Michelle Hayes Photography

New Blog!

2009-06-10T11:23:00.001-07:00

So this is farewell Blogger...

Visit my new Blog here michellehayesphotos.com/blog

Jack - Baby Portrait Session

2009-05-26T13:31:00.000-07:00

So this handsome little devil is Jack. I shot his parents wedding in San Diego last year which now seems like a life time ago. I just love this job. I get to document the natural progression of life.
Isn't Jack the cutest? He's like a modern day Gerber baby..

Chloe & Chris - Married

2009-05-23T11:47:00.000-07:00

Chloe and Chris got married in a church that I used to ice skate in when I was a little kid. The church used to be an ice skating rink years ago and as you can image ice skating in San Diego wasn't all that popular so it closed down. Southern Californian's like to to be outdoors as much as possible and we hate being cold.

Anyway, the wedding was lovely and I could tell they put in a lot of time and effort to make it unique. I loved that the groom wore traditional Indian wedding attire even though he is not of Indian decent. The bridesmaids carried lanterns with lit candles as they walked down the aisle, and the bride and groom put together a funny home made movie about Adam and Eve, staring themselves. All these personal touches made for a fun and vibrant wedding that I was really excited to document.

My little bro is married

2009-05-06T19:25:00.000-07:00

First my little bro graduated as documented in this way earlier posting of "My little bro is a college graduate" and now I get to blog about his wedding. They had fun and simple, "bellies hangin' out" kind of wedding at my aunt's house on the Central Coast with just our combined little families. It was perfect.
This is just another great reason why I love my job as a photographer. I get to document special events for those close to me. That's when this job goes on to a whole other level of meaning for me wrapped in even more emotions.
Yes, it was a bit difficult being Maid of Honor and Photographer so I couldn't get all the shots I wanted but I wouldn't have let any other person(s) do either job(s).

Beautiful Pismo Beach, Ca.

Charlotte Elizabeth

2009-04-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was my busy kick off to wedding season. I managed to shoot two weddings and a portrait session all in a span of three days. Not to mention there was over 1000 miles of flying and driving in between.
I'll post the weddings later but I wanted to start off with some images of adorable and smart Charlotte. She wanted me to take pictures of her hula hooping which I thought was a cute idea for an action portrait session.

Jennifer & Kyle - Engaged

2009-03-20T19:06:00.000-07:00

Finally we were able to make this engagement session happen! I'm not complaining about the weather here in California because I know there are plenty of other places that have it much worse, but SF weather can be pretty temperamental and it rained a lot this past month. So we caught a break and had a great afternoon exploring SF.
Jenny and Kyle were up for anything and didn't even question my weird requests like "Ok now I want you to squat in these bushes" or "Now we just have to jump this little wire fence and slide down this embankment". I just kept reminding them of the poor little models that have to suffer for the right shot. So by the time they slid down the rocky embankment (without shoes) with the wiping wind in their faces to get to the cliffs edge for our finale shot they for sure knew of the suffering that Kate Moss endures...minus the million dollar pay check.
I'm looking forward their wedding in sunny San Diego!

Stella Bean*

2009-03-17T20:50:00.000-07:00

20 weeks...

15 weeks

*name has been changed to protect the innocent. ;)

10 weeks...

5 days...

Dara & Darin - Puerto Vallarta Mexico

2009-02-26T19:25:00.000-08:00

I love it when people do things a bit out of the ordinary. I'm sure it's hard to do something different when it's a major event like a wedding. Weddings have been around for a long time and are chalk full of tradition. Traditions that never seem to vary really. But this couple, who both come from traditional Jewish families, decided to get married in Puerto Vallarta Mexico in February. It was three days of fun and sun with close family and friends. If you want to do something a little different with your wedding you should think about a destination wedding which may even be cheaper than having a large traditional wedding here in the states. This wedding was at the amazing and very private Casa Macumba and was flawlessly coordinated by Pricilla Arminio of prisavarllarta events. I heard twice that the bride thought the day went exactly as she envisioned it.

