Laura Laing Photography

Alaskan Cruise: Ketchikan

2012-02-02T11:30:00.000-08:00

I was so excited for our day in Ketchikan! We had decided before going on our trip that the one big excursion we wanted to do was zip-lining. I LOVE zip-lining. My husband and I actually met while working at a camp. We had a zip-line at this camp and I fell in love with it! I'm scared of falling from heights, but something about knowing just how strong those ropes are keeps the fear away! Of course, taking a whole ropes course class in college helps too... When we arrived in Ketchikan it was barely sprinkling. Ketchikan is known for it's rain (they even have a liquid sunshine gauge!) so I wasn't surprised. We hopped on our bus that was taking us to the zip-line course and started driving. Then the rain hit! I've never seen rain like that! Buckets and buckets of rain were pouring down! We got off the bus at our destination and ran for cover. We all climbed into the All-Terrain that was taking us to the top of the course. It was a really bumpy ride! (I'll have to upload the video later!) We ran into the lodge at the top of the course and got our instructions and equipment. Lucky for those of us without rain jackets, they provided the nice red ones you'll see in the pictures. They didn't allow us to take our big fancy cameras on the course (and really, who would want to anyways?), so all the pictures you see of us on the zip line and rope bridges were taken with my little trusty point and shoot! The rain had stopped and the sun came out by the time we got back into town. It was so nice to be able to experience both types of weather in the rainiest city in Alaska! Ketchikan is such a cute town, we almost didn't want to leave! The people in this town call this statue the "Mooning Eagle". Any guesses why? ;)

Up next: We head home and stop by Victoria, BC!

Alaskan Cruise: Glacier Bay

2012-01-30T11:36:00.000-08:00

We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day. The sun was shining, there was barely a cloud in the sky, and by Alaskan terms, it was warm! It was the perfect day to cruise Glacier Bay.

We started our morning walking into the buffet, forgetting how packed it would be because the Park Rangers, who had boarded our boat first thing in the morning, were giving a commentary that was being broadcast only to that room. As soon as we stepped in the Ranger went over the microphone and said, "Orca! Starboard! Killer Whale!". Almost everyone in the room ran to the windows on right side of the boat to try and see these whales. That's when we decided it was such a beautiful day, why eat inside?

Glacier Bay was nothing like I had pictured. I thought the whole thing would be covered in snow and ice, with giant icebergs floating around. Needless to say, I was totally wrong! It was beautiful and green!

We finally arrived at the Margerie Glacier right before lunchtime. The Margerie Glacier is the one you see in all the advertisements for Alaskan Cruises. Our boat pulled up (what felt like) right next to the Glacier. We thought the boat was going to be spinning so we hung out on the far side of the boat so we would have a good view when the boat turned. Unfortunately, we missed the 2nd largest calving our boat had ever seen! The whole boat rocked back and forth and the water in the pool sloshed around. We ended up moving after that so we wouldn't miss another one. There were a few smaller ones that happened while we were there, but none as big as that first one! After spending about an hour at the Margerie Glacier we headed back towards the park entrance, passing by many other glaciers on our way out.

On our way out of the park, we heard that there could be some good whale watching. We never saw one close up, but we did get a few tales and fins!

Up Next: Ketchikan & our zip-lining adventure!

Alaskan Cruise: Skagway

2012-01-27T11:37:00.000-08:00

Our second stop on our cruise was Skagway. It's an old gold mining town with lots of history! We had the whole day in port so we spent the morning wandering around the town and the afternoon on the White Pass Train. When we first planned our trip we didn't plan any excursions for our day in Skagway, but after some thought we decided to book one after all. I'm very glad we did! Skagway is a very small town with the main street being about 2 blocks long. If we had stayed in town all day we would have quickly run out of things to do. I highly recommend, if you're ever in Skagway, take a trip on the White Pass Train! You won't regret it!

The great part about booking our trip on the train from our cruise, was that the train pulled up right to our boat! It was a little bit of a walk from town but it was nice to know where we were suppose to be. If we had known ahead of time that the train pulled onto the dock, we would have booked the train in the morning so we would not have had to make the walk. Also, I highly recommend sitting on the left side of the train as the view on the way up is much better!
The White Pass Train takes you on a 3 hour trip through the hills behind Skagway, pass the routes the old miners used to take, and into Yukon Territory (aka Canada!). The views were stunning. It was also really cool to be able to see the actual paths that the miners heading into the Yukon took.

Two workers who worked on the railroad were killed by the rock below. Their bodies were never rescued, and when you see the size of the rock you understand why! (It pretty much took up the whole frame of the picture!)

Up next: The highlight of the trip... Glacier Bay!

