Monday, December 13, 2010

l + michael | trailer




Oh the tears! The spectacle! The drama! … and that was just me! Ok, no drama ... but I teared up before the ceremony even started.

When L (yes, L) and Michael had their first look, I could feel the love. I got all mushy and teary-eyed. I’ve really got to learn to control that … can’t focus the camera if I have tears in my eyes. And the spectacle came by way of a beautiful day with the loveliest of sunsets.

Enjoy a tease of one of the most intimate ceremonies I’ve shot this year … only 8 guests.




CAST OF CHARACTERS ...
Bride: The Lovely L (for Laura)
Groom: The Dapper Michael
Ringbearer: Adonis the Dog
Photographer: Vanessa Preziose
Hair: Ahn Tran
Cello: Hope Easton
Wedding Hostess: Alicia Kling


and me ... le video chick.

Friday, August 27, 2010

srivitta + steve | highlights

So, I’ve decided I want a Thai water blessing for my wedding. I’d also like a Hora and I’d like my Irish uncle to give us a nice blessing. Oh yeah, while I’m at I think the groom and groomsmen should wear kilts. Hot.
Seriously … does it really matter that I’m not Thai … or Jewish or Scottish or have an Irish uncle? Ok, fine … I’m not getting married either but come on! I’ve seen so many wonderful traditions over the course my career that I’d love to incorporate them all.
Srivitta and Steve didn’t quite do all that I listed above but they did have a Thai water blessing. Lovely.


Congratulations Srivitta & Steve! And thank you … every time I watch you feeding each other cake, I can’t help but smile. Srivitta, you are the loveliest of goofballs.


Coordination: Ida Gardner Events
DJ: Vox DJ's
Photography: Yoshi Ohara


Wednesday, August 11, 2010

The OC Fair | Lo-Fi Style

August. Event Filmmaking. Weddings.

Put all three together and that doesn't leave time for much. Shooting and editing is what I do in the summer (and spring, autumn and winter) months but that is my life and I love it. But sometimes, to keep those creative juices flowing, you just have to CTRL+ALT+DEL ... and that's what I did earlier this month. I packed up my retro-footage producing Harinezumi camera and headed off to the Orange County Fair. Of course, I wanted to see how my toy camera would fare at the ... uhm, err ... fair. And, I don't know about you, but when I think of a carnival or fair my mind switches to lo-fi mode. So what a perfect place to play with my toy camera.




Maybe I'll head off to the OC Fair one last time before it ends this weekend. I hear deep-fried Oreos calling my name.



AVIA | A Rooftop Soiree

When I wasn't nibbling at the candy table at a fab little soiree on the rooftop of Long Beach's AVIA Hotel, you could find me shooting. Now, I was trying to be sneaky about dipping into the the candy jars. Of course, I'm sure I could have been sneakier ... Note to self: When eating a blueberry candy stick, your tongue and lips will turn blue. Well, so much for sneaky.

By the way ... the AVIA is a sexy little hotel. If you're ever in the area, check it out. For the time being, check out the video.





Congrats to Andrinique and Melissa Selmanson for a beautifully executed event.

Photography | Llanes Weddings (check out their beautiful images of the event)





Friday, June 11, 2010

stacy + clark | trailer

VoilĂ !

If this trailer doesn’t make you want to learn French, then I don’t know what will.

Stacy and Clark’s wedding was beautiful … absolutely and unequivocally. Every element was impeccable.

Thank you Stacy and Clark for sharing your love with the world because, whether you know it or not, I believe your energy, your love, make this world just a little brighter.



Photographer: Meg Perotti

Venue: The Jonathan Club

Coordinator: Kimery Events

DJ: RedShoeLA

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

MY ADVENTURE – Le Update

If you haven’t read my last post, please do. I’ll give you a couple minutes. I’ll be waiting right here ….. (hip lounge music playing in the background) … Cool! You’re back. Please proceed.


Last month, I announced a 50-mile walk (give or take a blister or two) that I’d be doing soon. It would be a combination of adventure, mini-vacation and fundraiser … of course with camera in tow.

When I first looked at my calendar to determine the best dates, late June called out to me. Maybe it was the fact that my birthday was at the end of that week and I love to go to Disneyland on my birthday. Yes, it’s true, I am 12 at heart. And what better way to end a 50-mile walkabout then to be asked, “What are you going to do now?” then to respond “I’m going to Disneyland!”

