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There is nothing like returning
to a place that remains unchanged
to find the ways in which
you yourself have altered.

- Nelson Mandela (1918 - )

We really do learn a little more about ourselves every time we visit the ocean cliffs of La Jolla. That place is still my favorite place in the whole wide world. See my cheesy and a little too honest writings from a couple of years ago regarding this place here.

It really is super beautiful there.

I am home. Glad to be so and a little sad. We were greeted with great fanfare from excited puppies and friends watching them. Only slight injuries occurred while we were gone, and since they hounds had a playmate for the weekend I doubt they missed us too much.

Photos as soon as I can upload and go through them- there are about a billion of them (it was a long, exciting trip). Some of them are insanely cute, since it was seal pupping season.

It was a wonderful weekend with my sister (who I miss terribly already), mom, and of course Kirk. Hooray for family trips. We saw baby seals/giraffes/gorillas, petted dolphins, fed slimy fish to sea lions, watched nature be nature and enjoyed sunsets. We breathed ocean air and enjoyed waves crashing into cliffs. We explored tide pools with the same gusto of the small children the next tide pool over. It was fantastic and I admit I am finding it tough to wake up in the real world again.

In other news, I will again be gone next weekend (an "emergency trip" to Kansas City, before my third trip there in two weeks for the big show. Gosh I love it there!) so you may just be missing me again. In the mean time, LOTS of editing to do for all of you, and lots of new images to create. Its gonna be a busy week!

Glad to be home- talk to all of you soon!

Adis and Britani- Engagement Previews

I knew from the moment I began talking to Britani about their wedding I would be working with her and Adis...we immediately clicked. These two are so incredibly sweet, fun and funny...there is no way for us to just not instantly like them! Our chat over ice cream in down town Tempe could have gone on forever and I don't think any of us would have batted an eye.

If you don't like kissing photos this isn't your post. These two are just so darned beautiful when they kiss, I just had to share a whole slew of the mushy gushy stuff. If you don't like photos of kissing you might want to consider which blog you are reading anyway :P. I can send you a link to wired, or the wall street journal or something if you don't love real people in real love.



Britani and Adis are getting hitched just three days after Kirk and my third anniversary so I can already tell its going to be a gorgeous day! I am really looking forward to it- these two are so fun and willing to play!



We had a lovely sunset shoot on a beautiful Sunday afternoon with a good bit of wind! It was a really nice afternoon to spend outside!







Vintage style color post processing just seems to fit these two, so you will be seeing a lot of it if you have not already noticed. So much fun!




I found a pretty little bird and flower texture and couldnt help myself. It is spring afterall!



I get the idea that Adis loves to make Britani laugh. Shes beautiful and especially when she laughs- she just lights up!







Her ring is beautiful!








The perfect end to a beautiful day, don't ya think? I sure am lucky to do what I do. It was a romantic, silly, fun and really enjoyable shoot- I can't wait to do it all again on their wedding day!


Watch the video, or you'll be sorry! (Do my threats actually work on any of you? Didn't think so...) It should be noted that I love this song...it makes me smile. Sadly I actually had to take images out to make it all fit. I hate when I have to do that!



PS. I am out of the office until Monday enjoying some much needed family time! We are taking my mom and my sister (who we have not seen in a few months since she moved to LA to become the amazing music artist she is) to San Diego to enjoy our favorite places. Photos when I get back, and I will try to answer emails and calls while I am gone, but I will have limited access (since Kirk has already banned me from editing or emailing...I am sneaky though!)! Sorry for any inconvenience.

Creative Rejuvenation with The Hunsaker Family

Every now and then I leave a session feeling completely and totally creatively rejuvenated. Most often this happens in a perfect storm...a client lets me play and experiment (often willing to try anything silly), its a beautiful location, we all click, we have a lot of fun. I go back to the office and just can't stop editing...singing the whole time (bring earplugs if you come for a visit...you will definitely know when I am feeling this way- the neighbors sure do!).

Since this was one of those sessions, its going to be a long post. Grab a snack, and the comfy chair, maybe your favorite spirit lifting music and hang on. As always click images to see bigger and don't forget to check out the slide show at the end. Its precious.

The cutie with the electric blue eyes? Yeah, that's Mr. Drake. Last time I saw him was at the Calkins wedding, when he was not much more than a big baby bump on poor Lonna. I will spare a rehash of her favorite photo demonstrating said point in Drakie's life but suffice to say she looks adorably uncomfortable in it.

Hes cute enough to knock you out, even without the baseball bat.


Of course, we know why Mr. Drake is cute. Just look at Mom and Dad. Lonna and Shane were high school sweethearts and believe me it still shows.
Just now there is another sweetheart in the middle!


What to do when the water is just a teensy bit chilly? Stand on mom of course! No secret I love shoe shots. When there are no shoes to be shot? Well...yeah.








I stole the baby for this one. Had to. The cuteness was killing me. Oh, and the baby was being pretty cute too!


Can't possibly guess that this kid is gonna like baseball when he gets bigger huh? The ball kept rolling away and Drake kept reaching. Finally someone gave him a hand.



I *almost* wasn't gonna do this one. Figured it would not look right with a little one. I have been wrong before but I could have been really wrong on this one. I am glad we decided to go for it. I love it!



Ah- possibly the most fun family pose ever. Drake gets his face making from his parents. Can ya tell?




We know who rules in this little family. Heck with a face like that this kid could rule the world. I had such an amazing time playing with the Hunsaker Family that I completely forgot that I was working.


Its days like this that I absolutely LOVE my job!

Check out the slideshow. There are a TON of images in it not in the post (too many!!!!) and its adorable.