Personal: Always a Photographer, finally a bride

As my fiance and I start this wedding planning process, 

I can't help but think about all of the weddings and engagement sessions I have shot myself.

It makes me want to dance just thinking about how blessed I have been by every bride I have encountered, every groom that has shown me kindness, 

every family member and or guest that has made my nights of work not feel like work at all. 

Every shoot and every wedding has made me wonder what each bride feels in this season of their lives.

I try to imagine how exited they are, how in love they are with their grooms, and how completely loved they feel. 

I try to imagine those feelings and translate them the best I can through my camera so that at the end of the day

 the images on my screen are not merely "Ica Images" but memories and moments of love and life.

And though I've been with my dearest Timothy for amost 5 years and have shot all those weddings within our five years of dating, 

everything feels different now. Weddings feel different now.

Being engaged, now I know exactly how these brides feel and I don't have to guess.

Attending weddings, getting inquiries from brides telling me about their proposals, 

or simply watching movies with weddings and proposals get me in a way they never have before.

To all of the brides I've ever had the pleasure of working with, 

Thank you all so much for having me take part in your wedding days. 

The closer I get to my own wedding, the more I appreciate your openness with me; a stranger,

on the most important day of your life. Finally becoming a bride myself I understand my role as

a wedding photographer that much more. 

Thank you for your kindness, trust and friendship, I couldn't do my job without it.

I think I love my job just a little bit more each day because of where I am in my life right now.

God is so good and I feel so incredibly blessed.

And though it feels strange to be on this side of the story, it feels right.

I might know how to be a wedding photographer, but as a first time bride and soon to be wife ...

I'd love to hear some tips, advice or pointers from you incredible brides out there.

I'm crossing some uncharted wedding territory over here. <3

Happy Tuesday Friends!!

Teasers: More California Teasers

Last week was definitely more that I could have asked for, 8 days in California felt like a month ... and I've practically got a month's worth of images to blog & share with you all. So keep checking back ... slowly but surely I'll be sharing more and more.

For now here are a few more teasers of the crazy talented folk I got to work with last week.

The Hopes.

The Scott.

The Makepeace Brothers

Their newest album is AMMMAZING go get yourself a copy!

The amazing little Jessie Payo

And of course my loves ....

Hope + Scott = Me and Mr. Cassidy.

Full on blog posts are on their way for all of these shoots... oh how I can't wait to share!!

As for the rest of these photos....

They are alot more personal but I can't help but share them because made my trip that much more memorable. Lots of love and a million thank yous goes out to my dear dear friend, Mike. I could not have gotten through my trip without your generosity, your help and your continuous encouragement. Thank you Mike and I am blessed and honored to call you friend.

Oh this painting!!! I love it sooo much and it's my first ever Jean and Ho painting. My ammmazingly sweet and talented friends drew me up one of their creations and I can't help but share this amazingness with the world. I'm sad I didn't have enough hands to bring it with me on my flight back but I'm making space on my walls for it and can't wait to put it up and look at it all day. Rj and Andrew I love you two!

Lastly the big reveal of my new red hair. *All my love goes out to my dearest Reinnasaurus thank you for being so amazing and so talented and for turned my little head red. I love you! You're simply the worlds hottest assistant/second shooter/model!!

I am now a little cherry-red head {spicy tuna loving} Ica.

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. day!!!

Behind the Scenes: Oh Shoot!

Hello again from Sunny California.

A few days ago I tweeted that while I've been here I've had or I've been to ...

‎"1 live show, 2 movies, 3 red velvet cakes, 4 thrift stores, 5 days down,

6 new dresses and 7 photoshoots. (California's been pretty good to me)"

And it's only gotten better since. Now it's Tuesday, my last full day here. {But a snow storm back home could change things* ... do a little snow dance for me please!}. All together I've done 8 shoots in total and still the work is not yet finished. After the weekend I took it easy and made Monday my play day.

I still have my last two shoots today and just like ever other shoot I've done here in LA these shoots are going to be AMAZING and I'm so excited!

Basically I've been spoiled rotten here. Working with the greatest friends {both new and old}, having the sweetest shoots with the most beautiful people, in the prettiest light, working for/along side/or with the most talented and creative people I know, in one of the most awesome-est states.

Yeah I've been a little caught off guard at how amazing this week of work and play have been, and frankly I'm sad it's almost coming to an end.

Here are a few of the amazing folks I've been working with please give them some love, listen to their sweet music, or take a gander at their amazing photos, or get your hair did by them ... this list is only half as long as it should be.

http://www.myspace.com/meandmrcassidy

http://www.hopemakesmusic.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/scottcassidymusic

http://reinnasaurus.blogspot.com/

http://christiancruzphotography.blogspot.com/

http://makepeacebrothers.com/