time is contagious

canada photos, aye! (or is it, eh?)

2012-02-13T17:39:00.000-08:00

So I went to Canada over the weekend! Seeing that my New Year's Resolution for the past five years has always to some degree included "see somewhere new this year," I feel very blessed that my job at the magazine allows me to do this so frequently as of late, and to places I probably wouldn't go to of my accord. I spent my first full day in Toronto somewhere along these lines:

Walk outside and immediately feel like I'm making every Southern California girl proud by thinking the weather wasn't that bad.
Bon Jour-nalism time for the magazine (thank you, Brandon Wirick, for the best play on words ever).
Tour the CN Tower like the shameless tourist that I am. Did you know it costs $30 to ride an elevator up 1,815 feet, get a little giddy as you stand on a glass floor that high up for a few minutes, then spend the rest of your afternoon popping your ears to equalize the pressure? It does.
Continue to think I'm superbly tough for not yet being cold. Even go so far as to leave my giant down jacket at the hotel, feeling increasingly cultured and East Coast-cool each block I walk around downtown Toronto.
Take some nice, placid photos reminiscent of an autumn season like any other like this:

Then I feel like Canada got really pissed me at me for being the spoiled, completely unaware Orange County girl that I can be, because when I woke up Saturday morning, it looked like this outside:

I wish you could touch your computer screen and feel what this photo actually is. Because this photo is -12 degrees Celsius, with a wind chill of -23 degrees. And I am a California girl who turns her heater on when it hits 60 degrees Fahrenheit. But I was determined to walk the entirety of downtown Toronto before leaving, so despite the fact that I was so cold that every time I walked outside I started irrationally giggling to myself (for reals) out of disbelief, I persevered.

I can be an odd tourist sometimes. Besides the CN Tower, there wasn't too much by-the-book activity in Toronto that seemed that interesting to me. But I had seen photos of two local parks called Little Norway Park and Ireland Park that I thought looked beautiful, so I hailed a cab there (the driver actually asked me "Why would you want to go there right now?") and walked my way along Toronto's harbor all the way back to my hotel. Once the full-body numbness kicked in, it was actually quite pleasant.

So, even though my love for California has now increased tenfold, I really did like Toronto as well. It showed me a beautiful side of winter I'd never been lucky enough to see yet in my life, and I hope the photos I took capture that. If I wasn't so attached to flip flops and tans, I would even consider living there. :) The next work trip is Wisconsin, so stay tuned for whatever pictures I come out of there with (most likely involving cheese).

this is amazing, and factual.

2012-02-10T17:56:00.000-08:00

Eating alone in a hotel far away from home (and my puppy), I stumbled upon this and LOVED it:

(Courtesy of good 'ol Hugo, my favorite "Lost" survivor ever)

I'm in Toronto for work, and feeling a bit under the weather still due to some health issues, so I haven't done much but try new food without anybody caring (see above), and walk around downtown for awhile. But there's still tomorrow, and I did manage to snap this picture of the CN Tower from my hotel room last night:

I have a few places tomorrow I know I want to visit, and I'm hoping I'll wake up tomorrow feeling a bit better, so there will definitely be more pictures to share soon! Other fun things about Canada so far though:

The legal drinking age is 19 here. The server laughed my ID away when I went to show it to him during dinner last night and I felt really old. Also, they don't serve butter with bread, but instead this delicious cranberry cream cheese amazingness that I may or may not have continued to eat with a spoon even after I ran out of bread.
It snowed for about 37 seconds today, and I'm pretty sure only I could tell because I was looking out a 14th-story window. The flurries were so tiny I don't even know if they made it to the ground in any kind of solid, recognizable form.
However, it is still freaking cold.
Subsequently, I am extremely tan here.
Toronto is big city like New York, but with a emotionally manageable amount of people on the street like Boston. It's super diverse, and really friendly. All that's missing is the sun.

i don't really like saying that word either.

2012-01-31T20:27:00.000-08:00

The end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 have been, hands down, the most insanely crazy-busy, tumultuous, rewarding, gut-wrenching times of my life. Sometimes I've felt pulled in so many different directions that I can't even breathe, though I never forget to feel blessed by the adventure. Moving forward, I want to approach life with an attitude and outlook reminiscent of both these videos. I don't have words for it, that's why you're getting videos, but I do know that I 100 percent believe the world could do with a lot more Lisa Hannigans and New Girls.

Whether your passion be writing, photography, art or something weird the rest of us will judge you for doing: cheers to being a whole month into the new year with it, friends. Who knows where the heck the rest of it will take us!

kim+sean {dana point, california wedding}

2012-01-16T23:11:00.001-08:00

The last two years have been an amazing experience for me as I started a second career in photography. As I begin this new year blogging my most-recent wedding from last year, I find myself thinking about the journey I've been on and the great people I've met along the way - two of those people being Sean and Kimberly Manning. Each wedding I shoot I find myself wanting to share more and more images than the last, and that was especially true for Kim and Sean's wedding. There were so many intricate, beautiful details at every step of their big day; I was like a kid in a candy store with my camera!

Kim and Sean's wedding was one of the brightest and most colorful I've seen, and even more so on a clear October afternoon along the coast. Here are some of my favorite photos from their day! (For a higher-resolution view, click on an individual image.)

Kim and Sean were married in Dana Point at a park overlooking the coast. The sun came out just in time for their vows, which were touching, comical and heartfelt. The entire day I had been hearing one thing from everyone over and over again: "Sean's known he would marry Kim since he first laid eyes on her, before she even knew what was coming." And he was right!

This was one of my favorite moments — after the sand ceremony, Kim went in to give Sean a kiss, only to remember it wasn't that part of the vows just yet. She caught herself just in time! ;)

We made our way over to Wind and Sea just down the street for Kim and Sean's reception, and there are two words to sum up the rest of the night: dance party. I think the pictures prove that haha!

Congratulations to Sean and Kim! Hope the rest of your married life is as full of joy as your Big Day was!

new year, new york.

2012-01-03T16:51:00.000-08:00

I spent New Year's Eve in New York City with my old college roomie and best friend who moved out to the City That Never Sleeps after we graduated. I've been a few times before, so I avoided most of the tourist traps and instead spent a lot of time walking around her neighborhood near Little Italy to see what it offered. This year is already insanely busy, so I knew if I didn't post a few of these now I'd never get around to it — so without further adieu, here's a few NY favorites I quickly picked out this afternoon!

OK, I lied — I also went to Times Square for about 5 minutes, then promptly got right back on the subway
after getting this picture cause the crowds were immediately far too annoying for me to handle. :)

The Strand - the nation's longest bookstore at 18 miles! Eighteen miles of book browsing! I was in heaven!

I do not know why I was so drawn to this gentleman during one of my walks, but I was. I find his face very kind and tired, and I'm glad I have this photo to remember him by. It's one of my favorite pictures I came back to California with.

happy holidays!

2011-12-19T22:13:00.000-08:00

Inspired by events from a week ago - when we realized my puppy LOVES peppermint - and the amazing holiday card of some coworkers and fellow dog owners, my mom gave Belle a candy cane tonight while I took pictures and laughed hysterically.

She is the best.

The next few weeks are going to be a bit hectic, and I might be neglecting the blog a bit, so Merry Christmas to you all and have an amazing New Years! Here's to hoping 2012 holds as much happiness for us as my puppy with a candy cane. :)

my not-so-baby brothers {family portraits}

2011-12-11T23:29:00.000-08:00

Though it's hard for me to believe, my second-youngest brother is graduating high school this year!!! My mom asked me to take him out for some senior portraits, so we headed to our local park as well as returned to The Lab in Costa Mesa to get a good mix of shots. We brought along the baby brother of the family for comedic entertainment and I was able to get lots of fun photos of the two of them! I love these so much, now I'm inspired to drag my 23-year-old brother out for another shoot as well! :)

My youngest brother, Stephen, is quite the spaz of the family, if you couldn't tell...

He turns 18 in a month, and will be in college next year. I'm so oldddd.

And to cap it all off — probably my favorite picture of them I've ever taken:

introducing musician Scott McLaughlin {costa mesa, calif., portraits}

2011-12-10T21:31:00.000-08:00

Orange County musician Scott McLaughlin is a talented singer-songwriter who has recently embarked on a new solo album after enjoying years of success in a local Dave Matthews Band cover group. We met up in Costa Mesa, Calif., at The Lab, to shoot some updated portraits and fun candid shots he can use as he continues to work hard recording his first all-original CD. I've wanted to shoot at The Lab for a long time now, and it's definitely one of my new favorite spots. Lots of bright colors, great lighting and good energy!

This shoot lent itself to a greater mix of black-and-white shots and colors photos than in the past. I still can't decide which I like more, so let me know — did you like the color or black-and-white more for these? And make sure to check out Scott's Website (www.scottmclaughlinmusic.com/) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/scottmclaughlinmusic) to stay updated on live shows and CD releases. Hope everyone is surviving the holiday season so far! :)

winter family portraits on the coast {laguna beach, calif}

2011-12-06T15:49:00.000-08:00

November turned out to be a very busy month for me. I was fortunate enough to photograph a variety of families for the holidays, and loved each and every shoot! I'm excited to share the final family session I have from last month. When I first met this family, I was blown away by what a good-looking bunch they all were - definitely made my job easy! :) We played around on the beach while I snapped as many pictures as I could (all the while falling in love with their kids, especially their youngest boy who preferred to give me hugs rather than stand in front of the camera!). Here's some of my favorites from the day:

the metzger family portraits {laguna beach, calif}

2011-12-03T21:31:00.000-08:00

This latest shoot is particularly close to my heart, and I'm very excited to share these photographs! Anyone who has seen this blog or my Facebook before has probably seen pictures of this beautiful little girl named Elise — I worked with her dad for years

at my local newspaper before she was born, and after graduating ended up nannying for the family. She was about 4 months old when I first started working for the family, and though I was only officially her babysitter for about a year, I have stayed close to the family. I love this little girl like she was my own; and it's been amazing to watch her grow up, become a big sister, and to fall just as much in love with the newest little one, Lydia, as I am with Elise.

The family has always been such a big supporter of me, so it was tons of fun to head down to the Montage Resort in Laguna Beach last week with them and some of their extended family to shoot a few photos and play around down by the water. It was a beautiful yet uncharacteristically hot day for November — only in Orange County, Calif., will you get to enjoy an 80-degree afternoon in the middle of winter. The whole shoot was way too much fun! It's been a blessing to be a part of these girls' lives and I treasure each moment I get to spend with them and every photograph I get to take!

