michelle garcia.

Instagram of the Moment

2012-02-07T11:36:00.000-08:00

My kitchen window has to be the favorite part of my house. The light that pours though it in the morning is top notch. I absolutely love the way it is bouncing off Edward's shoulder here.

More kitchen window goodness.

Follow me on Instagram. Username: mgarciarn

Olivia's First Christmas

2012-02-06T11:56:00.000-08:00

I know I am ridiculously late in posting these pictures, but like the old saying goes, better late than never...right!?

We spent the first part of Olivia's first Christmas with my side of the family.

Then, we spent the evening with Edward's side of the family.

We had a blast reading letters to Santa that Edward and his brothers wrote when they were little. It sounded like the number one most requested item was money!!

Lilia Elyse

2012-01-24T08:34:00.001-08:00

Congratulations to Corina and Matt!

Lilia Elyse

January 12, 2012

6:21am

7 lbs 4 oz, 19 inches

Instagram of the Moment

2012-01-23T12:09:00.001-08:00

My favorite iPhone app, by far, is Instagram. I love how you get to share your day-to-day experiences with all your friends through a series of photos. I appreciate how it cuts out all the noise of "status updates" and focuses just on photography...or my personal favorite iphoneography.

So, I thought I would start a series on my blog entitled, Instagram of the Moment, featuring one of my favorite recent Instagram contributions. So here it is, my current fav photo...

Follow me on Instagram. Username: mgarciarn.

Ritu ♥'s Garrett Forever!

2012-01-22T15:53:00.001-08:00

I've known Ritu and Garrett for quite a while. Ritu and I saved lives together at UCLA Medical Center, and then, the three of us ~~goofed off~~ studied really hard through grad school. But now, Ritu and Garrett are getting married...and it's going to be awesome!!!

Here is a look at just how fantastic Ritu and Garrett are together...

I am very excited for their wedding in June. Look out Porterville! There's a party coming to town!

Roma

2012-01-10T11:07:00.000-08:00

Earlier today, I found myself daydreaming about our trip to Rome last summer. In light of this, I decided to post some of my favorite pics that I took in the ancient city.

Ciao!!

Valerie & Mike

2011-12-27T11:00:00.000-08:00

I met Valerie and Mike through my dear friend Lauren. They are from the Washington D.C. area and are planning a Spring destination wedding in sunny Southern California. They are getting married in April on a hilltop overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean. A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of shooting some pics of them to celebrate their engagement.

I had a wonderful time capturing this moment in their lives.

Mele Kalikimaka

2011-12-26T18:20:00.000-08:00

...means Merry Christmas in Hawaiian.

We just got back from our first family vacation to Hawaii. We spent five days soaking up the sun in Oahu. Liv traveled really well and had a blast. Her favorite part was playing in the sand on the beach. My favorite part was the two glorious hours I spent in an oceanfront day spa.

It was neat to be on the islands for part of the holiday season. Christmas music sounds better when it has a Hawaiian twist. The Hawaiian laid-back attitude really took away from the hustle and bustle that usually comes with the season. Overall, it was a great trip and Edward and I can't wait to take another adventure with our little one.

Tripod family picture on our balcony and the lovely (partial) ocean view from it.

Liv was excited to celebrate Daddy's birthday.

Liv made some friends at Rainbow's and we got some tasty grub.

Aloha!

Pics taken with Canon 50D, iPhone 4S and Instagram on iPhone 4S.

L♥VE...

2011-12-12T10:18:00.000-08:00

...my boo.

Photos taken with Instagram on iPhone 4S.

Waiting for Lilia

2011-11-20T18:26:00.001-08:00

I'm so excited for my good friends Corina and Matt. They are having a little girl! Lilia is due in just eight short weeks. They are going to make such amazing parents. I can't wait for them to join us in this crazy, wild and purely wonderful thing called parenthood.

I can't wait to meet Lilia, and neither can Olivia. She is looking forward to causing some trouble with her new friend.

Homemade Baby Food...Yum!!

2011-10-10T17:40:00.000-07:00

I'll admit I'm one of those tree-hugging, save the earth, organic moms, that uses cloth diapers and makes her own baby food. Well, now I make my own baby food. A few weeks ago Olivia started eating solids. After the joy of eating rice cereal wore off, Liv decided she wanted to try some green beans. So, I got a recipe from this nifty little website. I love making Liv her own food because I know exactly what ingredients are going into her food and I can also add my breastmilk to the purees instead of just plain water.

Yum! Green Beans!

Steaming the green beans.

Pureeing the green beans.

"Do I even like green beans??"

"Yes!! I love green beans. Especially the ones my mommy makes."

Simple Joys

2011-10-04T10:50:00.000-07:00

Edward and I love the simple joys of being a parent. Even diaper changes are fun...

Liv, you make life a little brighter. XOXO.

Evelyn Grace Foundation

2011-09-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

She is one of the strongest and most resilient people I have ever met. She has been through some very hard times, but hasn't given up fighting for her cause. I am so lucky to have met such a courageous woman. Bobbie Doyle, you are one of my heroes.

Bobbie is the founder of the Evelyn Grace Foundation. She started the foundation in loving memory of her beautiful daughter, Evelyn. This organization raises funds for infant leukemia research and supports families that are battling through the hardship of infant and childhood leukemia.

Recently, the Evelyn Grace Foundation had a fundraiser at a wine bar in Long Beach, California. The afternoon was a great success. We tasted some yummy wines and appetizers, and there was a silent auction and raffle for some really great items.

It was a great event that raised money for such an important cause. Please visit Evelyn Grace Foundation to learn how you can help raise funds for infant and childhood leukemia research and learn ways to help support families with children fighting this illness. Thank you Bobbie for putting together such a successful fundraiser...you are amazing!

We Left our Hearts in San Francisco

2011-09-17T09:51:00.000-07:00

For Labor Day this year, we flew up north to the Bay Area for a wedding and to take in the beautiful city of San Francisco. It was also Olivia's first flight, so we definitely had our fingers crossed for a well behaved baby. We didn't want to be the parents of "that baby". A baby that decides that the best time to exercise her lungs is when everyone's seat backs and tray tables are in an upright and locked position.

Thankfully Olivia was very well behaved and enjoyed every minute of her first flight.

A quick cellphone shot of Liv right before take off.

Once we arrived, we drove up to wine country to Alli and Alex's wedding. Their wedding overlooked a beautiful vineyard and the weather was just perfect.

The next day, we took the short drive to San Francisco. Both Edward and I haven't been to San Francisco in years. I had forgotten how beautiful that city is. I love how you still get the big city feel while you are there, but the streets are just a little bit wider, and there are actually places available to park a car!

In the mornings, we would walk over to the neighborhood bakery and coffee shop for a light breakfast. Then, one of the days we met up with some friends in the Inner Sunset area for some delicious Thai food.

Before we left, we visited one of the parks in the Presidio with a gorgeous view of the Golden Gate Bridge. I think this was Liv's favorite part of the whole trip.

Pics taken with Canon 50D, 50mm 1.4f and iPhone 4.

The Philip Family

2011-09-13T17:01:00.000-07:00

A little while back I was fortunate enough to snap a few pics of my good friend Suhad and her beautiful family. The girls were such troopers and did such a awesome job smiling for the camera. It was a great afternoon hanging out together.

I Love...

2011-08-15T20:33:00.000-07:00

All photos taken with Hipstamatic for iPhone.

...her.

Beach Day

2011-07-05T10:36:00.000-07:00

For this 4th of July, we decided to do what any good American does and head out to the beach. It was Olivia's first beach day and she had a blast.

Hipstamatic for iPhone, Lens: Chunky, Film: Kodot XGrizzled, Flash: Off

Liv and Daddy on the beach in Malibu.

Owen is ONE!!

2011-06-27T10:03:00.000-07:00

I can't believe little Owen is ONE!

I'm sure, by now, everyone knows Owen is my bestie, Jennifer's, little boy. It has been such a blessing to watch him grow up over this past year and a true joy to document it...such as here and here.

Happy birthday little Owen.

I can't wait to see all the cuteness that this next year will bring.

Marli Rose

2011-06-06T12:06:00.000-07:00

I was so excited when I found out that my friend Claudia and I were pregnant at the same time. Our girls were even due within two weeks of each other. A few weeks ago I finally got a chance to meet Claudia's little peanut, Marli Rose...

Marli loves her paci...

Congratulations Claudia and Mark. Marli is breathtaking. I'm so happy I can join you in the joy of watching her grow.

Olivia at 7 weeks

2011-06-01T10:55:00.000-07:00

Now that we have had some time to get acquainted with our new addition and our new way of life, I think it's time I better start posting pics of Olivia.

I've come to realize that it's pretty hard taking photos of your own kid...well at least until now. Probably because I spent the past eight weeks knee deep in the chaos of being a new mom. But now, I think I have finally started to figure out this mommy thing. I have learned her sleepy ques, her tired cries and her hungry dance. She is sleeping through the night and smiling in response to my goofy faces. She warms my heart and gives me purpose.

Olivia at 7 weeks...

Hello World

2011-04-11T17:03:00.000-07:00

Introducing...

Olivia Noelle Garcia

Born April 5, 2011 at 2:49am

7 pounds 1 ounce, 20 3/4 inches

to proud parents Edward and Michelle

Olivia's New Pad

2011-04-02T16:36:00.000-07:00

We finally finished Olivia's nursery!

Her room took a lot of planning. I knew I didn't want anything too girly, because I'm not really into "pink pretty princess stuff". So as I was shopping around for various baby items, I was inspired by this really cute crib bedding set from Pottery Barn Kids. So I decided to go with a nature theme featuring owls and birds. I also wanted to make the nursery very personalized. So, a lot of the items in the nursery were hand made by either Edward or myself.

I personalized her room with these colorful letters from Anthropologie. Definitely my most favorite store ever for everything from clothes to home decor.

I made this owl mobile using felt and colorful yarn from Michael's Craft Store.

I had to feature some of these cute shoes she already has waiting for her. I love the little baby Toms.

Since Edward is a language arts teacher and book lover, he is really looking forward to reading to her daily. So we decorated her shelves with colorful storybooks, some of which we collected from nearby antique stores.

Edward and I hand painted the art for her room. We were inspired by the cute and colorful prints by Jane Jenni. Here is our rendition of "Happy Camper"...

...and "Sweet Pea"...

...and "Book Worm".

I also created a print on Photoshop of one of our favorite bible verses.

I found this cute "O" pillow at HomeGoods. Seriously, one of the best stores for great deals on home decor.

Owl nightlight from Urban Outfitters.

Hayley crib sheet from Pottery Barn Kids.

Edward hand painted a tree featuring a golden bird over Olivia's crib.

Now we're just missing one thing to complete the nursery...little Olivia. Only 10 days, plus or minus a few, before her arrival!! I hope she likes her new pad as much as we do.

Arielle & Dave

2011-03-20T19:38:00.000-07:00

Arielle and Dave got married earlier this year...

and now they are getting ready for a spring time wedding reception. In the mean time though, Arielle is hitting the books finishing up her last semester in nursing school and Dave is a busy man serving our country in the Marines. But despite their busy schedules, I'm sure their celebration will be beautiful and come off without a hitch. I had a great time hanging out with these two, making them laugh with my "skillful" posing directions, and snapping their pics.

I wish you two the best of luck...Mr. and Mrs. Loeper.

Spearmint Baby

2011-02-12T17:14:00.000-08:00

If you don't know already, my husband and I are expecting our first baby this April. We are very excited and have been busy getting everything ready and just right for our little girl. In the meantime though, my belly seems to be growing at an alarming rate and managing my daily activities is requiring more and more creativity.

Here is my rapidly expanding baby bump at 31 weeks.

Hipstamatic for iPhone, Lens: John S, Film: Kodot XGrizzled, Flash: off

And speaking of baby bumps, I have recently started following the blog www.spearmintbaby.com for cute nursery and baby ideas. The writer, Sheri, has a cute regular posting called Show Your Bump. So, if you are so inclined, check out my featured bump at 25 weeks and, while you're at it, all the other great posts on the site.

