When I was in the Air Force, part of our training involved classroom instruction on what and how people are motivated. This course of study was intended to make us better officers and leaders. For whatever reason, I remember the term Significant Emotional Experience, defined as those experiences that change and defines us as individuals making us who we are. As my son prepares to graduate from high school in a short 11 days, I feel I am experiencing some of those significant emotional experiences! Like most parents, I have been fully aware that Peter was graduating this year (my checkbook keeps reminding me that something very important is going on!), but I don’t think that it really hit me until I saw my usually scruffy son turn into a debonair young man in a tuxedo, as he prepared to take his drop-dead gorgeous girlfriend, Shelby, on the Hornblower Dinner Cruise in Newport Beach. We were a little behind schedule so we rushed to take the following photos before the kids were left for the evening.

The stunning Miss Shelby. I don’t remember looking like this when I was 18!

The young couple. Shelby’s grandparents, her mother, and Peter’s younger sister Sarah are standing behind me as I take this “romantic” image. Hopefully, the though of all of us watching them would accompany them the rest of the evening!! LOL

Peter said the tux made him feel like James Bond. Perhaps the clothes do make the man:) Maybe we can borrow his barber……

When I was young, Memorial Day was spent with family and friends, usually by the beach enjoying the start of the summer season. To members of the armed forces and their families, past and present, it means something completely different. Wanting to serve my country and see the world, I left home at 23 to join the United States Air Force. Though I served for six years, the experience has left an indelible mark on me. To this day, every time I see a person in uniform, I see a brother/sister in arms, and feel an instant bond like nothing else I know. I also find myself searching their uniform for rank and prepare myself to salute or return a salute even though I haven’t worn a uniform in over 15 years!

So on a cloudy, slightly cool Memorial Day, I visited the Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, CA. I didn’t arrive until late afternoon, I wanted to be there after the crowds had gone and just spend time thinking about those that I had served with, especially those that are still deployed in Iraq, and those at home supporting them. It is in your honor, Pete and Randy (both colonels in the USAF) and all the brave men and women who serve alongside you that I dedicate these images. God Bless and Godspeed. We are so proud of you.

The Riverside National Cemetery facing March Air Reserve Base.

This was the only cross I saw amongst thousands of flags. It belonged to a WWII vet. May he rest in peace.

The cemetery houses a beautiful memorial for Medal of Honor recipients. On one of the walls is written, “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.”

The National POW/MIA Memorial is located near the entrance of the cemetery. It is both beautiful and disturbing at the same time. Coincidentally, this morning I received an email from a girlfriend in Michigan who remarked that her 84-year-old mother had told her yesterday that if she could hop on a plane and fly anywhere in the world, she would go to New Britain Island (north of New Guinea) to find her husband who was MIA from WWII. She has not forgotten.

This three duck salute is a special tribute to a man who loved his family, his country, and his ducks. We love you and we miss you.

Weddings are always special events, it is not possible to be around people in love and not feel a little romantic yourself! One of my favorite places to shoot a wedding is the Mission Inn, located in downtown Riverside, CA., where I was lucky enough to have been asked to join my friend April Smith to photograph Noelle and Jefferey’s wedding. They are not only beautiful on the outside, they were truly amazing people to be with, and I wish them both the very best. Here are some of my favorite images from the day, I hope you like them!

This is the lovely Noelle. She is laughing because behind her is her husband desperately attempting to bustle her train!

The details of this wedding were extraordinary. See if you agree.

Just in case you were wondering what our handsome groom looks like, here he is in the arms of his beloved (sigh).

This is the famous Amistad Room. It is gorgeous!

The grooms little sister couldn’t wait to show off her teeth!

I played in Photoshop a little to get this effect. I liked it!

Thank you April! You look mahvelous:)

Every once in a while, the stars in the heavens line up just right and amazing things come my way. That must have been what happened when I was selected as one of five finalists to attend Photography Biz Boot Camp. The camp is possible through the uber generous and immensely talented Liana Lehman. Liana is one of only a small handful of photographers that run a program to teach other photographers that being a success has more to do with how you manage your business than the quality of your images (though that’s important too!). The workshop I attended was held in Atlanta in Liana’s home studio. My classmates included a seventeen-year-old sensation Jamie Delanie, the lovely and very pregnant Beth Daane, the fun and funky and soon to be wed Karen Mikols, the fit and fabulous Michelle White, and lastly, the stunning and graceful Ellen Mc Raney. I was there too, of course, but I have no images of myself (but you already know what I look like anyway!) and as luck would have it, I have no images of our brilliant and gorgeous hostess Liana. These images were taken on the last day; up until then we were busy crunching numbers and sharing strategies for effective pricing. My two and a half day stay in Atlanta was intense, there was a ton to do, but I came home feeling exhilarated and anxious to revamp my business to take my business to the next level. One thing that we did was write our own obituaries. I know it sounds weird but I highly recommend doing it. It forced me to think about how I wanted to be remembered and crystalized in my mind all the things that were truly important to me in life. Of course everyone cried as they read their own but it was awesome just the same. We also committed to reading one book a month, the name of our book club is “We Don’t Do Chemistry,” in Jamie’s honor since she was hoping to get the group to read her chemistry book before her high school graduation next month!