The view from my balcony...

Casa Macumba...

Something really out of the ordinary for a wedding, fire dancers!

Jennifer & Tom - Engaged

2009-02-12T13:16:00.000-08:00

Jennifer and Tom met one night and he let this beauty get away. Her friend gave them a second chance to re-connect. He let her get away, again. As fate may have it they ran into each other. He didn't let her get away this time. Phew. I know SF is a really small city but how many chances do we really get to have these fleeting opportunities and then act on them? I think they're meant to be and these pictures just clarify it. Such a cute couple.

Erika & Roman - San Francisco, Ca

2009-02-01T19:44:00.000-08:00

Wow, my first wedding of 2009 and I am so excited to post these pictures. Erika and Roman were married in San Francisco's beautiful City Hall. They are have a wedding in Mexico later this month but wanted some pictures for their civil ceremony. I love shooting at city hall because it's so classic San Francisco and old worldly.
Erika glammed it up with her super chic outfit, matching yellow accessories and white gloves and Roman was looking effortlessly handsome in a charcoal pin stripped suit. Talk about a stylish couple! They are the epitome of sophistication and style. Then Erika's sisters and mother showed looking equally stylish and beautiful. I was in photographers heaven. Yes, Erika is obviously a natural beauty but she went with the classic theme of SF's City Hall and pulled together an appropriate and stylish outfit which took it up a notch. Now this is how you get married at city hall!

Here's a slide show of the whole day...

Vicki & Craig - Carmel-by-the-Sea, Ca.

2009-01-13T19:43:00.000-08:00

This post is a little late since it was the last wedding of last season and now I'm getting ready for the 2009 season. But like I said my one and only resolution this year is to be more grateful so I need to say a few words about this amazing wedding that I was fortunate to be a part of.
I just can't believe I've had the good fortune to be a part of three weddings in beautiful Carmel/Monterey area. Carmel-by-the-Sea is not your typical California beach town, can't you tell by the name? Not just Carmel, but Carmel-by-the-Sea please. The landscape is rocky and dramatic and is often foggy in the summer, but nonetheless a really beautiful charming town. In fact Craig and Vicki decided to get married there instead of where they live, the Bahamas!
This wedding was probably the most intimate of the year, only about 20 guests. We were able to spend a lot of time with this couple so we drove around looking for locations to shoot. We took pictures beforehand at the state beach and then again the next day at the uber secluded and modern Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur. They even got in the cliff side jacuzzi at the Inn fully dressed without much persuasion. Now that's taking advantage of their locations to the fullest. What a way to end the season. Here are some of the highlights.

Slide show included!

2009-01-02T18:26:00.000-08:00

I just got a cool slide show program to offer in my wedding packages and I thought I'd bring back one my first weddings of last year to show off. Jennifer and Joe got married in beautiful sunny San Diego at the Thursday Club. I just loved everything about this wedding, cool location, cool people, and very intimate. It also reminds me of how far I've come in such a short amount of time. I could have showcased one of my more recent weddings like the one in Germany or the one in NY, but one of my goals for 2009 is to be more grateful for what I have. I am definitely grateful to Jennifer and Joe for letting me document their wedding when I was just starting out.
So if you're looking to book a wedding soon this is one of the many cool things you will get from a Michelle Hayes Photography wedding package. That and a pony! No seriously, this is a great and easy way to show off your fab wedding to your friends and family. Who lugs around a photo album anymore? That's so 2004. Enjoy!

Rocco James Biasotti

2008-12-31T23:11:00.000-08:00

20 weeks...

15 weeks...

11 weeks...

Rocco is about 7 weeks old here and he wasn't really into our portrait session as you can see by the look on his face in the first three pictures. Then daddy came home and he was all smiles showing off his dimple. But that's how it is with babies, you wait and wait to get a shot and then when you do you're hooked on that kid. I could have stayed all day documenting this little guy but soon he became tired of me shoving my camera in his face waiting for him to do something, anything. I'm not done with you yet Rocco. There will be hours and hours of me in your adorable face so I think you should just get used to it now and work on a signature pose. I think this first one is a good start. He has a pouty aloofness to him that says "Sigh...if you must camera girl..."

Why Not...

2008-12-23T13:20:00.000-08:00

The second edition of Why Not involves wedding dress fabric alternatives.

We all know of the typical wedding dress fabrics, duchess satin, chiffon, lace, organza, etc. Beautiful as they may be some women just don't want to wear a dress of the traditional feel. Either their weddings are of a more casual affair or they just want something unique and non-traditional. May I introduce the idea of Jersey? I know, I know, upon hearing Jersey I instinctively think of a few unflattering images myself..the Jersey Turnpike, Jersey Girl the movie, and my ex-boyfriend from Jersey...but give it a try. This fabric actually drapes nicely and is very comfortable. Having a garden or beach wedding this summer? Any one of the dresses below would be perfect and can you believe they are all under $300? Simple, chic and affordable.

Brooke, Greg & Bachelor - San Francisco

2008-12-22T10:12:00.000-08:00

More family portraits! And how cute is this couple with their dog Bachelor? Bachelor is a special breed of Golden Retriever, he's all white. He is gorgeous, oh sorry really handsome.

Why Not...

2008-12-16T11:53:00.001-08:00

I've decided to add a little segment to my photography blog to help brides out there who maybe be a little style challenged or to simply give inspiration. If you have your own specific style or if you want to go the traditional route, great! Go for it. But if you know you need help with fashion in general and want your uniqueness to shine through on your wedding day then tune into my Why Not posts for some friendly wedding fashion advice.
Before I became a wedding photographer I worked in fashion. I did pretty much everything including personal shopping in NYC. In addition to working in fashion I was brought up with the philosophy of image is everything. My mom would not let me leave the house if I didn't have matching socks on with my perfectly put together appropriate outfit. My mom has excellent taste and I am proud to say I inherited this from her. I can't deny my past career and inherent good taste so I've decided to incorporate it into my wedding photography.
It amazes me that the wedding industry as a whole still pushes brides to carry on antiquated wedding traditions without many options. We need to change the way we think how a modern day brides should look. I know there are many women who are not into the traditional look and don't know where to turn. Through my personal shopping experiences I discovered many women do not even know how to go about putting together an appropriate outfit that suits their personality. So, I'm going to start to give out advice as to how to achieve a more modern, chic and unique wedding day look for those who may be style challenged. If yards of tulle on your head is not really the look for you then these posts can help achieve the look you really want. Don't be afraid to look different.

The first installment deals with alternative jewelry options. Why not...

...wear unique pieces to make a simple dress a little more interesting? Pair any of these statement pieces with a strapless dress and you're on your way to becoming a chic bride in the 21st century. Hooray!

I found all these fun pieces on a website called Bag Borrow or Steal that lets you borrow jewelry, handbags, etc for either a day or a week. Remember Louise's borrowed LV handbag in Sex and the City movie? What a fantastic and cost effective idea for wedding jewelry.

Becerra Family

2008-11-23T18:22:00.000-08:00

I love weddings but I am kind of glad wedding season is over so I can do more portrait sessions. I love, love portraits and even more so if they are of kids. Kids are very honest so what you see is what you get with them. The camera doesn't lie and neither do the expressions of kids.
Here is the very cute Becerra family of Simon and Kasey and their adorable boys Max and Niko.

Bernadette & Michael - New York, NY

2008-11-15T14:39:00.000-08:00

I am almost done with the 2008 wedding season and I am so excited to post about this fantastic wedding I shot in New York. Bernadette asked me a long time ago to be her wedding photographer and I just couldn't wait because I knew it was going to be a great time at a very cool place, the Metropolitan Place in New York.
This was a marriage of two people who exude a fun, relaxed and down to earth attitude at all times, so it was no surprise that their wedding reflected the same spirit. I was in the company of extremely warm, funny and gracious people who knew how to have a good time. I had one of the funnest nights in a long time and while shooting the wedding!
Bernadette looked so New York chic. She put together her whole look for a fraction of what the normal bride spends on her attire and looked fabulous. Her head piece is from Fasinators in New York and they liked my pictures so much they decided to use a few for their website/blog header and wrote about me in their blog! I am so honored.
Please be sure to check out these amazing head pieces if you are searching for a traditional veil alternative. These will definitely complete your modern look.
Thanks Bernadette and Michael for letting me be a part of your fantastic NY wedding!

