A common question I get from photographers is how do I handle all the post production when I shoot 4-5 sessions a week.  A common comment I get from non-photographers is how easy my job is to only work a few hours a day.  Recently, I did some calculations and I shoot about 14 hrs a week, on average.  The part that I didn’t realize until I hired an assistant is that between my assistant and I, we edit for at least 40 hours a week.  After you add the hours spent on email, meetings, prepping… there’s not much time left for me.  My new years resolution for this year was to seek balance.  I LOVE what I do, so it’s really easy to be a workaholic.  I need to consciously make more time for myself.  One way I’m hoping to achieve more balance is by shooting film.  It feels so good to send off my film at the end of a shoot and just wait for the surprise a few days later… resuming my life in the meantime.  It’s like Christmas each time I get my scans back.  This was the first time I shot 100% film.  I didn’t even bring my digital camera.  Since this session, I’ve shot 2 other sessions 100% film!  Oh yeah, and this is also my first time shooting with my new (to me) Contax 645.  I love how creamy it is!

Huge thanks to Alice for setting up this fun shoot at Condor’s Nest Ranch.  Condor’s Nest Ranch is such a unique and gorgeous venue for weddings!  When we left LA/OC, the weather was super sunny, but once we got into SD, it was super cloudy!  As soon as all models and photographers arrived, it was pouring.  Lucky for me, my first set of models, Natalie Brewter & Rob Burdick, were total troopers and were willing to shoot in the rain!  I wondered if my Contax was okay in the rain though…

The gorgeous styling was done by Aimee Eyre & Annaiz Rzepka.  The perfect hair & makeup was done by Clara Kim & Karla Montero.

Condor’s Nest Ranch had the cutest animals!  That little donkey above was one of our favorites, but don’t let the cuteness fool you!  He was actually one of the meanest animals on the farm.  While we were shooting, all the animals suddenly went nuts.  All the animals started to run around and scream.  We look over and this donkey was chasing the lamas, who was chasing a goat, who was chasing a horse… you get the idea.

And who can resist a red barn??  On a side note, we went into the barn and saw the cutest baby goats!!  We wanted to play with them, but mama was quite protective.

Such beautiful horses… who will try to eat your sleeves (Rob has stains to prove it).

Natalie & Rob are so awesome.  You couldn’t tell from looking at them, but they were freezing, rained on, & avoiding the horses who wanted to eat everything the wore.

One of my favorite portrait:

Our next 2 models, Matthew Lindbald and Kaylie Wilson, were also total troopers and braved the pouring rain!

Isn’t Kaylie gorgeous?

It was totally pouring by this point.  You can see how thick the clouds are!

So after all the models left and when we were getting ready to leave, of course, the sun comes out!  I really wanted to test out my Contax in different lighting situations, especially back lighting, so thanks Serena & Sarah for modeling for me.

Sarah’s makeup looks awesome, doesn’t it?  Partly done by Clara Kim.

A shot at some direct light:

Thanks for the fun day everyone!  I’ll end with this last image of them running in the rain.  It’s out of focus and I love it.

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hehehe, I got to put my Physics degree to use for the above shot.  ha!  Cheryl and Roman met while teaching biology.  They are one of THE BEST teachers and people I have ever met in my life.  We actually used to all teach together in South LA.  Cheryl was super woman – she literally would coach tennis, teach AP Bio, and attend 2 meetings… all at the same time!  We used to joke that she had a teleporter.  Roman then became our assistant principal and was the BEST administrator ever.  He had amazing vision for our school and brought up our entire science department, and then our entire school.  I have always admired his positive outlook and perspective.

RED CAB are their initals!  cute, huh?  They even started a business together using this name!

So this was the first time I have ever seen them show any PDA!  I love Roman’s reaction to her kiss.    One of Cheryl’s famous lessons was her sex lesson during Valentine’s Day.  The kids were all given test tubes with fluids and were encouraged to go around and “have sex”.  They had to exchange fluids with as many partners as they could to demonstrate the transmission of STDs.  She used to so excitedly say, “Have more sex!”  So it was perfect when we saw this!

I had so much fun exploring UCSD and looking for all the little nooks & cranny.

I love the architecture of Geisel Library.  Those columns are supposed to look like hands holding up books.  My idea for this next shot is them examining us.  Us viewers are always looking at the subjects (couple), so this time, I wanted these biologist to look at us.

EYE see you!  I borrowed my dad’s magnifying glass to tie in the whole science/school theme.  When my parents came home and found it missing, they got worried because they thought I needed it to read!  But what they don’t know is unless you count blogs, I don’t read.

And I just love this next photo.

I am so blessed to have even met these two.  The world needs more positive people like these two, especially ones who are so committed to social justice and our youth.

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