Big Pretty Flowers

There's nothing like photos of some big, beautiful flowers to start the day off right :)

Arn't these beautiful images? They make me happy.

source

Simple + Wonderful Photography

Stumbled upon this photographer today and fell in love with his clean use of subjects, color and patterns. When something is so simple, yet so cleverly beautiful, you know they're doing something right.

Check out more of his awesome work here.

Yasmin Sarai Photography Branding

I love doing work for photographers, especially because they photograph their work so beautifully after the job is done!

Yasmin Sarai came to me wanting a simple, sparkly logo that could translate onto different mediums for her new photography business.

I decided to create something clean and bold, with a slight gold gradient within the typeface, all held together by a stroked teal rectangle. (It didn't hurt we shared a similar love of gold and teal!) It was simple enough to translate, yet recognizable and encompassing her personality.

Yasmin loved this one right away, having no changes from the initial concept! (That is SO rare!!)



Yasmin wanted an icon to be used alongside her logo. She told me how much she loves bows, so we came up with this cute little bow for her to use across her brand. Adding the perfect touch of girl to her look!

We created this cute little stamp for her as well.







Yasmin, you were so great to work with- I look forward to seeing your business grow! If anyone needs a photographer in the California bay area, check her out!

All photos from Yasmin Sarai Photography

DIY Coffee Care Package!

Hey guys! I am pleased to announce (and totally honored) to have done a little DIY guest post for Kelli Murray over on her blog today! Kelli has been one of my artistic inspirations for many years now, so to have the chance to do something on her blog was so exciting for me :)

The post is all about showing the ones you love that you care about them. And being a huge coffee lover, what better way to do that then sending them a care package full of your favorite coffee items?! I had a great time putting it together and can't wait to send off the package!

Check out the post here!

Happy Thursday friends!

I love how photography can capture so much, and tell such a story.
Just the glance of a woman, or the turning of the head is a mystery we can relate to.
Not sure if that makes sense completely, but it's late, and my brain is foggy.
I just know these photos are beautiful.

This

Just discovered this photographer and fell in love with her work.
Simple photos, filled with depth and emotion.




Good stuff right there.

The Simples.

Yesterday was a long day, with plenty of things going on, including having to attend the funeral
of a family friend.

Life can be strange, and I think it's in these times we have to remember to enjoy and appreciate
the simple things. Like a good hug from a friend who cares, a warm cup of coffee in the morning,
laughing at a stupid movie with your husband, or seeing the sun peaking through the window as it sets. These things are apart of the everyday, and they are the things we remember when looking back.



Happy Wednesday everyone! Remember to embrace the simples.

Photo Source

Photo Shoot Giveaway!

Yesterday I showed you guys a little bit of the logo process we went through for DJ's logo.
Today he is giving away a free photo shoot to a lucky winner.
But first, I wanted to ask DJ a few questions so we can all get to know him better!







When/how did you first decide to start your photography business?
I have been interested in photography since Jr. high. I found my grandpa's old 35 mm Minolta and fell in love with depth of field when I got my first roll developed. I pursued it in high school, collecting old twins reflexes and In 2009 a friend of mine, Roya Jade (Roya Jade Photography -Chicago), after letting me tag along on a few shoots got me hooked on weddings! I loved being in new environments every weekend, meeting new couples, and capturing the emotion through an artistic perspective. And so in 2009 I opened Daniel James Photography!


What is your favorite thing to photograph? 
I love photographing people! I know its been a successful shoot when I get home and look over all my photos and find the ones that force me to smile or laugh because either the motion of the couple is perfect or the emotion and energy between the two just jumps off the page. I love shooting people because every shoot you get to work with someone knew and everyone's personality comes off differently through the camera. I love capturing that second of laughter or moment of real joy that is totally honest and unique. 


What drives your passion for photography? 
There is something extremely cool about having this tool that can forever remember a split of a second. You can use it for so much. Since high school I would lay down at night and have all these ideas in my head of what would be a great photo, and until I at least attempted it I would go crazy! Photography has become an outlet, an artistic release, and display for myself. Wedding photography is especially cool because you not only get new landscaped and architecture to work with but you get new people, new emotions and new unique personality to work with.

How do you stay inspired? 

