Busy Busy...me!

Whew, I've been super busy the last few weeks! I just wanted to give a quit update on what's been going on the last few days.

Mark and I headed to the Del Mar Fair (it will always be the Del Mar Fair in my eyes) on Tuesday night. It was neat going to the Photo exhibit and searching for my photo that is up. I didn't win any prizes but the photo was hung, which is a huge accomplishment considering the 1000's of entries they recieve! I brought my camera, but at the last minute decided to leave it in the car in case I wanted to ride some rides! Bummer, you all missed out on my cheesecake, chocolate and toffee almonds on a stick!

Yesterday, I went to lunch with a new friend, Eve Harrison from Ooh La La Wedding Touches. She is a wedding coordinator in San Diego. I'll be tagging along with her at a wedding next month and shooting some new images for her website! I'll be sure to blog about it. If you are in need of a wedding coordinator, be sure to give her a call!

I shot an anniversary part last weekend, which I will blog about tomorrow. Ok, that is all I have for now!

I'll leave you with a photo I took for my friend Kaitlyn. She is a bartender (contact me for her info if you need someone to bartend your wedding/event) I took this shot of her for her business card! Kaitlyn and I had a nice lunch today, I miss seeing you all the time girl!

Welcome home Baby Belle!

Last night, our good friends Amy and Derek decided to adopt an adorable puppy that Derek's dad had picked up. They asked us to go with them to Lemon Grove to get her. Of course, with my camera always on me, I had to document Belle's first night at home!

She is a Chiweiner! A chihuahua/weinerdog mix! Sooooo cute and tiny!

She took to Madisyn right away!

Sitting with daddy Derek:

Letting uncle Marky hold her:Meeting brother Diego for the first time!

We've Moved (again!)

I am starting to feel like the gypsy in the song "Melissa" by the Allman Brothers. Except he was a he. Really I just wanted to reference the one and only song dedicated to my name.

Moving is a drag, especially when the tough guy you live with throws his back out and can't do any heavy lifting. Good timing there Mark! Luckily it was towards the end of the move! Thanks to our lovely friends and family that helped!

We are in our new place in Vista and are still settling in. The greatest news is that we are now able to get internet again! Woo hoo!

It's great unpacking things sometime...like Christmas! I feel like I have all this new stuff that I never missed and now have no where to put...like Lily (below)! Just kidding. Lily is Mark's sister's cat that we are catsitting right now.

If you need my new address or my new house phone number, just drop me an email! info@melissamcclure.com

-M

Kelly + Bill

On June 9th, I had the honor of second shooting for my good friend Michele at Captured Forever. Michele and I work so well together, we have since the day we met (a year ago!)

Kelly and Bill were married at the beautiful Bahia Hotel on Mission Bay surrounded by their closest friends and family.

There were some visitors during the ceremony! Kelly and Bill didn't even notice. :)

Toasts are always so funny!

My favorite shot of the night:

Thanks for asking me to second for you Michele!

My dysfunctional cell phone!

If you left me a voicemail recently and I haven't returned your call, I am very sorry! Turns out my phone is having issues and I haven't been recieving some messages!



If you are a current bride or potential bride and you have not heard back from me recently, then I may have missed your call! I am sorry, please email me!



Thanks!



-M

Father's Day 2007

My father lives in Oregon, so I don't get to hang with him on Father's Day! Instead, we usually see Mark's family. He has one father and one step-father. Barona MX track holds a father/son race every year that Mark loves to go to!

Mark, sister Michelle, dad Dale and stepmom Kathy headed up to Ramona to camp for the weekend. I met them on Saturday to camp as well.

Mark's neice Riyen and grandma Kathy:

Dale:

Marky:

My baby girl, she does such a good job at the track! Brutis:
Mark and his dad before the father/son race:

Switching riders, same bike!

Kika + Jeff's Engagement

Saturday, Kika, Jeff and I headed out to the Windansea Beach in La Jolla. I had never been there and I couldn't believe how deserted it was! Well, compared to the Cove! We shot for a bit there, then headed over to La Jolla Cove to finish off the 2 hour session.

Kika and Jeff are getting married on July 28, 2007 at the Bali Hai. These two were so great, and best of all, they wouldn't keep their hands off each other! You can just tell that they complete each other. I can't wait for the wedding! Kika's family will be coming up from Brazil so it should be a fantastic celebration!

I have to mention, I do edit my photos. But the sky was so blue this day that the water just looked amazing! I barely had to edit these at all, the water really was tropical that day!

The Levine Family

I shot some family portraits this past Saturday at the Levine family property. They were a fun group to shoot, and I love this funny shot I got of them!

Thanks you guys, I had fun!

Ladies that lunch!

On Thursday, Jen and I had lunch with the beautiful and talented Jasmine Star. We contacted her after I read a blog by the amazing [b]ecker. In his blog, he talked about helping up and coming photographers with their business by letting them take him to lunch and pick his brain. So great. He is inundated by lunch dates, and we are avid Jasmine Star blog stalkers so we asked her to lunch.

She chose BJ's in Irvine. I think I liked the food, but honestly I was too distracted by everything that Jasmine was saying to even taste my pineapple pizza!

The choc chip/peanut butter Pizookie was fab!

The afternoon went better than planned, I learned so much today to help my business and I hope we didn't overwhelm her with our questions and praise!

Thank you Jasmine, you are truly a class act!

Big News...

Okay, so I have been holding this news back long enough...

This Friday, People Magazine is releasing a Real Life Weddings Issue...

And my photos are going to be featured!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's a special edition issue, not a regular subscription one but you can go pick it up anywhere the magazine is normally sold!

They were looking for unusual wedding situations and I just happened to shoot a wedding in Ramona last October that had an unusual bridal party...

Now I don't know exactly which shots they will be using for the spread, or how many, but who cares? My photos and name are in People Magazine!

So how many copies are you going to get?? ;-)

Devon + Doug

The whole night was full of laughs. Doug is just hillarious and Devon can keep right up there with him. They fit together like two peices of a puzzle.

And it's no wonder that Devon and I get along so well...we share a mutual close friend. One of my oldest friends from junior high, Nicole, moved to Irvine her sophomore year. She and Devon became best friends. I tease Devon that she was the new "me" when it comes to Nicole. haha

Devon and Doug were married June 2, 2007 at the Catamaran Hotel and Resort.




They saw each other before the ceremony, which made the whole day fun and relaxed! Doug's first glimpse of his bride to be:



There's nothing like relaxing with some beer pong before the ceremony. Don't worry, none got on the dress!











We had some visitors come visit during the family shots:


Doug and Devon were both very emotional during the ceremony:








There was a table covered in drawing paper (Macaroni Grill style) for the kids to draw on. Of course, I feel like a kid still ;-)


Lots of camera on the couple!


The yumy cake!

The toasts were so funny! I love their reactions on these next two:





Thanking all the guests: