I've been meaning to get to these photos for a while. Then the holidays and life got in the way, but alas I've got the photos from the portrait swap I did back in November with my very own wedding photographer Marielle Hayes, her assistant and friend Sarah, and our friend Lynn. It was a great experience getting a bunch of photographers together and learning how to shoot each other and how to best use our environment. It was FREEZING for starters, so the most important lesson I learned was to keep my hands warm and steady! Marielle photographed us for our wedding, so it was pretty awesome having HER behind the lens this time. I'd say she did a mighty fine job. :-)
Looking at my photos from this session, I think I need to upgrade the 50mm f1.8 to the f1.4. There's no excuse. I'm trying to figure out what equipment I need next. Any recommendations?
Here are some from the session. Thank you, ladies, for such a great time!
Lynn, great outfit choice! Our time shopping together was priceless, and next time we're gonna pick some items other than gray and black! =P
This photo came out a tad blurry, but Lynn looks so cute in it I had to post it.
This one's for you, Heink!
Sarah, it was so nice meeting you! You're so easy to get along with that I really hope we get to work together again. Great pick on that rusty truck!
My favorite shot of you. You're so pretty!
This is her "ok enough of me photos. Can I grab my camera??" look.
And finally, Marielle, thanks for this portrait swap idea. It was so much fun, and you're work is such an inspiration to me. Not only are you an amazing photographer, you're an amazing person who's love for her work and for life is transparent to everyone who meets you. Thanks again for being the best wedding photographer a bride can ever ask for!
You're ridiculously gorgeous. Seriously.
Marielle just knows how to rock the poses. It helps she was a runner up for Miss Nevada! I think YOU should have won. C'mon, seriously?
One of my best friends Hanh met her boyfriend almost 15 years ago when we all attended the same middle school. They weren't "going out" at the time, just friends, and they remained friends throughout middle school and for most of high school until... Fast forward to our senior year when Hanh decided to call Don to see how things were going, since they both went to different high schools. There was no rhyme or reason for the call, it was just that inclination to reach out to an old friend. I call it fate. Their connection was instant! If you met Hanh, you would understand how easy it is to become her best friend, let alone want to be her boyfriend. I recall a moment in PE when we were 12, and Hanh came up to me and asked me, "Hey, you want to be my friend? Like, big sister little sister type of friends?" Isn't youth so innocent and sweet? We have been bffs ever since!
Don and Hanh continued to date all through our senior year going to each other's school proms and homecoming dances, wearing ridiculous matching outfits for Sadie Hawkins, making plans for prospective colleges... and then there was college. Don went off to Berkeley (Go Bears!) while Hanh remained 400 miles away in Orange County. And still, they remained together. Today, we are four years out of college, and Don decided it was time. It was time to do what every man must do for the woman he loves. It was time to buy the bling.
Don called me one sunny day as I was strolling down Chestnut in the Marina and told me he wanted to propose to Hanh. I nearly caused a stranger to call the ambulance! I screamed so loud and jumped up and down, laughing and smiling ear to ear, yelling, "OH MY GOSH! AHHH! CONGRATULATIONS!" Geez, you'd think I was getting proposed to...again. So we worked it out so that Mark and I would go to Disneyland with them to document where he would propose in the most creative, endearing, entertaining way I've ever seen. My brother-in-law Chris and our touristy cousin Copy ended up going as well, which made it even less suspicious to Hanh. Chris has been filming and editing small videos for fun and decided to film and edit a mini movie of Don's proposal to Hanh. He did an AMAZING job, and I can honestly say I can see a videographer partner in him one day soon... *hint hint* ;-)
Here's the awesome Chris Sithi video. Ladies, you might wanna grab a tissue.
**Edited note: Hanh is also a photographer in Orange County, so I felt extra pressured to get legit photos for her! Check out her amazing work! Hanh Nguyen Photography
Our first ride when we got there had to be Space Mountain! And that would be Chris bottom left. He's single, ladies! Doesn't this picture make you SOOO interested? =P
Collaborating...
