the one at a concert with ashton kutcher (and other starlets)

Happy Fall everyone! I hope the new season is treating you well. Personally, I can’t commit to one season being my absolute favorite over another, but I do thoroughly enjoy Fall – the fashion, the changing colors of nature – purty, purty, purty. Plus, here in Southern California the weather pretty much stays the same year round, so I’m still able to lay by the pool and keep up a tan for a few more months without a) freezing my buns off, or b) melting my buns off. It’s a sweet deal if you ask me – which you didn’t, but I had to rub it in anyway

SO. To Ashton. If there was ever a way to tempt people to read a blog post, I think this title is a prime example for accomplishing just that. Well…actually I guess it depends on your feelings toward Ashton Kutcher. I may very well have prevented people from reading this blog post. OR. Conversely – Drawn the Ashton haters in to see what I have to say about him and his old lady Demi. I’m hoping it brings the lovers, the haters, and the “indifferents” to view my post if at the very least to do nothing else but see what slew of new pictures I have to share this fine Tuesday afternoon. A few weeks ago, a certain country & pop music sensation performed 4, count them, one-two-three-FOUR sold out shows at the Staples Center in LA. I somehow leveraged some serious connections of mine and was able to attend 2 of the 4 shows with VIP and pit passes. Which made for some FAWESOME (freaking + awesome = fawesome) angles and close-up photographs of the show and Miss Performer herself. It also put me in extreme close proximity to the famous folk who attended the shows – the aforementioned Ashton & Demi, Taylor Lautner, Reese Witherspoon, Colbie Callait, Ellen DeGeneres, and Gene Simmons to name a few. I was definitely star struck, but you better believe I played it cool. I refuse to let my photography interests drift from artistic to full-on sleazeball paparazzi, so I refrained from sneaking any pictures of the celebs who were there simply to enjoy the show (comme moi). Plus, Taylor Lautner was totally checking me out. Oh yeah…he wanted a piece of this. Alright, maybe he didn’t…just throw me a bone and appease my delusions, okay? Mmmkthanks, y’all! Ashton was also snapping photos with a little point-and-shoot camera that I assume was a Nokia (that’s the brand he sponsors right?). I think mine probably turned out better but that’s up for you to judge. Film > Digital!

BUT Pause. Hold up. Wait a second there, cowboy.

Before I get to the lovely pictures, I have exciting news to share!! I was recently offered a job of editing a promotional sizzle video for Target featuring Taylor Swift & Sony. The video was officially approved and started playing this past Sunday on all TV screens in the electronics section of every Target in America, y’all! It was exciting, humbling, and an absolute honor to be asked to do this. It will be playing on the TVs in a loop of a few other promos at least until the end of October, so everyone should check it out during their next shopping trip at Target!

OKnowtothepeektures:

Bright lights, big city

I want that red guitar. I want all her guitars actually. I should probably learn to play guitar first...

Heart you, Los Angeles

Hey gurl heyyy

I love me some pyrotechnics

These are just for good measure You know my feelings on flowers - who doesn't love flowers?

 So whaddya think? Have I tempted everyone into attending the next Taylor Swift concert in your city? It’s a great show and a massive production, definitely worth your money & time!

And I sincerely hope you all take the time to catch my video at Target. I mean don’t go out of your way or anything….but if you consider yourselves friends…and you really wanna show your undying love for me…which I know all of you have………you’ll go to Target and watch my video

Have a great week, everyone!!

xoxo

the portland wedding one

G’day lovelies! How was everyone’s 3-day weekend? Relaxing? Fun? Full of college football fantastic-ness? I hope all of the above because mine sure was! (Other than the slight hiccup when my alma mater got demolished in their game on Sunday…good thing it wasn’t a conference game).

So I’ve been sitting on these photos for about a week and a half now and am starting to feel really guilty for not having the time to post them. I’m sorry stop yelling at me! I am forcing myself to take the time now (on my lunch break, mind you) to post them for your viewing pleasure. Better? So am I out of the doghouse? Pleeeeeaaassseeee. Kthanks. Patience is a virtue and I appreciate your virtuosity – ooh I like that one. You see what I just did there? Sometimes I have my moments, y’all, and that word creation was a good one.

