My Seattle Friends!

I'm working on getting the Warner family shoot ready to blog, but I found this gem to share with all of you! I really need to keep a point and shoot in my bag, so I can get some focused picture of myself with my friends, kids, husband. LOL!! LOVE these, amazing, beautiful girls! Come by in a few to see the FABULOUS Warner family!
And this little beauty is on the calendar for the summer! BEAUTIFUL!

Beautiful Seattle Bride- Miss Rose

When I get through a shoot like this I can't believe that this is my job. I have the best clients in the world. They are not just clients but they become my friends. I feel like I've known this girl for ages. I'm looking forward to her wedding like she was my best girlfriend from High School! We had some technical difficulties, with our dear make up stylist...but after a bit of a delay we had about 30 minutes to shoot the whole session. It was a snap. We even took advantage of the dark to shoot a few frames in an overpass tunnel on the University of Washington campus! ROSE I love you! Thank you for everything. Tell your moms I'm still sorry for the loopty loop. LOL! SEE YOU IN A FEW WEEKS!!

SPRING in SEATTLE

On Saturday my good friend Leti flew with me to Seattle to help me for the day.  I had a few shoots up in the beautiful Pacific North West.  I know I say this every time I go to Seattle, but...I'm so in LOVE with that city.  Before we set up for the shoot we got to drive around the city, eat tons of crab (of course) and get lost a few times.  Did you know....that cherry blossoms are better in Seattle than they are in Utah?  I had no idea my friends..NO idea!   Thank you Leti, I LOVE YOU!!  I'm so excited to blog the next shoot in the morning.  It's Miss Rose ya'll, stop by, stop by! 

Miss Lani Fano Cypress High School GRAD 09, Cottonwood Canyon, SLC, Utah

Still paying catch-up! I'm sorry it's taken me longer that I said it would guys!  Lani is a Senior at Cypress High School.  Everyone that heard I was shooting her told us how pretty and sweet she was.  They were right!  Sorry for the drive up to and down the mountain!  You guys are the best!

Why I LOVE HAWAII:

I LOVE....that most of Honolulu is one big 70's Kung Fu movie looking set.

I LOVE....Thai food on Nu'uanu street in Kalihi....but NOT their bathrooms.

I LOVE....that Motsumoto makes bank but never redoes anything, not even the pictures.

I LOVE....7-11 

I LOVE....that it's the most beautiful place in the world and two steps from being 3rd world.

                 (FYI the bathroom at the Thai food garage in Kalihi is 4th world).

I LOVE....mochi ice cream....bubbies, raspberry white chocolate.

I LOVE....Ling hi mui ANYTHING, pickled mango, and rock salt plum.

I LOVE....Mcdonald's eggs, rice and Portuguese sausage meal.

I LOVE.....my grandma, who doesn't remember me, but acts like she does most of the time.

I LOVE.....how Jeans Wear house clothes look cute on the hanger but NEVER fit right.

I LOVE.....Ted's Bakery Chocolate Haupia Cream Pie.

I LOVE.....Hawaiian Cowboys. (go dad!)

I LOVE.....that roosters woke me up at 4:ooa.m.

I LOVE..... pancakes, cream puffs, and Chantilly frosting at Liliha Bakery

I LOVE.....that I can wake up at 5:50am and not feel tired and go for a walk on the beach.

I LOVE.....that I'm in bed and sleeping by 10:00 p.m.

I LOVE.....how brown Golden got from head to toe.

I LOVE....Hawaii drivers.

I LOVE....MAHALO instead of THANK YOU. YES Bronwyn, people use that word in real life.

I LOVE....The Hapuna Prince Hotel (and my Auntie Shari :))

I LOVE....that Nick thinks Hawaiian history is Fairytailish. i.e. he questions my sources.

I LOVE....that you can ask a Walmart worker where the musubi presses are located.

I LOVE....the way Kona airport surroundings look like a real bad road pavement job.

I LOVE....how Hawaii radio stations aren't even scared to play the same songs over and over.

I LOVE....that once you get on the radio your song will get play 20 years later over and over.

I LOVE....that the workers at Foodland grocery store still know my name.

I lOVE....that I still have a Maika'i card.

I LOVE....the swapmeet

I LOVE....that no matter how long I am away, Hawaii is still my home.

WHY DO YOU LOVE HAWAII??

Ariel P. West Jordan High School GRADUATE 2009!!! UTAH

Graduation is coming up so soon!  Check out those boots!  Ariel said that the kids at school tease her when she wears them....something about Pochohontas.  BUT you keep rockin' those boots girl!  Lovely, Lovely! 

FASHION: LUNATIC FRINGE

CAMPBELL GIRLS 08 -Temple Beach, Laie, HAWAII

Hi'i is my good friend from years back!  I can't believe how beautiful and how big her girls are now.  They are as beautiful and fun as their mother.  Again....too many great pictures to choose from!  It was nice to be back in our little Laie town for the day! Hopefully we will see you very soon!  Love you girl!

