j. shipley: bearings + headings.

new-ness.

2010-09-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

i love me some change. especially when it's of the upgrade nature. after five years with my make-shift blog, i thought it time to move-on and clean things up a little bit. it was scary though. change has that effect on me sometimes because it requires a learning curve and lots of adjustments and perhaps some level of discomfort. but in the end, it's all fine and dandy and worth all the pain and agony it takes to make said change.

so alas, head on over to jshipleyblog.com and feast your eyes upon its new-ness. and please do say hello whilst you are there. (fret not, this blog will still remain alive for archival purposes).

for my faithful readers, click here for my new rss feed. :-)

debbie + andrew: wedding | bishop, california.

2010-09-05T15:15:00.000-07:00

crowley love. there's something special and sweet about it. it's that indescribable sense of community and support found in and through those that grew up or live in this small mountain town. it's so real that it's nearly palpable and it is such that marks crowley lake as a hometown worth coming home to. crowley love goes beyond hilton creek. it's portable because it's not merely about the aspens, or the lake days, or skating ojai. it's about a community of people that cares for it's own (and those who come and go) and cherishes moments of togetherness. and of course opportunities to celebrate.

yesterday was just that. a celebration. and a day filled to the brim with crowley love. it was tom jackson's homemade lasunaga. it was tight squeezes from longtime friends. heartfelt toasts to a long and happy marriage. it was a tear-filled exchange of vows. it was a father marrying his son. a dad walking his baby girl down the aisle of a one-hundred year old church. debbie + andrew's wedding was the personification of crowley love and that my friends was a beautiful thing and a day worth remembering. so i hope this helps...and i hope you get a sense of that precious crowley love. (for the complete wedding editorial, you can view their wedding day slideshow here).

to start the day off, i met up with the ladies at american beauty salon as they were being pampered and primped for the big day. part of the fun was getting to hang out with some childhood friends who are strewn about the country but all came back to town to stand by debbie's side.

check out debbie's fabulous raspberry heels by nina.

the bridesmaid's shoes by steve madden. one of debbie favorite details.

beautiful hydrangea bouquets by valley florist.

the beautiful bride.

debbie and andrew opted for a first look, and it was a beautiful and intimate moment and it gave us a bit more time to get some epic photos in crowley before the ceremony.

we stumbled upon an awesome aerostream trailer. vintage. and groovy. love.

the groom.

the ladies. i seriously had a blast spending the day with this crew. they are fantastic.

the boys.

the guys were all up for anything. so since we had a few extra minutes before we headed south, we went up to the hills opposite crowley for some awesome album cover inspired shots.

i love this moment.

i just about died when i saw this church. it was gorgeous and that light pouring in through the stained glass? wow! not to mention debbie's chic lo boheme birdcage veil.

debbie and andrew collected vintage bottles and glassware to adorn the tables. yes please.

i love me some sparklers. they make for some awesome photos.

for the rest of the story, view their wedding day slideshow here. special thanks to my family for taking turns assisting me throughout the 12 hour day. you're the bestest. i've never been so hydrated in my life thanks to my mama. :-)

kodi(ak).

2010-08-25T01:30:00.000-07:00

my family got a new dog. and well, he's adorable and precious. almost unbearably so. and quite frankly, there are no words, so alas, feast your eyes and this lil' guy...

karin + gary: wedding | san francisco, california.

2010-08-25T00:10:00.000-07:00

karin and gary are the types of people you can't help but respect, admire and simply enjoy. they have a level of sophistication and class that is just plain magnetic, and they are deeply committed to caring for those around them. so it was no surprise that their intimate wedding at the palace hotel in san francisco was full of beautiful moments, rich conversations and wonderful people. i loved the simplicity and intimacy of this wedding. the venue was gorgeous and unique and had that old san fransisco charm that was so inviting.

before i arrived to met-up with the bride, i got lost in the streets surrounding the venue and along the way captured this little nugget of the palace hotel from afar.

stunning floral designs...

i got to spend the morning with karin and let me tell you she is an absolute delight. and gorgeous to boot.

check out her hair... a hair stylist's dream to be sure. this shot on the top is one of my favorites from the day.

the tying of the sash was quite complicated but with some perseverance and some collaboration we finally figured it out. and karin just smiled all along the way.

i just love this shot...

my fav shot of the day taken in the grand atrium. swoon.

it was a bit chilly outsite but karin was willing to brave the wind to get some fun shots in the city.

they must have thought i was rediculous when i was directing with wild gestures from way across the street. but hey, you do what you got to do.

another fav...mmm. buttery backlight and a city bus. AND those authentic smiles. yes please.

after we combated the wind, we sneaked up to their amazing honeymoon suite for some more portraits.

and now, it's time to celebreate...

and finally, some fun dancing shots from the reception. let me tell you, this crew had some moves. hilarious and wildly entertaining. my favorite? the mother of the groom. she's awesome and was smiling the entire time. love her!

and i'll end with this. because really, there is no better way.

gary and karin, thank you for inviting me to capture your wedding day. it was such an honor and pleasure.

a preview of coming attractions.

2010-08-19T01:05:00.000-07:00

you poor neglected blog readers you. i apologize for the massive delay since my last post. geesh. i have lots of goodies down the pipe here, and i'm anxious to feature some epic photo goodness in the coming weeks. but to tide you over as i pull the features together, here is a preview of what is to come...

karin + gary's san francisco wedding.

colin megaro - celebrity stylist.

kodiak - my family's new pup.

ocean point equestrian - fashion shoot.

karin + gary: beloved | san francisco, ca.

2010-07-23T14:14:00.000-07:00

they met in cyberspace and soon thereafter rendezvoused for lunch at a restaurant on fillmore street in san francisco. they love to chat, to converse, to share life each other. they cook, they ski, they dine and they laugh. together. they love to be home curled up on the couch with a glass of good wine and a great movie. it's about sharing in the everydayness, about being a team and about loving and supporting each other.

she likes white chocolate chip cookies. he's a big fan of italian made shoes. she loves to run and he to surf. she is insightful and considerate and he is loyal and lighthearted. she loves how he cares for her and for others and how she can trust him with her deepest thoughts. she is his beloved, and he is hers. they are karin and gary, and this is their story...

a perfect san francisco day. blue skies and buttery backlight. and a beautiful couple. swoon.

sometimes i lurk in the bushes to make my couples laugh. it works like a charm. for SO many reasons.

i just love this one.

umm, hello awesome trees and fantastic backlight.

so renaissance.

uh, where are we? oh, yes san francisco. i almost forgot.

view more of their san francisco beloved session here.

chase merrell. musician.

2010-07-22T22:21:00.000-07:00

you know those people that have a gift? that raw talent that is unique and you have a gut feeling they are going to be successful in whatever they do? the people who have such heart and passion and vision? well, chase merrell is one of those people. i knew him when he was a wee lad back in the days of growing up in mammoth and hadn't seen or heard from him in ten or so years. then all of the sudden, chase merrell--the up and coming musician--makes his way onto my facebook news feed. i was impressed by his voice, his gift of writing and his honesty. right then and there, i secretly wanted to do a shoot for him someday. several months later, i got the e-mail and i happily and willingly obliged. for the next few weeks, we schemed an epic shoot and decided san fancisco would be the idyllic place to rock it out. so we rendezvoused in the city a few months ago and created some epic photo goodness together.

one of the things i love most about chase is his vision and how he cares for people. he loves well. and he navigates through his life in way that is honest, authentic and Christ-centered and -driven. he is passion about caring for people and for calling them to a higher purpose. i am quite looking forward to seeing him grow as an artist and as a follower of Christ.

be sure to check out his brand new website here. and be sure to download his e.p. it's awesome.

he taught me well.

2010-06-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

he always makes me laugh with his impressive and hilarious faces, strange sounds, and funny ways of saying things. he's insightful and full of wisdom and guidance. we talk almost every day and when we don't, i feel like something is missing. he spends countless hours advising me and my business and simply encourages me along the way. he taught me how to throw a ball (or at least he tried...throwing or catching have never been my strong suit. haha. hence the fat lip when i was ten because i totally missed the pop fly and it hit me right in the face). he taught me how to change the my tires and my oil (which i still always have him do for me. and i hope that doesn't ever have to change). he taught me how to wield frankincense-n-mer, the happy saw, the ginsu, the master-of-disaster-blaster, and lil-sparky. (name that tool...) he taught me how to mow the lawn, drive a manual, and how to shave and open the door for the ladies. among many other things.

when i stop and think about the role that my parents have had in my life and all the things they have taught me, i can't help but feel overwhelmed, grateful and blessed. my dad has had a huge role in shaping me into the man i am today. and really, i couldn't have asked for a better dad. you see, my dad is the type of person who simply loves well. he constantly gives of himself, his time and his resources to help a friend who needs it. he cares deeply for the people around then and loves them in an authentic and intentional way. and he does the same for us. for me. he is always available and will stop everything he's doing, for me. to answer my seventh phone call of the day, to build out my crazy designs for my launch party, to move me (again), or to stay up late discussing business plans and all my crazy ideas. he's constant. and present. and well that's an awesomely reassuring thing to know and to experience.

oh father! thank you. for all that and more. you are such a gift to me and our family, and i am so incredibly grateful for and blessed by you and what you do for me. i'm so very proud to be your son. (and now, i'm crying...so i'm off to get some sun on my pasty-white skin poolside). love you dad! hope you have blessed day. wish i could be there with you to barb-e-quuuuuuue, barb-e-que.

[p.s. that photo was taken (by my mama i think) at my graduation party and i think it captures our relationship quite well].

tunnel vision.

2010-06-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

many of you know i spent the last few months working and travelling around california. it was an awesome time to connect with friends and clients alike and to begin building relationships with people beyond my santa barbara network. and it afforded me the freedom to take on some projects i would not have otherwise been able to and i found myself strengthening some of my long-time friendships along the way. and i learned a ton to boot.

one of the things that has been on the forefront of my heart and mind as of late has been the importance of connection. (you might remember a post a made a few weeks about actively seeking out a point of connection with the people around you). and well, i have a few more thoughts to share with you about maintaining those connections--those relationships--that we form.

so often i find myself caught up in all my busy-ness--in the everydayness of my life. you know, the phone calls and e-mails, chores and errands, naps and dinner dates, editing and shooting, blah, blah, blah. and i get so busy that tunnel vision sets in, and i find myself feeling alone and isolated. and then i feel guilty for being a crappy friend and for neglecting to be intentional in the lives of the people around me. i hate that, and i realize that there is a choice to be made here. intentionality and staying connected is a choice, and it takes work and commitment, effort and strategy. but most importantly, it takes time. in order to maintain healthy, enriching, relationships, we have to be willing to make room enough for them in our schedules. and this goes for any type of relationship. and of course, the time we commit to any give relationship is contingent on it's importance and value to us or our businesses and of course, that the other party needs and expects from us. every healthy relationship should maintain reciprocity--balance and quality in the relationship. you call me, i call you. i visit you, you visit me. now, this is not something we have to tally on a sticky note but rather something we can activity choose to bring to our relationships from our end. do you have that photographer who always sends you encouraging e-mails about your work, yet you never write back? how about that friend who always calls you but you fail to call her back? or that relative you hardly visit?

beyond reciprocity...relationship requires presence. here's what i mean by that. it requires that we be there. we need to be a actively engaged in what our friends, colleagues and clients are doing if we want to maintain connectivity. there is something so powerful about taking the time and energy to pay attention to what someone is doing and then asking them about it. and in today's world of social media this is far easier and accessible than ever. i can't tell you how much it means to me when someone takes the time to read my blog and leave a comment or when a friend calls to just say hi. yet so often i neglect to do that same. but if we want to maintain healthy connectivity we must engage.

further, we can learn from our own disappointments and make choices to improve upon the ways in which we feel neglected by others. one of my pet-peeves is when people simply don't respond to me. i feel burned every time. and sometimes it legitimately hurts and other times it's just frustrating and annoying. so i work hard at not doing the same to others and never want to get into the habit of ignoring or neglecting people. sure, when i'm busy, my response time is slower, but i always try to respond in some capacity in a timely manner. even if it's just a "hey, i'm super busy, but i love you and will write or call soon". especially with my nearest and dearest. if i'm committed to a maintaining a solid friendship, i have to make the time and put forth the effort to stay connected. and really, i think when people say "i'm bad at keeping in touch," it's just an excuse and that's no bueno.

my friend and personal/professional coach, michele, invites us to be ruthless with our rationalizations: "being ruthless looks like refusing to excuse your tardiness one more time by saying you’ve been running late all your life. the same with other unattractive habits—sarcasm, white lies, forgetfulness. these are not genetic flaws, you were not brought up that way, and you don’t have to do it anymore.

are you terrible at returning phone calls? whether it’s because you never have time, you’re just busy, you never answer the phone when you are with another person, or you think that if people really need to talk to you then they’ll keep calling?

when you mentally give yourself a pass every time (“hey, that’s me. that’s how I roll”), then understand that you are practicing a form of “the lie of exceptionism”. the lie of exceptionism is when we take our own comfort too far. it’s when we believe that we are the exception to the rule of how people should behave, and that the rules which apply to others don’t apply to us because for us to change would be to contradict the deepest, truest and most essential part of our inmost being. When we think that to change would mean that we would cease to be our most genuine self and thus would betray everything we have been working so hard to discover and evolve into.

one person who who i think stays connected particularly well is wedding photographer jasmine star. she's responded to every e-mail or facebook post i've sent her with a personal, authentic response. and i know i'm not alone, she responds to the hundreds of comments she gets on her facebook page. sure, it's short and brief, but it's sweet and heartfelt. and every time she writes back, i'm stoked and i feel like she cares about me. and i know she really does. and when you're talking to jasmine in person, you feel like you're the only one in the room. she is present and engaged and she's intentional. sure she has an uncanny ability to remember people and details about them, but she works at it. she invests time and energy into connecting and staying connected and to building and maintaining healthy relationships with her friends, family, colleagues and clients alike and her brand, client experience, and life is exponentially bolstered by it. i'm quite sure of it.

so i invite you to be strategic and intentional about how you strengthen those new connections and maintain and deepen your existing relationships. it's worth the time and energy and will prove to enrich your life and the lives of those around you in a surprising way. pick up the phone and call your friend. or stop by and visit your grandma. today. and tomorrow.

marc b.

