Featured: Wiley Valentine

I LOVE seeing my work show up places. It is so fun to get that email telling me someone has seen one of my photos somewhere. It is fun to see what other people see in them, and I especially love when they are used on design and inspiration boards. The thought that my photo could inspire someone is one of the reasons I love doing this!

My friend Courtney (who has done hair and make up for me and my clients) is a guest blogger for Wiley Valentine the next couple of days. In yesterday's post, she featured a couple of my photos and I was thrilled and honored! Make sure you check their blog and hers too! Lots of inspiration!

My Love Story

My life is not perfect. Is anyone's?
There was a time, several years back, when I thought I was going to have a "perfect" life.
I was very misled, and very mistaken.
5 years later, I am under no misconception that my life will ever be perfect...
But I love the way it is turning out.

It has been YEARS since I've dated... and I wasn't sure exactly how it would go, but what I have found is that you really should be with your best friend. And then life is good. And dating is easy.

I am currently dating my best friend.
I think he's wonderful.
And I want you all to know him to, so I'd like to introduce you to Javier.



Javi, thank you for being my friend.
Thank you for telling me the truth, even when it was hard...
For caring about me, even when I was broken.
For thinking I'm brilliant, even when I don't make sense...





Thank you for listening to my hilarious stories as though they are brand new, even when you've heard them 5 times already...
For eating tacos 6 times a week because that's my "thing".





Thank you for thinking it's funny when I'm mad at you, instead of raising your voice...
For explaining something simple 10 times, because I need to make sure I understand.
For thinking I'm beautiful on days that I feel like I'm a mess.





Thank you for showing my God's love, and patience when I'm frustrated and impatient.
For allowing me to heal, to grow, to move forward...
And for moving forward with me.





Thank you for having fun with me...
For making me laugh harder than anyone else...
For loving my silly dance moves, and trying to keep up with me.





Thank you for loving strangers....
For being kind to homeless people, mean people, and people that no one else loves....
For caring about the people who care about me...
For loving the teenagers that I love...
And thank you for loving me when I felt unlovable.





You are my favorite.





Special thanks to my lovely friend, Ala for the photos you see above (except the first one), and my friend Courtney for doing a wonderful job on my hair and make up.

Everyday: Courtney and Bijoudally: Anthropologie Inspired

She jets in from Seattle from time to time.
And when she does, we like to get our creative juices flowing.
My friend Courtney is one of those creative people... those people that inspire my artsy side.
She came in from Seattle for a few days, and we decided that we should shoot something... anything... because that's what we do.
Lucky for me, she came bearing a bag of goodies from a jewelry designer that she's working for up in Washington. We had a blast shooting a bunch of fun pictures for Courtney and Bijoudally. We were definitely going for an Anthropologie inspired look. I think we did pretty good :)









This amazing piece is from Lo Boheme. You know how much I love her work :)




These are for sure my favorites :)

Teaser: Anthropologie Inspired Shoot

It's only the BIGGEST Wedding photographer get together in the country!

In one of the most exciting places in the country.

With some of the greatest people in the country

And I'm sure its a blast.

But I'm not there.

I didn't go to WPPI in Las Vegas this year... instead I am sitting at a kitchen table in rainy Southern California.

So I feel the need to make up for the wonderful friendship making, fantastic photoshoots, and hundreds of coffee get togethers I'll be missing by doing my own friendship making, fantastic photoshoots and coffee get togethers.

So for any of you photogs in my area who DIDN'T go to WPPI and want to meet up, shoot, or just grab coffee... shoot me an email, DM me on twitter, or leave me a comment!

To appease my loathing self, I set up a fun shoot with my friend Courtney. You may remember Courtney from a past shoot. She is a FANTASTIC hair and make up artist based out of Seattle, Washington, but she is here often, and when she is we like to get creative.

Here is a little teaser of the Anthropologie inspired shoot we cooked up. More coming soon :)