As we skip happily.
Me: "Hey, Hanh. Can we go back to the New Orleans area? I just want to take pictures of the lights. Again. Yea..." (this is where the characature artist awaited our arrival at 7:30pm)
Hanh: "Sure! But let me take (a billion) photos of the purple castle."
Hanh: "$64 for a sketch? NO, babe. That's a lot." Don: "$64??? Suuuuure. Why not? Let's do this."
With this smile you'd think she knew what was up. But Hanh just smiles A LOT!
Waiting... waiting... the artist was making sure this was PERFECT. Don looks nervous.
No seriously, to the old lady who blurted "OH ARE THEY ENGAGED?!" Shhhhh!
Behind the scenes the painting was coming along quite nicely...
And then the artist tells them she's done, and that she would like the HUGE crowd to step back so Hanh can take a look at the painting...and this is where her world changed in a matter of seconds.
The ring! OooooOOoh... ahhHHhHhhhh...
The newly engaged couple!
What now after all the applause, screaming, cheering, and hugs? TEACUP RIDE!!! That's them in the middle blur. I knew I'd barf, so I opted out. I'm smart.
Big sister, little sister
Chris: "THEY JUST GOT ENGAGED!" to everyone we passed.
And buttons provided by Disney staff to prove it!
Thank you to Mark, Copy, Chris and especially to Don and Hanh for the most memorable Disneyland trip I've ever had! Special thank you to Chris who made such an awesome video collage. Mere photos do not suffice the emotions expressed that day. Cheers to my Sithi productions partner!
(this looks like film. I like it!)
Once again, congratulations, Don and Hanh! You two make the most loving, giving, hospitable, and down right fun couple we know. We are so blessed to be part of this engagement and more importantly part of your lives.
I'm going to end with this photo Hanh asked me to take of old people slow dancing. One day that'll be you guys!
I've been meaning to post this for a while. Then the holidays came, and my whole life became jumbled in a whirlwind of activities. New Year's resolution number uno: get organized and prioritize! Hey, that's a nifty rhyme - I think it's gonna work for 2010's new theme!
The first time I met Jaime was a little over two years ago when she interviewed me for my current job. I had come from a couple jobs where I had been micromanaged and worked to the bone, so I had the impression all managers would be like this. When I walked into the interview, Jaime welcomed me with the most friendliest smile I'd ever seen. The entire process was so smooth and relaxing (I know, for an interview?!), and from that moment I knew if I was hired I'd be in good hands. Needless to say, I was hired and have definitely been in good hands. :-)
Jaime has impeccable taste when it comes to clothes, dinnerware, special events, you name it! So I was extremely flattered when she asked me to do her holiday family photo session. Her son Brandon is two years old, and through the years I've observed him as shy little Brandon who clung to his mommy when he'd visit her at work. Well, I was in for a surprise when I met them on Crissy Field that freezing afternoon a few Saturdays ago. Brandon came ready to PLAY and even more ready to chat it up. He didn't miss a cheerful "HI!" to anyone that passed him, and he told me stories in full sentences not missing a single detail. At two-years old, this is pretty genius! He played and raced with his mom and dad, laughed at his own goofiness, climbed hills and rolled in the grass. Brandon and his parents are the epitome of what families dream to have - a happy and loving relationship filled with laughter and hugs, a place where if you fall someone is there to pick you up. I'm happy to announce there's going to be one new little addition to this beautiful family in May - a baby GIRL! Yep, one boy and one girl; now all they need is a Golden Retriever named Bruno and they're set! Just kidding, Jaime - I'm obviously biased towards dogs. :-)
Jaime and Jon, congratulations on your growing family. With what I've observed, you guys are going to be the best parents to your little genius kids. I wouldn't be surprised if the next time I saw Brandon he's reading novels!
Definitely inherited his mom's friendly smile!
It was tough getting Brandon to look at the camera, but it wasn't hard to get him to goof off and be silly!
