just turned three. Here he is today! :) Can’t you see this guy in the latest upcoming band!

It’s so fun to document a family’s growth and the changes that their children go through. I loved spending a couple hours in their home and shooting them in their element.

Here is big sister’s room!

When I photograph the younger kids I try to catch the shots of them Refusing to Say Cheese. And this goal takes on a whole new face when pre teens sink into it! :)

And even though pre teens are strikingly strong and confident on the outside, I love finding moments when their guard is down and dad and mom are still their safety.

Scott and Felicia, you are two incredible people! I have such respect for your marriage, your personhood, your parenting, your kindness. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to document your family again. All the joy and silliness I get to experience with you and the kids totally starts with how real this dynamic is between the two of you.

Much Love,

Me Ra

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Today is the big day that we thought would never come! But it’s even bigger for our whole family than I realized! Funny how every thing happens at once!

The craziest news for today is the type that makes me want to cry! Pascaline is starting first grade. Say a prayer for me moms and dads. I’m so not ready for this!

Pascaline and I have made a deal to have lunch after school, just the girls, and decompress her day together over a pot of tea. :) So love being a mom on days like this.

And the other fabulous thing is that Fabulous Life airs Shae and Erica’s, My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding, on VH1 at the below show times. From what I understand they did 300 plus hours of filming, and they’ve narrowed it down to 25 minutes worth!! And of course, we’re all stressed about us looking silly! Reality TV is way harder than it looks!

It’s been wonderful working with VH1 and Pink Sneakers Productions for this last year, especially the last couple months. I just wish they’d let us see it before it airs! :)

Here are the show times. I got these from TVguide.com, but be sure to double check your time zone to make sure these are the right times for you.

VH1 Thu, Sep 6
11:00 AM Erica and Shae
A Beverly Hills couple plan nuptials in Hawaii. Expenses include $200,000 for guest travel, $20,000 for photos and $5000 for the wedding gown.

VH1 Thu, Sep 6
10:00 PM Erica and Shae

VH1 Sun, Sep 9
10:30 AM Erica and Shae

VH1 Mon, Sep 10
1:00 PM Erica and Shae

Big favor! Can anyone record one of these for us? We have a TV, but it’s not hooked up to any thing–just use it for movies so if anyone can record it that would be AWESOME!

If you see the first showing at 11am let me know how it went (only if it went well! :) ). We probably won’t catch it till the later showing tonight.

Here we go! (holding my breath :) )

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#10 You find lots of cool bugs!

#9 You get to try silly family portraits since no one else is around to take your photo!

#8 Even little guys get to sit by the fire (and look pretty tough!).

#7 Wonder Woman flies with much greater speed in the woods (so I’m told). :)

#6 Muscles are stronger too in the woods, especially for throwing rocks!

#5 Mom and dad get lots of fun snapshots b/c kids are more happier than normal!

#4 You can still sit on the river’s edge when you’re fussing.

#3 You get to watch and smell the blueberry pancakes being cooked over a camping stove!

#2 You get to wade through riverbeds!

and last but not the bit least,

THE #1 REASON TO TAKE KIDS CAMPING!!…

If they’re throwing a tantrum, you can just stick em out in the rain and let them cry it out! :)

We had so much fun we’re going again in the next couple weeks!

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Quick Announcements to Our Fabulous Blog Readers!

1. Friday, September 7th, is the last day to nominate a “Mom Running on Empty” for the October Beginner Workshop! Post your nominees here!

2. If you want help on taking better photos of your kids, check out our popular DVD series, Refuse to Say Cheese! Click on our e-store or see a trailer here for more info!!

3. VH1 airs TOMORROW!!! Craziness! The whole family is getting excited to watch this together! There are three updated air times, but definitely check your local TV guide to make sure you have the right times!

My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding: Erica and Shae is on VH1 tomorrow, and even Sunday! :)

Thursday, Sep. 6 @ 11/10c AM

Thursday, Sep. 6 @ 10/9c PM

Sunday, Sep. 9 @ 10:30/9:30c AM

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To learn more about me visit About Me Ra.

For information on Me Ra’s popular photography workshops visit “Documenting a Child’s Life.”

To see our day job, visit our website. :)

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Amazing Weekend! Check It Out!

We arrived home yesterday from the most amazing weekend!

It started Thursday. Brittany and Greer had their wedding festivities start on Thursday night and invited Brian and I to come early and celebrate with their friends and family at a special prelude dinner. The whole restaurant was reserved for them with a live country band and fancy dancing! (sorry no photos, just having fun that night :) ) When we walked into Trail Dust, we had an incredible welcome from all their guests, it was like a reunion from Shannon and Rob’s wedding last July! I never imagined our photography would bring us such beautiful relationships!

The next day Brian and I slept in (a rare treat as parents) and had a fun lunch at a sweet bistro near the university.

Isn’t he a cutie! :)

Then Brian and I split up for a couple hours, and while I was checking out the local shops, a magazine editor calls to interview me for their upcoming issue! They are running a piece on tips for brides picking the right photographer. What a blast! It was kind of dreamy; strolling through a quaint neighborhood, going in and out of shops, and all the while doing this interview with the editor. Can you believe this will be our second magazine to premier our studio in 2008! Who are the magazines? We’re keeping the lid on it for a bit longer. :)

Later that evening, we shot Britt and Greer’s rehearsal dinner at JW Marriott.

Brian and I couldn’t figure out why there were two empty seats at the head table with Brittany, and Greer. The next day they told us those seats were reserved for us! They wanted us to sit with them at their rehearsal dinner! Can you see why we adore this family?!

Saturday was the wedding, and it was breathtaking! The family has been working around the clock for several months to prepare the piece of land for this event. They actually had 16 semi trucks come in and dump 160 tons of pea gravel!!! Can you imagine the work! They brought in water, electricity, and 100 plus bails of hay! The final result was out of a movie!

Brian and I were going nuts with all the beautiful things to shoot and the amazing surrounding of Colorado sky and country!

But the best part was the private shoot we did with Brittany and Greer.

When we showed the slideshow the whole tent started cheering “Brian and Me Ra are AWESOME!” Brian and I couldn’t stop laughing and then when I saw Brittany crying, so I totally started crying and couldn’t help but hug her and Shannon. Being able to capture something that meant so much to them means more than words can say. These two ladies, Shannon and Brittany, have been through so much in their life. To be a part of their weddings was such a honor, and every time we get to be with them, we walk away better people.

Sunday was our day with Shannon, Rob and their sweet 1 month old, Ruby Katherine. We did a 3 hour newborn shoot at their home (with lots of fun surprises–I’ll share more later :) ).

Afterward, Shannon and Rob surprised us with an awesome three hour lunch. We laughed so hard my side hurt!

As Brian and I were coming home yesterday, we couldn’t stop talking about how fortunate we are to have the clients we do. Our brides and grooms never feel like clients, in fact, just the opposite. They almost feel like extended family, and we find ourselves scheming with them on how we can see each other again.

Plan A: Bring the kids back this winter and go skiing all together at their cabin in Vail! (we promise guys! we’ll make it out! –and Shannon, you can’t see any more Ruby photos until I’m done with Britt’s wedding. :) )

Plan B: Not even going to go there! :) (all our love to the whole gang; Britt, Greer, Shannon, Rob, Jim, Megan, Tim, Lindsey, Irene, Buck, ALL the beautiful and hilarious bridesmaids, (and Megan, I know you’re reading! Where is your comment? :) love, Me Ra and Brian)

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