Blog
No comment
Have you ever been with a group of people who’s personalities flow so smoothly and they just feed off each other? This is why working with families, especially siblings is so enjoyable for me! Elizabeth contacted me for an Anytime session with her brothers, her plan was to gift these photos to their mom for her birthday. How sweet! Liz and her brothers are all in college, the youngest is a freshman while the oldest is finishing his Masters. On top of that, they all attend different universities near and far. Coming together for this session allowed them to have some hang out and catch up time. They were so fun to be with, even if I didn’t understand all of their inside jokes!
Anyways, what I thought was a fun and relaxing photo session turned into a wonderful and meaningful experience for this family. Liz emailed me an update:
Hi,
I’ve been so busy with school finishing for the year and starting my summer job, but I just wanted to email you one last time to say thank you for the photos you took of me and my brothers. They were really gorgeous and my brothers were as excited as I was to see them. As soon as you put them on the photo sharing site I ordered several prints to show and surprise my parents with when they came out last week. I presented them to my mom at dinner along with my brothers and she burst into tears and cried for close to 5 minutes. She and my dad thought they were fantastic and kept mentioning what a great photographer I had found. My mom went on all weekend about how it was such a thoughtful gift from us and it had made her so happy. She couldn’t wait to show the photos to all of our relatives, and she is intending to get more prints to display in my dad’s dental office and at home. So anyway, thanks so much for helping me make my mom so incredibly happy! They are beautiful photos and I have no idea how I’ll top them for later gifts to my parents. THANKS!!!!
Sincerely,
Liz
4 Comments
Nancy and Sam, a phenomenal violinist and gorgeous oboe player brought together through their passion for music. Besides their long list of talents, Nancy and Sam are two of the most humbled people I have ever met. As we began conversing over the details of their wedding, I realized that I was talking with two madly in love people! I remember tears settling into Sam’s eyes as we discussed the First Look, “…it just got real” he said. And with that I was sold! Not only am I honored to have worked with such creative and passionate souls, I am uplifted by how simple, revenant and honest their love is for each other.
Nancy was radiating with joy & looking absolutely stunning!
Words cannot describe how beautiful this First Look was, I cried of course.
I’m loving these simply and clean DIY ceremony programs by the bride herself!
Below are two of my favorite shots. The lighting was absolutely perfect!
“Watch our love grow!” How cute is that?! Wildflower Seeds as the favors.
After the cake cutting, Darren and I stole the couple away for a spontaneous portrait session in their first new home together. Nancy and Sam were totally down to ditch! Thanks to the lovely couple for being flexible and letting us get creative.
Venue | Redlands SDA Church, Redlands, CA
Music | Otherwise Strings & Friends
Caterer | Green Olive Grill by Najwa
Hair & Make up | Sarah Segura from Rose of Sharon Salon, Redlands, CA
Wedding Dress | Moonlight by Boulder Bridal
Bride’s headpiece | Ann Taylor
Bride’s Shoe Designer | Enzo Angiolini
Bride’s Veil | hand made by bride’s mom!
Groom’s Attire | Calvin Klein from Men’s Wearhouse
Cake | JusMinis Cupcakes (by the Groom’s mom!)
Flowers & Boutonnieres | DIY by bride
Invitations & Ceremony Programs | DIY by bride
Gina Berry.
No comment
Rockin’ the Mannequin pose!
Seems like all my friends are getting hitched. Gina & Stephan got married on a breezy afternoon on their high school campus in Monterey Bay. Long before Stephan, Gina was playing friendship match maker and connected some of who I consider my best friends today, Becky, Gina & Gwen. Somehow Gina convinced us to live together and the rest was history! For realz! Like sista from another mister! (and you know I only talk ghetto when I’m serious!). This weekend Gwen is getting married (*tear!) and can’t help to think how much we’ve grown since undergrad. These girls never fail to make me laugh and warm my heart. I’m so proud of them and what they have achieved. Love them to death!
School Supplies
No comment
the best part of going back to school is the Back-to-School shopping, like duh! I love the feel of new pens, crisp lined paper and the latest hot kicks that light up! This year, Rifle Paper Co. will be joining me as I embark on yet another year of school. Just more one though. I promise.
Hope you all had a great weekend! I wish you all the best as you began new adventures and build new memories whether at work, school or home (lucky!!).
Top hats & Tea
Comment
My dear friend Gwen is getting married in less than 10 days!! I’m so excited and beyond happy for her! Her Maid of Honor, Melanie put together this cute/vintage looking bridal shower. Photoboo also joined the party!
