This is the 575th post on the blog, and this serves as an announcement of my next promotion. Whoever the first person is to notice post number 600 will win a great prize, a complementary portrait session and 8×10 print!

Since I don’t like posts without pictures, here’s another from Riviera Maya

Last night I photographed something very special: a proposal! On the way home I was joking with a friend of mine that it was like faux combat photography, hiding behind bushes and pillars to remain unseen. The original plan was for the proposal to happen on the observation deck at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna Niguel, but at sunset the previously empty deck suddenly had around 15 guests, so James went for Plan B and walked down to another deck, me following 20 ft behind.

I arrived early to “stake out” my spot, and took a few shots of the view to kill time.

And then a few while waiting for the deck to clear (which never happened, of course)

The moment!

I kid you not, within a second of the “YES!” this happened:

the happily engaged couple

Yesterday morning I met a lovely family vacationing at the St. Regis Monarch Beach hotel. We took the hotel tram down to the beach and spent some time playing in the sand, capturing the kids as they really are, which is my favorite type of portrait session!

Good news! I’ve found a new custom proof box offering. This is a portrait product and will be offered in two ways: the first as a presentation box holding mounted prints, and the second as a complete set of proofs from your session.

My first box has arrived, so I’ve taken a few images to show off the gorgeous new product.

Well, there’s been both a lot happening, and nothing at all. I got home from Cancun and New York, and found my main computer to be not working at all. So, this is actually the first chance I’ve had to even look at my images! Good news is, within the next couple hours I’ll be finished setting up my new smoking Mac Pro!
Here are a few scenic shots in the meantime, from the Riviera Maya area:

Imagine my surprise when on day 3, hour 1 at JFK I logged in to my email to find I had four placing images in the spring quarter AGWPJA contest! These four placing images have put me in 3rd place overall for the quarter!
Engagement Portrait – Cabo San Lucas 1st Place

Getting Ready – Union Station 17th Place

Reception – Turnip Rose 8th Place

Sense of Place – Guasti Villa – 5th Place

I just finished designing the album from Sean and Brenda’s wedding on her father’s estate:

I still just can’t get enough of Marvimon – so here are some of the pages from Chris and Hillary’s album design.

Everytime I visit with the family, my goal is to give Aunt Lynn the perfect Christmas card photo. Of course, best laid plans don’t always work out, but this year, I had a few ideas up my sleeve. These were all from Friday evening after dinner.

In browsing my friend’s blog over at Heavenly Portraits, I found this cool little applet called . This is what’s big on my blog right now:

Just a few favorite spreads from Joel and Karley’s fabulous wedding at Guasti Villa!

Friday we went blueberry picking!

My grandma let me know while we were driving out that most of the blueberry fields were flooded earlier this summer, so the season would be later. Luckily, there were enough ripe blueberries for us to pick!






Aunt Lynn brought some of our full buckets to the car while we kept picking

That’s all… oh and we picked a total of 28.5 lbs of blueberries. Then we made blueberry pie. yum!