Love Erica Jean

Engaged: Dyan and Rich

2012-01-29T12:33:00.000-08:00

Dyan has really, truly seen me grow up. I have been so lucky to have this hilarious, fabulous woman as a part of my life! She is an amazing hairdresser, so if you're looking for a new hair dresser in Los Gatos, check her out at the Los Gatos Spa :).

When she asked me to shoot her engagement photos, I couldn't have been more excited. I had a wonderful day capturing the love that she and Rich share.

Dyan: I hope you enjoy these photos and see the beautiful, oh-so fabulous woman I see in these photos! I am so happy for you and Rich.

Click on photos to enlarge them.

I didn't even tell them to do anything in this photo... they just NATURALLY look this fabulous!!

These last two pictures are taken where Dyan and Rich first met.

Portraits: Beeta

2011-12-18T10:01:00.000-08:00

I love Beeta, and she is beautiful. Thanks for hanging out with me all weekend Beeta, I hope you like the photos! <3

Click on an image to enlarge.

I'll end with this because it's classic Beeta...

Couples: David and Liz

2011-07-11T08:22:00.001-07:00

I know I haven't posted in quite a long time, but I'm happy to make a return to the blog scene with this couples session.
This couple is a little bit different from the rest of the ones I've shot. Yes, they're gorgeous and adorable and tons of fun. But David is my big brother, so shooting photos for him and Liz was a treat.
David isn't the type of guy to bring girls home to meet the family often, so when our family met Liz for the first time we were a little bit in shock! But we've discovered over the months that she is sweet, fun, and the perfect person to challenge David's sarcasm and attitude.
We went to Rio Del Mar for the afternoon, and Liz, her dog Sueters, David, and I braved a long and treacherous walk to find some really cool locations. After grabbing a bite to eat, we went back to the beach to finish off their session.
Liz and David, thanks for being such great models. Liz, thanks for the great candid photos, and David-- who knew you had a model face! :) Hope you enjoy the photos!

(click on the photos to enlarge them)

They even started out the shoot great!

Love Liz's shoes!!

Liz, you look stunning.

I just about died for the light right here.

On our dangerous walk, I caught this and I love it!!

Hellooo models!!

David bought this necklace for Liz in Hawaii, and trust me-- he searched all over for something he thought would fit her perfectly.

Liz perfected the "smize"

Sueters is the prince of the castle at Liz's house, and it was definitely a struggle to get this picture! (But it's so cute)

Again with the gorgeous light!!

I looove this photo. Might even be a favorite.

I love both of these next images!!

Liz, you look absolutely amazing in this photo.

Sueters!!!

Liz and David, hope you enjoyed the photos! Thanks for letting me capture this.

Behind the Scenes...

2011-04-10T20:10:00.000-07:00

So, I had an absolute blast shooting Jazzy and Karen. But I wanted to show you guys a little bit of the behind the scenes for what goes on in a photo shoot. It is not always pretty! Sometimes, to get the shots that I want, my clients have to be great sports-- climbing through plants or feeling awkward in front of the camera! So I'm going to show you guys two things you may not have expected from behind the scenes of Jazzy's photoshoot...

So, to start... I love this photo of Karen!

But sometimes, your clients are uncomfortable or just need a little bit of help. So to get this shot, you'd be surprised... Jazzy was encouraging Karen on :)

Remember this photo? I loooove it. But the only reason I was able to get this photo is because Karen is so awesome... and she was willing to make her away across some treacherous grass!

She was wearing sandals, so she couldn't walk through the thorny grass! Luckily, we're good friends, so I had to carry her to the tree :)

And on the way back, she picked her way across...

So thank you, Karen and Jazzy, for encouraging each other, for climbing to awkward places for a good photo. Hopefully, this blog shows you that sometimes good pictures are difficult to get (but it's worth it in the end!)

Wedding: Kate and Gary

2011-04-05T18:19:00.000-07:00

From the moment you meet them, it is clear how deeply Kate and Gary care for each other. They have both been through tremendous difficulties in their lives, and they have provided amazing support for each other. I am truly inspired by their strength against the adversity they have gone through. They are both truly warm hearted and welcoming people.

Kate and Gary had a beautiful day. They had an intimate wedding that spoke perfectly to them. The weather was gorgeous, the ceremony was emotional and beautiful, and the relationship was intimate.

Kate, Gary, and their guests welcomed Vladimir and I with open arms. I want to thank you for trusting me to capture this special day for you, but even further, for including us. We were honored to be a part of the beautiful wedding that you had.

Kate and Gary-- Thank you for allowing me to be there on your special day. I hope you love the photos, and that they truly capture the love between you two.

Isn't Kate absolutely stunning?!

Look at the beautiful colors in this bouquet!

Hellooo amazing shoessss!

Gary's first look at Kate...

This look between Kate and Gary is filled with love and emotion-- it's absolutely beautiful.

Gary's reaction to a lovely gift is priceless!

I'll end on this because I do love laughter...

Kate and Gary, your day was absolutely beautiful. I hope these pictures can do it justice.

My Dreams

2011-04-04T20:21:00.000-07:00

I have a dream. I have lots of dreams. In fact, I'm a dreamer. And maybe, writing them down will help me to accomplish them. So I'm making a list of my dreams here, because maybe putting them down here will encourage me to complete them. It's a little bit scary, admitting the things that I want with my life, but I need to be brave.

Goals and Dreams.
1. Graduate college
2. Buy a house
3. Visit Seattle
4. Visit my best friend, Deniz
5. Visit New York
6. Go back to Europe
7. Live abroad in Europe for at least 2 months
8. Pursue photography full time
9. Live somewhere other than CA (don't worry Jami, just temporarily!)
10. Read at least 10 notable books by the end of the summer
11. Book 2 weddings by the end of 2011
12. Get my priorities straight. Realize when it's okay to put family and friends over work.
13. Own a horse
14. Visit the South
15. Read the bible regularly
16. Keep the focus on being happy
17. Own a restuarant
18. Make vacationing and travel a priority-- at least two weeks a year
19. Have a solid group of dependable, supportive friends that I can always count out
20. Be utterly, completely happy

There's a lot of dreams I have that I'm still too afraid to put down. Dreams that are just being born, dreams that I'm mulling over. This blog is a reminder to myself to keep these dreams in sight as I go through these immense changes in the next few months.

And because I want to fill my life with days like this one-- with picnics and true friendship and the contentment of our feet in the sand.

Portraits: Jasmine

2011-04-02T14:41:00.000-07:00

Jasmine is rarely known to her friends as that-- instead, she goes by the spunky and fitting nickname of Jazzy.
I was good friends with her older brother Julian a few years back, so when Jazzy came into school with me I always knew who she was. We had some of the same friends, but we didn't really get to know each other well until last year. We ended up sharing a hotel room together at a few conventions we went to, and I had an absolute blast getting to know her. This year, we even have a class together!
Jazzy is absolutely adorable. She is full of energy, laughter, and life. What I admire most about Jazzy is that she lives her life on her terms-- she doesn't seem to worry about what other people are thinking of her. Whenever Jazzy and I get together, we have a blast!
You might recognize Karen from her portrait session-- she hung out with Jazzy and I and we just had to include her in some photos. :)

To Jazzy-- thanks for braving the camera even though you felt uncomfortable. You were a spectacular model! Thanks for filling me with delicious Indian food, laughing at my jokes, and letting me fulfill my artistic vision for this shoot. Thanks to you and Karen for spending the day with me-- it was a blast! Hope you love the photos. :)

Jazzy, you are adorable!! Jazzy was really nervous beforehand, but you can't even tell!

This photo is so quintessentially Jazzy! Love it

These next few are by far my favorites. Jazzy, you are absolutely stunning.

Helloooo gorgeous!!

Hellooo beautiful light!! Thank you for coming. :)

We had to cross some treacherous and painful plants to get here, but it was worth it!

Again, Jazzy and Karen, I had a blast with you! Thanks for hanging out with me and taking these photos :)

Jami

2011-03-28T15:28:00.001-07:00

When everything else in my life is changing, when my life seems to be in chaos, I will always know that I will still have you. I may have nothing else to depend on, but I know that you will be there.
Thank you for guiding me through life. For welcoming me with open arms on the days when I need somewhere to go. For letting me be a part of your life for better or for worse, and for dropping everything for me. For the good times, and the bad.

There's nothing like a sister. No matter what we fight about, there's no running away. Thank you for teaching me to face my fears, to make good decisions, to be held accountable. Thank you for spoiling me, for making me laugh, and for wiping away the tears.

To the person I love most in this world, you are beautiful.

Engaged: Vanessa and Nick

2011-03-20T09:07:00.000-07:00

All day long, it poured. Windshield wipers, rain boots, don't go outside poured. All I could think about was Vanessa and Nick's engagement session-- we couldn't reschedule because they were in town and available only today. So I drove through the rain to the session, brainstorming ways to shoot them if the downpour just wouldn't stop.

But we were lucky-- the rain cleared up for our session, starting again as soon as we finished shooting!

Vanessa and Nick are from outside of Chicago-- Nick just finished up graduate school at Stanford. They met in high school playing baseball and softball, and they've been dating ever since! They've been together for eight years, and you can tell how much they care for each other. They've had a long distance relationship for a while now, with Vanessa across the country studying to become a dentist. Nick and Vanessa are both clearly smart-- a mechanical engineer and a dentist! They have bright futures, as individuals and as a couple.

Vanessa and Nick-- it is clear how much you truly love and care for each other. I hope that I captured that for you. I had a blast spending the afternoon with you, and I hope you love the pictures! Thank you for taking a chance on me.

Helloooo! Look at that model face! Vanessa, you are gorgeous!

I brought along my good friend Naomi to second shoot with me, and she captured this awesome shot! She's a super talented photographer (along with a lot of other things...)

Love this photo!

If they were nervous, you definitely can't tell.. they both look like models here!!

It's so clear in this picture how much they love each other. Adorable!

Ahhhh this is one of my favorites from their session. Love it!

Actually, I think this might be my favorite from the whole session...

So Nick and Vanessa met in high school while she was playing softball and he was playing baseball. They decided to bring their old jerseys and a baseball to the session. I love when couple's have such great ideas like this!

Again, thank you Nick and Vanessa for allowing me to capture these moments. I hope you can cherish these pictures-- and I know that your journey together will be beautiful.

Couples Session: Anton & Hannah

2011-02-27T11:10:00.001-08:00

There is nothing that I love more than a day spent in San Francisco. Even though this past weekend we had record low temperatures (even snow! here! in california!), the weather in San Francisco was gorgeous. It was a little chilly, but luckily Anton & Hannah braved the weather!

Anton is Vladimir's older brother, and he and Hannah were in town for Anton's birthday. They're both an absolute blast, and I know it was a treat for Vladimir to spend some time with his older brother. Even though Anton and Hannah have to deal with a long distance relationship for most of the year, you can see that they use their time together well and have an absolute blast.

Thanks so much for letting me capture these moments of you. I hope you enjoy the photos and the end of your weekend in San Francisco!

Love this photo! They're great at making each other laugh, that's for sure! :)

Love this series..

Because Anton is the king of funny faces... (I see where Vladimir gets it from now!!)

Thank you again! Vladimir and I had a blast taking pictures of you and we hope you enjoy the photos. :)

Charlotte Grace

2011-02-16T20:52:00.000-08:00

This session was really really difficult. Why? Becuase Charlotte was crying? Well, she was crying, but that wasn't what made it hard.
There were SO MANY adorable pictures of this precious little girl that I could barely choose which ones would make it to the blog. That's what was so hard about this session!!
Many of you may remember Rebecca from her maternity session last year. I am so happy to introduce the lovely Charlotte Grace on the blog now! I know Rebecca and George were sooo excited for her to arrive and now that she is here she is just a little bundle of joy.
Rebecca, I hope you that you like the photos. Hopefully, they will be something you, George, and Charlotte can look back on as she grows older. Enjoy!

I loooooove this picture! She's so adorable.

Feels Like Summer.

2011-02-13T17:07:00.000-08:00

It's been two years now. Hard to believe it's been so long.

I jumped in the car with an enthusiastic "Hi cat!" and we were on our way. I love the long, winding drive to the beach-- forest green around us, screaming to music on the radio, looking at each other with rays of sunlight bouncing all around us. The perfect end to a great break-- browsing through an antique fair, throwing our heads back with laughter and talking about the future. Wandering around aimlessly, with nothing to buy and nowhere to go. Driving to the ocean on a whim-- we can just do that, you know. We set up our picnic. The feeling of sand in between my toes, the gentle sun warming us up, casual bites of cookies and sandwiches and baked concoctions. The silence, the sound of the waves, reading the book you gave me to brighten up our days.
These are the days I want to remember-- the long drives, the casual meals, the carefree ease when we're together. The days when we throw our heads back in laughter, when we cuddle and, for a moment, everything is all right.

Thank you for today-- for a brief respite from the world of work and worry. And thank you for the past two years-- and all the days we've had like these.

New website!

2011-02-10T20:16:00.001-08:00

I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has been following my blog along the way. I am so glad that all of you have been around so that I could get to this point!

I invite you to check out my brand new website at www.loveericajean.com

I'm not sure at this point whether or not the blog will be moving over there as well, so please stick around for future announcements.

Have a great weekend!

Seattle!

2011-01-16T19:49:00.001-08:00

I spent the past weekend in Seattle. My main reason for being there was to compete in a scholarship competition, but beyond that I was so happy to explore the city and spend some time with family that I rarely got to see! I had a blast eating delicious food, touring the super cute areas of seattle, and most of all hanging out with cousins. Here's a treat, a few images of me, my family, and adorable little babies. Hope you are having a great holiday weekend and are spending it with family, just like I did.

Mmm... cupcake royale!

Looooove the University of Washington buildings!

My adorable cousins after a night at the pool.

Tristan and I at lunch!

I just have to do quite a few of William and Abigail... he is just too cute!

William is clearly adorable, and he gets it from mom!

And last but not least, Tristan!

I had an amazing time in Seattle. I was so glad to see family I rarely see and just to take a nice break from all the stress of work. Now here's to being a second semester senior... and sitting back and enjoying the ride!

Winter Reads

2011-01-05T10:38:00.000-08:00

There's nothing better in the Winter than cuddling up in bed with fuzzy socks on my feet and a great book in my hand. Add a mug of hot cocoa into the mix and I'm in absolute heaven!
I am the definition of a bookworm, and I figure posting my current reads and my goal reads here might help me keep up on reading and might even help you choose a new book to read!
Over my three week winter break, I decided to make reading a priority that it hasn't been in my life as SATs, college applications, and AP classes have been overwhelming me. So I finished a few great books that I would love to share with you guys!

1. Demian- Hermann Hesse: I finished reading this book really recently. My brother is very into philosophy and he gave me this book for my birthday this past summer, but I never got around to reading it. I finally sat down with it, and I really enjoyed it. It's a little deeper than your normal everyday read, but there's an interesting spiritual exploration that the main character goes through.

2. Fast Track Photographer- Dane Sanders: As a starting photographer, this book is great. The pDNA tool is invaluable, and the information Sanders provides is super super helpful. I'm still working my way through this book, as it does require some in depth self-evaluation. But I recommend this book to anyone looking to get into any type of photography business.

3. Song of Solomon- Toni Morrison: I read a lot. Rarely does a book make into my top anything, but Song of Solomon has made it into my top 5 favorite books of all time. The first time I picked up the book, I'll be honest, I struggled. I wasn't captivated by the first few pages so I put it down and moved on to something else. But over break I was determined to finish it, and I am so glad that I did. It is a hauntingly beautiful tale, with amazing character development and that is truly captivating. I recommend this book to anyone in an instant!

4. Galapagos- Kurt Vonnegut: A weird, fantasy version of Vonnegut. I must admit I thought that Slaughter House Five was better than this novel, but it was interesting just the same. Vonnegut's style is so distinct and so interesting that it made up for any of the weirdness I found in the plot.

5. Columbine- Dave Cullen: This is definitely not a fun, nighttime read. It's depressing and scary, but all the same fascinating and something that everyone should read. Columbine exposes the problems within the judicial and police system that, maybe, could have stopped the shooters. This book exposes truths about the tragedy that I would otherwise have never known. Check it out.

2010; 2011

2011-01-03T14:05:00.000-08:00

2010 has been a year of firsts. The year in which I bought my first camera, I second shot my first wedding, I met with a professional photographer, I shot my first maternity session. This year has been amazing and has been as a blessing as I have discovered the things that I love.

But I am excited and looking forward to 2011; to a year in which hopefully there will be more firsts, and a continuation of the things I have begun this year. I am excited for what the future holds for me. I am nervous for how my photography will progress, but I am excited. I have many goals for this upcoming year, and I am hopeful.

I thank the clients I have had for believing in me, and here's to the clients who will continue to believe in me.

On that note, if you are interested in a senior, portrait, or engagement session, contact me before January 15th for discounted rates in honor of a great year. Email me at loveericajean@yahoo.com

Following, a few images of things I enjoyed over my break from school. Hope your holidays were spectacular!

Anytime: Karen

2010-12-28T16:11:00.000-08:00

Karen and I have been waiting a long time to do a photo shoot and I am so glad we finally got the chance to do it. Karen braved a little bit of rain to get some great shots! We had some fun with this shoot, and I tried to go in a different direction for some of the photos.
Karen: you are absolutely beautiful inside and out. I am so blessed to have you as a friend. Thanks for the opportunity to shoot you and I hope you love the photos!

Loooove these shoes, love this bridge!

This is def a favorite!

Karen's sister Rachel came along to the shoot and we managed to get her in front of the camera a few times! (And she looks great, huh?)

Love this series

Karen, you are GORGEOUS!

Seriously.

A little different for me, but I like it!

Another favorite!

Karen is always laughing just like this..

There's nothing like having a sister, trust me! These two are so cute

Helloooo I love this wall!

Sooo cute!

And to end it off.. Karen looks fierce!

Karen and Rachel, thanks so much for spending the afternoon with me. I had a blast! Hope you had fun and that you enjoy the photos.