Alaskan Cruise: Juno

2012-01-26T01:00:00.000-08:00

We spent the next two days at sea. It was nice and relaxing, but we were all itching to see land. As soon as there was the tiniest bit of land in site, half the boat was outside taking pictures. It was amazing to see the untouched natural beauty of Alaska, as well as the little houses dotting the coast line.

We finally docked in Juno a few hours later then expected. Our boat was the farthest from town, and we knew we just had to catch a bus to see the biggest attraction in town, the Mendenhall Glacier!
We had a great bus driver. Typically they just drive you straight to the glacier and let you off, but once ours found out that this was our first stop in Alaska he stopped by a stream to let us view the salmon running! I am so grateful that he did that for us because those ended up being the only salmon that were running on our entire trip!

As soon as we got off the bus at the Mendenhall Glacier, we heard a rumor that a bear had been sighted on one of the pathways near the river. We walked down to check it out but didn't see anything. On our way back to the visitor center one of the Rangers pointed out the bear sleeping in the tree! It was so adorable, and I'm glad it was asleep!

And yes, they really are that blue in person. If I understood it correctly, the ice is blue because it's never come into contact with the air. As soon as it gets air bubbles in it, they turn white, like we're used to!

Up next: Skagway and the White Pass Train!

Alaskan Cruise: San Francisco

2012-01-25T12:41:00.000-08:00

This past August we took a cruise to Alaska. I've been meaning to post pictures since then, but hadn't had a chance! It was an amazing trip, and one I'd take again in a heartbeat. We started in San Francisco, stopped in Juno, Skagway, Glacier Bay, Ketchikan, and Victoria (BC).
We flew up to San Francisco super early on a Monday morning. My amazing friend Emma ( I miss you!!!) picked us up at the airport and took us around the Fisherman's Wharf area until we had to board our boat. Most of the shops were closed since it was Monday, but it was still fun to walk around and eat the yummies at the Boudin Bakery.

Our boat held a party on the top deck to celebrate the beginning of our cruise. It seemed like almost everyone on board (all 2,000 of us) was on one of the top decks. We all were waiting for the moment we got to pass under the Golden Gate Bridge! It was such an amazing experience to get to see a part of the bridge that not everyone gets to enjoy! As a funny side note, my sisters friend happened to be in San Francisco on the same day as us. She was on the bridge when we passed under, saw our boat, but didn't know we were on it until she checked her Facebook later! Such a small world...

Next: Our short stop in Juno!

Wedding: Matt & Sarah

2012-01-11T01:00:00.000-08:00

They had me at "dinosaur themed wedding".
Of course, sitting around talking for hours on end about Harry Potter and other random things sealed the deal as well. Matt and Sarah are such a fun and unique couple. Their wedding was every bit as fun and unique as they are. It just wouldn't have been their wedding if it wasn't!

They had the most amazing vows. They recited "A Lovely Love Story" to each other.
"The fierce Dinosaur was trapped inside his cage of ice. Although it was cold he was happy in there. It was, after all, his cage. Then along came the Lovely Other Dinosaur. The Lovely Other Dinosaur melted the Dinosaur's cage with kind words and Loving thoughts. I like this Dinosaur, thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur. Although he is fierce he is also tender and he is funny. He is also quite clever though I will not tel him this for now. I like this Lovely Other Dinosaur, thought the Dinosaur. She is beautiful and she is different and she smells so nice. She is also a free spirit which is a quality I much admire in a dinosaur. But he can be so distant and so peculiar at times, thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur. He is also overly fond of things. Are all Dinosaurs so overly fond of things? But her mind skips from here to there so quickly, thought the Dinosaur. She is also uncommonly keen on shopping. Are all Lovely Other Dinosaurs so uncommonly keen on shopping? I will forgive his peculiarity and his concern for things, thought the Lovely Other Dinosaur. For they are part of what makes him a richly charactered individual. I will forgive her skipping mind and her fondness for shopping, thought the Dinosaur. For she fills our life with beautiful thoughts and wonderful surprises. Besides, I am not unkeen on shopping either.
Now the Dinosaur and the Lovely Other Dinosaur are Old. Look at them. Together they stand on the hill telling each other stories and feeling the warmth of the sun on their backs. And that, my friends, is how it is with Love. Let us all be Dinosaurs and Lovely Other Dinosaurs together. For the Sun is warm. And the World is a BEAUTIFUL place." - By Edward Monkton

Matt & Sarah, thank you so much for letting me be part of your day! I wish you all the best!

2011 in Review

2011-12-31T12:39:00.000-08:00

Wow! I can't believe how fast 2011 has gone by! It's been a great year for Laura Laing Photography! I've gotten to meet some amazing people and shoot some awesome events this year. Thank you to everyone one who has made this such an amazing year!