Owen the Drool Monster

2011-01-30T12:49:00.000-08:00

I can't believe little Owen is 7 months old today! I can still clearly remember the day he was born. Owen is my bestest friend Jennifer's little drool monster. He's cutting his first two teeth right now and he is making that quite evident by the extraordinary amount of slobber that accompanies his kisses lately. I love it! Only a kiddo this cute can get away with drooling all over you.

Happy 7 month birthday Owen!

Catching Up

2011-01-25T18:04:00.000-08:00

Life has been interesting lately. I've been spending a lot of my time doing the whole "nesting" thing. Ya know, going through the house trying to organize and clean out the clutter. I guess that's one of the mandatory things you do when you're getting ready for a little one. It's a good thing though, because usually I'm terrible at cleaning up.

Well, since I'm on an organizing and cleaning kick, I guess I should go through some of my old pics I haven't gotten around to posting.

These pics are from April and Paul Verlasky's wedding way back in September. On this day I had the honor of assisting the super fantastic Nicole Andrews of Nicoletta Photography. It's always a great time when I get to work Nicole.

Now back to the cleaning and organizing.

M.I.A.

2010-12-31T14:18:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I know I have been totally missing in action for the past couple of months. For that, I sincerely apologize to my three avid followers...LOL! Things have been crazy lately with a new job and being pregnant and all. I promise to update shortly with pics that I haven't gotten around to posting. So stay tuned.

I'll leave you with a little lovin' from our recent trip to NYC. I experimented with 120mm film and the Diana F+ camera. It was a fun little project.

Thanks for visiting and have a happy and safe new year.

30 Is the New 20

2010-09-14T20:08:00.000-07:00

This summer my friend Ritu turned the dirty thirty. But hey, as they say, thirty is the new twenty. So to celebrate being fabulous and thirty, we had a fun little birthday shoot. And to make the shoot complete, we brought along Ritu's boyfriend, Garrett, for a little eye-candy.

Happy Birthday Ritu!

P.S Stay tuned for the finale of our fun and fantastic trip to Italy.

Capri

2010-08-18T17:43:00.000-07:00

Our first day trip from Sorrento was to Capri. Ever since hearing stories of how the classic Hollywood stars would vacation on this Italian paradise, I have always dreamed of visiting Capri. Capri did not disappoint, it was such a beautiful and quaint island. I loved the all the bright colors that coated the doors and windows of the town. The splashes of red, blue, yellow and green gave the island a fresh, Mediterranean feel.

This area of Italy is famous for handmade leather sandals. In this shop, all you had to do was pick a style that you liked and this fine gentleman would fit the sandals perfectly to your feet. There were hundreds of styles to choose from. I picked up a pair...and I LOVE them!!

Next stop, Positano.

Sorrento

2010-08-17T23:09:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I took a little hiatus from here, but I'm back and ready to pick up from where we left off on our trip to Italy.

Our next stop after Florence was Sorrento. Sorrento was a nice little coastal town that served as a home base for us for our day trips to Capri and Positano.

This restaurant, Inn Bufalito, served the most amazing Buffalo Mozzarella I have ever had. All of the ingredients in their meals came from local areas around Sorrento. All of the food was so delicious and fresh that Edward and I dined there four of our five nights in town! I'm still dreaming of their caprese salad.

On our last day in Sorrento, Edward and I rented a scooter and explored the hills and a local beach. It was a fun and hair raising adventure, and a definite must if you're in Italy. You're not one with the Italians unless you drive a scooter. So, to document our adventure we snapped a pic using a little self-timer-atop-a-trash-can action.

Next Stop, Capri.

Firenze

2010-07-27T22:10:00.000-07:00

Wanderlust is my middle name.

Last week, Edward and I returned from an amazing trip to Italy. We saw some of the most beautiful and historic places on earth and tasted some of the most delicious food we have ever had. All these delights just continue to fuel my desire to wander.

I'm not quite sure why I love to wander so much. Maybe, it's because I can never sit still for more than five minutes. Or maybe it's because I have a mind that constantly wanders. Whatever it is...I love it, and I never want it to go away.

Florence was the first city we visited.

Florence...The birth place of Michelangelo. Amazing coconut gelato. Espresso. Beautiful Italian leather purses. Awe inspiring works of art. Musicians. Artists. Tuscan beauty.

Next stop, Sorrento.

One for the Road

2010-07-07T22:45:00.000-07:00

Arrivederci friends!

Edward and I are off to Italy for a little fun under the Tuscan sun. I am super excited because this trip has been years in the making. I have dreamed of Italy ever since my roommate in college came back from her trip there with beautiful pictures of colorful little houses etched into the cliffside of Cinque Terre. Over the years, Edward and I have been collecting Italy tour books and Italian language books in preparation for our trip...but more so, these books served as little promises that, one day, we WILL make it there. Well, tomorrow morning is the big day...LAX to FCO.

Before I go to start my packing, I'll leave you with a little sneak peak of Vanessa and Eddie's wedding that I shot last week with the super fly Nicole Andrews of Nicoletta Photography. I had an amazing time working with Nicole. I couldn't have asked for a better experience.

Special Delivery

2010-07-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

On June 30, 2010, Owen Michael Charoenrath was born.

It was a happy day.

Congratulations to my very best friends, Jennifer and Dan. He is beautiful. You guys are so blessed.

jisel & fermin. a wedding.

2010-06-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had the wonderful opportunity to work with the talented Santiago Valencia. Debra Morrison and I assisted him in documenting Jisel and Fermin's wedding in Long Beach. It was a fun wedding full of Latin flavor. I had a blast working with Santiago and Deb and I can't wait to do it again.

Here are a few of the photos I snapped throughout the day...

Thanks again Santiago for this great opportunity to work with you.

Annie + David

2010-06-10T23:01:00.000-07:00

Annie is my sister-in-law's sister. That makes her my Sister-in-Law "Squared". You know, like to the second power...exponents? Anybody??

