Trista Lerit Photography - The Blog

My New Website and Blog are LIVE!!

2008-02-10T16:30:00.000-08:00

Check them out now!

My New Website

My New Blog

(this blog will still remain up but remember to update your links and RSS feeds with my new blog!!) Yay!!

Erin and Chris are Engaged!

2008-02-05T14:20:00.000-08:00

I first met Erin with her mom when we had our first meeting together a few months ago. We had a BLAST during the meeting and I felt as if I had known Erin and her mom for years! So when she booked me, I was stoked because it's always awesome to have ultra cool clients ;-)

Erin couldn't wait for me to meet Chris at their engagement session and I can see why..he is adorable! He was nervous as most guys are before the session starts but Erin knew how to bring out the love bug in him :-D

It was a beautiful day and we beat the rain just by a few minutes..it started raining 5 minutes after I started driving back home...what luck!! Overcast days are awesome for photography so no need to fret when you don't see the sun on your engagement/wedding day!

Here are just a few favorites from Erin and Chris' session..enjoy!!

Gloria and Nick are Married!

2008-01-31T18:57:00.001-08:00

Gloria and Nick are probably the luckiest people in the world..why you ask?? Because it rained the entire day of their wedding! The day started out nice and sunny and soon after I arrived at Gloria's house, the rain started to pour..and pour..and pour!

Any other couple would have let the rain bum them out but not Nick and Gloria. They were as happy as can be and it was so wonderful to see them just enjoy their day :-)

Their ceremony took place at the Danish Lutheran Church which was very beautiful and well lit! I can't even tell you how many dark church's I've shot in so to see a well lit church was almost unbelievable!

Their reception was at one of my favorite restaurants, the Summit House. The decor was beautiful and the lighting..*sigh* I love when couples splurge on professional lighting..it really does make a world of difference!

Here are some favorites from the day!

I LOVE this shot!

Awwww..too cute!

I wonder what he's thinking..

Since it was raining..we took advantage of the beautiful light inside the church..

I love their cake topper :-)

Had some fun with in-camera blur!

I'm a bad blogger..

2008-01-29T23:54:00.000-08:00

I know..I know. I have been lagging on the whole blogging thing but with good reason though!! My website/blog designer and I have been hard at work at getting my new website and blog ready to go live. I promise.. once I get my new shiny blog, I'll be a posting machine! I am, as they say, "over" my current blog and really just can't wait to post on my new blog!

It's coming..soon..very very soon..so stay tuned!!

Ashley & Tyson : Married!

2008-01-21T17:21:00.000-08:00

Last year, my friend Drew called to tell me the great news that she was expecting a baby. Her due date was very close to a couple of her weddings so she hired me to cover one of the weddings in case she went into labor early, etc. Drew really wanted to make it to both of her weddings though because she is extremely dedicated to her clients and cares about them a great deal. However, she almost didn't make it to this one! Drew and her hubby got into a car accident the night before! Everything seemed okay but then Drew started having contractions! To make a long story short, the contractions stopped, Drew went home and planned on coming to the wedding the next day..I know...she is crazy! Crazy for her clients, that is ;-) I can see why too..Ashley and Tyson are just the sweetest couple and I was so touched to see not only the love they have for each other, but the love their families have for them.

The day was beautiful, the details were gorgeous, and the Venue was to die for! They had their ceremony and reception at the Ebell Club in Long Beach. It was the perfect combination of urban scenery and old world charm. If you haven't considered this venue, you must! It's probably one of my most favorite locations that I've shot at.

Before I end this post, I must thank Drew for asking me to come along to help shoot such a beautiful wedding! Definitely one of my all-time favorites Drew! :-)

I must also thank Ashley and Tyson for being so kind to me! Have a wonderful time on your honeymoon!

Here are some favorites from the day:

Check out Drew's belly! OMG..she is one dedicated woman...that is all I have to say!

Ashley and Tyson's first look was so cute..they were so emotional..it was beautiful!

A day in the life of Maddy and Ella!

2008-01-18T09:59:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of capturing Alice and John's little family the other day. Alice is expecting her third daughter in March and really wanted to capture this moment in their lives before the little one arrives. Since Mom was on bedrest, dad was 100% in charge of the girls and did a phenomenal job!

Here's a sneak peak into the life of their growing family!

Being a twin takes team work! Here they are making sure that Daddy's heart rate and blood pressure are okay :-)

Jumping on the bed..oh joy!

Daddy attempting to draw Maddy and Ella..

Story/climbing on dad time is always fun!

oooohhh...I love the light on Ella's face on this shot!

"How ya doin' mom"?

Maddy and Ella have such a beautiful mommy! She definitely has the pregnancy "glow"!

Our best attempt at a family picture!

"Baby Olivia..can you hear me?"

Awwww..Mom and Dad love each other..perfect ending to their family story!

Jazerai and Josef: Engaged (sort of)

2008-01-14T14:37:00.001-08:00

What a beautiful family! Jazerai and Josef are "technically" already married but they will be celebrating their love all over again in March with a beautiful ceremony and reception at the Amada Plaza.

Their little boys are too-die-for-cute! They were little troopers while we tried getting some "lovey dovey" shots of their parents..even though I would hear an "eeeewwww..mom and dad are in llooooovvveeee" every now and again ;-)

Here are some favorites from their engagement/family/portrait session..enjoy!!

Maryann and Josh: Married

2008-01-10T22:05:00.002-08:00

My first wedding of the year! I couldn't have chosen a better couple to start the new year off with! Maryann and Josh are just two of the sweetest people and I'm so glad I was able to capture one of the most important days of their lives for them!

Their wedding ceremony was very unique..because...it was the longest ceremony I have ever experienced in my entire life! LOL..it lasted about 1 hour and 50 minutes..not like I was counting or anything ;-) We were all laughing about it afterwards and it was actually quite nice not having to be rushed..after all..the shortest ceremony I've ever shot was 8 minutes long..now that is fast!!

Their reception was held at the Amada Plaza in the Atrium where the roof is retractable. However, it was covered because of the rain! Luckily though, it didn't rain until after the reception was over! All their guests had a great time and were dancing up a storm!

Here are some favorites from their day..enjoy!

Rachel & Daisuke

2008-01-03T11:35:00.000-08:00

What a way to start Christmas early! Rachel and Daisuke got married on December 22nd, 2007 at the Kyoto Grand Hotel. It was my first time shooting there and I had so much fun! They have a rooftop garden which is awesome and a wonderful place to get some lovely pictures of the L.A. city skyline. As always, Flower Allie Weddings did such a wonderful job with the decor and flowers..loved the flowers Allie!

Rachel and Daisuke traveled all the way from Japan to get married in CA where Rachel is originally from. I had such a lovely time getting to know them..they are just the sweetest couple!

Their wedding was earlier in the day so we got to hang out after the reception for some more pictures of just the two of them...I loved that! Since the wedding was over, they were so relaxed and you could really see it in their photos! I can imagine how stressful it was planning a wedding overseas! I'd be relieved too ;-)

Since I haven't posted a wedding in awhile, I thought I'd post some extra pics to make up for it..enjoy!!

These were taken after the reception..Rachel and Daisuke make such a beautiful couple!

I'm Back..Happy New Year!!

2008-01-02T09:09:00.001-08:00

*sigh* It was nice being in NY for my little vacation with the hubby BUT..I'm very glad to be back in Cali!!

People always ask me if I miss living in NY and at times, I do miss it but every time I visit, I realize just how much I love CA. Don't get me wrong..NY is cool and all but in the winter, it's so cold and gloomy. I actually love gloomy weather but in NY, it's extra gloomy..at least it was when I was there.

Anyhoo, it's a New Year and I'm so excited for what's in store! My new website and blog are going to be ready very soon..*I hope*!

In other random news:

1. Mochi has been acting a little strange ever since we got back from NY. He was staying with my parents and I think they spoiled him too much because now, he demands attention from us constantly! He also is a little bit down which leads to me to believe that he misses his grandma and grandpa!

2. I've been promising my hubby this for soooo long but with the new year upon us, I feel like I have a fresh start and I think I'll be able to follow through with this: Absolutely, Positively, no working on my computer past 6:30pm. Doug has been so patient with my working till the wee hours of the morning but he deserves better than that. After all, if the tables were turned, I know how annoyed I would be if he was doing the same thing.

3. I need to find a) an awesome hair stylist b) a good doctor . Do any of you blog readers have any recommendations for me? You can email me at: trista@tristalerit.com if you like..I'd love to hear from you!

That's all for now..check back tomorrow for some pretty pictures from a wedding I did right before I left for NY!

Happy New Year everyone!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!

2007-12-21T16:38:00.000-08:00

Hey guys!

I'll be leaving for New York this Sunday so I just wanted to wish everyone a wonderful holidays with their families and loved ones. I'll be taking a break from work while in New York so I won't be returning emails/calls until January 2nd.

