“Laughter is the closest distance between two people.” :: Victor Borge ::

I know starting a blog off with a quote is sort of like starting off a graduation speech with Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” (aka “The Road Less Traveled”) or something, but stay with me here for a minute people. I came across that image above while editing away for an upcoming blog post chock full of images (well, 1 of 2 posts cuz there’s too many images to narrow it down to a reasonable number…) and it struck me.

Sometimes I’m drawn to the unique, the technically accurate, the magical moment, the perfect lighting, the different, the edgy, the breath-taking when I look at photos. I’m constantly trying to improve what I do and I try to spend a decent amount of time looking at the work of people I consider my Betters. But sometimes I am struck by the simplicity of pure connection.

Because let’s face it. Connection, true and real connection, is hard to do. I don’t mean “connect” on facebook. Or “connect” through email. Or even “connect” through Match.com. I mean that moment when you realize that something deeper just happened.

I’ll be honest – it’s a struggle for me. Because connection takes vulnerability that I’m just not willing to give sometimes. Vulnerability doesn’t always pay off in a positive way. Sometimes it’s ugly and it means getting hurt. But I’ve learned something about connection lately – especially about really connecting with my clients – it’s worth it. Worth the work. Worth the discomfort. Worth the sometimes pain. Because then something beautiful happens. My clients become more than clients. They become people I love and share laughter with.

Let me give you an example. I had a client a few years back who approached me about shooting her wedding. She was struggling to come up with the money to hire me, but she knew she wanted ME to shoot her wedding and told me so. I was flattered, but mostly because it felt good to know that she had somewhere decided to reach out and try to connect. I decided to take that chance too. It meant fudging the budget a bit, re-orienting a few things and getting a little uncomfortable, but now she’s a beautiful married woman with a fabulous family (ALL of whom I have now worked with separately and together) and I’m excited to for the upcoming arrival of their first child. Not “excited because they’ll probably hire me to take baby photos” excited. I mean genuinely THRILLED. Because somewhere in the past few years, we let our walls down a little and connected. By the time I even got to her wedding day, we had developed a friendship that allowed for more than just easy conversation, it allowed for – nay, INSISTED on – laughter. Like, belly laughter too. Not that weeny polite stuff.

Today I spent a good 20 minutes straight laughing-so-hard-I-was-wheezing-in-a-singularly-UNattractive-manner with my husband. Something I DEFINITELY don’t do enough. Somewhere in those 20 minutes, all of the irritations, the pain, the frustrations, the busy-ness, the day-to-day LIFE of the past few days and weeks (and maybe months) melted away. I honestly can’t think of a better way to have spent my morning. Sure, I had things to do. Important things too, like take a shower, but I have zero regrets. I want to have 20 minutes like that every day of the rest of my life. Really.

And really, when it comes down to it, laughter is more than just good medicine. It’s the fruit of the connection that I crave and don’t take the risk to pursue often enough. I don’t know about you, but I would really love to connect to more people and have more people to share a good laugh with.

So here it is internet. I’m throwing it out as a challenge to you (and to me). I check my google stats and I know how many of you are visiting this blog (if you’re reading this on facebook, count yourself lucky that I can’t check stats there…yet….) so no weenies out there, ya hear me? I’m asking for your help. Help to violently shove gently push me out of my comfort zone. I’m asking you to help me CONNECT. With you.

Reach out. I’m starting the conversation, will you continue it? I triple-dog-dare you. So reach back. And let’s see where this thing goes.

:: b ::

I love love love how Melanie and Jeremy’s wedding album came out. It’s vibrant and colorful (which is perfect with how everything looked at their wedding) and once again, Sandra did an amazing job! I love having an album designer who I can trust 100% to make my images look even better when she’s done with them.

Remember, the actual album is much bigger – 12×12! To see the full design, click here.

::b::

I’m so excited to share Jolene & Christian’s wedding album. Their wedding was the last wedding I shot while pregnant and I was definitely feeling it. I came across some images from that wedding that my assistant took not that long ago and realized just how pregnant I was then. Goodness. Suffice it to say, I’m glad to finally be caught up on all of my pre-baby stuff.

