Visit to LA... Louisiana that is...

When I was growing up my Aunt Kari would come visit every Christmas and over the summer.  Kari and my mom are 18 years apart, and my Mom had me when Kari was 10... so we've always been super close.  Kari has been like the big sister I never had, and even though we're 850 miles apart we're on the phone constantly.

So now Kari is married to Vance and lives in Louisiana with her two kids... Lydia and Caedmon.  Lydia and I are just about as far apart as Kari and I are... so the cycle begins again... Earlier this year Ryan and I went down to visit while my grandparents were here from Australia.  I just now finished going through all the pictures... and decided to share :). 

One afternoon I took Lydia into downtown Lafayette, and had the best time.  We had wardrobe changes and everything!  Later that same day we took the whole family out for pics... here are my favorites from the week.

All pictures of me were taken by Ryan Fesko (the hubby)

Some of the pics with Lydia at the historic house next door and in downtown Lafayette...

The family pics that night and the next day...

And my favorite...

Erin & Daniel Married!

I was nervous driving into Mineral Springs.  Pleasant Grove Campground was nowhere to be found on my GPS, and the closer I got - less signs of life were found.  So I stopped at a gas station, and apparently everyone knew where this Campground was!  Five minutes later I pulled onto the campground, and found the bridal party.

Erin & Daniel are two of the most amazing people.  The way they interact, their chemistry and the love that permeated their day enveloped us all.  Daniel is by far one of the most honorable men I have ever met.  The way that he speaks to people, treats his friends and the few times we conversed over the phone - he is congruent.  True through and through.  Erin is a woman that belongs in a King's court.  She is so elegant and beautiful in the way that she moves and speaks to people.  Erin is the same as Daniel - beautiful through and through.  I felt so honored to be apart of their day, and capture all of the fun that ensued.  This day was one glorious surprise after another...

Daniel promised everyone that he wasn't going to cry...

Erin and her Dad had a special first dance together... cowboy boots n' all!

And of course I saved my favorite for last...  Hello Kevin Kubota!

Ashley & Dallin's E-Sesh!

Dear Abercrombie: I found your next model's.  Love, Rachel

I met Ashley & Dallin over pizza at Brixx.  They were both so cordial and wonderful to talk with, and we had such a great time out and about finding great places to shoot.  There was this beautiful pond down the street from their house that Ashley wanted to shoot at.  So we parked the car down this back road, hopped a fence and walked this covered path... that led us around the backside of the pond and into another field... HA!  So we walked back and just parked the car across the street from the pond.  It wouldn't be an amazing e-sesh without hopping a few fences right?

And of course I saved my favorite till last!

A Way to a Woman's Heart

If the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, what is the way to a woman's heart? My surmise? Flowers. Ryan surprised me by bringing home flowers, as well as some of my favorite foods when he went out for half n half yesterday morning (for some reason this man refuses to just put milk in his coffee when we run out of half n half!).

You have to know a few things about my husband... The scene from Kate & Leopold where Charlie is buying flowers for Patrice changed my husband's life. When he buys flowers, it may not be the best arrangement ever... but it means something. It literally means something. Every flower has a meaning, and he refuses to buy a flower if he doesn't know what the meaning is or if it conflicts with another flower that he decided to buy already.

When he told me that the red flowers are called "Red Rover Mums"... my response to this was "As in, 'Red Rover, Red Rover send Rachel right over'?" This was NOT the right response... :) When he put the arrangement together he named it "Rest" and presented it to me. And that my friends is how well my husband knows me. I needed something over the next week or so to remind me of the time I spent up in VA, and keep those memories fresh in my mind. My husband is the best man a woman could ask for... Enjoy the flowers!

The Bridesmaids vs. The Dress

My friend Emmy got engaged many moons ago, and asked me to be one of her bridesmaids. I remember walking into the bridal shop, asking for the dress number in my "size" and taking it into the dressing room. Here, my friends, is where I had an emotional breakdown... I was not a size 6... The very kind and stylish designer would not let me fit into their size 6... today I was a 10. Double digits? I nearly died.

The same thing happened with my wedding... and the phone calls from the bridesmaids ensued... "Are you sure this is the dress we're supposed to wear?", "The size chart is wrong!"... Really? The size chart? From the designer who makes the dresses? You're going to argue with that? OK (the sarcasm on that remark was free).

Listen, I, of all people understand that your size does matter. We hold onto that size 2, 4, 6 or 16 with every inch; and when some dress designer wants to tell us that we're a size 10 or 20 it makes us stand there with our mouth open saying, "huh!?"

Here is what all bridesmaids need to understand... You were chosen out of many childhood friends, high school BFF's, college suitemates, and workplace confidants... YOU! The Bride chose YOU to stand up with her on the most important day of her life, and your only responsibility is to take stress OFF of your friend. I've worn bridesmaid dresses that I hated, thought were the wrong color, insulted at the size and sold afterward. Her taste may not be yours, and the designer may be off in your mind... but it's not really about you is it? Choose to be a friend in this time. The dress and the day is not about you... it's about the Bride and Groom. Put your focus there and you will make your Bride a friend for life.

Books that saved my life when I was a bridesmaid can be found here.

XOXO

Morning Coffee

I blame my parents... 100%.

My fondest memories of my childhood were the ones where I got to sit in on my parents morning conversations. I would walk down the stairs in a fog, and there they were every morning... sitting & talking over their morning coffee. Over the years and into warmer weather, they would migrate to the back deck and listen to the birds... or my dad would shoot them (another story for another time). The best time I had was the 6 months before my wedding after I had moved from California, and was living at home again... Some of the best talks I had with my parents were in the morning hours over a cup o' joe. This is what people who have businesses out of their home do!

Now, I'm like this grumpy old man getting out of bed, and begging my husband to have a cup with me before he walks out the door for work... And it's all my parents fault. I want to recreate those conversations with my hubby, but he's always faithful at pouring me a cup before he leaves... even if he can't sit down and enjoy it with me. Maybe someday he'll stop looking at his watch so intently and we can enjoy one of those morning conversations... Maybe after retirement :)

Ashley & Joe's E-Sesh!

HOT. HOT. HOT. OMG. OMG. OMG.

Thirsty for more yet? I was drooling all over these pictures while I was editing, luckily my keyboard survived. I am so thrilled with the fact that Ashley & Joe are my clients... and they almost weren't!

I met with Ashley a few months back, but her Mom wanted to meet me before signing any checks - which is fine, I've dealt with Mother's before (heck, I HAVE one right?). Meanwhile, I had another couple emailing me almost everyday asking if I could meet them - but they wanted me for Ashley & Joe's date! I just had this gut feeling (which again, is right 99.99% of the time) that Ashley & Joe were supposed to be MY couple! So, I met with Mom (hi, Mom!) and showed her my albums, portfolio and contract... and I was booked on the spot! *enter sigh of relief here*

Ashley & Joe were definitely a hot couple to photograph, as well as two people I want to get to know better and hang out with! They had this 50's theme rockin' out all night long, and the love that was in their eyes tells me only one thing... It's an old school kind of love.

Here are some of my fave's from our Southend/Uptown session... only the best folks, only the best...

LOVE THIS ONE!!!

So I meet up with Ashley & Joe at Byron's South End where she showed me a picture that was hanging on her wall... she wanted to replicate it using them! I was thrilled!!!! Finally, something to TEST my creativity! I think I nailed it... It was definitely my absolute favorite from our session!