What’s it like to direct a director? Were there script revisions and meetings with agents and publicists? Did our two leading ladies demand rare orchids and only yellow jellybeans in their trailer? Not a chance. This Hollywood family could not have been any more down to earth or charming.
Jody and Randy are the producer and director respectively of many movies, the two most recent being “Bottle Shock” and “Nobel Son”. They both have a keen visual sense and know exactly what works in front of a camera. This could have been an intimidating situation for us to find ourselves in as photographers but instead the whole family embraced being the stars of the show and took direction from us beautifully.
Being such long time clients, we wanted to do something extra special for them so while I was photographing the stills, Larry donned his director’s cap and shot some video. We surprised Randy with the video slide show you see here for Father’s Day.
At the end of the day, despite being a little soggy from playing in the fountain, we packed up satisfied knowing that we had it “in the can”. Randy however, couldn’t resist slipping into director mode and called, “It’s a wrap”!
The wedding band, a perfect circle with no beginning or end is traditionally worn on the third finger of the left hand. It is said that the arteries ending in that finger lead directly to the heart.
With the slipping on of a wedding band, a couple displays to the world a physical symbol of their commitment to each other.
I’ve noticed after many a ceremony, the groom twisting his band around his finger or bending and flexing the hand where his ring now presides. In fact, I noticed my husband doing this very thing on our wedding day. While these actions may be perceived as signs of nervousness or even regret by the more cynical reader, the opposite seems true to me. I think there is a point in each groom’s mind when he realizes a wedding is not about picking out invitations or hiring the right band and I believe that moment comes when he looks down at his left hand and sees the gleaming new ring on his finger.
In that simple piece of jewelry, every promise he’s made to his bride in the past, and every wish he has for their future is made manifest. And it’s likely he’s just become aware of those arteries leading to his heart.
There are so many things I love about summer: the longer days, the constant chirping of birds in our garden, flowers blooming riotously all around and of course, lots of delicious produce.
With such a sumptuous overabundance of berries available at farmer’s markets right now, it’s hard not to indulge. Whenever I want to guild the lily, I serve them with good quality lemon curd. This dish always makes my friends and family happy and I love it because to me, it’s a little bit of summer on a plate.
This beautiful feather (I think it’s a hawk’s) was found in a neighbor’s garden. Knowing my penchant for collecting this sort of thing, it was gifted to me and now holds pride of place in my art closet.
It’s time for me to introduce you to another one of my Happy Places, but first I have a question for you…what do you get when you take a 1965 Westward Ho Hotel, turn it on its ear, keep the funky, kitschy vibe alive but also create a space that is tranquil and bohemian? The answer can only be the Ace Hotel Palm Springs.
Larry and I had been dying to stay here for the longest time and when we received an invitation from Catering Sales Manager, Hilary Gluch, to attend their open house, we didn’t think twice about packing up mid-week and heading off to the desert.
Pulling up to the hotel immediately brought me back to my childhood. I saw many swooping rooflines and macramé festooned windows on our family road trips but that is where the similarities end. Inside, the rooms have a homey camp vibe and are outfitted with amenities you’d never expect such as a walking stick and caftans. Larry just about did a back flip when he discovered his very own turntable and selection of LPs by the bed.
One of my favorite things about the Ace is the varied and interesting artwork featured pretty much everywhere. I couldn’t bear to part with any of the printed material such as the map to our room or the parking tag for our windshield.
We had planned on doing some sightseeing in the city during our visit but found ourselves enjoying adult Sno Cones poolside by day and cozying up to our private fire pit every night. Other than taking a bike ride on the Cruisers provided for hotel guests, we never left the grounds.
For those of you planning your wedding or family reunion, you must check out the Ace. I promise you won’t find a more unique space and I can vouch for how attentive and helpful the staff is.
The Ace Hotel Palm Springs is a very Happy Place indeed.
As true artists, Isabel Gomes & Lawrence Gund capture the underlying beauty of life, love, family and friends. Using a wide range of cameras, artistic techniques and real film to capture your loved ones, your photographs will hold the timelessness of your love for one another.