MOE+NORA+BUCKY+ALYSSA=BEAUTIFUL FAMILY PICTURES/Malaekahana Beach, Kahuku, Hawaii

My, My, My! I was falling to far behind on my editing, so YES.....hello all nighter! I love to have so many pictures to decide from, but it does make for loooong nights.
Nora contacted me last year about family pictures. Since they live in Hawaii, we were waiting for my schedule to bring me to out their way. I am so glad it did!
Okay...so no one told me that the sun rises at 5:00 a.m. in Hawaii. I seriously woke up with the roosters and still had to shoot into the blazing sun. It was so much fun to be back in Laie with this great family. We made our way to Malaekahana beach, which just happens to be where Nick asked me to marry him.  (Funny story: pirates, treasure, hot surfer bodies, and great lines.  Ask me about it sometime.)  While I was working with Moe and Nora, Bucky (A.K.A Benjamin) told my husband about the surgery, he had to have on his brain.  After the shoot Nick told me about it and I realized I just met a miracle.  Bucky told him that they had to get the bad stuff out of his brain or he would be frozen, or go live in heaven and have a better life.  I already loved this family, but hearing about such courage and strength made me admire them even more!  

Seriously guys...I CAN'T wait to see you again in Seattle next month!  ALL OUR LOVE.

OUR GRANDMA

One of the reasons I went to Hawaii last week was to celebrate my grandma's 84th birthday. I was busy working on Oahu when they actually had her party, but we did get to spend a few days with her before I left. She doesn't remember me now. We've seen this coming for sometime now, but this trip I saw the most drastic changes. 

When I was younger I used to spend summers with my grandparents. My family owned a restaurant in the harbor town of Kawaihae and we would come out to spend a non-relaxing summer in Hawaii working, sweating, and NOT going to the beach. Hey...it built character, and I got to know my family.  I loved those summers.

She sat next to me the other day and asked me if that boy..(Nick) was my boyfriend.  I told her that, that handsome man was my husband, and she thought it was a good idea we got married since we had the baby (Golden).  She asked me what my last name was, where I was from and what my kids racial backgrounds were. She is so sweet and so forgetful. She made me laugh, and made me want to cry a little. I think she's beautiful.  She is like a little girl now, and so it goes from cradle to cane. We love you grandma.

AFTON DELGROSSO is DANCING WITH THE STARS!!

I just saw last nights show of DANCING WITH THE STARS! I was so excited to see Afton!  Everyone vote for her, because she ROCKS!!!  She is competing for a place on next years show and was so lovely in her performance!  

COMPETITION WINNER...

I'm baa--AAck! I have a million things I need to do today, before my kids wake up so here's to a new me. I am trying to loose this night identity I've developed, and trade it in for an early morning me. In Hawaii I was getting up at 6:00a.m. and getting to bed before 10:00a.m. I got so much accomplished before noon, I felt like a hero. I'm aware this isn't impressive if you translate the time zones, BUT.... it however made me realize if I just got to bed earlier I would wake up early, which would make we want to get to bed earlier. Follow? I'm not a morning person, but I will myself to be better scheduled and better rested.

Anyway, our winner is Jaene Aulava, photo #1. Everyone did so well. It takes a lot to put your work out in front of the whole world and have people throw there opinions at it, anonymous or otherwise. I want to thank everyone who took time to give positive feedback to these photographers. CONGRATS Jaene!

Closed

It's a little hard to blog from my phone. I'm closing the polls! Thank you ALL for your involvement.

GROUP SHOOT COMPETITION!!

I decided that we would have an image contest from our shoot last Saturday. I asked the photographers to submit their favorite picture from the shoot.  The dead line was Monday night at midnight.  Sooo two of the photographers are late......huhhhmmm.   I'm sure they will get into the game now that it's STARTED!  As soon as they send them to me I will get them up!  Until then these two ROCKSTARS have a head start on votes.  

TO VOTE:  comment and put the number you find under your picture of choice in your post! 

VOTE OPEN TILL FRIDAY APRIL 17th!  MOST VOTE WINS

THE WINNER GET'S:  A FREE PASS TO THE NEXT GROUP SHOOT and $50.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE!

I am so thrilled by the work that I've seen so far!! THANK YOU for participating. I want everyone to know I couldn't be happier or more impressed!  

                                                                                   1

                                                                                           2

                                                                                           3
                                                                                       4

SPRING GROUP SHOOT!

my group!

This shot was taken by my right hand super women SILA!!  I thought it was perfection!!!  GREAT WORK!!

Saturday was my son's birthday, the Easter egg hunt, and the Spring Group Shoot. I wanted great weather. I would have settled for decent weather. I got terrible weather! I had to move the party/Easter egg hunt in-doors, and tried to come up with a solution for the workshop.  Everything worked out due to a supportive family, amazing team and a very understanding group of friends!  

