Damion's timeless approach of combining beautiful photojournalism with portraiture & the ease with which he captures precious moments & exquisite details alike, has thrust Damion forward as one of the most sought after photographers in Northern California. He and his wife Julie's genuine honesty, integrity as well as raw skill behind the camera is what makes them one of the most celebrated teams in the Napa Valley.
Damion's works have graced the editorial community in Get Married Magazine, Inland Empire Magazine, 7x7 Weddings Magazine, Bespoke Magazine, Woman's World, Special Events Magazine and have been featured on IDo Venues & Style Me Pretty. He has been fortunate to capture details of events for companies such as VMWare, First Republic Bank, Deliotte, Samsung, Inuit, Google, Silver Oak Cellars, Hanna Boys Center, foundations such as The Tipping Point, as well as San Francisco Ballet and San Francisco Symphony Galas and the opening of major exhibits at SF's finest museums.
On this beautiful, cold, clear day in December, we wish you a very merry Christmas from our family to yours. We hope your holidays are filled with laughter and all good things. And always remember to make a place at the table for those who might be hurting or lonely during this Christmas season. Wishing you a blessed day of His love and joy!
Source: sn131w.snt131.mail.live.com via Julie on Pinterest
I’m naturally a dreamer. Always have been and I hope always will be. It took me a long time to embrace the fact that having dreams is important and valuable. For a few years now, my motto has been “Dream Big!” That’s the only way that we will ever push past our self imagined limitations to find out that we really do have the fortitude, the faith and the strength to accomplish more than we ever thought possible. Recently, I was assigned the “homework” of brainstorming about an upcoming project that we’re working on. I realized that I hardly ever take the time to just sit and think. It’s usually while I’m running errands or conversing with a 4 year old and doing dishes at the same time that my “thinking” takes place..always while doing something else. So, I decided to pull up the rocking chair right next to our cozy fire and just think. That’s it. Just think. Mind you, as a homeschooling mom who also works from home, time to think is such a rarity that I hardly knew what to do. I have to be honest and say that I didn’t even get a sprinkle going on in my brain, much less a storm, but I started wondering how our world would be different if we each had time to just sit and dream about all the possibilities each day. What if? What if we could think about how to achieve what was really in our hearts to do, whether it was to “Start Something That Matters” like TOMS Founder Blake Mycoskie, love your family in a better way (like my friend Kristie) or just to dream about achieving your purpose on this planet.
I realized that so many times, we have dreams, but we don’t always know where to begin with making them come true. We don’t know how to put the legs to our dreams. That’s seems to be where most people get hung up. We might think “I would like to record an album” but don’t know where or how to begin that process. We might dream of being more patient with our children, but then when the crazy circumstances come, we’re not sure how to handle the situation. In the cases where you don’t know to begin, a good first step might be talking to someone else about your dream. Find someone that has personally been a good example for you in that area and ask them a few questions. Ask them where to begin with your dream. Talking about it is the first step to putting it into action.
I think the other factor that keeps us from achieving our dreams is captured in this phrase: “Dreams don’t work unless you do.” Recently, I’ve realized how much work and what a high level of commitment it takes to actually pursue opportunities that you never imagined were possible. Make no mistake, if you set out to follow your dreams, there will be moments along the way where you wonder “What in the world am I doing?” Am I crazy? Why did I start this? Will it be worth it? Why should I continue? When will this end? What was I thinking???? Those questions are just part of the journey. You will inevitably have those moments. Or at least, I do. I suspect that everyone who’s ever attempted something beyond their current scope of comfort does too. But the truth is, that you’ll never know if you can swim until you lose sight of the shore, so it’s important to leave your comfort zone.
So, if you’re a dreamer, keep dreaming! If you’re not a dreamer, but want to be, set aside a few minutes and start thinking about what’s in your heart! And if you’re somewhere along the journey to seeing your dreams come true….stick to the journey. You will find out that you can swim farther and longer than you ever thought possible. Keep busting out of those self imposed limitations. Are you the dreamer in your family or is someone else? What are your wildest dreams? We want to hear them!–The first step is admitting them
Source: piccsy.com via Amie on Pinterest
by julie
no comments
I don’t know about you, but I love seeing the bridal fashion trends emerge from New York’s Bridal Fashion Shows. Among one of the most noticeable trends this season was the use of beautiful colors in the bridal gowns. In the most recent bridal show, Vera Wang, one of the most influential bridal fashion designers, showed a wide range of yummy colored creations and even black gowns. I know that some of you are purists and are dreaming of being clothed in billowy white clouds on your wedding day which will be beautiful and timeless, but for others who prefer to bring a touch of the unexpected, adding color might be your the perfect opportunity! Today in our Do Weddings Smarter column, we’ll examine the origin of the white wedding gown and explore other options as well.
ORIGIN: Until the time of the Victorian Era, most brides simply wore their best dress on their wedding day. Most of these dresses were darker in color ranging from navy blue to black. It wasn’t until Queen Victoria of England married Albert of Saxe-Coberg in 1840 wearing a white dress, that it became a popular tradition. Queen Victoria had her dress custom created to include a special bit of lace that she owned. In the 19th century, white dresses were very uncommon as they were difficult to keep clean and signified great wealth if one could purchase a dress just for a one or two time use. As their wedding picture was viewed by more and more people, the white wedding dress became a status symbol. Many people attribute the use of white to symbolize purity, but in reality, it was used to indicate great wealth. Blue was actually the symbol of purity at that time.
In many cultures, the color white is associated with death, so their traditional wedding garb does not include the color white. In countries such as China, India, and Vietnam, the traditional wedding clothes are centered around the color red.
Many brides are devoted to maintaining the traditional white dress, but also bring in a variety of colors through their accessories. One of my favorite ways that we’ve seen brides link the traditional white wedding dress with a pop of their color inspiration is through adding a sash with a splash of color. I love how the color of Alexa’s sash (left) blended perfectly with their soft, wine country color palette and accented the purple of the grapes hanging on the vine, while Nadine’s belt (right) added so much interest to her beautiful dress.
In another example, I’ve seen Nina’s Vera Wang Ethel on it’s own and it was breathtaking, but adding the Vera Wang black Swarovski crystal belt took the dress to the next level–stunning.
Remember, you could also add color through a variety of accessories–jewelry, shoes, or boleros and wraps. If you are searching for something entirely out of the box, consider wearing a gown that is a completely unique and unexpected color. According to nymag.com,”the colors that are the most popular right now are those that are, well, close to white: blush pink, platinum, champagne, apricot. Yet Tiffany blue is gaining traction, and David’s Bridal boasts of stellar sales of gowns made with its printed fabric, resembling a whisper of watercolor paint dabbed onto white cloth.” I have to admit, I’m in love with blush pink colored dresses right now, but the use of soft beautiful grays, greens (the color of green tea) and even black bridal gowns are on the rise as well.
Here are some links to articles where you can see the beautiful array of gowns in inspiring colors:
Vera Wang Spring 2012 Collection
Julie’s Bridal Gown Pinterest Board
In the end, selecting the perfect wedding dress is about choosing something that you absolutely love! It should be a dress that embodies and highlights your personality and best features and remember, no matter the color. You can be a dreamy, unforgettable bride in any color!
I almost forgot to tell you–make you sure you come back because in the next column we’ll be talking about something every bride MUST know–the one element of bridal gowns that can affect your wedding photography in ways that you never even imagined. Yes, we will go there and you will never think of bridal gowns the same again.
by julie
no comments
You a fan?
You Tweet?
You burn?
by Damion
no comments