To start of the weekend, I thought I'd share my FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG OF ALL TIME with you! *sigh* My one Christmas wish..that Nsync would get back together!!! Enjoy everyone!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!!!

Bri and Kevin- gotta love them!

2007-12-17T11:00:00.000-08:00

I got this totally cool thank you card from Bri and Kevin and totally had to blog it! I found out from Kevin that Bri is the mastermind behind this awesome card and I have to say it's the coolest thank you card I've ever received! I want to be on US Magazine too! Bri and Kevin are just as sweet as can be and are really one of the coolest couples I've ever worked with!

Thanks Bri and Kevin..you guys totally rock!!

Now onto other news. A while back I promised that I would keep you up to date on my big ol' diet. Well..there have been no updates because..I haven't started my diet yet! Oh the shame! I TOLD you it was going to be difficult! I REALLY do need to get going on the whole working out and watching what I eat though. There is something very special that will be happening in February that I will need to look my absolute best for. What is it you ask? HAHAHAHA...not going to tell you! You'll just have to wait and see!

EDIT: I totally forgot that one of my other totally awesome cool couples, Kaline and Phach, also were on the cover of one of my favorite magazines! I'm telling you..shooting these celebrity weddings are a total dream come true for me! ;-)

Olivia Take Two!

2007-12-14T09:23:00.000-08:00

Thanks for all the comments on Olivia's shoot you guys! Her parents loved reading all of them and have decided they'll be using pictures 4&5 for their annual Christmas card! I'll post some pics of the final result when they come in.

Now onto some more adorable pics of Olivia..I couldn't resist..it's as if she is my own daughter and I'm pulling out the accordian holder thingy of pictures for you guys to see. I really have to give props to her mom for coming up with such cute outfits! I should hire her to be the stylist for all of my rascal shoots...hhmmmmm..I might be on to something here ;-) Oh..and I MUST give props to Olivia for being such a good girl!! You were so good and the perfect little model for me Olivia!

Olivia's mom really wanted some pictures of Olivia having a grand ol' time in her tutu but the minute her mom put it on, Olivia said "No More" and proceeded to take the tutu off! Then her mom said "If you wear the tutu, you can have the balloons!"..then Olivia said "Okay" and we were ready to go!

These are probably some of my most favorite pictures of Olivia ever! Hope you enjoy them! Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

My Favorite Little Girl

2007-12-12T09:26:00.000-08:00

I always try to be fair and say that I love all of little rascals equally but I must admit that I do have a soft spot for this rascal in particular. Her name is Olivia and she is the first "live" subject (aside from Mochi) that I ever captured on camera. Olivia is my first cousin, once removed but I'd like to think of her as my niece since her mom and I are really like sisters.

I've had the pleasure of watching Olivia grow up into a beautiful little girl. Doug and I have enjoyed every second of it and can't wait to see all the new things she'll get to experience as she grows into a beautiful young woman. Olivia, you're too young to understand this now, but when you're old enough to read and go on the internet to Google your name and happen to come along this blog post, I just want to let you know right now how much Uncle Doug and I love you!!!!!

I'd like to travel down memory lane for a bit if you'd like to join me..

This is from my first shoot with Olivia. I must admit..I still adore this picture of her..looks just like a little Angel! This was taken right before her first birthday..

Last Christmas..look at those luscious lips!!

And now..what a little girl she is! All grown up..Olivia is probably the most stylish 2 1/2 year old I've ever met!

Her parents are having a tough decision choosing one for their Christmas card..if you lovely blog readers could help them out, that would be great!

Where have I been????

2007-12-07T22:12:00.001-08:00

I think this is the longest time I've gone without posting! I was all set to blog about the awesome seminar I went to hosted by Nate and Jaclyn Kaiser of The Image Is Found..but..my internet was down up until just a couple of hours ago. I've been a fan Nate and Jaclyn's work for a looonnnngggg time now so when they announced the seminar, I was determined to go! To say the least, I had an amazing time watching them shoot, learning some new photoshop skills, and meeting some new people. If you're a photographer considering going to one of their seminars, JUST DO IT! They are so down to earth, lovely wonderful people and deserve all the the praise in the world!

Right before I left for the seminar, I did a very special shoot for Kristin from The Treasured Petal. I have been waiting a long time for this shoot because I knew Kristin was going to come up with some breathtaking centerpieces. Of course..Kristin did not disappoint! I'm amazed at just how talented she is!! Luckily, Kristin is still running her special for any potential clients that mention Trista Lerit Photography. You'll get 10% off (excluding tax and delivery) as long as you let her know you were referred by me!

Here is a collage of some favorites from the shoot. To see a larger view of each collage, just click on each picture. Have a great weekend everyone!!

Gloria and Nick

2007-11-27T11:01:00.000-08:00

Firstly, I must thank Grace and Louis, one of my amazing clients, for referring Gloria and Nick to me. It is always a great feeling when my past clients refer their friends and family to me :-)

Gloria and Nick are such a fun loving couple! I had a blast with these two lovebirds down in Manhattan Beach..I love that place! Gloria and Nick chose Manhattan Beach because they had their first date at "The Kettle" restaurant located there..how cute!

Nick was always making me laugh because when I would tell him to give Gloria a little kiss, he would have his lips about an inch away from hers because he "didn't want to get lipstick on him"...lol! When I would tell him to "really" kiss her..he would have his lips just BARELY touching hers..hehehe..Nick..you're a riot!

Gloria and Nick will be getting married in January at the Summit House and I can't wait! Only this time Nick..you WILL be kissing Gloria for real!!

Awwww..where they had their first date :-)

Too Much Turkey

2007-11-26T09:25:00.001-08:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families! Doug and I spent some QT with my family and after a yummy dinner, I captured my two favorite guys on the couch in a food coma..that Tryptophan will get you every time!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-11-22T09:36:00.000-08:00

Right now, Doug is giving our little hairy monster a bath so that he can look his best for Thanksgiving dinner with my parents. Whether you're already at your parents house waiting for some Turkey or you're about to head out to see your family, I hope everyone has a wonderful, safe, and happy Thanksgiving!

Since Turkey takes a while to cook, you might find yourself a little bored at your parent's house waiting for dinner to start. Here is a funny little video to pass your time. I'm sure you've already seen it but after stumbling upon it after not seeing it for a couple of years, it still made me crack up! Asian Backstreet Boys

Duong/Nguyen Family "revisited"

2007-11-21T18:13:00.000-08:00

So, it was a little over a year ago when I first captured this growing family. It was right before the third little rascal came along and now that the third rascal is turning 1, they were due for another session with me!

It was sooo awesome to see the three boys finally together..even though they were never in the same place for very long! Although they really weren't that interested in getting their pictures taken, I think I managed to squeeze a few good pictures out of them :-)

Here are some of my favorites!

This is the closest image I got to a family portrait..I guess three out of five pairs of eye's looking at the camera isn't so bad :-)

Maryann and Josh

2007-11-21T17:48:00.001-08:00

Maryann and Josh will be getting married this January and I can't wait for their wedding! We had an awesome time shooting their engagement session at Downtown Disney ..can you believe I've never really walked around Downtown Disney? I've been there once in my entire life..I definitely want to go back there one of these days and go shopping in all their awesome stores!

Anyhoo, seeing Maryann and Josh interact with each other was really special. Josh was always giving her gentle little kisses which I thought was really sweet :-) I'm sure their wedding day is going to be even sweeter based on how much love these two have for one another.

Here are some favorites from their session..enjoy!

Out of Town..

2007-11-16T00:28:00.001-08:00

Hey all!

I'm heading up North for some rest and relaxation this weekend with my BFF but will be back on Monday. Any emails I receive will be responded to on Monday or Tuesday at the latest.

Take care everyone and have an awesome weekend! I know I sure will!

Caroline and Paul

2007-11-12T21:45:00.000-08:00

First off, I have to thank Michelle with Charming Events for referring such a cute and awesome couple to me! I had a great time hanging out with Caroline and Paul getting to know them. One of the cool things I learned was that they ALSO met online...I'm telling you guys..it's the wave of the future! If you're a loyal blog reader, you know my personal history with meeting my hubby online as well as several of my past clients also meeting their love muffins online :-)

One thing I've learned about marriage is that laughter is KEY. I've had the great pleasure of witnessing a lot of my clients being able to laugh at each other, laugh with each other, and ..laugh at me :-) Paul was always making Caroline laugh and Caroline was always laughing at Paul..perfect combination! Paul mentioned something about Caroline being out of his "league" but on the contrary, I think they're just PERFECT for each other :-)

Caroline and Paul, I had a blast with you guys! Can't wait for your wedding in Palm Springs!