2010-06-17T10:04:00.000-07:00

marc likes pizza and waves. jam sessions and random adventures. he only wears shoes when he has to. you see, marc...well, he likes it mellow. he's a california guy in the truest of forms and when i hang out with him or see him perform, i can't help but slow down a bit and enjoy the simple things in life, the everydayness, the in between. i need people like this in my life. people who remind me to simply be and to live in the present. and that's what we did for marc's shoot. we lived. we experienced. and here's what resulted from his lifestyle photo shoot...

be sure to check out his music here.

marc threw bark at me. rude. but of course, i love it. and asked him to do it over and over again.

and then he threw it on himself. nice.

then i made him lie down among the agave. and he said it was quite enjoyable. naturally.

jah, he really is that cool.

i love how you can see the guy smoking in this shot.

i found me a smoldering taco stand grill perfectly situated on the street corner. epic.

a secret access point to the waves marc took me too with a schweet bridge.

one of my favorite shots to date.

and then i photographed marc eating pizza. he didn't talk to me the whole time. rude. so i lurked around all sniper status.

interesting sidenote...after the first few frames, my display and most of my buttons on my camera stopped working completely. all i had control over was the aperture and shutter speed. and of course i couldn't preview images to make sure they were good. oh what fun. since my backup was on the other side of town, we just rolled with it. and i rocked it old school status like the good old film days. i had only shot film for a semester way back in high school but apparently it paid off. yaya. i literally had no clue if any of the shots would turn out and that's a scary thing. i don't know how the film shooters do it. so props to jose villa.

the revlery.

2010-06-14T15:32:00.000-07:00

as of late, i have had the opportunity to begin working with other artists and i'm finding that i quite enjoy such projects since it affords a great deal of creative freedom and invites collaboration. i love working with people who have an appreciation for art and are willing to go to great lengths to create something unique. artists are my peoples and i love them so.

my friend david is an all-around awesome guy. i've gotten the chance to get to know him over the past few years when his family visits my hometown for christmas. in between games of catan and mafia, i remember hearing whispers about his newly formed band. i secretly hoped i would get to photograph it someday. and sure enough a few months later, david asked me if i would photograph his band in preparation for launch of their new website. yaya. and of course, i gleefully obliged. and get this: he gave me full creative control. oh boy, oh boy.

so after listening to a few of their songs and hearing more about who they were as a band, i schemed a photo shoot in downtown los angeles. we started off a the disney concert hall and made our way along the streets surrounding. my buddy matt roberts helped me out for the afternoon and well, we had ourselves a hoot of a time. they are such a fun group of people and amazing talented musicians to boot. be sure to check out their myspace page: here. and find them on facebook: here. there is sure to be much more awesome tunes and shows by this crew, so stay connected. i for one can't wait.

and with out further ado, meet THE REVELRY...

good times in the glass elevator.

we laughed a lot. seriously, y'all have to meet them. so fun.

my fav group shot. crisp. modern. and just plain cool.

chase and bryce in the face-off was hilarious.

david. lead vocals + keys.

madison must have to put up with so much from all these boys, but she holds her one for sure. she's the violinist. and well that makes her bad-ass.

this guy is awesome. you're the man, chase. drums.

david and kirk (bass). i love the architecture downtown.

bryce. vocals + guitar.

e three.

2010-05-26T15:33:00.000-07:00

back in february, i did a shoot with my dear friend emily and helped her scheme her brand. and i promised a full post once her site when live. well, after months of hard work, emily has just recently launched her new photo, design and card business: e three. i am so excited and so proud. be sure to check out her site and order some cards. seriously. they are hilarious and uber chic too.

and alas, more photos of the beautiful emily...

the jalama cañon ranch.

2010-05-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

a few months ago, my friend anna was telling me about a new wedding venue north of santa barbara for which she had recently become the rental and event coordinator. after several years of preparation and hard work, the jalama cañon ranch was ready for it's debut as the idyllic venue for an intimate wedding or family getaway. the 1000+ acre ranch is simply stunning and impressive. it boosts rustic cabins, chardonnay and pinot noir vines, a herd of goats, hundreds of california oak trees and miles of winding dirt roads. it has that quintessential california wine country charm. i was smitten and just had to be involved in creating some their marketing materials, i.e. photos and website. so anna and i styled a day-after-shoot to show off the photo-ops at the ranch. here's what we came up with...

our gorgeous models, chris and leah.

the cat followed us around all day and conveniently strolled onto the porch with impeccable timing and grace too of course.

one of the many vistas from the property.

and there are gorgeous oak trees everywhere...

and fields. and grass. and purdy light. i have a crush.

check out their brand new site designed by yours truly. thank you leah + chris for modeling for us.

debbie + andrew | beloved.

2010-05-24T19:39:00.000-07:00

crowley lake. it's a small mountain town surrounded my snow-capped peaks overlooking a lake. a lake that so many of us locals have come to love so dearly over the years. many a summer have we played in it's strangely green waters. they were no exception. they met when they were teens. he the crowley local, and she the frequent visitor who grew up in ecuador but called crowley a home-away-from-home. it wasn't until many years later that their friendship truly took shape and became one of intentionality, trust and authenticity. it soon grew into something more--a deep love and adoration for each other and a relationship built on Christ, a desire care for and love each other well and a commitment to keep life fun and light-hearted. together they picnic in the park and play cards. he paints and she crafts. together they explore. nature, museum-going and bike-riding they love. they pray, they create, and simply be. together. she is his beloved. and he is hers. they are debbie + andrew and this is their story...

we started the shoot a local college campus where we found some awesome light, textures and architecture. andrew brought his bike along and we got a fun series. and somehow they managed to walk away with no flesh wounds. last time i tried this we weren't so lucky.

then we found this awesome water feature and building...the fountain would randomly go on and off it was hilarious.

after we got the bridge shots, i paused. and had that look in my eye. i was scheming. andrew asked if i wanted them to shimmy along the ledge and stand against the windows. and of course i said "yes. just what i was thinking. do it" they were all about the challenge and everyone managed to stay dry.

the funkiest building ever but so cool for photos.

and the light reflecting off the white walls was superb.

then with vintage suitcases, wildflowers, a blanket and andrew's art kit,we went to the most beautiful park just before sunset. it was perfection.

check out that beam of light coming through in the background. wow.

okay so this lens flare was made in camera. crazy eh? i can't even deal.

i almost forwent the rose gardens, but i'm so glad we wandered over there. awesomeness.

wow, what a shoot. so much fun, i can hardly wait for their september wedding up in the sierras. for more of debbie + andrew, view their slideshow here.

[p.s. the first image was the last frame i took. the "lovebirds" were serenading us during our time in the rose garden. and debbie asked if i would take a picture of them. so i thought it fitting to include it in the post.]

lisa + tim | beloved.

2010-05-24T17:47:00.000-07:00

they met on the interwebs. eHarmony.com to be exact. and it was not long before they schemed their first date at a local cafe in santa monica. they dined and laughed, conversed and but it was between frames at Lucky Strike that they found themselves smitten and ever aware of their connection. through adventures up the coast and family gatherings, date nights in santa monica & deep conversations after a home-cooked meal, they began to fall in love. their relationship is one that is genuine and honest, fun-loving and silly, intentional and relaxed. together they find themselves aware of the artistic beauty that surrounds them be it through discovering new nooks and cranies in la or enjoying good food and conversation, concert-going or hiking. they laugh. they pray. they line-dance. they are lisa + tim. she is his beloved. and he is hers. and this is their story...

i am particularly fond of making my clients work for it. you know...hike for 12 miles. scale up a hillside, lay down on a bed of pokey succulents, or precariously tip-toe along a ledge over a pond. it's all part of the adventure peoples. it requires commitment to the shot and trust too of course. and luckily, my clients trust me fully. or mostly. so naturally, i drug tim and lisa up a hillside in the blistering winds all to these two shots. bam. totally worth i think. case and point.

and if that wasn't enough, we hiked out along the cliff-side to get these shots.

i even took on the deathly foxtails. and while i was picking them out of my shoes and socks for the next two hours, it was well worth it to get this little nugget.

they even humor me when i want them to do stuff like this...

i quite enjoy this series...

some of my favorite feet shots to date.

right after i said "that's a wrap" and started toward the car, tim helped lisa off her perch on the fence and i heard her squeal and chuckle. i turned around and somehow managed to snap the image on the top-right. and it's one of my favs...

for more of lisa + tim, view their slideshow here.

a point of connection.

2010-05-20T18:20:00.000-07:00

it's innate. part of being human. part of being mammals. it's core to the life of a social being and something we can't shake. we crave and seek after connections. they give us energy, a sense of belonging and rootedness, a value and worth. it is the connectedness between us that makes us feel alive and makes everything we do that much better. what good is any moment or life experience if there is no one to share it with? meals are no fun alone. you can't very well play tennis by yourself. without connections there would be no one to call to share the good news of a promotion with. no one to dance or frolick in a field with. connected-ness is the lifeblood of business and of a life worth living.

i find that what people are most often after in both personal and business relationships is that they are known and understood, valued and appreciated and that they are given voice. in my work as a photographer, i am keenly aware of this reality and the effects it has on my relationships with my clients. recognizing and paying attention to this reality, allows for me the space to find a point of connection. be it a common love for yellow labs or yogurtland or a penchant of ace ventura and fine wine, finding commonalities makes for better photos. why? well, it eases tension, creates an opportunity for more compelling story-telling, and it creates a bond (even in it's smallest form) that draws me and my clients closer. not only that, but finding a simple, seemingly mundane and insignificant point of connection can serve as a place through which i can enter into deeper conversation and connectedness. it is within that space, that we are able to create more profound and emotional imagery. and of course, it aids in creating trust and reinforces our commitment to them and to photographing who THEY are. asking good mearningful questions and listening intently to the answers gives us an upper edge because it strengthens our bonds and gives us a deeper understanding of who they are. and of course, a willingness to be vulnerable and share with them our lives creates access point for connection and deeper understanding and relationship.

furthermore, earlier this week, i went to a photography conference called escalate live. and in the parking lot, a woman asked me if i was going to escalate and if this is was where we were supposed to park. i thought so but wasn't sure and said we could ask when we checked in. she parked and i started walking toward the door. then, it hit me. this was a point of connection and if i was smart, i would not let an opportunity to connect slip away. so i stopped and waited for her, and we commeserated in our confusion about where to park. next thing you know, we are having coffee and talking shop before the conference started. from there i found out she was a newbie photographer and this was her first conference. i was able to share some insight with her over coffee and usher her into the community by introducing her to my other photog friends. all because i noticed an opportunity to connect and acted on it.

the reality is, we are all secretly searching for a way to break the ice. some are better at it than others. but it's a skill that can be learned and improved. it requires perception, intuition and a willingness to push through the awkwardness. but the funny thing is, that more often than not, the other person is grateful you made the move. and sure sometimes, you will get rejected or shunned, but to pass up an opportunity for a new friend, or a possible business connection is far worse. even if it's nothing more than making someone's day by complimenting their hair-cut, it's worth the risk of rejection and moment of awkwardness. i need to do that more. who's with me? we are human. we want to meet new people, we want to feel noticed, and we seek interconnectedness with other humans. it's just how it is people and by naming and location that reality, it gives us permission to face it and use it to love well and create better experiences with our clients.

alana + mike: their wedding | del mar, california.

2010-05-16T18:39:00.000-07:00

"how shall we begin?!" she asked and we, a few dozen wide-eyed communication studies scholars, stared blankly at her and shifted in our seats--uncomfortable with the silence and her question in and of itself. we thought to ourselves, "who is this woman? how in the world should we know where to begin? it's your class, you should tell us where to begin". but i was intrigued. excited. i liked this woman. this dr. nicastro. she was different. and well i like different. little did i know that this woman (and this course) would change my life in a profound and surprising way. little did i know that i would walk away empowered, emboldened and confidant. little did i know that she--that unconventional professor--would turn out to be one of the most remarkable women i had ever met. little did i know that i would end up photographing her wedding day.

but she knew something i didn't. she saw something in me. (in us). and probed and prodded in that special way that alana does until that something was uncovered. in that short semester, i found my voice. my voice as an artist, as a writer, as an orator and as a person. she believed in the person that i was, and the person that i would become. and she helped me believe too. that i was gifted. that i was talented. that i could write well and make connections. that i was insightful and articulate. that i could see. that i could notice. and that i could find a way to marry my passion for people and art together in a way that was unique to me and true to my heart and my vision. for the first time, i truly believed that i could do it, that i could become the man i wanted to be, that i had something to contribute, that i could be a photographer.

for those of you who know me, you have likely heard me speak of this elusive character who changed my life and never really understood how and why it was that spoke so fondly of her. well, that's why. that's how. she is an incredible mentor. and friend. and i am so incredibly blessed to have learned from her, to have her in my life, and to have photographed her wedding as you can imagine it was an emotional experience for me. one that i am deeply blessed to have had. i would not have have missed this day for anything, and i'm so thankful i got to be the one to document all that it was...and now, this is the story of alana + mike's wedding day...

he uncovers artifacts and fossils and studies the days and peoples of old. she uncovers the talent, voice and passion within people and calls out the best in them. they both work hard and discovering the buried, the hidden, the unnoticed, the forgotten. he's an archeologist, she a consultant and professor. their inquisitive spirits make for colorful conversation and deep connection between them. they enrich each other's lives in a way that is unique, intentional and honest. he is her beloved. and she is his.

two of my favorite photos from the day...

the photo of the right makes me laugh. still. i asked alana to relax and just hug mike and she gave me a hard time about it. "jeffrey, i can't relax. i'm trying not to fall over. you have me standing in bark in my heals. haha." and then that moment happened. see it's all for the shot. my brides put up with so much from me.

all drama. i love it.

one of most intimate and emotional ceremonies i've witness. i had the channel the inner professional and keep shooting so that i wasn't a hot mess crying in the corner.

