Remember my post about all the trash that washed up on the beach after the rains? I went to my first Heal the Bay beach clean up Saturday morning. I took a few quick shots with my point n' shoot. There were hundreds and hundreds of volunteers. It seemed like this was an unusually high turnout but the folks at Heal the Bay were super organized.

Thank you to Heal the Bay for organizing. If you'd like to help out, they do a beach clean up every month at a different location.

I was going to blog about how beautiful the beach looks after it rains. I can see all the way to Santa Monica and Malibu on one side, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula on the other. The views are sharp and crisp. Even the palm trees seem brighter against the blue skies.

Many people think photos, unretouched photos that is, don't lie. The truth is, every time you point your camera you are choosing what to show, and what not to show. As many of you know, I went to school for photojournalism and freelanced for several newspapers. A photojournalist's job is to tell the story truthfully. As a wedding photographer, my goal is to tell the story of your day honestly, but also beautifully. So if your wedding location is undergoing renovations and there's a construction-orange fence on one side (which did happen last year), I will choose the pretty trees as the background for your ceremony photos.

I could've done the same thing with this post, but instead I thought I'd share what I really saw on the beach.

and labels...

Maybe you're sick of looking at photos of all this junk. So am I. And so are other Angelenos like the volunteers for Heal the Bay's Nothin' But Sand cleanups. Next clean-up for Dockweiler Beach is March 20. Anyone want to join me?

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!!!

We had a wonderful time today with our friends Kim, Liz, Joel and Eddie from San Diego. We've seen Eddie grow from a little baby with big cheeks and bigger smiles to an articulate and funny three-year-old who loves the beach.

Last weekend I had the pleasure of second shooting for the awesome Mark Harrelson. His clients Rob & Michelle are a super cool couple. I had so much fun photographing their romantic beach wedding held on the fourth anniversary of their first date.

I usually photograph the bride getting ready so it was fun to switch it around and start at the groom's place. It was hot inside and Rob stayed cool surfing in front of the fan.

I followed the guys to Hermosa Beach. As Michelle finishes getting ready, Rob anxiously waits.

Their ceremony was on the beach right in front of the gorgeous Beach House hotel. Guests were given cute beach towels personalized with the couple's names, wedding location and date.

Michelle touches up her make-up.

Jim, the father of the bride, walks her down the aisle. And yes, both are wearing sandals.

I love the way Rob and Michelle look at each other.

Michelle sliding the ring on Rob's finger.

The priest blesses the newlyweds as the sun starts to set on the water.

The new Mrs. gets a big hug from her father-in-law.

The newlyweds walk back to the strand and start walking towards the pier...

... passing by popular Hermosa Beach hangouts.

Rob and Michelle's first date was at Club Sushi, where they chose to have their first dinner as a married couple.

This is one of my favorite moments of the night. Michelle steals a kiss from Rob without noticing I'm there.

Congratulations Rob and Michelle! Many thanks to Mark for letting me second-shoot.

No 4th of July celebration is complete unless it includes fireworks. Some of my best memories from childhood were taking the train to the Chicago lakefront where we would listen to the orchestra perform Stars and Stripes Forever as the fireworks danced across the sky.

Michael & I decided to see the show tonight from the Marina del Rey bridge. Although we didn't hear the music, the pyrotechnic display was amazing. The fireworks lit the sky with dazzling colors as the crowd oohed and aahed. Here are my favorite red, white and blue: