Portraits: Amber

I am fortunate to have talented and creative friends. Amber is one of these friends. I "met" her a few years ago through an online message board, but didn't meet her in person until last year. We bonded over our love of architecture, aesthetics and modern design. We are self-proclaimed "DesigNerds" and can spend hours discussing the aforementioned topics. It is refreshing to be able to discuss art and design on an intellectual level. I hate to admit it, but I'm really hard-pressed to find that kind of conversation here in L.A. Did I mention Amber is wickedly sarcastic? {Extra points!}

During one of our most recent gabfests, I mentioned to Amber that I was looking to take my photography seriously. Pamela and I were looking for models to photograph for portfolio purposes. More specifically, we were looking for boudoir models. Before I could finish my sentence, Amber volunteered to model. She is in the midst of a major life change and is moving to Italy. She thought that a photo session would be a great way to celebrate her impending move.

A couple of days before the session, Pamela, Amber, and I meet up at the Grove to collaborate on some ideas for this photo session. After seeing photos on Facebook, we decided to do the entire photo session in Amber's Hollywood apartment. After a brief conversation, we found our ideas were very similar. As luck would have it, we all have similar, wicked senses of humor.

photo from Amber's Facebook Profile

photo from Amber's Facebook Profile

When Pamela and I arrived at Amber's apartment with props in tow, we were not disappointed. Her apartment has the most beautiful natural light. We quickly went to work and started set dressing. The three of us had carefully planned the props necessary for the session. With three locations and three outfit changes, it turned into a 5 hour session. We did take breaks to laugh our heads off and have an adult beverage or 2 (or 5 in Amber's case).

Amber was a great model to work with. She is a beautiful woman and knows exactly how to emote for the camera. Without further delay, here are my photographs from this session.

The Naughty Baker

A Starlet in Her Bedroom




















A Rooftop Chorus Line






The 'Stache

Pamela had to break the bottle of Spirit Glue with a step ladder. Amber was a good sport. She actually scooped some off of the floor to adhere her mustache. I thank them both. Otherwise, I would never have gotten this shot.

Please mosey on over to Pamela Master's Photography blog, to see her images from this shoot.

Save the Dates: Jen & Kipp

I photographed Jen and Kipp with a specific intention. Aside from photographing them with their dog Jager, they had asked me to design their Save the Dates. They weren't sure of what they wanted except that they wanted to include a calendar and a magnet.

This is the only image they sent me for inspiration.

{Magnet Street Weddings}

This was fun project to work on because it was the first time I worked on the photography and design. Typically, I receive hires images from a couple's wedding photographer. I'm definitely NOT going to photograph their wedding, but I did appreciate having some level of creative input on the styling of the photographs.

Card with Magnet attached shown with Custom wraparound address label

This wedding is long-awaited. Jen and Kip have been together for 15 years. I applaud their commitment. Originally they wanted their card to say "finally!". However, I suggested the phrase "At Last" as a nod to the Etta James song of the same name.

Card with Magnet removed.


Back of Wrap Around label

Wedding Paper Accessories: Kanishka & Brian

I had been working with Kanishka since September of last year, which in the wedding world feels like a lifetime ago. As I mentioned previously, she was among the first to hire me despite my limited portfolio. I am eternally grateful that she decided to work with me.

Kanishka decided early on that the rest of her wedding paper accessories would be part of the overall look of her wedding. We worked closely together to ensure that all of her wedding paper accessories would have a cohesive look and feel. Kanishka also wanted to DIY a good portion of the remaining pieces. Much of the remaining pieces were designed to allow for easy printing and assembly. The only element that I assembled were her wedding programs.

Here's a look at my handiwork.

Programs

Here they are at the wedding:

photo by Pix of Life photography

Custom Photobooth banner with their signature lotus flower.

photobooth by Partybooths

Here's a look at our collaborative effort.
Monograms
I created two monograms, which Kanishka used in a variety of ways. She had a custom stamp made and stamped their monograms on napkins.

She and Brian also hand-painted their monogram onto their aisle runner.

photo by Pix of Life photography

Escort Cards
Kanishka wanted something simple to assemble, yet unique. I suggested cards inside of mini envelopes. I designed the labels and insert cards and she took care of the rest.

photo by Pix of Life photography

Table Numbers

photo by Pix of Life photography

Bar Menu

photo by Pix of Life photography

Kudos to Kanishka for beautifully executing each piece. Her vision and color palette was exquisite. To see more photos of this gorgeous wedding, please visit Pix of Life's blog.

Wedding Invitations: Tanya & Oscar

Tanya initially contacted me in May. She had discovered my work indirectly through the Los Angeles boards on theKnot.com. When we had our first initial consultation, she described her wedding as a modern-day fiesta. She and her fiance Oscar wanted very much to honor their Mexican heritage. She had selected persimmon, red, orange, yellow, espresso, gold and ivory as her wedding colors.

She sent me the following images for inspiration:

Snippet and Ink Board #135

Invitation featured on Martha Stewart

Wedding Venue - the Los Angeles River Center and Gardens -
photo by Gavin Photography

For design purposes, I used only the red, orange, yellow, and espresso in her color palette. Tanya's other requests were that I use vellum in a manner similar to my own wedding invitations and that I design versions of the invitations in both English and Spanish.