Mama's little boy.
Um, can you say HEARTBREAKER?!
Here they're looking for the "epicoptor" aka helicopter.
As the shoot came to an end, Brandon finally decided to do a model pose for us - all on his own! He's a natural. :-)
I must say this holiday season is abnormally busy for me. I know, everyone is usually super busy during the holidays, but I'm usually just working during the day then wrapping presents at night. Nothing too spectacular. But THIS year it's like everyone is throwing a party, family and friends are visiting from afar, I'm editing photos and taking pictures that then needs to be edited on top of the ones I still have to edit... it's endless. I'm not complaining, I'm just stating the nitty gritty facts. I wipe my drool dreaming of the day I don't have to work on my photos AFTER a 9-hour work day.
So I know I promised photos of Christmas, but I'm going to hold off on that today. As a treat for my few, yet loyal, followers I'm finally posting some pictures of a little family shoot I did for my cousins and my niece Corie. We took these photos almost a month ago, and just yesterday I thought I'd go through some of Corie's photos from the past two years to see how much she's grown. I'm not even her mother, yet I found myself nostalgic and emotional asking, "where has the time gone?"
Corie, one day you're going to be able to read this post, and I want you to know you are one of the luckiest kids alive. You've got these amazing parents who are captivated by your cuteness and intelligence and who foster each creative bone in your little body. Your peculiar British accent when you say "Daddy" is by far the most adorable thing I've heard. Uncle Mark is mesmerized by your charm and leaves your play dates wanting a little girl just like you every time. Corie, you are loved more than you'll ever know, and I'm so blessed to be your auntie.
Little girl in a hot pink tutu with a motorcycle. That's pretty awesome, man.
As my 2009 year of portfolio building is coming to an end I was so lucky to get to sneak this beautiful little family in for a holiday session. Don't get me wrong, I consider all my future shoots "portfolio building" but in business terms this just means I'm slowly making a move from amateur to professional photography. It's really exciting, and I look forward to what 2010 has in store for Connie Sithi Photography!
Here are a couple photos from the session last weekend. How gorgeous is this family?! Per usual, more to come!
Is it really December 1st already?! Bring out the Christmas songs, sales, and cider! I'm SO ready to celebrate the holiday that celebrates the birth of Christ, the giving of gifts, the goodness of the human heart through serving others, and quite frankly all the delicious baked goods and holiday dinners. Yummm... my mouth salivates just thinking about the toffee candy I'm going to make with my sisters this year.
As the year ends I want to reflect on all the goods and bads 2009 has brought. One comes to mind instantly, oh like... me getting married! I'm just about five months young of being a new wife, and I couldn't be happier. People ask if marriage changes anything. In a weird way it does. Nothing in our routine has changed - we still wake up to our coffee maker programmed at 6:30am. We still eat cereal every morning, and Mark still makes me finish my milk even though I hate milk without cereal. We still try to walk Saka only to be stopped by him at the corner tugging us to go back home (he hates walks; weird, I know). We still do a LOT of things that are the same, but somehow marriage is still...different. It's Good. Great. Beautiful. HAPPY.
I have two final family shoots for the year in the next two weekends. Although I am eager to take more I decided I'm not going to book anymore photo gigs for the rest of the year and for all of January 2010. My goal when I first realized I wanted to start this photography business was to launch everything in March 2010. Well, March quickly approaches, and I need to make sure I meet that deadline. I'm well on my way, but I think I just need to buckle down for the next couple months to solidify the logistics.
Stay tuned for more business updates! In the meantime, enjoy your holiday shopping and remember it's not just about gifts. If you run out of a gift idea, give a favor or write a letter telling them how much they mean to you. I do this for Mark on napkins sometimes, and it works like a charm. :-)
This is an old Christmas picture, but it was a year of many firsts for us. Our first grown-up apartment. Our first Christmas tree. Our first DOG! I'll definitely post new ones as the month unfolds.
