I’m Engaged!

Rockstar asked me to marry him back in August and since then it’s been a flurry of wedding planning – to the point that i almost forgot how to use the camera and just now i have forgotten my password to the blog.  *SO ASHAMED!*

For our marriage counselling we were given a questionnaire to answer for ourselves and for each other – we got our quizzes back and i got some pretty good insight on how Rockstar feels about me in many different realms – one of which includes hobbies and such.  I use to to comfortably think that i’m not that needy type of GF, you know with my own hobbies and things to do but since putting down the camera for a good 5 months i think Rockstar started getting the idea that i don’t have many other interests besides wedding planning.  So – i’m back in the game, hopefully!  2010!  New resolution!  Refine my art!  Take more pictures! Print some pictures!  Starting…after the wedding March 31st 2010!

So let me share with you photos that Clara took of us this morning instead.  Although…I can take credit for them as well because i’m in them and i did some pretty wicked post production to soften my 31 year old eye crinkles that are starting to creep up on me.   So it’s me and Rockstar’s debut on the blog – TA DA!  Will hopefully post more soon – we probably have to do a reshoot since i had the brilliant idea of shooting bright and early at Heritage Park, only to be confronted by frozen fingers of the photogs (Clara and her trusty 2nd shooter Ed Lee) and reluctant subjects who couldn’t focus on posing in -17 degree weather because we were dreaming of hot starbucks coffee instead.

So here are shots taken back at home, after the starbucks coffee.  Lookin’ much more happy!

Looking pretty awake for getting up at the crack of dawn.

I put my hands over the strings to make Rockstar look up from playing.

Who needs a capo when I can bar for you!

Can you see my fake lashes? =)

I’m always thinking in the back of my mind that wedding vendors think we’re high-school kids getting hitched.  I’ll be Vanessa Hudgens!

Can’t wait to be Maui’d!!!!!!  =O)

San Francisco!

Another long overdue post!  Summer blew here and blew away – i can’t believe it’s already fall!   Catching up on my summer photos.  The sisters went on a crazy trip to San Francisco and visited the cousins.  It was so much fun!  I think we found that we’re similar in so many ways – how we’re foodies, love savory salted pig parts, obsessed with pop-culture, culture, wine, can spend the entire evening playing catch phrase like we’ve always been awesome teammates and mused over how funny our parents who are siblings talk/look the same and have the exact same mannerisms.  (Guess that part isn’t all that surprising!)

While the cousins worked during the day, we went on some crazy city tour with Auntie/Uncle Fung.  Shout out!  It was quite the comprehensive tour – first stop the Asian Art Museum.  Quite the lovely building!

My memory is failing me and i forget what this park is called – but i do remember that it’s the scene in The Rock where Sean Connery meets Claire Forlani.

The exterior shot from Full House.  They used the Painted Ladies and didn’t bother asking the residents if they could – they didn’t think the show would be a hit.

We could have spent more time in Sausalito Island.  Very cute Mediterranean town.

Tire marks at the very bottom of the steep hilly streets.  Imagine if it snowed in SF like it does in Calgary!

A very nice change in pace from the windy/rainy city to Nappa Valley!  I can’t drink wine, but i still very much enjoyed the warm sunshine and the gorgeous scenery!

Can you say wow?  Wow…!

Liked the way how the sun beams danced with the leaves.

These vines are going to make some people very happy!

I thought this was a fun shot taken in front of Pixar Studios.  Props to Jason for capturing this! =)

And these shots are super duper cute.  I miss her – our little baby cousin!  Looks like she’s taking after daddy’s sports’ fanaticism!  Thank you cuzzies for an awesome time.  I’m so missing Hog Island oysters…yum!

San Diego – Long Overdue!

July has been a blitz month of travelling and snapping shots with the Canon G10.  My first stop was in San Diego.  Loved loved loved the weather.  My goddess, it was gorgeous out there!  I’m the kind of person who gets greatly affected by weather, so SD did my soul some good.  Even the hazy clouds early in the morning that bummed me out would be burned off by the afternoon!

I stayed in the Gaslamp District, so tonnes of restaurants, shops, bars and cafes.  I dug it!  I ended up buying a couple of long maxi dresses there because of course you can’t find that kind of attire in Calgary.   Keeps you cool during the day, and covers up your legs in the evenings.   And now being back in Calgary i’ve packed those dresses away.  Sigh…I’m so meant for the sunnier side of the street!

