ISLAND GROOVE CONCERT TICKET GIVE-A-AWAY!

If you want to win a ticket to THE ISLAND GROOVE concert on JULY 17th at ABRAVANEL HALL.....you know what to do!  Comment, leave your name, and we'll pick two random winners on SATURDAY JULY 11th!  TWO WINNERS FOLKS!! Remember if you don't win the tickets you can purchase your tickets from myself, any of the P.A.L.E.  board members or you can go to www.palefoundation.org!  NIGHTY NITE!!

FAHU TAHI Minnesota Vikings #38 FB

I'm getting caught up....almost there. Thank you to all of you who have been so wonderful to work with over the last few weeks.

OUTSTANDING Community Supporters!

Reno Mahe former BYU/ NFL Philadelphia Eagles player

Sorry Reno, I had to pick the picture of you being you. I know we discussed the "other" one, but really.....has anyone seen this guy out and about not wearing his signature smile. Okay. THANK YOU!

Ben Moa of the Miami Dolphins and his handsome boyz!

Initially I was just going to photograph Ben, but during a break I managed to get a shot of these three little handsome boys running around. Sorry it took a day or two longer than I planned Christina! Your boys are too cute!  THANKS SO MUCH!

ALEMA HARRINGTON

Alema is part of the KJZZ14 news team.  He's been a notable figure in the Utah and Hawaii community for many years.  Thank you for supporting and leading in our community Alema!  We wish you and your family the best with the up coming events!

Gabe Reid

If you know Gabe, it won't surprise you at all that I had to google his name to get specifics about his career. He's not the kind of guy that talks about himself, even though he's a very remarkable person. Gabe played for the Chicago Bears after graduating from Brigham Young University. More importantly than what he "did", is what he is "doing." Gabe is highly involved in his community, volunteering and serving anytime he can. but MOST importantly he also works as my nanny 911! LOL! Thanks for everything Gabe!

AND THE WINNER IS......

SERIOUSLY...this is how it happened!  If I'm perfectly honest, which I aim to be, my daughter had said she wanted my sister to win, and MIRACULOUSLY pulled out her name.  Can you say REDO!!?  Ruth, Haven owes you some make up just for that.  So we redid it and this is what happened! 

I shot this on the new 5 DMARK II.  I think this is the coolest new feature!  I LOVE being able to get footage of the kids.  The only issue is that you can only record in very small segments and takes up a whole-lot-a room!  

THANKS FOR PLAYING!  

AFTON DELGROSSO and ZACH WILSON ENGAGED

One thing about love is that it is TRANSPARENT.  You can't hide it where it exists and you can't create it where it doesn't.  The first time I saw Afton speak Zach's name, I knew she was, hopelessly, recklessly in love.  It beamed through her eyes and rang in her voice.  My only hope was that he loved her as deeply.  He does.  Undeniably.  With out question.  

I fell in love with how wonderfully beautiful, talented, and kind Afton was.  Remarkably Zach is her equal in every way.  He is dazzlingly handsome, fun, sincere, and incredibly talented.  Love, becomes them!  

Thank you Zach and Afton for creating one of the most memorable shoots of my career.  ALL MY LOVE!

I wanted to post these two clips, because I LOVE them!  I showed my whole family!  We are soooo your biggest fans!  Not just because of your talent, but because I KNOW how wonderful you are inside and out! 

100 + FOLLOWER give away!

I just realized I got my 100th blog follower today and wanted to celebrate with you all! I aprieciate every single one hundred and one of you who hold my virtual hand on this journey! I'm in a "make-up mood." I love LOVE LOVE make up! So, fittingly my favorite store is SEPHORA. Comment on this post and Haven will randomly pick a winner on MONDAY, June 29th @1:00p.m. Winning prize is a $50.00 gift certificate to SEPHORA.COM. Guys...enter anyway and give the gift to your woman, your sister, your ma'ma. I promise they will love you for it!

So comment, enter and win....stuff to make you prettiful! HAVE FUN!

CONTEST CLOSED AT 1:00PM MONDAY JUNE 29th @ 77 comments!

(I have to wait for my lucky picker to get out of school...POSTING winner @ 4pm)

Private First Class Isis Ah chong and Baby Brynmor!

Isis is a beautiful, young single mother, who is also a U.S. reservist called to duty in Taji Iraq. Little Brynmor is blessed to have such a courageous and brave mother.  I can't help but cry a little for the sake of all mothers world wide who sacrifice so much for their children.  Brynmor and Isis have a loving, supportive family that will hold these two together during her year deployment across seas.  Thank you Isis for your service and for asking me to photograph your beautiful little boy and document the love you share!  WE LOVE YOU!

URBAN PACIFIK MUSIK RADIO

This talented group of personalities are the hosts and DJ's of URBAN PACIFIK MUSIK, a 24 hour online radio show.  Their passion and focus is to promote and give exposure to the talented Hip Hop, R&B and Reggae with the Polynesian twist we all know and love.   

We had such a challenge with this shoot because of the weather.  It was a full on "Dorothy, we ain't in Kansas anymore" storm.  Because we had been unable to shoot in the bad weather earlier in the week, we had to get down and dirty, and do our best.  Okay so now you know what OMIPHOTO is about...wind, rain, or snow. 

Don't hate me Dex, I had to post.  I LOVE YOU!  Thank you RUDY, JT, DEX and especially Miss Sheri!    You are headed on to do great things!  I'm 180% behind you guys!  

INTERVIEW TONIGHT...06/25/09 PACIFIC EYE RADIO SHOW

Can I tell you I am so thrilled that I was asked to be interviewed live by Richard and Anapesi of the PACIFIC EYE RADIO SHOW. Can I also tell you I sort of feel like throwing up because of all the butterflies in my stomach. Seriously. Part of me thinks it would be horrible if no one tuned into listen because of an earth quake in West India....the other part of me thinks it would be horrible in EVERYONE tuned in because of the 89.9% chance I say something super lame, but really true. The hosts of the show are fabulous and they'll get me through it. RIGHT guys? And you'll all be there. Right! THANK YOU!

So listen live tonight PACIFIC EYE RADIO SHOW

G.I.F.T.E.D. Football and Education Camp

Growing up I was dragged all over this blessed country just to watch my brother play football.   I mean, I'm sure you can imagine how hard it is on a teenage girl to HAVE to hang around a bunch of football players every weekend.  LOL!  

But for real  I TRUELY... LOVE football.  Every fall when the leaves start to change there is a smell and crispness in the morning air, that gets my heart pumping.  It was such a part of my life that even now when I don't get out to watch live games, I still love the affect of the football season.  (wink, wink)

I was honored to be asked to shoot this monumental camp last week.  G.I.F.T.E.D is a free football and education camp that was organized and funded by a group of outstanding former and current NFL players.  I can't say enough about how amazing the camp was.  H.Y.P.E. and P.A.L.E. put in a huge volunteer effort along with terrific community members and parents.  

It was a pleasure to meet so many people who care about our kids and their futures.  Everything is a choice in our lives.  If we can teach our kids that, they will be able to overcome and achieve greatness because everyone of them has the potential to do so.

Thank you G.I.F.T.E.D, PALE, and HYPE for serving and sacrificing for the betterment of the kids. 

Tali and Checka - Engaged "la Isla de Antilope"

I was able to squeeze this shoot in this evening.  Thankfully the rain finaly held off long enough to rock it out!  Checka and I had a few ideas we wanted to try-out tonight, so we waited for the sunset in the land of "BUGZILLA."  SERIOUSLY we all sacrificed a little blood sweat and tears for the cause.   Tali and Checka were amazing and absolutely made my job easy, peasy....(EXCEPT FOR THE BUGS...Not your fault, of course.)  Best of luck with the wedding planning!  

ALL MY LOVE and SUPPORT!

THANK YOU to my FABULOUS assistants.  You sooo deserved the crown burgers tonight girls!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE  YOU!

Sweet Baby Katie.....

Don't you all wish someone was around forcing you to go to sleep and take naps everyday. Kid's have NO idea how good they've got it!   We rubbed her for head and nose.  We fed her grapes standing on our heads.....WHATEVER it takes folks..whatever it takes!

While I was shooting this session, I wondered if babies parents would mind if I crawled right next to her and fell asleep on her soft little white blanket.  

You are such an amazingly beautiful little girl!  Good job mommy and daddy.  Another perfect addition to the family!  LOVE YOU GUYS!!    

BABIES FIRST YEAR

This picture was taken a few days after this beautiful girl made her debut into the world. A year has flown by and now she is just as special but EVEN more beautiful..
LOVE YOU baby J.

Something I'm working on...