(If you don't recognize this last one, it's because it's coming to the blog next week! It's the last wedding of 2011!)

Golden Goggle Awards 2011

2011-12-01T01:00:00.000-08:00

My mom always said I was born to swim. I'd sit in my stroller and kick my legs as fast as they would go. Once I got in a pool I was like a fish to water. Swimming has now been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Until about a year ago, I could still be found at swim meets almost every weekend running the timing system or running the computer system.

So, you can imagine my delight when an email came in from the USA Swimming Foundation asking me to photograph their biggest (non-swimming) event of the year, the Golden Goggle Awards! It was such an honor to meet some of my favorite Olympians and photograph such a large event! Thank you USA Swimming Foundation for trusting me this honor!

I got to play on the red carpet before the event!

Kaitlin Sandeno, 2000 & 2004 Olympian (and my idol when I was a swimmer!), & Mel Stewart, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and our guide for the evening!

Kaitlin Sandeno & Jason Lezak (fellow Rose Bowl Aquatics swimmer!)

Ryan Lochte, you'll get to know him really well during the next Olympics!

Shooting on the red carpet!

Our Host for the evening Kevin Nealon.

Female Race of the Year:Presenters - Chris Bauer (True Blood) & Dave BerkoffWinner - Missy Franklin

Male Race of the Year:Presenters - John Slattery (Mad Men) & Amy Van DykenWinner - Ryan Lochte

"The Return"

Bill Maxon & Rowdy Gaines

Impact Award:Presenters - Ryan LochteWinner - Carolyn Dirks

Breakout Performer of the Year:Presenters - Kevin Farley & Debbie MeyerWinner - Alex Meyer

Perseverance Award:Presenters - John Naber & Louie Zamperini (The book Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption was written about him)Winner - Peter Vanderkay

Coach of the Year:Presenters - Dave Wharton & Summer SandersWinner - Greg Troy

Relay Performance of the Year:Presenters - Tyler & Cameron Winklevoss (aka the guys that helped create Facebook!) Winner - 4x100 Relay Natalie Coughlin, Melissa Franlkin, Dana Vollmer, Rebecca Soni

Female Athlete of the Year:Presenters - Michael Lewis (author of Moneyball & The Blind Side) and Janet Evans
Winner - Missy Franklin

Male Athlete of the Year:Presenters - Brian Clay & Matt Biondi
Winner - Ryan Lochte

And to end the evening, a picture with my new friend, Kaitlin Sandeno!
Were you a guest at the Golden Goggles? Check out the rest here!

Wedding: David & Nicole

2011-11-09T01:00:00.000-08:00

Untraditional.That describes David & Nicole perfectly.It descibes their wedding perfectly too.But not their love, their love is an old fashioned love. The kind you usually find in fairy tales.
David & Nicole, I am so happy for guys! I am so glad we met, because now I consider you both friends! And plus, I think after 2 family weddings I'm part of the family now ;)

You know how I said this wedding was untradtional? Well, instead of clinging their glasses to get the bride & groom to kiss, tables had to sing songs with the word "Love" in them! It made for some good laughs!

Also, before the first dance David & Nicole had to play the Newlywed Game! I think they did a pretty good job!

My brides!

Engagement: Omar & Mia

2011-11-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

It sounded like a plot of a romantic comedy. He's a southern gentleman, she's a California girl. They met at the airport. They fell in love. He moved from his home in Texas to California just to be with her. And now they are getting married.

Omar and Mia, thank you for letting me be a witness of your love for each other. It's not often that I come across a love like yours. I'm so happy for both of you, you both have found a real winner :) I wish you guys all the best!

Wedding: Mitch & Jennifer

2011-10-27T22:59:00.000-07:00

I was sitting on my couch at home watching the rain pour down. I kept watching the weather report knowing that I had to leave for Mitch and Jennifer's wedding soon. 10 minutes before I left the sky cleared and left us with the most beautiful sunset imaginable. It was as if it knew that it had to be perfect for Mitch and Jennifer.

Mitch and Jennifer, thank you for letting me share in your special day! I'm so glad I got to meet you and experience your love for each other! I wish you all the best!

Newborn: Dahrius

2011-10-11T01:00:00.000-07:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Something I really love about my job is getting to watch my clients go through the most important moments in their lives. I felt extremely lucky to be a part of Edie & Arash's wedding day last year and I felt even more lucky to capture Edie when she was pregnant with her little bundle of joy. Needless to say I was ridiculously excited to capture tiny little Dahrius just a week after he was born.

Edie and Arash, thank you for inviting me into your lives and letting me capture these special moments. He is an absolute doll and I can't wait to see how hansom he will be when he grows up!

Welcome to the neighborhood Dahrius!!

Remember, 20+ comments gets them a free 8x10 print of their choice!

Wedding: Adrian & Kelly

2011-10-05T01:00:00.000-07:00

It's feels like a lifetime ago when I met with Kelly and Adrian to talk about their wedding for the first time. September 4th seemed so far away at the time. And then suddenly it was here! And it was an amazing day.

Kelly had everything organized perfectly. Not one detail was out of place. The weather even seemed to know it's job in the day with a slight sprinkle before the ceremony, a rainbow, and the most beautiful sunset I've ever seen. And what made it completely perfect? She had the perfect man for her waiting at the end of the aisle for her.

Adrian and Kelly, thank you for letting me be part of your perfect special day! I had a blast being your "fifth bridesmaid"! I wish you guys all the best!

Remember 20+ comments gets them a free 8x10 print!

Wedding: David & Cristina

2011-09-20T01:00:00.000-07:00

Sometimes after shooting a wedding I feel ridiculously lucky to have a job where I get to witness true love. That was how I felt after David & Cristina's wedding. You can just tell that they are crazy about each other. They were basically inseparable from the moment they said I do, until the very end of the night. You could see in in David's eyes as Cristina walked down the aisle, and you could see it in the joy Cristina showed as they made their way back down the aisle as husband and wife.

David & Cristina, thank you so much for letting me be a part of your wedding! I wish you all the best!

Remember, 20+ comments gets them a free 8x10 print of their choice!

Maternity: Edie

2011-09-12T01:00:00.000-07:00

Arash & Edie's wedding still ranks in my top 5 all time favorite weddings. So when Edie emailed me asking about a maternity shoot a few months ago I'm pretty sure I started jumping up and down! (And I'm sure my response was riddled with exclamation points and happy faces!)

Edie is one of the most gorgeous pregnant ladies I've ever met (seriously, can I look like her one day when I'm pregnant??). You can just tell she's excited to welcome her little boy into the world next month!

Edie and Arash, thank you so much for letting me document this important step in your life! You don't know how much it means to me. Thank you for being so trusting, willing to get up at the crack of dawn, and being willing to climb all over massive hills just to get the perfect picture! I can't wait to meet your little bundle of joy!

Remember, 20+ comments gets them a free 8x10 print!

Remembering 9/11

2011-09-11T01:00:00.000-07:00

We will never forget....

Wedding: Eddie & Alicia

2011-09-08T01:00:00.000-07:00

Eddie and Alicia are a couple made in couple heaven. You just feel it when you're around them. But it was cemented by the tears that made their way down Eddie's cheeks as Alicia walked down the aisle towards him. You could just feel the love. I don't think I'll ever forget when Alicia turned around during a lull in the ceremony and gave me the biggest smile I had seen on her face all day. This truly was the happiest day of her life.

Eddie & Alicia had a beautiful black & white themed wedding (after Eddie's favorite pair of classic Vans!) at the San Fernando Mission and the 94th Aero Squadron. I decided to do something a little different for this post and go with their theme... black & white!

Eddie and Alicia, thank you so much for letting me shoot your wedding! I feel like you are more then just clients, but friends instead.

Remember 20+ comments gets them a free 8x10 print!

Having trouble commenting? Email me your comment: lauralaingphotography@gmail.com

Bridal: Nicolette

2011-08-29T02:55:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I got together with Nicolette to take her bridal portraits. I didn't have the opportunity to shoot her wedding, but I felt extremely lucky to shoot her after! She is absolutely gorgeous, funny, and totally sweet. We headed down to Palos Verdes Estates for her pictures, and can I just say, she picked some amazing locations!

Nicolette, I had such a great time shooting you! It was great having someone who understood photography in front of the lens! I hope I get to shoot you again in the future!

Remember, 20+ comments gets Nicolette a free 8x10 print!
(Just click _ Comments, and then scroll to the bottom!)

Family: The Mejia's

2011-08-25T14:21:00.000-07:00

I'm back! Alaska was amazing and I could have stayed on that cruise ship forever! It was so relaxing and exactly what we needed. I'm still sorting through what pictures I want to show you guys so you'll have to wait a little bit longer!

Before I left on vacation I had the honor of shooting the Mejia family! I love this family! I've shot this family a few times already and I always love the opportunity to shoot them again! We headed back down to Strands Beach for some fun in the sun!

Remember 20+ comments gets them a free 8x10 print!

Out of Town!

2011-08-08T04:08:00.000-07:00

Hi Everybody! Just a quick note to let you know that I will be out of town for the next 2 weeks. I'll be checking my email when I can so please forgive me for any late replies!

See you in 2 weeks with some amazing photos from a our trip, a family shoot, a bridal shoot, and 2 weddings!

Here's a little sneak peak of where I'll be!

Wedding: David & Alynne

2011-08-04T01:50:00.000-07:00

I love David & Alynne. I really wish I would have met them years ago so we could be best friends. They are positive, sweet, loving... in a word? Amazing. And their wedding? A complete reflection of them. They got married at her parents house, with David's sister doing Alynne's makeup upstairs, and David getting ready downstairs. Their friends were the officiant, DJ,musicians, and florist. Alynne made all the bouquets, boutonnieres, favors (the best jam you've ever tasted! Alynne, you're going to have to either send me a bunch or send me the recipe!), cake topper, and place settings. Their personality was in every last bit of their wedding. And it was an honor to shoot it.

David & Alynne, I wish you all the best with your move to Chicago! You will be missed in California! Move back soon so we can be best friends ;) You two have an amazing love that most would kill for, don't let it ever change!

(The Harry Potter geek in me would like to point out that her dress looks like a white version of Hermione's dress at the Yule Ball. If you could care less about Harry Potter... ignore what I just said...)

All of the jewelery is from ETSY. Stunning!

Each girl had a different color bouquet. The color for her bouquet was the opposite color of her dress on the color wheel!

Want to hear something else amazing about this wedding? The area for the ceremony was just a hillside not to long ago. Once they decided to get married at home, they carved out a flat spot on the hillside, made a retaining wall, and planted grass.

I loved the house. It was an old Spanish style with a beautiful pool, and lots of hidden gems all around.

Alynne's sister made her 1,000 cranes. They decided that instead of just keeping them in a bag, that they would attach them to a canvas instead. It made for an amazing piece of artwork!

Each place setting was unique. It was fun looking around at all the different napkins! Mine had a camping trailer on it :)

See some familiar faces??? I think David (of David & Nicole) is nervous about his upcoming wedding!

Congrats again David & Alynne!

Remember, 20+ comments gets them a free 8x10 print!

Baby: Kelsey

2011-07-20T02:11:00.000-07:00

I still remember the day Dawn told us she was pregnant with little Kelsey. All of us LA Knotties started screaming and hugging her and I'm pretty sure we scared the rest of the restaurant with the noise we made! I felt extremely honored when a few months later Dawn asked me to take photos of her new baby!

Dawn and Kelvin, congrats on your second little one! She is absolutely adorable! I can't wait to keep photographing her as she gets older!

Remember, 20+ comments gets the Parker family a free 8x10 print! Comment away!

Sneak Peek! Baby Kelsey

2011-07-18T13:49:00.000-07:00

Come back later this week to check out this adorable baby!

Engagement: Eddie & Alicia

2011-07-13T03:47:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday I had the opportunity to hang out in a place I haven't been in years, the LA Arboretum! And I got to hang out with a really cool couple! I love my job :)

Eddie and Alicia have a special kind of love. It's quiet, it's caring, and you can see it in their eyes. They would do anything for each other. It's refreshing. I feel special that I got to witness it for myself (and again next month!).

Eddie and Alicia, I had so much fun and you guys were such troopers! I can't wait for your wedding next month!

Remember, 20+ comments gets them a free 8x10 print!

Sneak Peek! Eddie & Alicia

2011-07-12T14:53:00.001-07:00

Come back tomorrow to check out this adorable engagement session!

Engagement: David & Nicole

2011-06-29T20:13:00.000-07:00

I don't think I'll ever forget the day I met David and Nicole. I had just shot Nicole's brother's engagement session that morning (check it out here!) and I just knew I had fallen in love with this family! It was cemented when I accidentally sent David & Nicole to the wrong Starbucks, forgotten to give them my phone number, and only had 5 minutes to meet with them (it was one of those days!) and they still wanted to book me! I love them!

Shooting them this past weekend was like hanging out with old friends. We had so much fun breaking the rules and giving the camera the "sexy" face! David & Nicole... I can not wait for your wedding!!

Remember 20+ comments on the blog gets them a free 8x10 print!

Sneak Peek! David & Nicole

2011-06-27T17:54:00.000-07:00

Come back later this week to check out this fun engagement session!

Wedding: Kevin & Danielle

2011-06-14T01:52:00.000-07:00

Kevin & Danielle's wedding was one of those weddings that I could shoot every weekend and be perfectly happy for the rest of my life. The location was gorgeous, the bride and groom were so in love, and every detail was perfect.

Kevin and Danielle got married at Walnut Grove in Moorpark this past weekend. I was lucky enough to second shoot this wedding with Andy Kitchen. Thank you, Kevin and Danielle, for making me feel so included in your wedding day. I wish you all the best!

