Shooting from the Heart

I'm on a Mission (In Santa Barbara)

I know it's been along time since I've updated "shooting from the heart".  So much has happened, so many awesome shoots, travels, news and ... life in general.  I tend to get a little overwhelmed with how many things there are to blog about. Sometimes I'm not sure where to begin and so I move it to the side and concentrate on other projects and my clients.  Well, here I am again - taking a step to keep up. Back on a Mission! (Thank you Ger for always encouraging)

Over the summer, I had the pleasure of taking a road trip with two of my very dearest friends, Arna Johnson and Geralyn Camarillo.  Arna graduated from the Brook's Institute in Santa Barbara over 25 years ago. The three of us have always talked about taking a road trip here in California and for Arna to revisit the Brook's Institute was a dream come true.  For Geralyn and myself we were both so honored to be a part of the adventure. I WILL be posting more about our awesome road trip. Since we are all photographers, we came away with THOUSANDS of images! (Again, the overwhelming feeling.)  I'll start here with the Mission of Santa Barbara - I feel it's fitting since I'm now on this new Mission. :)

That's Arna on the steps of the Mission

There was beautiful sidewalk art on the grounds in front of the Santa Barbara Mission.

Very fitting ~ this lotus flower.

We absolutely loved all the architecture. I saw this doorway and the heart above - Arna just made it complete!  Until next time ...

I gotta a whole lotta love!

And it's showing up all over the place! Coming back to my blog, over at my Etsy store www.zenatona.etsy.com, from my heart and through the lens.  Great things are brewing and I can't wait to start sharing again!  I've been blessed to be so busy balancing new photography clients with new zenatona art collectors!  SO very thankful!

This piece I named "whole lava love" and will be up on Etsy very soon!  (I could not get Led Zeppelin's song whole lotta love outta my head :) 

Off to shoot from my heart and photograph a beautiful wedding!  

Have a wonderful day.

From Senior to Stanford but first, a few walks to remember

I have known Erin for about three years through my daughter Nikka. When she called me to schedule her senior portraits, she left the location up to me. I have discovered this beautiful hidden garden at a park in Vista where I live.  There were so many gorgeous backdrops that complimented Erin's natural beauty so well! 

All the very best to you Erin, I know you'll be very successful in all that you choose to do.

Did you know that Debbie means "honey bee"?

I have been so blessed to be busy with work lately. Photographing seniors, families and head shots for Realty Executives.  I've also had the wonderful opportunity to photograph Awakening's first annual fundraiser with Jack Tempchin singing songs he wrote for The Eagles and other well known artists. That function, emceed by former Charger Billy Ray Smith was a lot of fun and quite an eye opener for me. I was honored to volunteer my time and capture such a memorable evening.

Also, I've been having so much fun and excitement with my on-line art store zentatona.

zenatona, "art from mother nature to nurture your soul" was launched on the first day of Spring and so far I've had 16 sales of juicy bursts of color to brighten someone's space! Each sale is such a thrill! 

With all the goings on something had to give and sadly, it's been my blog. I know I really need to update and restructure it. When people do visit here, they seem to enjoy what I have to say and share. Two of my dear friends Geralyn and Diane are always encouraging me to share MORE.  They are both great bloggers!  I'm really going to be making an effort to update this blog at least twice a week because I really do have a lot to share, I've just been a busy bee :)

another heart-shaped reminder

Heart shapes, love - it's everywhere. Sometimes we're just too busy to really look, to open our eyes.  I found this one while walking through the Carlsbad Flower Fields with one of my dear friends Arna Johnson, it was just there all by itself at the exit.  The more I look at this image, the more I see little shaped hearts in the earth. 

Yesterday I was on the phone with a client, she said she reads my blog and now she finds heart shapes everywhere and so does her daughter!  I love it! 

Happy Mother's Day!

A double fortune

I love getting little "signs" of goodness and these were no exception.  A friend brought fortune cookies from San Francisco.  When I opened mine - a double fortune and good ones too!

Introducing "frida" the latest addition to my Etsy boutique!

For the complete listing please visit www.zenatona.etsy.com.  I am holding a contest today in honor of Earth Day. The first person who correctly identifies this flower wins this zenatona art piece!  The contest is being held on www.twitter.com/zenatona and also my facebook page.

Have you seen the Dunkin Donuts coffee commercial where the woman stands on top of her house and declares how much she loves her Dunkin Donuts coffee?  Well, this contest is like that - me standing on the roof top and reminding people to stop and notice everyday the extraordinary that surrounds us. That's the purpose behind this contest.  You can't just take a quick look at this vibrantly gorgeous flower.  You have to pause and really look to be able to identify it.  (Well, if you're an expert you could I suppose.)  Anyway, if you would like to participate, please leave a comment for your guess as to what flower this is!

Good luck! 

Just a little reminder ...

An April wedding with Grandpa, with love and gratitude

Brianna and Will are getting married in July of this year. She has booked her wedding photography with me and we are all set. On Saturday, March 28th Brianna calls me and lets me know that her Grandfather is becoming more and more fragile as days pass. It means the world to Brianna to have her Poppa there on her wedding day just as he has been there for Brianna her whole life.

When she called she asked "what are you doing on Tuesday because we're having a wedding!"  My answer was when and where!

Brianna & Will had a gorgeous, intimate wedding at their family residence in Rancho Bernardo.

She was escorted down the isle by her step-father and then met her grandfather half way.

Grandpa may have not had full strength to walk but he had so much love for his granddaughter, it carried him through her special day. 

Brianna's Grandfather kissed the ring her Grandmother used to wear and then gave to Will to be used as their own symbol of love.

Now husband & wife ...

After congratulatory hugs, Brianna read a heartfelt letter to her Poppa

Everyone was so moved by her words. She ended her letter "with love and gratitude" 

(At this point I'm trying not to bawl my head off!)

Cheers!

We laughed, we cried but most importantly it was all done with love.

And yes, there will be another wedding celebration in July!