Ariana + Dany | engaged

4 shoots in three days + travel between East and West Coast + a bout with the stomach flu= WAY behind on blogging.
But alas, Session #1 from last weekend is finally up! YAY!

May I just take a moment to reiterate how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE my "job"? I am so ridiculously blessed to have the opportunity to do what makes me come alive and actually make a living doing it. What more could a girl ask for?! May I also just say 'Thank You' again to every client(friend) past, present, and future who has offered me the opportunity to wake up every morning even more in love with life? Thank you for making ME smile.

Now, on to pictures!

I flew out to LA last weekend for a wedding and was able to squeeze in a few engagement shoots also... I met up with Dany and Ariana at the San Gabriel Mission in like 100 degree weather... it was hecka HOT but these two did great!
Ariana works in the fashion industry out in LA, so it was a great opportunity to have a little "fashion-fun".

Ariana, here is your fashion man ;)

The contagious couple...

This is my favorite shot of the day. Ariana mentioned that one of her favorite things was how Dany would always randomly grab and kiss her hand.... Its the sweet tenderness that makes me smile. Obviously I love fashion-y stuff, but it's random moments like this which hold a story and encapsulate a memory that really get me :)

Special thanks to the amazing Abby who came along for all my shoots that weekend... she ROCKS my socks off. :)

sneak peek...

With 4 shoots in three days, I don't have much time to edit but I thought I would throw up a quick image from last night's e-session.

It was hot hot hot.... (one 'hot' for temperature, one for the couple, and one for the beautiful so-cal light!)

:)

Angela & Rob | U.S. Virgin Islands

Two photographers, two planners and 20 guests. Angela knew what she wanted and wasn't willing to settle.
Photography was the most important thing so she hired the amazing Katie Thurmes with Jenna Walker Photography and I had the wonderful pleasure of accompanying her as a second shooter. Between you and me, Katie *really* had to twist my arm to go to the islands for a week. ( yeah, I'm that girl who sacrifices for her friends.... wink wink)

Now that wedding season is in full swing, I am reminded each weekend what an honor it is to be invited to tell the preamble to the beginning of a new adventure. That overwhelming sense of adulation never gets old.

I have more editing to do, but I was so antsy to blog... Here are a few fun ones :)

My absolute FAVORITE part of each wedding is the groom's face when he sees his bride for the first time...

man, I love me some details... Ellen and Katie from Weddings Elegantly Designed did a fantastic job!

Goodness, what a wonderful wonderful wedding. Special thanks to the Roy family for welcoming us with open arms! (hugs to you Marissa!) And much love to my 'Bustop and Balconies' tour partner Katie. I adore you.

The flight to my next adventure leaves in 4 hours and I have yet to pack... I have 4 shoots this weekend so stay tuned! :)

Another one bites the dust...

I've officially converted another West Coaster to the North East!
Meet Erik. The sax playin', bass groovin', kid lovin', adventurist extraordinaire.
Erik lives in Denver but we went to college together in SoCal. He graduated my freshman year so we never really knew eachother until he went off to start an Orphanage in Mexico. It was between helping out at the Orphanage, and his reoccuring role in a few of my weddings last year, I had the pleasure of getting to know this kind soul. He is preparing to return to Mexico to start another Orphanage, but in the meantime he is traveling around the country enjoying life. I had the pleasure of giving him the GRAND TOUR of New England. We perused Hartford CT, New Haven CT, Boston, Portsmouth NH, Maine (Ogunquit, Wells, Kennebunkport), and even squeezed in a few nights of camping at one of the state parks. (YAY for tents!).
(note: I have perfected the art of S'more making! Even though I made ONE in the time Erik made three, it's ok because my marshmallow was perfect and not a black ball of fire!)

no photoshoot this time but here's a quick shot I grabbed on our random hiking excursion.

As I was downloading images, I saw these shots Erik apparently took and questioned my ability to dress myself. We randomly pulled off for a hike, and since I was wearing a sundress and flips, I threw on a sweatshirt for warmth.... I didnt realize how ridiculous I must have looked hiking in THAT. (to all my Northwest camping/hiking friends, I apologize for bringing you shame.) lol.

being the good friend I am, I made Erik learn the 'shyla face'.... but I dont think he quite understood that it has NOTHING to do with a pirate

Thanks for the fun Erik! Especially thank you for touching so many young lives with your passion and kind heart. It's an inspiration to us all.