In other news, I’m headed back to school. Yup, that’s what I said. Blah! But it’s just for one more year and it’s something that I really wanna do so hopefully it’ll go by quickly 
Just as I was finally getting stuff crossed off my to-do list and things are winding down, it seems like they are winding back up again! It’s like trying to eat melted ice cream, doesn’t matter how fast you eat the melted cream you never seem to catch up to the actual solid ice cream. sigh.
Anyways, have a happy weekend!
The Cheruzi Wedding
2 Comments
I first met Cherisse on a mission trip to Africa. We bonded over conversations about birthdays and food. But the fact of the matter was that it was love at first sight. Even before I knew Cherisse, I knew of this fabulous dynamic couple on La Sierra University campus as, Cheruzi. It’s mash-up for their first names, Cherisse and Feruzi….CHERUZI! This beautiful couples contributed much of their time, efforts and charming personalities to making LSU campus a happier place. So when I was asked to be a part of their wedding I was honored. We all knew they would have a pretty epic wedding up their sleeves. Here are a couple photos from their special day.
wedding attire
Comment
Darren would wear white to a wedding. Whata diva.
Self-Care
No comment
Life is good. Really. Recently graduated with my Masters, I have a job, been shooting weddings this summer and having plenty celebrations with friends. But I must admit, I am one burnt out busy bee! So, in the last couple of months I have been doing some much deserved R&R. As a therapist, we take “self-care” very seriously.
Recuperation consisted of : a juice cleanse, trips to glen ivy, reconnecting with friends, catching up on shows, visiting family, & boot camp (yikes)!
Here are a couple of photos from my juice cleanse at Bella Vita.
Oh Instagram. How you document my life.
BAMS
Comment
The past two years have been EVERYTHING! From exciting to exhausting! A lot of hard work was done in the past two years. In general, the two most important things I learned were discovering who I was as a person and how I could use my personal attributes to contribute to a person in emotional need. Well, not to mention all the hard work put into a 2 hour presentation, presenting on a 40 page modality paper along side a 20 page case paper.
My Final Case Presentation took place on April 8th. A date I will never forget. I remember getting stomach pains a week prior to the date. It was awful! I’m not afraid of public speaking, I really like it! There was just so much weight riding on this presentation, I wanted to puke. April 8th was a total haze to me. I can’t recall what I ate prior to the presentation or how I even managed to get my clothes on. The presentation was totally an “out of body” experience. I was really enjoying it! But it seemed to go on for hours! Finally, my committee thanked me and asked me to read a vignette and give an impromptu presentation on a treatment plan. My stomach was in knots! I wanted to run out the door, but I knew my 4 inch heels would only take me so far. I presented. They asked me to leave the room to discuss the results. Darren stood outside the conference room for moral support. He held my hand as 5 mins seems like 5 hours. Dr. Swim, the chair of the committee, opened the door with the biggest smile on her face and said, “YOU PASSED”! I felt like crying, I was too macho so I held it in. There were fireworks going on in my head as my panel proceeded to congratulate me, or maybe that was the light-headedness from the lack of food. I walked away not only feeling relief, but knowing that this was the beginning of an exciting and rewarding career. I felt a sort of energy coming out of that room. I was physically exhausted but so motivated and energized to move forward, not only as a therapist, but as a person.
This photo was take seconds after my panel members passed my Final Case Presentation. This, my friends, is the face of RELIEF!
My 5 seconds of fame. (Photo below)
Couldn’t have done it without my wonderful and supportive family. (Photo below)
Time to CELEBRATE! Here are some photos of our party details (Photos below)
Ignore the “it’s a boy” sign. Inside joke. >.< (Photo below)
Okay, seriously the best cake I’ve ever had! I’m not a cake lover at all! In fact, I usually don’t eat cake at parties, but this is so nummmmy!
Raspberry Victorian from Michelle’s Bakery in Redlands, CA (Is it just me or did the cake make for a natural light reflector?? LOL!)
Photoboo came out to play! Here are a few of my favorites!
There it is! I am officially an alumist of Loma Linda University and proud of it!!
Hi, I’m Yvette, Bachelors of Art in Psychology, Master of Science in Marital and Family Therapy.
Yvette Vargas, BA, MS
Just call me BAMS for short
Bouie Bash!
No comment
Birthday BASH!!! Because my brother is such a diva I’ve decided to dedicate an entire blogpost to HIM! Happy birthday, Louie! Thank you for being the best broder EVA!!!
These photos were taken exactly 1 year ago during his last birthday!
He really is the best brother! So proud of him and his accomplishments!
Happy Birthday & Happy Sabbath!! Make sure to leave some bday love in the comment box!