REGISTER NOW AND SAVE $20 :: INTRO TO DIGITAL POINT-AND-SHOOT PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP :: DECEMBER 8, 2009
Are you tired of missing the must-have moments during the holidays?
Then this is the perfect class for you. My husband, Jung, teaches this two-hour session that will cover the basics of digital photography using a standard point-and-shoot camera. The class features techniques and tools to help improve your results. The class will also act as an overview of the different technologies that are used by different manufacturers and act as a buyer’s guide for future purposes. More advanced techniques such as the use of your camera in semi-automatic and manual modes will be covered.
Have a digital SLR? Register here for the December 10th class.
Follow me on Twitter for discount codes and the first person to respond to my “special” tweet wins a free class!
Where & When
Saxby’s Coffee Shop | Downstairs Conference Room
22 N. Main Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
Required Materials: digital camera, formatted memory card, plenty of charged batteries, owners manual, pen and paper
FROM A MONTEREY WEDDING TO THE NESTING NEWBIES
Monterey Plaza Hotel Wedding Ceremony
Monterey Cannery Row
Monterey Plaza Wedding Reception
Jung and I photographed Wendy & Michael’s wedding at the Monterey Plaza Hotel. They are such a lovely couple and their infectious kindness and sincerity warm our hearts invariably.
As you saw in our previous post, Wendy and Michael graciously allowed us to film their engagement session to use as a promotional video for our studio, which our friend and colleague, David Ethridge of A Video Reflection artfully shot for us.
And now most recently, Wendy and Michael joined us on the set of the Nesting Newbies. Again, their personalities warmed the room and you will no doubt enjoy Newbisode #2.
Lea McIntosh, the host of Nesting Newbies, asked me to create a few layouts from Wendy and Michael’s wedding to be shown in the intro of Nesting Newbies Newbisode #2 and I remembered the complimentary disc I received from graphicauthority.com a few weeks back and decided to use it for these layouts. There are tons of graphical elements in each of the layouts and I really enjoyed taking the template and making it my own to showcase Michael & Wendy’s wedding uniquely.
See the templates and Wendy and Michael in action in our newly released Newbisode #2.
GO TO MONTEREY WITH NATALIE & JUNG TO SHOOT AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION
Join us in Monterey for Wendy & Michael’s engagement session in this fantastic documentary that our lovely friend, David Ethridge of A Video Reflection, graciously shot for us.
After the wedding, Wendy & Michael appeared on the set of our second episode of Nesting Newbies. Internet cooking show Nesting Newbies and its companion, The Lea Show, is a project of which we were honored to have been asked to participate by Chef Lea McIntosh.
ISES WINE COUNTRY TOUR 2009
This year, for the Annual ISES Northern California Chapter’s Wine Country Tour, we went to Pine Ridge Winery located in the heart of Napa Valley and the infamous Villagio Inn & Spa in Yountville.
Early that Tuesday morning of the tour, guests boarded two complimentary shuttles in San Francisco to promote car pooling. Once the shuttles were full, they began their scenic journey into the Wine Country.
Upon their arrival at Pine Ridge Winery, guests were welcomed into the cocktail hour on the lush green front lawn by soothing sounds of live guitar music. Towards the end of the cocktail hour, guests were invited to tour the grounds for a behind-the-scenes peak of the inner workings of Pine Ridge Winery As the tour worked its way into the barrel rooms and through the caves, guests were excited to see that they would be dining in the caves themselves. The tables were covered in a deep warm fabric and napkins were golden yellow to compliment the romantically uplit wine barrels and Chihuly glass sculptures.
Executive Chef Kevin Miller of Villagio’s off-site catering service began lunch with a butter lettuce salad with strawberries, skyhill chevre, candied hazlenuts, champagne vinagrette and a glass of the 2006 Pine Ridge Dijon Clones Chardonnay. The star of the show was the mouth-watering 5-star Coq Au Vin with wild mushrooms, roasted heirloom potatoes and red wine chicken jus as the main course which was beautifully paired with the 2005 Pine Ridge Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon. Between the Coq Au Vin and Artisan Cheese Plate featuring Pierre Robert, Montbriac, Fig, Almond Cake, Blackberry honey, complimented by the 2005 Pine Ridge Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon, guest speaker and foodie, GraceAnn Walden, entertained guests with stories of the adventures upon which she embarked throughout her career. I’m sure the laughter is still echoing in the caves.
