News flash! I have a new photography blog at This Address! In case you can't tell, I am soooo excited about it! It is much better and you can see the images much larger and clearer now, too! This blog will stay here in case you ever want to access an old entry; but for current entries go to http://erinsphotoblog.blogspot.com. See you over there!
Amie and Jazmin tied the know at Strawberry Farms in Irvine on June 3, 3007. They are such an amazingly fun couple. I was with them the previous weekend for their Buddhist Thai blessing ceremony and I had the privelege of being with them for their American ceremony, too. It was a perfect day. The weather was beautiful, the people were happy and excited to be there, and Amie and Jazmin were radiant. 
Click HERE to see a photo slideshow.
I was honored to document Amie and Jazmin's marriage blessing ceremony at the Watpadhammachart Temple yesterday morning. There are many traditions and rituals that are upheld in this ceremony. In the temple nine monks blessed the couple and then all of their family blessed them by pouring water blessed by monks over their hands. It was truly amazing to be a part of such a rich heritage and tradition. I lived in Thailand for several months and when I stepped into the temple I truly felt like I had stepped back into Thailand. Amie and Jazmin were so excited and in love... I can hardly wait to shoot their American wedding ceremony next Sunday! 
I went camping this past weekend on the Channel Islands. They are a chain of islands just north of Catalina. Santa Cruz Island, where we camped, is a gorgeous National Park. I couldn't help but think of the show Lost while I was out there... even though the terrain was very different from Hawaii. It was refreshing to get away from citylife and out into the fresh air before the busy-ness of wedding season is in full swing. :) I highly recommend visiting Santa Cruz Island if you like camping, hiking, kayaking, roughing it, and being surrounded by the beauty of nature.
Ventura Harbor at 7:30am when we boarded the boat.
Our first view of the island when we arrived. The cliffs have sea caves beneath them that we kayaked through. Some were like tunnels that you could go through to the other side and others had no other exit. 
We came across a California sea lion in one of the sea caves. We were told by the ranger that they can be territorial and aggressive if they have young. Luckily this one just seemed curious to see what we were doing.
Brandon and I right before we left the island.
I have been working very hard the past few weeks selecting some of my favorite images from the past year. I edited them so they would look their best and updated the galleries on my website. I took a lot of images off my website so it has a fresh, new look. Now I have some new categories in the "galleries" section. I have included a section with "headshots" and combined a few categories into "family life." I hope you enjoy it! Let me know what you think and keep checking back for some other improvements coming soon. :) MY WEBSITE.
Sandra, Cory, and I met up in Pasadena for their engagement shoot last Sunday. We had a fun time together. We started in Old Town and moved to a place a little greener and quieter. They are so in love and adorable with each other... which makes my job easy! They are getting married in Fallbrook so I am really excited to see them again and shoot their wedding.
I have been wanting to post these images for a while. A few weeks ago I second shot with my friend and an incredible photographer, Rudy Arpia. Jane and Derrick are both doctors and finishing up their residency. So, not only are they a good looking couple, but they are super smart, too! Jane was a gorgeous bride and Derrick was a handsome groom. All day long it was clear that they are so happy together and in love. 
Spring is finally here! I love springtime when the trees turn green and the birds start to sing a little bit more loudly. I went on a hike recently in the foothills nearby my home. It was gorgeous and peaceful. This is a photo of one of the new springtime flowers that caught my eye. They really were this beautiful... no photoshop!
Once again, my faithful, supportive model (and friend) is featured here. I love this shot of Julie... She looks so vibrant and beautiful. I really enjoy shooting head shots, so if you know any aspiring actors, models, or performers looking for a photographer, I'd love to help them out. Check back later for some more head shots that I will be posting.
This week Jonathan, Carissa, and Micah are visiting Julie and me from Portland, Oregon. They used to be our neighbors and are really good friends so it has been great catching up. We went to Bonelli Park this morning to play with Micah at a playground ... and as you can tell, I am crazy about him! Jonathan is an excellent photographer and has been a very supportive encouragement in my own photography career. Check out his website.