So, Annie and David are getting married next June. I know its a year away, but sure enough, it will be here before you know it. And besides, Annie is going to be plenty busy over the next year because not only does she have an awesome wedding to plan, but she has a Harvard graduate degree to finish! Yeah, that's right, I said Harvard.

So, in celebration of the upcoming year, we snapped some super sweet photos of the newly engaged couple. We had such a blast hanging out that afternoon. David was such a character that he had us all constantly laughing. It really made my job easy because I didn't have to ask them to get into cute poses or look this way or that way, it just came naturally. That afternoon, I'm pretty sure I over heard David declare, "I think I want to be a model!"

David, I definitely think you should!

Coming Soon

2010-05-30T23:39:00.000-07:00

I had an amazing time shooting Annie and David's engagement photos this afternoon. I can't wait to finish going through all the pics. Here's a little sneak peek of all the fun we had.

Practice Makes Perfect

2010-05-30T14:47:00.000-07:00

The other day I went out for a practice shoot. Ya know...practicing exposure and what not in different lighting situations. Well, apparently Lucy was really feelin' it that afternoon and decided to get into the modeling spirit. So, here's a snazzy pic I shot of the super fine Lucy G.

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

Miss Jessica B

2010-05-27T19:48:00.000-07:00

I just love this girl.

I met Jessica when we were in nursing school at San Diego State and we've been friends ever since. Unfortunately, we don't get to see each other as much anymore because she still lives in San Diego, but when we do get to hang out it's always fun times.

To me, Jess has always seemed wise beyond her years. She is confident in herself as a person and never changes who she is just to make others happy. She is one classy lady. But don't get me wrong, she can hang with the boys too. On Sundays, during football season, you will find her at Qualcomm Stadium cheering on the Chargers, and during the rest of the year you'll find her watching baseball or at the driving range. So watch out boys, she'll give you a run for your money!

So anyway, we got to hangout this past weekend and after tricking her into posing for me, these were the results.

Thanks Jess for being such a good sport.

XOXO.

Where a Kid Can be a Kid

2010-05-23T12:46:00.000-07:00

Oh, to be a kid again...

Yesterday, the fam-bam got together for Jennifer and Dan's baby shower. Everyone was in good spirits as we celebrated the upcoming arrival of baby Owen. However, I think Nathan was in especially great spirits.

Nathan, my cutie-pie nephew, will be five this August. He was having tons-o-fun at the gathering; laughing, running, jumping, reciting the unauthorized biography of Megatron, the evil Transformer...

As we lounged around the backyard, the setting sun wrapped its arms around us and gave us a preview of what's in store for the summer. I can't wait for more afternoons just like this. Woohoo!

Thanks Nathan, for giving me a much needed dose of pure clean fun.

Self Portrait

2010-05-21T17:34:00.000-07:00

Jennifer is Enceinte

2010-05-18T14:10:00.000-07:00

So long ago, my BFF met Ed's BFF. They decided they liked each other a lot, so they got married. Now, Jennifer and Dan are having a baby...Owen Michael. We are all going to be one big happy family!!!

Jennifer and Dan's baby shower is this weekend. So, in preparation for the big event we shot some pics to document this exciting time in their lives.

We can't wait to meet you Owen.

I Just Can't Get Enough

2010-04-26T14:50:00.000-07:00

Inspiration...

There are so many amazing artists out there. All I have to do is take a little surf on the internet and there it is. So much talent, so many ideas, so much inspiration. Here are a few sites that have sparked my interest lately: Green Wedding Shoes and Frenchie & Flea...(and all the other amazing photographers and bloggers listed on the toolbar to the right. LOL!) I love these sites. I love how each photospread tells a story, and leans a bit toward the imagination.

So, here are some photos starring the beautiful Darren and Emily...plus a little imagination.

P.S. I adore Vanity Fair's photo-spreads too. They're rad.

Love Is...

2010-04-19T21:49:00.000-07:00

"...waiting half of our life time to spend the rest of our lives together."

This past Saturday, the most anticipated event of the decade took place. Marisa and Mark got married. It was a true honor and joy to be a part of it. Marisa was so beautiful and radiant. She was the happiest I have ever seen her. I loved it!

Although I would have loved to shoot every aspect of her wedding, I had to stay loyal to my primary duty that day, as bridesmaid. But never fear, the talented Kate Connolly did an amazing job documenting Marisa's wedding. I did, however, get a chance to snap a couple pics of the beautiful bride as we were all getting ready.

Congratulations to Marisa and Mark! I love you guys.

Extreme Nature Ahead

2010-04-13T15:47:00.000-07:00

While in Vancouver, Edward and I visited the Capilano Suspension Bridge. This bridge was originally built in 1889. It runs a staggering 450 feet long and 230 feet above the Capilano River. The park also had treetop bridges that were built into the branches of the surrounding Douglas Firs. It was a great way to get up close and personal with mama nature.

Everything was so misty and green that I felt like I was running through the treetops in a scene from Twilight. LOL!! (Don't hate me because I'm so cheesy.)

This is a Nurse Log. A nurse log is a fallen tree that has begun to decay and provides nutrients to new seedlings. Ahhhh...isn't that cute!?

Interestingly, while there, I discovered that one of my long lost ancestors helped to build the Capilano Suspension Bridge. In that case, shouldn't I be getting kick-backs on all the admission fees!!?!

I love visiting scenic areas like this. It's nature in the raw, a reminder of how beautiful our world really is.

I'm a Sucker for Flattery

2010-04-11T13:14:00.000-07:00

SCENE I

The Setting:
A rainy day in Seattle
April 2010
Pike's Place Market
at a freshly fried mini doughnut stand

Characters:
Grungy Seattle doughnut maker
Edward

[Edward approaches mini doughnut stand]

Edward
Hi, how are you?

Grungy Seattle doughnut maker
Great, now that you're here!!

Edward
Wow. I'm a sucker for flattery. You just earned yourself a tip.

Grungy Seattle doughnut maker
Wow. Awesome!

Edward
I'll have a dozen assorted please.

Grungy Seattle doughnut maker
I'm going to assort the hell out of these!