"the girls"--alana's group of friends from grad school---shared a beautiful piece of prose. so special.
i found me a cool flower to shoot through. oh yes.

and finally some details shots...simple elegance.

to view more of their day, watch their slideshow here.

tiffany + dave: beloved.

2010-05-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

they met at their church in santa barbara. they bonded over spreading the word about upcoming game nights and camping trips as the announcement-making duo for their college group. naturally, sparks flew and they begin sharing sushi and cups of coffee and nights in watching friends and eating pizza. they found themselves getting lost in conversation about life, about goals and dreams, about their relationships with the Lord, and about shared experiences to chicago and oregon, new hampshire and the california coast. their bond strengthened and grew into complete adoration and love for each other. their relationship became something that was rooted and established in love. one that is relaxed, authentic, and often times full of hilarity and silly-ness. and now they are set to be married later this fall. and i for one can't wait.

she is tiffany, and he is dave. she is his beloved, and he is hers. and this is their story...

we ventured up the coast to find us some fields, oak trees and such. tiffany's best friend dannah just so happens to be a hair stylist and make-up artist and a dear friend of mine. so she did her thang and then came along with us to help out and make them (and me) laugh. it was a blast.

here's what happened when i asked them to be all sorts of dramatic and stoic. haha.

but practice makes perfect...

oak trees + backlight = epic photo goodness

i love it when my clients humor me and scale rocks and lay in down on uncomfortable surfaces to get the shot.

one of my favorite pairings from the day...

a slideshow of their beloved session can be viewed at their wedding website here.

lauren + nick: their wedding | san ysidro ranch.

2010-05-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

lauren and nick have a relationship that is rooted in intentionality and authenticity. one that is honest and focused on loving each other well. she laughs at his jokes. and he can't help but smile when he looks at her. they bring out the best in each other. she is his beloved. and he is hers.

so about a month ago, lauren and i got together for lunch. we caught each other up the going-ons in our lives. we recounted the glory days at westmont. we laughed and schemed hypothetical scenarios as we always do. and we chit-chatted about wedding planning details and dreamed up photo awesomeness. all of lauren's planning was coming together beautifully and the event was set to take place on may 7th at elings park in santa barbara. i. counldn't. wait.

the next day, i got text from lauren asking if i was free may 8th. i was intrigued. and yes, i was free. so i called to get the story and here what she was scheming. she told me that ty warner (the owner of the resort where both lauren and nick work) had offered to host the wedding at san ysidro ranch where lauren and nick had met and fallen in love and that they were considering accepting the invitation and moving the wedding. i said "of course, you're going to accept. i'm all in." and so they did. and rightly so i might add. the weather was simply gorgeous, the details simple yet stunning, the views and gardens breathtaking. the mother-of-the-bride said "it was like a garden of eden" and that it was.

and so, here is their wedding day story...(beware, it's kinda long, but i just couldn't help myself. my bad).

make-up by lindsey colson - salon del mar.

classic lauren...

one of my favorite shots of the day...lauren was stunning.

the gents. my buddy montana dennis who is a mad-talented creator of serious photo-awesomeness joined in the fun and helped me out for the day. i couldn't have done it without him...he hung out with the guys whilst i was photographing the ladies.

the ranch...

it was such a sweet and intimate ceremony...

lauren and nick had such great and supportive friends by their side. and they're not too shabby lookin' either.

nick works at the guardhouse and has seen photo after photo taken in the lavender and dreamt of taking photos with his bride. little did he know, i had also dreamt of shooting in the san ysidro ranch lavender field too. it was quite purdy.

i found a bamboo forest the day before and vowed i would use it in some way. but we had too much fun in the lavender and were running out of time. luckily we got swooped up in a golf-cart and were able to swing by en route to the reception. bam!

all the fixings for authentic mexican tacos.

the sob-fest. things got a little blurry for everyone. myself included. geesh.

rings in the shadows...and their customized sign outside the kennedy cottage.

for more images, you can view their slideshow here.

thank you lauren and nick for inviting me to tell your story. i am so happy for you guys i adore you both. lauren, thanks for being such an amazing friend over the years and for enriching my life in so many ways. have fun in the caribbean!!!

emily: grad photo shoot.

2010-04-12T07:02:00.000-07:00

during my days of RA-hood in westmont's john page hall, i wasn't supposed to have-err-favorite residents. i did. fail. but when you meet someone like emily frei, it's hard to keep her from attaining favorite status. her humor--dramatic hypotheticals, vivid renactments, colorful running commentary and witty repartee--, contagious laugh, and mere existence is just plain cool. you can't help be develop a mad friend crush instantly. and so i blame her, for my breaking the cardinal rule of RA-dom. ha.

in the early days of her freshman year, we became friends. we would go on random adventures and outings at all hours of the day with the likes of eric rindal and allyson arendsee. emily, allyson and i would eat slow-churned dryers ice cream straight from the carton in "the reel". monthly. we even had her first communication studies class together. interpersonal communication with dr. dick morrow. he was--err--from a different era (in so many ways) and quite hilarious. eric, em and i had fight to keep our composure every day. so needless to say, emily and i go way back. so yesterday's grad photo shoot was a hoot. and a holler. we laughed, reminisced, and enjoyed our share of memorable encounters whilst we piddled around ventura. it definitely marks another favorite adventure with one of my favorite page residents. i'm thrilled that after all these years, we are still friends. this makes me one happy-jeff.

now, emily was the official winner of the j. shipley grad photo shoot giveaway. i offered a free shoot to the one who wrote in with the best reflection on their days in college. she likened it to thanksgiving, so surely she would win. (us shipleys love thanksgiving). and i quite enjoyed her insight and thoughtful musings about the college experience.

she writes, "reflecting on your college years is like trying to remember what you ate four years ago for thanksgiving dinner. you usually remember the highlights, such as the friendships, which might be the pie. you recall the staples, such as your classes, which could be the turkey or the taters. and you might remember a flop or two, such as failures and regrets, comparable to the nasty jell-o salad with celery in it..." (scroll down to the post for more of her musings).

she is emily. and this is her grad photo shoot.

cool freeway goodness.

while on jessica's shoot a few days ago, i was trying to give her words/descriptors of emotions and expressions. i failed. the first word that came out of my mouth was "intrigued". as if i could have picked a more difficult emotion. haha. so i tried again with emily and was actually able to come up with some words. victory! but i almost missed the shots though cuz i was laughing so hard.

i love it when i can sucker people into lying down on uncomfortable things. ie rocks. now, that's commitment.

i pulled a montana dennis here for sure. and i'm pretty sure i made emily go up and down these stairs 83 times. geesh.

the coolest jungle gym ever. we may or may not have played for a bit after we got the shot.

in emily's words "jeff shipley can make you look like your in the amazon on the side of a freeway." it's all in my ability to crouch. haha.

she found it comical how much i like to shoot through things. how dare she laugh at the artist. rude!

and now, a few more excerpts...

"First, college is patience. This whole period of life is steeped in the sense that you are standing on a precipice. Recently a friend of mine told me to just try to enjoy my last few weeks of college for what they are, and pretend that no unknowns are looming in my immediate future. This is like telling a pregnant woman in her 8th month to simply try to enjoy being pregnant, and to try not to think about the fact that in a few short weeks she will have a kid. This feels impossible. College for me has been a season of waiting: waiting for graduation, waiting for next year, the next dorm, the next date, the next class, the next experience. And while at times it seems absurd to simply enjoy the moment, I find that I have never lived in the moment more than in my college years. Embedded in all that waiting and misunderstanding is a kind of peace that everything will work out.
This leads me to remember that college is hope. Finding hope while you are waiting: for your graded paper, exam grade, a fiancé, internship, or a care package from your mom. For me with this waiting gave rise to opportunities for deep hope. It is precisely because my future is unknown that I can hope for improvement: improving mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually."

"College is extreme. You either don’t get enough sleep, or you get too much. You have too much to do, or you’re bored. You are over-caffeinated, underfed, over-stimulated, and often under-equipped. I had periods where I was plunged under the tide of self-doubt when my professors and peers challenged my beliefs, and also moments of bright glistening understanding. At some point in these extremes you realize that nearly nothing is black or white, and that we live in a grey, grey, world. I begin to pick my battles, fighting for what is only sure, and few things were sure. And eventually I began to peek through the windows of language, science, literature, and religion and see that they all look out upon the same landscape. Knowledge does not exist in separate ponds, but rather in one, foamy, undulating ocean. It takes going to the extremes to find the median. In college I began to learn to moderate my emotions, my energy, my health, my social life, and my academics to build the foundations for a more balanced life."

wow. i could not have said it better myself.

jessica: grad photo shoot.

2010-04-10T22:14:00.000-07:00

i was nervous. and so was she. there is something about shooting another photographer that is nerve-racking and of course, for her being on the other side of the lens is just plain awkward. but after the first few frames, we were both at ease and laughing. uncontrollably at times. that's one of the things about jessica, i love most. she laughs. and makes me laugh. the moments of hilarity from yesterday's shoot were many and quite memorable.

she loves shoes and belts and all things vintage. she even collects vintage suitcases. she's creative and is passionate about making a difference with her art. she seeks to give voice to the voiceless and move people to action through her images. she never settles for the status quo and pushes herself and others to do better, to do more and to challenge mediocrity.

she is jessica fairchild conrad.

and this is her grad photo shoot.

this was a total accident and it's my favorite shot from the shoot. i don't even remember pressing the shutter when the biker went by. awesome-ness.

i love both of these shots. jessica at her best.

a lil' vintage flava.

look at those boots. broken in from walking all over nyc.

what an honor (and blast) it was to photograph her. seriously. be sure to check out her work here.

emily + shyne: their wedding.

2010-04-06T21:50:00.000-07:00

it's not very often that i get to be a second shooter. it's a pity because i quite enjoy it. there is something so freeing about being the side-kick. it provides me the opportunity to tell a story from a different angle and to focus on the details and the moments in the in-between. but just recently, my friend amy who's an associate photographer for mary jane photography asked me to shoot with her at emily + shyne's wedding at the four seasons biltmore in santa barbara. this was my first time shooting at the biltmore and shooting with amy. i had a blast. the couple was incredibly sweet and their families and friends equally delightful. so i thought i would share a few favorites from the special day...

the beautiful bride, emily.

i love shooting through things, especially glass.

the flowers and details were gorgeous. wow.

the ladies and the beautiful bride. what a fun and sweet group of women. we laughed a lot.

the gents. while amy escorted the bride into hiding, i got a chance to hang out with shyne for a bit and grabbed a few fun shots of him.

the ceremony was heartfelt, emotional and intimate and in a beautiful location to boot.

the newlyweds...

a few details from the reception.

thank you amy for inviting me to shoot with you. i can't wait till next time. emily & shyne, blessings on your new life together.

fear-facing.

2010-04-06T16:57:00.000-07:00

last night i conquered one of my fears. it was a ceremonious occasion. albeit ridden with bucket loads of anxiety, nervous pacing, sweaty palms and heavy breathing. i had flashbacks to traumatic moments from my childhood. my dad had to coach me through it and offer moral support all along the way.

but desperate times had called for desperate measures. it was time to face my fear...

this:

ugh, it's the worst. and i'm legitimately afraid of it. well that, and liquid medication of any type.

you see, when i was a wee lad, i had bronchitis. it was gnarly. and naturally, the doctor prescribed cough medication. but i refused to take it even though i was deathly ill. finally, after days of hacking and high fevers, my family decided, they were going to have to force me to take it. of course, i fought long and hard, running away from them, squirming, and spitting lumpy, pasty, pink medication all over the place. i was not about it. that stuff was nasty and made me gag. no thank you.

long story short: i hate the smell, sight, taste, and utter existence of cough medicine. it's just awful. ewww!

but last night the promise of a good night's sleep, relieved symptoms and easier breathing, was so alluring. so i mustered up all the courage i had, and decided to face my fear and take some nyquil. this had only happened one other time in my adult life. true story. and sure, they have gel caps, but that was all we had in the medicine cabinet. pity i know.

so i made my dad pour "the shot", completed a rigorous stretching regimen, went to my happy place and downed it. bamn! take that fear. and of course, promptly my dad said "see it's not that bad". no dad, it is THAT bad. it's horrific. miserable. terrifying. yuck! it still makes me naus to think about it. but as sara truppo says "this is make it work 2010." so there you have it. needless to say, i may not have conquered my fear, but i faced it and i slept like a baby. i hope and pray i don't have to do it again tonight. or ever for that matter. gross!

matthew: senior photo shoot.

2010-04-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

matthew is a simple guy. one who is easy going and relaxed. yet all the while adventurous and out-going. he grew up exploring the mountains and playing among them. while fishing, hiking, backpacking and hunting, he found himself at home surround by snow-capped peaks and shimmering alpine lakes. this still remains true today.

he is matthew. and this is his senior photo shoot.

given his passion for the mountains, it was fitting that matthew's shoot would be in the eastern sierra. as it most often is, the mountain weather proved to be unpredictable and, well, blistery and chilly. so first we ventured up to convict lake for some shots backdropped with mountains and then headed south to the buttermilks for some high-desert boulder field shots. here's what we came up with during our wanderings...

i love me some road shots.

we braved the freezy cold winds for these shots, but i think it was well worth it.

i made him stand on a 6x6 inch post in gail force winds for quite some time to get the shot on the right. now that's commitment.

next, we headed south toward bishop. i hadn't been to the buttermilks since i was a kid. so it was fun to explore the boulder field. and it was a photographer playground to be sure.

matthew was up for anything. even lying down in a rock-lined gutter. awesome.

lead your life: a moxy workshop.

2010-04-03T10:00:00.000-07:00

a dear friend of mine is, well, bad-ass. her name is michele mollkoy, and she is the master-mind behind the moxy project, a coaching company that helps individuals become who they want to be. she held a workshop in santa barbara a few weeks ago and i got the chance to assist her and photograph the event. i was thrilled. i wouldn't have missed it. why? well, because michele has played an invaluable role in my personal and professional development and in helping me life the kind of life i want to live and i believe in what she is doing. i KNOW that she is on to something. something great. and i like being involved in such things and supporting people who invite us to live better stories. we all need us some MOXY.

the workshop challenged attendees to ask tough questions, to reflect on their past and discover ways they could live better stories, and to step up and lead their lives. that my friends is my idea of a good workshop. bummed you missed you? you should be. ha. but the good news is is that there are many more to come. be sure to check out the moxy project website and follow michele on twitter to stay in the loop.

addy awards gala.

2010-04-02T19:37:00.000-07:00

this year i got involved with the santa barbara chapter of the american advertising federation. it has been a great way to build relationships with local professionals in the advertising industry and to learn and a grow professionally. each year the national organization holds the prestigious addy awards which is the world's largest advertising competition. advertising professionals can submit their work for local, regional and even national recognition. i was asked to photograph the event at the contemporary arts forum and of course, happily obliged. it's always fun to work with the women who lead the group. they have done a wonderful job of creating a space where we can learn and grow together and challenge each other. here are a few images from the evening...

to learn more about american advertising federation santa barbara, you can visit their site here.

emily + steve | beloved.

2010-03-24T22:52:00.000-07:00

it began their freshman year of college. steve loves to hike. and run. and play in the great outdoors. he loves twix and dole strawberry/banana/pineapple juice. he is adventurous, easygoing and spontaneous. and so, naturally, steve had a craving for adventure and one day, he was on the prowl for a fellow adventure seeker to embrack upon an epic hot-air-balloon ride. but sadly, everyone he asked turned him down. until he got to the room at the end of the hall.

and there was emily. she loves snickers and twix. and a cold grapefruit juice sqeeze. she loves warm colors--reds and oranges--and green too because it reminds her of nature, and lately she has been appreciating blue more. she's inquisitive, adventurous, and passionate. and she was up for anything, so of course she agreed to accompany steve on his adventure. they were excited.

much to their chagrin, however, the hot air balloon dude keeps cancelling and rescheduling. this saga continues for months, and after awhile, the duo comes to grips with the fact that the balloon dude was never going to come through. but they refused to let that spoil their fun, and so they kept up their morning excursions. and the rest, well, it's history.

finally, after two and a half years after many a failed attempt, they finally made up into the air. and on that day and in that moment, he proposed.

she loves his thirst for knowledge, his compassion for others and desire to hear their stories, and his passion for an adventurous life. he loves the joy that she takes in all of the little things in everyday life; her heart for others, especially those who are suffering and in need and her desire for adventure.

together they share a penchant for the bbc planet earth series. and they love, love, i mean, LOVE the outdoors. be it hiking, rollerblading, or hot-air-ballooning, they are all-in. they love exploring, seeking and finding, adventuring and discovering. they love the new-ness that it brings. the shared experience. the moments therein. bottom line: they love living life together.

she is his beloved. and he is hers.

and this is their story.

my favorite series from the day.

some of the natural beauty we experienced on the shoot...

'blading. this was quite a challenging series to shoot. between dodging bike-riders, joggers and skate-boarders and running backwards whilst they speed along on their skates, i was a spectacle to be sure. totally worth it though...

mmm, buttery santa barbara light. i loves it.

one of my favorite shots of the day...there just so happened to be a piece of pipe that was short enough to work with right where i had them up against the construction fence. awesome-ness.

view slideshow here.

allyson.

2010-03-23T15:20:00.000-07:00

she laughs. and smiles. a lot. she lights up the room when she enters. and she is hilarious to boot. she's authentic, intentional and caring and engages in relationship in a way that is vulnerable and honest. she is an artist of both the musical and visual persuasion. she notices and she creates. she dreams and she inspires.

she is allyson.

and this is her grad photo shoot.

we cruised up the 101 north on the prowl for some wildflowers and fields and of course for some vintage-grudge. here's what we found...

three of my absolute faves.

gorgeous, ain't she?

view the slideshow here.

burlap and barcodes.

2010-03-19T12:00:00.000-07:00

i've got lots of ideas. some are better than others. some are complicated. some are simple. and some are downright silly. but they are ideas nonetheless. dreams. aspirations. schemes really. sometimes my ideas overwhelm me and they seem impossible to bring to fruition. some are forgotten and pushed aside by others. some are dusted off after a long stint in the attic. others are forcefully dragged out of bed and dowsed awake with a bucket of water. such was the case with this idea...

last year my friend kelsey asked me to take some portraits of her to accompany her graduation announcements. i willingly obliged for several reasons. one: she had been such a tremendous help to me during the launch of my business last year, i wanted to thank her. two: i couldn't pass up an opportunity to make one of my dearest friends channel her inner tyra. three: i thought doing grad shoots was a great idea. so as it were, some ideas are inspired by others.

a year has passed since, and well, i still like her idea. so i got out the proverbial bucket and dowsed it with some fresh j-ship water. bam. we got ourselves a new +site peoples. and a killer giveaway...

grad photo shoots.

college graduation is kind of a big deal. it's the culmination of many, many years of hard work, perseverance and determination. it is an exciting yet terrifying time in life. you are ready to move-on & become a real-live adult you're anxious to be out on your own & start a new life in the real world. yet all the while, you realize that this season (as with many others) beholds a series of lasts. so you can choose to recognize & embrace this fact and remind yourself that this is your now. cherish the small things of the college life. actively create moments that will go unforgotten. but most importantly, realize that this season can chart the course for the next.

needless to say, this is a milestone that deserves mad props, celebration, and, well, a photo shoot. no, no, we are not talking cap and gown status. that is so 1980. rather, we are talking about a series of photographs that portray who you are and mark this accomplishment as worthy of remembrance beyond just a framed degree above your desk.

intrigued? find out more about grad photo shoots and the GIVEAWAY here.

not a grad-to-be yet still want to book a j. shipley photo shoot? more +sites coming soon.

creatives.

seniors.

professionals.

can't wait? email info@jshipleyphotography.com

hawaii.

2010-03-12T17:00:00.000-08:00

it's not often that my family and i get the chance to sneak away to a tropical paradise and soak up some sunshine. that fact was best represented by our pasty white skin and our let's-fit-in-as-much-as-we-possibly-can mentality. and sure enough, we found ourselves quite satisfied when we boarded our flight back to the mainland. some people relax on the beach sipping mai-tais all the day long. but us shipleys tend to pack in much more activity than most. during our eight day trip to oahu, we drove around aimlessly far too much. snorkeled twice. road horses. surfed waikiki. watched waves at waimea bay and pipeline. visited pearl harbor and the uss arizona memorial. ate hula pie. got snowcones in haleiwa. and survived the tsunami scare. no big deal. so needless to say, we had a wonderful time and very much enjoyed our time together. hopefully it won't be another five years before we embark on an other family adventure...

[above: the reds...left to right. the barn at kuaola ranch. snow cones at island snow in kailua. the garden at the house we stayed at. catamaran cruise in waikiki. the syrup bottles at island snow. missile at pearl harbor. cool vw bus at dannah's house. sign at pipe. the barn at kuaola ranch.]

[bird of paradise, kailua]

[sister and me beaching it up]

[my mom and dad at kailua beach. later this year they will have been married for 30 years, so we went to hawaii early to celebrate]

[horseback riding at kuaola ranch]

[palm]

pearl harbor a-la-iphone. the uss arizona memorial. left to right: 1) entrance to the uss arizona memorial. 2) flags in the first room. 3) names of the fallen crew members. 4) gun turret. 5) oil still leaks from the hull. 6) another part of the wreck. 7) the brilliant architecture of the memorial's center room. 8) view of the memorial from pearl harbor. 8) view of the uss missouri from the arizona memorial]

baby strong.

2010-02-26T16:10:00.001-08:00

janey and mark strong opted for the unknown, the mystery, the exciting moment when the doctor says "it's a boy!" or "it's a girl!" so naturally, the child growing inside janey's belly is referred to as "baby strong." it's quite fun to not know what it's going to be. this keeps things interesting. and of course, allows for fun jokes and laughs between them and their friends. baby strong is scheduled to make appearance in the next few weeks, and i for one can't wait for the big news.

to document this exciting time, janey and marc asked amy, emily and i to take some pregnancy photos and of course we all happily obliged. we laughed a ton along the way and quite enjoyed spending the afternoon together.

emily.

2010-02-23T15:33:00.000-08:00

her laugh is contagious. her jokes hilarious. her puns, well, punny. emily is one of those people who you adore instantly. the type of person you just want to spend time with. she is one of the most welcoming, hospitable, friendly, amiable and delightful people i know. and i am incredibly blessed to know her and to share life with her. every day is a made better when she's around. not only that, but she is a great friend who is genuine and intentional in all of her relationships. she gives and loves unconditionally. oh and did i mention she is mad-talented and quite creative. she has been scheming a new business venture in recent months and just moved back to her home state of texas today. although i will miss her terribly, i know it's a good move for her. i have had the honor and pleasure of working alongside her in developing her brand. there are exciting things to come from this woman, so watch out peoples.

and of course we had to take some photos for her upcoming website. and well, we had an awesome time. she was up for all of my crazy ideas and even scaled to the top of the monkey bars at the park. and she's gorgeous to boot so epic photo goodness resulted. and naturally, i have quite a few favorite photos of emily. but i can only share a few. you will have to wait for the launch of her new site to see the rest.

she is emily.
and this is (part of) her photo shoot.

my favorite shot of the day. ain't she purdy?

classic emily. i could hardly take the photos i was laughing so hard. :)

who knew a playground could be such a creative haven? thanks sara truppo for the idea for this shot.

say something.

2010-02-12T02:42:00.000-08:00

i took a test whilst i was in college for a leadership class taught by the now photographer, speaker, and author dane sanders. the class changed my life. his insights have a way of doing that. don't believe me? read his book: fast track photographer or just hear him speak. he's the real deal.

and i digress...back to the story. so this test...it's called the strengths finder. it's pretty sweet. and tells you a ton about your, uh, strengths. awesome, right? SO, one of my strengths was "input." "you are inquisitive. you collect things. you might collect information--words, facts, books, and quotations--or you might collect tangible objects...whatever you collect, you collect because it interests you. and yours is the kind of mind that finds many things exciting. yhe world is exciting precisely because of its infinite variety and complexity." AND, i'm a "learner." "you love to learn...you will always love the process of learning. the process, more than the content or the result, is especially exciting for you. you are energized by the steady and deliberate journey from ignorance to competence." (markus buckingham, now discover your strengths"

this is as true today as it was 5 years ago when i took the test. i am constantly collecting. i have a collection of twisty-ties that i started when i was a kid. it's awesome and impressive. jealous? you should be. and i have quite a sizeable rubber band ball. haha. okay, really, i'm not so much a collector of such things, but i am constantly inputting in myriad forms. i surf the web for goodies. i read articles and books about marketing, social media, design, and photography. i flip through magazines for shoot concepts and ideas and window shop for cool display design. and i have a folder on my desktop for the sole purpose of storing my collections. this is all fine and dandy, and i do think it connects with the whole "learner" gig. i am always seeking more knowledge, understanding, experience, inspiration and wisdom. i crave it in fact. i was always that kid in class (and in life) who asked a lot of questions and always wanted to know why? how? i love that show on the science channel, "how it's made." i always watch it when i'm at home visiting my family and trip-out about how candy canes and cheese puffs are made. it's useful information for a cocktail party. trust me. everyone wants to know about how cheese puffs are made. see, little did you know, i'm a wealth of useful information. i input and i learn.

all that to say...methinks i all too often just take-in information and forget to disseminate it. and sometimes i neglect to even process it as much as i should, i just collect and store it away just in case it might be useful later. but i got to thinking about it and came to the conclusion quite quickly that this is, well, LAME. what's the point of all this "learning" and "inputting" if i don't always synthesize and share? it's silly really. and entirely selfish.

i've decided to change that and to share more. part of the reason i hesitate to do this, however, is because all too often i feel like no one cares or like i don't really have anything that interesting or insightful to say. i'm insecure i guess and feel like you have to become somebody before you can say something about anything. but then my friends and advisors tell me, "shut-up, get over yourself and start sharing. maybe you'll at least help one person, with one thing and then you'll know it was worth it to say something!". i think it's time i embrace my strengths and begin to use them more intentionally and wisely. alas, i'm gonna start living my dream. now. not someday, but today. my dream (and my heart) is to notice that which goes unnoticed, and to help people become more of who they are and to live more meaningful stories. being part of that process, in some form at least, is what truly excites me.

what all this will look like exactly, i am not quite sure. but i have me some ideas. and i will keep you in the loop as they come to fruition. and in the meantime, i am going to endeavor to at least share some of my finds here on the blog. and of course, i will keep "tweeting" about them over on my twitter page. but rest assured, that i am always scheming ways to live that dream, and to choose my own meaningful story.

so, what do you think?

show it love.