The Treasured Petal

2007-11-12T14:01:00.000-08:00

It's been a long time coming but Kristin's new website is finally here! Kristin, one of my beautiful client's has just launched her new website for her floral design business. Some of you may remember her beautiful flowers from her own wedding and now she is "officially" open for business. She has been a designer for years but has decided to launch her own company and I couldn't be more excited for her. She is totally sweet and awesome but also extremely talented and has an amazing gift for floral design. You can also see more of her work here:
Tina and Rob's Wedding

As a special promotion, Kristin is offering 10% off any custom floral package (excluding tax and delivery fee) to anyone who contacts her and mentions that they were referred by me. And of course, Kristin payed me to say all these wonderful things about her...TOTALLY KIDDING people!! I love Kristin and her hubby Joe and want to see her business grow and flourish like it deserves to be. So get crackin' and send her an email to get more information!

Click Here: The Treasured Petal

Amy and Frank

2007-11-07T14:25:00.000-08:00

I had SUCH an awesome time hanging out with Amy and Frank! It was the first time I had met them since they live in Chicago and booked me online. All I can say is that it was instant fun with these two since they both know how to make the other laugh and smile..which was pretty much the whole time! Frank joked that he had only one "look" but Amy managed to squeeze a couple of different looks/smiles out of him.

Amy is so beautiful and Frank was not shy at all about letting her know how hot he thought she was :-) I love that!! What was amazing was that they we're so comfortable in front of the camera and so at ease with one another..I think it clearly shows in their pictures!

Amy and Frank, it was so awesome finally getting to meet the both of you! I can't wait for your wedding at Strawberry Farms in May. We're going to have a blast! Frank..I promise I'll learn some new jokes by then so you'll show me some teeth that day ;-)

Lauren and Andy

2007-11-02T11:26:00.000-07:00

Vendors:
Venue: Crowne Plaza Anaheim
Bella Blooms (the flowers we're INCREDIBLE!!)
Shine Lighting (714) 504-1223). I LOVED the lighting!
Lifetime Weddings (Gotta love the Chivari chairs and linens)
Today's The Day Weddings (if you're looking for an unobtrusive videographer, Joe's your man!)
Red Cheese Photobooth (what a hit!)
Natalie Buketov - awesome hair stylist!!
Micheline Love - Lauren's makeup was beautiful!

What a way to end wedding season! Lauren and Andy had an AMAZING wedding and I'm so glad I got to be a part of it! It was such a beautiful and elegant affair that was packed with so many personalized details including: noise makers, pom poms, a boba bar, candy buffet, photobooth, choreographed dance routine (loved it!), the groom serenading the bride, and a whole bunch of other cool stuff that would take me forever to mention :-)

Lauren and Andy are a fun loving couple who really know how to throw a party! And a big one at that..over 500 people attended! I still can't believe how they pulled it off! Their guests had a blast and I know I did too! Lauren spent SOOOO much time planning the tiniest of details and is really looking forward to the pictures of the details so BEWARE..this post is heavy on the details!

Lauren and Andy..you guys totally rock! Thanks for being so awesome! I hope you have an amazing time in Thailand and the Maldives!

They danced down the aisle to "Wouldn't It Be Nice" by the Beach Boys..how cute!!

Lauren and Andy didn't want any "formal" shots and chose to have some fun with their pictures instead :-)

Details..Details..oh how I love thee..let me count the ways!

I love this!

I'm so jealous..I wanted a candy buffet for my wedding and Doug nixed the idea..MEANY!!

LOL..their first dance was made up of a medley of "rock out" songs, "booty smacking" songs, and "80's new wave"..I love these crazy kids :-)

Lynh Haaga: Fabulous Dress Designer

2007-10-29T10:01:00.000-07:00

Hey girls! I just received some great news from my friend Lynh. She has decided to venture into the world of weddings and open her business up to brides wanting custom made wedding dresses. I can truthfully say that had she been open to designing wedding dresses when I got married, I would've totally had my dress designed by her. However, she was too busy designing for BCBG at that time :-)

I've seen her work up close and personal since two of my brides had their dresses designed by Lynh. You can see their wedding dresses here: Patricia and Hong and Pauline and Sam
If you'd like more information from Lynh or would like to get a quote, feel free to contact her at: lynh@luccablu.com

And if anyone was wondering, even if I didn't know Lynh on a personal level, I would refer her in a heartbeat because her work is simply just that good :-)

Yuri and Hiro

2007-10-25T12:08:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I had the best time ever shooting Yuri and Hiro's wedding. They are the sweetest fun-loving couple who compliment each other sooo well! They have such fun personalities which showed through their vows. Hiro promised to limit his intake of carbonated beverages while Yuri promised to put all of her socks in the hamper instead of leaving them in one big pile next to the bed :-)

They had their ceremony on the beach right next to their reception venue La Palapa. It is a great venue and is perfect if you want a beach ceremony! It was a very special day made extra special because both Yuri and Hiro's parents traveled all the way from Japan to see them get married. There were definitely tears flowing throughout the day as you'll see below!

Yuri and Hiro, thank you soooo much for letting me be a part of your day. You both planned such a special and memorable day and I'm so glad I was there to capture it for you!

LOL..I love the sign Yuri made!

Yuri looked so beautiful that day!

I think this shot is my favorite!

Pin-Spot lights on the centerpeices is a must if you want your flowers to really "pop"!

I can't believe they made these!

I love the spotlight they had on them.

Yuri's parents were crying during her sisters speach. It was so touching to see...

This was so awesome! Yuri and Hiro met at UCI when they were both a part of Tomo No Kai (Japanese Drum Ensemble). They had a special performance and brought out their ensemble to play for their friends and family..I wish I had a video to show you. It was really awesome!

Update on the whole "losing weight" thing..

2007-10-23T09:35:00.001-07:00

So, a couple of interesting things have happened since I was at the doctors and found out about my weight gain. Doug and I went to go see "Gone Baby Gone" on Sunday and it was quite good! There we're things that I didn't understand because the movie is pretty fast paced but I figured it all out after. You should definitely go see it and let me know what you think! But I digress. So, before the movie was about to start, I took one last bathroom break. As I entered the bathroom, I noticed a a digital scale that boasted "Exact Digital Weight and Lottery numbers" for 25 cents. LOL...I normally would be like "lame" but it was different this time. I needed more proof that I weighed what the nurse said I weighed. So I opened up my wallet, took out a quarter, put it into the slot and stepped on the scale. Soooooooooo..it said I weighed 135.5!!! Okay, so one of these scales is wrong!!

Then yesterday, as I was taking my "lunch" break, I had brilliant idea! Mochi recently went to the Vet for a little paw infection that he had. When Doug brought him home, he proudly announced that our little one was 10.5 pounds..more than he's ever weighed!! Mochi's weight is kind of a big deal around here because when we visit my parents, they are always asking "Are you feeding him?? Why is he soooo skinny?" I'm sorry mom and dad..but Mochi is just blessed with a fast metabolism..what can I do? So anyways, I digress again. Since I know that Mochi is 10.5 pounds, if I got on the scale at home while carrying him, I would know for sure if my scale is in fact wrong..or not. So, I weighed myself first and it read: 139.5 Not ideal but hey..I'll take it. Then I get on the scale with Mochi and it read: 150!! My scale is right then..RIGHT?? 139.5 +10.5 is 150!! So when Doug got home from work yesterday, I told him the great news! Then he said "you should tell the doctor's office." LOL....like I'm really going to call them and say "Just so you know, your scale is wrong! After you told me I weighed 146 lbs, I freaked out and did all these "weighing" tests and have proved that your scale is indeed wrong!"...uumm...I don't think so!

So after all that drama, do I still want to lose weight?? Yes I do! But now, the task doesn't seem as daunting. But I must admit that I was supposed to work out yesterday and totally flaked. I know..I know..but I WILL start..soon! I have one last wedding this weekend and then I have a little bit of a break. More updates to come!!

I'm HORRIFIED!!

2007-10-19T13:24:00.000-07:00

No..I'm beyond horrified....I'm HORRIFICALLY HORRIFIED!! I went to the Dr.'s today for the first time in a year and half. After spending half an hour filling out paper work since I was a new client, the nurse brought me in to check my weight and height. I just weighed myself last night so I kind of knew what the number on the scale would be. Boy was I in for the shock of my life...for sure I thought she was going to move the tab over to the left..instead she moved it over to the right. The moment her fingers left the tab I knew my scale had been lying to me all these months. Instead of weighing 137 pounds..I weigh 146 pounds!!! ***SCREAM*** Now this wouldn't be too big of a deal if I hadn't weighed 127 pounds on my wedding day which was just 2 1/2 years ago! I've gained 19 pounds!!! I knew that I had gained weight but never did I think it was that much. Oh, forgot to mention..all this time I thought I was barely 5'6. Apparently I've gained weight in my feet and/or my head because now I'm 5'6 and 2/3.

My close friends know that I've been wanting to hit the gym for a long time now. Gone are the days of wearing my hip-hugger Seven Jeans so that I could show of my belly ring. Well..those days we're long gone anyhow now that I'm a married woman. But now, even if I were to be able to pull those same hip hugging jeans over my thighs, the only thing I would be able to show off now is my muffin top.