Here's what I created:

Custom Wrap-around label on Tangerine Vellum Envelope




Red Petalfold Enclosure with Vellum Bellyband


Initial Pattern Vellum Overlay

English Invitation


Spanish Invitation (text provided by client)


Directions


RSVP cards in English and Spanish (text provided by client) with matching envelope

Wedding Invitations: Lorrie & Justin

Lorrie was referred to by her coordinator Carina McLaughlin of Tealight Wedding and Events. Lorrie had initially contacted me to discuss Rehearsal Dinner invitations and other wedding paper accessories. Unfortunately, she ran into problems with the invitations she had ordered from another company. Instead of continuing our discussion of work for smaller jobs, Lorrie asked me to design her invitations, but there was a catch. She needed a 1.5 week turnaround. {YIKES!} Ordinarily, I don't take jobs on such short notice with that kind of turnaround. It's a logistical and creative nightmare. However, Lorrie's coordinator, Carina, had written such a nice letter introducing herself a few weeks before that I squeezed her into my schedule. {Goes to show you that a good coordinator can really save you.}

So, Lorrie sent me these images and we were on our way.

from Wedding Paper Divas

Unknown Source

from Wedding Paper Divas

Thankfully, Lorrie's wedding was at a venue that I had previously made a map for. This saved us some time. She had already purchased the pocketfolds and envelopes necessary for the job, which was another time saver. After many emails and losing lots of sleep, this is what I designed for her.

Business Cards: Darvie

I met Darvie through theknot.com in the Fall of 2007. She was a bride who almost hired the same horrible wedding coordinator that I did. Luckily, she changed her mind and went with Amanda Auer instead. {Smart move on her part}. The invitation designer she had originally contacted was unavailable. So, she asked me to design her invitations for her. I started working on them. Then, her original designer came available. She politely told me that she was going to go back to working with him. I was tad relieved because I was still working my day job. At the time, I had not even considered designing invitations professionally. Invitations were something I just did "for fun". I credit Darvie for getting me to consider making invitations for people that I'm not related to.

Darvie and her husband Kevin ended up having a gorgeous wedding. She and I kept in touch through facebook. This past spring, Darvie decided she wanted to sell Shure Pet products. She wanted atypical business cards. She sent me these images for inspiration.

From Zazzle.com

She also added she wanted something fun and whimsical. After a few short rounds of revision, this is what I came up with. Darvie had them printed through a local printer.

Darvie also sent me a few samples of Shure Pets Pet Shampoo. It's awesome. You should definitely check out her site.

http://socalpetpaw-ty.shopshurepets.com

Wedding Paper Accessories: Rhea & Joe

I enjoyed working with Rhea immensely. As a bride on the East Coast, she received my emails as she got ready for work and I got ready for bed. {I'm an incorrigible night owl.} This made for interesting email exchanges. I designed and assembled her invitations, but she wanted to try her hand at DIY. She decided that she wanted to make her own programs, table numbers and escort cards. I obliged her by designing printable PDFs. She bought the Gartner line of wedding paper products and went to work. I think she did a remarkable job.

Here are some photos of my design work coupled with photos of Rhea's handiwork.

Table Names/Numbers
Rhea wanted to incorporate Joe's love of beer and microbrews. Each of their tables are named after Joe's favorite brews.

{photo from Rhea & Joe's Website}




{photo from Rhea & Joe's Website}

Escort Cards
These were printed on a beautiful Ivory tent cards that had a subtle champagne border. Sadly, there are no photos of the finished product.

Monogram
This was used to seal their invitations. Rhea also found other uses for it such as their out-of-town bags.

{photo from Rhea & Joe's Website}

Program
This was also printed on an Ivory cardstock that had a champagne border. These along with the rest of Rhea and Joe's gorgeous wedding can be seen on their Wedding Highlight video.

Rhea & Joseph Wedding from david joe on Vimeo.

Wedding Paper Accessories: Nina & Jared

I have been working with Nina and Jared throughout their wedding planning process. I designed their Save the Dates and Wedding Invitations. To ensure a more cohesive look, the asked me to design some additional items.

One is their wedding program.

Cover


Title Page




Back Page

They also requested monograms. I provided two different styles for them.

Nina went on a DIY spree towards the end of her planning. The monogram I designed is featured on the menu cards and favor tags she created. Their cake and customized gobo also features their monograms.

Photo by Christine Farah Photography

Lastly, I made vellum candle wraps. When the tealights are lit, they have make beautiful luminarias. {They are the pink cylinders pictured above.}

Thank You Cards: Khurram

The outpouring of love and support that my family and most notably my cousin-in-law Khurram has received since my cousin Melanie died has been overwhelming. Khurram and his daughter Aalia have received so many gifts and acts of kindness. Although etiquette does not require him to write Thank You notes for Sympathy gifts, Khurram decided he wanted to send everyone a Thank You note. Everyone is a group that is comprised of 400+ people. He was going to buy generic cards, but I offered to create something that was more personal.

This was a daunting, yet cathartic task. I combed through both Melanie and Khurram's facebook pages for just the right photos. I found this photo of Melanie from their Spain vacation and thought that it was perfect. Khurram wished to include this poem which they displayed at their wedding. Melanie had selected it to honor her father who had passed away a few months before their wedding.

She is Gone
You can shed tears that she is gone
Or you can smile because she has lived
You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back
Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left
Your heart can be empty because you can’t see her
Or you can be full of the love that you shared
You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday
Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday
You can remember her and only that she is gone
Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on
You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back
Or you can do what she would want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on.
-David Harkins

Here is what I designed.

It is simple, but much more personal.

Prior to Melanie's death, I had planned on designing baby announcements as my gift. Since circumstances had changed, I created Thank You cards for Aalia that were based on my original design.

Thank You Cards & Monograms: Mychel & Connor

As with many of my clients, Mychel & Connor requested monograms and Thank You cards that coordinated with their wedding invitations.

Since the Oak Tree was an important wedding motif, I included it in one of their monograms.

For their Thank You cards, I used an Oak Tree that was similar, but had a slight variation.