I went wine tasting last weekend in Temecula. Ponte Winery has delicious wines and I especially liked one called Beverino. I highly recommend it! 
Courtney and Jeremiah got married on March 17th in Monrovia and had their reception at Maranatha Campus in Pasadena. It was a beautiful wedding ceremony with many family members singing or playing music. The bridal party and family were lively and so fun to work with. Every detail of the reception was gorgeous, too! More photos to come! 
The Smith Family Album was a lot of fun to design. Jennifer is one of my best friends from college and I was honored to play a role in documenting the growth of their new little family. Thanks so much, Jenn and Paul. This will be a sample album on my wesbite showing a unique use for Leather Craftsmen albums. If you want to check it out click HERE.
Jazmin and Amie are getting married June 3... and they were so fun to talk with and photograph. Since they wanted a more urban feel to their photos, we decided to do the shoot in Old Town Pasadena. The weather was overcast, but I was loving it because the lighting was so even on their faces. Jazmin and Amie are so cute together and I look forward to shooting their wedding and their Buddhist Ceremony, too. If you want to see more photos in a slideshow click HERE.
After much waiting and anticipation, Isabella Laurel Smith entered the world on Monday, February 26, 2007, just before 6:00pm weighing in at 8lbs. 12oz. and 21 inches long. Jennifer and Paul are doing great and are thrilled with their new bundle of joy. I had the pleasure of photographing Isabella on Saturday... and as you may notice in one of the photos, she still has her umbilicle cord attached. That shows just how "brand new" she still is! Click HERE for a photo slideshow. 
On Saturday I met the Murray family at the park for a family photo shoot. It was Esther's birthday so her kids all gathered together to celebrate at her home in Yorba Linda. I had a lot of fun with this family. I especially loved the shot of her grandaughters kissing her on the cheek... she had the biggest smile!
I met Courtney and Adam for their beach engagement session around sunset last thursday. They are a great couple and we had fun playing around at the beach for their shoot. I like couples to be relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera on their wedding day. The engagement session gives couples an opportunity to feel what it will be like in front of the camera on their actual wedding day. It was a great shoot and I look forward to photographing them for their wedding in June.
Last Sunday morning I met my brother, Sean, and his fiance, Melissa, at Union Station in Los Angeles. I am so exicted for Sean and Melissa to be engaged. Melissa really loves Hollywood, and she wanted engagement photos resembling "Old Hollywood." The architecture at Union Station is so cool and old looking, so it was the perfect location for us. They walked, talked, kissed, hugged... and were so in love in all of the photos. These are a few of my favorite shots from the shoot.
Check out their slideshow by clicking HERE.
By the way, my wondeful boyfriend, Brandon, woke up early on Sunday morning and came with me for the Union Station engagement shoot as my "assistant." I really appreciated it and I loved his company. This was a quick shot of us that we took before leaving. Actually, my brother took the shot. Good job, Sean. :)
Jenn's sisters, mom, and I gave her a baby shower last Sunday. We had a great time. These are a few of my favorites from the afternoon:
I wish I could take credit for the cute decorations and wonderful food... but I give full credit to the Webb Girls. Amanda, Courtney, Megan, and Elaina are amazing party planners. They always throw a party or shower to top all showers! The photo below is one of the Webb girls.
Jenn has some of the cutest expressions... as you can see when she was opening her adorable baby gifts.
Her sister, Courtney, wrote something funny in her card... and both sister broke out in very animated laughter! 
Jenn and I were college roommates. Look at her cute belly! 
These little onsies said the funniest things: "Tax Deduction", "Don't wake me, I'll wake you", and another one said "Party in my Crib: 2am". It gave everyone a good chuckle.
If you are interested in seeing more click HERE
I really enjoyed traveling up to Seattle and shooting Karen & Kyle's wedding. They were really laid back and clearly enjoyed their wedding day to the fullest. They had so many friends fly in from all over the country to be at their wedding or in their bridal party. They were so many people in the bridal party, but it made it a lot of fun. Their wedding was at the Edgewater Hotel, only a few blocks from Pikes Place Market. The view of the water from the ceremony hall was gorgeous! It was a really classy wedding. Thanks again Karen and Kyle for including me in your wedding day!