OKHEREWEGO

Who?: My cousin, his wonderful little lady, and my mom’s side of the family (aka: crazy spaniards)

What?: A wedding, yo. And family “bonding”/adventures

Where?: Portland, Oregon and it’s surrounding suburbs

Why?: Please see “What?”

beautification (not that she needed it)

hello, makeup. i love you.

soaking up her day

such wise words at the entrance to the ceremony

is this not the most adorable flower girl you have ever seen?

I WANT TO TAKE HER HOME.

stop ittttt. you are too cute!

ain't she gorgeous? my cousin did good.

this pastor/officiant was FANTASTIC. the best ceremony i've ever heard.

blessing the rings

SMOOOOOOCH

husband & wife!

fathers joining families

it's officially official, guys

her "something borrowed" - the cake topper

signing the guestbook

mama of the groom enjoying the company of her favorite guest (besides me of course)

see what I mean about crazy spaniards? oh so silly silly

Ohhh the love in the air. What a precious gift. After this was party time, of course, and I’ll have all of you know that I dominated the limbo contest, get this……..wait for it……..IN STILETTOS. That’s right people – I don’t just take pictures, there’s so much more to me. It was impressive. So much so that the DJ came up to me afterwards just dumbfounded by my demonstrated limbo abilities. Yep, I still have my high school cheer flexibility and balance skills, which was a pleasant surprise. It was almost as gratifying as those times when you actually fit into your high school skinny jeans for one night (and usually one night only). I mean, I still can’t do that…but it’s next on the list.

I hope you loved these loverly pictures and the loverly people in them. I shall post pictures from my adventures around the city of Portland in a separate post since I’ve clearly bombarded you with enough material today. Also coming soon: Taylor Swift & Wine Country. GET. EXCITED.

TTFN – Ta ta for now!

xoxo

the one with grandma in a tiara

That’s right, Grams – or “Gama,” as my 4-year-old self affectionately called her – has hit the big Nine-Zero. Ninety years young and she’s still rockin’ and rollin’ like a pro. For serious, yo. That woman is going to kick the triple digits in the ARSE the way she’s goin’. And my entire paternal side of the family (which is a lot of people in itself = 6 kids and spouses, 6 grandkids and spouses, and 7 GREAT-grandkiddos) plus assorted friends and cling-ons (not to be confused with Klingons of the Star Trek nature. There were no extra-terrestrial peoples at this celebration. I’m talkin’ about stage 5 clingers who think their friend’s invite equals a +1 invite for themselves and they are welcome to come eat all our food and pretend they & Grams are old friends when really she has no idea who these clinger peeps are) gathered in Wichita, Kansas to celebrate her grand milestone. And guess what? Grandma showed up in a TIARA, y’all. That’s when you know it’s time to PARTAAYYY.

Setting: Airplane hangar in my cousin’s backyard at a small airport in Kansas

Activities: Drinking, Eating, Socializing, Airplane rides, Golf Cart & John Deere Gator rides (which of course evolved into races), Grandma Trivia Game, & some great people-watching.

The cake. So adorbs.

My dad (child #5) and my grandma. HEY TIARA. Oh hey blue eyes.

Her 6 kids and 4 of their cousins

Grandma and her 6 kidlets all growed up.

CAUTION. On the hangar door.

The name is not misleading. This is a BIG A$$ FAN. Too big to fit in the frame even. I'm talkin' gigantor fan. Fabulosity.

Returning from a ride in the Cessna 182

Ready for its next passengers, aka: me and my uncle

My cousin the pilot. Taxiing to the runway.

Over the Kansas countryside

The view from "the office" never gets old for a pilot - so this is why they fly!

Sunset flying. LOVE. IT.

Cousin & her soon-to-be sister-in-law chattin' it up. Ca-yoot.

Golf cart in the moonlight

Result of my 9 yr old second cousin zooming around on the Gator like a MADWOMAN while I attempted to 1) Not fall out and DIE, and 2) Hold the shutter open to get a pretty effect from the runaway lights. Both missions accomplished.

Fun was had by all, that’s for sure.

See you next time with tons of Portland Wedding GOODNESS. Personally, I can’t wait.

Smooches

Lauren

the second one

Hello again!

Welcome back and thank y’all for returning. I’m glad to see my level of crazy/random/blabbering didn’t deter you from enjoying my blog or, at the very least, giving it a second chance.