Isabella-Marie

Um, This little girl has officially captured my heart.
we went for a walk on the beach today and here is part of our conversation...

Isabella: I have a boyfriend.
Shyla: OH, Reallllly?
Isabella: yes.
Shyla: well, what does he look like?
Isabella: dark hair and blue eyes
Shyla: ooooh, sounds like my kinda guy. What is his name?
Isabella: Eric.
Shyla: I see. And where did you meet him?
Isabella: Oh, I havent met him yet because he is married to Ariel. but when I grow up I am going to marry Prince Eric and share him with Ariel. I even kissed him on the TV screen.

LOL. OK, so this is a glimpse into the world of 3 year old Isabella-Marie. She (like myself when I was 9) is in love with Prince Eric from the Little Mermaid. I cant get enough of her!
We had sooo much fun playing today... we built sand castles, made bracelets out of seaweed, made up stories, danced to her favorite song "Everytime we Touch" and THEN did a photoshoot.

It was indeed the perfect day.

and then we had some MORE fun... ;)

Look, I even did a slideshow because she is so stinkin' cute.

Maho Bay

I just spent the week in the Carribbean... living the rough life. You know how it goes... ;)

I was there shooting a wedding with my lovely new adventure buddy Katie Thurmes. We shot an awesome wedding but you'll have to wait for those images because there are just waaaaay too many to put in ONE blog post.

but for now, let me share where I left a piece of me... MAHO BAY

I was never one to actually WANT to go to an island for vacation because my idea of vacay isn't chillin' on a beach... I am an adventure gal so the more adventure the awesome-er... BUT I must say that out of all the tropical places I have been, I have finally found the place I actually WANT to return. Friends, meet Maho Bay.
An eco-friendly collection of tent-cottages that are nestled up in the trees and provide a more 'natural' island experience.
Think Swiss Family Robinson.
Think Ewok Village (the entire camp was connected by wooden boardwalks)
Think heaven on earth (well, for me anyway...)


I cant decide which sold me more, was it...
*Waking up to the sound of waves hitting the beach?
*strange brids serenading us all night long?
*sharing a dining table with geckos?
*trekking up the wooden walkways on midnight bathroom runs (think community bath houses) with only our cell phones as light?
*lying in bed and watching the moon cast shadows on the tent roof that I used to illustrate fun stories in my head? ( Think imagining shapes in clouds but with shadows instead)
*sharing a pint with our friends Ben and Jerry? (note: Maho only sells items in their general store from companies who contribute to eco-logical endeavors....like Vermont's Finest, Ben and Jerry)
*lying on the deck watching the stars come out one by one?
*collecting bug bites as if they were badges of honor?

I CANT DECIDE!

It felt like camp all over again.... ah I miss counseling days.

and how can you go to a place like this without making friends who share the same interests? This is just the culture of people you want to hang with. SO...we of course made friends with our neighbors and were even invited to a drum circle by an off-duty staff member....
Can I just reiterate that I WAS IN HEAVEN?!

**sigh**

we really don't need much to be happy :)

our balcony

our tent view

Tent 'kitchen' complete with propane stove and dishes

one of our many friends

haha, I couldnt help but post this sequence. This would be island time. We called a taxi to take us from downtown to Maho Bay and he promised to be there in 10 minutes...... yeah, we waited over an hour. ugh

(ps) Um, I am already facilitating a trip back to camp at Maho Bay... if anyone is interested and can handle not having air conditioning or "facilities" let me know! The more the merrier. :)

fleeing the country...

ACTUALLY.... if it wasn't for a valid passport I don't know if I'd be allowed to even travel to another state...let alone actually flee the country. I just noticed that my license expired 3 days ago. haha...oops. Guess its about time I got that MA license now, 'eh? ;)

anyway, I'm headed to shoot a rockin' wedding in the Virgin Islands, so I will be out of the office until next week.
We are staying a few extra days and experiencing the eco-friendly Maho Bay! I think I am most excited about staying in these tent-cottages than anything.... this is TOTALLY my kind of adventure. I would forego a 5-star hotel for a tree house or a tent any day. Call me crazy, but this girl is giddy...*Insert BIG cheshire grin here*


anyway... have a wonderful week ya'all and I'll try not to look like a lobster this time.

:)