San Diego, California Wedding and Portrait Photographer

The In-Between Moments.

January 24, 2012 Posted in personal

I invited him to my party. Nothing formal, just a party of two, no RSVP required, just come and enjoy the show. I started by complaining about not having our refrigerator stocked with wine and about my un-exfoliated skin. I took a deep breath to fuel my words but he interrupted. Odd. I stuffed my face on the corner of our sofa as I heard him say something that made me shoot right up, i’m not joining you on this pity party. you need to be more patient and if you don’t like something. change it. but no more pity parties.

Silence.

And that’s the moment I realized that I’m a fool. Well, not all the time but sometimes, yes. I’ve complained about a lot of things since we moved to Hawaii almost two months ago. I know right!? Who moves to HAWAII and then complains about stuff?? Me. *raising both hands* I’ve complained mostly about things being in the in-between and on hold. Adjusting and starting all over.

But Marissa, you just moved and this is part of what you were looking forward to! I know, I know! Another reason why complaining doesn’t make sense. I want everything to be done, perfect and just as it should be, like NOW. And if it’s not it means that everything is wrong! Seriously, I think like that sometimes.

I haven’t completed the branding process for my business so I haven’t wanted to blog. Excuses. I haven’t found the perfect piece of art to go in our kitchen so I refused to cook in it. Ridiculous. I’m not comfortable with my body yet so I’ve tried staying away from the beach. So dumb. And one time, when Eddie and I first got married, I didn’t let my best friends come inside our first home because I didn’t have curtains up. Seriously. CURTAINS. I still feel guilty about that one.

I hate that I require for things to be perfect before I can allow myself to enjoy anything. The best things in life are sometimes experienced when life is messy and far from perfect. I’m a fool when I put my life on hold because insignificant things are ‘in the process’ and I don’t want to be like that anymore. It took Eddie not joining me in my pity party for me to be able to write about this annoying habit and to realize that I will never live this adventure to the fullest if I’m waiting for things to be perfect. Wake up yo’!

It’s only appropriate that I post a very non-perfect photo where everything LOOKS like it’s going all wrong but the truth behind this photo is a beautiful moment between Eliana and I. When I came across this photo I thought about deleting it but then I remembered that I’m trying to break a habit and posting this is part of the process.

Happy Tuesday!

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this is such a cute picture! I miss you and I know you’re in between but I know you’re going to find your way… perfectly

alicia

wow, you’re honest, and that is very good,you just have a green attitude sometimes, well get together so i can explain, but life, is that way, if everything will be perfect than we would be in paradise, you know what i mean, so take it as it comes, when you can change it, do it, when you can’t, its all good, pass it, be happy,no worries, ok and amile!

ketzia

hahah you look like such a mom!!!!

sonja

Know the feeling hate being in limbo…but here is the thing: sometimes we don’t know where we are going in life – but it’s OK as long as we keep moving we will eventually find our way – at least that’s my life lesson…for a while I thought that I lost a lot of valuable time because I didn’t know where I was going BUT I learned so much on the way and I am thankful for that. Glad you have Eddie to keep you in check! Luv u. Miss u.

Ashley Goodwin

GUILTY!!!!!!
Im so so so so so guilty of this. Like, so guilty. But, I adore you, and know you have a friend, a believer, a pusher, and a Loving Hut eating friend just up the road. You’re not alone. In this, or in Hawaii.
And I would love to meet that cute little baby! I think I will love her, too! Heck! I already to!

Julie

Thanks for your post Marissa. Thanks for reminding me as well that things don’t have to be “perfect” for them to good, wonderful and part of life. Each day is perfect for God gave it to us, right? I want to try to make the most of everything He gives me and find my purpose in this life. I hope you are doing well in Hawaii and that things “fall into place” soon!

Smog Shoppe Green Wedding- Melissa & Chris.

