{love this | jose villa | book release | photographer | mentor}

I was so ecstatic when I received Jose Villa’s book in the mail yesterday! I was jumping with glee and joy. The days leading up, I couldn’t wait to get it and peer into the mind of one of my all time favorite wedding photographers. The minute I heard he was releasing a book on how to capture images with style, I immediately pre-ordered the book. Come to find out, I was so excited I actually ended up ordering it twice, lol. I haven’t had a chance to sit down and read the book cover to cover, but I can’t wait. I plan on taking the day to sit down with a cup of coffee and read the whole book end to end and let it all soak in. From what I have already flipped through and briefly read I am in awe. Not only do I get to peer into Jose Villa’s mind, but I will have the chance to meet him at his book signing tonight. I am so overjoyed and ecstatic, I just can’t wait! What an honor it will be to meet and chat with someone I truly admire and respect. A big thank you to Jose Villa for being such a huge mentor to me (even if you don’t know it) and taking the time to put together this wonderful book with loads of insight and inspiration! I truly can’t thank you enough for being so open and sharing your skills and business. I am looking forward to your book and meeting you this evening! Here are a few images from the book as well as from his blog. Such beautiful and amazing talent!

{love this | fav spots | engagement + wedding + portrait}

I love colorful, vibrant, fun walls to use as backgrounds for anything ranging from weddings to portraits. The fun color and graphics can lead to a funny, cute or dramatic image to add to your home art. Check out these wonderful images below. I envision these as large wall portraits or gallery wraps as a display of art in each of the clients home. And since that is what all of these were ordered as I know each and everyone is being beautiful displayed as art in these wonderful homes.

{love this | shoes | prada}

From one of our recent photoshoots, our model had a pair of Prada shoes that I just adore! Sleek, sexy, smooth and stunning, not just to look at, but once they are on the feet too! Just makes you want to say oh la la! With my obsession for shoes I just couldn’t resist shooting some beauty shots of the gorgeous Prada’s. It is also a little sneak peek into our styled shoot we did with some amazing vendors! Keep checking back to get the full reveal soon!

{love this | location scouting | open field}

On my recent hunts for locations to shoot at, I have decided to bring along my camera and capture the beauty of the locations. So periodically I will share my favorite locations in their raw nature without subjects. I had a lot of fun photographing my scouting experience. I haven't photographed landscapes without people since I was in high school, and well that was a long time ago. It was fun going back to my roots. Hope you enjoy this new section of love this!

{love this | warhol inspiration | engagement}

a little warhol inspiration of love....

{love this | vendor spotlight | chic celebrations | event planning}

Gianna SanFilippo of Chic Celebrations is a remarkable event coordinator and one of the sweetest most heartfelt people I know! With such an open heart and friendly personality its no wonder she has a great rapport with her clients, making her the wonderful coordinator that she is! “I love seeing couples in love and walking them through the happiest time of their life.” She smiles.
Gianna started out her career as a banquet coordinator for a large corporate restaurant, where they held 3-5 weddings a year. Between those weddings, (that no one else wanted to handle, lucky for her) and her own wedding, Gianna knew that she wanted to pursue a career as a wedding coordinator. And thus Chic Celebrations was formed in 2006. Gianna started out with mainly corporate events from her previous contacts, knowing that it would lead her straight into weddings. When asked how she made it from the corporate world to taking the business plunge as a wedding coordinator she says “By staying determined, and not letting the discouraging moments turn into hours, weeks, months, years. I didn’t focus on what other people were doing, and stayed true to myself”. And thankfully for us she did.
Gianna’s style is very minimalist, timeless and classic look with a few pops of color. “I don’t want my clients to look back at their weddings and say "What was I thinking" she states. While Gianna incorporates the trends into each wedding, she stays true to the classic feel that her clients can look back on for years to come with enjoyment.

With her experience and ability to share that experience with her clients, Gianna is sure to create the wedding of your dreams. “I love sharing my experiences with my clients, getting to know their experiences and becoming friends” Gianna says. From the first moment she sits down with her clients Gianna is creating not just a relationship, but also a friendship. With planning such an important event Gianna wants to make sure that her and her clients mesh. “I like to make sure that we get each other and click.” Gianna says. Even if her style is different, she can make it work as long as there is a connection between her and the client.

When asked what is a typical wedding was for Gianna she laughs “Ha! There is no such thing as a typical wedding”. She walks each of her clients through their own planning process at a pace they are comfortable with, being their eyes and ears. “Some brides want a weekly update and progress report, while others want to meet once and check back in two weeks before the wedding” Gianna says.

Gianna revels to us that her least favorite part of the job is when it’s over. She falls in love with all her couples and becomes friends with them, having lunch and coffee dates long after the wedding is over. “I once teared up at the wedding because I knew I would no longer be talking to the bride everyday,” Gianna says.
Wondering what the benefits of hiring a wedding planner, Gianna tells all. “The knowledge base we come with. This is your first and hopefully only wedding to plan, while us planners have done hundreds. We come in handy from planning protocol to etiquette and we are a resource for brides. We make not just your day, but your planning pleasurable and relaxing. You can relish in your dinner, reception and company by letting us handle the minor stresses that happen so you can enjoy your day. We are a source of inspiration and information.”