This Morning....OQUIRRH MOUNTAIN UTAH TEMPLE

Sometimes when I get too many ideas I can't sleep. Okay....like EVERY night. BUT...I know I'm on overdrive when I wake up at 5:30 a.m., because I can't shut my brain off.  Here's a shot from my daybreak walk. (pun intended).  Happy Saturday! 

BACKSTAGE

Truth is: Fiction is more entertaining than reality...well...not really. I just thought about it and I'm TOTALLY wrong. Truth is: Nothing great comes about without A LOT of work. Here is some of the "work" and "workers" behind the runway show.
Hey Sila, I see you lookin' all hot with a camera! P.S. this does not give you permission to show pictures of me shooting like a mad woman.
For a view at the FICTION 'click'

FIRE and ASH

Another Lunatic Fringe Fashion show model. She was a part of the "fire" group. Amazing creativity and makeup artistry from all of the stylist involved.

Due to POPULAR DEMAND....

I was talking to Nick's sister Ila yesterday and she mentioned that she hadn't see any pictures of the baby in awhile.  He had a weird little bout with sporadic balding a few months ago.  It looked CRAZY.  I took him to the doctor after a few weeks.  My dad was convinced the hair would never grow back.  The doctor said  that he had some type of trauma or stress and skipped a hair growth cycle.  Anyway 3 months later we finally have hair.  I think I was also a little worried my guys was going to have patchy hair for the rest of his life.  So, before you ask me what kind of trauma or stress would cause baby hair loss, I came up with three things that might have been the culprit.  He got sick, took a spill down the stairs and had two night terrors.  I'm not saying they happened on the same day, but I can't prove it didn't.  Poor kid!  He's so stinkin' cute!

Happy Saturday!

Mark and Tiffany/Orange County CA

Bouquet was provided by Kristin of The Treasured Petal and the amazing Vivian Tran of All Made Up was responsible for the incredible hair and make up!  I sat by Vivian at dinner and absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE her!  She is an amazing artist and a beautiful person inside and out!  AGAIN....Thank you Jasmine for an unforgettable day!    

Jasmine Star Workshop/ Orange County CA

One of my favorite people in the whole photography universe is Miss Jasmine Star.   I am in awe of her brand, and business savvy, but in love with her kindness, generosity and beautiful heart.  I left her Tuesday night with direction, inspiration, and a ton of new friends.    

I enjoyed watching the way Jasmine is able to change the energy around her at any given moment.  BUT...I was moved by the way her mother and JD (her husband Mr. Star LOL) look at her.  I mean it's one thing for the attendees to hang on her every word, but I watched Jasmine light up her mother's eyes with a story or a laugh and listened to JD talked about her.  It was pure love and it's not like I didn't feel Jasmine was wonderful, now I KNOW she is.  

Jasmine invited me to use her equipment for the workshop when she heard I lost everything last week in Seattle.  I was able to get my hands on a new body and one lens before I few out, but was still able to use a few of her lenses anyway.  THANK YOU J*...Me estoy muy agradacida por todo que has hecho para mi.  Que te sigas adelante cambiando las vidas de todas las personas que toca su luz!  Carino!

Post more in the morning!

HAPPY JUNE!

Summer is here! Hallelujah, AMEN! We made a special FIRST time beach visit for this kid. He loved it...but I gotta say, there is one bad thing about living away from the ocean. Oh..my bad. Did I just say ONE bad thing? Frankly, I can't think of one good reason to live AWAY from the ocean. Mmmmmmmmm. TSUNAMI TIDAL WAVES.  Just thought of one.  That's all I got.  

Okay, so our kids have NO kind of "BEACH ETIQUETTE." I was cringing and laughing at the same time.
They were romping across blankets. Shaking sandy towels out into the faces of all our innocent by-standing beach goers. Standing in the beach bike lanes, like it was a sidewalk.  Climbing into sand holes, un-dug by themselves.  It was like a bad National Lampoon's Vacation movie. 

NOTE TO SELF:  Get to the beach more!

Nick is doing much, much better.  I wanted to thank my wonderful friends, neighbors and family for all the help.  I swear I would have had a thermo nuclear melt down, were it not for you.  Tina, thank you for cleaning the house.  You are the most selfless and wonderful friend in the world.  I know I broke down crying like a crazy person, but SERIOUSLY nothing has ever looked quite so beautiful.  Christy, Bron and Irene.....thank you for taking care of the kids.  I honestly don't know what I'd do with out you all!  

Happy June!!