Another Weekend in LA

It seems kinda silly that I went back to LA a week after I got back from our Christmas vacation but I had very good reason. As a lover of interior design (as evidenced by Display Thursday) you’ll often find my reading design blogs or watching HGTV. Specifically, Secrets from a Stylist with Design Star Winner Emily Henderson. When she came on the scene I realized that I do have a style, it’s collected! Hooray, I’m not totally crazy for liking to combine every design style into one room!

So, Emily often talks about shopping at the Rose Bowl Flea Market. I’ve always wanted to go to the Alameda Flea Market but being so far away it wasn’t entirely viable. So when I heard about the one at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena I knew I had to venture out. It happens on the second Sunday of every month so my friend Britta came down to Vegas from Utah and we drove back to Los Angeles together. It was a whirlwind weekend and I had so much fun, I can’t even tell you.

We went to the fabric district in downtown LA.

Olvera Street, the oldest street in Los Angeles. It’s super touristy but I love it and there’s some great authentic Mexican food down there. And horchata, tasty, tasty horchata.

We parked at Union Station (for a cool $14….) and stopped to take a rest and people watch for a bit. Then hopped over to Little Tokyo to have a cream puff at Bear Papa’s. There was a collection of around 100 people playing on their DS’s and we figured out they were all playing for a huge trophy for Mario Kart Champion, amazing.

To cap off the weekend we ventured to the flea market, even though I overslept. I’m not often overwhelmed by oodles of goodies but in this case I roamed aimlessly for around two hours being guided by Britta before I finally made a purchase.

And if you don’t believe it I wouldn’t blame you because I barely do. We met Emily Henderson!!! I was floored! She is such a gem and was so sweet and chatted with us for a while. I was completely star struck and promptly bought a lucite side table right after and continued my serious endorphin rush.

So what did I come away with you ask?

I collect Dunnies, as a few of you are aware. They’re art toys from Kidrobot. Different designers are chosen for each series and make a Dunny design according to the theme. I get one from each series. But if the series is AWESOME then I might squeeze in a couple more…. I have a lot, too many really. I like Kidrobot a lot, a lot. So I got two letterpress drawers to house my little friends so they look a little more like art and a little less like random rabbit toys all over the house. And of course I had to get that cute “S” when I saw it. Snd it was $5! My first purchase was that Kodak Brownie 8mm camera for Luke that had a sweet case to hold it up. We collect stuff…. And finally my RAD lucite table!!! SCORE. I can’t believe it was still there at 2:30 right before the end of day. Plus she came down on the price because of it. Sweet for me!

Also, I’m thinking of sell some of my prints from my adventures on Etsy. What are your thoughts? Would you be interested?

We Love You!

Last year was pretty great in my wedding world. As most of you know I’m still trying to pick up speed when it comes to shooting weddings on a consistent basis. It’s going a lot slower than I like but it could be worse. I met my goal of ten weddings last year and would LOVE to double it. I know so many photographers that started their first year with ten and are now shooting over 50! That’s not my goal, but more power to ’em!

I was so honored to be chosen as a Wedding Wire Bride’s Choice for 2012. It really means a lot to me that the work I put into each wedding is seen by my brides (and grooms!). They don’t mind that I get a little misty eyed during the ceremony or when an especially beautiful moment happens between them. Nor do they mind me tugging at their gowns so they look like the goddesses they are in every photograph. And I especially love when they give me ye olde “5 star rating” on Wedding Wire to help bring more amazing couples my way.

I’m still growing and loving what I do. Here’s where I get all needy. I need more advocates! I need more people telling friends and friends of friends that I photograph weddings and do it really well! I travel all over the country and I’ve got a passport so don’t think I won’t travel outside the borders as well! If I’ve already photographed your wedding and you loved what I did for you will you please give me ye olde “5 star rating” on Wedding Wire or Google or Yelp or my Facebook Business Page? And if you really want to go the extra mile you could search “Las Vegas Wedding Photographers” and click on my blog or website, +1 my blog or website and help me move up the ranks (unfortunately I’m waaaaay back there right now). I don’t have a degree in marketing and I’m sure someone out there is thinking I’m totally bananas for asking this. But ladies and gentlemen…I’ve got the chops. I know I do. And I know I can make twenty couples super stoked that they hired me to photograph their super awesome wedding, be it big or small. I bet we could even get it featured on a wedding blog!

So let’s give this thing a shot (get it, shot?! HA!). It’s going to be a year to remember and I want you to be a part of it. I love you all for your kind words and support. I really can’t say it enough or express how much I love you.

Oh and you know what else, I got a new toy over Christmas. A toy I’ve been renting the for past year. I’m the proud owner of a 5D Mark II, which might not mean a whole lot to most of my couples. But it means that I’ve got more control over the light on your wedding day! Control of light = AWESOME!

And here’s a photo I took with my new toy on my recent trip to Los Angeles. Wanna download it and print it and add to or start an art collection? Go for it! It’s high rez, give it a go! It might be easiest to go to Flickr and download it from there. It prints at 8×12.

Much love, Meg