Jamie, Beth, Karen, Michelle, and Ellen, my fellow Boot Camp Survivors:)

I borrowed this image from Karen. I’m the blurry one in the purple.

Most of my clients are women, mothers wanting to have their families photographed, knowing that if they don’t do it, nobody else will. It’s a mom thing for sure. Recently, I was asked by a Dad to photograph his kids–Erik’s wife Kris admired my work and he wanted her to have photos of their kids as a surprise gift for Mother’s Day. What a thoughtful gift! So one sunny afternoon, I kidnapped Paige and Grant and spend a delightful afternoon playing, having fun, and oh yes, taking some photos. When we were done, I dropped the kids off at the end of the street, their alibi was that they were at the library studying. Then came the fun part. I was leaving town for Atlanta so had to rush the order in order to make it on time; Erik met me at my studio early in the morning while his unsuspecting wife went to the gym. We viewed the images, chose which ones to use for a book, some prints, a slideshow, and something for her to display at work. When the products came in a week later, we repeated the scenario, wishing I could be a fly on the wall when she opened her unexpected gift. Yesterday evening, I received a phone call from Kris. She loved the photos, the slideshow made her cry; she then thanked me for capturing her children’s spirits, and wanted to invite us to have dinner with them next week……. I LOVE my job:) So for all you Dads out there who are wondering what gift to get your wife or perhaps your mother, give me a call. I guarantee you will be a hero for a long time to come!

Click here for SLIDESHOW

This morning I woke up at 5:30 am, couldn’t get back to sleep, got up, fed the dog, made a fresh pot of coffee, emptied the dishwasher, loaded the dishwasher, folded laundry, and straightened out the den. I looked at my watch; it was now 6:30a.m. I deliberated going for a quick 4-mile run but opted to write my mother a heartfelt message on a card, and while I was at it, wrote one to my sister Mary Lou as well. It wasn’t long before the tears ran down my face as I thought how lucky I was to have such amazing women as part of my life. My mother suffered a stroke last October. At the time, we all wondered if she would be around this year for Mother’s Day and thoughts of what life would be like without my mother preoccupied me day and night. It was a difficult time, to say the least. The day we brought my mother home from the rehab center is one that will stay with me for a long time to come. Even though she was unable to walk, her speech was intact and her prognosis was unsure; her blood pressure was higher than we wanted and we had to yet to see how much her body would allow her to recover. It didn’t matter; my heart was so full at the sight of my mother home again (she was at a rehab center for three long weeks) that I jumped up and down like a little kid saying “My mommy is home, my mommy is home!”

I am one of five children, three girls and two boys. I am the middle child, preceded by an older brother and sister, followed by the same. I cannot speak for my siblings but even now with two of my own children well on their way to becoming young adults, I still get an incredible sense of peace and tranquility knowing that my mother is around. I can remember being a teenager, having a bad dream and crawling into bed next to my mother. She didn’t have to say anything; all she had to do was move slightly aside, make just enough room to let me in, and within minutes, I found myself fast asleep. At 78, my mother still worries about me, tells me I take nice photos, wishes I could visit just a little bit longer (I see her every week, sometimes more), and tells me I’m young enough to find another husband! Mom! My mother taught me how to behave like a lady, how to cook, sew, take care of people, write letters, entertain, recycle, make do without, keep an clean and mostly orderly house, follow a religion, ….there are so many things that I do well because I had a mother who cared. Thank you mama. It is my utmost wish to give back to you everything that you have given me. Happy Mother’s Day!

Here are a couple of photos from today. The kids and I went to my brother Gilbert’s house for brunch. We were joined by our parents, and my youngest sister Mary Lou and her family. The food was great, the company was excellent. I even played a game of ping-pong against my 82-year old dad! Don’t let his age fool you, he is a shark when it comes to ping-pong.

My wonderful parents. They have been married for 51 years!

My beautiful sister Mary Lou, wonderful mommy herself.

Grandpa with Marcus (my brother’s son) and Aiden (Mary Lou’s son).

Me and my mom

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My crazy boy, Peter.

My nephew Nick, my lovely Sarah, my brother in law, Steve. He’s silly!

My sister-in-law Marcia and my nephew Marcus.

The kids doing what they do best…..

My God daughter Erin and Aiden. Aren’t they the cutest?!

Me playing ping-pong with a baby on my hip (and I’m barefoot to boot!) Isn’t that what motherhood is all about???

I am so behind…so much has been happening these last couple of weeks so I best get cracking on the latest and greatest:)

Been to Long Beach lately? I have and boy was I in for a surprise! I recently attended a reception at the Long Beach Museum of Latin America, an awesome event sponsored by Brides.com. The museum patio is a gorgeous venue and is definitely worth checking out as a possibility for a wedding/reception. It was spacious, the lighting was terrific, the garden is sleek and beautiful. The last time I was in Long Beach was when I got lost on the way to the airport last Chrismas, but that doesn’t really count because I stayed mostly on the freeway. I need a GPS to save me from myself, but I really don’t like to be told what to do…..help!

The last time I was technically in Long Beach was in 1985. You do the math! This most recent venture was for a bridal vendors event. I met lots of people, drank and ate more than I should have, but best of all, had time to tour the marina before the event started. In case you haven’t heard, I have an affinity for the ocean and will seek to be near it at any given opportunity. I am convinced I was a mermaid in another life (probably a sea urchin) but I really, really LOVE the smell of the salty air and the sound of crashing waves. And, much to my surprise, Long Beach is really quite nice. They have done a bit of work these last twenty years…I think I will go back and visit on a slow Sunday. So here are some pics, I hope you enjoy them.

These gams belong to the lovely Rowena Curtis.

These boats are waiting for someone to take them out for a ride….I will see what I can do to set them free! Either that or beg the owner for a sail around the marina. They are sooh beautiful!

The Long Beach Museum of Latin America. Very nice!

Me, Tammie, MaryAnn, Sandra, and Marissa . Just a couple of the gorgeous and talented women who also happen to be awesome photographers! I’m the short, regular looking one on the left…I really have to find some ugly friends!

If you don’t know who Randy Pausch is, this is somebody that you really need to check out. He is a 47 year old professor from Carnegie Mellon who is dying of pancreatic cancer. He is the father of three young children, who are not aware of his illness, and he has given a lecture on how to live life, a lecture which he says is intended for his children once he is gone. To say that Randy is an extraordinary human being is an understatement; his strength in the face of adversity will surely become legendary and many will benefit from his life lessons. I know I will and already have. If you google Randy, you can find the Last Lecture in its entirety or if you are pressed for time, there is a nice synopsis of his original lecture from an episode of Oprah (thank you, Miss Oprah). He has also released book, and a DVD based on this now famous last lecture. I get goose pimples just thinking about his enormous contribution to the world simply by sharing his story. Thank you Randy. I will keep you and your beautiful little family in my prayers…

I first learned of Randy from watching an a recent interview with Dianne Sawyer (thank you Miss Dianne.) Shortly thereafter, I read a Parade magazine article summarizing his life lessons. It is from that article that I briefly share this remarkable man’s philosophy of life. The title of the article was “Randy Paush, The Lessons I’m Leaving Behind.“ (The words in the parenthesis below are mine).

Always Have Fun

“Each of us must make a decision, best captured in A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh characters. Am I a fun-loving Tigger or a sad-sack Eeyore?” (Randy has chose to be a Tigger.)

Dream Big

“Give yourself permission to dream. Fuel your kids dreams too. Once in a while, it may mean staying up past their bedtime.” (He was referring staying up to watch footage of man’s first walk on the moon. Funny how we can take for granted the dream that it took to put a man on the moon!)

Ask For What You Want

“Ask. More often than not, the answer will be sure.” ( How often do we stand in our own way by pointing out all of the obstacles that keep us from reaching our goal when sometimes, the answer is as simple as asking. Who knew!)

Dare to Take a Risk

“Attempt hard things, don’t worry about failing….Experience is what you get when you don’t get what you wanted.” (Imagine the freedom we would experience by not worrying about all the what ifs ….awesome.)

