Love my new lens!

So inquiring minds wanted to see some shots with my new 50mm 1.4!



Since I don't have children, you get to see my closest thing to it...my baby Makeda. She turns 13 years old this year. I've had her since high school.

Been super busy lately! Hope everyone is enjoying their New Year!

XOXO,
M

I won!

Thanks to everyone who voted on Pink Ink's Blog! My photo won for photo of the week :) Below is the photo that won!

Now I get to go shopping on them! :) Photogs: Check out Pink Ink to learn how to join their Flickr Group and possibly get chosen as Photo of the Day or Week!

Catching Up!

Its been a lazy week! I am finally feeling better today, 6 days post surgery. I was told my recovery would be quick, but it lasted a little longer than I had planned. But I guess thats not something you really plan...is it?

Thanks to Tim's camera phone, he got this just minutes before wheeling me in to the operating room. Lovely, I know.

My parents live in a different country, so they didn't take the long trip. (It's cool, you can make it up to me next time I have major surgery, Mom. just joking) Of course Jen and her boys came in their absence.

I do have a nice size extended family in the area. My sister "from another mister" Beza came Monday night to check on me. She brought this beautiful bouquet (I love the colors!):

And on Tuesday, my gracious Aunt Rhonda called ahead and found out that I was having horrible bouts of nausea. She brought 7Up, saltine crackers (my life-saver!), a balloon and these beautiful tulips:

And for a little pick-me-up:

Since I introduced my loving fiance, Tim to my old and trusty 20D, its hard to get him to put it down! I had given him my old zoom lens a 28-105 to learn on. He noticed that I only shoot primes, and wanted to try my 50mm 1.8. Now we fight over that! (Of course, he always lets me win)

When the oppurtunity came from a photo buddy, Daniel Balboa to buy his old 50mm 1.4, I took it! Lucky for me, Daniel was upgrading to the 1.2. So now Tim will be getting the 1.8 for his birthday next week (Surprise!) and I have a new toy. Man I sound selfish. haha

But I do think I have created a photo monster in Tim. He now is asking for his very own Shootsac! Nice.

Thank you to everyone who expressed your concern during my sick time off. I plan to be back in full swing after resting this weekend.

XOXO,

M

Please Vote

Click here to vote!

My Photo is in competition for photo of the Week on Pink Inks Blog. Voting goes until midnight tomorrow!

Please take a few seconds and vote, you don't need to register anywhere. I'm not saying you have to vote for mine, just vote for your favorite!

:)Thanks!

Robert and Theresa are Engaged!

Theresa found my business card at It's A Grind coffee shop in San Marcos! Marketing of all kinds is alive and well! They hired me to shoot their engagement session.

I met this adorable couple at La Jolla Cove this past Sunday. We made sure to meet early enough to not miss the big game! The Charger pride was out, loud and proud that day!

These two are getting married on May 17, 2008 in Dana Point. Theresa is going to make an amazing bride!

Had to throw this last shot in here...another great one from Tim! I love the negative space on this one.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner...

Photo of the Day on Pink Ink!

I know, I'm supposed to be resting today...but how often does one get featured as photo of the day on Pink Ink??

http://pinkinkstudios.com/blog/?p=601

Check it out! Its a gorgeous shot I took of Jenn and John's wedding in Cape May, NJ last September. And check out Pink Ink while you are there...they have adorable templates and some awesome actions!

And a big shout out to my good buddy, Melissa Koehler who introduced me to Pink Ink!

"Vacation"

I'll be unavailable for the next two days, Monday and Tuesday. Taking a few days off to sleep off some anasthesia. I'm having my gallbladder removed way too early tomorrow morning. If all goes well, I will be out of the hospital the same day!

Take care,
Melissa

ps Booooo Patriots. Boooooo Giants (okay just Eli) too. I don't have anyone to root for in the Superbowl and that makes me sad. :(

Eric + Nikki are Engaged!

Buckle your seatbelts, this is going to be a long ride!

Nikki found me through Myspace last year and from the first time meeting the both of them, I knew these were people I could get along with! Not only do we share the same taste in movies and music, we also have an Evan Rachel Wood fascination. Ok mine is a fascination. But we both saw a movie of hers on our first movie dates with our fiances!

Eric and Nikki live up in LA and are getting married October 4th at Forest Lawn. Tim and I really looking forward to spending another day with them this Fall, we had a fun time exploring Balboa Park!

Nikki was hoping for some leftover Fall colors. There weren't any, but I think this comes close!
These next two photos were taken by my gracious assistant (and future life partner) Tim. I love this one, so candid!Great smiles!!
Gotta love the shoes!

Thanks for the fun time, see you in the Fall!

XOXO,

M

I can breathe again...

Wow, a great game! I don't think I yelled so much at my TV since...ok, since last Sunday.

Bring it on New England, we are ready for you!!!

The Melissa Club

You wish your name was Melissa too!

Today I got to have lunch at California Pizza Kitchen with two fabulous ladies in the wedding industry!

On the left is Melissa Barrad of I Do...Weddings! Not only is she a wonderful wedding planner but she also happens to be my new friend and my wedding coordinator!

The of course there is my silly mug in the middle!

On the right is the awesome Melissa Koehler, photographer for hire! You will be seeing a bit more of Melissa K on my blog this year due to the fact she will be shooting several fantastic 2008 weddings with me!

I had a great time with you two today! Let's do it again soon!

XOXO,

M

Mary Kay and Jim are married!

I had the pleasure of assisting the talented Deidre Davidson on 1-1-08!

Mary Kay and Jim were married at the Immaculata on the USD campus. This was my first wedding at this chapel and it was stunning!

The getting ready and the Reception were both at the Hotel Del Coronado. San Diegans know Hotel Del, but in case you aren't familiar it is one of the most fantastic places to have a wedding in the area!

Some getting ready details:

There were 1 million little girls in this wedding party. Okay that is an exaggeration, but at times it felt like a million!

Love this shot of the matron of honor, Mary Kay's sister...

The stunning MK:

See...a million!

The handsome Jim:
Two more flower girls that missed the earlier photo!
The breathtaking Immaculata!
Gotta love Catholic Ceremonies :)
Just after the ceremony:
Too cute!
Details, Details, Details!
The happy couple:

In front of the SD skyline:


Reception Details!
The Sunset was beyond belief:

Party time!
The fabulous Wayne Foster entertainment group was there!
The bride and groom taking a break!

Whew! Long day, but I got a fabulous Filet Mignon out of it! (My fav!)

Thanks Deidre, it was great to meet you!

XOXO,

M