Shelley & John - San Ramon, Ca

2008-11-09T13:34:00.000-08:00

Oh how sweet and down to earth Shelley and John were! I new the minute I met them that I wanted to be their wedding photographer.
This couple was helping set up decorations minutes before they walked down the isle while greeting guests and family members. Never have I seen such a calm, cool, and collected couple on their wedding day. It was a great night and I feel that their happy and stress-free attitude had such a major part in it

Don't forget the little people!

2008-10-16T22:47:00.000-07:00

My friend Lisa had a baby shower a few weeks ago and I just have to post some pictures of the sweet kids and babies that were there. I would post pictures of my pregnant friend but she has braces on right now and would probably kill me if she saw I posted pictures of her and her metal mouth for the world to see. I still think she looks great and even younger than ever!

Mighty Max from next door

Little brother Notorious Nikko

Sassy Sierra

And the babes...
Charismatic Connor

Zesty Zoe (sorry that was a hard one)

Erin & Bob - Half Moon Bay Ca.

2008-10-02T15:14:00.000-07:00

So lately I've been thinking about how lucky I have been with all my weddings I've shot this year. In particular all of the couples have been so sweet and wonderful to work with. Erin and Bob are an especially sweet and lovely couple that got married in Half Moon Bay at the San Benito House in their beautiful garden area. Erin wore her mother's wedding dress that she made back in the 70's and it fit her perfectly! Not many brides would do that these days, but I could tell that it meant a lot to Erin and as well to her mother by the proud look she had every time she looked at her daughter.
Oh and her makeup was flawlessly done by the talented Jira at wow pretty. Ladies, I cannot stress the importance of make up applied professionally for your wedding. Erin is a natural beauty yes, but even those with natural beauty need help with make up if you are going to have your picture taken because digital images can be unforgiving especially with harsh flash. We have all seen those pictures of the stars caught without makeup. Pick someone who has experience with make up application for film and not just everyday wear. Just consider it. I promise they are harmless and will not make you look unnatural. They will just enhance your beauty for perfect pictures.

Boud-what?

2008-09-19T11:34:00.000-07:00

Have you all heard of Boudoir Photography? At first I didn't know what to make of it, thought it was a little silly, unnatural, etc. But then I realized the buzz around this type of photography and how much women of all ages, shapes, sizes are totally into this and how great it can make them feel with just some great light, a little lingerie and maybe a poll dancing lesson.
So a few days before I flew out to NY my friend Temis asked me if I wanted to take this poll dancing class at the S factor Studios in Chelsea. I was like, "yeah right, me pole dancing?" I'm sure that's every woman's reaction to these classes who are not um, professional pole dancers. But I was amazed at how many regular women go to these classes and are totally into it. It was an interesting experience and I can see why women are becoming addicted, it's very empowering, not cheesy at all and it's a great work out. After the class we headed back to her place because there was a monsoon storm going on and our original idea of the outdoor exhibit at PS1 would be out of the question. What started out as a ordinary portrait session turned into a cool boudoir session. Maybe it was the high after the pole dancing class, I don't know, but I'm excited to do more of these in the future.
Here are a few pics from our session. She showed them to her boyfriend and he loved them. So, unexpectedly, this is turning into a new photography venture for me. I didn't plan to offer this type of service but I can't not offer this to women who want to feel beautiful and special. Pole dancing class not required prior to session but I highly recommend trying it just once :)