I’ve since rethought, rethunk and revised. The end of June is right in the middle of my busy season. As much as I’d love to walk at the end of June, my priority at this time of year must be my clients. And so, I’ve changed the walk from late-June to late-October … October 24th thru the 28th to be exact.

And not only will that give me more time to get into tip-top shape, I also have time to harass you for donations! Oh joy, joy! All donations will go to the Lynne Cohen Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research. And if you don’t have a few bucks to donate, no problem … I’ll be keeping the Facebook and Twitter world abreast as to my location. So if you want to support by handing me a caffeinated beverage of some sort as I walk, you’ll be forever in my Y. Yes, I’m easy. Sue me.

To paraphrase the Taoist philosopher Lao Tzu, the journey of fifty miles begins with a single blog post.

Cheers!

MY ADVENTURE – Slightly Redux Le Deux

(a repost of Posh guest blog with a few minor changes)


I’m writing this blog on a pad of paper because typing at my computer seems too much like work …. and this isn’t work, this is an adventure. Adventures are written on paper … like a treasure map. Sometimes you can’t decipher the symbols, some parts of the map may be torn off, and sometimes it’s worn so thin because of the number of times you’ve examined it trying to figure out where the treasure is.


I recently guest blogged on the Posh blogsite, a site created to connect, educate and inspire women visual artists. How flattered was I to be asked to contribute? Well … very! Duh. But what on earth to write about? As the perpetual student (but I guess, aren’t we all?), I didn’t feel an educational piece would be for me. Something fun was a suggestion. Fun? Hmm, ok. What’s more fun than an adventure?

So here’s a story … my story … my little adventure.

A couple months ago I picked up a magazine. The cover story – an L.A. woman that decided to walk 38 miles along the ocean over the course of a few days. She stopped along the way, check out the sights and then moved steadily on. Hmmm. Interesting. What a cool mini-vacation without leaving town. Now, I’m not big walker but the thought of experiencing the city at a 3-mile per hour pace intrigued me. Granted, given L.A.’s infamous traffic sometimes a 3-mile per hour pace is exactly what you get on most freeways.

I Googled maps of Southern California and mapped out a walk. I like to call it a walkabout. Maybe it’s my love the show ‘Lost’ or maybe it’s because I plan to walk about 50 miles but a walkabout sounded pretty to me …. that, and I also didn’t know what else to call it. Now on ‘Lost’, John Locke took his set of knives for his walkabout. What I’ll be carrying is my backpack is a camera, a couple t-shirts, a toothbrush and a few pair of unmentionables.

Now, a walkabout refers to a rite of passage during which male Australian Aborigines undergo a journey during adolescence and live in the wilderness for an extended period of time. So I’m pretty much off the mark on a lot of different levels here. Aborigine? Nope, nah ah. Adolescent? Well, I act like one most of the time. Does that count? Live in the wilderness for an extended period of time? Come on, I’m walking thru L.A. I’d say it’s a wilderness of sorts. Rite of passage? I’m going to guess it’s not.

I did have a rite of passage at one time however ... an unconventional, non-traditional event that could constitute a rite of passage … at least in my book … and definitely for this sake of this story.

As a junior in college, I was diagnosed and treated for ovarian cancer. It’s pretty rare for someone of that age to get that type of cancer but I got it. Long story short, it kicked my butt for a couple years with two major surgeries, a year of chemotherapy and the wonderful side effects that go along with. The prognosis wasn’t great but my reaction was (prep for another ‘Lost/John Locke’ reference), “ Don’t tell me what I can’t do”.

I’m now cancer free and have been for many years. It’s not something I think about very often but it dawned on me as I was mapping out this walk how many charity run/walks there are out there … many of them breast cancer related. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about the boobies. Go team boobie! But if I’m going to walk why not raise money? And why not make this a walk about the ovarian, the female gonads … the she-nads! … the mental and physiological ones. The mental ones that tackle obstacles and the physical ones that help create life.

So on the last week in June*, I’ll be walking from San Pedro to Malibu. Making many stops along the way, enjoying a good meal … or two … or a lot, sleeping a good sleep and documenting as I go. Much of my time recently has been about capturing the lives of others. And for that I feel incredibly lucky. But on this trip I’ll be turning the camera around and documenting my adventure … and for a good cause. And for that, I feel incredibly blessed.

