Disney-Pixar's "Up" Engagement Session Part II - Jackielyn and AJ

Here's Part II of more "Up" inspired goodness with Jackielyn and AJ. See Part I here. It was quite a challenge to get the dollhouse to the park. It did not fit in AJ's car so he had to hail a van/cab to transport it. The cab driver actually showed us the best spots in the park to shoot where there's not a lot of crowd traffic. Jackielyn's friend La Verne was a real trooper and helped looked for parking. The few people in the park, including kids, just enjoyed watching Jackielyn and AJ's photo shoot because these two were just having so much fun and everyone kept saying how much they loved "Up".

Keeping close to the dollhouse inspiration, the sweetest surprise are the real life victorian styled houses dotting the area where Jackielyn and AJ lives (helps that Pixar is 15 miles away). These houses look so similar to the balloon home Carl and Ellie lived in. What a perfect serendipity :-)

Disney-Pixar's "Up" Engagement Session Part I - Jackielyn and AJ

I don't think there is a Pixar movie that isn't beyond amazing. I've seen "Up" and the first 10 minutes -- every single time I watch it -- I cry buckets of tears. When Jackielyn called me and told me she was dead set on doing an "Up"-themed engagement session, I was more than delighted.

Well turns out the lovely couple -- Jackielyn and AJ -- were so similar to Ellie and Carl's personalities in Up. Jackielyn, like Ellie, is bursting with energy and made sure this shoot was one fun adventure. She took care of every little detail from the dollhouse, the balloons and the outfit. AJ was very calm, chill and along for the ride and making sure his bride-to-be was as happy and comfy as it can be.

Jackielyn and AJ wanted to capture the first scenes of the movie --- when Carl and Ellie first met to dream about their adventure to Paradise Falls. The weather was unusually perfect in the middle of autumn with the sky bluer than blue and dotted by wisps of cloud.  While on the laying on the picnic blanket they did have fun to thinking about what the cloud shapes might look like. They even have their own adventure book! I can't wait for AJ and Jackielyn to get hitched to begin the biggest adventure of their lives..then they can start filling up that adventure book.

Still have a lot of beautiful photographs to share....wait for Part II! :-)

Update: Check out Part II.

Color of Fall

Goodbye Indian Summer, Hello Autumn. Yellow, red and fallen leaves dot the landscape of Mt. Diablo, a 40 minute drive East of downtown San Francisco. The summit is enveloped with fog and clouds intertwined. Autumn is rain, hot chocolate, warmth and serenity.

First four photographs are taken from the summit of Mt. Diablo.

Random Little Things

Here's my day for you: online and on the phone for audio conferences by 6 am, instant messaging multiple people, putting instant oatmeal in the microwave and figuring out when to take the dog out for a potty break -- occurring simultaneously. Create list, check out things from the list, create a new list. Starbucks. Crunch numbers, answer emails and call people. And you know what's a mini-break? Refreshing Facebook. Even Facebook is now becoming pseudo-work with a set process. First, check the little red icons with numbers. Then check the messages. Then check the newsfeed. Or some permutation of these steps.

How do I unplug? I take my camera, put on my sneakers and take a walk. I pay attention.

When I visit my childhood home every year, I never venture in the garden. Until last September. I just realized my mom now keeps pink orchids. My last memory of orchids growing up were rows of deep dark violet dendrobiums. I need to ask mom why the orchid variety shift and when did this happen.



Here are two French-looking guys in San Francisco. I wave and they wave back and say hello in fake French.  They were rehearsing lines for the theatre.



It's pretty cool to not just look but to really see. Random little things and interesting characters. Being in the world with 100% undiluted attention.  Each photo = a second of seeing, being and clicking. In that critical moment, it is just you and the subject, plus the bonus of capturing what can no longer exactly be.

One second of clarity. No clutter. What a gift.

Baby Nina - Welcome to the World Baby Nina

Caught up with newbie parents Ronald and Cecil last Thursday to finally meet Baby Nina - - less than 2 weeks old. She is so precious and so tiny. Auntie Marj was there to make sure Baby Nina is a budding fashionista with outfit changes. Welcome Baby Nina and congratulations Ronald and Cecil!

Take a sprinkling of fairy dust,
An angel's single feather,
Also a dash of love and care,
Then mix them both together.
Add a sentiment or two,
A thoughtful wish or line,
A touch of stardust, a sunshine ray...
It's a recipe, for a Baby Girl truly fine.
                        -Author Unknown