Kreta & Adi - NYC

2008-09-14T22:55:00.000-07:00

It was great being back in NY again where I had the pleasure of shooting the engagement session of Kreta and Adi. They are going to have a traditional Indian wedding in december back in India, but also wanted some fun NY pictures.
We walked around the meatpacking district and then finished up on the rooftop of the Gansevoort Hotel where the manager was so generous to let us shoot wherever we wanted. The sun was setting by the time I clicked my last frame on my very full card and as I looked over the glowing city below I felt the same excitement I had four years earlier when I first moved to this city to work in fashion. But this time the excitement was from the sheer happiness to being able to finally do what I love. I know I raved about the beautiful light and landscape of california, but there's something thrilling about being able to take pictures in one of the best cities in the world and I'm glad I'll be back in November for more.

Perry & Chiyo - San Francisco City Hall

2008-08-13T12:06:00.000-07:00

San Francisco City Hall is really amazing. I've shot a civil ceremony in NYC before and tragically the building is not as nice for such a fine city. This couple was able to get married on the Rotunda, at the top of a sweeping grand staircase. Perry and Chiyo are a very chic looking couple who met at a salsa class in Chicago. His buddies decided to show up in support looking like Perry in his signature ascot and hat ensemble.

Side note: The SF City Hall Rotunda was featured in the Raiders of the Lost Ark movie which was actually supposed to be Washington D.C. Who knew? Love that movie.

Jessica & Jay - Berkeley Botanical Gardens

2008-08-03T13:07:00.000-07:00

This wedding was in the coolest place! The wedding was at Berkeley Botanical Gardens in the hills above the campus of UC Berkeley. The ceremony was in this redwood grove which was a much needed escape from the intense heat that day. As you walked into this grove surrounded by these giant beautiful trees the temperature dropped about 15 degrees.
Other than the cool venue what I really liked about Jessica and Jay's wedding was how intimate it was. They obviously cared greatly about the people they invited to share their special day with. I was surprised to see they had a receiving line right after the ceremony. These days guests show up, say hi to the bride and groom for a few minutes, eat and then leave without really spending any time with them. But this couple greeted and thanked each and every guest with such genuine warmth and appreciation. Later during the reception they went around to each table and again spoke to each guest. On top of that, right after cutting the cake they spent another 15 minutes thanking everyone involved with the wedding from the ring bearers to the person who helped make the table runners. THEN, that day was a guests birthday and they had a cake for this person and had everyone sing Happy Birthday! How many brides would let another person's b-day be apart of their special day? I just thought that was so cool and classy. I really felt the love not only between the bride and groom but also between them and their guests. This was a nice reminder of what really should be the main focus of a wedding, a celebration of love with family and friends.

New website!

2008-07-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

I would rather just keep my blog so I can update it frequently, but every one else has a proper website so I figured I'd get one too. I kinda like how it turned out and I feel it honestly represents what my style is all about.
Check it out: www.michellehayesphotos.com

Photo courtesy of Erica Berger.

Heather & Scott - Carmel, Ca

2008-07-06T15:03:00.000-07:00

I had a mini destination wedding in Carmel, California over the fourth of July weekend. We stayed at the Holly Farm in a restored adobe hacienda. This place is great for weddings, family get togethers, or a retreat because it's a totally private 5 acre estate and doesn't feel like a hotel. Actually, it felt like we were in Mexico because the grounds were so tropical and lush.

Altotting, Germany!

2008-06-13T17:42:00.001-07:00

My first destination wedding and it turned out to be an amazing trip and fabulous wedding. I knew my friend Kristine was planning a wedding in Germany but I never imagined she would ask me to shoot it. I shot her civil ceremony in NY and then a few months later she asked me if I wanted to come to Germany. Uh, yes! I was completely shocked and honored. Kristine has been a big supporter in my work from day one. I can't tell you how much it means when someone really recognizes your work and fully supports you. Not only will I always remember what a great time I had on this trip, how fabulous this wedding was, but I will forever rememeber the kindness and support of Kristine and Michael by giving me this wonderful opportunity.

