Mejia Reception

Weddings often are bundled up in things like the limo running late, the flower girl's hair not finished, or someone forgetting to pick the cake and what feels like moments the day is over. Maybe all you remembered is what went wrong, and the very first kiss you had as husband and wife. Even though most wedding come and go in a fury, the Mejia reception was a very different story from the rest.

Their reception (and wedding as well!) was located in a ranch style house in inland Los Angeles. In the back yard the pool was in between an open bar that had the feel of a roofless rustic tavern and an lush green catering to long tables that held floral arrangements and antique ware. In the center of the long table was a dance floor that would be proved very useful at the end of the night.

The bride had chosen a deep purple as the main color, which off set the rustic earthy feel of this beautiful backyard. Sunflower mixed arrangements seem to burst of the tables, and the white pom poms that hung above added the romantic soft touch that every wedding seeks.

The party was not that big - enough to fill the huge back yard, but small enough to feel the intimacy of family and close friends. Underneath the small lights that hung above the dance floor and around the whole backyard you could sense the ease at which people were enjoying themselves. Laughter filled the skies, and there were plenty of embraces going throughout the night.

After we had taken our shots of cutting the cake, the first dance, and all the other traditions that come with weddings we stayed for a moment or two to catch a bit of history of our couple. As the sun was nearly down, a story unfolded of this beautiful couple. A film comprised of favorite songs and pictures was played and we got a glimpse at what led them up to this moment. Everyone stopped what they were doing, cheered for the photos with kisses, laughed at them as children, and cried at tender moments captured. It made me realize that the Mejia's planned a day were it was not a rushed day that only glimpses of it will be remembered, but a special day were it was spent with ones they love and who love them.

Caterer: Impressions Catering
Dress: Casablanca bridal

A Real Gem Jewelry

I was SO excited when I discovered another way to re-use my ring pillow from my wedding! :D Handmade by a dear friend!





- Lauren

For information on this piece, please contact Krista Cornett: arealgem05[at]aol.com

Senior Rep 2010: Shannon

After we did our fun session with Shannon and her pup, we asked her if she will be our Senior Representative for the Class of 2011. She said yes! What this means is Shannon received a fun pre-session with us, we found some really cute local spots to do our shoot. Then, Shannon will pass out custom cards with her photos to friends in her class (pictures coming soon!!) and in turn we will give Shannon a free Senior Session. AND, for every 5 friends that book us, she will receive free graduation announcements. Thank you Shannon, you are beautiful inside and out!

We are still looking for a couple of 2011 Seniors and booking 2012 graduates as well!! Contact us for more information: info{at}laurelislephotography.com

The Art of a Barista

I am, but a cup of coffee. A simple pleasure enjoyed by many - addicts, workaholics, entrepreneurs, and procrastinators; however, the old will enjoy me with their dessert and breakfast, and the young will thirst after me till have come of age. For a barista, I am a completely different story. I am not longer the means to an end (books, meetings, the day... etc.), but I am the end and the mean. I am not just the black and foam found within 10% biodegradable cup, I start before that. If you were to meet me from the beginning, I come in a 100% recyclable bag of coffee beans. Before I am ground, my beans are oily, fresh and the aroma of rich flavor makes your tired eyes perk up. I am then poured into a coffee grinder that finely grinds me and other hundreds of other coffee beans into what appears to be brown dust - the finer the grind the bolder the taste. Today I am being ground into espresso, for a caramel macchiato. Yummy. I am tightly smashed into the handle, so that all my flavor and aroma can stay intact as water rushes over me. As the water pours through the handle I begin to leak through as well, but now I am coming out black with a light caramel finish. That’s how you know my existence, as a bean was fresh by the caramel-light foam that rests on top of black espresso. Inside my cup, before I am poured, is a vanilla syrup and a thick layer of caramel; however, before I am poured inside milk must be steamed. Steaming milk is harder than it appears. Every type of milk (either soy, 2% or otherwise) steams differently. So one must be careful. Steaming milk not only raises the temperature, but also brings all the flavor up to the top in a foamy-like existence. After the milk is carefully steamed and poured into the cup, I am the last thing to go. I am a delicate process that gets people through their finals, that interview, the headache, or a long night. I am, but a cup of coffee.

Memorial Day

We had the opportunity to do some event photos for Congressman Adam Schiff on Memorial Day. While one of the great enjoyments of the American culture is the three day weekend, I was thankful to be working these events last weekend. It was not only a great learning experience in a whole new field of photography, we were able to participate in two city events which so beautifully reminded me of what this country has been founded on and what has been sacrificed to maintain. May we never cease to pay tribute to and remember those who have defended the freedom we so often take for granted.





There is a price for everything,
nothing is easy, nothing free.
To be left without wanting,
then you must pay the cost.


With little price paid
and your appreciation lean,
value slips away to fade.
The desired becomes ignored.


If you yearn, if necessity be,
work for it to earn the worth.
Then care for it that you shall see,
the appraisal shall not deflate.


Freedom comes to everyone,
if the price be paid, with blood.
Sacrifice for sake of freedom,
it is not easy and it is not free.

The Price
©2002 Roger W Hancock (www.PoetPatriot.com)