Once lunch wrapped up, guests were transported to the Villagio Resort for desert. Here, guests sipped on wine from Chimney Rock, Chalk Hill, Castello di Amorosa and One Hope upon classic Napa Valley lounge furniture draped in fresh spring citrus colors.
To see more images from the trip, please visit “The Scene” at Allure West Studios.
The Team
the designer | morgan doan of events by morgan
the speaker | graceann walden
the rentals and linens | classic party rentals
the transportation | pure luxury transportation
the wineries | pine ridge winery & villagio inn & spa
the guitar | star sound productions
the audio and lighting | lux productions
the florals at pine ridge | michael daigian design
the florals at villagio | julie stevens design
the photographer | natalie wi of allure west studios
TREASURE CHEST BIRTHDAY CAKE
Bijan Bakery Pirate's Treasure Chest Cake
I was blown away yesterday when I saw my son’s Pirate Treasure Chest Cake at Bijan Bakery in Saratoga, CA. He was thrilled with the design and it tied in perfectly with his pirate-themed birthday party.
We work with Mitra and Bijan Bakery on both a professional and personal level. No matter the reason for the visit, Mitra and the rest of the staff go out of their way to make us feel like superstars. The entire process is utterly enjoyable, down to the last bite of cake.
When I was ready to place the order for my son’s birthday cake, I drove him to Bijan’s Saratoga location (they also have a gorgeous new location in downtown San Jose, pictured above) for a tasting. After several pieces of cake, he chose the smooth Chocolate Mousse cake (although he already knew that’s what he wanted before we even got there). The only request I had was that the cake match the theme of the party and gave Bijan’s creative power.
I had no idea what to expect when we arrived to pick up the cake, but I was obviously ecstatic about the result!
NESTING NEWBIES™, A BEHIND THE SCENES PEAK AT A VERY TWEET SHOW & ITS “HOW TO” COMPANION
As told by Jodi Murphy
It’s time to tweet about two exciting project in the works – Nesting Newbies and The Lea Show. A team of very talented people have been working to produce two internet shows. Nesting Newbies is a cooking, entertaining and decorating show featuring Lea McIntosh who is using her culinary training to teach newlyweds and those newly out on their own how to cook great food and entertain in style…and on a budget.
We always say “Leave it to Lea” when we need to find great resources for, well, anything and we’re showcasing her discoveries in The Lea Show. Experts and interesting talents show Lea how to do what they do on each episode. Lea asks the questions and the audience learns great insights, tips and “how tos” right along with her.
On Sunday April 19th the team – James Burkart of Burkart Video, Lea McIntosh, Natalie Wi of Allure West Studios, David Braddy of Vine-agra, Vanessa Rockey, Pat Campbell and Betsy Rose (best crew ever!) and I – took over the Rutt of Los Altos showroom to re-film the first episode of Nesting Newbies and the second episode of The Lea Show.
Lea and Vanessa arrived bright and early to begin hair and make-up while Pat and Betsy started food prepping and setting up. Natalie Wi was there to photograph the day’s events, including all the behind the scenes pandemonium. I arrived with the items on loan from Bloomingdale’s Stanford so that we could create our featured “Bella Notte Bistro Chic” tabletop. I had challenged David Braddy, a florist extraordinaire, to come up with something magical. I was doing the “happy dance” when he arrived because he had woven curly willow together anchored by two urns to create an arch over the table with a lantern attached in the center. It was beautiful, easy to make, and inexpensive! Perfect, since the goal is to show “newbies” how to stylishly entertain without breaking their budgets.
Diane Phillips of DK Designs dropped by to deliver two of her floral creations for the set of The Lea Show. Diane was the first guest artisan featured on The Lea Show (soon to be aired) and it was great to have her beautiful work decorate this episode’s set.
We learned so much from the first taping of Nesting Newbies that we decided to redo it and asked our first newbies, Lacee and Tejas Naik to come back again. The energy was high and when it was time for “Quiet on the Set” we were all in awe of what we were seeing. The chemistry between Chef Lea and the newbies was fantastic and the interaction, inspirational. Lea invited the Newbies into the cooking process and I think we all learned something new. Personally, I discovered how to properly cut an onion and hold a knife properly…and I’m not a newbie!
Jonathan Murphy dropped by to meet everyone in person as he will be doing the voiceover opening for the shows.
Soon Jung Wi, Natalie’s husband arrived with their three adorable kids who were quickly called into “crew” duties while Jung prepared for his segment on The Lea Show. Jung and Natalie own Allure West Studios and Jung, a master photographer, also teaches people how to get the most out of their digital cameras. He busted so many “megapixel myths” and taught Lea (and us) what to look for when buying a digital camera. With so much valuable information, Lea invited him back for a future episode to teach her (and the audience) how to take better digital shots.
By the time we wrapped it was a long day but one that was fulfilling and fun! James is editing the shows, the opening illustrations are being created and soon we will launch the first episodes of Nesting Newbies and The Lea Show. Sweet! – JM
WHICH PEN?
So now that you have your beautiful new guest registry, you’re wondering which pen to use.
I suggest using an Extra Fine Point Sharpie, pictured in the foreground here and not to be confused with the Ultra Fine Point Sharpie, pictured in the background. The Extra Fine Point Sharpie will leave smooth lines and will not bleed through to the other side of the page.
Scatter a few extra on the table. I can guarantee that you’ll have a crowd over the book.
AN URBAN GUEST REGISTRY
I am addicted to Asuka Books right now. Here’s the latest. A guest registry I designed for Marilyn & Danny using images from our San Francisco Engagement Session. Our contributing author, Melissa Napoleon, penned a beautiful poem to compliment the pictures.
Marilyn and Danny will use their book as a guest registry at their wedding. They will be married on May 17th at the luxurious Hotel Valencia located in European-inspired Santana Row.
A STATELY COFFEE TABLE BOOK
Ever since Carolyn and Michael’s Asuka Coffee Table Book arrived the other day, I long to open it and turn the thick silky pages.
This is one of our custom designed coffee table books in which we use our images to illustrate a story told by the bride and groom.
Carolyn and Michael were married at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. and held their reception at Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria, Virginia.
CUSTOM DESIGNED COFFEE TABLE BOOK
Custom Designed Hard-Cover Coffee Table Book
Here are a few of my favorite pages from a hard-cover coffee table book that I designed for Carolyn Kearney and Mike Stone’s wedding.
I asked Carolyn and Mike to to send me some of their thoughts and feelings from their wedding day and I incorporated those quotes into an elegant coffee table book that supplements their feature wedding album.
On the day of the wedding, I met Carolyn in her hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City, Arlington, Virginia and was absolutely floored at how beautiful she looked. She had her hair and nails done at Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door on Pentagon Row and was preparing to slip on an exquisitely feminine strapless Melissa Sweet at Kleinfeld A-Line, French Lace wedding dress.
Bella Figura’s Classic Calligraphy Eco-Friendly Wind-Powered Letterpress Invitations and delicate florals from Brookhill Florist fit perfectly with Carolyn’s historical D.C. style wedding.
Carolyn and Mike were married at St. Peter’s Catholic Church on Capitol Hill and after the ceremony, we closed off C Street at 3rd and took some surreal shots of Carolyn and Mike and their wedding party with the Capitol as their backdrop.
We headed over to Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria, Virginia for the reception. Here, Carolyn and Mike were led into the cocktail hour by a bagpiper and were introduced for the first time as husband and wife on the terrace overlooking the green.
After their indulging in their delectable Alexandria Pasty Shop wedding cake, Carolyn and Mike left through a gate of sparklers and paused for a romantic embrace before whisking away in their getaway car.
We photographed Carolyn’s brother’s wedding 5 years ago at the Ritz-Carlton at Tyson’s Corner, Virginia and since their wedding, are proud to say that the Kearneys have been part of our extended family. We love watching their family grow and are honored to be a part of it as it happens.