2010-02-05T00:33:00.000-08:00

i just found out some exciting news. i received four nominations for the best of show-it competition. wow. i am humbled and honored to be listed among some of show-it's best photographers (and designers). to be next to such industry icons as jasmine star & dane sanders is just plain awesome. and to make it even better some of my favorite up-and-coming photographers are among the ranks too (aaron shintaku, gabriel ryan& abigail smith). not too mention my new favorite designer, promise tangeman. i am blown away. and terribly excited about it.

here's the cool part. now, that i've been nominated, it's up to the people. oh yes. so, to my people: if you are so inclined to show the j.ship (or any of the other awesome photographers listed) some vote-love, head on over to show-it's fan page and do work. of course, i thank you for your support and vote. and encouragement along the way as i endeavoured to photograph (and live) life this year. 2009 was my best year yet and what a great way to celebrate all that it was. thank you friends for taking part and allowing me to share in your story. you definitely made (and continue to make) my own story all the better.

with out further ado, j. shipley photography was nominated in the following categories. (click on the links to vote).

photographer of the year
dig the design
brand boost
+site showcase

thanks for the show-it love. fyi, the polls close on feb. 14th.

j. shipley +sites.

2010-01-08T15:00:00.000-08:00

i have kept you waiting long enough. so alas, i give you a new and exciting perk i am offering my 2010 couples: wedding websites. i imagine these custom, fresh and unique sites will be a huge plus for my couples (and their guests alike) allowing them to share photos, stories and wedding information. say "goodbye" to the cheesy, advertisement-laden, commercial sites, and say "hello" to these custom, modern and beautiful flash +sites.

plus one: lauren + nick's wedding website.

plus two: courtney + matt's wedding website.

plus three: jenelle + marc's wedding website.

as you can see, the sites can be use pre-wedding for sharing engagement photos, hotel, travel and registry information, and even rsvp-ing (which could be a huge money and tree saver). and the sites can be used post-wedding for sharing wedding photos, saying thank you and could even be used to share wedding how-tos with your friends and fellow brides- and grooms-to-be and photos from your honeymoon and new life together. cool, eh?

on new years: part two.

2010-01-07T12:24:00.000-08:00

the past week or so has been one of reflection and thought, of goal-setting and scheming, of processing. i've found out early on during my days at westmont that i am a verbal processor. in fact, michele is the one who named it for me when i was working with her as the orientation assistant a while back. my friend and co-worker lori shared a similar habit, so the pair of us would verbally process away all the day long. and often, michele would chuckle from her office and chime in here or there. it was great fun. and it has been in such moments that i have come to quite profound realisations about myself. more often than not, michele is the one across the bistro table listening, allowing me to process, asking me good questions and offering insight all along the way.

we had one of those conversations yesterday. it was our first coffee sesh of the new year and one of my favorites yet. we talked about new year's resolutions, vulnerability, false realities and avoidance, about habits and proclivities, coping mechanisms, contentment, phases and seasons, identity management and self-promotion. after all that, we stumbled upon something very interesting and are thereby scheming something pretty freaking cool. let's just say lots of notes were taken and we both walked away giddy with excitement and all sorts of inspired. watch out.

and after all that i was officially ready for two thousand ten. ready for the ride. for the moments. for the laughter. the risks. the ups and downs. the accomplishments. the failures. the dreams. the conversations. the relationships. the friends. i'm ready to live my story. yes, i'm ready for all that. and more. bring it.

on new years.

2010-01-05T22:27:00.001-08:00

it's a new year. we are six days in, and as i begin to process what i would have this year look like, i can't help but feel an overwhelming desire to run the other way, toward the safety of 2009. i know what it holds and what to expect. i like that about 2009. yesterday my friend jessica and i chatted about how cool an oracle would be or perhaps time travel where you could simply proceed and if you messed it up or didn't like the outcome, you could just rewind and try again. i would like that. 2010 would not seem so ominous and would be far more approachable albeit far less exciting and surprising. and of course, foreknowledge would be kind of boring but would cause far less anxiety and uneasiness. perhaps that's why oracles don't exist and why we can't travel back or forward in time. the thrill of life would thereby be gone. and our risk-taking would prove no exciting, unexpected results and leave us (and others) unimpressed. so i suppose all is well with the world as it is and i have to embrace the unknown and open my arms to all that is 2010. perhaps if i reframe and sketch out a few goals and aspirations, 2010 will be more welcoming, more manageable more enticing to me. or perhaps if i spend the day in a coffee shop with good friends and verbally process my thoughts, then i'll be ready to take on 2010. oh wait, that's what i did today. done and done.

camille has a way about her that i quite enjoy. she is a dreamer, and she's honest. she doesn't let me get off easily and pushes me to be a better version of myself and grapples with my questions alongside me. i like that. and she often reminds me that i can accomplish anything i put my heart into. you can do it, put you're back into. (it's like that song in "save the last dance". haha). she is living proof of that. she dreams big and pushes herself to make it happen. the result: recipe rx. a nifty health and wellness tool that is on the brink of revolutionising the way we think about food and heath. she's rockin' it. and i am proud of her and so grateful to have her in my life.

we talked about goals and new year's resolutions today. we wrestled with the complexities therein and wondered about the differences between dreams and goals. are they the same? is a goal a way to get to a dream? is a lofty goal just a dream? and should our resolutions be dreams? or goals? or both? when should we be practical? and when can we dream big? i'm not sure if we came to any definitive conclusions but we pondered and we questioned. this is a good thing a suppose. and we did decide that we are going to adopt donald miller's approach to new years resolutions: living a good story (be sure to read part two also).

then shortly thereafter, i meet with my good friend michele mollkoy and we talked about some pretty awesome stuff. that my friends will have to be part two of the new years post.

[addendum: more thoughts on new year's resolutions here].

[sidenote: my friend anna is a brilliant writer i think. her blog is titled "on life" and she titles all of her blog posts as such: "on_______". i like it. so i am pilfering the idea today. hope that's fine by you, anna.]

2009: it was a very good year.

2009-12-31T16:59:00.000-08:00

two thousand nine is just about over and we get to enter into a brand new year. i am excited about this. there is so much to look forward to. but thinking back on the year bygone, i can't help but feel so incredibly blessed and i can hardly believe all that took place this year. there were so many great conversations, meaningful moments, and memorable experiences. it was a year of new friendships, new business endevours, varied and awesome photo-shoots, and lots and lots of laughter. i am so grateful for my incredible family, clients and friends. i can't wait for 2010.

so i thought it would be fun to post some of my favorite photos from the past year as a sort of tribute to all that was 2009.

poconip. december. lee vining.

agave. december. goleta.

lauren. november. gaviota.

taylor. october. crowley lake.

shelby. november. mammoth lakes.

a little lake. september. rock creek trail.

nate + ashley. september. san rafeal.

bri. august. mammoth lakes.

jenelle + marc. august. san juan capistrano.

helen + roy's 60th anniversary. august. kailua, hawaii.

beth + matt. august. fallbrook.

hula-hoops. july. santa barbara.

the gents. micah + clara's wedding. june. san francisco.

the girls. micah + clara's wedding. june. san francisco.

micah + clara's wedding. june. san francisco.

micah + clara. june. san francisco.

jenelle + trevor's wedding. may. flagstaff, arizona.

matt + courtney's e-session. may. santa barbara.

stephanie + doug's day after session. february santa barbara.

solitude. march. santa barbara.

jessica iverson bridal fashion shoot. february. santa barbara.

jenelle + marc's e-session. february. santa barbara.

day 25: christmas.

2009-12-25T17:23:00.000-08:00

as i lounge by the fire after a fun-filled day of snowmobiling, present un-wrapping, and christmas movie watching, i find myself content and cozy. there is nothing sweeter than spending the holidays with your nearest and dearest. for me, it's an opportunity to gather and enjoy life together, to celebrate Christ's birth, and to reflect on the year bygone. often i find myself simply in awe of what an amazing family i have, and i am acutely reminded of there greatness during the holidays. and i am ever so grateful for my extended family of close friends who bless me in incredible ways and who make my life that much more enjoyable. 'tis the season to be jolly indeed.

and of course, christmas day marks my twenty-fifth day of bloggin'. wow. i made it. i often found myself dreading sitting down and posting, but in the end it was always rewarding. it took disciple, and i had to carve out time in my schedule to make it happen. it forced me to take my camera along all the time and thereby afforded an opportunity to create some images i would not have otherwise shot. it also forced to me to think and to reflect and to process. i sure hope you enjoyed the twenty-five days of bloggin' and that in some way you were encouraged, challenged or at least entertained. now, i will not be blogging every day in the new year, but i do plan on keeping it up with greater frequency. i have quite enjoyed the conversations that have taken place since i started doing this, and i hope to continue them in 2010. thank you for taking part and for encouraging me along the way. you are best blog readers.

and i leave you with a few pictures from our family snowmobiling outing...

we ate lunch in the "shack" up on bald mountain. and we laughed a lot. i'll tell you why when you're older. haha. (photo by my mama).

our desperate attempt at a family self portrait. fail. but i thought it's still worth sharing,

my dad took this shot of me just making a snow-angel. or perhaps this moment may or may not have been after i fell off my sled. whoops.

and finally, the 'rents and me in our snowmobiling apparel.

i hope you find yourself cozy and content today and that you are enjoying the company of good friends and family. be blessed today, and in the new year. may you continue to grasp how wide and how deep is the love of Christ. MERRY CHRISTMAS friends!

poconip.

2009-12-24T14:27:00.000-08:00

i got me some poconip for christmas. that's a nevada indian word for hoarfrost, meaning white death. it's caused by the below-freezing temperatures combined with the fog that forms over the warm and salty waters of mono lake. it is awesome and very photo-worthy i must say and i just so happened to time a visit to my sister's just right. everything was covered in poconip when i arrive and shortly after the fog broke, revealing a bright blue sky. and the sun was at the ideal height just about to dip behind the mountains. perfection.

so i ventured out into the cold in my sneakers to create a series of poconip photos. i got a little carried away and soon found myself cold and wet. but it was totally worth it.

'mobiling.

2009-12-23T22:19:00.000-08:00

the holidays for the shipleys are nothing short of adventurous and we always are sure to get in our share of snow-play. so today, we hauled out the sleds for some 'mobiling in the fresh powder. it was a "blue bird day" and we had quite a delightful time. but i am exhausted. it's hard work playing so hard.

shortly after we got home, we whipped up some apple and butternut squash soup and headed over to my aunt and uncle's house for our shipley holiday dinner. this year we kept it simple and dinned on various snacks and soups. it was wonderfully relaxing, and none of us spent all day in the kitchen or all night at the sink. good call, especially after such a long day of play.

here are a few more shots from our day...

the mom. she's hardcore these days.

me and my mama.

perfect pow. well, at least it was. ;)

cookies.

2009-12-22T18:12:00.000-08:00

there is something about being at home that gets me in the christmas spirit. the fireplace. the snow. my mama's beautifully decorated house. and of course all of the assorted goodies. i started snacking the moment i walked in the door. this could be problematic provided that it is only day one. but hey, that's what new year's resolutions are for, right?

in true shipley form, my mama and i frosted sugar cookies today. it's tradition and of course, the cookies are essential to any holiday spread. they are simply delicious and i often eat far too many of them. such is the christmas-life...

somehow, we managed not to get into a frosting war this time around. last year things got crazy...whoops.

on the road.

2009-12-21T17:29:00.000-08:00

today, i'm homeward bound. i got word from my dad this afternoon that a storm's a-brewin'. so alas, i threw my stuff in the car and hit to road. since the drive is just shy of six hours i will likely be unable make a real post today. so i stopped real quick to show the blog a little bit of love from my iPhone. please forgive me and i will be sure to redeem myself tomorrow...

as you wish.

2009-12-20T20:17:00.000-08:00

she always makes a compelling case. one that i can't refuse. she has the way with me. the colorful descriptions, the plea, the irresitable delivery...i can't say no. and of course, she's always right, and i am always grateful i listen to her advice or let her drag me out of the house. she is non other than sara truppo. and some way, some how, the monthly outing to california pizza kitchen results in our sharing what she wants: the chopped bbq salad and tostada pizza. i learned early on not to argue. but to simply say, "yes sara. of course. as you wish."

so today despite the fact that i was due for my nap when she called, i said "as you wish. i will go on an adventure with you." she was on the prowl for native santa barbara plants for her eco- friendly christmas ornament collection and invited--no, suckered--me into going. and of course, i never regret it. i suggested we venture out to the butterfly reserve and forage through the coastal plain and eucalyptus grove. of course, the butterfly preserve is one of my favorite places in the world, so i always find some way to weasel-in my own schemes. we have such a healthy friendship. haha.

so, as she combed the reserve for flora, i wandered around with my camera. my battery was about to die so i knew i had to be choosy in my shots and save as much of the energy as i could. this was actually quite fun. and it challenged me. so here's what i came up with during my wanderings.

i'm dreaming.