Gilroy, Ca

2008-06-02T13:42:00.000-07:00

There was a reason why I chose to come out to california to shoot weddings, but I wasn't sure what that was for a while. I could have stayed in NY, people get married there all the time. But I just knew I had to make the move. I think it's becoming clearer to me after each wedding. There is something special about california's landscape and lighting that makes taking pictures for a living all the more exciting.

Jennifer & Joe - San Diego, Ca.

2008-05-14T18:28:00.000-07:00

Yet another beautiful San Diego wedding. Can you stand it? I am so thankful that I am able to do this for a living and in such beautiful places!

Jennifer and Joe had a beautiful wedding at The Thursday Club in Point Loma. I didn't even know this place existed and I grew up in San Diego. It's tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood with views of the ocean. It's a perfect venue for a garden ceremony.

Thank you again Jennifer and Joe for letting me document a very special day.

shutter bug in the making

2008-05-03T00:20:00.000-07:00

Someone get this kid a camera. I didn't realize my little buddy Joshua had photography skills, well what 5 year old does? After quickly becoming bored by me directing him in front of the camera, he wanted to get behind the lens and take pictures of his own. He's quite the little arteest.

He took this pic of me and his little bro Micah. Not bad. I think he meant to chop off the bottom half of Micah's face in protest of the unrest in tibet.

He knows how to ham it up for the camera as well. But then he gets really bossy and starts to tell me what to shoot. Now I know exactly what to get him for his next birthday.

He could definitely be on america's next top model. He knows how to smile with his eyes.

san francisco = crazy delicious scenery

2008-04-30T23:19:00.000-07:00

Everyone knows the beautiful spots for classic SF postcard pictures, Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field, Golden Gate Park, etc. But sometimes you have to venture off the path a little for the good stuff. We ended up with some amazing light and scenery for this engagement shoot, but had to hop a wire fence, endure high winds and check for ticks afterwards.

Jaime & Bojan - San Diego, Ca.

2008-04-07T21:17:00.000-07:00

I don't think weddings can get any better than this one. Gorgeous beach location in La Jolla California, perfect weather, and a bride and groom who are full of life and deeply in love with each other. All these ingredients made my job of taking pictures pretty easy and enjoyable. Fingers crossed for more of these in the future.

Gettin' busy (not that kind of busy)

2008-03-31T19:24:00.000-07:00

This past week I had the opportunity to work with a talented and generous photographer,erica berger, for two engagement sessions and a mini church wedding in the bay area. San Francisco has got to be one of the best cities to shoot in. It is a beautiful city with a lot of character and charm. I'm enjoying my new office space :)

Technicolor Dream World

2008-03-12T21:03:00.000-07:00

So I've been out of commission this past month because my fancy lens on my fancy digital camera was not working. Fear not, the kind people at Nikon repaired it for me and it was under warranty so it all worked out.

I really missed being behind the camera though. I love the perspective it gives me when I'm out and about looking for something to shoot. It's like my mind goes into this automatic mode of positioning and re-positioning shots until I like what I see. But sometimes when you think your done shooting and you're about to walk away something tells you to stop and just shoot, no adjustments needed, and often that's when you get amazingly pure captured moments. I think this is also how most of us live our lives, positioning and re-positioning until things look or seam right. But sometimes we just need to BE, no adjustments needed.

These past few months have been a great opportunity for me to just BE and I have to admit it's been a dream...

A little obsessed with San Diego Missions

2008-02-19T23:06:00.000-08:00

I previously posted about my arrival here in SD and how I love being a native San Diegan, yadda yadda.... So I went to the other mission (yes there are two) and took more pictures. I'm not religious but I find old school mission style architecture so beautiful. The crisp white walls contrasted with warm Spanish tiles set against luscious gardens of palm trees and exotic flowers makes you feel a world away.
Here is the last of my series on the San Diego Missions. That's all for the history segment.

I took this picture of the cross on the top of the bell tower and my brother informed me an upside down cross is sacreligious. I tried to turn the photo upside down so as not to offend anyone but it didn't look right and then I realized that would be altering how I saw this picture go down in my mind, you know like art. So the upside down cross in the puddle stays as is.

