Los Angeles Wedding Photographer - Polka Photos Photo Blog: Wedding Photography, Photojournalism, candid photos

Bringing Sexy Back

Polka Photos is happy to announce the addition of boudoir photography as a new portrait service. Stay tuned for more details!

If you'd like to schedule a session before Valentine's Day let me know!

MY Day in the Life

From Playa del Rey through Los Angeles and Hollywood to San Diego

A messageboard I frequent recently had this photo assignment for last Friday:

Document one typical day of your life in photos

I'm not sure what to count as the start of my day. I tend to stay up late working on photos and catching up on emails. I love the night. This is the time I am most productive. This day is no exception. It's after 2 am according to my Mac and I'm finishing up the final touches on some photos.

I am not a morning person. But I have a million things to do today so I drag myself out of bed.

Michael helps pack my car for my shoot this weekend.

First stop: the lab to pick up some promotional materials

How do you like this postcard?

Second stop: Calumet Photographic

The best equipment rental place ever. I have been going to Calumet for over a decade.

The lights

Off I go!

Along the way I see the coolest classic car.

I run a few more errands, stop by my place and change, and I'm back on the road. I love taking this street right by the beach. It's not the fastest way to go, but it's the most relaxing mile of my drive.

I'm not looking through the viewfinder since I am driving. Which is how I end up with this photo. For the record, I was trying to take a photo of a palm tree against the sky. But the blue is kinda nice, no?

The way to San Diego is rather uneventful. I'm concentrating on driving so no more car photos.

I have two boudoir sessions today. The first model E. wants some photos for her husband for Valentine's Day. I took a bunch of sexy photos and some fun silhouettes of her wearing these kick-ass boots.

The second model plans on sending photos to her fiance in Iraq. I think he'll get a kick out of the shots! C. was a lot of fun and gorgeous. I took a few hundred photos so she'll have lots to choose from!

I'm tired. And hungry. My friend Kim picks me up and we go try a new restaurant.

It's restaurant week in San Diego so we get to pick a three-course meal from a prix fixe menu. My favorite is the passion fruit creme brulee dessert. The food is good but the company is excellent!

Kim drops me off at the hotel. The city sleeps as I organize my gear for tomorrow's shoots.

The moon keeps me company.

Finally I am done and go to bed!

Labels: about me, Hollywood, Los Angeles, Playa del Rey, San Diego, Shameless Self-Promotion

Watching History

Culver City, California

I watched President Obama's inaugural address with a diverse crowd at Culver-Palms United Methodist Church. The crowd cheered and clapped for the new President.

I was particularly struck by Elizabeth Alexander's inaugural poem.

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

And now, Lord, in the complex arena of human relations,

help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate;

on the side of inclusion, not exclusion;

tolerance, not intolerance.

- from benediction by Rev. Joseph Lowery

Labels: California

What a Babe!

San Diego, California

I drove down to San Diego to see some good friends from Seattle. It was so much fun to see George and Lily. And I met a new friend, the cutest baby, Cara.

We had a gorgeous California day so we went exploring at Cabrillo.

Dad shows Cara the tidepools.

Mom makes sure she's all wrapped up.

We grabbed an early dinner by Seaport Village and then Cara got her first ride on a carousel... on a bear. I was packing light that day and didn't bring a flash - so I decided I'd get the shot by panning. The first time I tried panning was in my Basic Photography class at B.U. If I remember correctly, the professor actually asked me to do the assignment over. I'm still not as good at the technique as I'd like, but it works in this photo!

Thank you Lily, George & Cara for a lovely day. Hope to see you soon!

Labels: portraits, San Diego

Cover Art

My photo graces the cover of the January edition of webzine Colored Chalk. This issue's theme is Sins of the Father examining "fatherhood through the lens of sin: alcohol, drugs, murder, anger, violence, indifference, and love." You should check it out and read some stories!

Labels: Shameless Self-Promotion

Warm Winter Wedding

Palos Verdes, California

Cicely and Robert had a lovely intimate ceremony on the beach at the Portuguese Bend Beach Club on the last Saturday of December. The bride was simply radiant, and super sweet, too. The happy couple couldn't stop smiling all day.

Cicely and Robert said their vows in a heart made by rocks.

The First Kiss

And off they walk into the sunset...

Which of these two photos do you like better? Classic Photo

or Classic Photo with Grunge Overlay?

The newlyweds held their reception at Cicely's mom's house down the road from the ceremony.

And for those of you that think you need months to plan a wedding, this couple planned theirs in only 2 weeks!!! I honestly don't know how they did it, that's a lot of work!

I love the little boy's face in this photo.

Four generations of women.

Congratulations Cicely & Robert! Wishing you much happiness!!!

Labels: beach, intimate wedding, Palos Verdes, wedding

Happy New Year!

Playa del Rey, California
Last year was a busy one for Polka Photos. I just looked at my resolutions from last year - I got about 50% done. I did blog more, not always once a week like my resolution but I had 77 posts in 2008!

I'm still working on my goals for the new year. One of my personal resolutions is to go out dancing more. When I lived in Chicago I would go salsa dancing a few times a week. Since moving to LA I haven't found the time. I need to find the time somewhere. Salsa is in my blood, in my soul, like a lover who you can't get out of your mind. And it's a lot more fun than going to the gym.

Here's to 2009, a year to love more, laugh more, and enjoy life more!

This is a photo of dancers Melanie and Tony in my favorite Chicago salsa spot, the Buzz. I miss my Buzz Wednesdays. Anyone want to share their favorite LA place for salsa?

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Bringing Sexy Back

Thursday, January 22, 2009

MY Day in the Life

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Watching History

Sunday, January 11, 2009

What a Babe!

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Cover Art

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Warm Winter Wedding

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Happy New Year!