2009-12-19T18:22:00.001-08:00

i'm dreaming...

of playing in the snow with my sweet pup.
of eating an unhealthy amount of my mama's various baked goods.
of playing catan with the macks and beyliks.
of laughing till to hurts.
of sipping cider by the fireplace.
of falling asleep in the green chair.
of eating my grandma's famous butter-horn rolls.
of snowmobiling with my dad.
of frosting sugar cookies with my sister.
of licking the spatula.
of watching my grandparents play wii boxing.
of playing ping-pong with my mama.
of making a snow angel.
of carving out fresh tracks.
of being with the people i love.

i'm dreaming of a white christmas.

what are you dreaming of?

plus three.

2009-12-18T16:47:00.000-08:00

as you can tell, i have been designing quite a bit lately. i quite enjoy it. 'tis the season of design and such. and soon enough i will officially roll out the new "product line" but i wanted to give you another preview of said coming attractions...

p.s. next week, the blog will be all sorts of christmas-i-fied. get ready for some decadent shipley holiday treats.

on relationship.

2009-12-17T20:52:00.000-08:00

recently i have found myself thinking about relationships and how they relate to my business. my friend david jay often invites me to invest lots of my time and energy in people. he believes it is on of the most valuable uses of time and has the greatest return on investment. i agree. and i have been blown away but how inspired and productive i become after spending some quality time with creatives who share a similar artistic vision and who invite me to push my proverbial envelope and who challenge my ways of thinking.

similarly, i am finding it entirely rewarding to spend time with my clients and build a meaningful relationship that goes just beyond a simple business transaction. this allows me to really connect with them and to get deeper understanding of who they are and what they are about. of course, this only results in photographs that are more meaningful and more representative of who they are. if i want to be a storyteller, i need to be willing to listen and learn my subjects story. this is fascinating and without fail results in better photographs. it also creates a better experience along the way. i can't tell you how much easier it is to photograph someone you know (even in the slightest) versus someone who you don't know at all. it is way more fun and relaxing all around. we are more apt to be ourselves if we are comfortable and have a relationship with the people we're around. the groundwork ahead of time is necessary and benefits everyone involved.

one of the things i do early on in my relationship with my couples is to have them complete an introductory interview of sorts that lays the foundation and allows for me to fill in the in between facts and factoids about them as individuals and as a couple. this comes in extra handy when creating a custom engagement shoot and acts as a platform to work from. i strongly believe that the more informed i am, the better i can tell their story and capture the essence of who they are.

some questions i wrestle with often...how are you building relationships with your clients? what choices are you making to truly connect with them? what difference does that make for them? for you? and for their experience? how does that thereby strengthen your brand and create word of mouth marketers?

i would love to hear any thoughts you have on this subject...feel free to join in the conversation. also check out david jay's related post about why SEO is NOT a both/and game.

plus two.

2009-12-16T20:56:00.000-08:00

i have been hard at work developing a new product line of sorts for my 2010 clients. i am thrilled to show you what i've been working on, but i can't quite yet. you're just going to have to wait. longer. but trust me, it'll be work it.

and because, i am cruel, here is another teaser... :p

soup.

2009-12-15T22:09:00.000-08:00

somedays are just good soup days. the crisp winter air elicits such cravings quite often, and i am finally venturing into the land of soup-making. it can be lots of work, but the result is quite satisfying and simply delicious. today i felt like endeavouring to make homemade butternut squash soup. sara truppo joined me and acted as my sous chef as i made a huge mess in my tiny kitchen. we decided to document the whole process so we could share it with you my faithful readers. and we of course laughed a ton along the way and our creation was quite delicious. it was perfect for a long, hard, winter day.

here's the recipe: (by martha, of course)

Pureed Butternut Squash Soup

Serves 4
2 tablespoons butter
1 small onion, chopped
1 piece (2 inches) fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 3/4 pounds small butternut squash, prepared and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
Coarse salt and ground pepper
Sour cream, (optional)
Spicy Pumpkin Seeds

Directions

Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook onion until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add ginger, garlic, and squash; cook, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in 4 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer until squash is tender, 20 minutes.

Purée soup in two batches. When blending hot foods, allow the heat to escape to prevent splattering. Remove the cap from the hole of the blender’s lid, and cover with a dish towel. Stir in juice and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Serve hot, with sour cream, pepper, and pumpkin seeds, if desired.

mmm. i love martha!

always busy, always pretty.

2009-12-14T20:53:00.000-08:00

san francisco, san francisco.
always busy, always pretty.
i can see you just across the bay.

your red bridge over the sea,
keeps me safe and warm and free
on a clear day there's no place i'd rather be.

[excerpt from joey ryan's awesome song "california"]

i love san francisco. the people are warm and friendly, and there is a strange sense of small-ness and close-ness despite it's large and diverse population. there is always something new to see, to photograph, to eat, to experience. i quite like that and i find myself energised after visiting the city. and yet i always feel as though i left part of my heart there. san fransisco has it's way of doing that. rude. but alas, i know i shall return. someday.

post-grad wanderings.

2009-12-13T17:14:00.000-08:00

yesterday i had a wonderful conversation over lunch with my friend robyn. not only was in great to catch up, but i quite enjoyed our discussion about post-graduate life and about my recent blog post about our someday culture. i love a good discussion. so alas, here are a few more musings for you on a similar topic...

us recent grads are in a funny place, especially those of us who hail from the likes of westmont college. many of us find ourselves freaking out about our current state in life and trying so desperately to be content in our wanderings. we want to be changing the world straight away and get our dream jobs "fresh out the oven." we secretly want to be successful and to be written about in various westmont publications. we feel this pressure to have all our ish together and to have our lives figured out.

this is silly of course. and unrealistic. we are young and need to ease up on ourselves and be content in our current state. i think we need to embrace that fact that we are in transition and don't have it all figured out. and shouldn't. trial and error is normal and natural. we can't expect our dream job to be right around the corner. we don't have to. we can risk. we can be adventurous. we can do things we've always wanted to do. even if it's just for a season, as least we're living and dreaming and learning along the way.

i sense that many of us have an overwhelming desire to be content and to enjoy the present. but we don't know how. we are too gripped by the tyranny of urgency, practicality and fear. and of course, like i said in my "someday" post, this doesn't mean we get all crazy and wild with our decisions. but i do think we need to begin to change our mindsets and allow ourselves to risk a little bit. if you wanna start your photography business, do it. if you want to move to mexico and teach english, teach. if you wanna travel through europe before you settle into a job, travel. if you wanna go to africa just to go to africa and see what it's all about, go. if you want to learn how to make leather shoes, learn.

i think there is great potential here to learn and be challenged, to grow and fine-tune ourselves, and to become more of who we're called to be. does anyone else resonate with this? i would love to have ourselves a cyber-discussion if y'all are willing. feel free to post some thoughts below...

plus.

2009-12-12T17:22:00.002-08:00

this is a preview of an exciting coming attraction here a j. shipley photography. and trust me, it will be a big PLUS for all my couples. i am just sayin'.

someday.

2009-12-11T17:46:00.000-08:00

i am a someday-er. someday i'll get a gym membership. someday i'll go to africa. someday i'll visit amber and chris in austrailia. someday i'll take a typography class. someday i'll get a master's degree. someday i'll start do more design work. someday. someday. someday.

and i know i'm not alone. we are a someday-generation. or perhaps a someday-culture. i hear and see it all over the place. someday i'll retire and travel the world. someday we will have kids. someday i'll find a job i actually like. i think this my be problematic on many levels. this mentality lends itself to complacency and an unhealthy perspective on the future. it puts us in a sort of survival mode and causes us to neglect the here and the now, the present. it prevents us from being content in our everydayness.

now, i do realise that we can't do everything we want to do straight away. we can't "get crazy" and start running off to foreign lands and buying houses and such. but i do think we can change our mind-sets to value, cherish and live in the present and to no longer look to tomorrow as though it will make all our dreams come true. what if we found peace in our present-ness and starting leaving as though our someday was today? i wonder how that would change our morale, our restlessness, our discontent.

of course, there is something comforting about being able to hope in the future. hope for relief, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for change and growth and forward movement. so yes, our someday mentality can be a source of peace and comfort when the going gets rough in the present. i think that if many of us didn't have such hope, the heres and the nows of today would be all too gloomy and terrifying to confront. so in some ways, we must look toward tomorrow and find joy in the reality that there will indeed be a better day...

what are some of your "somedays" that you would like to turn into "todays"? how can you be intentional and proactive in living in the present and being content in your everydayness?

an iris book.

2009-12-10T17:06:00.000-08:00

yesterday, i received the album i designed for micah and claragrace. and i am so pumped about it. i photographed their wedding back in june up in san francisco and i still get all sorts of excited when i think about all that was their special day. i got the chance to photograph in some of the coolest parts of the city all because micah and claragrace wanted their wedding photos to be epic. they tailored their wedding day schedule to accommodate as many on-location shoots as possible. they wanted each shoot to be somewhere unique, meaningful and simply bad-ass. i was spoiled. they even had me drive them 30 minutes through traffic to a pier that was on the opposite side of the city just to get this one shot micah had envisioned for quite some time. it was totally worth it. and the result was one of the coolest series of wedding photos i have ever created. and now, they are forever preserved in a beautiful and delightfully modern iris book. how cool is that?!

check this thing out...

this is an 10x10 iris soul book with a linen cover in taupe and beautiful hand-made end papers.

the custom de-bossing with no foil is a subtle and modern touch.

i love the simplicity and feel of a coffe table book style album. it feels like you're flipping through an art book. the pages are crisp and clean. and there are 100 of them to boot which allows the inclusion of many more images than most albums.

i couldn't be happier with the result and i am so excited to now offer this book as an option in all of my wedding photography collections. so cool.

photographers, if you're on the prowl for something fresh and modern, check out IRISbook. they are onto something to be sure.

the video.

2009-12-09T20:17:00.000-08:00

a while back i posted a detailed explanation about the creation of jshipleyphotography.com in order that i may shed some light on the subject of the importance of having a customized, cohesive and relevant web-presence. i hope that it proved to be helpful to many of you who are on the brink of starting your businesses.

now, i wanted to take a few minutes and discuss my intro video...

as i sat in the beloved green chair at my parent's house up in crowley, i schemed. i thought of ways to build a strong brand. i pondered the power of good design. i read. i researched. i sketched and dreamed. and i schemed what would be one of the most pivotal and invaluable components of my brand: my intro video.

since it's premier in april, i've received e-mail after e-mail and remark after remark about how amazing my video was and how it captured the my personality and how it spoke to the essence of j. shipley photography. people often said it left them feeling as though they had gotten a chance to get to know me and to experience what it's like to work with me. they got a sense of my vision, dreams, style, energy, passion, creativity, drive and playful lifestyle all in the short four minute video. wow.

now, the real genius behind all that was nathaneal matanick of heschle video productions. he got it. he got me. he spent lots of time and energy getting to know the ins and outs of me and j. shipley photography. he understood my vision and then translated it into video form. pure genius. such work requires that you find someone who shares a similar artistic vision and who is truly gifted at their craft. nathaneal is just that. and naturally we worked really well together. and the result was a video that truly speaks to my brand and clearly communicates why i do what i do.

some said it was risky to endeavor on such a project so early on in my career. they asked, do you really have a clear vision for you brand? do you have enough material? will it really make that big of a difference? is this necessary? and from the outset, i was confident in my decision and knew that it would be worth the investment. and indeed it was. it gave my business and brand the direction and boost it needed. coupled with the new site and the launch party and art show, it gave me a jump-start so to speak. it gave people a window into j. shipley photography that has truly been invaluable. and if anything, it garnered some much needed buzz around my brand. mission accomplished.

i think so much of branding is realising the importance of the whole package. people expect and appreciate consistency and unity. it's essential to make sure every aspect of your brand is dialled-in, from you web presence, to your packaging, to your correspondence. and for me this has been the fun part. i am fascinated by this process and by its outcomes. and i love learning more and more about it as i truck along.

what are some of the key decisions or investments you have made to strengthen your own brand? what is it about your favorite brands that keeps you coming back again and again?

and for those of you who have yet to actually see the video...click here.

oh and here's the awesome trailer, nathaneal created to promote the release of the full version...click here.

finally, here are a few production photos i dug up out of the archives.

than and christi at the epic jessica iverson bridal shoot in a parking garage.

interviews after the santa barbara lifestyle shoot.

and this is just too funny not to share. haha. oh the woes of convertibles.

lauren + nick: their story.

2009-12-08T01:23:00.000-08:00

they met at work up at the san ysidro ranch. they sat together for lunch one day, and she found herself intrigued by his tattoos. she wanted to know the story and meaning behind each one. so she asked. and listened as he explained. he apparently was very impressed by her interest. they hung out a couple times with all of the staff downtown and discovered a shared love for dancing.

he soon invited her to the avocado festival in carp. "he put his hand on my lower back to guide me through the crowd, like a gentleman" she recalls. "later, we went to church together and i was impressed by his devotion during the service - and we held hands for the first time during the prayer. that's when i knew. he asked me on our first date november 4th and from then on, it's been he and i. in love."

they are lauren and nick. and this is them.

epic tree-fence goodness.

i love how they make each other laugh.

lauren loves christmas, so we do most of their engagement shoot at night in downtown carptineria, california to create a fun holiday vibe.

on a more personal note, keenie (as i call her) and i have been friends since our freshman year of college. we've been on quite a few adventures together. we have danced many a groove. we were resident assistants on the same staff and together planned many a hall party. we laughed, we prayed, we cried. she is one of my dearest friends, and i am so honored and thrilled to be photographing her and nick's wedding next may. and i couldn't be more happy for the pair of them.

they are lauren and nick, and that was their story.

miscellaneous monday. be inspired & go forth.

2009-12-07T10:00:00.000-08:00

as an artist, i am often in need of some inspiration from worlds beyond photography. i quite enjoy surrounding myself with good design, architecture, food, film, and the like. it inspires me, revives me and compels me to think beyond myself, beyond my world, beyond my craft and to push the proverbial envelope. such wanderings invite unique possibilities for new-ness, for an epic fusion of art forms, or perhaps for some a sort of profound (or small) revelation about what art is and what is does for our world. if i stay in my comfy photo-bubble, i get all sorts of boring, typical and cliche. i don't push myself. and i miss out on an opportunity to create something fresh and to experience something new and different.

so to keep alert and inspired, i made notcot my homepage. a daily perusal of all sorts of aesthetically delightful stuffs is bound to give me a little creative boost. i am just sayin'. so i invite you to join in the artistic wanderings in both your physical and cyber worlds and force yourself out of your proverbial creative bubbles.

alas, here is a nugget i came across recently...

the levi's go forth campaign is sheer genius. it has been beautifully executed and gets at something profoundly American. one of the many short films created as part of the campaign and truly one most brilliant pieces of film i've seen in a while was created by the duckduck collective is truly awe-inspiring. the crew over there is certainly a force to be reckoned with. and there is lots we can learn from this campaign that is for sure. you can watch it below (be sure to watch it full screen to view it in all its glory), and then let me know what you think about it.

Short Film - Levi's "Go Forth" from John Carl on Vimeo.

anyone have any goodies they have come across recently that inspired them? please share.

but for a moment.

2009-12-06T15:45:00.000-08:00

lately, i've been sitting at my desk too much. or i just piddle around the house. i get comfy in my sweats and hoodie and often find myself needing to be dragged out into the fresh air. and lucky for me, i have wonderful friends who do said dragging.

yesterday my friend mark inviting me to go hiking with him. i almost said no since i was all sorts of cozy in my house and was about to sit down to read a good book. but i resisted my lame-ness, and joined him. we had a wonderful conversation along the trail and we admitted that we don't do this enough. we live in one of the most beautiful cities in california and all too often we neglect to take advantage of all that it is. and when we do, we find ourselves doing the same thing over and over. epic fail.

i am glad that we didn't do the usual yesterday and that we forced myself out of the house. i quite enjoyed myself, and it was so good to be in nature, to sit and look out over santa barbara, to breathe in the fresh mountain air, and to simply be, even but for a moment.

what do you do to get out? to remove yourself from the everydayness of life? to simply be?

although i was tempted to bring my camera, i decided not to. it was good for me. but since all posts are better with photos. here is a shot from one of my favorite places in the world: the gaviota coast, just north of santa barbara.

the edge.

2009-12-05T16:14:00.000-08:00

"great ideas, like humor, come from the corners of the mind, out on the edge...the edge gives us a special attitude. cutting edge, leading edge, the edge of inspiration, on the edge of our seats. it's a place to shake off conventions and worm out formulas and shake out ideas. new ideas. the edge is exciting, risky and extreme and on the edge you can see all sorts of things you can't see from the center" (Keith ferrazzi, Lovemarks: The Future Beyond Brands, pg. 18).

i like the edge. it's nice out there. and i would have to agree that once you're there, you do start to see things differently and you start to do things differently. the view is quite nice. and there's a bit of a kick to everything. i think it is so important to push your proverbial creative envelope and be on the edge of inspiration. i know i need it. it keeps things alive and relevant and fresh. this is good, very good. and i want to be that kind of artist.

so there you have it--an inspirational quote to get you through the weekend and to give you a taste of what is to come on monday.

jasmine: her quinceañera.

2009-12-04T10:00:00.000-08:00

i'd never been to a quinceañera before, nonetheless photographed one. but a while back, jasmine asked me to come up to mammoth and photograph her's. and i must say, it was quite fun. jasmine and her family were such a pleasure to work with, and we snagged some awesome photos of the party. que bueno. and i loved it all along the way. being able to experience such an exciting cultural celebration and eat some authentic mexican grub was quite a treat. here are a few of my favorite images from the day. jasmine is quite photogenic and of course didn't take a bad shot.

this is jasmine.

check out that dress?! so gorgeous.

she was all about the black and pink...

i had so much fun with all the lil' guys who were all sorts of decked out in their festive garb. we were playing photo tag out by the pool and i managed to some fun shots of them. this dude was my favorite. he loved getting his photo taken...

the essentials to any mexican fiesta...

lauren.

2009-12-03T15:30:00.000-08:00

i love her dimples and her laugh. she is creative. driven. motivated. she has an uncanny ability to bring people together and to care for those around her in a way that is authentic, honest and loving. she gives. she shares. she connects. and she loves a good old fashion chili cook-off. what's not to love about that? AND she's from texas.

she is lauren.

we ventured out to gaviota for an anthropologie inspired shoot. sara truppo even came along and we made quite the trio. let's just say we laughed a lot. we frolicked through the hills, wandered the streets of solvang in search of "kringles" and finally dined on mexican food in santa ynez. we sipped fresh agave margaritas and dreamed up ways to change the world. THEN, we got kicked out of the restaurant because they wanted our table even though there was no one waiting and we were only there for 1.5 hours or so. not cool. so we laughed about it the whole way home. and now we love to say to each other "remember that time we got kicked out of dos carlitos?! rude!". and then, we laugh. good times with such good friends. this is my life.

and this is her photo shoot.

full.

2009-12-02T13:46:00.000-08:00

as my family and i sat around the kitchen table at my grandparent's home feasting on thanksgiving leftovers, we laughed, we cried, and we chuckled. you know the kind of laughter...the kind when you can barely breathe, and your eyes well up with tears and you find yourself rolling around in your chair or sometimes even on the floor. all of which makes you laugh even harder. and when you finally catch your breath, your stomach hurts. i am thankful for that moment in my grandma's kitchen when all was right with the world. we were full of turkey and full of laughter and joy. and in that moment, i found myself thankful.

for my incredible family.
for the fact that both sets of my grandparents are still very much alive.
that my auntie and i have grown so close in the last 5 or so years.
for my sweet puppy dog, lydia.
for sara truppo and the incredible blessing she has been to me and my biz.
for michele mollkoy and the ways in which she supports and challenges me.
for my Westmont education and the people i met along the way and the sacrifice my parents made so i could go there.
for my friends who love and support me no matter what and allow me to be fully me.
that i get to do what i love.
for my clients who are simply wonderful and energizing.

for my life. and for all that it is and those who are part of it.
i am blessed. and so very grateful.

and of course, here are a few photos of my family's thanksgiving feast...

i quite liked my auntie's corn casserole. so good.

twenty five days of bloggin' (and christmas too).

2009-12-01T21:30:00.000-08:00

tis the season. of holiday cheer. of family-bonding. of hot cider and fireplaces. and tis the season of daily bloggin' here on "bearings and headings." i shall blog a lil' something each and every day until Christmas as a sort of countdown.

now, here's the thing...this is quite the endeavor for me. as you faithful readers well know, the bloggin' has been sparse these days. epic fail. but my friend and fellow photographer david manning inspired me after he blogged for a whole month and rocked it. so alas, i am endeavoring to be disciplined this holiday season and perhaps spread some Christmas cheer along the way. the blogosphere can often be a lonely place though. it's true. so if you feel like partaking in the 25 days of goodness, leave me some blog or facebook love by way of commenting. i do hope along the way that we find ourselves in a dynamic cyber-conversation.

p.s. look up. it is snowing on the blog. how cool is that?

shelby: senior photo shoot.

2009-11-22T22:55:00.000-08:00

she loves fashion. and all that it is. she shops at urban outfitters and buckle, forever 21 and wetseal. she loves the satisfaction of perusing a vintage shop for a unique piece that says something different. she has brown boots and black ones. heeled ones. and suede and leather ones. she is inspired but the likes of betsey johnson, stella mccartney, vera wang, chloe, and juicy couture. "i love everything about [fashion]...i love the way it completely transforms a person..the clothes on one's back sometimes gives that person a whole new identity." she is passionate about clothes, about fashion, about life. she laughs. she dances. she owns it all.

she is SHELBY. and this is a her senior photo shoot...

the moxy project.

2009-11-06T16:34:00.000-08:00

she has moxy. lots of it. it's that intangible quality that you find yourself drawn to. you crave it. seek after it. and beg the question: what is that? and you proclaim to yourself (and often out loud): i want what she has.

michele has moxy. perhaps this is the reason why i found myself in her office rummaging through her candy bowl like a crazed, costumed trick-or-treat-er all too often when i was in college. or why i took every opportunity to sit across that table at starbucks and sip chai lattes (mine extra hot, no water, non-fat and her's extra hot, no-water, soy. haha) and talk about life. she advised me. listened to my ramblings. entertained my ideas. challenged my perspectives. asked tough questions. spoke truth. and ultimately, she helped me find moxy.

you see moxy is not something that is prescribed or formulaic. it's something unique and custom buried (often deep) inside of each of us. it's a boldness, a confidence. it's a willingness to pursue a better life and to become more of who you were called and created to be. it's a desire to dig deep, challenge yourself and ask tough questions. it's the pursuit of lasting, meaningful and intentional relationships. i wanted that. i wanted moxy.

i would not be the same person if it weren't for michele's presence in my life. she has been a never-ending source of wisdom, encouragement and inspiration. when i think back to the most profound conversations and "a-ha" moments i have had, michele was the person sitting across the table. and i am so thankful for the role she has played in my personal, spiritual and professional growth. but even more, i am deeply grateful for her friendship. i am incredibly blessed to have her in my life and to call her a friend. i truly, truly am. geesh.

all this to say, michele has endeavored do something pretty damn cool. it's something i am SO excited about and have had to keep it under-wraps until the big launch of the site for far too long. it has been an honor to be a part of the beginning stages of what i know will change the lives of many. michele has created a way to share her passion, vision, heart and expertise with all of you through her cleverly named coaching & consultation company: the MOXY project. she offers workshops, seminars, and personal and professional coaching to anyone who is willing to take a risk and who is anxious to get some moxy.

check out her brand-spanking new website here (designed by yours truly mind you) and GET SOME MOXY! seriously, do it.

taylor: senior photo shoot.

2009-10-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

it was taylor's senior photo shoot that helped crowley get the j. shipley epic-location status it had long been striving for. i knew it had potential but never really gave it the chance. until now. it proved itself indeed. and to make the shoot even better, taylor pulled out all the stops to ensure his photos had that epic awesome-ness factor.

so taylor has a minor obsession with sunglasses. he literally has a collection. i love it...mainly because he let me try 'em on. i contemplated pilfering a pair, but then my conscious got the better of me. they are his pride and joy afterall. so of course, we had to get some bad-ass sunnie shots in, among others. needless to say, we had a great time.

crowley love.

2009-10-26T22:44:00.000-07:00

sometimes i get too used to what's around me. so much that i look past, over, through and beyond that which is so unique, interesting and often profound within that space. i don't appreciate. or see the potential. or slow down enough to experience. i ignore. skip over. and i become all too comfy.

but when i get some distance from the every-dayness or from the familiar, i gain new clarity and i begin to notice potential and see the situation, place, relationship or person in a new light. i like this process. it's good, and it's healthy. and more often than not, it leads to something even better, and i find myself content, inspired and refreshed. but in order to complete the process, i have to come back. i have to come home. i have to confront it, deal with it, and move forward. such is life. it's hard but it's good. i just know it.

crowley often becomes that thing for me. i forget what i love about it. i blaze past the beauty and head straight for the familiar comforts of home. and i don't push myself out of the proverbial box, outside of those comforts. i drink from that same red cup, i sleep on the same side of my bed, i spend far too much time in the green chair. of course, this is all fine and dandy, but alas, there is more...more to love, more to experience, to notice, to taste and see and of course more to photograph.

this weekend i experienced more of crowley, and i quite liked it. i did a family photo shoot and senior photo shoot there this weekend and i forced myself to shoot in new locations. and to find them on the fly and to notice something different and unique. and i found awesome spots all within five minutes from my house (most of which were on my street). and now i have a deeper appreciation for juniper drive and for crowley. it now has photo-shoot worthy status for me. before it was just normal, boring and uninspired. until i looked at it differently and gave it some love. yay for crowley lake. now, i can't wait to shoot here again. who's next?

*photos from this weekend's photographic wanderings are to come in the next few days... :)

the banta family farm.