I spent this weekend in Wichita & Benton, Kansas (aka: middle of nowhere America – and I say that with complete love and envy) to celebrate my Gama’s belated/Grandpa’s early 90th birthdays. My grandpa has dementia, though, and can’t remember today’s date, let alone the dates his or his wife’s birthday, so really it was more of a celebration for my Gama. I brought my olympus of course, and was prepared with several rolls of film to attempt to capture all the crazy that would undoubtedly ensue upon the gathering of Gama, 6 children and their spouses, 6 grandchildren and their spouses/”partners”, 7 great-grand children, and assorted tag-a-longs who weren’t invited but showed up for free barbecque and cake. If that’s not a recipe for great photographs, I don’t know what is.

However, these are not the photos I’m posting today – sorry to be a big tease! I am waiting on one more roll to be developed and scanned before I can unleash the photographic evidence of my family’s crazy on the virtual blogosphere – and trust me, I am very antzy myself to see how the shots turned out.

In the meantime, I am posting pictures from a day at the races – the horse races, that is. I LOVE the horse races. They remind me of a simpler time (that was actually probably a more complicated time but is seriously romanticized in my mind as “simple” so just go with it) when Seabiscuit was around and chivalry was still alive and instilled in every man. Can’t you imagine it? The age of Art Deco architecture (hence my love for Santa Anita Race Track in particular), red lipstick, and big hats; I imagine women dressing like every day was the Kentucky Derby. Ah….good times. ANYWHO, so I spent a day at the track in January when they had their first food truck festival. The infield was so packed and the lines at the trucks were so long, we didn’t even end up eating at one of the trucks. Which ended up being fine by me because, while I love food trucks, I also love betting on horses with a questionable hot dog in hand. Don’t judge me. We all have our quirks, okay?

To make a long story short: My betting tactics were a little rusty to say the least – it had been over 3 years since I’d been there after all – and after losing about $40 (which is a lot of money in new college graduate world), I brought out my trusty olympus (I should really name him. I’m going to start brainstorming on that one. Suggestions are now being accepted) and focused on photographing the races (no pun intended).

It was a HOT day to be in the infield with no shade whatsoever

Horse and jockey bush

"Run like the wind, Bullseye!"

My favorite picture of the day. The track's Jack Russell riding around in his chariot. Just another day at work for this pup.

It is my goal in life to score a seat at the Kentucky Derby, show up in a humungous over-the-top hat, fabulous dress and heels, and sip very slowly on a mint julep while betting on top thoroughbreds, all with an obvious and enviable southern belle charm. So anyone with connections to the derby, by all means please get in touch with me.

I promise to be back next week with the aforementioned crazy family photos. And, in case that isn’t enough, I’m going to be photographing the OTHER side of my family at my cousin’s wedding this weekend which brings a whole different breed of crazy. Let me just say this – they’re Spanish and they love their margaritas. Chyeah. Moral of the story? I’ve got tons of good stuff coming your way, so stay tuned because you do not want to miss this.

TTFN: Ta ta for now.

xoxo

Lauren

freshly developed – the first one

Welcome, welcome, my dear internet-surfing comrades.

I’m so glad you have either purposefully visited or accidentally stumbled across my new little blog I’ve created. Regardless of why or how you got here, my plan is to get you hooked and reel you in to become my faithful blog readers (that sounds kinda creepy & cultish doesn’t it? sorry about that…kinda.) How – you ask? Why with my witty writing and awesome-blossom-possum film photographs I’ll be posting, m’dears.

Yes, that’s right. In case your mouse hasn’t meandered it’s way over to the “about moi” link – which you should really check out…like right MEOW – I love taking photographs with film. The colors and clarity of film are absolutely gorge (that’s short for gorgeous if ya didn’t know), and there are so many ways to play with and manipulate film that don’t transfer to digital (and if I get to feel like I’m “playing” – of course I’m gonna love whatever it is I’m doing). So this blog will serve to exhibit my experiments and endeavors into becoming a fabulous master o’ film photography.

So I leave you with this, my first picture post to act as a major teaser for the greatness-to-come on my blog: flowers. Because who doesn’t love flowers? And they’re not just any flowers…they’re PEONIES. My personal favorite. This gem of an arrangement arrived for me at work a few weeks ago care of my mother-dearest. I was going through an extremely stressful and hard time in all facets of my life and she sent me these to put a smile on my face. Boy, did they do the trick.

Right?

Is my mom the best or what? That’s not to say that yo momma ain’t great…but my mamasita is pretty much the bomb diggity no doubt.

Alright well hope you LOVE and I better see y’all back here next time.

Until then, go buy yourself some peonies. I know I’m going to now.

xoxo,

Lauren