I subscribe to lots of fashion and journalism magazines. I also watch a lot of movies. When I was a kid I would pause films at points I thought would make cool movie posters and stills! Today I just stay up on whats new in anything film, photography, painting, design, music etc. I also stay in my Bible. I get all of my inspiration and drive from scripture and the beauty found in a life in pursuit of knowing God. 

So are you ready to enter to WIN? All you have to do is leave a comment below to enter for a chance to receive a free photoshoot from DJ! And check out DJ's site while you're at it. We will announce the winner next week.

Are you engaged? Use it as an engagement shoot! A family needing some great family photos? Use it for a free family session! Whatever your needs for the shoot, if you win you will be able to customize it to your needs. DJ is located in the Southern California area, so keep that in mind before entering :)

Happy Friday friends!!

Happy Day.

Our ah-mazing photographer Kayla Adams blogged our wedding photos the other day.
Just looking at them again made me fall into this swirl of memories from that day.
I'm pretty sure that day was the happiest I've ever felt :)

I also went back and watched this. Call me cheesy- but I could watch that thing a million times and never get bored. Well... at least I don't think so... !

Happy Monday everyone. If you're not feeling so great today, maybe falling into a swirl of
happy memories can bring a little joy :) It sure did for me.

H&M

The Hair. Outfit. And that expression. All from // H&M's summer 2012 collection // love!

Today.

My husband and I have started asking each other this in the mornings before the day really gets going. As cheesy at it may sound, it really helps me to envision my day, and find something good out of what might seem to be a normal day. Weather it's "being productive" or "dinner tonight" looking forward to something does something for us. I think it motivates and inspires- even with just the simplest thing.

Today I'm looking forward to getting stuff done and eating a special dinner tonight with my husband. (I'm making crock pot enchiladas and that's a treat for us!) I know it's not much, and it might sound boring to some, but I honestly am looking forward to these things. It's these days that create our lives and who we become in the long run- so you have to look forward to the small stuff- appreciate the everyday. Because this is your life, and it's the only one you have.

I hope that you are looking forward to something today- even if it's as simple as feeling the sun on your face. Happy weekend friends!

photo source

Winning!

The winner of the Young Swans Designs "California Dreamin" Calendar is...



Yay Amber! Email me at joannanoelwaterfall@gmail.com and we will get you your prize! Congrats!

Instagram Goodness

So now that I have an iphone, I'm totally loving Instagram! One of my favorite people to follow is Kris Atomic. I'm already a fan of her illustrations, and now she's won me over once again on her Instagrams! I'm always blown away at how her photos stand out while I'm scrolling through my feed on that little screen.




So she's apparently in Switzerland where everything is beautiful (from what she's shown me) and takes gorgeous pics of the scenery, her paintings and other goodies, like this neat clock at the top. Who knew Instagram could have such wonderful photography? There's more goodness here.

Thanks Kris for the link to your feed! You are just a bundle of talent.

Sometimes...

Sometimes people tell me I look like her. And although I totally don't believe them,
it makes me happy :)

photo source.

So Dreamy

The colors, shapes, and cleanliness of theses photos put me in a dream state.

Giveaway Day!

Hey friends, are you guys ready?


Its a Giveaway! Be excited- cause we're giving away the "California Dreamin" calendar from Deborah Yun of Young Swan Designs. This calendar is created from photos that she has taken all over beautiful California. I think it would be pretty neat to have this thing above my desk, to remind me of the beautiful place I live, and bring a bit of peace during a stressful day.


I love to meet women who run after their dream, and persue it with full force. That is exactly what Deborah has done with her photography.


Deborah answered a few questions below, so we can all see the artist behind the piece. (Makes it more personal and meaningful I think!)

How did Young Swan Designs begin? 

Young Swan Designs began many years ago, although I didn't know it at the time. Like many artists’ journeys, it gradually grew with every act of creative risk, wanderlust and genuine fulfillment. One day I stumbled upon a French term, "atelier," meaning an artist's studio, and it became a new dream to create such a space for myself—a space absolutely dedicated to making something with my hands and then sending it off into the world. The rest unfolded over time, following whispers from my heart... like seeing the magic of black and white film in the dark room, capturing the romantic nostalgia of Paris, or chasing puffy clouds until they have made it through my lens.