(BTW, the muffin top displayed above is not mine)

Why am I telling all of you this? Because I want to lose all the weight I've gained so I'm putting it out there so I can be held accountable. So when anyone ever asks me how the weight loss is coming along, I can proudly say.. "Awesome! I've lost 2 pounds this week!" I know this is going to be a challenge for me. Afterall..I am the same girl who had a Ballys membership for three years and went to the gym only 3 times..I'M NOT KIDDING!

So, starting this Monday, I'm going to start working out 4 times a week. Maybe 3 times a week. Okay, NO, 4 times a week!! I'm not going to lie to you all and say that I'm going to start watching what I eat because I won't :-) I love food too darn much to ever do that. But I'll see how the working out goes. If the working out doesn't do a darn thing for me, then I'll start looking at my diet and seeing what modifications I can make. Like instead of drinking Coke, maybe I'll switch to Coke Zero.

I'll give you all an update each week to let you know how I'm doing...every Friday..maybe more updates depending on how much I need to complain about working out :-D

Have a great weekend everyone! WISH ME LUCK!!!

Pauline and Sam

2007-10-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

I had the great honor of capturing my friend's Pauline and Sam's wedding! I was very excited about it because I knew that they had some gorgeous details planned for the wedding. One being Pauline's BEAUTIFUL custom made dress! It was beyond gorgeous and I couldn't get enough of it!

All the details we're simply gorgeous and Flower Allie did a fantabulous job as always! LoAnn from Lets Get Beautified also did another wonderful job on all the girls makeup. Pauline is one lucky gal because Sam is a graphic designer and designed all the fabulous paper items such as the placecards, menus, table numbers, signs, etc. How jealous am I?? ;-)

Pauline and Sam, you two looked so gorgeous together on your wedding day! Hope you have a wonderful time on your honeymoon in St. Lucia!

Convertibuggy

2007-10-10T23:13:00.000-07:00

It's the end of an era. I FINALLY said goodbye to my good ol' buggy today. After my most recent car drama, the hubby and I had a long talk and decided it was best to finally let the bugster go. I was excited at first and then it finally hit me that I was not going to ever see it again! I've had many a car and this was the ONLY car that I had any kind of emotional attachment to. Anyone that knows me can understand how much I loved that car. So it was only natural that when it was time to get a new car, what car would I get?

Another beetle of course!!! A Convertibuggy to be exact!! I know..I know..I complained and complained about my old beetle and all the trouble it gave me but hey, the car was almost 10 years old with over 90k miles on it! Of course it was going to give me trouble! I'm crossing my fingers that my new car won't give me trouble..at least for awhile :-) There were times when I considered getting something other than a beetle but I simply couldn't imagine myself driving any other car!

My convertibuggy marks the beginning of new chapter in my life. This is the first NEW car I've ever had! Not only that, it's the first AUTOMATIC car I've ever owned! I learned to drive with a stick shift and have owned nothing but stick shifts! I thought I was going to have a hard time adjusting to an automatic at first but not at all! Driving home from the dealership felt completely natural to me :-) I used to hate "new car" smell but now that the "new car" smell belongs to me, I LOVE it!!

I really have to thank my very wonderful hubby for getting the car for me. We were both in need of new cars and he insisted that I be the one to get the new car first. For those of you who have seen the car that Doug drives, you would know what a selfless act this was ;-) He really is the bestest husband a girl could ever ask for :-)

Goodbye Buggy :-(

Hello Convertibuggy :-)

Kim and Ted

2007-10-08T15:44:00.000-07:00

Kim and Ted got married at the beautiful Japanese Garden at Cal State Long Beach. It was the first time I had been on the campus in years! It was so very nice to visit my old stomping grounds :-)

I had such a fun time at Kim and Ted's wedding! Their reception was like a dance club because they had an awesome DJ who was playing all my favorite dance songs i.e. anything by Justin Timberlake ;-) And I learned something very interesting about Ted...he is an awesome dancer!!! He was shaking his booty the entire night as were his friends. It was fun to see them "battling" each other and making fun of each other during the process ;-)

Kim and Ted's wedding really was a reflection of who they are as a couple...layed back, sooooo incredibly fun, and filled with life!!

Kim and Ted, hope you're having an amazing time in Italy! Thanks so much for letting me be a part of your special day!

Tina and Rob

2007-10-01T12:33:00.001-07:00

What a beautiful day! Tina and Rob got married last weekend in Temecula at the Faulkner Winery. It was the PERFECT setting for the PERFECT day. It was raining that morning and I was a bit nervous that we wouldn't get to take advantage of all the beautiful scenery when it came time to take their pictures but by the time of their wedding, the rain had stopped, leaving the beautiful sky filled with clouds..it was just everything I could have asked for! The flowers and decor were just gorgeous! Kristin from the Treasured Petal did such an awesome job with all the lovely flowers!! I wasn't expecting anything less than the best since she did such an amazing job with her own flowers for her wedding.

Tina and Rob's wedding was sooooo much fun! They had a lived band which got EVERYONE up on the dance floor partying all night long! If you're looking for a live band for your own wedding, I would highly recommend Soulicious!

It's funny because I always learn a lot about my couple's during the reception..usually during the toasts and speeches. For example, I learned that Tina, Rob and I have something very very special in common. We all LOVE Justin Timberlake!!! What was extra special was that the band played several JT songs through the night and Rob was bringing his "sexy back" all night long for Tina ;-)

Tina and Rob..you are such a fun couple and I just loved seeing the both of you soooo incredibly happy on your wedding day. Thanks so much for letting me be a part of it!

Jackie and Alex

2007-09-27T13:27:00.001-07:00

Jackie wins the award for the most relaxed & carefree bride in the entire Universe! Jackie pretty much let Alex plan EVERYTHING for the wedding which is pretty much unheard of! Of course, Alex did an amazing job and made the best decision ever by hiring me to capture their wedding ;-D...hehehe..sorry, I couldn't resist that one!

Alex really is one of a kind..he first met Jackie on a boating trip where Jackie pretty much "hurled" the entire time. Alex asked her if she was okay and four years and some change later, they got married!

These two really are perfect for each other because they are both free spirited, easy going, and just totally awesome!

Jackie and Alex..hope you had an amazing time in Brazil! It was sooooo incredibly wonderful sharing your wedding day with you!

Jenny and Raul

2007-09-25T12:32:00.000-07:00

Wow..what an incredibly emotional day! It was sooooooo beautiful to see Jenny and Raul (and their families) so happy and joyous over their love for each other. It was good that Jenny and Raul decided to see each other before their ceremony, because I can't even imagine what kind of crying would be going on during the ceremony if they didn't! LOL..I can only assume that it would the "hyperventilating and not being able to breathe" kind of crying.

Jenny and Raul both come from close knit families so it was no surprise when she had her brother as her "man of honor". It is so refreshing to see a brother and sister as close as these two are. This is how it should be!

Jenny and Raul looked so gorgeous together on their wedding day..they really are such a great and fun couple.

Jenny and Raul..thank you for letting me tell your story *wink wink*

It was about time my car broke down...AGAIN!!

2007-09-23T23:29:00.000-07:00

Yes, that is right! And this time...it realllly broke down..in a super scary crazy kind of way. So, here I was leisurely driving home from dinner with Doug and I was about 3 exits away from home when my car started making a beeping sound. I looked at my dashboard and my temperature gauge was blinking. "Oh great!" I thought. My car was just in the shop a couple of months ago and now it's going to be in the shop again. Doug reminded me that my car was getting older so it could just be my car acting up. He suggested I exit early anyway and take the surface streets home. So I did. I turn into my complex and then turn another corner to get into the garage. As I'm waiting for my garage door to open, I start to see smoke coming out from my engine!!! I start freaking out and Doug tells me to move my car to the parking spot behind me. I yelled "Are you crazy?" I'm not going to drive my car when there is smoke coming out of it! I pop my trunk, leap out, and get all my camera gear out and leave my husband in the car..lol! You can see where my priorities are, right? J/K.

Anyhow, as all of this is happening, smoke continues to billow out from the engine and now it just looks like a have a big ol' cloud hovering over my car. On top of that, stuff was "spraying" out from underneath my car and has now formed a big pool of reddish fluid on the ground.

At that point, I knew that I had to make some tough decisions about what to do about my buggy. On one end, I just want to fix it and keep on driving it because that car has seen me through some of the best moments of my life and I can't imagine not having it anymore:-) It was the first car I really felt was totally "me". Now, just the idea of getting a more reliable car gives me heartache. I'll be getting my car towed tomorrow to the mechanic and I'll just have to see how bad the damage is. I'll keep you guys posted on what I end up deciding to do!