Other than weddings and brides, Gianna loves movies, documentaries, jeopardy and traveling.

For your next event or wedding be sure to reach out to Gianna of Chic Celebrations, she will knock your socks off and melt your heart!

{love this | love story | valerie + scott}

Valerie & Scott meet over 10 years ago where there were both servers at Marie Calendars during undergrad school. They started as friends and through a little push from Val’s sister and WOW, the video game, their friendship soon flourished. Once school was done Valerie headed back to Orange County, but Scott made sure to stay in touch. “Scott would send me cute emails and we continued to play WOW, I remember one time he called to say he was in the area and invited me to Sushi” Val smiles. They continued seeing each other trading off every other weekend from OC to LA, with Val eventually moving to LA.
“I love that Val drinks dark beer, her drive to succeed, willingness to try new things, and the fact that she puts up with my idiosyncrasies, oh and her craft for making things.”
When asked where their first date was they both looked at each other in puzzlement, “I don’t know when our first date was, we just sorta hung out a lot and one thing led to another” Scott declares. After some thought, looking back and forth at each other and reminiscing, their first date comes back to them. “We watched the Dodger game and ordered pizza at Scott’s house.” Val laughs.

They went to many group activities with other friends, but Val and Scott remember their first group outing to Disneyland. “Scott bought me a rice crispy treat” “chocolate covered rice crispy treat” Scott chimes in “and he kept trying to ride all the rides with me.” “I love Scott for his taste in beer (even though I can outdrink him), his passion for travel, that he teaches me new things, his excitement for Buzz Lightyear and his love for his grandmother.
Val & Scott remember their engagement the best, not because it was the most recent, but because it was an adventure. In August of 2007 Val and Scott were going to Hawaii on a cruise around all the islands. Scott decided this is when he was going to propose to Val. He first asked Val parents for their blessing, “I couldn’t figure out why he wouldn’t let me go with him to visit MY parents, why can’t I go with you” she kept asking Scott.

Scott planned a custom 5 course dinner with a private chef on Maui beach at sunset and told the coordinator his plan to propose. The day has arrived and they are at the beach and Val looks at Scott “Why did you make me wear heels if we are going on the beach?” she grunts. “It’s just right here not far” as he points at the table wondering why there are three chairs set up. They head over to the table greeted by the chef who says I think you have the wrong table sir, Scott says no, gives him his name and the chef proceeds to say no, I just spoke to my client and they are 20 minutes out, there must be another table behind those rocks. So, Scott and Val (still in heels), hike around the beach trying to find their table, all while the sun is starting to set. Scott is getting nervous and Val is wondering why he is so nervous and thinking well if he is going to propose this is it. Scott calls the coordinator and explains that the chef isn’t here, she says oh let me call him right away. After a few phone calls back and forth the coordinator finally explains she can’t get a hold of the chef and apologizes, offering a refund and tells them to go to any restaurant they like and she will pick up the tab. “Well so much for my plan this isn’t going to happen now!” Scott thinks to himself. So they head back to town and go to a restaurant that the coordinator suggests. “When we get there the hostess asks do you have a reservation. No we tell her. Ehhh as her face scrunches, sorry we are completely booked, but there is another restaurant down the way.” A little past 8 and after a 25 minute wait the weary pair are finally seated at a table.
Scott thinks even though his plan didn’t work he still has the opportunity while they are in Hawaii to propose. He decided to just carry the ring with him. “I tucked the ring in the camera bag and never let the bag off my shoulder” he laughs.

The next day they drive around the island on Hana Highway in their rented convertible, passing one of the popular waterfalls, 3 Bears, they continue on to other hiking and sight seeing locations. On the way back to the ship Scott sees that 3 Bears is almost empty thinks this is perfect! He takes Vals hand and says “Come on lets go see this waterfall” Val feeling tired and gross says “No I am tired and done!” Scott convinces her to go and as they get down to the waters edge it is beautiful and empty and Scott knows this is the moment. “I tell her to look over at that waterfall while I grab the ring and get down on one knee” Scott says with excitement. “As I turned around I gasped, I thought you feel in the water” Val sequels. Scott asks her to marry him and she says yes, however, she can’t believe that was the moment “I was so gross and sweaty and dirty” she shakes her head.


Val and Scott were married on April 3, 2010. The best advice Scott and Val have for couples is to communicate! Val jokes “I have a bottle of vodka in the freezer too”. Be adventurous and try new things together, it will bring you closer, they both add.

Val and Scott love to drink beer (this is why Aldo loves them), every night they watch a TV show together. They enjoy Dodgers games, darts, shuffle board, and video games. “We are so competitive, we have to watch what we play, neither one of us likes to lose” Vals states. “We also like to bake, especially around the holidays, it’s a family tradition” Scott adds.