I photographed this beautiful couple last week at Hanalei Bay Resort.  They were so much fun to photograph as they were so passionate with eachother and allowed the camera to see that part of them.  The bride was radiant and reallynatural in fron tof the camera.  They had been a couple for over 10 years and the spark of true love was hotter than ever that afternoon...

 

 

Heres a real Kauaian surfer, all doing the "shaka" hang loose sign....

 

Island Echoes Photography, Kauai  Wedding Photography, Family Portraits. Wedding Photojournalism

 

 

 

 Ian was such a great senior to photograph...I was able to photograph he and his family right before New Years Eve at the beach in front of the Princeville Hotel on the North Shore of Kauai. It really was pleasure to meet such a confident and sincere young man who I think will have a future in modeling!  I told him it would be a great way to make some extra cash during college, and what college student wouldn't need extra Kala (Kah-La- means money in Hawaiian).

 

The Blue shirt was a great choice with the tropical backdrop...

 

The one below is one of my favorites, its really a snapshot of when he and his Dad were laughing with eachother.

 

 

The one below is enhanced with my special "acid wash" sauce, it works with the jeans...

Its been too long since my last blog! Finally things are back in the groove again since recovering from an action packed Holiday Season. We had a great holiday season, a magical Christmas and a very casual relaxing New years with close family.  We feel so blessed to have been surrounded by our families that are all happy and healthy.  My husbands family was able to come for the second time this year and that really made for an extra special time...Living on Kauai is extraordinary but the disadvantage is you are so far from a lot of the people that you love and want to be around more often than just once a year It is one of the prices to pay. It is always hard to see them have to return home again.

I was able to squeeze in a few shoots during it all which really helped my sanity from all the shoppping craziness  that I just couldn't get into this year, and if it hadn't been for Leela I probably would have been a complete scrooge !  The children really bring back the magic to it all and I really got to relive it through her fresh eyes.

New Years Eve was a sort of Lazy day so we were very surprised when a few us actually made it til midnight! We were able to catch some photos in the afternoon of my husbands family and us. The newest member Angelo is really so special and truly the best behaved little baby I have ever been around, no kidding! So here is a peek of that afternoon, the last day of 2006.

 

Happy reunion between grandpa "Big Daddy B" and Leela

Proud GrandParents

Us

 

Aunty "Ra Ra", Uncle Gino and Cousin Angelo

 

Island Echoes Photography, Kauai Wedding Photography and family Portraits

 

As a photographer I often see qualities in peoples faces that remind me of a celebrity.  Sometimes they have heard it before and sometimes not. I recently had the priveledge of telling my airline counter girl that she looked just like J Lo, here face brightened and she broke a smile that I thought didn't exist.

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I think it is just natural and sometimes fun for people to compare and contrast. But for me I always find fascination in the uniqueness of all the many faces that pass before my lens.

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I found this fun site online that matches your face to a celebrity face.  I used this photo that I have on my profile here and my match first came up as a teenage boy actor that I had never heard of, kinda depressing but then I clicked the button that said F for female and heres what I got:

http://www.myheritage.com

Blue Pool is actually a place at Lumahai Beach on the North Shore of Kauai named for its beautiful deep blue lagoon that settles in amongst the gentle waves of the summertime.  This time of year huge waves usually mask the place where so many kids splash about.  It was very apropos that this couple happened to choose blue attire echoing the shades of color that this place is known for.  It is also named "nurses beach" from the movie South Pacific...you know the part where she sings..."I'm gonna wash that man right out of my hair!"

 

 

Manulele always creates a beautiful altar

Every so often I like to post things from my personal life to share, you'll notice that it always revolves around my daughter.  So here is a clip of my daughter's first day of Ballet class today.  Leela went with her friend Jaden,  at the start of class they stood like the 2 stooges...but after the encouragement of the teacher who is a real ballerina! Leela got into the swing of it...brought back memories for me of all the great Capezio gear and fantasies of one day wearing those toe shoes with those pretty pink ribbons, too late for me, but not for her  

btw she's the one in the usual eclectic attire, pajama bottoms, t-shirt and purple tulle fairy skirt

They say that as a parent you are only as happy as your unhappiest child.  Yikes!! but its true.. This was a happy day, one of many that I have experienced as the  mother of a happy little girl.

I had just finished shooting a wedding and I went over to the park where my husband and daughter were waiting for me, so I clicked off a few to finish my roll.

I was impressed but not surprised with how her father had creatively clothed her in this outfit after a swim in the ocean at Poipu beach park.  Notice the tight shirt that is actually for an 18 month old baby (that must have been left in the beach bag from a long time ago) layered over another shirt. I think it can  actually pass as funky hip.  I am always amazed with what he comes up if left to his own devices !

 Wow...this was a really special shoot with Paulina and Martin from L.A.  They have been married for 3 years and just now got around to having a proper honeymoon!  So I helped them commemorate their time on Kauai!  It had been storming all around the island and we thought we would have to cancel, it was their last night so this was the only chance we had and boy it turned out to be one of the most golden beautiful sunsets I  have seen so far this fall/winter hands down.  Yeah!  I was so happy for them because they were really looking forward to capturing this, and we really lucked out.

Kauai is so amazing in that way, you just never know how the light is going to change and something spectacular will manifest.  I usually try not have any expectation but just stay on my toes with the ever changing light.  And no 2 sunsets are alike here...

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Delights

On Thanksgiving Day we’re thankful for
Our blessings all year through,
For family we dearly love,
For good friends, old and new.

For sun to light and warm our days,
For stars that glow at night,
For trees of green and skies of blue,
And puffy clouds of white.

We’re grateful for our eyes that see
The beauty all around,
For arms to hug, and legs to walk,
And ears to hear each sound.

The list of all we’re grateful for
Would fill a great big book;
Our thankful hearts find new delights
Everywhere we look!  

   Well, we made it back home from visiting family in Sacramento.  Always sad to say goodbye but happy to be home too.  We had a really wonderful trip of visiting with my husbands family, his sister Ronda has a 3 month old baby boy named Angelo so he was the main attraction!  I just love him! 

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It was also really great for my daughter to be able to see 3 of her GREAT grandparents!  I don't have any grandparents still alive on my side but my husband still has 3 out of 4! What a blessing to be able to have the generations meet.  He does come from a line of really healthy ancestors, and he NEVER gets sick!

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I am going to post a few blogs as a series from our trip, but to start with let me introduce you to some of the family...

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Baby Angelo or as Leela would say in Hawaiian: "Keiki (baby) Anlo"

Fun in the Pumkin Patch

"Mother and Child" my sweet sister in law Ronda and Baby Angelo

Beautiful Sardo Family (My sister and brother in law and precious baby)

Leela with "Big Daddy B" (Grandpa)

Baby with Great Grandmother Cornelia

Leela using all her might to get her pumkin in the cart