Elise, shown here in the photo to the right, is 5 years old now (how ancient do I feel?!?!) and gets more and more beautiful every day, along with her baby sister. (Their parents are in trouble, let me tell you, haha.) It was also great to spend some time with their extended family, and watch the girls interact with their big cousins and see how much they admire and love them! Here are a few of my favorites from the photo shoot (and make sure to scroll down all the way to the very end of the post for a fun few extra photos that make me feel extra, extra old!).

Such a group of beautiful sisters and handsome brothers!

Just for fun, I went through my old photos and tracked down ones Elise and I have taken over the years. The one on the far left is from my nannying days when she was 4 months old, the middle is from her 2nd birthday, and the one on the right is both girls from back in August. The bottom photo is the most recent from this summer. It's crazy to see how much they've grown up already!

allison+sean {long beach engagements}

2011-11-30T16:29:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy month for family photography! I had the pleasure of meeting Allison, her daughter and her fiance a few weeks back - I'll be photographing their wedding January of next year and we recently got together to shoot a laid-back, casual engagement+family portraits combo session. It was a perfect fall afternoon at El Dorado Park in Long Beach, Calif., and I can't wait for part two at their wedding. :) Here are a few of my favorites from the day!

san dimas campground portraits {family photography}

2011-11-30T09:01:00.000-08:00

I took all last week off of my day job, and besides the extra rest and relaxation that came from that, I was able to fit in a few daytime photoshoots I'd otherwise miss out on! I drove to San Dimas for a quick family portrait session one afternoon, and was pleasantly surprised at how beautiful the campground was! Here's a few fun photos from the day!

I'll be photographing the wedding of this beautiful couple above next year, and I can't wait!!!

the cutest santa butt ever {newborn holiday portraits}

2011-11-29T07:13:00.000-08:00

My very good friend Kim recently had her first child, a beautiful baby boy named Kyler, about two months ago. So last week made it the perfect time to dress him up in festive outfits and snap some holiday portraits! I've never photographed a newborn before, and he is still a bit to young to bring outside for too long, so we made due with indoor lighting and let Kyler ham it up for the camera for a few hours. He was a total trooper with all his wardrobe changes, and celebrated a successful shoot with an immediate nap in my arms, which I was completely OK with. :)

Have you ever seen a cuter Santa butt than this one above?!?!?

holiday family portraits {huntington beach, calif}

2011-11-15T00:37:00.000-08:00

So holiday portrait season is officially in full swing! I had a great time this Sunday with a local family in Huntington Beach - we went to Huntington Beach Central Park behind the disc golf course to take their family portraits, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it actually looking like fall in Orange County (or at least O.C.'s version of fall haha!). The two younger ones kept all of us running around until I managed to hijack an innocent passerby's dog and make him pose behind me to keep the kids looking at the camera. Hope that guy didn't mind. ;) I loved the energy of the whole family - I felt like I was just hanging out with old friends rather than on the job, just another reason I love photography!

I couldn't not include a picture of the dog/my photo assistant for the shoot. :)

This last photo is one of my favorite I've been lucky enough to take this year! I love the playfulness,

the lighting, the snap-second moment captured - it just makes me smile looking at it!

introducing baby Hudson {children's portraits}

2011-11-12T15:07:00.000-08:00

I recently was able to meet my best friend's nephew for the very first time - he normally lives in Arkansas but the family was visiting this past weekend - and I of course brought my camera and snapped a few photos of the little guy. He is 1 1/2 years old, a total flirt, and was tons of fun to spend the day with. Thought I'd share a few of my favorites!

adam+whitney's wedding: san juan capistrano in september

2011-11-03T09:33:00.000-07:00

Even though Adam and Whitney's wedding was just a little over a month ago, it feels like I've been waiting to share these images for ages because I've been so excited about them! The bride and groom are good friends of mine, and when I heard Adam popped the question, I remember secretly hoping they'd ask me to be their wedding photographer. Luckily for me, they did! The two married in September and their wedding day was not only full of love and lots of laughs, but it was also quite the party!

Whitney was an absolute beauty of a bride! Nicole Knight of Hair by Nicole did her updo, and makeup was done by Demi Broughton of Faces 2 Love. These two women were total phenomenas and I'd highly recommend both. (Nicole can be reached at nicolek@cox.net, and Demi at demi@faces2love.com or here.) They all had a great time getting ready for Whitney's walk down the aisle, and I loved the smile Whitney could not get off her face once seeing herself in full wedding gear for the first time!

One sure sign you can tell the photographer has moved their way to the men's headquarters? Beer and cigars, of course!

Whitney had a big hand in every detail of her wedding. From her dress, to the burlap tables accented with A&W Root Beer bottles, to the cigar station for the reception's "man cave," everything was warm, bright and gorgeous - pretty representative of the bride and groom themselves! I especially loved the couple's rings, which were engraved with "I promise, promise, a promise" — a phrase that has come to hold significant meaning to Adam and Whitney over the years as they dated and fell in love.

Whitney and Adam opted to see each other for a "first look" before the vows, and it was a very touching, fun moment to be a part of! Both had been a little nervous the whole morning, but were immediately put at ease once seeing each other for the first time.

Whitney and Adam married in beautiful San Juan Capistrano, Calif., at the mother of the bride's house, where the backyard was transformed into one of the best wedding venues I've ever seen! The couple's family had a big part in their wedding, all the way from flower arrangements and decoration and setup to the ceremony itself. Whitney's brother officiated the ceremony, and he kept the crowd entertained all while paying tribute to Adam and Whitney as a couple. It was a very personable, upbeat ceremony, that left everyone in attendance laughing and crying at the same time! I also loved the roles the bride and groom's mothers played in the ceremony, and thought they both looked beautiful walking their kids down the aisle.

(I adore Adam in this above photo, on the left. Every girl should have a moment where they're celebrated like that by the guy they love!)

Then it was time to celebrate — which this crowd was good at!!! I was tempted myself quite a few times to put down my camera and join the dance party, but alas, my photographer duties called and I stayed professional. ;)

Phil Shane provided entertainment for the evening, opening the night with "White Wedding" (let me tell you, I've never seen a dance floor fill so fast). The party only got better from there, and one of the most fun parts of the reception was the best man's impromptu jump on stage to join Phil Shane for a duet. When else will a crowd get such an up-close and personal Jack's Mannequin-Phil Shane cover of "Mustang Sally"? (The answer is never, this moment was amazing.)

Another standout moment from the reception was a surprise Whitney orchestrated for Adam that included Phil Shane playing Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" while the wedding guests surrounded the groom on the dance floor, changing the lyrics to include Adam and Whitney's official wedded last name, "Trejo." Like I said, these people know how to have a good time! :)

I am so happy for both Whitney and Adam! Their wedding was such a great time and left me on such a high that even after being on my feet all day, I went home that night and could barely sleep! Whitney was such a gracious bride, and Adam a loving groom, they reminded me again of how blessed I am to work with the type of people I do. I wish the new married couple all the best in their new adventures moving forward, and I know their life will be full of blessings and love (and outrageously fun parties)!

i partied with some 3-year-olds this weekend.

2011-10-23T21:03:00.000-07:00

Every time I see these two girls, I am taken more and more aback at how beautiful they are.

I was at the Metzgers this weekend to celebrate Lydia's 3rd birthday. The time has really flown by!

Lydia's friend Ben was at the party too — how photogenic is this handsome guy?

Words can't express how much I love these two sisters. I'm so grateful to have them in my life, and I can't wait to see them grow up even more! (Their parents are in serious trouble when they hit the teen years and boys start lining up at their door haha!)

bobby+casey {orange county engagements}

2011-10-19T16:49:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I posted teasers from Bobby and Casey's engagement shoot this weekend. I thought it'd take me longer to get through the rest, but I was hit by a burst of inspiration and wrapped up everything today — I'm very excited to share a few more of my favorites here! I had so much fun on their shoot - we wanted to make sure to take advantage of the California scenery as much as possible, so the photoshoot included stops at the Old Towne Orange Circle, Chapman University (where Bobby and Casey went to school), and Laguna Beach, which was a must since the two have been missing ocean views quite a bit since their move to New York. I'm so happy for both Bobby and Casey, and was honored they dedicated part of their time in California to a photoshoot with me! Here's to wishing them a very happy engagement, and can't wait to toast them on their wedding day. :)

If you didn't see Bobby and Casey's "teaser post" on the blog from yesterday, check it out here!

Teaser: from Old Towne Orange to Laguna Beach {Orange County engagements}

2011-10-18T15:31:00.000-07:00

Bobby and Casey are good friends of mine who recently packed up their bags and moved to New York ... but before they did that, Bobby popped the question and Casey of course said yes! (They've been together for 10 years now, so I'm pretty sure a 'yes' was no surprise!) I always wanted to take their engagement photos, but wasn't sure it would work out once they made the big move. However, they happened to be in town this past weekend and I was honored they fit me in their schedule for a quick session. I'm still working my way through the pictures, but I promised Casey a few sneak peeks - she came all the way from New York, how could I say no? :) We went to three locations throughout the day, so here's a teaser from each spot! More to come soon!

Stay tuned for lots more — I saved my favorites for later! :)

photoshoot crashers in Old Towne Orange

2011-10-17T15:13:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite areas in Orange County is Old Towne Orange and the Orange Circle — I lived there for about four years while going to college, and I've wanted to return for a photoshoot for awhile now. I had always heard the rumors about parrot sightings in the city, but had never seen them myself. I finally spent yesterday afternoon back at the Circle for an engagement shoot, and lo and behold, looked up before my clients arrived to see a few smug-looking parrots high up in the trees. They were cute just long enough for me to snap this photo, then they wouldn't shut up and quickly forced us to move somewhere else to continue the shoot. Parrot squawking is not exactly a romantic backdrop for an engagement shoot. :)

another wedding teaser {san juan capistrano}

2011-10-12T16:21:00.000-07:00

I'm addicted to sharing teasers from this San Juan Capistrano wedding. Sure, admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery, but let's be honest — with a bride and groom this good-looking, I'm not going to kick this habit anytime soon. ;)

feeling like fall in Huntington Beach {family holiday portraits}

2011-10-11T15:47:00.001-07:00

Last weekend myself and this beautiful family headed out to Huntington Beach to shoot their portraits for the holidays. Their 3-year-old daughter is the cutest thing, with a TON of energy, and I had a great time chasing her around to catch a smile or two. The sun was out in full force, and with the lighting and colors surrounding us, it was the first time it felt like fall to me. It resulted in some beautifully colorful images unlike any I'd captured so far this year, and I'm excited to share a few of my favorites here!

