A Very Vintage Halloween

It was a windy Tuesday night as I was driving thru the hills of Hollywood.  The further up the mountain I went, the more desolate it became. I wasn’t used to bumpy, single lane roads.  What kind of event had I been invited to participate in?  No signs, no lights.  “Am I here?”,  I thought as I drove into a dirt lot.  No way.  Keep going.  And I did … only to arrive right back to where I started.  Fate?  Who knows?  But these are no times to be questioning such things …. after all, gasoline prices are way too high.  Are those twinkling lights I see up ahead?  Yes indeed!  Joy!  I wasn’t lost after all.  I meet up with some kind folk – Carissa of JL Designs – couture floral and event stylist!  Civilization is not lost!  In fact, this is where it takes on new meaning. 

I sign in at the registration table at the bottom of the hill … and then I’m directed up the path – the dark, predominately unlit path.  Is this the part of the movie where I call out for the proverbial Steve?  In a high-pitched manner … “Steve?  Steve?  Where are you Steve? ….This isn’t funny!” 

I ventured forth with camera in tow.   There’s no such things as ghosts, goblins, Jasons or Freddies.  Up the hill I trekked.  More lights up ahead … oh joy, joy, joy!  Fun and merriment and strange and beautiful costumes abound!  I was safe and happy.  

Enjoy the light at the end of my scary (albeit very short) tunnel.

 

 

Beautiful still photography below by Meg Perotti

Leila Khalil – Be Inspired PR

Kellee Khalil – Who What Weddings

Sweet & Saucy Shop

IS Vodka – Shay Scott

Calligraphy Katrina

Mint Photo Lounge

DJ Crash

 

Halloween Re:Vamped '09

What's dark, sexy, slithers, flies, quenches and has some awesome beats?  Well, to be honest I don't really know .... but all those elements were present at the recent Halloween Re-Vamped '09 party presented by ISES - Orange County and Invisible Touch Events. I get invited to some of the sweetest parties around. I'm not going to lie, this party had it going on. From the great food to the sweet libations to the belly dancers to the fire eaters, it was great. And that's before the real partying got started. Don't take my word for it. Check it out.

And if you're wondering what a videographer wears to a costume party, check out the pic below.  I'm not sure if it's my love of Tim Burton movies, my mad crush on Johnny Depp ... or maybe it's just that I wanted a costume with a no-fuss hairdo ... here she is - Sweeney Todd's Mrs. Lovett. Meat pie, anyone?

[The FABULOUS] Ms. Amber!

For those of you that have taken a quick peek-see at my blog, you’ve found that I’m a relative newbie … an infant in the art of blogulism … err, blogocity … blogging!  (See what I mean?)   Because I’m new at this skill, I have to ask – what are the rules on blogging what someone else blogged if it’s a blog about you?  Got that? 

Recently, [The FABULOUS] Ms. Amber of Amber Events asked me a few questions about myself and my views on the biz o’ weddings.  So, to reblog or not or reblog?   I throw caution to the wind people … here is A Videographer’s Perspective.

P.S.  Why do I describe Amber as FABULOUS? 

Because ...

A)   She is.

B)   That’s what she creates – fabulosity.

C)   That’s how you’ll end up feeling once you’ve worked with her.

D)   All of the above. 

Well, D) All of the above, of course.

IN THE NOW!!!

How do you live life properly?  In The Now baby, In The Now.  That’s the name of coordinator Amanda Auer’s stellar company – In The Now Weddings & Events, and she recently had the grand opening of her studio located in the cool Santa Ana arts district.  Even cooler?  The studio design, the lighting, the atmosphere, the signature drinks, the delicious desserts, the music, the photo booth … ya get the idea?  Amanda knows how to throw a good party. 

Thanks to Amanda for the invite … and for not kicking me out when I brought my camera.  :P

 

    

Girl Photogs Luncheon!

Recently I was surrounded by some serious talent.  Cat Benner of Next Exit Photography hosted a little afternoon soiree.  The guests?  About 15 of the awesomest female photographers around.   Had I been a bride in search of a photographer, I would either have been in wedding heaven or confused out of my gourd … so many choices.  Instead I had a plethora of yummy food to choose from.  To avoid any frustration in deciding what to eat, I went the easy route – one of everything!

In between my munching, I shot the footage below. 

Special guest appearance by Fat the Cat (minute 2:00).  

Cecile + Julian

Ok, so normally I’m not a fan of hot weather unless it involves a cabana, a fruity umbrella-christened drink and a pair of flip-flops but on this one particular day heat didn’t phase (or daze) me. 

Cecile and Julian broke up their wedding into two parts – the I Do’s on Saturday and the reception on Sunday.  Made sense especially since the ceremony took place in Lancaster – a desert town about 75 miles from downtown L.A. – and the reception at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach, 110 miles away.  As I aptly put it on Facebook, it was love California-style - from the desert to the sea. 

Because the ceremony was a more intimate affair and was a little restrictive for guests due to distance, Cecile and Julian wanted to make sure that those that weren’t able to go to the ceremony could relive the day on Sunday.  That’s where I come in. 

I got to capture them getting ready early Saturday morn, the emotion-filled ceremony and the way cool photo shoot afterwards.  What made the photo shoot so cool, you ask?  (Ok, maybe you didn’t ask but let’s just pretend.)  The post-ceremony photos were shot on a movie set out in the middle of nowhere.  Well, it felt like nowhere. 

Imagine the Bates Motel Kill-Bill style …. saaa-weeet.  The visuals were awesome.  I can’t wait to see what images Candice from Mark Brooke Photography got.  And the heat gave it that extra umph.  You don’t see the temperature in the video but you can feel the heat …. hmmm, or was that the chemistry Cecile and Julian had going on?   Oh my!

After the shoot, I made the trek back down to Long Beach and to my edit desk to marry some of C&J’s favorite songs with the video shot just hours earlier.  Below is an example of a happy marriage.  :-)  The next-day edit was shown prior to Cecile & Julian’s grand entrance into a style-filled reception room – kudos to Amanda Auer of In The Now Events and Weddings. 

Cecile and Julian – thanks for allowing me to be a major part of your day.  It was an honor.

And I didn't even flinch ...

Ok, I realize I'm cheating when I do this.  Isabel's blog written by Isabel, right?  Can we make an exception?  Please, oh please!  I received a thank you card from one of my lovelies the other day and I have to share.  It gave me the warm fuzzies with a splash of giggle.  Here goes (clearing throat) and I quote ...

Dear Isabel,

On behalf of the new husband and myself, thank you so much for being such an amazing wedding videographer!   Amir and I absolutely adore your work and easygoing personality, and we've received so much positive feedback from our guests too.  I remember at one point during the reception, a bunch of us were holding hands and dancing in a circle, while periodically rushing towards the center as a group ... during one of these charges, I glanced over and saw you in the center videotaping and thought,  "Oh my gosh, I hope she gets out of the way so no one tackles her!"  But you didn't even flinch and looked as cool as ever!  I was so amazed and it just made me realize even more how lucky we were to have such a devoted and talented videographer.  Our wedding was the best day of our lives but Amir and I still can't believe how fast it all happened - haha, so we are definitely very thankful and fortunate to have had you there, and we look forward to seeing all the memories captured on (video).  Thank you, for everything!

Pretty nice, right?  I think so.  

So I'm thinking maybe starting out their video with a disclaimer, "No videographers were harmed in the making of this wedding video."   ;)    

Thank you Nasim for the warm fuzzy/giggle moment(s).