Maternity: Rebecca

2010-11-28T19:48:00.001-08:00

One year ago, they were embarking on a new chapter in their lives. They were coming together to unite for the rest of their lives. As they began the journey as a married couple, they were excited and enthusiastic. And today, they embark on another new journey. This new chapter in their lives revolves around their baby, affectionately referred to as "monkey."

Rebecca and George are absolutely the sweetest. I have known Rebecca for ten years, and I was blessed with the opportunity to document this portion of her life with maternity photos. We had a great time shooting these photos, and I love the effort they have put into making a home for this baby.

Rebecca and George, thank you for allowing me to be a part of this exciting time in your lives. I hope you both love the photos!

Isn't the baby cute? :)

Monkey has become more than just a nickname for the baby... it's become a theme-- in the baby shower and in the room decor!

Love love love this photo! Rebecca looks absolutely beautiful.

We'll end with this cute idea Rebecca came up with.

Thank you so much, Rebecca and George, for allowing me to capture these precious moments in your lives.

Couples: Brianna & Nirjhar

2010-11-24T20:38:00.000-08:00

I was majorly excited to shoot this couple! I have known Brianna since I was in 2nd grade, and Nirjhar has been one of my closest friends for the past four years. When they started dating I was ecstatic, and I was even more excited to do this photoshoot.

Brianna and Nirjhar are two of the sweetest, kindest, and above all, silliest people I have ever met! Vladimir and I had so much fun wandering around the Santa Clara Library and the park with them. Seriously, these two were such troopers-- laying in the wet grass and sitting in sand for good pictures!

Bri and Nirj, you guys kept Vladimir and I laughing all afternoon. It was great to see how much fun you two have together. I absolutely love you both! Thanks for letting us take these photos of you and I hope you love them!

This was within the first couple of shots.. they both look amazing!

Loooove this next shot. Brianna looks absolutely gorgeous

This is right by where they had their first date

My view...

Vladimir's view...

She's adorable!

Nirj looks so handsome

We decided to take some shots at the interesting playground near by.
Vladimir's shot..

My shots!

My view..

Vladimir's view

Brianna, you are stunning.

Nirjhar, you are so handsome!

Love this photo!

Vladimir's shot...

My view...

It may not look like it, but it was FREEZING outside! Brianna and Nirjhar suffered through it for me, but at the end we headed back into the library to escape the cold and get a few more cute pictures.

Brianna and Nirjhar, thank you so much for spending the day with Vladimir and I. We had a blast with you guys and I hope you enjoy the photos!

PS. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am thankful for my friends and family above all else. Have a great day!

Senior: Anisha

2010-10-16T19:44:00.001-07:00

I am so happy that I have gotten the chance to get to know Anisha better in the past few months. She is sooo nice, and the fact that she laughs at anything sure makes you feel funny ;).
We had a great day wandering around downtown San Jose. Anisha is absolutely gorgeous-- we could tell from all the guys stopping to tell her so! Thank you so much for coming out and shooting with me Anisha, I had an absolute blast and I hope you like the photos!

Look at her working those fierce shoes!

Ummm... hello wind! Gorgeous!!

Love this light!!

We had some fun with Anisha's adorable hat!

Of course we'll end on this picture because I do love laughter...

Senior: Henna

2010-10-10T21:32:00.000-07:00

Meet Henna. She is an amazing, hilarious girl, who throws her head back when she laughs and dances while she drives. She likes to blast rap music and dance like there's no tomorrow. She's also amazingly smart and a great volleyball player, and I've been lucky enough to have her as a friend since 2nd grade.
I had so much fun shooting Henna for some senior portraits. It's crazy to think we'll be graduating this year! The light during our session was absolutely gorgeous, and I had a ton of fun trying new things and getting some great pictures. I hope you like these pictures Henna; you look beautiful in them all!

Henna has a gorgeous laugh!

We found this amazing weeping willow tree, and I just couldn't resist it...

So much fun! :)

And because this basically sums her up...

Cousins

2010-10-09T12:25:00.001-07:00

I'm about to head out for a wedding in downtown San Jose, but before I do I wanted to post these adorable pictures of my cousins. I had a great time hanging out with them on my trip to Seattle last week! Love you guys!

Laughing.

2010-09-21T20:32:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, life is tough. Sometimes we get overwhelmed, and we just don't feel like things are going to be okay.

But they will be. We just need to remember those moments where our eyes close and we through our heads back and laugh. We need to be thankful for the people who surround us and who make us do just that-- laugh.

Thank you, Gladys Jem. Both for making me laugh, and for capturing this.

Couples Session: Joerelle & Karl

2010-09-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

I am sooo excited about this session. It was about mid-august, and it was an amazing session!
Here's the background: I met up with the sweetest photographer a while back, and she was so sweet and I learned so much just from talking with her. Gladys Jem is truly amazing! So when I got home, I friended Gladys on facebook and we kept talking some. She even, so nicely, kept up with reading my blog and left me a bunch of comments (which, of course made me sooo happy!) But Gladys went above and beyond-- she decided to set up a couple's session in San Francisco both for her and to help me learn. I was blown away when I found out-- she was going out of her way to allow me to take photographs and learn from her.
I met up with Gladys, Joerelle and Karl, in San Francisco. (Gladys even let me use her 40D instead of my Rebel... have I said yet how nice she is?!?!?!) Joerelle and Karl are soo nice, and she is absolutely gorgeous! Karl is also interested in photography, and he brought along his camera and took some shots.
Once again, I had an amazing time shooting with Gladys and I am sooo thankful for the help that she has given me. I'm taking a journey of a lifetime, learning, and falling in love with photography. Hopefully I captured some of what Joerelle and Karl are in these photos. I hope you enjoy!

Love, love, love this shot Gladys came up with! Just from this picture, you would have NO idea where they really are...

Look at that-- Joerelle knows how to work it!

Winddd!! :)

I think this might be my favorite image I've taken-- it's just sooo sweet.

I'm not sure what it is about this image, but I love it.

I'll leave you with this image...

High School Days are Coming to a Close

2010-08-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

Phew, have been MIA lately!! I am almost done with the first week of my Senior year, and I am ecstatic. And scared.
I'm starting my national merit application, I'm opening a CommonApp account, I'm thinking about where I'm going to be next year! I want to have an amazing year with my friends-- they people who I've known since I was 7 years old, or 13 years old, or 15. The people I can rely on, laugh with, and love.

I have a ton of really exciting things going on that I haven't blogged about. I did a really really awesome couples session with the great photographer Gladys Jem but I haven't uploaded any pictures yet because I don't have them! But I promise, a really exciting post about that will come soon enough.
On another really really exciting note, I've had the opportunity to work with another great photographer recently named Thai Mai. He's been letting me assist him on engagements and a few weddings! I'm going to be assisting at about 4 more weddings for him before the end of the year, and I am sooo excited. I help carry bags, set up light stands, things like that.. but I get to shoot when he doesn't need help. It is an amazing experience to see the flow of the day, his posing style, and just experience what I truly do want to do. Unfortunately I won't be posting any images from the engagement or weddings on this blog. It's been an amazing experience and it will continue to be one!
I am so thankful and lucky for all the help I have gotten from within the photography community. Two photographers, Gladys and Thai, have reached out to me and helped to guide me in this process. I am so thankful because who am I? I'm just a 17 year old girl with a camera. There are thousands of girls just like me who want to do photography, but Gladys and Thai have believed in me-- just by meeting with me. I feel kind of like they're telling me it's okay to do this, to try to take this journey. I can be more than just a girl with a camera-- I could actually be that person I see myself as. That wedding photographer.
I am blessed enough to have time. Time to attend school, time to rely on my parents, time to not worry about money as much as I will have to eventually. So I don't see myself shooting a wedding by myself in the near future-- at all. I want to second shoot eventually, I liek assisting, I want to shoot my friends. But I don't feel confident enough in myself yet. I'm also really young! :) And not experienced enough. I am so grateful just to be getting the chance to gain experience.

Whew, a long post. Well.. I'm off to finish my AP Statistics homework and then, who knows, sneak in a little tv watching. :) Wish me luck in my last year of high school as I hope to establish more of who I am!

Excited for What is to Come.

2010-08-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

I'm currently bidding on a Canon 5D on ebay. Eeeek! And if I don't get a good bidding price, I'm still planning on buying a different one. I'm excited, but scared!!
This is a huge step forward for me, a move closer to accomplishing this dream. It's obviously a huge investment, and it's so hard for me to part with what little money I've saved up, but it's worth it. I'm really excited to buy one and to finally have it in my hands. I'm really excited, but I feel like this will just make me want even more equipment :)

On another note, I've been really MIA lately. I've been swamped with work, getting ready for school, etc. I start back next week, but this is my last year! Yay!! I'll definitely be blogging more soon. Look forward to an awesome couples session I got to do thanks to the amazing Gladys Jem. I am so sosososo thankful for all the help she has given me! She's a great photographer and she is sooooo nice.

Anytime: Naomi

2010-08-13T19:10:00.000-07:00

I had sooo much fun in my session with Naomi. Maybe because she's gorgeous inside and out , maybe because we found some really nice spots to shoot, or maybe because she's just an awesome girl. Naomi and I have been friends since 5th grade, and she's been amazing. I've been to Japan with her, Washington D.C., Italy, France, London.. and she's the girl I cried to in Japan when I was feeling miserable. Naomi is one of the nicest, most amazing people I know-- and to top it out, super smart and talented. (You'll see some of her stellar dance skills below!)
Thank you so much Naomi, for letting me shoot you. You're absolutely gorgeous and I hope you like these pictures.

See what I mean about her being gorgeous? Michael is a lucky man!

Love, love, love this image. Naomi scouted out this great spot for us to take some pictures!

See what I mean about her dancing? Shesh, woman!

Ill end with this picture just because I'm amazed...

Happiness

2010-08-10T20:42:00.001-07:00

Some things that make me happy.

Company, and great hosts who make you feel welcome in their homes

Beautiful things, beautiful flowers

Traveling to beautiful places

Friends who make great faces

Great light, and cute shirts (until they rip one day later)

Best friends, who you can make laugh

Sisters, hard at work

Cities I fall in love with

Giving Thanks

2010-07-25T18:08:00.000-07:00

Some days, you are just thankful. So today, I am thankful- for my friends, for my family.
Special thanks goes out to my amazing boyfriend-- for shooting my video, for spending countless hours for me, for buying soda in san francisco just so that i can use the bathroom at a restaurant!

I am thankful, today. Some day I'll be upset and frustrated, so I want to always remember this. I have so much to give thanks.

<3

Couples Session: Francesca and Tim

2010-07-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

I am soooooooooooooo excited! Yesterday I shot my first ever couples session, and I am absolutely ecstatic. I am so thankful to Francesca and Tim for letting me shoot them and hopefully capture some of their love. I hope you both enjoy some of these pictures, and Vlad and I had a great day hanging out with you.
I had a great experience-- it was definitely new to direct a couple rather than just one person. I'm excited because I feel like this could be a big stepping stone-- gaining experience is the most important part. I know my images are not perfect, they can be overexposed, underexposed, out of focus, you name it, but I'm just working to better myself.
:)

I loove this picture. So sweet :)

Working those sunglasses

After being out in the hot sun, we decided to have Francesca and Tim take a quick break in the water, but I couldn't resist getting some cute pictures.

Awwwww :)

Anytime: Jami

2010-07-15T10:35:00.001-07:00

Seriously, this girl loves me. So much that this morning, when she was sitting on the couch in her pajamas indulging in The Real Housewives of New Jersey and I screeched "JAMI! Let me take photos of youuuu!" she just sighed and said "Fine."

So my favoritest sister let me dress her up in clothes from my closet and force her to stand in the hot sun and pose for me. She's the best! Hopefully she likes some of these pictures, but we'll see :)

Love these shoes!!

Now pretend this is an engagement ring. :)

Look at that smize!! Jami, you're gorgeousss

Just playing around with something new...

On another note, I took my first photography class the other night! It was really interesting to hear all the technical reasoning behind all the camera stuff, especially since I've just been playing around. I've gotten much more confident in my photography in the past few months-- at least my knowledge of the camera. It's far from perfect, but I can feel myself improving so I am sooo happy about that! Hopefully in this class I'll be able to learn more about photoshop, lighting, and cameras!