***

SCENE II

Setting:
A rainy day in Seattle
April 2010
Alley beneath Pike's Place Market
Wall of Gum

Characters:
man

[man enters. photo taken.]

Super, Natural British Columbia

2010-04-06T23:05:00.000-07:00

Mama nature at it's finest.

This trip has definitely been full of beautiful vistas and natural wonders. After we finished conquering the slopes of Whistler and Blackcom b, we drove back to Vancouver via the breathtaking Sea to Sky Highway. We passed lush green mountains, towering Douglas firs, rushing water falls and the beautiful waters of Horseshoe Bay.

Check it "oot".

Some self-timer, tripod action.

Oh, and being the true Californians that we are, Edward and I were not prepared for all the Pacific Northwest rain. So, I picked myself up a pair of snazzy new rain/snow boots. Aren't they cute?

Tomorrow, we're venturing to Seattle to get ourselves a tasty bucket 'o crab. Yum-o.

We made it to Whistler...eh!

2010-04-02T17:56:00.000-07:00

Snow!

After our early morning flight out of LAX to Vancouver, and beautiful scenic drive up the Sea to Sky Highway, we finally made it to Whistler. Edward and I do love our snowboarding and have always talked about making a trip up to "the best" mountain in North America. The ski village here is so great. It is sooo much larger than the one in Mammoth. There are plenty of ski and snowboard shops and quaint little restaurants and pubs. I can't wait to hit them all up. But most importantly, I can't wait to hit the slopes! Right now it's snowing cats and dogs...or should I say deer and antelope. (Okay, that joke was lame.) I can't wait for all the freshies tomorrow!

This is whats going on outside our hotel window right now:

You Know You're a Dog Lover When...

2010-03-29T18:50:00.000-07:00

...you actually like wet dog smell.

Lucy, on the other hand, does not.

Mr. Cool

2010-03-27T10:55:00.000-07:00

There is this guy I know...

He's really cute.
He sings in the shower.
He always knows the answers to all the game show questions.
He takes care of me.
He always messes up the words to songs.
He cooks a mean macaroni and cheese.
He's quiet.
He's so funny.
He has to take a nap everyday.
He plays video games, a lot.
He knows how to spell everything.
He supports me.
His head is entirely too big, and so are his feet.
He's so smart.
He does the dishes.
His eyes squint closed when he laughs.

He loves me.
He makes me "me".

I'm so lucky.

(almost) Winner Winner!!

2010-03-22T16:45:00.000-07:00

So, a little update on the Digital Photography School Life photo competition...

I didn't win one of the super cool top three prizes, but I made the top 10! I can't believe it. There were about 2000 entries and my little photo was considered one of the best. Thanks DPS!!

On another note, Edward and I are looking forward to our mini vaca to Vancouver next week. It is going to be so great to just get away and spend time together. Our typical work week is always so hectic, so it will be nice to have a little down time. Not to mention, I hear Vancouver is so beautiful that I can't wait to photograph it in all it's glory.

I'll leave you with another pic from last weeks shoot with Emily. Enjoy.

Broadway Baby

2010-03-19T11:03:00.000-07:00

I ♥ taking photos of Emily.

Emily not only is my uber beautiful sister-in-law, but she is also an extremely gifted singer. I remember the first time I went to see her perform. It was at her junior recital. She walked out onto the stage in her fancy gown and the moment she opened her mouth, mine did too...it dropped open from complete and utter shock. She was amazing! I couldn't believe it. My goofy sister-in-law, who I often get into trouble with, was an amazing opera singer. Crazy huh!?!?

Well for all you talent scouts or casting agents who often read my blog, you need the incredible Emily in your next production!! She's totally Broadway baby!!

Human Frame

2010-03-16T19:32:00.000-07:00

Last month I entered a photo contest via the Digital Photography School web site. DPS is a nifty little site that is run by Darren Rowse. The site is chock full of helpful photo tips, competitions and post-production tidbits. The theme of the four week long competition was Life. I entered a photo each week and spent quite a bit a time thinking about interesting ways to interpret the theme.

Almost two thousand images were entered into the contest, 1,925 to be exact. Imagine how stoked I was to discover that one of my photos was chosen as one of the top 77 photos in the competition. So awesome! It is such an honor to just to be in the top group of images. Thanks DPS!!

There will be a first, second and third place winner announced this Saturday March 20th. The first place prize is a $1,600.00 credit to DigitalREV. Now, that's exciting!

My entry:

"Human Frame"

Canon EOS 50D, 50mm, 1/500sec, 2.0f, ISO 200

When Life Gives You Lemons...

2010-03-08T20:58:00.000-08:00

...make lemonade.

So, I had this perfect photo shoot planned out. I was going to shoot some of my friends from school. We planned to go down to the Santa Monica pier and and take advantage of the setting sun and it's perfect light. Well, that didn't happen. It was a nasty gloomy day, with a chance of rain. Ugh!!

Panic set in as we tried to think of another place we could shoot that would provide some weather protection. We decided on the LA Farmers Market. I was covered (sort of), just in case it decided to rain. Well, good news was, we didn't get rained on. Bad news, multiple kinds of light in one location leads to one tricky shoot. Oh my! So, in the words of Project Runway's Tim Gunn, I had to "Make it work."

I learned a lot during this shoot:

-My friends are so great for agreeing to be my models and troopers for standing out in the cold just for the sake of the shoot.

-When lighting sources are mixed and the sun is still overhead, shoot in the shade...at all times!
-Fluorescent lights are EVIL!
-My friends are beautiful.

It's easy to get shots during the golden hour when the light is perfect. It's nice to occasionally get a chance to practice shooting in lighting situations that don't always go your way.

Life with Lucy

2010-02-25T20:25:00.000-08:00

I ♥ Lucy.

It rained last night and today turned out to be so beautiful. It's always so nice the day after rain. I was so excited all morning because I knew the light this afternoon would be perfect. So, in order to not waste this precious light, I recruited my top model...Lucy.