I'll be shooting holiday portraits up through December, so if you're interested in booking a shoot, E-mail me at jacquelynrachel@gmail.com.

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge: Raise Your Hands

2011-10-09T21:39:00.000-07:00

I've been a fan of the I Heart Faces site for quite some time now, and have always enjoyed perusing their weekly contest entries for photographic inspiration. But for the first time, when they announced their contest theme this week, a photo I had taken this summer immediately came to mind and I thought it'd be nice to finally join in on the fun! This week's theme is "Raise Your Hands," and I couldn't imagine a more perfect example of that than this photo of Miss Lydia, a playful, sassy 3-year-old who was more than excited to show off her beach hands for my camera during a fun afternoon out this past August.

Enter your "Raise Your Hands" photo over at I Heart Faces this week, too!

it's Halloween month!

2011-10-08T17:31:00.000-07:00

It's Halloween month! Here's some photos that left me feeling festive!

Chad+Sophie: Old Poway Park Engagements in San Diego

2011-10-04T16:45:00.000-07:00

I met Chad a few years ago through some mutual friends, and one of the very first things I learned about him was that, hands-down, he has the best heart of any guy I've ever met. His fearlessness to love another person is something I very much admire

about him. So I was thrilled to hear a few weeks ago that he popped the question to his girlfriend Sophie, and that she said yes! I first met Sophie last weekend when we all got together to shoot their engagement pictures at Old Poway Park down in San Diego, and I could tell right from the start how happy they both made each other. Sophie was beautiful, personable, and could keep up with Chad's sense of humor, which not everyone can do!

This shoot was particularly special to me because of what a great friend Chad has been to me the past few years. I'm so happy he's found someone as perfect for him as Sophie, and if these pictures are any indication of what's to come, these two are going to make one good-looking bride and groom come next September!

Sophie was the one who suggested we make the trek down to Old Poway Park in San Diego to shoot engagement pics, and I'm so glad she did. I absolutely loved this location — it had the perfect mix of greenery and architecture, with just enough bridges and railroad tracks thrown in to give us an endless amount of photo-opp combinations.

Chad and Sophie's engagement pictures are definitely on the top of my list for favorite photoshoots of the past year. I'm so grateful they allowed me to share in this special time with them by taking their pictures, and I wish them a very fun and exciting year of calling each other fiance. ;) Here's a few of my favorite photos from the day I spent with them! Hope they enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them!

man on the water {newport beach at sunset}

2011-10-02T21:23:00.000-07:00

With the exception of a great venue tour with a soon-to-be bride this afternoon, today was just one of those days. You know, the kind when you get mind-blowingly lost 40 minutes away from home when you're already late to a meeting. Or the kind when every conversation ends exactly the opposite you envisioned it. Or the kind where your car starts making a painfully obnoxious noise, the best of which I can describe as sounding like the complete emptying of a (my) savings account.

Or the kind where all three of those happen, one right after the other.

But tonight on the way home from that meeting with that bride, I found myself driving down PCH right around sunset, right near my secret spot I always head to after days like this, and I happened to stumble upon a man canoeing in the ocean, by himself with the exception of a few seagulls and a beautiful October sky in Orange County. I couldn't help but snap a few photos. He seemed so peaceful. I watched him floating along the horizon line for awhile, and then I went home. I was a bit jealous of his peace, but glad to come home with photos of it.

Teaser: San Juan Capistrano Rustic Outdoor Wedding

2011-09-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

Just look at these two — I love them! Can't wait to share the rest soon!

holding on to summer

2011-09-11T19:30:00.000-07:00

Today — in complete contrast to yesterday's hail and thunderstorms — was beautifully sunny. I spent pretty much every waking second outside, and ended the day playing with Belle in the backyard. It's been awhile since I've posted puppy photos, so I figured why not? :)

Her tail is pretty much never still!

baby time!

2011-09-04T00:13:00.000-07:00

Today I got to meet my baby second-cousin for the first time ever! My cousin lives in Florida and was visiting for the first time since her daughter's birth, so we all got together and enjoyed a nice day full of pool time, sun and nonstop photos featuring none other than this little cutie. I fell so much in love with her, I can't help but share how adorable she is with the rest of the world! Check her out!

Someone wanted the camera in this one... maybe she will become a photographer like her second cousin :)

Now Booking Mini-Sessions!

2011-09-02T10:49:00.000-07:00

It's officially September, which means we're just one step closer to the holidays! Though they're still a few months away, it's always a good idea to be ahead of the game, so if anyone is interested in back-to-school portraits, a mini-session to capture their kid's adorable Halloween costume, or a family shoot for holiday cards, E-mail me now to take advantage of the current deal I'm offering:

Sessions are limited, so don't wait! E-mail jacquelynrachel@gmail.com for more information!

congrats to Nate+Beth: an O.C. backyard wedding

2011-08-31T14:29:00.001-07:00

About a month ago, I had the pleasure of photographing Beth and Nate's wedding. Beth is a great family friend, and she met Nate while at Bible college in Montana - I'm just glad they decided to make the trek to California so I could capture the Big Day for them! The two were married in Beth's family's backyard, and the entire day was full of love and laughter. Here are a few photographs from the newlyweds' day:

Beth's brother is a Marine currently serving in Afghanistan. Though he couldn't be at the ceremony,

he was on everyone's minds — his picture was kept close the whole time, and I thought a particularly

nice detail was his dogtags tied around the bridal bouquet in honor of his service.

I love this picture of the bridal party — dresses with pockets are the best!

Nate's brother had the honor of marrying the couple, which created not only a real sense of

intimacy during the vows, but lots of opportunities for laughs as well!

This was one of my favorite photos of the new couple from the day!

Congratulations Beth and Nate on all your future happiness and love, and thanks for letting me be part of your day!

wine tasting in San Luis Obispo

2011-08-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

I spent the weekend wine tasting with my best friend up in San Luis Obispo county. We had a lot of fun learning just how much goes into a really good glass of wine and enjoying the beautiful scenery of Central California, so I thought I'd share some of the more scenic photos here on the blog.

life's a beach.

2011-08-23T22:24:00.000-07:00

Some of my greatest joy comes from the time I get to spend with these two cuties, the daughters of an old co-worker I nannied for before joining the "real world." We spent the day at the beach this weekend, and I snapped a few pictures along the way. The girls are so adorable, I had to share. :)

Special thanks to their mom for snapping this last photo — it's my favorite picture I've ever gotten with them! <3

Sneak Peek: An Orange County Backyard Wedding

2011-08-16T23:43:00.001-07:00

I absolutely love the backyard weddings I've shot recently! Here's a few teasers from this past weekend's nuptials to tide the blog over while I hole myself up in my room to finish up the rest!

Can't wait to share more! Hope everyone has a great rest of their week!

creepy crawlies.

2011-08-16T19:43:00.000-07:00

When I first came home today and stumbled upon this little dude, I was excited.

I thought I'd read somewhere that seeing grasshoppers was a sign of good luck.

Then I did some research and learned most people believe it's only the green ones that are lucky.

Coming upon a brown grasshopper is actually thought to forewarn of misfortune. Figures.

Katie & Gregg: San Juan Capistrano Engagements

2011-08-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

Meet Katie and Gregg, the gorgeous couple whose wedding I will be photographing this coming April! For their engagement shoot, we headed to San Juan Capistrano to capitalize on the perfect summer weather and rustic backdrops, and I thought I'd share a few of my favorites from the day.

Can't wait for their Big Day!!!

Congratulations to the Claypools: A SoCal Summer Garden Wedding

2011-08-10T22:21:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to finally share wedding photos of the Claypools, who were married in a garden ceremony back in May surrounded by friends and family. This was the wedding where I found even myself — a complete stranger — brought to tears during their vows. The love in the air that day was so permeable, so inspirational; it was the kind of wedding that could give even the most cynical person hope in love. Luckily, every guest there seemed just as in love and happy as the bride and groom, Caroline and Aaron. I've never seen so many kisses in one place before in my life! :)

My second shooter had a great view of the almost newlyweds during Aaron's "first look" at Caroline in her dress before the actual ceremony. I absolutely love these two photos above that Jae captured!

Congratulations to Aaron and Caroline! I'd wish them happiness in their newly
married future, but I'm pretty sure they have that part down already. :)

Dan Krikorian Band at Costa Mesa Concerts in the Park

2011-08-03T13:56:00.000-07:00

Last night, the Dan Krikorian Band performed as the grand finale of the Costa Mesa Concert in the Park series! The weather was perfect, the crowd was energetic and the whole band put on an amazing show - I was very proud of all of them and happy to be a part of the night!

The band plays next at the Orange County Fair at 3:45 p.m. on Aug. 13, and Dan's newest CD, "Windsor Blue," was just released on iTunes - check it out here, or visit his website for more info!

Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Del Mar in San Diego

2011-08-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my day job at the magazine had a work outing to Del Mar in San Diego for a hot air balloon ride at sunset. I had never been in a hot air balloon, and I was slightly terrified of the height, but once you're in the air, it's so peaceful and beautiful, you can't help but enjoy yourself! The landing is a whole other story — not so peaceful! ;) But there were some great photo opps before touching back down!

I thought this photo was cool because the larger shadow in the picture is from the balloon we were in!

The "hot" in hot air balloon is no exaggeration!!!

Definitely my favorite scenic shot of the whole ride! To be rich and living in San Diego, let me tell you! :)

Tiffany & Jon: Golf Course Engagements

2011-08-01T00:23:00.001-07:00

I wish every engagement session could be like Tiffany and Jon's! A few weeks back, we were lucky enough to have private access to a country club golf course here in Orange County, and I had a great time cruising around with the two of them on a golf cart in celebration of their recent engagement. Tiffany claimed she was nervous, but her and Jon were absolute naturals in front of the camera - engagements are my favorite, and I couldn't have asked for a better session with two better people!

Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot:

I really do love the energy from engagement shoots, and I'm so happy for Tiffany and Jon! I wish all the best to the soon-to-be married couple, and happy wedding planning! :)

A Weekend in Boston!