In 2010, I started to practice meditation and really began to look inward and focus on figuring out who I am, my ‘true self.’ I decided to quit my job, bought a new lap top and finally built a website to showcase my photos. Since then, I got engaged, moved out of Santa Monica to Fresno, CA, and decided to open an Etsy store. I needed a name for the shop, so my fiancé and I brainstormed for a while. We came up with the name, Young Swan Designs, because we both believe in the potential of each individual, and the idea that we can all turn into a beautiful swan like in the fable of "The Ugly Duckling.” The shop has been open since October 2011, and the process has been a lot of fun!

What causes you to gravitate towards photographing nature?

Patterns! Nature is always changing, revealing an infinite array of patterns, making it a constant source of inspiration. Being from Guam, where it is summer all year round, I grew up without ever experiencing the changing of seasons. This year I enjoyed the beauty of Fall for the first time in Fresno which inspired my Autumn collection on Etsy. I'm currently in Michigan visiting my fiancé's family, and am working on my first Winter series!


What drives your passion for photography? 

As a photographer, I am passionate about being as authentic and prolific as possible. Having a background in Product Design, I have been greatly influenced by Karim Rashid. He has designed over 3,000 products and continues to inspire the next generation of designers. I saw the medium of photography to be best suited to express my personal vision and create as many bodies of work as I can. For a deeper poetic statement I wrote on "Why I Photograph...” read here.

How do you stay inspired?

I see my camera as a treasure box where I get to be an adventurer collecting precious gems. The camera seems to make life more magical. My true inspiration comes from my passion for travel. I want to see the world. And I see the camera as the way to venture around the globe. My Etsy shop is where I get to share my goodies with others, to then ship them back out into the world again! I also love walking through stores with elements of things I love, such as paper goods, cookbooks, gifts, photography and design. My mind brims with ideas and I’m left wondering how these products made it here. It inspires me to make new products and get them on the shelves.


Sometimes when I get into a lull, I watch the commencement speech that Steve Jobs gave to our graduating class at Stanford in '05. It's impossible to not feel inspired after listening to his profound nuggets of wisdom. His speech helped me realize that whenever you feel lost, you aren't really lost; you just forgot what you already knew because things oftentimes get in the way of carving your unique path as an artist. His insights also helped me make some major decisions in my life, such as packing up all of my things in a U-Haul and driving from Palo Alto to Santa Monica, CA to start my life as an independent artist. Here is Steve Jobs’ Commencement Speech in ‘05.

Thanks so much Deborah! Keep pursuing that dream and doing what you love. You can also check out Deborah's portfolio and blog.

To win the calendar, all you have to do is visit Deborah's Etsy shop, and comment below telling us about your favorite piece :) We will announce the winner next week. Good luck and Happy Weekend!!

This is just too cool. The ventilator pencil sharpener. I'm mostly in love with the white photos.
Watch the video and see more here.

Feeling at peace today. Enjoying the simples.


photo source.

November

Lovin these photos from Lisa Smit.

Happy November! Can't believe it's here already!

Creative Connection LA- Recap!

If you've been reading my blog at all, you've seen me talk about the amazing organization called
Creative Connection. Their most recent event was for the LA ladies- at the Tea Exchange in
Manhattan Beach.

I was honored to have been asked to be a featured designer for the event. This meant that I took
care of designing all of the paper goods. The welcome sign, name tags, bags for the girls to put the business cards they collect inside.

I normally hate wearing nametags, because no matter what you do, they always seem to ruin your outfit... so I really wanted to make some cute ones :)

I thought, since we're having tea- our name tags should reflect the event and mimic actual tea bags.
The color I used throughout the products was a raspberry pink, being fun and girlee, but still with
that slight hint of fall.



The event was a blast. You are able to meet so many talented women who all want to encourage
and support you in your passion. Every single one of these ladies has a creative talent and passion
they are bringing to the world in someway. I am always motivated and inspired by them after leaving these events.

The Vintage Table and S'Wonderful Photography were the other featured creatives who
did an amazing job. The Vintage Table rents out vintage china and other fun things for weddings,
and S'Wonderful Photography takes beautiful photos. (pictured above) Also thanks to Stacee Liana
for letting me use your beautiful photos! Definitely check them out!

Happy Wednesday everyone! It looks like the sun is peaking out here in Burbank, hoping the weather
is slightly chilly but warm in the sun- perfect for that pumpkin spice lattee... yummms...