I’ll have a map with me but I’m not out to look for a treasure, I’m in it for the adventure … and for an amazing foot massage at the end! Woohoo!


I’ll be walking for myself.

I’ll be raising money for The Lynne Cohen Foundation for Ovarian Cancer Research.


Anyone wishing to donate may go to www.firstgiving.com/isabelgonzalez. NO amount is too small. Just know I will find you, unabashedly ask for a donation and if that doesn’t work I’ll bludgeon you with silly tweet after tweet until you give. :)

Go team she-nad!


*Since the original posting of this blog on the Posh site, I’ve solidified the dates of my walk. Read my next posting for more info.

Monday, May 3, 2010

A Styled Shoot with Heather Kincaid

Recently, photographer Heather Kincaid invited me to shoot Something Old into Something New: A Styled Shoot. Well, stylish it was. She did an awesome job at capturing the images. She's got talent. No doubt. Check out the photos on her blog .... but before you do, watch the video I put together for this cool shoot.

Cheers!





Thursday, April 1, 2010

cassie + robert | trailer

Before I begin the editing process, I like to get a little input from my clients as to the overall style and vibe they’re looking for in their video. Cassie and Robert’s instructions were, and I quote, “We want the video to capture the excitement and joy of our day, so that when our hair is white and our faces are wrinkled (more than they are now) we can watch the video and feel warm and fuzzy.”

Well, number one … what wrinkles now?

Number two, the wedding was so full of joy and laughter, it made my job way easy. So, to Cassie and Robert … thank you. And fifty years from now, as you’re watching your video, take a self-shot/facebook-style photo and send it to me. It would bring a smile to my wrinkly face to see your wrinkly faces and know there’s some warm and fuzzy stuff going on there. :)



Photography: Jason Q Tran Photography

Venue: The Ebell Club, Long Beach

Officiant: Alan Katz

DJ: Station Identification



Thursday, March 18, 2010

Kick Ass Cake Bash

What do you get when you combine Fantasy Frostings' cake and some Broke-Ass Bride? Broke-Ass Cake Collection but of course!

And what do you do when you have a launch such as this? Have a Kick Ass Cake Bash … duh!

Catch Dana (The Broke-Ass Bride herself), Hunter (The Fresh Hubby), Leslie Maynor (Fantasy Frostings queen) and Earl Anderson (Mr. Frostings) BRING. IT.

Enjoy!


For those amazing vendors that didn’t make my subliminal messaging in the video, here’s a list of those involved.

(in alpha order)

Alfred Angelo

Beth Helmstetter Events

Bride & Bloom

Cakes & Kisses Wedding Photography

Family Industries Los Angeles

The Flash Dance DJ

The Food Matters

For The Modern Bride

Luscious Libations

NTA Talent Agency

pinkberry

Shannon Lee Images

Monday, March 1, 2010

Wedding Wisdom

So, you’ve got your wedding planners and then you’ve got your uber wedding planners. Mary Dann-McNamee is most certainly one of the latter. If you don’t know who she is, take a minute to google her … but wait until after you’ve watched my video below, of course! ;-) After a quick search you’ll find her list of credits to be substantial.

The woman is busy … so how Mary found time to write a book, I have no idea … but she did. With the help of the bright and savvy Leila Khalil of Inspired PR, Mary collected her years of wedding and family planning experience and authored Wedding Wisdom.

Last week, Mary and Leila had their first L.A. book signing. And who was lucky enough to capture and create a mini picture show of the event … ? Me, me, me!



With the creative efforts of the following vendors, I can safely say, the book signing was a success. I love hanging with these industry creatives … I’d like to think I’ll pick up on some of their talents thru osmosis of some sort. ;)


Thursday, February 18, 2010

erin + adam | trailer

Yes, I’ll readily admit it ... I get writers block … and I get it often. Many times it has to do with the fact that I don’t know what to write, that I don’t have enough material. ‘Tis not the case here …

Erin and Adam’s wedding: sweetest couple … smiles that lit up the room … the love they shared – tangible … the day – beautiful … lovely family (I’ll begin my adoption proceedings soon) … the photographers and vendors – so talented … clear skies when rain was expected … and lest we forget – sexy shoes. =)

What an amazing day it was. Take a gander.