2011-07-24T21:11:00.000-07:00

Thought it'd be fun to post some of my photos from this weekend in Boston! I probably didn't visit all the places or see all the things I should have, but I had a great time walking around what felt like the entire state of Massachusetts, people watching and snapping photos. I really love this city ... it's tempting not to come back home. ;)

Sean and Jessica: A San Luis Obispo Summer Wedding

2011-07-20T00:27:00.000-07:00

I've always heard from many in the wedding business that photographing a friend's big day is a challenge most avoid — you're distracted, you want to socialize and you miss too many moments by taking part in the action rather than observing them from behind your lens. So when my good friend from college, Sean, asked me to document him and his wife-to-be's vows, I'll admit I was initially nervous, if only because I would never want to let him down. However, I found knowing the bride and groom to be incredibly inspirational in a way I don't think much could parallel - seeing how happy Sean was to be starting his life with Jessica only served to motivate me to get the very best images I could for the new couple!

Sean and Jessica were married in May at one of the most gorgeous backdrops I've ever seen, the Flying Caballos Ranch in San Luis Obispo, Calif. It was private, romantic and perfect for an after party - which the guests made sure to take full advantage of! Everyone had a great time, and I only hope Sean and Jessica enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed photographing their special day!

Jessica and Sean's "first look": they waited to see each other until at the altar.

The best part — the kiss!

The couple enjoys their First Dance as a newly married duo.

The proud father and his beautiful daughter on her wedding day.

A gorgeous evening along with a gorgeous San Luis Obispo backdrop!

A touching moment during a toast by one groomsman who's known Sean since they were kids.

Suffice it to say ... Sean and Jessica's wedding reception was fun. ;)

Definitely never seen a wedding cake cut with a Marines' sword before!

This is one of my favorite photographs I've ever captured! Sean's college fraternity has a tradition to serenade the bride at any brother's wedding, and these fine gentlemen did not disappoint!

Congrats again to Sean and Jessica, and may the next year, and all those after that, bring you both lots of happiness! It was an honor to be at your wedding as both a friend and photographer. :)

monday funday.

2011-07-18T14:07:00.000-07:00

Enjoying a day off from the office job to catch up from the weekend, work on some photography, and of course spend some quality time with my puppy, who is fond of destroying our backyard.

She thinks she is sneaky. She is so, so not.

Crystal Cove Sunset Shoot

2011-07-08T16:41:00.000-07:00

For the past month, I've been taking a landscape photography class in Irvine as a fun way to branch out a bit amid all the busyness of wedding season. It's been great to learn the ins and outs of

manual landscape photography - there is much more science and technique to it than most might think! Last night was our first on-site shoot at Crystal Cove, and I wanted to share my favorites.

Since I'm still new at this particular facet of photography, I probably did a bit more post-processing than a seasoned landscape artist, but I'm happy with the finished products and I'm eager to get out there and practice more! (All of these pictures were shot in full manual, and most of them only required a saturation and contrast boost once I left the beach and got back to my computer.)

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: Southern California is a great place to be a photographer!

This photo above of the rock and incoming tide is one I'm particularly proud of! I never say that normally, but the one thing I was really looking forward to from this class was perfecting motion photography of water, and with this photo above I didn't have to do any Photoshop work, woo hoo!

Southern California Garden Wedding - Sneak Peek!

2011-07-07T12:21:00.001-07:00

Take a look at the happy new couple (married for about a month now) - these are the two whose vows made me lose all sense of professionalism and break down crying during their ceremony. I loved how apparent it was to anyone and everyone at this wedding just how in love Caroline and Aaron are! ♥

Costa Mesa Family Portraits

2011-07-05T20:37:00.000-07:00

I recently had the pleasure of taking the portraits of a family I'm close friends with — it was a perfect summer afternoon in Costa Mesa, and the weather and lighting were absolutely beautiful! It was great to spend an hour with the family and see firsthand how much they all love and care about one another. I was especially excited for this session in anticipation of the youngest daughter's wedding, which I'll be photographing this August, so you'll be sure to see more of this gorgeous redhead on my blog in the coming months!

Chapman University Graduation Portraits

2011-07-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, my old college roommate Tori asked me to take some photos of her and her fellow graduates from Chapman University's Master's program in Communication Sciences and Disorders. I know from Tori just how much blood, sweat and tears they have all put into their studies in the last two years, and I admire all the dedication each of these brilliant women have put into their future speech language pathology careers, so I was more than happy to take their photos! I did my undergrad studies with Tori at Chapman, so it was a lot of fun to visit my old stomping grounds to celebrate the girls' accomplishment.

Here are a few of my favorites of these beautiful ladies!

wedding season is in full swing!

2011-06-29T13:28:00.000-07:00

I've been reflecting a lot lately on how throughout my venture into wedding photography in particular, I've been so blessed to photograph the most gracious brides, the most attentive grooms and the most lively, intimate ceremonies. As I branch out into the world of professional photography, I really am so grateful for how lucky I've been so far! Wedding season here in Orange County, Calif., is now in full swing and I'm neck-deep in work, but I couldn't be happier and more excited over everything I'm doing.

Over the next few months, I'll be sharing photos from a variety of weddings from San Luis Obispo to Dana Point to San Juan Capistrano; engagement shoots of two couples I couldn't be happier for; and even some landscape photography I'm trying my hand at in an attempt to branch out and stay well-rounded. :) I'm really looking forward to the rest of this summer and the surprises, challenges and rewards I'm sure it has in store!

the Maginot Line.

2011-06-14T23:11:00.000-07:00

returning to nights of easy poetry,
imaginary fireflies flee their hopeful posts
along porches too dependent on
masked heroes.
and the infinite weaving
has burrowed the throat of the faithful,
having thrown rubber words
against stone walls of the Maginot Line
in her final offense.
but here, now, we know,
the second verse does not sing for her,
it was always
silence from the sidelines.

san juan capistrano with brittney.

2011-06-03T10:53:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting my best friend Brittney to sit in for a portraits session with me pretty much since the day I bought my Nikon however many years ago. Looking at the pictures, it's obvious why — she's gorgeous, and the camera absolutely adores her! We finally got together and had a fun outing in San Juan Capistrano, and after seeing what came of it, I think Brittney should just give up her day job and go into modeling asap. :) Here's just a few of my favorites from the afternoon:

How beautiful is this girl?!?! I think I've found my go-to model for all future shoots!

teaser: first wedding of the season!

2011-05-16T00:59:00.000-07:00

I couldn't help but edit one of the photos from this weekend's wedding to share early. I'm so happy for Jessica and Sean, and I cannot wait to share more of these pics from their Big Day very soon!

another go at concert photography!

2011-05-09T01:11:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been good ones for music — a weekend or two ago I caught a performance by Joe Purdy featuring the Milk Carton Kids at the Troubadour in L.A., and just a few nights ago,

the Dan Krikorian Band held its "Windsor Blue" CD Release Show, with opener Scott Mclaughlin, in Costa Mesa, Calif. I of course brought along my camera in the hopes of catching some good shots, and thought I'd share a few of my best attempts at concert photography here on the blog.

Dan of the Dan Krikorian Band (to the right) is on tour for his third and latest album, which is amazing! Visit his website to see when he's in your area and catch a show! The Mesa gig featured his whole band and they all put on a great show, it was a very fun night! Here are a few more photos of the DKB show, along with some Joe Purdy mixed in. P.S. A concert in which they played together would be unbelievable! Just saying... ;)

The next three are from Joe Purdy's show. Joe's music has held a special place in my heart over the last few years, and I've made sure to catch every SoCal show he's had since being introduced to his music (by Dan, funny enough). Joe's manager Brian noticed me snapping photos and was kind enough to allow me to continue when I told him how much of a fan I was, so a special thanks to Brian!

Dan was backed by a great band at his show and an awesome opening act via Scott Mclaughlin, who are featured in a few photos below. For any local readers, the Dan Krikorian Band will be playing in this area again June 12 in L.A. and on Aug. 2 as part of the Costa Mesa Concerts in the Park Series.

(Click on any of the individual pictures above to get a larger view of the image.)

I have a lot of fun with concert photography, and find it to be one of the more challenging backdrops to photograph, so I'm looking forward to bringing my camera to even more shows this summer! Make sure to check out the sites of Dan, Joe and Scott to stay updated on all their musical adventures:

Dan Krikorian: www.dankrikorian.com
Joe Purdy: www.joepurdy.com
Scott Mclaughlin: www.facebook.com/scottmclaughlinmusic

the Mares family.

2011-04-28T00:15:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of shooting portraits of the Mares family a few weeks back in beautiful Irvine.

The first real signs of the spring season were beginning to bloom and the wildflowers provided the perfect backdrop for our afternoon.

It was great to get a family shoot in before the craziness of wedding season officially began, and the Mares family were an amazing bunch to spend the day with!

I thought I'd share a few of my favorites from the day here ... I hope everyone out there had an equally great start to spring (and here's to counting down the days to beach trips, pool days and tans!).

If you're interested in having your own portraitures taken — solo, couples, family or otherwise — shoot me an E-mail me at jacquelynrachel@gmail.com and I'll be in touch soon!

I love this last one — the facial expressions are classic! :)

the blue barn.

2011-04-21T21:49:00.001-07:00

from one of many past projects i started, and have yet to finish.

roses at sunset.

2011-04-17T14:27:00.000-07:00

'now come and see...' some soon-to-be released album artwork!

2011-04-14T07:59:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! Remember this post? Or this one? After scrutinizing each and every magnolia tree I could find from Los Angeles to Orange County, I'm really excited to now share just exactly what I was doing and show off the final collaborative result, something I'm very proud to have been a part of.

Back in February, I began working on a project for Orange County, Calif.-based musician Dan Krikorian, and it quickly turned into one of my favorite photography ventures I've been a part of to date. I had so much fun throughout the whole project, I thought it'd be cool to share a bit about the creative process.

Dan was about to release his third CD, "Windsor Blue," and asked me to help with the album cover design. At that point, I had been exposed to quite a few different versions of each song to be included on "Windsor Blue," and no matter how differently Dan sang them or what instruments were added to or removed from each recording, a few lines always stuck out at me — summertime breeze through magnolia trees, hangs from the dance floor like you over me, and now come and see, from the balcony, there's always winter, babe. I knew almost immediately that I wanted to find some way to combine those two lyrics into one image, and after learning Dan was on board with the concept, brought in my favorite graphic designer, Stephanie Dillon of SDillon Design, to help make it all possible. I've always said Stephanie has a way of just reading your mind and somehow creating the exact vision you know you loved but didn't know how to explain, and that was exactly the case during this project, as well!