Kristine & Michael - NYC

2008-01-28T15:20:00.000-08:00

I was so honored when my friend Kristine asked me to shoot her civil ceremony in NY. They will be having a wedding in Germany over the summer, but wanted to have their civil ceremony documented in NY this past weekend. They truly are a class act couple. Thank you Mike and Kristine!

Spectacularousity!

2008-01-18T19:53:00.001-08:00

I just can't resist posting this picture because I'm still fairly fresh from NY and I want to irritate all my friends back there. Today I was hanging out at my favorite beach of all time Wind 'N Sea and yes it's still January people. I watched this amazing sunset complete with tiny surfers and then I synchronized the birds to fly by. Perfection. Tell me you're not jealous, go on a I dare you.

I heart San Diego (sorry New York)

2008-01-17T21:31:00.000-08:00

I'm back home in San Diego where it's almost 70 degrees and crystal clear most days. Were else would it be this nice in January? (no I did not touch up the sky it was really that blue today... ok maybe a little tweaking, but not one cloud!).

I'm back home because I'm taking time off from NY and the fashion industry. I am no longer going to pursue my fashion career but instead follow my heart to what really makes it sing. I have no regrets about leaving the fashion world and so far I haven't had that panic stricken "what in the hell are you doing Michelle" voice fill my head. Maybe because I've been through a massive change already (by moving to NY and pursuing fashion with a vengeance) or maybe because this is what I really should be doing with my life and therefore it FEELS natural. Feeling is the operative word her folks. We shouldn't go through life without feeling or knowing what makes our hearts sing. It just leads to numbness and then we will never be able to recognize what's not working in our lives and be able to do something about it.

Today I visited Old Town, a historic state park in San Diego. This is the birthplace of not only San Diego but of California. San Diego is the first permanent settlement in California, where father Juniper Serra decided to set up shop with the first of 21 Missions. What a claim to fame! I really do love being a native San Diegan. No matter how exciting and intoxicating I find NY, or adore SF, I heart San Diego. Hmmm, is it no coincidence I have come back to my roots to start my photography career? Maybe it has to do with finding that authentic FEELING that has been missing. It's about damn time.

Some beautiful wood carvings for sale in the plaza shops.

Some colorful Spanish influences and a scary metal dude...

...and of course some Lucha Libre wrestling masks just as the first settlers wore while they built their beautiful buildings.

Chuck!

2008-01-11T22:50:00.000-08:00

Introducing.....Charlie the Golden! Look how gorgeous he is and he's freakin' good at frisbee, but he will also steal your underwear if you happen to leave your luggage open. Everyone has their faults and Chuck just happens to be very curious...with his mouth.

Chuck really likes to bring you his toys when you come home. Above he is showing "Big mean kitty" who's boss. Below he's chillin' with Mr. Mallard.

Ok, I realize my last two posts have been about dogs. But I have been staying with friends and family who happen to love their dogs so much and treat them like their children it's only fair I treat them the same. Plus I'm hoping to score big points with my friends and family who own these guys and so they will keep coming back to my blog. ;)

100 lbs of love

2007-12-26T14:06:00.000-08:00

Major is an Anatolian Shepherd, we think. He looks like a German Shepherd but with floppy ears and shorter hair. This guy may scare the bejesus out of you if he came walking your way, but he's not fooling anyone with that tough dog act...well maybe the small dogs, cats, and small children of the area. But I just spent four days cuddling up to this gentle giant and all he wants to do is love, love, love. Miss you already Dee Dee.

My bro is a college graduate!

2007-12-20T08:09:00.000-08:00

I am so proud of my younger brother for finishing his undergraduate degree. He and his girlfriend, Kelly, moved from San Diego to Buies Creek North Carolina three years ago to continue their education. I can't believe how quickly time has passed and they are now a Campbell University graduate and a registered nurse! These two worked extremely hard for the past three years and have achieved what they set out to do. I am proud to call them my family.