Lucy spends her entire day eagerly awaiting her afternoon walks. Lucky for her, our neighborhood has a lot of little parks with large lawns and spacious fields. When Lucy reaches one her playgrounds, her eyes glisten and ears perk up. She just can't wait to roll around and cover herself in the earthly scent of the ground.

Classic Lucy.

Lucy is such a character.

Yogi Tea Quote of the Day

2010-02-19T14:49:00.000-08:00

I'm sick. So I am trying to rest and drink plenty of fluids to get rid of this nasty virus. Among those fluids is my good ol' Yogi Tea. Today's Yogi quote is,

"Patience gives the power to practice; practice gives the power that leads to perfection"

Wow! So true. This will be my new photo mantra.

Yogi Tea, you're so wise.

20 Weeks

2010-02-18T17:30:00.000-08:00

My BFF Jen is 20 weeks pregnant. Holy moly! She's half way there. At this point, her baby is about 10 1/2 ounces and about 10 inches from head to heel - the length of a banana.

That 'ish is bananas...B-A-N-A-N-A-S!!

How exciting Jen. I can't wait till your baby is the size of a small pumpkin.

...P-U-M-P-K-I-N!!!

Photo of the Weekend

2010-02-14T12:06:00.000-08:00

My girlfriends and I just hosted my dear friend Marisa's bridal shower. So, of course, we played all the necessary silly games, including the one where you make a wedding dress out of toilet paper. We had some pretty skilled ladies in attendance and the TP dresses turned out pretty nice. But the photo of the weekend goes to one of the TP models. The groom's grandmother was in attendance and really knew how to strut her stuff and showcase her beautiful TP gown.

She really knew how to, "Make it work!"

Yogi Tea Quote of the Day

2010-02-08T09:28:00.000-08:00

Edward and I have been on a Yogi Tea kick for the past month or so. We have always been hot tea lovers, but the Yogi brand really is our favorite. Right now we're diggin' the Chai Black and Echinacea flavors. Yummy.

Yogi tea not only leaves you with a great cup of tea, but also a bit of wisdom. The end of the tea bag is marked with meaningful words for the day. This morning mine read,

"To be great, feel great and act great."

Thanks Yogi tea. Will do.

On Exhibit

2010-02-07T17:31:00.000-08:00

I have a photo hanging somewhere other than my living room.

There is this quaint little French coffee shop in Thousand Oaks called Chocolatine. It has been there for several years now. I would always notice it as I drove by and think, "I bet that place is pretty good. I should check it out." It's French after all.

Well, a couple of weeks ago we finally visited. Apparently it was good because we dropped over 50 bucks there!! We practically tried everything on the menu. This little eatery specializes in chocolate truffles and delectable French pastries. They serve up a nice cup-o-coffee too. Yum-o.

As we enjoyed our afternoon treats, I noticed the walls were decorated with pieces from local artists. I decided to ask the friendly owner, Hugo, if I could possibly display one of my photographs on his wall. I prepared myself for a big fat, "Are you crazy? Heck no!" But surprisingly, Hugo agreed to let me show one of my photos.

Today, I brought Hugo a photo of the Arc de Triomphe I took in Paris this past summer. After I brought it in, he quickly placed it on the wall right next to the register and pastry case. I smiled. I thought it looked pretty darn good there. I was so excited just to have an opportunity to have one of my photos in a public place. Woohoo! To make things even sweeter, about five minutes later, a group of people came into the cafe and noticed my photo. They stopped and started admiring it and asking Hugo about it. I really couldn't believe it. I am so flattered that even three people noticed and appreciated my photo. Thank you Hugo for this chance to show off my work and for making such tasty French delights.

So cool.

Golden Hour

2010-02-04T17:24:00.000-08:00

My favorite time of day is in the evening, after Edward gets home from work. It's usually about an hour before the sun goes down. Photographers hail this special time as the Golden Hour. The sun is setting and laying the last of it's golden rays in the sky. It's as though the last rays of sun are giving a goodbye hug to the world. It's a peaceful time and the best way to end the day.

This is the time Lucy gets to take her daily walk and Edward and I get to unwind and just be.

Change is Good?

2010-01-29T19:43:00.000-08:00

So, I don't know what I'm doing.

As you may have already noticed, I changed my blog up a little bit. I decided to officially start using this space as a place to display my photographs and document my journey of becoming the best photographer I can be. I know this is going to be a work in progress, and I hope that you'll stick with me along the way.

Also, just to make things a bit more streamlined, my blog has a new address, www.michellegarciaphoto.com. So please take note. Don't worry though, this blog is still very much about Edward and Michelle (and Lucy). I would never disappoint our avid readers. And on that note, yesterday was self portrait day. Yes, we set up the tripod and switched on the self timer, Holla!!

Thanks, and feel free to come along for the ride.

Mini Me

2010-01-28T21:56:00.001-08:00

Introducing Mason Donavon.

Marvin, my surfing buddy, just had a baby, Mason Donavon. Mason is a super cutie that is the spitting image of his daddy.

Congratulations Marvin and May.

Face Time

2010-01-19T16:58:00.000-08:00

It's raining. Edward is sleeping. It's getting dark. Norah Jones is singing.

***

Thinking about how I need to show more appreciation for these AMAZING people in my life:

...and all the other fantastic people in my life that I don't have pretty portraits of. You guys are my rock. Thank you for helping me realize how lucky I am. I couldn't do anything without you. I love you.

Personal Anthem 2010

2010-01-18T16:37:00.000-08:00

Keep Breathing

The storm is coming, but I don't mind.
People are dying, I close my blinds.

All that I know is I'm breathing now.

I want to change the world, instead I sleep.
I want to believe in more than you and me.

But all that I know is I'm breathing.
All I can do is keep breathing.
All we can do is keep breathing now.

All that I know is I'm breathing.
All I can do is keep breathing.
All we can do is keep breathing.

All we can do is keep breathing now.

-Ingrid Michaelson

Listen here.

Cookie Monster

2010-01-17T19:16:00.000-08:00

Trader Joe's makes a tasty cookie called the Joe-Joe. It's basically their take on the Oreo, without all the trans fat and hydrogenated oils. As an added bonus, during Christmas time, candy cane pieces get incorporated into the creamy filling, adding a bit of holiday cheer. Well, now, Trader Joe's has really outdone themselves by making...wait for it...Doggy Joe-Joe's!

Lucy loves her Doggy Joe-Joe's!

M & M

2010-01-14T20:49:00.000-08:00

Yeah!!!

Marisa and Mark are getting married, in 92 days to be exact! This event has been 13 years in the making, so it's going to be amazing.

I'm not sure how this all started, if Marisa asked me to take their pictures or if I just pestered her into doing so. Either way, I'm so happy I did. I am so honored to be a part of their wedding and for a chance to document how much they really do like each other ;)

Awesome photo by Edward

Awesome photo by Edward

Marisa and Mark, you guys are so awesome and I am so lucky to have you both as friends. (Who else is going to show me where the bathroom is at the carwash?) Thank you so much for letting me do this for you. You guys have something that is so special and your love will last a lifetime. XOXO.

Finally Legal

2010-01-12T14:24:00.000-08:00

You can't go wrong with Disneyland for some good old fashioned fun.

This past Sunday was Leslie's birthday. Leslie is one of our besties and we couldn't wait to celebrate Magic Kingdom style. It was the usual suspects: Leslie, Thomas, Alex, Alli, Lauren, Jen, Edward and me.

Disneyland always makes you feel like a kid again. In Leslie's case, it shaved off ten years. Happy 18th birthday Les!! You're finally legal.

Unseasonably Warm

2010-01-08T20:23:00.000-08:00

I started out the day feeling so unmotivated. What else is new?

I don't really know what's feeding this lack of motivation. Is it the taunting list of things I have to do? School work. E-logs. Putting away Christmas decorations. Cooking. Cleaning. Paying bills. Is it all the stress of life? Retirement savings. Life insurance. Student loans. Nest eggs. Work! Or is it my constant daydreaming of all things photography that keeps me away from my responsibilities?

I've never really been one to run away from responsibility, but today, I just wanted to make like Forrest Gump and RUN!!!

When Edward got home from work today, we took a drive over to Malibu. We both had stressful weeks, so it was a welcome adventure. I really love Malibu. It's just far enough out of LA that it's not overcrowded with traffic and pollution (except in the height of summer).

Our drive through the canyon was so beautiful. The yellow glow of the setting sun was spilling over the mountains. We made our way to Point Dume. I hopped out of the car and scoped out the scene. It was unseasonably warm. The golden haze of the sun was skipping over the foliage and the ocean was a silvery blue. It was the most wonderful thing I had seen in a long time.

Being there made me happy. It was refreshing. It was like all the weight and worry inside of me went away with the setting sun.

How does God do that? How does He know the perfect way to renew your spirit?

Amazing.

Auld Lang Syne

2010-01-07T17:33:00.000-08:00

Every New Year, Auld Lang Syne is played at the stroke of midnight and someone always says, "What the heck does this song mean?"

Well, let me educate you on one of my many random facts. Auld Lang Syne is actually a Scottish poem written by Robert Burns in 1788. The song that many of us are most familiar with is actually the English translation of the poem. Occasionally, you may hear the song sung with some of the original Scottish words..."And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!

and gie's a hand o’ thine! And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught, for auld lang syne."

Auld Lang Syne means "days gone by" or "old times". So it's actually a song about reminiscing about old times with your friends. Also, the first, and most familiar part of the song..."all acquaintance be forgot", is actually a question not a statement. Should we forget about our acquaintances and good old times? ...Heck no!!

I remember this past NYE my brother-in-law, Eric, was listening to this song and said, "This song kinda sucks, why are they singing about forgetting your friends." Haha. Well, now we know it's not!

Anyway, for your viewing pleasure, the English lyrics to Auld Lang Syne:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And here's the hand, my trusty friend,
And gives a hand of thine,
And we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

Also, I can't leave you without some pics of our wild and crazy NYE festivities. We stayed home with some friends and played Cranium and indulged in some yummy food and drinks.

Happy New Year!

DeFabulous

2010-01-03T19:24:00.000-08:00

Because of the holidays, my brother's bestest friends came into town for a visit. Molly and David DeFrank just had their first child and she is definitely one of the cutest babies I've ever seen. (And I have seen a lot of babies.)

Since I'm always looking for fresh victims to practice my photo skills on, Molly and David felt sorry for me and let me snap a few pics of them and their super cute daughter, Selah.

Thank you to the DeFranks for being so DeFabulous!

Word.

2009-12-31T11:04:00.000-08:00

slow to a stroll-
placid perception turns
mundane into sublime

The City that Never Sleeps

2009-12-26T10:57:00.000-08:00

As I go through my pictures of my New York City trip from earlier this month, I can't help but marvel at this amazing city. Manhattan is such a cultural and artistic haven. I often wonder how they manage to fit all that beauty and creativity in 22 square miles.

I ♥ how at any hour, you can just walk out your door and have something do, or someone to meet. When we were there, my friends and I had dinner reservations at 11:15pm on a Monday night, and the restaurant was packed! We didn't leave until nearly 1am and patrons were still coming in. I ♥ it!!

New York City, you inspire me with your people, places and things.

I ♥ NY

Goes together like pizza and cupcakes

2009-12-21T18:09:00.000-08:00

After we crossed the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge, we headed over to Grimaldi's for a bite to eat. Grimaldi's is famous for their pizza baked in a coal-fired brick oven. This cooking process gives their pizza a unique smoky flavor and perfectly crispy crust. It's like no other pizza I've had before!

Anytime you make your way over to Grimaldi's, you better be prepared to wait in line. Pizza this good is no secret. We waited in line nearly an hour for our little slice of heaven.

The chefs work double time to meet the huge demand for their tasty pies. They use freshly sliced mozzarella, not the typical shredded stuff, and their mini pepperonis are so juicy and packed with flavor. Yum-o! I wish they delivered all the way to LA.

After Grimaldi's we took the subway back over to Manhattan for some dessert. This trip kinda became an unofficial cupcake tasting. We had cupcakes practically everyday and we made it our mission to try out nearly every bakery in NYC to determine "The Best Cupcake in NYC".