We started out with photos of various magnolias, some of which I shared earlier on this blog. Funny enough, the tree I fell most in love with happened to be right across the street from Dan's recording studio. Here's what I ended up with, in its original setting and then knocked out for Steph's use:

Stephanie was the real genius here, and the driving force behind creating the scene and ambiance surrounding the magnolia photo that I knew I'd never be able to capture with a lens in real life. Steph took my photo and through her superb watercolor and illustration skills, turned it into this:

It was one of the cooler processes I've been a part of to see a project go from concept to photo to finished creation, and I count myself lucky to have worked within such good company. It's also very cool to know a photo I took is actually on the cover of an album, especially one that will be distributed all over the U.S. and abroad (and touts some pretty good tunes as well, just FYI). I can't wait for an actual hard copy of the CD, which should be available to the public very soon! Danny and Stephanie, thanks so much for the great opportunity to work with both of you!

Make sure to check out more of Stephanie's work, which encompasses everything from graphic design to illustration and painting to photography, at her blog, "The Bottom Line." You can also stay up-to-date on Dan's music and tour at his website, www.DanKrikorian.com, which was just revamped by my very talented brother, Josh Jones of Joshua Jones Design.

For "Windsor Blue's" release, I also suckered Danny into a quick photo shoot — any excuse for a mini road trip and photo adventure, right? ;) Here are a few favorites from the day that I hope can be put to good use throughout the "Windsor Blue" album release tour:

I know the rest of the year holds a lot of success for the Dan Krikorian Band while on tour, and I count myself lucky to be involved in any way. Here's to wishing them the best on the road!

now just to find an extra $1,500 lying around...

2011-04-12T22:19:00.001-07:00

Everyone I talk to about photography swears by an f/2.8 lens, and though I consistently yearn for past days of impulsively dropping a grand on new toys on a whim, I've got real grown-up bills to pay now. (sad face here.) Luckily I discovered you can rent beauties like the Nikon f/2.8 70-20mm at barely 4 percent of the total purchase cost! So I did just that, and spent the weekend shooting whatever caught my eye with my new (albiet temporary) toy. There is no real theme here, just a collection of pictures from the past few days I thought I'd share, all taken with the Nikon f/2.8 70-200mm (with the exception of the wedding rings, which came out better with my f/5.6 18-55mm lens):

The official verdict is: I LOVE THIS LENS. I found myself doing far less post-processing in Photoshop, and I love the seamless blur effect I achieved with most of the f/2.8 shots. The Nikon f/2.8 70-200mm will most definitely be my next big investment, but for now, it's nice to know I can rent it from my friendly neighborhood camera shop for any upcoming weddings and weekend adventures!

i call this one 'puppy love.'

2011-04-10T23:57:00.000-07:00

This might be one of the funnier photos I've been lucky enough to catch.

I'd like to introduce you all to Zoey and Duke, who met for the first time this weekend. Duke - being a typical boy - did his best to show off all his most impressive tricks, jumping around Zoey in circles, chasing her at his top speed and sharing his highly coveted tennis ball. But Ms. Zoey was immune to Duke-a-Luke's charm - no matter how high he jumped or how fast he ran, she acted as if he didn't even exist. Then she gave him this face! Isn't that how love goes sometimes? ;)

(Though I did hear that after I left, Zoey gave Duke a little kiss ... so I think there's hope!)

in my backyard today.

2011-03-31T21:45:00.000-07:00

san francisco for 30 minutes.

2011-03-30T19:13:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I was up in San Fran for work, and had just the slightest amount of free time between interviews and catching my flight back home, so I took a quick walk through Haight-Ashbury, snapping a few photos along the way. Nothing too special - I did not have time to do the area justice.

I probably should have just said screw it and stayed there.

from the other side of the camera.

2011-03-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

I want to write a book someday. I have the beginnings of an idea, but I'm still waiting for some life moments to fall into the right place at the right time (and perhaps a little bit more self-confidence, as well). But when I finally do, this picture, courtesy of the amazing Mimi Yip of Luft Balloon Photography, will most definitely be my "about the author" photo. :)

A few weeks back, Mimi, myself, and longtime friend Celeste spent an afternoon out together for a photoshoot, and I wanted to share a few of Mimi's finished photographs for her. Ms. Yip is super talented — being on the other side of the camera is not always so fun for me, but it was a pleasure having Mimi shoot my portrait, and I highly recommend you check out her blog for more of her work!

Thanks for the amazing photos, Mimi!!!

early morning raindrops.

2011-03-25T23:39:00.000-07:00

Stumbled upon this photo opportunity of some early morning raindrops clinging onto tree
branches in Van Nuys this morning. Guess there is beauty in the world before 6 a.m. after all. :)

rainy day smiles ♥

2011-03-21T16:39:00.000-07:00

teasers from this weekend's photo time!

2011-03-21T01:11:00.000-07:00

Spent this weekend shooting some promo photos for the Dan Krikorian Band's third-album release (due out in a month or so), celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a Young Dubliners concert, and making the best of a rainy Sunday afternoon with my two favorite munchkins.

Here are two photos I wanted to share until I have some time to post more:

I'll post more soon — here's to a productive and creative work week!

more pictures of the puppy.

2011-03-15T10:31:00.001-07:00

I was too tired from the time change to write last night, so instead I took pictures of Belle all night. I'm obsessed with her giant paws and little nose. I'm barely better than a crazy cat lady, I know.

Then I made her share the couch, because she's far too much of a bed hog for her own good.

Monday musings to survive Daylight Saving Time

2011-03-14T10:51:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, though it's not so happy an hour earlier than it should be. ;) This time change is a rough one to get used to for the first few mornings, but it's one I love because springing forward

means more sunlight after work for photo adventures! To celebrate, this weekend I swooped up some fresh-cut flowers to arrange back at home, which is consistently my favorite impulse buy since my high school gig as a florist.

Tulips and stock are a great combo - you can fill an entire vase without any greenery, stock is extremely fragrant, and the tulips really fill out the arrangement once the blooms reach full capacity. Other flowers that are great and simple to throw in a vase on their own include sunflowers, gerbera daisies and gladiolus.

You'll save money if you pick up stems by the bunch at a local grocery store, Trader Joe's, or wholesale market rather than buying a pre-arranged bouquet at a florist. My impulse buy Saturday only cost me $20, and I was able to split the stems up between two different arrangements.

Speaking of flowers, on my to-do list in the next week is go out shooting O.C. wildflowers for the Orange County Register Wildflower Photo Contest. To show off your stems, click here!

On Sunday, I borrowed the very talented Mimi Yip for a fun photoshoot out in the most beautiful location, complete with tall grass, a typewriter and sunflower fields (!). One of my favorite things about the world of photography — and really art in general — is making friends along the way and

learning from one another. Everyone has different styles and skills, and it's always great to surround yourself with those you can learn from. Mimi is definitely one of those, and I can't wait to see how her photos turn out.

Mimi, myself and the lovely Celeste had a great time trekking through the fields in heels, incorporating the word "fierce" into every sentence possible, and fighting off our allergies to get the perfect picture. I know Mimi got some great shots, and I'll make sure to share those soon! Until then, click on her photo above to check out her blog. Celeste - who took "behind the scenes" shots and helped with lighting, is not lacking talent herself - this girl is the author of two of the most visually appealing blogs I read, Koralosophy and Utterly Smitten. Make sure to check both of them out!

I've never been one to "follow" a celebrity blog, but I recently stumbled upon the writings of Jorge Garcia - Hugo "Hurley" Reyes from "Lost." I was one of those "Lost" fans that found the show in its last season, so spent about seven straight weekends locked in my room watching episode after episode to catch up, and like everyone else fell in love with the character of Hugo. Jorge's blog is really entertaining and includes super cute photos of his adorable chihuahuas, so if you find yourself bored, I would highly recommend checking out Further Dispatches. The first time I read it, I found myself going all the way back through the very beginning of his archives, so I'm sure if he has any sort of page-view tracker, he would have thought I was a total stalker. Which I sorta was. My bad.

the David+Senge Family: bonding at the beach!

2011-03-09T08:03:00.000-08:00

Awhile back, I was lucky enough to kick off the week with a nice drive down PCH to meet with my good friend from college, Shannon, and her family - all of whom were in town for a family vacation.

I met Shannon through friends of friends while we studied together at Chapman University, but it wasn't until after we graduated and began to stay in touch via each other's blogs that I realized how well we got along and how great of a person she was. So when Shannon asked if I'd take a morning stroll along the beach and snap a few photos of her family, it was a no brainer —if only I could start every week cruising along the Pacific Coast and taking pictures in beautiful 70 degree weather!

It didn't surprise me that Shannon's family was as fun-spirited and infectiously happy as she always is. I had a great time spending the morning with them, and I hope they enjoy the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them.

I've never shot portraits in early morning light before. It certainly provided its own challenges, but I quickly fell in love with how vibrantly colorful the photographs turned out to be. And to think - this was a February morning ... gotta love Southern California, and especially Laguna Beach!

Despite the sunny skies, the water was freezing, so I have to give the whole David+Senge clan props for keeping their feet in the ocean for the above photo. (And you have to love the little baby feet!!!)

Make sure to visit Shannon's blog and check out her photos, crafts and writing at Toes Over the Edge. Her sister Erin also recently turned me on to a great site, Pinterest, where you can digitally catalog all things you love — it's like a combination of window shopping and scrap booking for the digital age, but even better. Check her's out at Pinterest.com/CollectLovely. A special thanks to the David+Senge Family for letting me spend time with them on the last day of their vacation together!

'the wonder is that we can see these trees and not wonder more.'

2011-03-04T16:55:00.000-08:00

How poignant it is to search all over Southern California for something, only to find it staring at

you all along from right across the street. That is exactly what happened to me this week in my hunt for the perfect magnolia tree.

Weeks ago when I first started looking for magnolias to photograph, I could close my eyes and see exactly what I knew would work for the project in mind, but I didn't have a clue if it actually existed, and especially somewhere close enough for me to drive and capture it on film.

Luckily for me, it did! I'm excited to start the next phase of work; in the meantime, I wanted to share a few pictures of yesterday's find. I can't wait to eventually share the rest of them and the final result in a few months!

I have fallen in love with this tree throughout the last few weeks - from the slight translucent color of the flower to the way the petals litter the floor once the blooms start to die, everything about it is so whimsically beautiful.

