The day started at Salon Charisma in Monrovia where the bridal party got busy with their hair and makeup.  The salon was buzzing with excitement and activity from every direction.   It was priceless to watch Katie and her sister, Vickie make sure everything was perfect.

The weather . . . amazing, the venue . . . Monrovia Historical Museum, the bridal party . . . gorgeous, the bride and groom . . . breathtaking!

Thanks you two – for letting me be apart of your special day:)

Myra:  ”I LOVE his eye brows and how expressive they are.”  Kenneth:  ”I LOVE the wrinkles she gets when she smiles.”

I’m excited to be a part of Myra and Kenneth’s wedding in May. The theme:  The 1930′s!

We headed to the Art Colony in Los Angeles to take their engagement pictures.  It was a GREAT place and I would love going back there.  Something new around every corner.

I love Sammie’s sense of fashion.  And anything she puts on looks darling.  King’s jerseys were a must along with hockey sticks.  The day we were there, Staples was setting up for a Lakers game.  We got a few funny comments do to the King jerseys. . . made for a conversation moment a few times with people passing by.

I’m so looking forward to your WEDDING you guys!  Disneyland – June – Awesome!

Toni and Jim will have been married 40 years this June.  Raising their children, Emily, Betsy and Daniel has been their best, most satisfying and definitely most humbling achievement.  They LOVE spending time with their grandchildren and once again seeing the magic of the world through the eyes of little ones.  Daniel, their youngest, is majoring in English Literature at Cal Poly Pomona and working on this teaching credential.

Emily, Tony and Logan (22 months) live in Cardiff by the Sea.  They met while working at surf camp in San Diego!  Tony works as a park ranger and Emily is a recreation supervisor, both working in the San Diego area.  They love the outdoors and the ocean, especially body surfing.  Logan is their happy little chatterbox who has inherited both parents stubborn gene . . . which keeps everyone smiling and on their toes!

Betsy and Nick met at the Tom Sawyer Camp. (The Tom Sawyer Camp was a Fox family tradition –  Emily, Betsy and Daniel all worked there while growing up.)  Nick was an international counselor from New Zealand.  Betsy was his first bus driver!  They have lived in Christchurch, New Zealand for the past five years and have 3 darling little ones, Lucy, Maggie and Andrew.  They are busy  and bring much laughter and happy chaos to their home.  I truly enjoyed my time getting to know them back in October.  Betsy and the kids have been living here in California for almost all of 2011 because of the devastating earthquake New Zealand had.  Nick has been commuting between the two countries all year long.  Just a few weeks ago they headed home, back to New Zealand, it was a very  teary departure.  Grandma and Grandpa will be visiting though in June, sure wish I could fit in their suitcase!  New Zealand is still on my bucket list.

Hilary and Conrad now has three beautiful kids, Lucas is in the military back in the southeast, Robert goes to school at BYU Idaho and is getting married in May to Heather!  Kate works with dad and runs the office, Hailey is a night baker for Panera Bread (my favorite place for lunch), Erin is a senior and ready to graduate, Annie is sweet 16, and Thomas is 5 and soon will be off to Kindergarten!!!!  Mom and Dad just try to keep up!

Thanks again Sears family – I truly enjoyed my time being part of your Christmas Holiday!

Our shoot was at a horse stable in LaVerne with both looking the part.  Two ladies from the stable were interested in what we were doing and let us use their horses, Brady & Quinn.  They were incredible animals.  What a beautiful place this was.  The natural light coming thru the trees was amazing.

Sammie and Alex are both seniors at Azusa Pacific University.  Sammie will be earning her degree in Applied Health and Alex’s will be a double in Cinematic Arts & Business Administration; along with a minor in International Relations.  They are BOTH VERY BUSY to say the least.

These two met in high school thru drama and became best friends.  Sammie has extensive training in acting, was a HS cheerleader and danced for 18 years.  Alex is talented too, trained in piano, voice, acting, martial arts and hockey.  Hockey is a huge part of Alex’s life. He spent 10 years playing completive hockey.  Growing up in Alaska, hockey was huge; in California, a sunshine state, I have discovered it is just as popular!   Alex is one of the King’s best fans – Sammie too!

Kelsey is planning on attending college and recently, visited a couple of northern California colleges.  She is an excellent student with amazing grades.  I don’t think she will have any trouble getting into a great school, the problem will be narrowing it down to THE ONE.  Congrats on where you finally decide, Kelsey.  I know with all your hard work – success is in your future!

Showing up and having just minutes to get acquainted with my lighting and subjects is indeed challenging yet rewarding.  I loved meeting each of these ladies; their individual personalities were infectious.  From the minute I walked into this Salon, it was warm, friendly and I felt like part of the Salon family.  Some of them (and I’m NOT naming anyone) tried to be a little camera shy, but not for too long with my get-to-know-you questions.

1st Avenue Salon offers a wide variety of services, check them out at 1stavesalon.com.

Jill and I got together to photograph her jackets for her new website.  She will be updating her website soon with new pictures.

Check it out.