This little girl stole my heart! She was so silly and such a camera ham!

Sneak Peek! Kevin & Danielle

2011-06-13T01:54:00.000-07:00

I am bursting at the seams to show you this AMAZING wedding I was lucky enough to second shoot this past weekend! Come back later this week to check out the rest!

My 25th Birthday: Catalina

2011-06-07T06:41:00.000-07:00

My husband's goal in life is to surprise me. When it comes to birthday's, holidays, or anniversaries, he's always got some secret plan up his sleeve. And the funny part? I usually figure out what we're doing before we get there. I don't sneak around or hack his email... I just know. It's totally weird.
My last birthday was no different. When we were getting ready to leave my husband told me to have a light jacket and a heavy jacket, and I automatically knew where we were going. Of course all the commercials on TV for it didn't help his cause either. Where were we going on our little day trip you ask?

Catalina Island!

If you haven't heard about the Birthday Deal that the Catalina Island Express is offering this year, check it out! If you sign up ahead of time online you get free round trip transportation to and from the island! Neither of us had ever been to Avalon so it was a great opportunity to go!

This funny looking bird walked right up to us. It didn't mind me getting within a foot of it. And don't judge it's size by the picture, it's a BIG bird!

Thank you baby for the best 25th birthday I could have asked for!

Wedding: Chris & Brooklin

2011-06-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

I'd been looking forward to Chris & Brooklin's wedding for over a year now. It's crazy to think how long ago it was that we met up at Sportsman's Lodge in Studio City to check out their venue and chat about their wedding. It was so exciting to see all those ideas and all those plans come together so perfectly this past weekend.

Brooklin's Grandmother gave her a necklace that had belonged to her grandmother.

Brooklin, you looked so beautiful!

The little boys in the wedding cracked me up! The one on the left stopped to have his picture taken by me while walking down the aisle, and the other one never stopped smiling!

They had a "Wish Tree" where people could leave little wishes for them as a couple. I love the one from one of the smaller guests!

Congrats Chris & Brooklin!
I wish you guys all the best! And just like your dad said...
Live life like every day is your anniversary!

Remember, 20 comments get's them a free 8x10 print! Comment away!

Sneak Peek: Chris & Brooklin's Wedding

2011-05-30T16:20:00.000-07:00

Come back later this week to see Chris & Brooklin's wedding!

Sample Album

2011-05-25T01:03:00.000-07:00

The UPS man dropped off an exciting package yesterday!

My sample album showed up!

I'm so excited to show you guys just how awesome it is!

It was wrapped in the cutest little bow!

The cameo on the front is printed on metal... yes, metal. It's so pretty!

It's shimmery and has so much more dimension then a normal print.

The side is printed in silver.

The pages are really thick and printed on photo paper.

The pages lay completely flat. No gutter between the pages!

I had fun playing with different options for layouts.

Here's some close ups of the pages.
(I don't know why the crease keeps coming out looking blue! I swear it's the camera and not the book!)

Have a question about albums? Ask it in the comments!

Amazing Find: Pinterest

2011-05-23T01:39:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I find something that is so amazing that I just want to tell everyone about it! I've been obsessed with the website Pinterest for a few months now, and every time I log in I think to myself, I have got to talk about this on my blog!

So what is Pinterest you ask?

"Think of Pinterest as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can create collections of things you love and "follow" collections created by people with great taste. People use Pinterest to collect and share all sorts of things -- wedding inspiration, favorite T-shirts, DJ equipment. You name it, people are pinning it. We know you have great taste in something. Our mission is to make Pinterest the best place for you to share your taste with the world."

And it is a complete obsession of mine. Pinterest is so full of inspiration. Looking for wedding inspiration? How about home decor? Are you a DIYer? You can find something for everyone.

I keep pin boards of poses I'd like to try with clients, quotes I really like, and projects I'd like to try. You can check out my boards here: http://pinterest.com/lauralaing/ It's a great way to keep ideas organized without keeping tons of files on your desktop! I wish it had been around when I was planning my wedding! I would have spent endless hours staring at all the amazing pictures!

Right now Pinterest is invite only, but they usually get back to you pretty quick if you don't have an invite. Want an invite so you can try this amazing site for yourself? Shoot me an email and I'll send one your way!

FAQ: What time to schedule a shoot

2011-05-19T03:43:00.000-07:00

So you've decided to schedule a shoot, you've picked your location, and you've decided what to wear... the only thing left to do?

Decide on a time for the shoot!