Because this is how I am, I went all nerd this week and researched interesting facts about the magnolia tree as well. Turns out most trees will take 10 years to produce their first blooms; the tree was named after Pierre Magnol, who mentored Carolus Linnaeus, the man who developed the system we use to name plants, animals and minerals; and magnolias are known to represent beauty, dignity and perseverance. Coolest random fact, especially in light of what this project is for? The seeds from the tree's fruit (which develop after the blooms die away) are a favorite of songbirds!

on the hunt for magnolia trees.

2011-02-28T23:11:00.000-08:00

I mentioned in the last blog post a project I'm currently working on that incorporates photographs

of magnolia trees. Though I can't give away too much about it yet (not sure how much is supposed to be kept under wraps or not), I'm really excited about this job for a lot of reasons: I get to explore a new type of business and art platform using my camera, it's for something that is very close to my heart, and I get to work in collaboration with SDillon Design, a good friend and the talented artist who designed my logo and business cards.

So during lunch breaks at the magazine, I've been jet-setting around O.C. to track down these trees. It's been a lot of fun, and I've been especially touched by the kindness of strangers and friends alike who have E-mailed photos, info and location tips.

I wanted to share a few pictures that won't make the cut for the final project, but I enjoyed shooting just the same. I think one day when I own property, I'd like one of these trees in my yard.

(Click on images for a closer look.)

I'm still shooting photos of any magnolia tress I can find this week and next, so if anyone has any tips on where to go in the LA down through San Diego areas, please E-mail jacquelynrachel@gmail.com.

seeing green (and pink).

2011-02-27T18:35:00.000-08:00

One of my latest photo projects has left me on the hunt for magnolia trees. Everywhere I go, every drive I take, every walk down the street, I'm all of a sudden seeing trees everywhere - magnolias and others - and I am pleasantly surprised by the beauty that is hiding in a county usually known for its beach sunsets and ocean views. I have found some great magnolias, but I'm saving those to share for another day. Though this tree above isn't of the magnolia variety, I found it especially striking, and even more so because it stood all by itself in an abandoned lot off Brookhurst Street in Westminster, hiding under a giant billboard advertisement for a local lawyer.

"Nature never hurries. Atom by atom, little by little, she achieves her work."

—Ralph Waldo Emerson

tonight's pretty.

2011-02-23T20:33:00.000-08:00

not a bad drive home, and one that made me think of this quote:

"I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself." -Maya Angelou

today's pretty.

2011-02-23T16:34:00.000-08:00

outside my office. sometimes you gotta take it where you can get it.

lazy Monday in the sun.

2011-02-21T13:50:00.000-08:00

Cause it's been awhile since the Puppy (who is too quickly turning into the Dog) has graced the blog.

And that concludes my break time before burying myself in some work for the rest of the day. :)

the Addison Family — all smiles, rain or shine!

2011-02-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

I recently had the pleasure of meeting the Addison Family for a photo shoot at a beautiful secluded

park in Irvine, Calif. They were my first official session of 2011, and even though an unexpected few hours of rain (the only we've seen so far this year in Orange County!) made us reschedule the first shoot, the couple and their adorable baby girl were great sports and showed up just as excited the very next weekend.

I couldn't have picked a more pleasant way to start off the New Year. Meeting up with the Addisons after taking a few weeks off during the holiday season reminded me not only of how much I love getting to meet new people and capture their love for one another on film, but also of just how important it is to find those special type of people in your life and keep them close. Here are a few of my favorite photographs from the afternoon in Irvine that I wanted to share with all of you.

The family wanted a mix of color, black-and-white and sepia-toned images to play around with framing combinations for their home, so it was a lot of fun experimenting and seeing how the images changed with the different settings. I hope the Addisons enjoy the finished product as much as I enjoyed taking their pictures!

At the risk of sounding cliche, there is something very special about witnessing others' love as an outsider looking in through her lens. That feeling has been an especially prominent one during the various photo shoots I've already been on this year, and it's one I'm very grateful for as I continue through 2011.

some sunday scenery.

2011-02-06T20:31:00.000-08:00

There is a good chance I'll be a little MIA from the world of blogging for a few weeks, as I've taken on some time-consuming photography- and video-editing projects. So in light of having had such a great weekend (quite possibly the nicest since 2011 began), I wanted to share a few snapshots from what was a very lovely Sunday out and about in a new place, learning and experiencing new things. It was quite unexpected, due to a sudden change of plans for the day, but it turned out as nice just the same.

Click on individual photos for a larger view (especially the bee one!).

and whaddya lookin at?

2011-02-04T21:59:00.000-08:00

probably the best look my cat has ever given me.

an Orange County orange grove.

2011-01-29T18:39:00.000-08:00

Today I was scouting various locations for photo shoots in Orange County when I drove past a small orange grove near Irvine Valley College in Irvine, Calif. I realized I'd never seen an actual orange grove, so I pulled over to snap a few photos. It was a lot of fun (even the part where something bit me and I spent the rest of the afternoon ignoring a super-annoying allergic reaction all over my arm).

Check out my little ant friend in the right side of this photo above (you can click the individual image to enlarge it on Flickr)! I wish I could claim genius on this one, but I didn't even realize my mini buddy was in the frame until I had the picture blown up on my computer. Nice surprise to my day. :)

someone let me know when winter shows up.

2011-01-28T21:17:00.000-08:00

In honor of the winter season, even though it has been a very bearable 75 degrees in

the O.C. all week. It doesn't matter where you live, fireplaces are a necessity.

take a hike - literally!

2011-01-23T23:57:00.000-08:00

This Sunday, a few friends and I took advantage of the beautiful Orange County weather (sunny

and 70 in late January, go figure) and went on an early afternoon hike in Irvine.

We spent an hour or so making our way through Peters Canyon Lake Loop. It was a clear, gorgeous day - perfect for snapping a few photos. The one above is the highest point (I think) of this particular trail - or at least it felt like the highest to this hiking novice who is allergic to just about everything you find growing in nature, ever. The view was definitely worth the trek up though!

I'd love to make outings like this a more frequent weekend routine. I just recently posted about how I want to get out more with my camera to take pictures for no other reason than taking pictures, and it turns out I don't have to venture very far for good places to do so. I plan to peruse the OC Parks site for another fun trail to explore soon — you should, too! And if anyone has any other suggestions of especially scenic O.C. trails, please let me know! (Click on individual photos to get a closer high-resolution look.)

things that made me happy on this insanely busy Friday.

2011-01-21T21:51:00.000-08:00

Adorning my magazine office with a new 2011 Harry Potter calendar. Heck yes.

Getting ready to pass out my new biz cards, courtesy of the very talented Stephanie Dillon.

Compiling poems going back to 2008 in this adorable Xenia Taler journal for an upcoming project.

Following up dinner with the second to last piece of Marie Callender's chocolate cream pie.

THIS FACE.

strings of tension, waiting to be struck.

2011-01-20T16:29:00.000-08:00

When Mark Twain died in 1910, he left thousands of unedited pages of his memoirs with instructions they were not to be published until a century after his death; many believe Twain wanted to be able to share his stories and thoughts without offending friends and family. You can love someone a thousand times more than you care for yourself and I'm sure it's still easy for your most honest inner-reflections to hurt them, and I guess 100 years is the adequate buffer time for authors in search of undisputed, self-centered freedom in their writing.

Writing is a lonely, beautiful gift in that way.

I thought of Mark Twain last night. It was about 3 a.m., the air felt slow, and from somewhere that still - and likely always will - remain a mystery, came an unexpected, full-fledged poem. Six lines, 34 words and the most vulnerably honest thing I've ever written — so much so I'm not sure I will even share it with pen and paper. Or if I do, perhaps I can seal it up alongside a 100-year countdown, and by then no one will ever know whom or what or when my words refer to, or who I even am for that matter. But maybe it wouldn't resonate much with anyone else and those 34 words are only special to me. Or perhaps seclusion is a bigger tragedy than vulnerability.

I'm not so sure what I think of Twain. He was brilliant. And he was also supposedly a cantankerous ass.

I am grateful for the 3 a.m. moments of poetry, and I do hope one day I'm brave enough to share them with those around me. I've been thinking a lot lately about just what it is we do with each day we're afforded, and how I wish we knew which days were the important ones. I've always been a little morbid in that sense, a little desperate to fully utilize every moment, to avoid sleep for fear of missing out, a bit oddly panicky when it comes to carpe-ing my diem. We've hit the age where even though I still feel like a college freshman fooling the world in this grown-up girl disguise, tragedy can hit closer to home. Horrible sadness exists, life gets tough. People can die at 27.

So I think maybe Twain shouldn't have waited 100 years. I think the beauty of writing - and photography, music and all art for that matter - is the different avenues it provides for honesty and connection — even the hard kinds. Especially the hard kinds. And who has 100 years to waste waiting for that?

monday musings: puppies!

2011-01-17T10:13:00.000-08:00

The Krikorians got a puppy for Christmas - and since I also recently got a puppy, I can't say this adorable little stud above here is my favorite puppy ever, because that wouldn't be fair to my pup. But since Duke is a boy and my Belle back at home is a girl, I can and totally will say that Duke is my favorite boy puppy in the world right now. He's the best, and such a beautiful dog to take pictures of. If I could make a living off photographing cute puppies all day long, I'd do it in a heartbeat.

The magazine I write for covers the direct response industry - a good portion of that being the "As Seen on TV" market, for those a little less familiar with the advertising world. So now when out and

about, that bright red logo along various retail shelves always catches my eye. After meeting with a great bride- and groom-to-be this weekend (I'll be photographing their wedding this May, and after seeing the venue layout, I canNOT wait!), I was out shopping for a stepladder at Osh and came across this stuffing-free dog toy.

It quickly became impulse buy No. 1 of the weekend, and Belle LOVES it. If she's not attempting to destroy it by chewing it to death, she's napping on it, which I say = total purchasing success.

See what I mean by the napping and the destroying? :)

2011, so far.

2011-01-11T20:36:00.000-08:00

"If we are facing in the right direction, all we have to do is keep walking."

Top 10 of '10 - Best Photos/Moments of the Year

2010-12-31T14:49:00.000-08:00

As I reflect on the last year, photography is by far what stands out in my mind. Whether exploring it as a side career, or using it as an excuse for otherwise mundane adventure, pointing my lens at others and our surroundings throughout the past 365 days has been my way to connect with the world, more so than ever before in my life. Photography has taught me the comforts of loneliness, shown me what love can look like in an 8"x10", and reminded me of the carefree and limitless days of childhood. I have an insurmountable amount left to learn, but what I've been blessed to pick up and experience in 2010 is something I won't be quick to forget.