These are a few of my favorites from their wedding, but if you want more click HERE
Lighting the unity candle during the ceremony:
A few cute moments from their first dance together:
One of my best friends is having her first baby! I am so excited I can hardly wait for her to have it... I say "it" because they are waiting to find out if they are having a boy or a girl. Not many people wait to find out these days, so I think it's really great that they want the surprise. Jenn is one of my closest friends from college so I feel like I am becoming an "auntie." She and her husband, Paul, are great for each other and their love for each other is so evident. I always feel very honored when people want me to do their maternity portraits because it is such an important and personal event for their lives. I feel like I am being allowed "in the inside" where so few people are invited to go. Thank you, Jenn and Paul, for the honor and privalege. I love you guys! The due date is March 1st, but I am hoping we won't have to wait that long. :) 
I recently purchased the Canon digital camera the 30D and the Canon lens 70-200 2.8 IS... and I love them! I needed a model to try out my new equipment on so I asked my best model ever. My roommate, Julie, is always supportive of my photography endeavors so I knew she would be up for a modeling shoot. Doesn't she look hot! Sorry boys, she has a boyfriend and is off the market! Thanks again Julie for helping me out!
P.S. I had to take a shot of her fancy, gold shoes at the end of our shoot. I think they are so fun!
Jeff, Kelly, and Baby Gavin are such an adorable family! I had a great time photographing them. Kelly is my hairdresser and she is the best! If you need a great hairdresser let me know!
Jim Kennedy
I am so excited! For the past few months I have been second shooting weddings with Jim Kennedy... an incredible photographer and businessman. Over the holidays I made the decision to join his team and shoot weddings for him exclusively. It is an honor and a joy to work with him and I am so excited for the potential that it holds for the future of my photography career. Check out his website at: http://www.jimkennedyphotography.com/. You can read my updated website for more information on Jim Kennedy Photographers under the "About Erin" section.
Daniel is graduating from high school this June. I can hardly believe that my little brother is old enough to finish high school. I had a lot of fun taking his senior pictures in downtown Fullerton. Daniel's favorite one was the third one. 
I had a fun Sunday afternoon with Ariel and Cheryl at Shoreline Village in Long Beach while we shot their engagement photos. The colors of the village are so vibrant and fun... it reflected the fun personalities of the couple. They even rented a surrey to go for a ride in some of the photos. They are the cutest high school sweethearts and they know how to have a fun time together. Their wedding will be really fun, too!
This was a really special family portrait for me to be able to take because this is the family from Ensenada that is opening the coffee shop. They came to have a little vacation in California and I has the honor of photographing them while they were here. Pastor Marcos and Leti have been married for 12 years and they have two adorable sons: Marquitos and Haciel. 
I had the opportunity to travel to Ensenada over the holidays and do some artistic photography for a coffee shop that is opening soon. The owners of the cafe are also pastors of a church in Ensenada. They are opening the coffee shop to provide a safe, positive environment for teenagers in their community to hang out. Pastor Marcos and his wife, Leti, wanted photographs that depict the beauty of their city. They told me that many people from their community do not see the beauty of their home. This incredible couple wants to remind the people that frequent their cafe to have hope in God and see the beauty in life. I was honored to be a part of their effort to reach their community with a message of hope through art. I loved the bright colors and warm smiles that I saw in the coastal city of Mexico and I look forward to returning soon!
I spent Christmas with my family and we had a great time together. My brother and sister each have a kitten, and as you can tell, they were not happy to wear their "Christmas ribbons" on their necks. :) We really enjoyed opening our new stockings that my mom made for us this year. On Christmas morning we ate breakfast on the back patio and enjoyed living in Southern California where you can wear short sleeves on December 25th! By the way: Congrats on the engagement, Sean and Melissa!
Carissa and Justin are such an affectionate couple... it's clear that they are crazy about each other! They were so excited when I told them that they could be affectionate and cuddly in their engagement session... and to kiss a lot! Here are a few of my favorites from the day. 