Bri and Kevin

2007-09-21T21:05:00.000-07:00

I just loved all the little details that Bri and Kevin had on their wedding day. One of my ultra favorites was the little Hello Kitty's Bri had embroidered on her veil...HOW FREAKIN' CUTE IS THAT?? I never would have thought of that..Bri, you're a genius ;-) Not only is she a genious, she was so beautiful and radiant on her wedding day..I loved her eye makeup..so "retro" ;-)

Aside from all the adorable details (check out their cake topper!), it was just so amazing to see yet ANOTHER one of my couples who met online get married. Bri and Kevin are just so deserving of each other because to know them, is to love them :-) They are so sweet, fun, easy going, and all around good people.

Below are some of my favorites from their wedding..enjoy and have a great weekend!

You better be hangin' up your pictures!!

2007-09-18T12:02:00.000-07:00

You know, I often wonder what my couples do with their wedding pictures. I'm hoping that they're hanging them up all over their homes and inviting all their friends and family to come over and look at how totally awesome they look (hehehe) but they could be lazy like me and not hang any pictures up for months after their wedding. That's why I was so happy to get an email from my lovely bride Amanda who showed me what she had done with her pictures. She is very creative so I wasn't the least bit surprised to see what a wonderful job she had done with her wedding pictures and memorabilia.

Hopefully these pictures will give you some ideas if you're wondering "How should we display our wedding pictures?"

Thanks again Amanda for the sweet email and for showing me your works of art!

I'm stealing this idea from her for sure for my own wedding pics!

How cute??!! Amanda made a collage of all the moments I captured them kissing!

Pauline and Sam

2007-09-14T12:18:00.000-07:00

Pauline and Sam are good friends of mine so I am very excited to be shooting their wedding next month!

We had a blast together however it's a little weird telling my friends to start making out and then have to watch....eeeeewwwwwwwww! Just kidding!

Isn't Pauline's dress cute??? I love it..I must steal it from her ;-) Based on how she looks in the this dress..she is going to be one hot mama in her wedding dress ;-)

Check out some favorites below! I love the cool/chic vibe going on :-)

Roonggan and Jeremy

2007-09-12T09:39:00.000-07:00

Yay! My internet is up and running again! It was sooooo frustrating not being able to check my emails (and Perezhilton..lol!)

I was really anxious to blog Roonggan and Jeremy's wedding and I'm glad I'm finally able to now!

Last weekend, the hubby and I trekked down to San Diego for Roonggan and Jeremy's wedding! The day started with a beautiful Thai ceremony in which they both wore traditional Thai attire. Roonggan looked so exotic and beautiful in her dress..I want one now!

They followed with an "American" ceremony and then had a super fun reception where the DJ made at least half the room get up and form two lines and made everyone in the line dance down the middle..it was a great icebreaker and got everyone up and dancing!

A very special thank you goes out to Denise from Robles Weddings for making the day go by smoothly and on time!

Roonggan and Jeremy, I hope you had a wonderful time on your honeymoon! It was so wonderful spending time with you and your family and being a part of of your beautiful and unique wedding!

Internet and email down..

2007-09-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

Hey all!

My internet and email are down at home so I'm posting from Panera Bread..yay for free Wifi!!

If you've emailed me in the past couple of days, hopefully I'll be able to respond by tomorrow! Sorry for any inconveniance!

Stay tuned for a wedding post and engagement post..hopefully by tomorrow!

Jane and Jeff

2007-09-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

What can I say about these two?? They are just fabulous!! I never got a chance to meet Jane and Jeff since they booked me online for their shoot so I had no idea what to expect. To say the least, they were just awesome! Both of them we're a little shy and giggling at first, but when it came time to deliver, they were hot stuff ;-)

It seems like every time I shoot at the Disney Concert Hall, I find even more cool little places to shoot..I just love that place!! Then we attempted to go to the Standard Hotel and shoot at the bar but it was a no-go before we could even step foot into the elevator! They are super strict (and fast) there! However, we still managed to sneak a few pics in the lobby and outside **mmuuuaaahhhhhhhh** The funny thing was that while we we're there, you could hear "Mission Impossible"-type music playing in the background...it really did feel like we were on a mission ;-)

Below are just a few of my favorites from the day..ENJOY!

Much needed relaxation time..

2007-08-31T09:30:00.000-07:00

even though if it was only for a couple of hours! Yesterday, I headed to Fashion Island in Newport Beach to meet up with some amazing photographers (from left to right: me, Lauren Hillary, Justine Ungaro, and Kate Triano) for lunch!

I'm so glad that Kate came up with the idea to get together while she was vacationing out here from D.C. It was a great to get out of the house and be a "normal" person instead of never leaving home while working morning till night! We had a great time talking about everything and nothing all at the same time :-) Thanks so much for the awesome time girls!

The past month has been really crazy because in the middle of it being wedding season, I'm also working on a new blog and new website. I'm extremely excited about both and I'm hoping they will debut soon! It was quite the challenge for me because as my blog was 90% done, I decided that I wanted a new website AND a new look which turned my life upside down. I had no idea what direction I was headed in but now I do and all is wonderful with the world!

I'm heading down to San Diego for a wedding this weekend which I'm very excited about. The hubster is coming with me so we can get some alone time too. He's also been super duper busy with work so we have had zero quality time together.

I hope everyone has an awesome and safe holiday weekend! To kick of the the fun times, I thought I'd show you a clip of the cutest thing I've seen in a long time..enjoy!! (the video takes a while to load so if you can't wait, you can also view it here: Whistling Puppy

Puppy Whistle - Funny video clips are a click away

Yuri and Hiro

2007-08-27T11:20:00.001-07:00

Yuri and Hiro met in college while they both we're attending UCI so it was only fitting that they have their engagement session there! It is such a beautiful campus and I loved that it was so quiet and peaceful there. I had such a great time with them that time just flew by! We we're initially supposed to find a park that's in the middle of campus but we never made it there because we found all these little nooks and crannies that we're just too cute to pass up :-)

Some favorites below!

Katie and Kam

2007-08-22T17:11:00.000-07:00

Wow..where do I even begin??? It was a long (and hot) day..14 hours to be exact. But did I care?? Heck no!!!!! The day could not have been more wonderful! The first person I saw when I arrived at the house was Katie..when she saw me, she was just beaming! She has an infectious smile that never seems to leave her face as you can see below. She was as calm as any bride could possibly be..even while knowing that the day ahead was going to be quite long.

It was so cool to see Katie and Kam honoring both her Vietnamese culture and his Chinese culture. I'm quite familiar with the Vietnamese attire that a bride wears but I have never seen the Chinese attire before...I was blown away! It was so unique and beautiful!!

I was so impressed with all the details that Katie had planned. The details we're executed superbly with the help of Jennifer Johnson from OCS Finest Weddings! I was soooo impressed with Jennifer because there we're sooooo many little details and events that had to be carried out and she was able to do it flawlessly! You rock Jen!

Katie and Kam had their ceremony and reception at the Crowne Plaza and it was just beautiful with the decor and flowers by Kim Chi Flowers. The dramatic uplights around the ballroom and the pin-spotlighting on the centerpieces we're provided by Rainbow Sound.

The best part of the day really was just being able to spend time with Katie and Kam. The schedule was planned perfectly and we we're able to take our time with their pictures and really just have fun! Just looking at the two of them together, it's quite obvious why they got married..because they make each other smile and laugh.. which I honestly feel is the most important factor in a happy marriage :-)

Katie and Kam, have a wonderful time on your honeymoon! You guys are just wonderful and I'm so glad to have met you and to have been apart of your very special day :-)

Katie and Kam made sure that all their vendors felt just like the rest of the guests..we had our own table and settings...how cute is that??

I've been Tagged

2007-08-21T08:13:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I guess there is the cool little "game" going around photographer's blog where you "TAG" 8 bloggers and they have to disclose 8 interesting facts/tidbits about themselves.

Thanks to my following friends/bloggers for tagging me!:

Tracy Kumono
Erin Gouveia
DrewB
Kate Triano

1. I had a couple of nick names in elementary school. In the first grade, the kids called me Alfalfa because I had a cowlick that stood straight up..just like Alfalfa from the "Little Rascals" ☹ Then in the fifth grade, the kids called me fish lips because I had pretty gigantic lips for my small skinny face. They we’re so big, I swore I was going to get a lip reduction when I grew up! I told my mom this and she said that people actually paid to get lips like mine and that when I got older, I would understand. I do now and boy am I glad that I didn’t get a lip reduction..lol! Plus, with age, my face has filled out quite a bit (i.e. I gained weight) and now the lip to face ratio is more balanced.

2. I HATED my name when I was younger and wanted to change my name to Jenny or Debbie because it was more “normal”. Can you imagine Debbie or Jenny Lerit??

3. I talk baby talk to my doggy…and my husband. I’ve tried to stop but I can’t…they’re just too darn cute!

4. I LOVE FOOD!!!!!!! Ask any of my family or friends and they will tell you that I’m always eating food or talking about food☺

5. I don’t take myself too seriously and love to have fun and be goofy. After all, “like totally talking like a valley girl is like way rad sometimes!”