So, (perhaps born from boredom but why not), here is a collection of the top 10 photographs — but really moments — of 2010, as seen through my lens-view of the world.

I took this photo one evening after leaving work in Long Beach, Calif., during a time I wasn't completely happy with where I was. Stumbling upon such a beautiful scene near a place that held a bit of animosity for me made me feel that I was exactly where I needed to be, even if I lacked any insight as to why. This moment gave me hope, and this picture eventually came to hang in the living room of my parents - always my biggest supporters.

Buttercup was our first family dog, and this was the last photograph taken of her before she passed away a few months ago at the ripe old age of 14 years old. I knew she was old but I never thought this would be the last picture we'd have of her. She was a good dog, and she is very much missed.

One random Saturday, a few friends and I decided to drive out to Joshua Tree on a whim because I was bored of the photos I was getting out of Orange County. I guess it's rare to find the national park in this state, but it had just rained and this usually barren lake was filled to the brim. I was in awe of how perfectly the lake complemented the richly blue sky, and the afternoon was one of my favorite random outings I embarked upon with my camera in 2010.

Jeff and Lynne are an amazingly rambunctious and spirited couple who married this summer. The time I spent with them shooting their engagement photos in Laguna Beach, Calif., is particularly special to me because it was the first time I took portraits of someone who wasn't just a friend doing my portfolio a favor. I was out of my comfort zone and yet I had the time of my life zipping around in a golf cart and frolicking about the beach for a few hours with these two. Capturing this candid kiss just as the sun was going down was my favorite moment of the afternoon.

My best friend and former college roommate lives in New York, so even though I only visit about once a year, it tends to feel like home away from home any time I'm there. I love how different the photos I get there are from the ones I take here at home, and I'm fond of this picture — snapped from the rooftop of my roommate's building during my last visit in April — because of how toy-like the cars and people look down below. It's almost as if you could pick them up and toss them in your pocket - a far cry from how large and looming the city feels when you're walking along the street immersed with the rest of the crowd.

I am a firm believer that everyone should take a trip by themselves at least once in their life, even if just for a day or two. I did just that one weekend, driving up the Central California coast to Big Sur. I had no cell service and was completely alone with just my thoughts and good music, free to pull over and take pictures as often as I wanted. It was one of the most freeing and therapeutic times of 2010, and every worry, insecurity and concern I had at the time disappeared the farther north I got.

The SotoBanks wedding — probably the most challenging and rewarding project I took on in 2010. This was the first wedding I photographed, and I couldn't have been more blessed or lucky by landing this couple as clients. They were supportive, laid back and so much fun ... and they gave me one of the clearest pictures of love I had seen all year. Photos like this are why I love photography, and what motivate me to learn more in the hopes of capturing more moments like this in the future.

I didn't take this photo myself, but it's one of my favorites from the year because of how much I love all these girls. I'll try to avoid getting too sentimental on a public forum (cause who enjoys that?) but growing up I always just bounced from group of friends to group of riends. It wasn't until college rolled around that I met these girls, and learned what it meant to belong. As we all get older, we continue to grow up and become more and more different from one another - and from the group of people we were in college. But time has proven that no matter what changes, when it comes down it, we love one another, and I'm very grateful for that.

The Dan Krikorian Band was about halfway through its set at the Orange County Fair when I sneaked onstage to get a picture from this view - I wanted so badly to capture what it looked like to perform in front of nearly 700 people. Though it was far from the first time, this picture was the most profound time in which I knew the band was going big places. No matter where life takes any of us — again, avoiding getting too sentimental here — I found myself so happy and proud; it's a moment I won't forget any time soon. (Also, I may never truly realize my dream of being a camera-wielding hippie who travels the world in a broke-down bus taking pictures of anything and everything she stumbles upon — but if I did, I feel like it would be full of a lots of moments and pictures similar to this one. And that makes me smile.)

I've watched this little girl grow from a calm 4-month-old to a 4-year-old bundle of energy. This picture is one of my favorite of not just her, but of the year, because I love how simplistic her happiness is in this moment. Candy and a piñata were all it took, and looking at this picture reminds me that maybe we should all make an effort to find more happiness in the simple moments at times. Maybe it's how we can hold onto a bit of our childhood innocence as we get older, as well.

Hope everyone has a safe, happy New Year, and I hope 2011 holds happiness for all!

new puppy!

2010-12-27T00:56:00.001-08:00

i have a new favorite photo subject...

putting my birthday presents to good use.

2010-12-15T08:03:00.000-08:00

Oil paints are teaching me patience! This is very much a work in progress (and definitely in the

earliest stages) but it's been great having canvas around the house again to work on, instead of wasting the night watching TV or browsing Facebook.

Not sure yet where I'm going to take this piece (I always enjoy painting more without a plan), but I want to eventually look at it and feel grounded — the good kind — and certain. I just have to learn to be tolerant of the slow-drying time of oil paints. :)

(And speaking of putting birthday presents to good use, I took this photo with my brand new Nikon Speedlight SB-600. I love it!)

the last two weeks of my life.

2010-12-13T19:03:00.000-08:00

The past few weeks of life have been insanely busy but very rewarding, both personally and

professionally. Work has been hectic and fast-paced as we wrap up 2010, and with all the November birthdays there were to celebrate in my circle of friends, plus the Thanksgiving holiday, the weekends have been jam packed. I'm exhausted, but finding myself especially grateful for everything I've experienced the last 12 months and all the blessings I'm realizing I probably don't appreciate enough!

So what else has been keeping me so busy? Just this weekend my family picked out our Christmas tree ——> and we had a great time decorating it together. I've also had the pleasure of shooting a few holiday portraits this year.

It was especially fun to meet up with my cousin and his beautiful family. The cooling (yet still comfortable) winter weather along the coast provided the perfect backdrop for his family's photos:

And a rainy day in Irvine turned out to be a surprisingly perfect setting to shoot the portraits of my college roommate and her family. I loved how these photos turned out - the gray skies and autumn leaves made us all feel like we were somewhere far different than normally sunny Orange County:

Besides that, I recently was lucky enough to snag rinkside tickets to a Ducks game - definitely the best seats I've ever had at any sporting event, ever, and even if you're not a hockey fan, it's way too much fun seeing hockey players smashed up against the glass, close enough to reach out and touch...

...and I crashed band practice in order to document the making of the Dan Krikorian Band's third album (the band goes into the studio at the end of this month to begin recording and will be touring next spring; E-mail dpkbooking@gmail.com if you want to see them in your town):

I'm really excited for all the celebrations coming up the next few weeks — gingerbread house-making competitions, baking cookies with my mom (or just eating the ones she bakes), spending time with friends who are back in town for the holidays, and waking up unnaturally early to watch my younger brothers open their presents Christmas morning. I'll be sure to take lots of photos and share more soon! Hope everyone enjoys what's left of 2010!

Blazier Family Holiday Shoot

2010-11-29T16:41:00.000-08:00

A few weeks back, I met up with the Blazier family in Irvine, Calif., to shoot some family photos for
their holiday card. It was especially fun for me, as I've known Kristi for a few years and was

delighted to finally meet her husband and especially her adorable 5-month-old son. I don't think I'll ever get to photograph a newborn who is as well-behaved as this amazing little guy was!

My favorite part of the day is the photos above, as the three of them laughed and enjoyed a perfect fall afternoon in Southern California just as the sun was setting. In fact, that backdrop provided the perfect photo for the front of their holiday card seen below! The Blaziers are a beautiful family and were so much fun to shoot, I hope to cross paths with them again soon in the future.

I'm feeling especially festive this year, and it was great to get a holiday photo shoot in this season. I hope everyone out there takes the time to capture a few holiday memories this month with their cameras. :)

Here's a few favorites that didn't make the final card design:

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T23:18:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving with their friends, family and loved ones!

I am particularly thankful for all the love I've been blessed with the past few years, in all its varying forms; for art and good music; for books and poetry, and that perfect photo you capture on accident; and for the optimism I have looking forward into the 25th year of my life. Happy Thanksgiving!

i swear i'm not a cat lady...

2010-11-21T20:17:00.000-08:00

...but how adorable is she? To think just a year ago, she was a stray stuck in a truck engine in Long Beach. And now she is the laziest, fattest animal I've ever had. At least she is also photogenic.

New Business Cards by S.Dillon Design!

2010-11-11T15:17:00.000-08:00

It was a few months back when a print lab wouldn't hand my photos over to me because the logo on my images didn't match the one on my business card. My original cards were designed far before I started seriously taking photos, so that seemed about as good a time as any to update the design. Graphic designer Stephanie Dillon of S.Dillon Design created my logo back when we were co-workers, so I was more than happy to return to her for new business cards, as well.

Stephanie did an amazing job and I wanted to share her designs for any others out there who might be looking for a graphic designer. I especially love how Stephanie always manages to incorporate subtle mementos within her designs that are significant to her clients.

For me, Penelope from "The Odyssey" is a major artistic muse — it's my favorite book ever and outside of my photography, much of my writing and poetry is based off her character. The idea for my logo itself came from conversations Steph and I had about Penelope weaving throughout Homer's epic tale as a gesture of faith in her husband's eventual return. Stephanie managed to incorporate the same concepts within the card's final design - repeating the weaving imagery and even hiding a little shout-out to "The Odyssey" book itself with one of the design elements below.

Can you find it? :)

—Click on the images above for a larger view—

I would recommend Stephanie to anyone in need of business cards, logos or other illustrations. She is a very talented illustrator and designer, and I'm lucky to know her. Thanks for always exceeding my expectations, Steph, and I'm looking forward to continuing to work together in the future!

E-mail Stephanie Dillon directly at steph@sdillondesign.com.

Visit her main Web site at www.sdillondesign.com.

Check out her most up-to-date work on her blog, The Bottom Line, at sdillondesign.wordpress.com.

Dan Krikorian opens for Chris Trapper - and I maybe pull off concert photography!

2010-11-06T23:11:00.000-07:00

This week was a good one for music, and it gave me lots of opportunities to sharpen my concert photography skills. Dan of the Dan Krikorian Band performed a solo set as the opener for musician

Chris Trapper — whose Grammy-nominated song "This Time" was featured in the film August Rush.

I was really happy with how these photos of Dan's show came out, and so excited to finally add some concert shots to my portfolio that actually came out in color!

Maybe the lighting was magic, or I just got really lucky, but either way I have to thank Dan for the support he offers by always letting me tag along to shoot his shows and post the photos. I'm excited to be learning a little bit more every day. Here's a few of my favorites from the night:

Click on any individual photograph to view it in a higher-resolution, larger format.

As I type this up, Dan is currently playing a gig in Yosemite National Park, Calif., and once back

home will return to the studio to begin recording work on his third album. To stay updated on any upcoming shows and future CD release dates, visit his Web site here or click here to become a fan of the band's official Facebook page.

I'm looking forward to continuing to shoot more shows and learn as much as I can about this form of photography. If anyone has any suggestions of good bands or venues in the Southern California area that I should check out with my camera, please let me know.

the Dan Krikorian Band at Detroit Bar, "Lost" and Pop Rocks.

2010-11-03T16:09:00.000-07:00

Last night, a group of friends, family and other Dan Krikorian Band fans sacrificed a bit of sleep for

a great show at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa, Calif. It's one of the few local shows left before Danny heads into the studio to record his third album, and — with the exception of "Bobby Jones" from Colors and Chords — the band was nice enough to treat the audience to all new songs for its entire set.

I wanted to share a few photos from the evening (I swear, I will master concert photography one day, if it's the last thing I do). To the right is the Dan Krikorian Band drummer, Brian Beach. I always have trouble photographing Brian because he's constantly moving and hidden behind his giant drum set, so I was happy to snap this shot of at least most of his face peeking out at me. Below are a few other favorites from the evening!

(Click on individual photos to get a higher-res view of each.)

To stay updated on tour information and CD releases, go to www.dankrikorian.com, or become a fan of the band on its official Facebook page.

On a somewhat related sidenote ... I promise I will be writing again more in this thing soon. I've been working on my poetry book and am excited to share more about that in the future!

And on a completely unrelated sidenote ... I have had so many Pop Rocks this afternoon, thanks to the Halloween candy bowl in my office, that if I had a drink of Coke I bet my stomach would explode. Also, I've spent a good portion of the afternoon trying to decide if I'm on Team Jack or Team Sawyer when it comes to my new-found "Lost" obsession. Just another Wednesday. ♥

eat, drink and be scary.

2010-10-29T16:11:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone has a very fun and safe Halloween this weekend. Enjoy the sugar high.

-playing graphic designer for the Dan Krikorian Band-

2010-10-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

I recently used my Photoshop skills to play graphic designer for the Dan Krikorian Band and its upcoming show on Nov. 2 at Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa, Calif. — check out the finished product!

Dan and the band are a really talented group of guys and I know it'll be a very good show (and it's free!), so come out on Tuesday for a fun night. I'm not sure of times yet, so check the Dan Krikorian Band Facebook page for updates, and if you haven't yet had the pleasure of hearing Dan's music for yourself, make sure to check him out on iTunes.

See you Tuesday! :)

And while you're at it, come out Nov. 5 at 7:30 p.m. to the Marlin Bar in Huntington Beach for the Whiskey Tango Breast Cancer Fundraiser, a very entertaining show by the Whiskey Tango band, the second band Dan Krikorian's guitarist plays in. It's for a great cause and when I went to last year's event, it didn't disappoint!

sugar and spice, and everything nice.

2010-10-19T13:11:00.000-07:00

After college and before the world of full-time employment, I became a nanny for the Metzgers, just as their firstborn turned 4-months-old. I've since moved onto way less adorable jobs, but I've stayed close to the family and last weekend went to their youngest daughter's second birthday. I wanted to share some photographs from the day. The one above of Elise, the baby I watched who is somehow now 4-years-old, is one of my favorite photos I've ever taken of her. Also, I am so old now.

The birthday girl really, really enjoyed her cake.

The Metzgers don't keep too much candy at home, so Lydia was very intrigued by the Tootsie Rolls that fell from her pinata. She originally tried to eat them like corn-on-the-cob — wrapper and all. :)

I hate to brag too much, but Elise loved me from Day One. Her baby sister Lydia, however, took awhile to warm up to me. I'm proud to say that I think now I've officially won her over. It was another great party at the Metzger house, and I love watching these girls grow up! (Even if it makes me feel unbelievably ancient.)

JacquelynRachel Photography specializes in portraiture and special events photography. For questions on booking a session or event, e-mail jacquelynrachel@gmail.com.

wedding wrap up - the final touches!

2010-10-11T12:37:00.000-07:00

I wanted to take a minute to share with friends and future brides the final touches to the SotoBanks wedding package. For newlyweds Jenny and Gahtlin, whose wedding post you can see here, a print album wasn't high on their priority list - instead they wanted easy and continual access to all the digital images from their ceremony and reception. I burned all high-resolution photos on a custom-designed CD and packaged everything together in a keepsake satin box, adorned with touches of yellow to match their wedding accent. Seeing everything come together in the end, and being able to hand over the finished product in a unique way, is always my favorite part of the process!

To book a wedding, engagement, holiday or portrait session, or to request a quote or more information from JacquelynRachel Photography, please contact me at jacquelynrachel@gmail.com or call 714.338.6760.

• All You Need Is Love — The SotoBanks Wedding •

2010-10-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

About seven months ago, I had the pleasure of meeting Jenny Soto and Gahtlin Banks, a laidback, upbeat couple who were getting married in July 2010. Jenny and Gahtlin met in the Peace Corps, and their adventurous spirit and love for each other was clear from the very start. I was asked to

photograph their wedding this summer, and it was one of the most fun and rewarding projects I've taken on yet. Jenny immediately made me feel like one of the group, rather than just her hired photographer, and I had the best time capturing the couple's special day.

Jenny and Gahtlin (or "SotoBanks" as their wedding guests affectionately referred to them throughout the day) were married July 31, 2010, at Tivoli Terrace in Laguna Beach, Calif. It was an intimate ceremony, and as the outsider looking in through my camera lens, it felt like everyone in the room had known and loved one another for years.

The SotoBanks vows were the first official wedding I had been hired to photograph, and I couldn't have asked for a better couple to work with. Not only were pre-wedding plans a piece of cake, but there wasn't a moment of stress during the entire ceremony and reception. You could tell the two of them were there to have as much fun as they possibly could on their wedding day. The photograph above is one of my favorites, taken during their first official dance as a Mr. & Mrs. to the Beatles' "All You Need Is Love." Going through my pictures from that day, there's barely a shot of them looking straight at the camera - they couldn't take their eyes off each other, and I think that's exactly how it should be! Here is a collection of photographs from the big day I wanted to share:

Jenny's bridal bouquet and wedding dress were adorned with personal mementos as a tribute to Gahtlin's mom. I loved the owl on her dress, and the meaning behind it made it even more special.

The venue was full of energy, aided especially by the wedding party's fun footwear and the bright assortment of candy and napkins advising guests to "enjoy life, it's delicious."

The wedding ceremony took place early afternoon, and it was a perfect summer day in Southern

California. The vows were very personal and sweet, and included a reading from the always inspiring Dr. Seuss (love it!) Jenny only stopped smiling once during the whole ceremony — and that was to seal the deal with a kiss! (And if you look closely enough at this photo of the official wedding kiss, I think she still has a hint of a grin on her face.)

The ceremony was followed by a quick formal portraits session while guests enjoyed a few drinks, though the bride and groom couldn't escape the immediate outpouring of congratulations and hugs from family and friends - there was a lot of love at Tivoli Terrace that day!

It was pretty much impossible not to have fun at this wedding, as evidenced by the smiles and laughter in nearly every photograph taken, and especially once it was time to enjoy the reception!

Jenny and Gahtlin's guests were all about the bouquet and garter toss. As you can see from the photos below, the ladies were just a bit more composed and well-behaved than the gentlemen... :)

I'm reaching that age where more and more friends are getting hitched, but it's going to be hard for

them to top the SotoBanks celebration. The entire day - from the early morning preparations at Jenny's sister's condo, to the vows and reception, to the after party in Dana Point for those who weren't quite ready to call it quits - was casual yet classy, relaxed but full of energy, and it suited who Jenny and Gahtlin are as a couple perfectly.

It was a real blessing to take part in such a special day, and I thank Jenny and Gahtlin for allowing me and my camera to be there! I'm sure if I had as much fun as I did, then they had a blast! I wish them nothing but continued happiness and adventure in their new life together as husband and wife. And I can't wait to photograph more weddings in the future!

To book a wedding, engagement, holiday or portrait session, or to request a quote or more information from JacquelynRachel Photography, please contact me at jacquelynrachel@gmail.com or call 714.338.6760.

the best kind of workday? one out of the office!

2010-10-01T13:51:00.000-07:00

I took a quick trip down to San Diego yesterday for work and was able to shoot a few photographs along the way. It was an eventful day — despite temperatures remaining in the 80s, there were continuous thunder and lightning storms all afternoon. I loved it though; it was great to get out of the office and mix things up a bit!

I was perched outside, preparing for the day's interviews when this leaf caught my eye. It looked like fall to me, something we so rarely get in Southern California.

I absolutely love the architecture of the Gaslamp District in downtown San Diego!

Being outside in San Diego yesterday reminded me of past vacations to Miami - stifling hot but beautiful outside. I snapped this image during a brief moment of calm between rainstorms.

All the Italian restaurants of Little Italy in downtown SD were full of ivy-ridden walls.

Little Italy housed some of the most quaint restaurants I've ever seen in SD. I took advantage of the chance to enjoy a delicious lunch of antipasto salad, followed by the best tiramisu I've ever tasted.

What makes yesterday even better is that today is Friday! Hope everyone has a great weekend!

kicking off fall with ... a heat wave and a power outage?

2010-09-26T22:03:00.000-07:00

Today in Orange County, temperatures hit 100 degrees and my entire block lost power for six hours (and counting — I'm currently on my work computer at the office to post this entry). At first, I was really frustrated — I was excited to put the finishing touches on some wedding photos and package up the final product, and I wanted to begin work on a few other projects, all of which required electricity. However, at the end of the day I'm glad the power went out. Having nothing else to do, my family went to the pool and spent a lazy Sunday afternoon together, something I don't often get to partake in.

I decided to bring my camera and snap a few shots of my family on a day where we were all able to relax together. It was fun to capture the careless, lighthearted attitude of the afternoon.

My youngest brother is one of the most photogenic kids I know, and also one of the most fun.

I love the sucession of the next three. They were my dad's idea,

and I think he was enjoying himself more than the 16- and 10-year-old. :)

I've always admired how great of a big brother Joel is to Stephen,

and I think these next few shots capture their relationship pretty well.

Hope everyone out their enjoyed their Sunday as much as I did!