Day of the Dead is one of my favorite holidays. Yes, it is often over-shadowed by the candy fueled, costumed extravaganza that is Halloween, but to me, Day of the Dead is really special. Not only is it the perfect time to honor our loved ones who have passed away, but it’s rife with decorating possibilities as well. The beautiful colors of Mexico (where this holiday originated) truly lend themselves to festive, lively decor. This inspiration shoot was based around Frida Khalo but if you are not a fan, the colors and textures, not to mention a fancy bottle of tequila at each table, would be a delight for guests at any occasion.
To see more Day of the Dead and chic Halloween party inspiration check out this blog post on Hostess with the Mostess.
We are often asked how we go about choosing a location for our engagement sittings. The first thing we ask a couple once they’ve booked their session is what type of environment speaks to them? If they are outdoorsy, we will suggest a wooded park or hiking trail. If they’re into art, we will take them to a museum or an urban setting with interesting architecture. Sometimes our couples want the theme of their engagement shoot to reflect the wedding. For instance, if they are getting married at the Biltmore in Santa Barbara, we’ll suggest the session take place at an iconic setting like the Santa Barbara Mission. In Jeni and Brennon’s case, we took the opposite route. They are getting married in Palm Springs where they live, so our suggestion to get away from the desert heat and do our shoot on the beach sounded great to them. We all loved the idea that these images would be so different from the ones we would make at the wedding.
So once we’ve settled on a theme and place, how do we narrow down the location? It has to meet 3 basic criteria:
1. It is easy for our clients to get to without much difficulty. No matter how gorgeous the setting, if it is not safe to get there, we are going to pass.
2. It’s relatively private. This is important because we want our subjects to be at ease which can be difficult when there are hoards of tourists or lookie-loos all around. Also, we encourage our couples to bring a change of clothing, so having a place to slip into another outfit is key.
3. Finally, the location has to offer good variety. Most folks don’t have the luxury of devoting an entire day for this shoot, therefore we have to maximize the time we have. In this case, we were able to
photograph Jeni and Brennon in a meadow, the beach and amidst beautiful rock sculptures – all within close proximity.
Even though the subject of this blog post is an engagement session, the criteria I mention will also work in lots of other applications so keep them in mind the next time you are taking photos of your sweetie, kids or pets.
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These three little beauties served as junior bridesmaids in a wedding we recently photographed. Between their gorgeous floral headpieces, the lush garden setting and that glorious late afternoon sun, I knew I had a lovely image in the making.
Venue: Ojai Valley Inn
Event Coordination: XOXO Bride Events
Headpieces: Luna Gardens
With October being Adopt-A-Shelter-Dog Month, it’s the perfect time to add a sweet, cuddly new member to your family. There are so many adorable dogs and puppies waiting to be rescued at this very moment. This little cutie came from C.A.R.E. 4 PAWS, a no kill shelter in Santa Barbara.
If you’re ready to adopt a shelter dog, Petfinder has lots of great information to help with the transition, like a check list of of things you should have in place before you bring your new buddy home. Even if adopting is not in the cards for you right now, Petfinder has lots of suggestions for ways you can help.
In celebration of this month, Buried Bone Photo, our pet division is offering 50% off our sitting fee for any dogs adopted in the month of October. Please contact the studio for more details.
If you’d like to see more adorable pups, you might like this post.