6. I hate it when I go to a McDonald’s drive through because I always feel rushed. Either I pay at the first window and before I can even put my change into my wallet, the guy at the second window has my drink and bag of food hanging out the window and he is giving me a death stare thinking “what’s taking you so long?” Or, I pay at the second window and before I can put my change into my wallet the guy is saying “okay, thanks for coming”….”thank you”..”okay bye”. One day I’m not going to be able to control myself and just yell “CAN YOU SEE I’M TRYING TO PUT CHANGE INTO MY WALLET???!!!!” “Do you want me to get into a car accident because I was driving with a hand full of change?”

7. My maiden name is Trista Lee Cunningham. I loved it because my initials were: TLC. My dad passed away three months before my wedding so when I got married, I wanted to keep my last name in honor of my dad. So when I got married, I dropped “Lee” and made “Cunningham” my middle name and Lerit my last name. So now, my initials are : TCL

8. Buying shoes makes me happy! When I go to a Department Store, the first area I visit is always the shoe section..ALWAYS.

Now, it's my turn to "Tag" eight other bloggers! (since most of my photographer friends have already been tagged, or tagged me, I've tagged some non-photographer blogs for you guys to check out!)

Next Exit Photography
Evoke Photography
Britney Photography
Angelica Glass
OCS Finest Weddings
Charming Events
Flower Allie
Puresemblance

Marla and Erik

2007-08-17T17:25:00.000-07:00

I want to first start off this post by thanking the talented Nora Frislie for referring Marla and Erik to me! As you can tell from the pictures below, Nora is an amazing makeup artist and did a wonderful job on Marla's makeup.

The day started out interestingly enough considering that Marla was getting ready at the same exact hotel that Kristin did just the day before. On top of that, when I first came into the room, I immediately recognized the person doing Marla's hair..where did I recognize her from you ask? Well, she was the same person who did my hair for my own wedding! Talk about Twilight Zone!

Marla and Erik had their ceremony and reception at the gorgeous Villa Del Sol in Downtown Fullerton. Their ceremony was so beautiful and touching and their reception was so much fun! Everyone was dancing and having a great time..especially Marla! She can shake her booty like no other! ;-) Marla and Erik, hope you two had a wonderful time on your honeymoon! It was such an honor capturing your wedding and I'm so glad I was able to be a part of it!

Below are some favorites from their wedding! Have a great weekend everyone!

Kristin and Joe

2007-08-14T14:25:00.000-07:00

I had such a great time shooting Kristin and Joe's wedding. They are such an amazing couple and two of the most sweet and fun people I've ever met. I have to thank my very good friend Angel for referring them to me! Angel is an amazing wedding coordinator but fortunately, she wasn't working that day because she is very good friends with Kristin and was actually in the bridal party! Speaking of the bridal party, I had a blast hanging out with all the girls because they we're just so unbelievably sweet...and GORGEOUS!! My adorable friend LoAnn did such an amazing job on all of the girls makeup. You rock as usual LoAnn!

I had been looking forward to this wedding for a lonnngg time! Kristin is a florist and I knew she was going to go all out with the flowers (I love flowers about as much as I love photography). Sure enough, she didn't disappoint because the flowers and decor we're just breathtaking! They had their reception at the Muckenthaler Mansion which was the perfect backdrop for all the beautiful details. Her colors we're green and pink which are my favorite colors (I used the same color for my own wedding so I'm a bit biased ;-) One other thing that our weddings had in common was that they had their dog Pesto there! It was so cute to see their little "family" together :-)

Kristin and Joe: I'm soo very happy for you both and am excited to see what the future holds for the both of you! Kristin, I can't wait to work with you next month at Tina's wedding..you're going to rock! (BTW, here is Kristin's website:
The Treasure Petal She is an amazing florist with great taste and style so check her out! She is on her honeymoon right now in Italy for a couple of weeks so she might not get back to you right away ;-)

Below or some of my favorite images from Kristin and Joe's Wedding!

Lucky needs a home!

2007-08-13T08:37:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone! I really need your help! My parents found "Lucky" (they named him this but he doesn't really look like a Lucky to me) on the corner of McFadden and Beach in Huntington Beach about a month ago. They posted signs in the area but have yet to hear from his owners. He is a very sweet dog and needs a good home! My parents will most likely keep him if they can't find a home for him but we'd much rather find someone that is looking for a dog like Lucky. Since my parents already have a very grumpy little Shih Tzu at home, it's not really practical for them to keep Lucky since they have to separate the two. The grumpy little Shih Tzu does not like Lucky AT ALL and has tried to attack him once already..lol! You would think it would be the other way around but Lucky is actually a very sweet, good-natured doggy. I'm even more embarrassed to say that my little Mochi also tried to bite Lucky! I was trying to get the two guys acquainted and Lucky was very excited to meet Mochi but I guess Lucky was sniffing a little to closely to Mochi's face and my little hairy snapped at him! I HAVE NEVER seen that said of Mochi before! It was my first moment to be an "embarrassed parent" :-(

Here is what little info we have on Lucky: my parents took him to the vet and they say he is around a year old and is a mix between a Chow and a Labrador (he has a cute spotted pink and grey tongue). He is potty trained and knows to "stay" when you tell him to. He likes getting scratched on his neck and will kick his leg when you do so. He also really likes being outside exploring the backyard and just relaxing. He is currently sleeping in the garage which totally breaks my heart so I really need everyone's help in finding a home for him!!!

If you or ANYONE that you know is looking to add a furry little family member to the household, please email me at:
trista@tristalerit.com

I couldn't help but post this picture of my little attacker I snapped this weekend. I promise he won't bite as long as you promise not to sniff his face too much ;-)

Jenny and Raul

2007-08-10T10:49:00.000-07:00

Jenny, Raul and I headed out to Laguna Beach for a day of fun and getting super drenched!! We had a blast doing it so it didn't matter that my jeans we're soaked up to my waist!!

Raul and Jenny were a bit nervous as most couples are before their engagement pictures but everything worked out wonderfully! Raul was a little shy when it came to smiling and preferred to give me his "Rico Suave" look instead..however, I somehow managed to get a couple of great shots of him showing his pearly whites ;-)

The day was just gorgeous and I couldn't imagine spending it any other way than with one of my totally cool couples.

I'm off to shoot a wedding now so you guys have a great weekend and check back next week for some teasers from this weekend's weddings!

Kim and Ted

2007-08-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

This was my second time shooting at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and I have to say that I just love that place! I was telling Kim and Ted how much I loved the lighting there because the building itself is like a big ol' reflector just bouncing light all over the place!

Kim and Ted we're a little worried about their engagement session but I explained that it was totally normal to feel that way and after being in front of the camera for a little bit, they'd feel like total naturals. Sure enough, they did just awesome!! Kim looked so beautiful that day thanks to her natural beauty and also with a little help from LoAnn with Lets Get Beautified (LoAnn..you already know how much I loved Kim's makeup!)..and I guess Ted didn't look to shabby either...LOL...just kidding Ted!!! You looked like so totally hot ;-) What I love about these two is that they are just so easy going and just go with the flow.

Another reason why I love them is that they happen to own Tastea which is a fabulous place to get your Boba fix. Anyone that knows me knows that I LOVE boba! I used to go to their Westminster location all the when I was single and still living with my parents. My favorite drink there was Mango All the Way! It's soooo good. If you happen to be in Westminster or The Block at Orange, you must check them out!! In my opinion, their slushy boba drinks and teas are the best I've had anywhere...I promise..Ted did not pay me a single dime to say that!! Just remember Ted..if you see me in one of your stores, you know what's up *wink**wink*

Check out some fav's from their session below!

life kinda sucks some times...

2007-08-08T09:43:00.000-07:00

*sigh* Just venting you guys so just bare with me. My phone is broken, my car was in the shop AGAIN, and a house that I was ABSOLUTELY IN LOVE with just got sold. Of the three things, I am most bummed about the house. As some of you may know, the hubby and I have been looking at houses for a while. We had decided to wait and see what happens in the market before making any moves. Then I came across this wonderful house that was just not in our budget. But, I had high hopes that maybe the price would drop a bit. However, in the back of my mind, I had a feeling this house was not going to last too long. Sure enough, when I went to check the status of it this morning, I saw the dreaded words : INACTIVE It was only on the market for a week!! I can't let this bug me that much because what am I gonna do right?

Now onto my car. I love VW Beetles to no end BUT this car has given me nothing but grief the past few years. Once this car finally dies, I will have to make the grown up decision of getting a more "reliable" car....uuuuggghhhh...how boring!!! If it was up to me and the makers of VW BEETLES, they would get their freaking act together and make a decent car so I could continue driving BEETLES for the rest of my life. THAT'S how much I love BEETLES. But with an impending mortgage payment in the not too distant future, I must be responsible and not make decisions based on my emotions. I can't be forking out a couple of thousand dollars a year on repairs on my car..yes people..that is how much my car is in the shop!!

Okay, enough of my pity party. Back to work and being happy :-) Check back soon as I'll have more pics to post from a couple of engagement sessions!