The album design came out beautifully (once again, thanks to my designer extraordinaire, Sandra) and is a 10×10 design. If you want to see the full album design, simply *click here*.

::b::

I’m quite excited about how Jeremy & Melanie’s engagement guest book came out! I know I rave out her every time I post an album design, but it’s the honest-to-goodness truth that I have the best album designer on the planet. Sandra rocks my socks off. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept of an engagement guest book, it’s basically a cross between a photo signing matte and a traditional guest book (sort of a yearbook style). Guests get a chance to see more of your personality as a couple through your photos and can leave you a message in the book as well. It takes the hassle out of where you’re going to put the big signing photo and your guests love looking through it! In the past 2 years, this has grown to be one of the most popular albums I offer. You can check out a slideshow of the full album design by clicking here. And remember, the design is a 11×8.5 landscape layout, so you’re seeing the pages as if the book were laying open flat. (and the first image is the custom cover!). Enjoy!

::b::

Can you tell I have baby on the brain lately? I don’t usually do this many personal blog posts in a row, but I had to share this one. I’ve been toying with the idea of offering Baby Shower Guestbooks for a while, but never actually have. I decided I would be my own guinea pig (usually I commandeer a friend for that!) and create one for my husband and I!

When I got married, my aunts and my mom arranged for everyone to write little notes (marriage advice, favorite memory, etc.) and put them all in a little box for me to keep. I still visit that box from time to time and it’s always been a special thing to me. Eye-opening in some cases, but also very special. I thought I’d like to do something similar for my baby shower and this seemed to do that very well. Plus it gave people a chance to see some of our maternity photos AND leave little tidbits for Cameron. I thought it might be something special for him (and possibly his family) later too. I love how this page came out too:

Of course, my wonderful talented album designer Sandra provided the design (and Jessica Verma took the photos). If you want to see the full 10×10 album design, *click here*!

I had the immense pleasure of shooting Mark & Joy’s wedding this past August in Malibu and I am SO excited about how the wedding album came out! Sandra has really out-done herself (she seems to do that a lot) and I’m thrilled to show this one off. If you’d like to see the full album design, *click here*! Keep in mind that the full album is 12×12 inches! Enjoy!

I had the immense pleasure of shooting Mark & Joy’s wedding this past August in Malibu and I am SO excited about how the wedding album came out! Sandra has really out-done herself (she seems to do that a lot) and I’m thrilled to show this one off. If you’d like to see the full album design, *click here*! Keep in mind that the full album is 12×12 inches! Enjoy!

It’s always interesting to me to look back on how far I’ve come and how much my style has changed. Courtney & Justin had a beautiful wedding in Laguna Hills and I remember being stunned by the detail and décor, especially at their reception. It’s funny me to think back on it in a way and think what I would have done with the details now vs. what I did then. I hope I can say that in 2010 and 2012 and 2014…etc. How far have you come in the past couple years? Have you revisited yourself or your work from years ago?

~B

I am so excited to see Joel & Rebecca’s album design done! They had a GORGEOUS wedding this past March in Pasadena, California at Lake Avenue Church – a fabulous 100+ year old church. Rebecca & Joel are one of the sweetest couples! Both are super talented musically (a plus in my book) and their wedding showed it. Joel is quieter and has one of those looks in his eyes that girls dream of when he looks at his bride – Rebecca is super witty and funny and extremely loving to her adorable husband. It was such an awesome ceremony to be a part of!

All of that to say, I hope their fantastic 11×14 album encompasses the love and beauty of their day. To see the full design, *click here*

~B

I am so excited to see Joel & Rebecca’s album design done! They had a GORGEOUS wedding this past March in Pasadena, California at Lake Avenue Church – a fabulous 100+ year old church. Rebecca & Joel are one of the sweetest couples! Both are super talented musically (a plus in my book) and their wedding showed it. Joel is quieter and has one of those looks in his eyes that girls dream of when he looks at his bride – Rebecca is super witty and funny and extremely loving to her adorable husband. It was such an awesome ceremony to be a part of!

All of that to say, I hope their fantastic 11×14 album encompasses the love and beauty of their day. To see the full design, *click here*

~B