It’s as warm and nice as it looks!

Shout out to D.L. for taking me out to Coronado Island – that’s where that chi-chi hotel is located along some wicked white sand beach.

Eating dinner outside.  Calgary this is a rarity for sure.

San Diego Convention Center.  I think this complex spans like 8 city blocks and recently held the Comic Con Convention.  So…i could have walked where Robert Pattinson (TWILIGHT!) walked!  Shriek!  Eek!

Some Gaslamp district loving.  Had some pretty awesome food along here, including Pinkberry, Ghiradelli Chocolate, and some really cool Italian cafe that served up some wicked gelato.  I tried spicy chocolate, sexy stuff…

The marina along the convention centre.  I obviously haven’t seen Top Gun and had no idea SD was a naval base.  Saw lots of blackhawks circling the sky.  Oh – and along here, i found a Roy’s Restaurant.  I was ecstatic.

I found a Mardi Gras party my last night there – first time trying grits.  Loved the fried chicken.  Not so fond of the grits.  Blech.

Thanks to my Calgarian friends for showing me around – i can see why y’all never want to come back up north.  Wish i brought the weather home with me!

Oh – and flowers sent from Rockstar.   =)

The Fantastic Canon G10

I’m a tiny girl with a very wiry frame.  When we started shooting with the Canon 5D, I noticed that it gets super heavy.  I started to get lazy lugging around the 5D on vacation – to the point where i would refuse to take it out of my knapsack because it was so “mah-fahn” (translation: troublesome!).  

So last year for Rockstar’s birthday gift i bought him the compact Canon G10 camera and it takes fantastic and incredibly beautiful images.   I decided that i no longer needed to drag my DSLR around as long as Rockstar had the G10 with SLR functionalities.  So if you’re in the market for a new compact camera, the G1o is the way to go baby.  It’s awesome.   (I’m borrowing Rockstar’s G10 for my upcoming San Diego and San Fran trip!  So excited!!)   

Will post a few pics in a few days of our pictures from Vancouver and last year from Hawaii and Japan taken with this slick piece of technology.  =)

Helen + John: Engagement

Location: Eau Claire Market

Time: 7:45pm

Photographer: Clara Lee

Helen + John: Preview

Laurie: Prep Shots

Location: Edmonton

Time: 5:30am

Hair: Hua

Photography: Clara Lee

Make Up: Glenna Lee & Charis Fung!

 

 

 

 

Looooove the fascinators!  These were bought in HK, very couture and very Laurie!

My skinny witch fingers made the shot!  Despite Laurie only getting a few hours of sleep, her eyes were pretty wide awake and alert.

Some Urban Decay palette action…

 

Wicked hair by Hua, a sister-team specializing in hair, makeup AND photography in Edmonton.  Triple threat!!

Good morning sunshine!

Check out the PJs…hahahaa…so cute!

 The Matron of Honor prepping Laurie’s dresses.

The booo-tee-ful  bridesmaids all with FANTASTIC skin.  I was super envious.  I use makeup to do major cover up on myself, for these girls, it was to enhance their gorgeousness – great canvases!

 

 

 

Five girls and two moms dolled up before 9:30am!  Shout out to Charis for helping out with eyelash duty.  If anyone ever needs falsie eyelashes securely glued on, she’s your girl.  I thought Janet Hua was amazing with the hair. =)   Laurie, you were brilliant – hope you loved loved loved your wedding day !

 

It’s Spring!

In celebration of  putting away my UGGs hopefully for the next 6 months – I tried on a pair of gladiator sandals last night when i went shopping with my younger sister. Love the concept. Hate that they make my elongated toes look more french fried than ever. I don’t think it’s meant to be. Sigh….

Last week we made the trek up to Edmonton for Miss Laurie’s (now missus!) wedding, yay!!! Gorgeous weekend, i think it’s the first time in a long time that i didn’t think Edmonton looked gross. (Can’t  i say that since i was born there?? Eekk!) Congrats Laurie, i can’t believe you’re MARRIED! We have pictures coming…i’ll do them up tonight. =)

 

Ada + James: Engagement

Location: Calgary South Glenmore Park

Photographers: Clara & Glenna and special thanks to our 2nd shooter,  Edward Lee!

Time: 7:30pm for optimal sweet sunset lighting

 

 

Ada + James: Preview