Baby Kayden

2007-08-07T09:10:00.000-07:00

The key to photographing little rascals is to just shoot, shoot, and shoot! They're fast little boogers so you just need to keep your finger on that shutter button and you're bound to capture some adorable moments...I've always said that you can never get a bad shot of a baby..and that was definitely the case with little Kayden!! She was as quick as a rabbit and I BARELY kept up with her! She had me, her mom, and her dad exhausted by the end of the shoot...lol!!

I first met Kayden and her parents at Kaline and Phach's wedding. Kaline is Kayden's doting aunt and had set up the entire shoot as a gift to baby Kayden. What a nice aunt she has! I can totally see why Kaline is so in love with Kayden..she is just adorable and has the sweetest little personality! She actually wanted me to hold her right when I walked in the door..it really is the bestest feeling when you see these little arms reaching out to you!

As usual, I posted some favorite below..enjoy!!

Random Thursday..

2007-08-02T16:46:00.000-07:00

When I first started this blog, I used to post about anything and everything. As my business grew, the personal posts came few and far between..something I'd like to change from this point forward! So here we go!

Isn't it funny how your brain sometimes just randomly thinks about something without being prompted to do so? Wait..does that sentance even make sense? LOL..you know what I mean right? When you're just working or driving or whatever, you randomly think about something and have no idea where the thought came from? Well anyways, that's what happened to me. I randomly thought about the New Kids on the Block..my ALL TIME FAVORITE boy band! I can remember like it was yesterday..my cousin and I would sit in her room while we paged through her binder of NKOTB tear-outs from BOP magazine. We would then discuss our future marriages with Jordan (her future husband) and Joe (my future hubby). It's so funny to think back on it now but we both truly believed that we would marry them (I'm sure several of you readers out there thought they same thing!) I went so far as to practice my signature "Trista McIntyre"...*LAME*.

Looking back now..it all worked out for the best because I ended up marrying the bestest man in the whole world :-) (okay, so I had to type that because if I didn't, Mr. Lerit would kill me..hehehe..j/k honey!)

This video features one of my all time favorite NKOTB songs. This marked the beginning of my love affair with Joe..*sigh* (btw, YouTube is the best invention ever! How else would I be able to find an NKOTB video? I really don't feel like rummaging through old videotapes in my mom's attic!)

Alexander & Jacquelyn

2007-08-01T11:10:00.000-07:00

I knew that I was going to love these two from the get go..how you ask? Well,first of all, it was Alexander that contacted me, met with me, and then booked me on the spot. I thought to myself..now that's one hell of a lady to have enough faith in her man to take on such an important task in the wedding planning. When I had met with Alex a few months ago, he said that both he and Jacquelyn loved my work and that I had carte blanche to do whatever I wanted..how awesome is that? There's nothing better than having clients trust my abilities whole heartedly like these two do..thanks sooo much for that you guys!!

We had such an awesome time together and I CAN'T wait for their wedding day! It's going to be awesome!! Some favorites below..enjoy!!

There's a first time for everything...

2007-07-30T18:26:00.000-07:00

This past weeked, I had the pleasure of second shooting for my very good friend Jasmine. This was my FIRST time ever second shooting for someone. Usually photographers start out their career by second shooting and then eventually start their own business. I somehow managed to skip the first part..lol! When Jasmine first asked me to second shoot for her since her hubby was going to be a guest at the wedding, I was quite excited at first. Then I started getting nervous! As any good second shooter knows, you must always try to get the shot but also stay out of the first-shooter's way. I wondered if this was going to be possible for me? I was so used to freely moving about without having to worry about getting in someone's shot! I think I did okay because Jasmine and I are still friends after spending a little over 10 hours with each other ;-) It was actually quite fun and I'd love to do it again sometime! Especially if the bride and groom are as stunning as this couple was! Not only were they stunning, but so was their wedding! They had their reception at the beautiful Huntington Beach Hyatt..I love that place!!

Check out some favorite's below!

Tina & Rob

2007-07-26T10:09:00.000-07:00

Attention: There is a new requirement for all of my couples before we do your engagement session. You MUST drink champagne before your shoot! Why? Because Tina and Rob had champagne before their session and they we're ready to rock from the get go! Tina had gotten the idea from one of her friends to have some "liquid relaxation" before the shoot so she could be more at ease in front of the camera. After all, it is a bit scary having a camera in front of your face for a couple of hours! As you can tell from the pics below, it worked!

I loved how Tina and Rob we're just so comfy with one another..so cute, cuddly, and sexy all at the same time..gotta love it! These two little lovebirds will be getting married in Temecula this September and I can't tell you just how excited I am! Check out some favorites below!

Email issues

2007-07-22T23:36:00.000-07:00

So after a few people not getting some of my emails, I realized that my email is not working properly. I just sent myself a test email to my personal Yahoo account and sure enough, it ended up in my bulk folder. I know I've responded to countless emails within the past week so if you're wondering why I didn't reply, try checking your bulk/spam folder as my reply might be in there! If you still don't see any replies, email me again just in case!!

Thanks!

Roonggan and Jeremy

2007-07-19T11:53:00.000-07:00

I met Roonggan and Jeremy for the first time at their engagement shoot since they had booked me via email last year. They'll be getting married in San Diego this September and I'm so excited. They are such a sweet couple and they really wanted to focus on the "sweetness" of their relationship during their epics since they are self proclaimed "kids at heart". They mentioned that they weren't into sexy or excessive PDA shots so I only had them make-out half the time instead of the whole time..LOL..j/k ;-)

It was a beautiful day in Downtown Laguna but I think all three of us were suprised as to how MANY people were there considering it was a weekday and it was during rush hour when people were supposedly driving home from work. I guess nobody in Laguna works ;-)

Below are just a few of the "sweet" moments :-) LOL..my favorite is the last one when they wanted to go down the slide and Jeremy got stuck :-)

Triple 07 - Tiffany and Hans

2007-07-17T17:16:00.000-07:00

First off, I must thank my lovely friend Cat for referring Tiffany and Hans to me! I had such a great time with these two and couldn't imagine spending 07.07.07 with any other couple!

Tiffany and Hans were so laid back and easy going on their wedding day they even got ready in the same room! Their wedding was simple, chic, and just plain cool. So cool, they had a silver wedding cake! I didn't realize that it was an actual cake until Tiffany had said "the cake looks so good!".. up until then, I thought it was a sculpture of a wedding cake that was there as decoration..lol!! Oh, and on top of that, instead of floral centerpieces, each table had a cake centerpiece!

This was my first time shooting a wedding on a boat and I had a blast! Hans, Tiffany, and I were joking that it's a great way to make sure none of the guests leave early :-)

Below are just a few of my favorites from their super cool wedding!

I'm still alive..

2007-07-15T23:52:00.000-07:00

Hey all..I think this has been the longest I've gone without blogging! Just wanted to drop in and let everyone know that I'm still alive and kicking! This is the busiest I've been all year so I've basically just been chugging away at editing and designing albums. As much as I would love to blog, I think my client's would prefer I give them their pictures and albums in a timely manner :-) However, stay tuned for a wedding and engagement shoot I did recently!

Hopefully, I'll get back to my normal blogging self in no time!

Take care everyone and have a great week!

Charming Events!

2007-07-09T21:43:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the great pleasure of photographing Michelle Tortuya with Charming Events. I first met Michelle when I did a "Little Rascal" session with her ADORABLE daughter Teya. As you can see, Teya is just as beautiful as her mom! Michelle needed some headshots and had asked me if I could do them. I had never done "headshots" before so I had no idea if it was going to be hard, easy, etc. I couldn't have been more pleased with the results because Michelle was just a pleasure to photograph and as sweet as can be! We were literally done in 5 minutes because we got quite a few "keepers" pretty much instantly.

Below are some of my favorites.. the first one was literally the first shot I took of Michelle..gorgeous!! Oh, and I couldn't help but take a picture of Michelle with Teya..too cute!!

Kim and Chris' Wedding - June 30, 2007

2007-07-05T12:22:00.000-07:00

Kim and Chris had their ceremony at St. Edward's church in Dana Point and it was just beautiful! The view was just amazing and made a great backdrop for their ceremony (and pictures!) The bouquet's and floral decor for the ceremony were done by Flower Allie who always does beautiful work :-)

We had so much fun taking pictures with Kim and Chris afterwards because we had a good chunk of time left before the reception. Kim and Chris were up for anything which was fantastic!

I must mention that their wedding cake was the exact one that I had wanted for my wedding over two years ago..I'm just a wee bit jealous ;-)

Here are some favorites from they day!

Bri and Kevin at Disneyland!!

2007-07-02T10:16:00.001-07:00

I had such a BLAST with Bri and Kevin!! This was my first time shooting at Disneyland so I was definitely excited!! Despite it being on a weekday, Disneyland was sooo crowded..I guess tourist season is in full swing! Trying to find some secluded spots was a bit of a challenge but the spots we did find we're so cute! On top of that, I got to go on Big Thunder Mountain and the Teacups to get some action shots...LOL...I must say riding backwards on Big Thunder Mountain is a sure fire way of getting motion sickness!