Look for the Best in Everybody

” If you wait long enough, people will impress and surprise you…this takes patience, even years, in the end, people will show you their good side.” (I believe we see in people what we choose to see, which is often a reflection of ourselves. )

Make Time for What Matters

“Time is all you have. And you may find one day that you have less than you think.” (Check out the Jim Croce song, “Time in a Bottle“. Bring a tissue)

Let Kids Be Themselves

” My job is to help my kids foster a joy of life and develop the tools for fulfuling their own wishes.” (By doing so, we in turn give ourselves the freedom to be like children again, where anything is possible. It’s a win-win situation:) )

Please take the time to learn more about Randy, I guarantee it will be worth your while. On a personal note, I recently took a leap of faith and tried a couple of things that I wouldn’t normally do: I asked somebody I was interested in out for a date, and I entered a contest that I didn’t think I had a snowball’s chance in-you-know-where of winning. The results? I crashed and burned on the prospective love interest (nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?), BUT I won a scholarship for the Photo Biz Boot Camp for photographers!!! Whoo-hooo! !!! The workshop is run by a multi-talented, brilliant, and extremely generous woman by the name of Liana Lehman . The workshop is designed for photographers wanting to take their business to the next level (that me!) I am thrilled beyond belief, this opportunity is a prayer answered. The Boot Camp is scheduled for the end of the month in Atlanta, GA. I will blog about how it goes when I return:) I will share the honor with two other scholarship recipients, Beth Daane and Ellen Mc Raney. Beth and Ellen have inspirational stories of their own, you can check them out at http://www.BananasEDU.blogspot.com. Congratulations ladies, I can’t wait to meet you both!

I hope that after reading this blog, you will want to check out Randy Pausch and learn more about him and his story. Let me know your thoughts, and if you have found some inspiration from him too. Be well and have an awesome day!

Attending workshops is a luxury that I don’t often get to do but when my good friend and fellow photographer Tammie Kim asked me if I was interested in spending a couple of days in Solvang, CA , I said “Whoo-hoo!” (that meant yes). The workshop was hosted by the brilliant Jose Villa and his team, the stunning Shelbie and Geraldo, and the drop-dead gorgeous Lacie. Aside from out classroom instruction, Jose took us on location to a couple of awesome places for our photo shoot. If any of you reading this are hopeless romantics, then you must come to Ventura county—I guarantee that you will fall head over heels over all the natural beauty. Here’s a couple of my favorite images…..

The lovely Miss Lacie. She is Jose’s assistant and is a photography student at the Brooks Institute.

I must have a hundred images of Lacie and I have to say that she is one of the most photogenic people I have ever had the pleasure to photograph. And she is soooh nice! Thank you, Lacie:)

This classic beauty is Shelbie. This brave girl has the daunting task of acting natural while 25 photographers took turns shooting her and her companion Gerardo.

The tall, dark and handsome, Gerardo.

This is how the camera sees it…..

This is the reality. Yikes!

One of Jose’s favorite poses. I love that even though they are looking away from each other, their body language says we are together.

Wow, what a face.

There were probably 10-15 photographers standing behind me, so I ducked to get out of the way. I’m glad I did!

This is Tammie, she is Korean and one of the funniest, kindest, most knowledgeable people I know. Thank you Tammie for bringing out the goofy in me, I still smile at all the fun we had!

It was a great surprise to learn that my buddy Rowena was also attending the workshop! She was in charge of setting up the room for us, her only request was that no one snore! I fell asleep first, so am not sure if anybody did or not….;)

Every year for the past twenty years or so, Redlands has hosted the a series of bike races collectively known as the Redlands Bike Classic. Although I have been here for almost 5 years and live less than two miles (that’s right, two miles away) I have never attended the event! Most of the time, I found myself out of town or busy doing something else with the intention of going downtown but never quite getting there. That is until this year. Yeah! Thanks to my wonderful friend Jan, who is a member of the Redlands Rotary Club, I was invited to photograph the Rotary Bike Ride which took place in conjunction with the bike races. The club sponsored three rides, the Simple (6-12 miles) the Scenenic (33 miles) and the Savage (a whopping 60 mile). Besides our reputation for being a scenic little community, Redlands is also quite hilly. I was fortunate enough to be chauffeured from rest stop to rest stop (thank you Linda!) but found myself wanting to participate in the ride sometime in the future…..I have no bike, no fancy bike shoes, no cute little shirts or shorts, but I will find a way to make it happen just the same. For now, I will enjoy the race vicariously through the amazing men/women/ and children who allowed me to share in their experience through my lense. Here are some of my images, I have a ton more if you’re interested. There is also a cool little slideshow to view.

ROTARY BIKE RIDE SLIDESHOW 

These wonderful people are part of the committee that made it all happen. Thank you Rotarians–you rock!