Anytime: Deniz

2010-07-11T21:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Internet,
I have been having a great week. I went to haight and north beach today, ate some delicious cheesecake from Mara's Bakery (their cheesecake is seriously my biggest weakness) and had a fabulous time! I love everything about San Francisco. Tomorrow I'll be working, but Tuesday I'm going ATVing in Pismo Beach and am sooo excited! And I'm even more excited to show you a few pictures.. they are very few and an unplanned shoot, but, internet, I am very happy to introduce you to..
MY BEST FRIEND!

This is Deniz-- and I'm going to get a little mushy here. This girl, she's amazing. She's gorgeous inside and out. She's the person whose seen me at my worst and been able to make me laugh through my tears. Even though she's usually far away at Brown being smart and studious and becoming very successful, she's amazing. I was so glad to get cupcakes and dinner with her the other night and take some pictures. Hopefully, some more formal shots will come of her soon!

Deniz is at her best when laughing hysterically or making me laugh...

And another pictures because I melted inside for this amazing light...

Someday

2010-07-07T09:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I just feel discouraged. I know that I'm young, I have so much time, but I just want results. I can make my friends pose for me as much as I want-- drag them in front of the camera. But I just can't wait for the day clients want ME, and it's not just me sitting here, wanting clients more than anything ever before.

It just seems so intimidating. This world of photography that I'm not really a part of yet. This world of photographers who know who their second shooters are. I'm scared, because at this point, I feel like it'll be almost impossible to get that foot in the door. But I have to try. I have to, because it's what I want.

I am so thankful for the people who have helped me to get even to where I am today-- providing support, offering advice, everything. I just can't wait for the day when someone will actually want ME to shoot them.

One day.

Anytime: Shannon

2010-07-06T10:52:00.000-07:00

Eeeek! This is my last week of freedom before I go to real work :( I'm still really disappointed about how things turned out with the photographer I was supposed to intern for, but at least he thought about offering my the opportunity. Hopefully, I'll be able to do some senior portraits and get enough experience to where another photographer will let me second shoot something!

I had a great fourth of july weekend-- fireworks, hot dogs, crazy traffic, movies-- you name it!

And I am really excited about this shoot I'm about to share with you. This is Shannon, one of the sweetest people I know. She's beautiful inside and out, and we had a lot of fun around Los Altos looking for fun places to shoot. I hope you love these photos Shannon!

Anytime: Francesca

2010-07-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

Francesca's CD came out this past week (yay!) so she came over to talk and celebrate. I was able to take some quick snapshots of here, so here's a treat!

I'm really excited about this new lens. I'm hoping to set up some senior portrait sessions for the upcoming year, but I'm debating between using my Rebel for those shots or renting a nicer camera for the day of the shoots.

Anyways, Francesca is absolutely gorgeous, full of life, and amazing! Frankie, I hope you enjoy these pictures-- you look beautiful as always, with or without makeup. And don't worry, you're good at "smizing" :)

On another note, I've just started my internship with a Finance Professor. My parents really wanted me to do this internship because they saw it had great possibilities, but I've been dragging my feet the whole way. I'll definitely do the work, I'm just overwhelmed. He's in the middle of writing a book, and my job is basically to do research for him and put together so called "mini-cases." I'm currently researching the Chinese Yuan-- while interesting, it's a far cry from what I would love to be doing right now.
Oh, the things we do for money.

I have another shoot that should be coming up on the blog anytime. Realistically, it'll probably be up Monday or Tuesday of next weekend, given the holidays.
Have a great fourth of July weekend. I wish you fireworks, family, and yummy food!

Finally, Some Pictures!

2010-06-26T12:43:00.000-07:00

My trip was-- amazing. My birthday-- great. The stomach flu? sucked. But luckily, it's over! And I'm going to post just a little snapshot of the things I've been doing over the past two weeks. I've been living with great people, eating yummy good, learning about tons of culture, and having a blast. I am excited but sad to be home!
I'm going to work soon, and hopefully will be shooting promo shots for a friend's t-shirt line and getting started on some senior portraits soon!
I think my internship may have fallen through, which makes me really sad. Unfortunately, there's nothing I can do about it but practice practice practice and be thankful for my lovely friends who have all the patience in the world for me shooting them!
AND on a super exciting note!! For my birthday, I got a great 50mm 1.8 lens that the lovely Gladys Jem recommended to me. It captures color sooo well and the depth of field is amazing. I'm so excited!
Hopefully I'll have more pictures to post soon showing off my new lens!

Oops..

2010-06-26T07:10:00.001-07:00

I SWEAR I meant to upload pictures on Thursday. Really! But with my luck.. I came down with the stomach flu on my birthday :( I've just been laying around in bed feeling awful-- I definitely wasn't anywhere near my computer. Luckily, this morning I'm feeling quite a bit better, so I'll put pictures up later today. Promise!

:)

Today is my birthday.

2010-06-23T06:13:00.000-07:00

It is 6 AM, and I am 17. Why am I awake at 6 AM on my birthday? Because I am ridiculously insanely jetlagged. After about 20 hours spent in the air and at airports yesterday, giving my bundles of gifts to my family, and eating some delish home-cooked food, I conked out at 10 last night. And the price I had to pay is being the only one awake at 6 AM!

These past two weeks were a complete whirlwind and an amazing trip. I am so excited to be home! My mom and sister have planned an amazing birthday for me (loveee).

Unfortunately, I'm not going to upload any photos QUITE yet. Don't worry, they will come! Hopefully tomorrow. So hang in there guys! :)

Hope you all had a great two weeks (take some deserved vacation time too!)

Vacation!

2010-06-10T10:02:00.000-07:00

Hi all! I am on vacation in Russia right now seeing lots of beautiful things and eating lots of new things. I take tons of pictures and I was planning on uploading a bunch to the blog but turns out we don't have wifi here, and I don't want to upload all my pictures to my host's desktop! So hopefully I'll be able to get some pictures up onto the blog soon but if not, you'll see tons when I get home.

I hope you all are enjoying your Summers :)

An Overload of Information

2010-06-04T20:30:00.000-07:00

Okay guys, I have a LOT to say. I'm just warning you so you don't keep on reading to find that this post never ends! Bear with me. :)

I'm going to be taking the SAT II tomorrow-- and (cross your fingers) hopefully it'll be the last one i take! It's sad, but also super exciting that high school is coming to a close. I'm going to be starting my last year in the fall! I've been at the same school, with the same people for ten years! I'm nervous and excited to start what feels like-- the rest of my life!

Today was a GREAT day. I love San Francisco and I love photography, so I was super stoked to combine them in one! I got to have lunch with an amazing San Francisco Wedding photographer Gladys Jem. I was really really nervous about meeting her, because I'm so inexperienced and this great photographer was offering me her time! But Gladys was soooo sweet, and she answered all my questions and more! She was super helpful and I am so appreciative of her having lunch with me. It made me even more excited about photography. She gave me great advice about lenses, business, clients, shooting, and post-processing! I couldn't have asked for a better person to meet with.

Besides being an amazing photographer, Gladys is also gorgeous in her free time.

I love the colors of the grass with the blue of her dress!

And her shoes? LOVE them!

Even though this picture wasn't intentional, i love her smile!

Gladys is SO nice and she let me try out her nice lens on my camera-- the fstop is way wider, and I LOVE the depth of field I got in this picture.

Once again, I am soooo thankful that Gladys met with me. She was so nice and had great advice and experience.

So, the last note! I'll be leaving on Sunday (eek!) to go to Russia for two weeks! I'm super excited but I'll be offline for a while. I'll try to post pictures through the weeks of all the stuff I'm doing. Have a great two weeks everyone!

Jami Blair: Just Because

2010-05-25T20:29:00.000-07:00

I have a lot of best friends. A lot of people I can rely on (because I'm so lucky) and have fun with-- but Jami is above them all. Why?
Because she's my amazing, uber cool, super nice, gorgeous, lovely sister! And she's put up with me for almost 17 years!
I absolutely love Jami to death. She's been there for me through everything, she's my best friend, and we've had the most fun. Most of all, she's that one person I'll always be able to go to and I am so thankful!
But I'm also super thankful because she let me make her feel really awkward and take cute pictures of her today. :)
Check these out and tell me what you think!

Isn't she gorgeous?

And because my sister is hilarious and absolutely adorable...

Inspiration.

2010-05-24T12:21:00.001-07:00

Even if no one reads my blog now, maybe, one day, if I explode to amazing fame and live the life i dream about when I fall asleep every night, someone will look through these. Maybe someone will pour over my old blog entries trying to learn everything they possibly can about photography, just like I do now. So here I am, posting my inspiration for why I fell in love with photography, what I want to do.

The absolutely famous photo guru, Jasmine Star

A photographer I just came across recently, but am absolutely amazed by because she launched her business at 17 and at the age of 20 is running a super successful photo business! She has accomplished more at the age of 20 than I hope to by 25! Jamie Delaine

And then just for artistic inspiration?
Well, one of my favorite songs of all time that drives me to create is Seattle-The Classic Crime

And then I love both this video and the song!
http://vimeo.com/9797507

I am so thankful to everyone who as inspired me as an artist and as a person. I am so inspired by tons of photographers! Just a few mentioned today though.

To art.

And a sneak peek of shots I took for my boyfriend's djing website that will be launching this Summer...

Boyfriend Fun

2010-05-23T21:35:00.000-07:00

Sorry I haven't updated in ages! (I know all my plenty of readers are so sad about this). I was super busy with APs, and then winding down, etc.
On the photography front, I've really been trying to up my knowledge and plan for the upcoming years. I'm really excited about the possibility of an internship this summer and a meeting with a great San Francisco photographer.
I've been checking out tons of photography books, taking lots of notes, and of course, messing around with my camera tons!
Vladimir and I decided to take Friday night to relax since we've had a really stressful few weeks. The school years winding down, but the work definitely isn't. We're now official seniors thanks to the class of 2010s graduation on Saturday, which is exciting and daunting all at the same time.
Here's a little collage of Vladimir and my Friday night-- biking, eating, etc. :)

Enjoy!

Happy Mother's Day.

2010-05-09T19:13:00.000-07:00

Happy mother's day, mama.
Thanks for all the love and care, the fixed boo-boos and tears. Thanks for all the baking, the cozy home, and the mothering. Thanks for everything you've done for us.
It's the least we can do to appreciate you one day per year, since the rest we're running around like chickens with our heads cut off.

I hope you enjoyed our hike and lunch today, with waterfalls and family!

Thank you family, thank you mama.
Happy Mother's Day.

Henna, Just Because

2010-05-04T18:54:00.000-07:00

Henna is one of my bestttt friends. :) I've known her since we were, what, 7? 8? And she's an amazing person. She's hilarious, super smart, and the kind of friend who has your back no matter what.
And I was so thankful today to be able to take some cute pictures of her! The weather was gorgeous again today, and you know us California girls are taking out our sun dresses.

Here's the beautiful Henna, tell me what you think!

She's always happy, so we struggled to get a picture without her smiling!

this might be my favorite picture of her!

Wait-- this might be my favorite!

Francesca & Scenes of School

2010-05-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

School is winding down, and the smell of summer is intoxicating. We're all counting down the days, but first we have to overcome AP week! I've loved this year (not really) and it's definitley flown by, but I am so stoked to be a senior!!
And most of all, for the sticky days of summer at the beach, san francisco, and boardwalk. :)

Yes, I really do have friends who are this gorgeous!

A big thank you to the lovely Francesca for being my model today. :) Watch out for her CD, because she's bound to be famous!

Summer Internship

2010-04-28T14:12:00.001-07:00

So, I've been emailing tons of photographers asking about interning for them this summer. I really want to get experience and find some work with a San Francisco photographer. I got one response so far about meeting for lunch, but what I really want is to shadow a photographer!

Hopefully, I'll have more luck with it soon.

Wish me luck! Scenes of school coming later today!

The Beautiful Karen Wang

2010-04-26T19:33:00.000-07:00

sooc!

Trials of Photography

2010-04-07T08:15:00.001-07:00

So, the other day, I did a bunch of shooting in RAW. Tons of photographers on OSP and in blogs say they shoot in RAW, so I thought, why not!

