Let's give a shoutout to one of the most helpful guests at your wedding, your Maid of Honor!!!
These women are like superheroes in dresses and high heels! There is no task too big or small that they can't handle! Not only do they plan you an epic bachelorette party, they also... - Make sure you stay flawless throughout the day - Carry around your bouquet, stash tissue, hold your train, and fluff your gown - Gather all the lovely details that you want photographed (your gown, shoes, rings, invitations, jewelry, florals, etc.) - Help you use the restroom (yes, the struggle is REAL!) - Make sure you always have a bite to eat and a sip to drink - Keep the groomsmen in line - Gather any stragglers for the family formal portraits - Give a heart wrenching speech - Dance the night away with you! These ladies are my go-to gals on the day of (other than the amazing wedding planners, of course). So make sure you show these gals lots of love! CHEERS to all of the amazing Maid of Honors! May we know them. May we be them!
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I don't know how I got so lucky to have this little girl of mine! She has been an absolute dream come true! I always felt extremely blessed with my two sons, but this little lady is the cherry on top! She has filled every nook and cranny left in my heart. I was going through photos from this past year and it's crazy to see how much has happened in the last 12 months. Exactly one year ago today I was pregnant for the very last time (that's right, the baby-making shop is closed for good --tied, snipped, burned down!). I remember anxiously waiting to meet my baby girl in the hospital bed, not knowing that this would be my quickest delivery yet. I wasn't even admitted into the hospital for an hour and then... there she came --right before the epidural had time to kick in! I can't remember all of the pain, I just remember holding her in my arms for the very first time and breaking down into tears! I finally met my lifelong best friend! Life is good my friends and I make sure to count my blessings each and everyday. Dearest Daughter, I promise to love, protect, and raise you exactly like your big brothers. To make sure you know your strength and worth! Help you find your voice and passion for life! You have such a sweet and spunky personality, I look forward to seeing who you become! I just know you are going to do great things! But until then my love, stay my baby for a little while longer. I'm not ready for you to grow up just yet! I've never been good at taking monthly photos of my babies, but I'm so glad that I stuck with it this time around. Third times a charm, right!?! -even if it was only with my crappy camera phone. It's so cool to see how much she's changed! Her eyes were so small at 1 month, then they sprouted at 5 months! She started losing her hair at 5 months so we buzzed it all off, remember!?! People thought we were totally crazy, but look how fast it grew back --in only 3 months! I love how you can see her different moods in each photo. She wasn't always a happy camper, thats for sure! The photo below is her first photo on the growth chart, at only 2 weeks old, and the bottom photo is on her first birthday :(
Jessica was one of the first people to book me when I returned from maternity leave and I couldn't wait to get her beautiful family in front of my camera!! Let's take a minute to talk about how handsome her 3 little boys are!!! They have so much love and respect for each other and their parents, its adorable! Jessica and Eric, yall are doing a great job raising these littles gentlemen! I had so much fun during your session! Thank you for choosing me to capture these sweet moments! Here are some of my favorites...
You booked your wedding venue and found all of your dream vendors - now what!?!
Its time to start drafting your wedding day! I love helping my clients create their perfect timeline! Here are some questions you want to answer before we get started: 1. Do you plan to do a first look? If yes, do you want to document all the wedding party portraits and family formals prior to the ceremony so you can enjoy cocktail hour with your guests? 2. Where will you be getting ready? 3. If you’re not getting ready at the ceremony location, how far are you from the ceremony location? 4. How far is the grooms prep location from the ceremony site? 5. What time is your ceremony and how long will it last? 6. Is your ceremony and reception at the same location? If not, how far apart are they from each other? 7. What time is cocktail hour and reception? 8. Do you want to sneak off after dinner to capture some romantic sunset photos? Now that you have an idea of what you want captured for your big day, it helps to know how much time is needed document each event: 60 minutes for bride/groom prep photos 30 minutes for bride and groom portraits 30 minutes for wedding party shots 30 minutes for family shots (includes bride & groom's immediate families) 20 minutes - Reception Decor Photos 15 minutes - Ceremony Decor Photos Don't forget to add in the sweet moments: 10 minutes Grand Entrance 10 minutes First Dance 10 minutes Welcome Toast 50-60 minutes Dinner 15 minutes Toasts 10 minutes Parent dances 5 minutes Cake cutting 10 minutes Bouquet/garter toss 20-30 minutes Photographing Open dancing Once I have all of the answers, I send my clients a outline of their dream wedding timeline. I strive to make this timeline process as easy and enjoyable as possible. I hope this helps as you plan your big day! I absolutely loved photographing Brooke + Matt’s beautiful Homestead Oak Glen wedding, as a second shooter for Heather Smith Photography. The color palette, floral arrangements, and lush venue went together perfectly. We were surrounded by sweet little cottages and towering oak trees. The ceremony and reception were celebrated outside in the fresh mountain air. We even saw some deer browsing in the hills. Brooke and Matt were very much in love and they had so much support from their family and friends. It was amazing to witness. These are some of my favorites moments from the day.
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I'M JANELLE MARINA
Wife, Mama Shark, + Photographer. Most days, you'll find me in mismatched socks and a top knot, working behind my computer with a smile on my face, listening to Zac Brown Band and R&B --or, dancing in the kitchen with my 3 littles and hunka husband, seeing who could come up with the coolest dance moves. I'm a wedding photographer, West Elm lover, aspiring advocate for our buddies with special needs, and a Certified Dreamer since 1986. We live in a cozy city in Southern California and are always up for a good adventure. I enjoy telling stories with my camera, grubbing on spicy food, and solving the latest Dateline case.
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December 2019
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