When couples ask me what time we should meet for a shoot I usually have two suggestions, either early morning (like really early) or right before sunset. Why these times? The light is SO MUCH BETTER. It's soft and light, just beautiful. In fact, the hour before sunset is called "the golden hour" to photographers. Why you ask? Just look at the photo below. This was taken right before the sun set and basically came out of the camera looking exactly like you see it.

If you do a shoot closer to noon, you will end up with really bright direct light that will cause unflattering shadows on your face and an overall unflattering look. Usually if this happens we spend the whole shoot searching for shade, which can be done but it's just not the same.

If you plan on having your shoot during one of these times, please, please, please be on time! There is such a small window in which the light is perfect that if you are late it just won't be the same!

Have a question you would like me to answer? Ask it in the comments!

New York Part 4: The End of an Amazing trip

2011-05-10T13:26:00.000-07:00

We went down to Chelsea on Friday morning. I was looking forward to checking out the Chelsea Market after seeing it mentioned so many times on Food Network. When we got off the bus my mom spotted an Apple Store. My sister had just told us a few days before about how she graduated from Caltech with the guy who designs and builds the staircases for the Apple Stores all over the country. In Los Angeles we don't have many multi-story Apple Stores so seeing one with a swirly glass staircase was a treat.

Then we walked down the street to Chelsea Market. I loved walking through the kitchen supply stores that had every kitchen gadget you could ever think of buying.

And then there were the cupcakes.... we didn't try one since it was still way before lunch, but they looked and smelled amazing!

Right down the street from there is High Line Park. I had seen it on an episode of Project Runway and just had to see it for myself! The park is made up of an old converted train track that ran above the city. I loved how they took the look of the old track and modernized it into a beautiful park.

They even have an area for sunbathing! These seats can be moved around on the old track!

The next place we checked out was the flatiron building. You almost wouldn't notice it if you weren't paying attention, but it's quite a sight to see!

We were heading towards Grand Central Station (or terminal as it's known locally!) so we decided to check out the lobby of the Empire State Building! Definitely take a look in if you're nearby! Not only was the lobby beautiful, but they also had a replica of the top of the building lit up in the colors that it would be that night! The day we were there it was going to be Orange and White for Michael J. Fox's Parkinson's Foundation.

The next stop was the Library. We didn't go inside, but the outside was impressive!

After grabbing my sister at Grand Central, we checked out Bryant Park (where all the fashion shows are!). They were doing construction to most of it, but they had a cute carousel on the side.

We ate dinner at Ellen's Stardust Diner. If you're looking for a fun place to eat where your waiter's are actual Broadway singers that serenade you between bites... this is the place to go! It was so much fun singing along with the staff as they sang our favorite popular songs and Broadway show tunes (even a few Disney ones thrown in for good measure!)

And yes, that would be our waiter up on the booth singing!

Sisters!

The next morning we got bunch at a little place in Greenwich Village called Elephant and Castle. Very cute place and the food was good!

Across the street was a parking lot surrounded by a fence covered in tiles. Upon closer inspection we realized that these were "Tiles for America" which were all commemorating the September 11th attacks. We were able to take a few seconds to reflect on what that day meant for New Yorkers as we looked at the tiles.

We walked around Greenwich Village and checked out the cute architecture.

And we suddenly found ourselves in from of the Flat Iron building again! My sister's reaction was priceless when she turned around and saw an angle that looked like half the building had disappeared!

Thanks Mom for taking me on such a fun trip! I will never forget the fun time we had wandering around the city!

New York Part 3: Running Around Town!

2011-05-04T10:33:00.000-07:00

Tuesday started off as a rainy windy day. What's a girl to do? Head to Macy's of course! To our surprise we came during their annual Flower Show! What's the Flower Show you ask? Imagine that the Rose Parade barfed on Macy's. They have flowers everywhere! On top of display cases and coming down the aisles. I definitely recommend seeing it if you're in the area during spring!

After our day of shopping we headed to the Jimmy Fallon show! Sorry no pictures :(

We checked out Rockefeller Center on our way out.

We headed up the street to have dinner at a place we had heard about. It's called "The Joint" and it's located in the Le Parker Meridian Hotel. Behind a curtain. Hidden in a corner. And the only sign it's there? The smell of yummy burgers and a tiny neon sign.

As it's name implies, it really is a joint. It's cash only, there are only a few tables, and there are signatures covering the walls. If you're looking for somewhere that's very "New York", definitely check this place out.

The next morning we got up bright and early and headed back to Rockefeller Center, but this time to check out the "Top of the Rock"!

If you're going to pick a buliding to go to the top of in New York, this is the one to do! You have perfect views of the Empire State Building and Central Park. We got so lucky with such a beautiful morning!

My mom asked this random Irish guy to take our picture. He made us pose like this!

