: Thursday, July 29, 2010

This post is dedicated to my roomies. These three girls are the ones I spent the most time with during my trip to Palm Springs. We four decided to wake up at the crack of dawn {5:30AM!} to shoot photos of each other. Since it’s more bearable to shoot when it’s 95 degrees outside than it is when it’s 110 around 6pm =) So we all crawled out of bed, tried to look our best without coffee and ventured around the hotel with our cameras in hand. It was SO much fun, and I’m so glad we decided to get our butts up and not sleep in. Here are my favorites of Amanda, Mary, and Jackie.

First up is Amanda. She’s full of life, love and kindness. She’s the one who orchastrated this entire trip. She made all of the girls goodie bags and even handmade our little name tags on the front of the bags! She ate porridge every morning, I think she just wanted to say porridge =) I’m pretty sure she’s been married the longest out of the whole group and her husband ate all of my jelly belly’s =) The first time I ate Indian food was becuase of her and it was pretty yummy. She’s beautiful inside and out.

Jackie is the only one I had met prior to this whole trip. She is ridiculously talented and has always been an inspiration to me.  I thoroughly enjoyed our chats about life and love as we layed by the pool each day. Her faith is strong and it’s pretty contagious. She’s an amazing mom to the most adorable girl EVER. {Note to self, when a mom tells you that you should put on sunscreen listen to her, she’s probably right.} She did, and I didn’t, and I peeled. Thank you Jackie, for being the woman that you are.

Mary is honestly the nicest person I’ve ever met. She makes you want to be a better person just by talking about life. Is it strange that she’s been one of my best friends for months now and this was the first time we met? I think not. =) She’s talented and driven and has the cutest dog named Rilo who likes to snuggle. She encourages my crazy thought that one day Ryan Gosling and I are going to get married and she got me hooked on How I Met Your Mother. Thank you Mary, for everything. I love you.

: Wednesday, July 28, 2010

The most amazing girls trip EVER!

So, last week nine amazingly talented photographers and myself traveled down into the desert to stay at a very hipster hotel. The Ace Hotel was a photographers dream! So many little nooks and crannies to shoot in, amazing light, and the most friendly atmosphere. {well, with most of the staff} We spent the days cooking under the sun, shooting photos around the hotel of each other, sipping on desert facials and adult arnold palmers, and chasing down a heart balloon in the pool. Our nights were spent eating great food in the diner, having the most random chats in our rooms and truly getting to know each other. I was so humbled to be apart of this group of amazing women. Each is spectacular in her own way but every single one has an amazing talent and kind heart that makes you feel like you’ve been friends for eternity. Since we felt like yearly trips would just be too long to not hang out, we’ve decided to do a trip every six months instead! Thank you so much Amanda, Adrienne, Ashley, Ala, Heidi, Heather, Jordana, Jackie and Mary, you all have inspired me beyond belief. I’m already counting down the days till I get to see your pretty faces again, but this time in Catalina =)

Here are just a few {or a lot} of the photos I shot in and around the hotel. More portraits to come tomorrow!

Our adorable swag bags that Amanda made for each of us!

this place seriously knows how to make a girl feel good.

the diner.

“what! A camera in the diner? nooooo!” =)

me buddy petey.

behind the scenes of Heathers “in a van” series. She’s amazing.