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Cold Feet: it's easy to understand at a time like this. You head down that aisle, floating on a pulse of anxiety and anticipation. You assume your position at the forefront, turn in an eager about-face.... looking back down The Mile from which you came. For a few anxious moments, you wait. And then... a hint of commotion... all heads turn, the adrenaline pings... and here she comes...
... The carriage squeals up beside you, seats beckoning as you clamor aboard, buckles and clamps seizing your waist. A flash later, your zipping through the night sky like a bat outta bedlam on Santa Monica Pier's trademark roller coaster. An hour ago, I was scoping out the best angle on a cupcake tier, and now, I find myself soaring 60 feet above the Pacific, the phantoms of weightlessness tugging my Canon up as I plunge down -- yes, a camera in motion tends to stay in motion -- firing my shutter into the chaos of light and shadow like a frenetic Rambo sequel, and loving every second of it.
See, I can probably count on one hand (minus a thumb and a pinky) the number of times I've braved a roller coaster. A big baby I may be, but when a bride and groom want to capture their day like no other, I'm there! From our high flying night cap, to our whirls on the merry-go-round, to the never-to-be topped Family-Ties-Theme-Segueing-Into-Thriller first dance, this was the wedding to be at that Saturday night. Amanda and Marcus wed before the glow of the Santa Monica Carousel, and everything couldn't have felt more at home. What a privilege it was to be part of their wedding, to share in their humor and love for life, and to scream in unison amongst the stars at all life has to offer.
Doctor, Doctor give me the news, I've got a bad case of lovin' you!
Congratulations, hugs, smooches, and periodic tables to Gian, my better half, who I had the joy of seeing graduate yesterday from USC, with a Ph.D in Chemistry no less! Woo hoo!! What an awesome accomplishment to see all of your hard work rewarded. Plus, it's so great being married to another workaholic -- we can burn the midnight oil together -- I, editing pictures, and you, typing away about DNA, RNA, site-directed spin labeling, and a slew of other topics I've tried my best to understand, but alas fly over my head higher than a 747. All I know is that when you mix baking powder and vinegar, you can create a pretty cool volcano -- how's that for a scientific breakthrough?
Camera by my side, I was able to capture a few key moments from the ceremony. Unfortunately, Gian had to return the flashy red & gold robes this morning -- a Trash-The-Graduation-Gown-Session would have been killer, don't ya think? (In-joke to all the photogs out there).
To start, a Where's Waldo? moment....
Super proud of ya!
Answer: The difference in Stephen's gear bag between a baby shoot and a wedding shoot.
Question: What is a big, chocolate blanket?
That's right. A 100% Cotton, brown, fluffy wonder. When I'm packing gear Linus-style, that's the tip-off that I'm heading out to document tots, not tuxes. The blankie makes for a great backdrop, and with the right lighting, the babies pop like 10K diamonds on a jeweler's pillow.
The tiny twin bling-blings center stage for this session hit all the 4 C's: Cute, Cuddly, Cooing, and Cooperative! Whether splayed out on the blanket, cradled in loving arms, or plopped in a basket, these two gems were so incredibly patient and willing... we lost track of time and just kept snapping away. It's pretty easy to get mesmerized photographing babies, because every little expression seems like a keeper... and with twins, x2!
Thanks to everyone for chipping in during the session, for contributing ideas, welcoming me into your home, and making the day such a blast. Keep an eye out for the groovy tot's book we'll be making from this session, too!
