Daily Life: Why I do what I do

You might remember Nalani and Bryan from about 2 posts down, they had a rockin engagement session shot in Ventura. Well this morning I was pleasantly surprised with an e-mail from them and I thought it was so sweet/cool I had to share.

I do what I do so that people can get fun, creative, funky, and beautiful photographs for their weddings, engagements, or just because. I do it because photography is my passion. I do it because of people like Nalani and Bryan who were so fun to work with and get as excited as I do about rad photos.

I do it for all you guys!

So while you may be sending me a thank you (which I truly appreciate), I thank you as well for letting me share my passion and talent for photography with you and letting me be able to do what I love. Working with you all and having you not only be my "brides" or "clients" but also becoming my friends is what makes this job awesome!

Daily Life: A boyfriend and a baby

Recently my boyfriend Joe and I had our 3-year anniversary (on the 6th). For our anniversary I printed and framed a few photos for him to put in his office at work (He is a newly minted attorney). I have been wanting to share this photo since took it a few weeks ago but didn't want him to see it before he found the lovely metallic print in his gift bag. So here it is, Joe and his niece Kate.

Isn't she a doll-baby? I took this photo right before Christmas when Joe and I were babysitting Kate and Joe's newphew Paul while their parents were at an office Christmas party in Camarillo.

Nalani and Bryan: The Engagement Slideshow

I first heard from Nalani about 2 weeks ago when she called me asking about wedding photography after googling for Ventura County Wedding Photographers and coming across my website. I missed her initial call but could tell from her excited tone on the voicemail that she was someone I wanted to work with. I quickly got back to her and we set up a meeting while she and her fiance Bryan were in town to plan their wedding.

Her and Bryan hadn't planned on doing an engagement session during the 10 short days they were out here but we were able to squeeze it in this past Friday before they headed back home to Seattle and I am so glad! They were incredibly fun to hang out with while we were shooting in downtown Ventura.

I am so excited to be able to shoot their September beach wedding in Oxnard, it's going to be gorgeous.

Check out just a taste of some of their rad e-session:



A big shoutout to The Candlelight Kitchen & Bar for letting us shoot around their gorgeous location.

Engagement Teaser: Nalani and Bryan

I am just too excited not to post something as I am editing this session.

Here is a quick preview of the insanely awesome engagement session from this past Friday in Ventura County California.

Keep an eye out tomorrow evening for their full engagement post.

How could you not love this couple?

Daily Life: A wedding guest

Every once and awhile I get the chance to be a guest at a wedding. It is always nice to just leisurely take photos while enjoying amazing moments in the lives of people I love. It also affords me the opportunity to get back in touch with how it feels to be a guest at a wedding and all the details I am able to notice when I can just relax and take it all in. In short, it makes me a better photographer!

Here are a few photos from my good friend Eric's wedding to his lovely bride Niyousha at the beautiful Castle at Ashley Manor in Chandler Arizona. You can see more from their wedding at their photographers blog Moments Found Photography

Please note: These photographs were taken as a guest and are not examples of my work as a wedding photographer. I love taking photos but only brought one small camera and lens so I didn't get in anyones way and I could just enjoy being there.

New Product: Engagement Albums/Guestbook

I am excited to announce a brand new product available to all my brides/clients.
Engagement Albums/Guestbooks are now available. These are beautiful 8 x 8 albums with a variety of cover options/colors. They are printed on beautiful paper and then mounted just like a flush mount album. They can be designed strictly as engagement albums or to be used as your wedding guestbook! It is a wonderful way to use your beautiful Marianne Wilson engagement photographs. A great addition to your beautiful wedding. Guests will love signing in these gorgeous books and you will be sure to hold on to them forever.

These are the same high quality albums used for parent books as well.

shown: 8x8 album w/ scarlet weave cover and metal plate cameo

Some of the spreads designed for guest book use:

Birthday fun and A great Christmas!

Just wanted to pop in and say I hope everyone has a very merry Christmas this year!

I was just going through some of the Christmas photos and will post a little 'Wilson Christmas Slideshow' in the next few days.

As for today, It's my birthday!!!!!! Woohoo!

I would like to thank everyone who called/texted/emailed me today. I was overloaded with facebook messages and text lovin. You are all wonderful and made a girl feel very loved on this warm December Tuesday. Also, thank you to my wonderful friend Resa who met up with me at the Sherman Oaks Galleria to grab lunch at the Cheesecake Factory, I use the term grab loosely because we were there for over 2 hours chatting! Gotta love great friends! She also had them sing Happy Birthday, on accident :)

Of course I want to thank my amazing Mother for birthing me on this day back in 1985. I am glad you made it through the Christmas pageant and had me a few days later. I couldn't ask for a smarter, more beautiful, and patient mother. You really are the best! Thanks for going through all that pain. Hope it was worth it! Also to my father who I wouldn't be here without either. Thanks pops! I love you both an unbelievably large amount ;)

Last, but certainly not least. A big thanks to my wonderful boyfriend who I will be seeing later this evening for a delicious sushi dinner in Thousand Oaks. Glad I was born and met you about 19 years later. I love you and am so blessed to have shared the last 3 birthdays with you.

I have been thinking a lot about what this next year will bring. Not only do I have the next year of my life but also a whole new year. Double the resolutions! I am working on my list for both personal and business related resolutions and will post a few as soon as I finalize my goals.

Thanks again to everyone for the birthday wishes!