2009-10-18T02:08:00.000-07:00

so, i am finally catching up on my bloggin'. it has been far too long since i have given my blog love. geesh. sorry about that my faithful readers. so my next post here was from my sister's birthday weekend a little over a month ago.

so, i took a few days off to head home to hang out with Sister and celebrate her 25th birthday. and we had quite a good time i must say. she asked if i would take a few photos of her, e-hem, farm. haha. i call it the banta family farm. they grow delicious things you can eat, raise chickens, and even have a hound-dog to keep watch (problem is that she is just too darn cute). oh, and they have two pet bunnies to boot. i am quite fond of it all. well save for the actual chickens themselves. they are stinky and rude. they attacked me when my sister forced me into their coop to photograph them. i may or may not have squealed like a small child. it happens. they are vicious pecking creatures i tell you.

after my brush with death, we toured the plot of land where the various award-winning (best of show mind you) veggies are grown...

then we picked apricots for the jam we had to make and can.

oh and we even went over to the corn field via Sister's purple golf cart. oh yes. that's how she gets around the farm. haha.

she tried to fight me with her little camera. oh please. i took her down. teach her to have a shoot-out with the likes of me. sucka.

finally, we started on the bold endeavor of creating her award-winning tri-county fair cupcake entry: shark attack. it is tough work on the farm. i quit on my first day soon after the twinkie sharks kept falling over. well that and after i had eaten so many of the decorative candies that i felt ill. it's exhausting i tell you. i was not much help. it was all my sister. although, i can say i did save the life-preserver cupcake from utter failure when i carved a hole in the hole-less doughnut. it resulted in life-preserver perfection if i don't say so myself. i am talented like that.

and of course, i had to get a shot of my sweet lil' tenya. ain't she adorable? okay so, you can achieve this look by going up to her kennel and saying "oh poor tenaya. poor tenayaaaaa." then she gets all moppy and gives you that classic puppy-dawg look. haha. it's hilarious.

colab.

2009-10-17T21:35:00.001-07:00

a few weeks ago emily, montana and i took a lil' road trip down to malibu for the day. i had a shoot for sotheby's during the morning, but soon after we were down, we spent a sometime exploring and photographing each other. it was so fun. we are quite a dynamic trio and our collaborative spirits resulted in some shear epic-ness to be sure.

and a few by montana...

a little lake.

2009-10-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

i quite like the seasons. perhaps it's because i grew up in the mountains where each one is dramatically different. i like change. especially of the autumn persuasion. it gives me an excuse to drink some apple cider, wear a cardigan, eat soup and sneak away to the home-land for some true autumn-lovin'.

so that is what i did. i went home last week. it is simply splendid to spend some much need time with my fam. i dragged my parents on a lil' chase-the-sun hike one night in search of some fall colors. we failed at the original mission but came across this instead. totally worth it i do declare. and all these photos were taken within a twenty minute window of time mind you. i loved how the lake worked with me and gave me lots of variety so quickly. ripples. perfect stillness. shadows. and reflections. oh little lake how i love you.

ashley + nate: their wedding.

2009-09-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

one of things i enjoy most about being the photographer at a friends' wedding is that it affords me an opportunity. an opportunity to celebrate, observe, see, notice, tell, remember and document. to celebrate the marriage of two friends. to observe something bigger than myself. to see authentic moments. to notice the details. the tell a story. to remember all of the moments we have shared together. and to document the events of their wedding day. i have been blessed with this opportunity often this summer and each time i am reminded of the power of relationship.

ashley and nate's wedding was not exception. nate and i have known each other since the days in clark j-l as freshmen and armington a2 as sophomores. i got to know ashley through our many shared moments of fun and laughter with our friends at the tipity-top house our senior year. so naturally, when it came time for their wedding day, there was pre-established trust. their were memories. shared experiences. and insight and understanding. and all of it was rooted in friendship. i think there is power in that. at least for me as an artist and a story-teller.

all that to say, that i was moved and blessed (as i always am) by photographying nate and ashley's wedding. it as an honor to spend the day with them and to celebrate their marriage. i loved that knew nate's authentic smile and ashley's quiet, calming presence. i loved that i knew their bridal party and that we could laugh together as friends. it was indeed a special day. and one that i will always cherish as a memory with my friends...

alas, here are a few of my favorite images from nate and ashley's san rafael wedding...be sure to check out the full slideshow here.
the first look = the best thing ever. i love it. i always cry. yup. no shame.
what a crew...

new-ly-wedded.
one of my new favorite pictures of all time.

one of my favorite bridal portraits ever. it was her new hubby who elicited that perfect smile.

one of my favorite "sessions" of the day...hanging out with nate. so fun!

bri: senior photo shoot.

2009-09-02T14:20:00.000-07:00

i quite enjoy the individual photo shoot. it allows for creativity, for play, for authentic laughter. and it affords an opportunity for me to capture the very essence of someone. i love it. and i particularly love it when i get the chance to photograph members from the same family. i did paul's senior photo shoot, and i was so excited when elisabeth asked me to do bri's shoot too. so fun. we shot at a few of bri's favorite places in mammoth and laughed a lot. here are a few of my favs...

helen + roy: their 60th wedding anniversary.

2009-08-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

our lives so often call for moments of celebration, of reflection and gratitude with those we love and cherish the most. it is within that space that we are reminded of what was and of course what is. we remember the years bygone and recount the moments that meant the most. and we find ourselves blessed by the present, by the unity, by the together-ness.

helen and roy mcardle's 60th wedding anniversary and 90th birthdays were reason enough indeed to assemble together the McArdle clan from near and far and to celebrate their marriage, to reflect on the legacy they are leaving, and to thank them for the profound impact they have had on the lives of those around them. it was cause for a big ol' party. and that it was... in Kailua, Hawaii mind you.

from live, authentic hawaiian tunes to homemade spreads of local favorites, from toasts of gratitude and tales of wonderful McArdle memories to special details that spoke of Helen and Roy's ninety years of life and sixty years together, it was an event i was honored to take part and was a pleasure to photograph.

Helen & Roy may you be blessed with continued health and happiness and may you be blessed for all you have done, are doing and will do for those around you. you are an example to many. and to the whole McArdle family, thank you for honoring your parents in such a beautiful way and for planning a wonderful celebration for them. what a great family to have gotten the chance to know. thank you.

for a full slideshow of the festivities, click here. plus, below are a few more nugs...

jenelle + marc: their wedding | san juan capistrano, california

2009-08-06T23:26:00.000-07:00

from the moment i hung up the phone after my first conversation with jenelle, i knew that she and marc were the perfect fit. they deeply valued photography and wanted their day documented with style, ease, and authenticity. and they wanted their story told, preserved and shared. not only that but they are fun, totally in love, and a ridiculously good-looking & photogenic couple. plus they had a unique story. their wedding sounded like my idea of a good time and i was thrilled they asked me to take part in their special day.

after months of anticipation (both from them and me), august 2nd finally came...the day was warm but gorgeous. the colors: silver and blue. the groomsmen: danish and delightfully entertaining. the bride was simply and stunningly beautiful. the groom: such a stud. and the danish traditions were aplenty. and one of my dearest frinds, hannah, was a bridesmaid which was a special treat (in fact, it was she who referred jenelle & marc to me. so i have her to thank for all this goodness).

one of my favorite parts of the day was the reception. marc is from denmark and with that comes a whole list of fantastic wedding traditions. there were choreographed dances, hand-written stories and songs, lots of kisses and dancing, and of course, my personal favorite, the cutting of the socks. this calls for a story: so, during the couple's first dance to traditional danish music, the guests slowly circled around them until they were literally squeezing them. then all of the sudden, the groomsmen picked up marc, removed his shoes and cut the tips of his socks off. it's tradition people. and i loved it.

marc and jenelle, thank you! thank you for being such great clients, and friends. for being ready and willing to take crazy-fun photos. for planning a wedding that was absolutely beautiful to photograph. and for all the laughs. i wish you all the best in your life together. may your marriage be blessed immeasurably.

check out more photos from their wedding here.

sneak peek: beth + matt.

2009-08-01T23:46:00.000-07:00

it happened again. one of my friends got married and i got to be her wedding photographer. i love that. it is such an honor i tell you. i usually get all sorts of teary-eyed at some point during the wedding. actually quite often. haha. this time it was when we all sang "In Christ Alone". it was such a poignant moment of the ceremony. the moment i realized beth was married to matt. and i not only got be there to witness but i was procured to document it and tell the story of their day. so, so cool. i love my job.

so, i have to get some rest tonight since i have jenelle and marc's wedding tomorrow up in san juan capistrano, but i just HAD to post a few pics at a slideshow to tide you over until i can get a real post up :) check back in a few days...

julia + jon: their wedding.

2009-07-20T13:46:00.000-07:00

pasadena. july eighteen: it was a hot day in the quintessential southern california town of pasadena. as i trotted around the blocks surrounding the University Club on the prowl for epic photo locations, i thought perhaps i would simply melt into a puddle before i even made it to the actual wedding. but i scoped out the lay of the land nonetheless. pasadena is a groovy lil city. i very much enjoyed that. it is always a good feeling to be overwhelmed with ideas, rather than having to dig something up from within the inner recesses of my brain. and while time (and temperature) did not allow for us to venture to all my scouted locations, the beautiful fuller seminary campus provided a perfect, close-by space for the majority julia + jon's wedding photos. we prevailed through the scorching heat and captured all that was their wedding. throughout the few hours i spent with jon and julia, one of the things i came to love most about them is there sweet-ness toward each other. there is something so simple and pure and tender about their love and their relationship. yet, it is boldly evident. they have romance to be sure. and that my friends makes for some purdy photos. let me tell you. you can see it in their engagement photos and in their wedding day images too. so cool. and what a beautiful wedding it was...

click here. for a slideshow or a few of my favorites.

i love this photo of julia and her dad just before jon saw his bride...
amy (julia's sister and maid of honor) has the studliest little boy. he is eight. just before the ceremony started, i was perched at the front all sorts of ready to go, when he came trotting down the aisle, grabbed my hand and dragged me down the aisle. he was simply alertting me of the following photo op. i want him to be my permanent assistant.
gorgeous bouquet, eh?
we all loved the modern architecture of the fuller seminary library. and of course the terrace. mmm.

the beautiful bride.

twenty-three.

2009-07-16T13:45:00.000-07:00

i aged today. about forty minutes ago i officially entered into my twenty-third year of life. and, you know what, it feels pretty darn good. i tell ya. i mean twenty-three is a bit of an awkward number and it definitely makes me cringe a little when hear it out loud. but i am stoked about where i am at this point in my life. and when i reflect back the years bygone and reminisce about the many fond memories of yesteryear, i can help but feel all sorts of warm and tingly inside. and blessed too of course. blessed to know such incredible people. grateful for profound & inspiring moments. thankful for life-changing experiences and lessons. in awe of such a wonderful God. it trips me out to think about all that has happened, all that i have learned, and all that i have experienced in a mere twenty-two years, and it excites me to think about what is to come. birthdays are cool for this very reason. well, that and the party hats, cake and pinatas. and of course, the fact that it's all about me for one day. i am not gonna lie, i love that. who doesn't? haha. ok, but for realz, i love the excuse to assemble together all of my favorite people and have a good time. who doesn't love a good par-tay? that is my absolute favorite part about birthdays. for sure.

so today, i made myself the most perfectly delicious pancakes and then spent the morning lounging around the house, reading, reflecting and chatting with various family members. mmm, so nice. what's in store for the rest of the day? a quick jaunt down to yogurtland for my birthday sundae. an evening concert in the park. dinner with some of my dearest at one of my favorite restaurants. and then dancing downtown in true jship style. i. am. so. excited.

how to sum up my last year in one photo? hmm. well, i think this one should do it. this epic light-painting photo was taken by a brilliant photographer...none other than montana dennis!

jon + julia: their story.

2009-07-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

they met in college. at uc berkley. they love eating good food and watching movies together. they both have a penchant for "V for Vendetta". he loves her intelligence, she his sense of humor. they both enjoy a cold glass of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. he plays with the hardware of computers, while she sticks more to the coding. she gives up in frustration, while he is up for the challenge and has fun with it. he makes his mom laugh with quotes from Sponge Bob Square Pants. she admires the love between her parents. they love to converse, to dialogue, to think and analyze together. they are different and similar. complimentary. well-suited for each other. and it is clear that they simply love to be together. in the everydayness of life as best friends so often do. i like that.

so alas, i finally got a chance to hang out with jon and julia yesterday and get to know them a bit. i have been waiting for this day for quite sometime because i had yet to meet either of them since they booked me back in october. it was great to finally put a face and person behind all those e-mails. i am very much looking forward to their wedding next weekend down in pasadena. woo-wee.

hula-hoops.

2009-07-07T00:41:00.000-07:00

today i got the chance to photograph some of my favorite people in the world. larissa, liane, kelsey & courtney. liane is moving back home to singapore next week, so they wanted to do a lil' photo shoot before she left as a sort of documentation of their friendships. i, of course, acquiesced for myriad reasons. they are some of my besties. i adore them. they are goregeous. they wanted to shoot at the butterfly preserve which is my favorite location. they offered to take me out to dinner at my favorite restaurant. they helped me a ton at my launch party back in april. and i just wanted to hang out with all of them. so, i think a photo shoot was appropriate given all that, eh?

here is a lil some-somethin' for now. i will for sure add to the post once i get a chance. ;)

erin + nery: their wedding.

2009-06-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

it was a simple wedding. pure. straightforward. relaxed. comfortable. it wasn't about all the fancy details or the extravagant traditions. it was about family. about marriage. about love. erin and nery's dana point wedding was simply beautiful, and beautifully simple. i quite enjoyed myself. and of course, so did they. i have known erin since we were wee lads. we grew up in crowley together, so it was extra special to photograph her wedding day. yup.

congratulations erin & nery. thank you for allowing me to share in your special day! we didn't have much time to shoot but we came up with some cool shots nonetheless. i love it when that happens. check it.

to view more photos, watch the slideshow here.