January 5, 2012 Posted in weddings

Vegan and/or eco friendly weddings. I die. I need these kinds of weddings in my life. And glitter. I need more glitter. But that’s another story. I came across the Smog Shoppe while browsing through awesome wedding venues in California a while back and I fell in love. I swore that I’d never get to shoot a wedding there, so much for thinking positive, but I secretly told myself that twenty eleven would be the year it would happen. i’m shooting at the smog shoppe even if I have to drive to los angeles and take a photo of the outside of the building, I’m shooting there dang it! I’d be worth it right? Succulent covered walls and the greenest wedding venue in California(meeting nearly every requirement in every category for a LEED platinum certification)!? Again, I die.

Thanks to my friend Ashley Rose I didn’t have to sneak up to the side of the Smog Shoppe and take a photo but instead I got to enjoy a beautiful day second shooting Melissa and Chris’ lovely wedding. Thanks so much Ashley for having me along! Miss you!

Enjoy my favorites from this AMAZING Beatles themed/ green wedding!

The colorful details were beautiful, loved everything!!! Adorable flower girls with little flags instead of flowers! love!A big fan of this too!
Such an adorable ceremony setup!GORGEOUS!!!!Dessert table!!! Every wedding should have one!
fin.

Thanks for stopping by!

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THAT SUCCULENT WALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
these made me pee my pants a little.
Yeah, that good.

Katie

OMG!!! Love this Marissa!!!!! So so so good =)

Jay Rae

adorable! I love all the fur balls in the back of the dessert station! Beautiful pictures as always!

Jaime Nilles

These are great! love the red chair n flowers.

Heather Mulholland

oh … my … *swoon*

alisa greig

love it!! so colorful!

Hello 2012. Sunrise at Makapu’u Lighthouse.

January 2, 2012 Posted in personal

I love new beginnings. I love goal making, creating lists, dreaming, planning and getting things done. Crossing things off my to-do list is cause for mini celebrations that can be compared to the feeling I get when I buy a perfect pair of shoes. It’s kind of a big deal. And when a new year begins I’m extra annoying about all of the things I will accomplish. But like I mentioned last year, I find it hard to actually stick with what I planned. I do great for a couple of weeks and then BAM! I forget about how productive I was going to be. So last January I wrote about how I didn’t have a ‘plan’, I simply wanted to be. It was exactly what I needed at the time, if I had started the year thinking about meeting a ton of self set expectations I would have gotten nowhere.

While Eddie and I walked up the Makapu’u Lighthouse trail yesterday I thought about what I need for 2012. I don’t need more crazy lists to make me paranoid and I don’t need things to be perfect, I simply need accountability and more dancing. I got to second shoot 29 weddings and photograph 10 of my own weddings last year and I had the urge to dance at every single one. So yea, more dancing is a must.

Now, about accountability. I need this in large doses, as much as I can get. There are too many of my goals, dreams even, that are on hold because I’m not consistent with the small things, I let myself get away with not doing and I don’t hold myself accountable. This needs to change for 2012. Not sure if it makes sense to anyone but I hope I can read this post in December and be able to say that I did it. That I held myself accountable throughout the year and that I accomplished big things because I was consistent with the little things. I’m excited.

Here are my favorite shots from the first sunrise of 2012. Eddie and I woke up at 4:30am on January 1st to begin the Makapu’u Lighthouse trail at 6:00am. I was functioning on two hours of sleep but it was worth it. I can’t think of a better way to begin the year, it was quite magical. It was completely dark when we started…we used the flashlights on our phones to lead the way and this was our view to the Hawaii Kai Golf Course…

we got to a little private spot right before the first rays started peeking through…
Our little spot with a perfect view.
Lots of people gathered by the lighthouse…
I die of these kinds of clouds.Sunrise!Love.Two hours of sleep and no makeup. Scaaaaary…but the morning was so perfect I didn’t care.
On our way back down the trail…Our drive home.Happy Monday!

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You did have a nice start in the new year and you saw so many beautiful morning sceneries. That’s wonderful.

Jessica Danielle

These pictures make me miss Hawaii so much! Amen on the accountability…it’s definitely on my list of things to work on this year too. Here’s to 2012 and big accomplishments

Daniela Herrarte

How gorgeous!! Living on an island must be so beautiful! You get to watch the sun rise and set over the ocean!