ALLURE WEST IN TODAY’S BRIDE
TODAY'S BRIDE WINTER 2009
I’m proud to announce that we’re in the Winter 2009 issue of Today’s Bride. Images #3 and #4. Image #3 is a centerpiece designed by Spiral Hand Floral + Event Design and image #4 is a centerpiece designed by Hunt Littlefield. Both of these beautiful arrangements were featured at the 2008 ISES Gala at the City View Metreon in San Francisco for which I was the PR Co-Chair and Photography Co-Chair.
ELLEN + DANE
Ellen + Dane were introduced to us by Jean Marks of Jean Marks Weddings and when we met them, we could see that they were true soul mates by the way they smiled at each other.
And when we photographed their wedding, they embraced us that warmth and kindness.
Ellen + Dane began their day at the luxurious Mediterranean-style Hotel Los Gatos, which sits at the foot of the Santa Cruz Mountains and when I arrived on the scene, Shawn Cavlan of Shawn Cavlan Beauty Co. was applying the final touches of Ellen’s makeup. Ellen was simply luminous as she bathed in the warm sunlight streaming in through the large windows of the Vasona Room.
While Ellen’s girls were helping her primp, Dane was greeting his family and best friend, who had just flown in from Canada for his wedding and after a few family portraits at the hotel, friends and family left for the church and we went to Vasona Lake with Ellen + Dane for a creative, private portrait session.
When our session wrapped, we progressed forward to the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Saratoga, where Ellen’s uncle married Ellen + Dane. After the ceremony, guests made their way to the newly remodeled, contemporary Plumed Horse in downtown Saratoga for an intimate dinner celebration.
Ellen + Dane were surrounded by their closest family and friends on their wedding day and we thank them and their guests for their warm reception. We’re proud to have been asked to be a part of their amazing day and to have made such wonderful new friends.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Ellen + Dane!
The Team
the planner | jean marks | jean marks weddings
the invitation| out of the envelope
the makeup artist | shawn cavlan | shawn cavlan beauty co.
the flowers | susan groves | in full bloom
the hotel | hotel los gatos
the church | prince of peace lutheran church
the restaurant | the plumed horse
the cake | the plumed horse
OUR NEW BUSINESS CARDS
We have a lot of new things happening this week! Check out these new cards Suzie McKig of Twig & Fig :: Couture Invitations designed for us. She was a dream to work with and knew exactly what we needed to spruce things up a bit.
Here are some pictures I took of their store at 2110 Vine Street in Berkeley:
The Perfect Wedding Gift
Give your Bride and Groom the everlasting gift of portrait enlargements. Your Bride and Groom can apply this gift card towards portrait enlargements or towards their wedding album. We are currently running a promotion offering up to 10 cards per customer with a 10% discount. Call us at 415.513.5925 or email us today to place your order!
Wendy Hearts Michael
Wow! What an amazing day we had shooting Wendy and Michael’s engagement session in Monterey. The weather and the setting were both perfect. We started off on the pier where Wendy and Michael enjoyed a glass of wine and shared a bag of cotton candy. After they were full, we drove down to Lover’s Point. Again, I repeat, WOW. We could’ve spent days shooting them there. It was amazing how many different scenes were available in that one location. But really, Wendy and Michael deserve all the credit for an extremely successful shoot. They are so in love and so outgoing and all we had to do was document the day as they enjoyed it together.
Our wonderful friend and videographer, David Ethridge of A Video Reflection, also joined us on the shoot that day. He is compiling a documentary of us and we look forward to sharing that with you soon!
Allure West Studios in YWD Fall 2008
We’re proud to announce that we have been published in Your Wedding Day Fall 2008 Issue.
As you saw in a previous post, this past spring, Jung and I were asked by Michelle Barrionuevo-Mazzini of MB Wedding Design and Events and Beverly Yip of Especially Yours Chair Covers to photograph their 2nd Annual Promises and Pearls Bridal Soiree. This year, we soireed with the finest at the SF Design Center Galleria–a great raw space!
Some of the finest included Cake Coquette (my cohort in Project Wedding Cake), Glass Slipper Gourment, Hartmann Studios, Impact Lighting, Spiral Hand Floral and Event Design (Spiral Hand also showcased at the ISES Gala), The Flirty Guide (I took her profile shot and she’s definitely a top model!), amongst several fine others.
We’re looking forward to being blown away at the 3rd Annual!