I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of photographers.  We laughed, talked, and learned together.  Thank you for braving the rain, and cold wind.  Our models were the absolute best.  We love you!  Liz and Steve, your sense of humor made everyone shoot that much better.  Crystal your face is my favorite in the whole wide world!!  Missy your body was rockin' even with the goose bumps, you are a soldier!  THANK YOU ALL!  

A special thanks to Tina, our director and drill sergeant/stand in stylist and Sila my go to girl as always.  I wouldn't have made it though my crazy day if you guys weren't there to help me!

I was jealous that I only had 2-4 shots of my own to look at when I got home.  I'm so excited to see what magic ya'll worked up!!!  Make ma'ma PROUD!!

LIUAKI VAKAPUNA

Within weeks of my wedding day, Nick's little brother Liu came to live with us. We had a small "1" bedroom apartment on the BYU-Hawaii campus. I say: quote "1" bedroom because there were no doors in our tiny home. We were poor. We were crowded, but we were happy! Liu is as much my brother as my own.  He comes over and we all stay up talking and LAUGHING  all night.  He is the funniest, kindest uncle, brother, and future husband.....hint hint...he's single and ready to mingle.  He's going to kill me for posting this, but you can't pose for a light check and be fabulous and think I won't post!  Love you Liu!! No puedo creer no es mantequilla!!!

4 YEARS of MY LIFE

Favorite COLOR: Blacklikedaddy.  I wasn't aware that this was a color...but it sooo IS.
Favorite OUTFIT: BVD's aka...UNDERPANTS (please consider yourself warned.)
Favorite MOVIE: HSM1,2,3, or HARRY POTTER 
Favorite FOOD: Spanish Rice from CARL'S JR (no lie)...OH does candy count?

Favorite GAME: Copying what everyone says in a robot voice, or serving it up with his mad skill break dancing

Favorite FRIEND:  RAYCE TOHARA

Favorite PLACE:  MR. CHUCKS...folks: that is Chucky Cheese's not CHUCK-A-RAMA

Favorite LINE:  MMMM Maybe.......NO!, or Sooo you love me or what mama?  Now that I think of it I think that was the line Nick used when he asked me to marry him.  LOL!  kidding... or am I??

On the morning of April 11th, four years ago, I cried myself all the way to the labor and delivery room.  It wasn't the pain.  Maybe the sleepless weeks leading up to this day were finally catching up, but mostly, it had something to do with my first born loosing the attention monopoly she'd been running for the past 2 years and not knowing how I was going to love another kid as much as I did my first.  If you haven't had kids you won't understand this.  If you have only one...uh uh..you wont' either.  Have two or more?....Can I get an AMEN!

So he comes out with the biggest eyes I've ever seen in my life.  Totally reminded me of a new baby orangoutan...(seriously click this link...have a laugh, it's pretty dead on....yes..almost that harry too!).  BUT...I indeed loved him as much as the first....ffeeww, what a relief!

I'm feeling sort of weepy tonight, again maybe because the sleepless nights, but it's hard to believe he is getting older so quickly.  He is such a joy in my life.  If he sees something funny, he always comes to find me and to tell me word for word what happened, imitating voices and faces... the whole 9 yards.  What I love most about him is he always forgives me for my GINORMOUSE weaknesses, and short comings as a mother.  Thank you for helping me a better person for the last four years of my life, one day I'll get the hang of it.  I LOVE YOU FOXXY!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIDDO!

LUNATIC FRINGE BENIFIT

Veronika Chernyavska Pro Dancer..

I had to fit this shoot in before I continue more with the Lunatic pictures.  I love Veronika!  I love her name.  VERONIKA CHERNVAVSKA...!  She's going places with a face and a name like that!  I got filled in on the in's and out's of the dance world, her dreams and her immediate travel schedule!  I wish both you and Tony the best ...GO WORLD!!!   Thanks for such a great afternoon!

LUNATIC..LUNATIC and MORE LUNATIC

I have just realized that I never wrote about the amazing concept Lunatic's art director and team came up with. Can you guess? I'm sure you can. They did such a great job that even people who did not know a think about the show's theme would get a pretty clear vision. "Giving Back is The New Black Especially When it's Green"

MORE....

LUNATIC FRINGE/FASHION HAIR SHOW

LUNATIC FRINGE

LUNATIC FRINGE FASHION/HAIR SHOW: EARTH

LUNATIC FRINGE

LUNATIC FRINGE 4th Annual Hair and Fashion Show

I'm about to call it a night, but I wanted to thank my amazing team for all their hard work tonight. I really felt the earth move. Life is so unpredictable. The path to your dreams is never paved! THANK YOU SILA, K.D., JANAE, and ANGEL, and all the amazing crew at LUNATIC FRINGE. A bazillion images to come!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MISS KAMORA!