LW Photography...the blog

New Logo

Sooooo here it is..my new logo......drumroll...MY NAME!
Thanks to Michael DiPietro , my friend and a very talented graphic designer, I finally
decided on a logo...(that's a hard task for us artist type)

Images up in Lululemon store!

So I finally made it up to visit the LULULEMON ATHLETIC store in manhattan beach (my second home) in order to view my images which are hanging in the store.
I walked in and was shocked..the images are HUGE! It was a great feeling to see my hard work & creativity hangin' from the walls of a major retail clothing store.
Below are a few quick photos of what I saw when I walked in!

Along with the studio....in my sparetime...ha

so in trying to keep my life balanced I am still training, reading, learning, playing, loving..etc...
gotta keep it real.
So in my sparetime or more like the time I try to carve out of the hectic studio schedule, I am:

1) Training for my first triathalon...on Sunday, October 14 in Hermosa Beach...YIKES! I am good with the bike and run but terrified of the swim. I think I'll use my nieces floaties just in case!

2) Learning how to play my piano. My goal is one song a month. Yes, I know..I have high expectations of myself, anyway...I found some cool lessons on YouTube. www.webpianoteacher.com/free
This month's song is by Rihanna - "unfaithful"..the piano part is really pretty.

3) Reading 3 really good books: "the E-Myth" about business, "the path" about creating your personal mission statement for work & life, "the power of kindness" about leading a compassionate life.

4) Buying the new iPhone this weekend...gotta stay HIP :) and connected...so i can get all your wonderful emails right at the tip of my fingers at all times - day and night...Fortunately I do know where the off button is and I intend to use it to keep myself sane.

and with all this...practicing my meditation to keep it all present and peaceful.
"the universe surrenders to a mind that is still" (sufi poet)

The Studio Update :)

OK - so after another loooong few weeks of working hard ...I actually managed to pick up my camera take some more photos of the studio or rather - "work in progress". We are almost done :) There have been loooong days and nights of laborious work..ugh...my back is feeling it! But, it is a dream come true and well worth all the struggles and long hours. A couple more weeks of decorating and applying the finishing touches :) My favorite part coming up...the decorating !

upstairs..before we put the new floor down.

downstairs office area..after drywall and before a fog of white paint was sprayed.

MY NEW FRONT DOORS...from the outside. Still working on the trim around the doors. Maybe a little metal trim? or wood trim? I keep changing my mind...and No! ...that is not my permanent sign! A piece of clear glass will be installed in order to display a large image.

Thanks everyone for helping me out with so so much. I couldn't do any of this without you!

"You can't push a wave onto shore any faster than the ocean brings it in." (Susan Strasberg)

D65 Seminar w/ Seth Resnick :)

I can't resist using my dog Penny as my practice subject for Seth Resnick's D65 class. It was a great class, even though it was four days of intense learning. Seth is the most thorough person I think I have ever met! Seriously, the new workflow, using lightroom, is awesome. Seth and Jaime were great, funny, entertaining and very knowledgable. I would recommend any serious photographer to attend this class if you want be on the cutting edge of workflow and archiving all your precious work! Seth's moto..back up, back up, back up...

The Studio...coming along

The studio is coming along. It is a big undertaking. So much fun though to design the space. You can't tell form the photos but the images were shot from outside the big rolling garage door...Stay tune for more photos next week!

photo 1) This is what the space looked like BEFORE I got my hands on it. I have a VISION.. to say the least.

photo 2) This is what it looked like four weeks ago...We accomplished the Demo (that was fun), sandblasted the floors (that was a mess!!), ripped pipes and other junk outa there. Built new framing for upstairs lounge, new bathroom, new dressing room, new stairs, NEW everything

photo 3) This is the studio last week...It is getting there! The upstairs area will be a lounge area with dressing room and full bathroom..while downstairs will be a kitchenette, my open office and a large shooting area. Can't tell? Use your imagination until the next photos :)

photo 4) still needing a paint job :)

photo 5) nice beams :) Cool huh?

Off to Santa Fe Workshops ..again!

I am so excited ! I am off to Santa Fe, NM again to study with Paul Elledge (http://www.paulelledge.com) and Leasha Overcash, two masters in the field of creative photography.

This is a workshop for accomplished photographers who are ready for the challenge of overcoming the limited nature of traditional portraiture. The workshop emphasizes creating one's own style of portraiture through the non-traditional use of lighting and environment. This is a workshop about possibilities, control, and style. The aesthetic and emotional concerns of contemporary portrait making are at the core of all discussions and daily assignments, which are photographed in the studio or on location in the Santa Fe area.

I was referred to this class by my peers and was said to prepare myself for a challenging and tiring week.
So if you are looking for me and I don't answer my phone ..you know why!

Welcome to my madness!

A new studio is about to emerge..from the dust. YES dust...so much dust. I had the floor/ground sandblasted today. Oh my gosh..what a mess....Thank God my neighbors are patient with me and all my BIG ideas :) like sandblasting! There is so much more work to be done..it's crazy... I think I am going crazy.
For those of you who are wondering what I am talking about...
I AM OPENING A NEW STUDIO on CEDROS AVE. (in the design district) in SOLANA BEACH!
I am so excited! Its gonna rock. It will be the coolest/grooviest/hippest studio in North County.
It is going to be a very cool space - think industrial warehouse with a clean yet soft and classy feel to it.
I will do my best to post some photos showing the "work (madness) in progress"...so check my blog from time to time!
Seriously...It could also be a very very cool yoga studio...so for all my yogi friends ..come check it out :) Maybe we can teach a few classes in the studio!

Santa Fe Workshops #2 trip

I had the best time in Santa fe...again! I really love the area, the people, the arts, the openess and the workshops are incredible. I have studied photography & design at many schools & places and Santa Fe is the best!
This time I studied with Bobbi Lane - what a fun class! She knows everything about every kind of lighting technique and fun (also expensive) lighting gadgets...I returned home with an incredible understanding about lighting, lighting patterns, lighting equipment, lighting , lighting and more lighting...It really was a great learning experience. The week is pretty intense: little sleep, hard work and tight bonds...and it's nice to leave knowing you've made a few new friends - HI Nicole, Bobbi, Alex, John, Sandy!
Here are just a few images from the week.

Lululemon Photoshoot: Manhattan Beach

I've had some great clients lately and I have to give a shout out to my Lululemon models :)
Lululemon athletica is a yoga inspired athletic apparel company. Check out the latest and greatest in Yoga apparel at www.lululemon.com.
Here are a few images which may be used on the Lululemon website and in their stores.