But now I'm experiencing some problems. I can't upload my new photos to flickr or this blog because they're in RAW. So just to let you know, photos will be coming!

If you have any tips on how to upload RAW images to my blog or how to convert them into jpeg, let me know! If not, I'll find some converter and get them up soon.

Hope you all had a great weekend and easter!Te

Pajamas

2010-04-03T08:41:00.000-07:00

Boston, MA

2010-03-31T06:34:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not posting lately guys, I've been in Boston staying wtih my aunt and uncle-- without my camera :(

I'm looking at colleges in the midst of record breaking rain in MA which is NO fun. Flooding highways, flooding homes, and a california girl who was NOT prepared for rain.

All I brought was a pair of uggs and black boots-- neither of which are "walking around a campus for an hour and a half tour" shoes, particularly in the POURING rain.

I should be back and posting around Friday. Enjoy your week!

Peet Peeves

2010-03-16T20:48:00.000-07:00

I hate feet. Not like, I think they're unpleasant. Like, get-your-feet-away-from-me-or-I-will-kill-you hate.

I don't like your feet, my feet, your feet near my feet, touching your feet, you touching my feet, nothing. Gross, creepy, gross.

But something about feet-- in pictures, drives me crazy. You know the ones. Those corny, couple pictures of the girl on tip toe as she leans in to kiss the boy. I go all gooey inside when I see those pictures.

And as I think about things to photograph, things that appeal to me, that express emotion and feeling and evoke something inside of me-- I thought of feet.

Plain old feet

Tip-toe-ing feet

Dirty, Wrinkly Feet

Hurt Feet

Life in Technicolor

2010-03-14T21:08:00.000-07:00

Today, my lovely boyfriend and I went for a hike. Where, you might ask? In his back yard.
Yep, that's right. Vladimir lives in the mountains, and his family owns 10 acres of land. Over the past 10 years, they've been making trails right on their property, and we went down to explore to the creek. His land is absolutely gorgeous-- it's like an escape from the real world. Yeah, I couldn't imagine living there every day of the week.. but his family loves it!

Ah yes, and my lovely boyfriend is also an amazing painter. So as he painted today, I took pictures of him (of course) and lounged around.
Hope you like the pictures! :)

Seattle- The Classic Crime

2010-03-09T18:49:00.000-08:00

Listening to Seattle makes my heart ache. In a good way-- it echos through my insides and makes me ache to create.
Listening to music that touches me so deeply, that i feel to my core, makes me want so badly to create something palpable. Something that you or I can hold on to, can grasp for inspiration.
I have been inspired by so many photographers-- photographers who are truly artists.
And it drives me crazy. I want so badly to create art. I want to create something that will be on your wall, that you will value, that will cause an echo inside of you and rocks you to your core.

I can't sing. I can't play an instrument. I can't paint. I can't draw.

So I will embark on this journey of trying to be a photographer with one goal in mind: to effect someone.

10 things about Erica Jean

2010-03-06T18:48:00.000-08:00

1. I never eat the purple fruit snacks. I've never had one, never want to! I eat all the other colors and then throw the purple ones away. I know, wasteful. (Sorry, earth!)

2. I HATE putting gas in my car. Like, I detest it. I won't stop for gas even if I'm empty. Usually, I make my parents get gas for me. Pathetic, I know. But I HATE stopping at a gas station with all those creepers. The only time I really do get gas is if I'm with someone else. Sad, I know.

3.I love to dance. I suck at it, but I love it.

4. The biggest loser is like an addiction. This is the epitome of the trashy TV shows that I watch haha

5.I love Postsecret. I'm a religious reader.

6. I HATE car heaters. If I'm cold in a car, I'll turn on the heater, but I'll also roll down the window. I just think they're so stuffy and uncomfortable!

7. Every year on my birthday I wish for a pony. Every year.

8. I have been to Japan, Italy, England, and France. And I'm going to Russia this summer! :) I'm a lucky girl.

9. Worked as a camp counselor for kindergarteners. So cute, but also... well, we'll leave that for another blog one day.

10. Penguins are so cute. Sometimes, when I'm bored at home or in class, I just google "penguins" or "pandas" to see cute pictures. They make me smile :)

And a picture (with my point-and-shoot) of the way I spent my week: in Asilomar!

Uncertainty

2010-02-28T18:30:00.001-08:00

At this time in my life, I find everyone around me deciding, for sure, what they want to do with the next 50 years of their life. But I hesitate to rush such a decision. There are things that I'm in love with-- reading, writing, photography, warm bubble baths, and friend chicken-- but does that mean i should make any of them my career?
I want to explore things, too. What if I fall in love with russian literature? What if I decide to become a mechanical engineer? (unlikely) or a physicist? (even MORE unlikely, given my c+ in Honors Physics my freshman year of high school)

I want to be good at something. I want to unearth a hidden talent.

I love photography. I want to be amazing at it, I want to excel.

I want to be a photographer, I'm just scared. Scared to take the leap.
Should I go to school for photography? Business? Graphic Design?
My most likely options, things I could like. But still, things I am uncertain about.

Open Mic Night at the Roasting Co

2010-02-28T14:15:00.000-08:00

A night out in downtown for some singing, coffee, and friends. :)

Practice: Vlad

2010-02-20T15:11:00.000-08:00

I couldn't wait to get my hands on our new Canon Rebel. Thanks to much inspiration by Jasmine Star, I want to pursue photography.
Before today, I'd only used Nikon camera, so using a Canon was a new experience for me. These aren't some of my best pictures, and aren't edited at all, but tell me what you think! Any feedback is welcome: be it positive or constructive.
This is Vladimir, my darling, loving, boyfriend of a year now. He's not the modeling type, and only smiled for these pictures because he wants me to be happy. Plus, who can resist a pouty faced girlfriend? :) Enjoy!

We found this great mural that I just couldn't resist.

Downtown San Jose had a ton of interesting backgrounds to work with. Here's a few we found that I especially liked.

Becuase my boyfriend insists on being utterly adorable 24/7...

And since he patiently and happily modeled for me all afternoon, I let Vlad take some pictures of me. Here's one-- but don't comment on this one!

And to wrap up a beautiful day in San Jose...