The first stop on this night was Babycakes. This vegan bakery has been featured on Martha Stewart and Oprah. They also specialized in gluten-free, sugar free and soy-free baked goods. I'm sure this place is a great option for all you allergy prone folks, but I sure do love my milk, eggs and sugar!!

Next stop, Sugar Sweet Sunshine. This bakery was mighty tasty. My personal fave was the "Sassy Red Velvet". It had red velvet cake with black cherry/chocolate icing. Very interesting and delicious!

The two days before, we had already visited another legendary NYC bakery, Magnolia. I tried a cupcake with chocolate cake and chocolate icing and, of course, the red velvet. My gripe about Magnolia's red velvet cupcake it that the icing isn't made with cream cheese. It's made with a simple vanilla butter cream. What gives? The cream cheese icing is the best part of red velvet cupcakes.

On our final night, my friends made a trip to Crumbs. I didn't go because there is actually a Crumbs a few miles away from my house in Agoura Hills and I've already tried their cupcakes. Fortunately though, my friend Tina brought one to share while we waited for our plane at the airport. Wow! It really was good. The cake part was just right. Not too dry and not too moist.

My personal verdict on the best cupcake in NYC was Sugar Sweet Sunshine. I liked the unique twist on the Sassy Red Velvet. Crumbs is a close second, only because I have one a few minutes from my house (and that doesn't make it uniquely NYC) and, even though their cakes are delicious, they are monstrous in size. Seriously, they are like cupcakes on steroids. I like to keep to the normal sized cupcakes. That way I don't feel so guilty when I stuff my face with these calorie laden goodies.

Now, I need a serious detox.

There's a Bridge to Brooklyn...

2009-12-16T18:12:00.000-08:00

It was like magic. Like we were transforming into some dream sequence in a movie. This beautiful blue-orange light surrounded us as we were transported into a new world... Well, okay, we were just walking over to Brooklyn, but it was crazy beautiful.

My girlfriends and I just got back from six fantastic days in NYC. I fall more and more in love with that city each time I visit. My camera and I enjoyed every second of our trip.

...that leads to this killer pizza joint.

Travel Light...

2009-12-02T16:03:00.000-08:00

...Live Light

These past two mornings, as I trudged along in traffic on the 101 south, I noticed several flocks of birds flying in "V" formation. It was pretty neat because it seemed so peaceful. There I was stuck in the insanity that is Los Angeles traffic and a mere 100 feet above me was nature taking it's course. Nature is so simple and my life is so not. My mind slipped back to Elementary school and I could hear my teacher say, "Birds fly south for the winter." Birds are so smart. Even they know that vacations are good for you!!

Next week my friends and I are headed on vacation to New York City for some girl time. I'm really excited. It will be good to blow off a little steam after this hectic quarter in school. We leave next Thursday. In the mean time though, I have to tackle a huge paper and do a mountain of grading for this class I TA for. Boo!

To take a little escape from the end of the quarter rush, I did a little photo session with my ever beautiful sister-in-law, Emily. She is such a rockstar, mostly because she puts up with me constantly stalking her with my camera. Oh, and by-the-way, I got a new camera. It's a Canon 50D. I think it's pretty special.

...Spread the Light. Be the Light.

C Mode

2009-11-24T16:08:00.000-08:00

Photography comes from the two Greek root words photo and grapho, meaning "to write with light"

This past weekend my brother-in-law, Edmund, and I made the trek down to San Diego to attend Digital Days Photography Workshop. The two day workshop was sponsored by the magazine Popular Photography and Sony. The event lasted two days and it covered everything from photography basics to photo processing software.

The highlight of the weekend was the live model shoot. At first, I didn't think I would be interested in a studio lighting shoot. I usually don't take those kind of photos and prefer natural light, but it turned out to be really fun. Here are some of the goodies:

Edmund and I convinced Edward to nerd out with us on second day of the workshop. I was really excited because I have noticed that Edward has such a great eye for photos and if he just learned how to use a camera he would take such great pictures. So, on Edward's first day of ever using a digital SLR camera he got a crack at the studio models and took this rad photo...

How did he do that!? So unfair.

Welcome to the photo nerd club Edward!!

Goldmine

2009-10-31T11:47:00.000-07:00

Eureka!

While searching for awesome Halloween costume gear at my in-law's house, I came across an old camera from the 1970's. YES!!!

The black case that encompassed this little gem was cracked and worn and it felt like sandpaper under my fingers. Inside was a humble Canonet QL17. The "poor man's Leica", as some critics have called it.

I love messing around with old manual cameras, especially film cameras. I feel like THAT is the essence of the art of photography. With manual film cameras there is no faking it in auto modes or Photoshop.

Don't get me wrong though. I'm all about auto focus and Av or Tv modes when the situation is appropriate, and I wont lie, I call on Photoshop to increase my color saturation on my digital pics. But when it comes down to you and a camera, and figuring out the exact combination between F stop, shutter speed and natural light, that is where the challenge is. And if you can master that, auto focus and Photoshop are just bells and whistles...or better yet, not even necessary at all.

Oh joy! I can not wait.

P.S. Stoked on the super fast F1.7 lens!!

Time Capsule

2009-09-28T09:55:00.000-07:00

Last week I was going through my camera bag and came across 3 rolls of film. Yes, I said film. Kodak ISO 200 24 exposure film to be exact. I knew this film was from years ago, before I got my digital SLR.

Later that day, I made a trip down to Costco. A friend of mine works at the photo counter. As I plopped down the three little black canisters, I jokingly asked him, "Do you still develop film?" (I was also half serious.)

An hour later, I had a blast from the past. Okay, well, maybe the film was only two years old. But in this day and age, a lot can happen and change in two years.

I think I'm going to pull my film SLR back into rotation. Maybe instant gratification isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Stating the Obvious

2009-09-09T20:32:00.001-07:00

Photo of the Weekend

2009-09-07T22:02:00.000-07:00

Alex, the Grill Master, knows how to grill up a mean burger.
Happy Labor Day!