Bri and Kevin we're total naturals and had so much fun being silly with each other! They really are just the sweetest couple..I'm quite lucky when it comes to having totally sweet and awesome couples! And guess what!!??? They are yet another one of my couples who have met online!! I'm telling you..if you're single and looking, give online dating a shot!

Below are some favorites from their session..enjoy!

Linda and Randy's Wedding - June 9, 2007

2007-06-21T10:02:00.000-07:00

Linda and Randy are probably two of the sweetest people I've ever met. They are the perfect pair and really compliment each other so well! More than anything, they know how to make each other laugh which I believe is the key to a successful marriage!

The wedding was beautiful and took place at the Recreation Park Golf Course in Long Beach. All the beautiful flowers and decor we're provided by one of my favorite florists, Flower Allie Weddings. Allie did an amazing job as always!

Linda and Randy had written special vows for each other and it was so great to hear some of the wonderful things each said about the other. I've always felt writing your own vows was a great way to add special meaning to the ceremony. Sure enough, there were lots of laughs during their vows as well!

I can only hope that I'll continue to have such amazing clients like Linda and Randy!
Now onto some highlights from their day!

Congrat's Christine!

2007-06-20T09:16:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, my little sister graduated from highschool!! I still can't believe that my little rascal of a sister is 18 and about to go to college. I still remember when she was first born..I was 10 and really wasn't that into her..lol! I was used to being an only child so when she came along, I definitely felt like she was invading my life. However, with time, I grew to absolutely adore her. She was the funniest little girl and had such great spunk! At two years old, she was trying to dance like Michael Jackson and at ten, she was impersonating Cher..going around the house singing "Do you believe in life after love" over and over again!!

Now at 18, she's asking me to do her makeup for her so that she can look hot for Prom..lol! My how times have changed. I can only hope that she doesn't make some of the mistakes I made during my years after highschool. However, that's the whole point of growing up right? Making mistakes and learning from them.

Christine, I just wanted to let you know that I'm so proud of you and am so excited to see what life brings your way. Alway remember that I love you and I'm here for you ALWAYS!

Now heres a special little slideshow I made just for you!
Christine Graduates!

Amber and Justin's Wedding- Cancun, Mexico-6/6/07

2007-06-17T11:03:00.001-07:00

Hey everyone! Hope everyone has a wonderful Father's Day with all their dads today. I'm off to my parents house in a little bit but just wanted to post Amber and Justin's wedding!

This was my last destination wedding for the year and it was a great way to end my traveling spree! Amber and Justin have been together since Junior High..can you believe it!!?? This is definitely a first in my history of shooting weddings. They are such a beautiful couple and I had such a great time with them and their family/friends! They all made me feel like a part of the group which was great as since I didn't have an assistant with me and felt kind of lonely :-)

Their wedding was beautiful and I captured a lot of special moments. Below are just a few..enjoy!

Chrissy and Jess' Wedding- June 6, 2007 - Dominican Republic

2007-06-13T00:22:00.000-07:00

I had such a wonderful time in Punta Cana with Chrissy, Jess, and their families. They were all so welcoming and friendly...and funny too! I had a great time poking fun at Chrissy's dad since he made sure to let me know he loved having his picture taken. Sure enough, every chance I got, I'd go all "paparazzi" on him..hehehe..he would get all shy and embarassed..so cute!

Chrissy and Jess also met online which I thought was soo awesome! They are my third couple who have met online..how cool is that?? Just goes to show you that you CAN find love on the internet :-)

The best part of the trip was that I wasn't alone! A lovely photographer by the name of Carmen and her wonderful husband Favio joined me to capture Chrissy and Jess' wedding. Funny story: Chrissy and Jess both live in Florida as do Carmen and her husband Favio. Chrissy had hired Carmen to shoot her bridal shower a couple of months ago and had no idea that Carmen actually knew me! So when Chrissy was telling Carmen that I was shooting her wedding in Punta Cana, Carmen couldn't believe it! She emailed me and told me the whole story which I thought must have been fate. I asked Carmen if she would like to come to Punta Cana with me and the rest is history! What a small world huh? Carmen and Favio, just want to say it was sooo great meeting you both and you guys did an amazing job! You two have a very bright future in the photography industry!

Chrissy and Jess, you two make a wonderful couple and I'm so happy that I got to share your special day with you and your families! I know Chrissy has been patiently waiting for some teasers so here you go!

Melissa and Chris' Wedding - May 26, 2007

2007-06-11T12:44:00.000-07:00

*sigh* It feels great to be back in California!! This weekend was great..I shot a wedding on Saturday and then on Sunday, I spent some quality time with my hubby looking for houses..yay! We're hoping to buy a house by the end of the summer so we're in full house-hunting mode..lol..already, I'm getting tired of looking at houses! I'll keep you all posted on our house-hunting adventures ;-)

Now, onto the good stuff! I haven't blogged a wedding in so long it feels a little foreign to me! I first have to thank Melissa and Chris for being so patient with my non-blogging. It's funny because I almost wasn't going to shoot their wedding due to the fact that their wedding fell in between my destination weddings so when Melissa first contacted me, I told her that my schedule was just too crazy and unfortunately, I didn't want to overwhelm myself. However, about a month or so later, she sent me this sweet email telling me that she had not been able to find a photographer that she loved and if there was any way I would be able to shoot her wedding. How could I say no, right? So, I told her as long as she understood that it would take a little longer for me to get her pictures back to her, I would be more than happy to shoot her wedding...and here we are! Sure enough, these two have been so patient and for that, I am so grateful! It's so awesome to have cool clients!

I've got to say that Melissa is quite the little wedding planner! She had all these great personalized details that I never would have thought of..like the special embroidered aprons that all the servers wore (see below for the picture). They had their ceremony and reception in the rose garden at the Los Angeles Arboretum & Botanic Garden which was the perfect place to get married. It was so peaceful and quaint and fit their style to a "T". Melissa had this great idea for centerpieces and table names too! Each table was named with the type of floral centerpiece it had i.e. the "Rose" table had all roses, the "Peony" had all Peonies, etc. Again..can I say creative?

Aside from the beautiful setting, the entertainment was unbelieveable!! Brian Stodart was the performer and I kid you not, if you closed your eyes, you felt like you were at a "Five For Fighting" concert. He is extremely talented and I highly recommend checking him out!!

All in all, it was a very unique and beautiful wedding and I am so glad that I was able to capture the day for them! Below are some favorites!

Blogging at the airport...

2007-06-07T14:17:00.000-07:00

I'm alive!!! For the past few weeks it seems like the airport has become my home. To say the least, I'm sooooo glad that I will be back in CA later this evening. I miss my husband, my doggy, and my bed! I arrived in Cancun on Tuesday for Amber and Justin's wedding which is the last of my destination weddings for the year. During my flight to Mexico, I started feeling like I was going to get sick and started coughing! I was praying that I wouldn't get sick because I was shooting the wedding the next day and needed to be in tip top shape! I was fine the next day except for a little coughing here and there. The wedding was beautiful and I can't wait to sort through all the images! We woke up at 7am this morning to do their day afters and sure enough when I woke up, my voice was about 90% gone...the best I can do is whisper!! This is definitely scary for me because I've never lost my voice before..I'm praying that it will be back by Saturday because I have a wedding to shoot and can't imagine not being able to talk to anyone! On top of that, I'm at the airport with only my I.D., Passport and American Express card. Sure enough..NOBODY at the airport takes American Express!!! So I'm starving and won't be able to get any real food until 10pm tonight..I'm going to have to apologize to my husband in advance because I'm going to be one unhappy girl when I get off the plane.

If you've emailed me within the past week, I'll be returning emails all day tomorrow so thanks in advance for being so patient with me! Next week, I'll be blogging the three weddings that I've shot since my last wedding I posted so stay tuned for "mucho" pictures!!

Happy Birthday to me...Happy Anniversary to us!

2007-05-29T14:30:00.000-07:00

29 years ago, I was born! 2 years ago, Doug and I got married! Today is definitely a big day for me and my hubby. It's funny because during our vows to each other this very day two years ago, I made my husband promise me that he would never give me "two for one" gifts i.e. "Here is your birthday/anniversary gift honey!" Oh HELL no..he knows better than that..lol!! Doug took me to go see the musical Wicked for my birthday on Sunday and I LOVED it! You should definitely go see it if you haven't already.

I wish I had some time to post some pictures from our trip to Jamaica but that will have to wait until I get back from my two destination weddings that are BACK TO BACK... don't ask me what I was thinking when I planned that..lol! I'll be back in Cali for good on June 8th so if you email me between now and then, please be patient until I can email you back!

Have a great week everyone! Can't wait to post when I get back!