Check out their slideshow
Every Christmas I reunite with some of my dearest & funniest friends from college. We all went to Azusa Pacific University together and graduated in 2002. One couple married and moved back to San Diego, another couple lives in Temecula (with their two babies), one lives in Padadena, another in Northern California, and I live in Glendora. This year we gathered in Temecula the same night Brandon and I arrived in from Georgia. Although the drive and sunset was beautiful, we needed Starbucks to stay awake after the long flight. And what Christmas drive is complete without Sufjan Stevens Christmas Edition CD. I love his music! We tried to take a few group shots on a timer, but as you can see, it was awkward... especially me since I pushed the timer button and had to jump in the picture! But it was yet another reason to laugh really hard with my friends. I love you guys!
I went with Brandon to Georgia to visit his family and friends before Christmas. His parents' backyard had acres of land with cattle and as you can see... donkeys! We went to a cute little downtown area and ate authentic southern food... even fried green tomatoes and sweet tea. The restaurant was a transformed from an old house with a wrap around porch. It even had rocking chairs. One of the last photos is the security line in the Atlanta airport... it was soooo long! The last photo was a beautiful view to return to... I love LA! My visit to Georgia with Brandon to see his family and friends was so fun!
My mom is a terrific cook. I know I have mentioned that before on my blog and Thanksgiving meals are no exception. She and Daniel (& the rest of us) cooked a fabulous dinner. She made a Southwest Turkey and all the fixins'. Dan is becoming a great cook, too. In one photo of her I caught her in the middle of cooking and moving around the kitchen... a "cooking action shot" if you will. Later on, Brandon and I were goofing around outside for some fun(ny) photos. Yes, Anna, you have "pro-staus" skills with the camera. :) 
Julianne is so adorable! She is almost 10 months old and so active and expressive. Her mom is a fabulous photographer and a friend of mine; so naturally, I am very honored to be her photographer when she is in the photos. Gina also asked me to shoot her maternity photos and Julianne's newborn photos at 6 weeks old. It was such a fun shoot this morning, but as you can tell it really made Julianne tired by the end!
There are six people in my family: my parents (Steve & Carol), my older brother (Sean), my younger sister (Anna), and my younger brother (Daniel). Every year around Thanksgiving we take a family photo. Since I am the official photographer of the family I set up my camera on a tripod, adjust the camera settings, and put it on timer to take our photo. We took our photo last week and it was another funny experience! The first photo is my favorite that we are using for our Christmas card... and the rest are some others that I like... Enjoy! 
Sean & Melissa
Brandon & Me
Daniel
Anna
Mom & Dad
Did I mention that we were also celebrating mine and Sean's birthdays? My Mom makes such a wonderful carrot cake... and she thought she was being funny with the re-lighting candles. Funny, Mom, Funny!!!
When I first got into photography I developed everything on the black and white darkroom. I loved it! It was so enjoyable to be in the silence of the darkroom, swish the tray back and forth, and watch the paper in the developer tray slowly reveal the image I had worked so hard to perfect. I loved the darkroom so much that I set up a make-shift darkroom at my parents' house in the extra bathroom. It has been a long time since I have lived at my parents and I don't have the room to set up a darkroom where I live now. Since my last time in the darkroom I was introduced to my first digital SLR camera. I was a "digital skeptic" and thought that film was the only true artistic form of photography. After using my Canon 20D for only a short time, I fell in love. I always want to shoot digital. I decided that if I ever want to print in the darkroom again I will use a lab at the local photography school. I am saying goodbye to all of my darkroom equipment, taking it out of storage, and selling it. This post is a tribute to how good my darkroom treated me and all of the great photos I developed with this set-up. Thank you! ;)
Tony and Nikki were such a fun couple to photograph... and they were clearly sooo in love! It was really cute. They tied the knot at the Calamigos Ranch in Malibu and the beautiful reception was in the same location. Here are a few of my favorite moments from the day (in no particular order).
Check out their slideshow
I have been creating and designing new marketing pieces for my photography business over the past week. This one is one of my final designs. I really like the bold, vibrant colors. This wedding that is featured on this collage was from a wedding that I shot with Jonathan Marrs back in August. It was a really beautiful wedding at the Huntington Beach Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa. What a gorgeous venue! I will be posting some more designs soon, so keep checking back. :)
I am beginning to think that most photographers prefer to be behind the camera rather than in front of it. I know that is true for me. I needed to have a new photo for my bio on my website. One of my dear friends and an excellent photographer, Amy Griffin, was kind enough to take some photos of me. I even asked my friend and roommate, Julie, to come with me for moral support and to make me laugh and not look awkward in the photos. :) Towards the end of the shoot you can tell that I was beginning to feel more comfortable. I even asked her to jump into a few of the photos. What I though would be a 5 minute shoot ended up being over an hour. Thanks soooo much Amy. You are amazing! Thanks also to Julie who is often kind enough to be my model when I am trying out some new photography equipment or a new lighting technique. Often times I don't really give her a choice! You can see at the end of our shoot we were laughing a lot... I know I can count on Julie for a good laugh!
I went with the high school students of NewSong church to Los Angeles last Sunday. Mark Maines, pastor of Student Ministries, designed this cultural learning activity to "Ride the Metro as we engage in our shared humanity in various places, people groups, and cultures." It was a great learning time for many high school students who spend most of their time in Southern California suburbia. I hope you enjoy the images as well as a small taste of Chinatown and Olvera Street.
SLIDESHOW
Courtney and Jeremiah are such a cute couple... and so photogenic, too! We had a lot of fun last Sunday afternoon as we explored Old Town Pasadena looking for unique places to take engagement photos. They wanted a more urban feel, as opposed to the beach or a park, and I immediately thought of Old Town. I just love it there! Courtney and Jeremiah laughed together so much during the shoot it made my job really easy. I am looking forward to shooting their wedding in March 2007.
SLIDESHOW
Josiah Justis was born September 2nd and already had his first modeling debut! His big sister, Eliana, was too cute not to photograph. Heather and John are great friends of mine and have two beautiful children that I have been honored to photograph several different times. Congratulations Heather, John, and Eliana! Check here to see their slideshow. :)
Click Here.t
Being a second shooter for a friend is always so much fun for me. Jonathan Marrs is an incredible photographer and I always enjoy shooting weddings with him when our schedules work out. This is one of my favorite images from the day of the beautiful bride! Jessie was radiant all day long! Check out some of Jonathan's photography
HERE.
This morning I had the honor of photographing one of my beautiful friends only a week and a half before her due date. I am so excited to meet the new addition to her family. I think that pregnant women are so gorgeous... and my friend is gorgeous and glowing. She and her husband are waiting to see if it's a boy or girl... but I have a feeling it's going to be a girl. We'll see very soon!
I had a family reunion in Maine and my family had a traditional Lobster and Clam Bake on the rocks by the shoreline. This cutie is my cousin's little boy, Jake. Yes, even though it was raining hard we still had the bake. It was so fun! I am sure that I will be posting more photos from Maine soon. Keep watching for them. :)
This is his big brother Bryan helping husk corn for the clam and lobster bake.
Click here for the slideshow.
Today is the official launch of my new website! Although it has been up for a few weeks, I was doing some finishing touches to it. I am really excited about it! As the launch was official today and I looked at the calendar I realized that summer is coming to an end. It will be September tomorrow! I can hardly believe it. This is a photo of a guy who I adore! his name is Micah. His mom and dad are really good friends of mine and they will be moving to Nepal in just a few weeks. I knew that their move was coming at the end of the summer... but somehow it crept up on me. So, as I celebrate the excitement of the progress I am making with photography, I feel the depth of the loss of Jon, Carissa, and Micah in my daily life, because they have become like family to me. I am sad to not see them everyday, but I am excited for the impact that they will make in Nepal. I think in order to really appreciate the joys in life we have to experience the sadness, too. Okay, enough deep thoughts for now. ;) More later...
It's finally done! I am so excited about the new website! I hope that you all enjoy it, too! I will be posting some of my favorite photos from the summer. So be sure to visit again and check them out. To my family and friends: Thanks for all of your support and encouragement along the way... I couldn't have done it without you. :)