I will fail...oh well!

2007-12-13T10:55:00.000-08:00

As I embark on my next journey in my life I'm starting to feel the anguish of failure already. I'm just getting started and fear is already rearing it's ugly head. He's mean like that.

What if I really fail at this? And I've gone off and quit my nice job that gives me real money to pay for things with, OH WELL... then I will have failed at something I love to do. And isn't the road to success supposed to be filled with failure or else how will we know if we're growing and improving? And then there is the wildly expansive notion of success. What is it and how can it be quantified from individual to individual?

I came across this beautiful poem when reading about failure. Yes I was reading about failure, in vain hopes to avoid it.

The poet Antonio Machado expressed it this way:

Last night as I was sleeping I dreamt—marvelous error!—that I had a beehive here inside my heart. And the golden bees were making white combs and sweet honey from my old failures

I needed to change the way I view this journey, failures, successes and all. And with a technically demanding art as photography there will no doubt be many. I've already learned from previous mistakes and realized sometimes beautiful things come from these rookie errors. Like this picture of my dad and brother. I took this when I first got my new fancy digital camera and was still learning how to use all the functions. Technically this isn't a perfect shot because it's out of focus and the exposure isn't right. But I love how intimate this shot is and I was surprised at how much they look alike here. They have wonderful expressions on their faces like they are just happy to be around family at this particular moment. And I have decided, for myself, success as a photographer means to feel something from your art. And I always do, almost like a proud mom looking at all her children, the perfect and the not so perfect ones.

You can disagree with me and still call this picture a failure but I have already learned from the technical mistakes and will relish in the beauty of the picture for years to come.

Who did you notice today?

2007-12-11T14:54:00.000-08:00

I took these next set of pictures for a class project and would like to share them because I received such a interesting response from others. These portraits are of everyday city workers, the middle subway conductors, who control the doors and make announcements which are sometimes lively commentary to make our often painful commute a little more tolerable. I live in NYC so there are hundreds of trains running all day long and you often forget there are actual people driving the trains and opening and closing the doors.

Here are a few of the many subway workers that go unnoticed through out the day. Hey thanks for opening and closing the doors! I am one New Yorker who now takes notice and appreciates the service...
...so can you now please hold the doors open a little longer whenever you see me sprinting to catch the train? Although I can't complain much. I guess I could be standing on a cold foggy SF street waiting HOURS for a Muni train to grace me with their presence.

my new muse

2007-11-26T09:18:00.000-08:00

As much as I love to take photos of my little cousin mason I think other people might find it to be a bit boring.
So now I have a new muse that I'm sure people are going to find interesting because the camera just loves her and she really loves the camera. Temis is a natural in front of the camera. Even at the sight of a cheap point and shoot the girl instantly gets into pose creating a glam shot every time! I'm not joking. She comes out looking like a professional model while others in the shot look awkward, eye half closed, mouth wide open in mid-laugh...
So now every time I want to shoot some portrait work my new muse is never far and is always ready for her close up. Thanks T!

my first muse

2007-11-21T09:14:00.001-08:00

My family isn't that big and no one seemed eager to have kids...until this guy came along. He was my very first model and after snapping those first b&w pics I was catapulted into taking more pictures and becoming more serious about photography. Thanks Mason for being so darn photogenic!

Martha's Vineyard

Traci's wedding

2007-11-21T08:14:00.000-08:00

My friend Traci's wedding in Napa was a blast and she looked gorgeous. If I wasn't in the wedding I would have been able to take more pictures. But I'm honored she asked me to be a bridesmaid. :)

Traci getting make-up done

Goddess

Sis getting make-up done

The most amazing resort in Napa - Auberge Du Soleil

Julie and mom getting ready

Glowing bride

me and nik

2007-11-20T17:38:00.000-08:00

Here I am! This is what I love to do most. More pics to follow. Many more...

They say you can add your flickr account as a slide show but I can't for the life of me get them to recognize my user name, it just goes back to the default. Grrr. So I'm going to link it here.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mhayesphotos/show/