Jay Rae

wow Marissa! These pictures are absolutely amazing!!! I’d even go as far to say MAGICAL I hope you and your hubby are having an amazing time out there! Cheers to a great 2012!

Behind The Scenes. 2011.

January 1, 2012 Posted in personal, photography, weddings

I thought yesterday’s post would be enough to wrap up 2011 but after looking through older posts I realized that a behind the scenes collage type thing is a must. I mean 2009 and 2010 got one so why not twenty eleven. What’s fair is fair.

I kinda’ wish there could be ‘behind the scenes’ shots for these behind the scene photos. The LIFE stuff that happens in between photo shoots, meetings and weddings. If I had taken enough personal photos during 2011 I’d have plenty to share but I didn’t do too well in that category during the year. Note to self: take more photos of personal stuff throughout the year. no excuses.

Also, I need to learn to thank people more. This isn’t a new years resolution post or anything like that, I’m not good at that kind of stuff anyway, but I’m thinking about the people that made so much possible for me during the year and I’m quite sure I didn’t thank them enough. To my husband, my parents, my close family, friends and wonderful photographers that I got to work with during the year, you rock. thank you for everything. thank you for being you, for letting me be me. for believing in me and of course, for putting up with me. xoxoxo

Now for a look back at what happened behind the scenes during 2011…

Happy Sunday!

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Eunice

these are great!

Jendalynne

haha your so gorgeous! What bag do you use Marissa? Thanks.

s h e r r y

These are AWESOME! Have a great new year!

A Year In Review: Weddings & Portraits of 2011.

December 31, 2011 Posted in portraits, weddings

It’s going to be twenty twelve tomorrow…Ummm, whoa. Wasn’t it just JANUARY!? Or 1999!? Hey LIFE, wanna slow it down a bit!? There’s only so much I can do about the wrinkles and I prefer my 2003 metabolism over what’s going on right now so let’s chill out a bit yea? Stop. Running. So. Fast.

Aaaaaand back to scene. As I was saying…this year is over like TODAY and I had hoped to do a whole week of ‘year in review posts’ but it looks like I’m a little late for that. I only blogged about seven times this month which makes me a pretty crappy December blogger. Oooopsie.

I think the best way to describe this business year is…SHUT UP!? Seriously, did that really happen? Every year since starting this business has been completely different from the one before it. There’s always the up’s and down’s, the high’s and low’s, the tears and laughs and every year I try to find balance, which I’ve accepted is a never ending process, while enjoying the up’s and learning from the down’s. Twenty eleven was definitely a lot of everything and I’m still taking it all in.

So, thank you. From the bottom of my heart, to everyone that helped make this year a wonderful one. Thank you for trusting me, for having the courage to share a part of your life in front of my camera and for allowing me to do what I love. Thank you. Gracias. Merci. MAHALO. *hugs*

Deep breath because there’s a lot of photos ahead. First, a look back at the portraits and engagements of 2011… these people are simply amazing.

And now for a look back at the AMAZING couples that I had the honor to photograph this year, during second shooting and my own weddings…such a privilege to have been able to be a part of their big day. Thank you a million times over. XOXOXO

There are some weddings that I have yet to post on the blog but I can’t wait to share them within the following weeks!

Another big THANK YOU to those who take the time to visit my blog and get to know me a little better every day. I really appreciate the wonderful feedback I’ve gotten from every single one of you especially since, by this point, you’ve probably realized how ridiculous I am. But clearly we have something in common and whether that be weddings, photography, veganism, chocolate, love for animals, running, reading, nieces, sparkly things, shoes, wine, penguins, spirituality, anything fluffy, cowboy boots, mexican candy, hawaii, california, travel, fat cats, puppies and of course Matthew McConaughey or Ryan Gosling, let’s skip along 2012 and be fabulously ridiculous together. You game?

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Holy smokes you’ve been part of so many weddings! Love it! And oh my goodness post that Indian wedding already! GAH. Can’t wait!

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