I'm slightly obsessed with these.... they were just so vintage looking!

We headed back to Central Park to check out parts that we didn't check out the last time. We walked through Strawberry Fields, walked by the boat house, and stopped by the (empty) fountain.

The next morning we took a ride on the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty. When I was in 7th grade we actually went up to the crown of the Statue of Liberty, so viewing it from a distance was fine with me (and it was free!).

We walked down to Wall Street and checked out the Bull. The kids were having a little to much fun with his backside....

We made our way towards Ground Zero and stopped by St. Paul's Chapel of Trinity Church. Outside is The Trinity Root which is from an old tree that got blown down on 9/11. The amazing part of the story is that the tree shielded the building from being damaged and when it fell, it fell in such a way that it didn't damage anything.

They have a old cemetery on the side of the church. Don't be fooled by the pictures... it was packed with people!

Next we headed to the Brooklyn Bridge. My mom was such a good sport. We hadn't planned on going there until we were right next to it and I begged her to go with me! I couldn't pass up a photo opportunity like this!

Next we headed to Washington Square Park.

This might be the coolest view of the Empire State Building.

We finished that day by walking through the Washington Mews, a little alleyway that's a complete throwback to how the city once was.

Up next.... Chelsea Market, Highline Park, and the Flatiron Building!

New York Part 2: From Alice in Wonderland to Harry Potter!

2011-05-02T11:39:00.000-07:00

We arrived in New York City on Monday afternoon. After dropping off our rental car (that was an adventure in itself!) we headed to our hotel. When we got to our floor I was surprised to see that it only had 6 rooms! The entire hotel only had 6 rooms on each floor. And our room? It was tiny! Barely enough space to walk, but I must say it was very well done for the size (Hampton Inn Times Square if you are interested!)!

After we put our stuff down we headed out to see the sights! First up, Times Square! I was so turned around the whole time. I thought when we entered that the ball was in front of me, but instead it was behind me. So if you're wondering where the ball is in the picture... it's not there!

If you know anything about me, you would know that I'm a HUGE Harry Potter nerd. Like, seriously. I own a wand and a time turner....
But moving on... after we planned our trip it was announced that Harry Potter: The Exhibition was going to be making it's final North America stop in New York City and it was opening the week I was going to be there! But it didn't end there. The week before our trip they announced that there would be a red carpet event for the DVD launch and opening of the Exhibition with some of the stars, and it was going to be the day we came into New York! How random is that? The Exhibition was on one of the side streets off of the main Times Square. We went over to check it out before the mayhem of the red carpet later in the day. I couldn't believe my eyes. Standing outside two feet away from me were the actors that play Dumbledore, Lupin, Mr. Weasley, and Hagird. The picture is totally blurry, but please understand my hands were shaking like crazy!

After the actors headed back inside and there was really nothing to see, we headed back to Times Square. We checked out the Visitor's Center which my mom had never been to! They have a wall covered in confetti from New Years that people have written wishes on and the old ball that was used in 2007! I was rather impressed with how nice the Visitor's Center is and highly recommend it if your looking for some cool history of Times Square and Broadway, or if you're just looking for a clean restroom!

After Times Square we headed towards Central Park. We checked out the LOVE statue and the Apple Store on our way over. (Why do I always pose like that? I swear it always looks better in my head...)

When we got to Central Park we took a quick break on one of the many benches lining the walkways. There are plaques all over the benches dedicated to various people. We were lucky enough to sit next to the plaques dedicated to those who were lost on September 11th.

I apparently have no concept of where things are in New York. I had seen the Conservatory Pond with the model sail boats on it many times, but never realized that right next to it was the Alice in Wonderland statue!

After taking the bus back towards Times Square we had dinner. We were only a block away from the Exhibition red carpet, and it was going to start in a little over an hour, so I begged my mom to let us go (my wonderful mother stood out there for 2 hours in the cold with me to see people she doesn't care about. Isn't she the best!) The setup was really strange. The red carpet was on the sidewalk on one side of the street, there was a walkway made in the street for people who were walking down that side of the street to walk down instead, then cars were still passing by, and then on the other sidewalk was a walkway, and then the fans were allowed to stand and watch.

I pretty much stood there the entire time with my camera above my head trying to snap pictures. Thank goodness for the live view feature on my camera or I wouldn't have a single good picture! After the first hour we decided to try walking the pathway next to the red carpet. I couldn't believe how close I got to some of my favorite stars like David Thewlis (Lupin), Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood), Helen McCrory (Narcissa Malfoy), and Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley)!

Next time... Macy's Flower Show, Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty, and Wall Street!

The Royal Wedding

2011-04-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

I really wish I could say I got up at 1am this morning to watch Prince William marry the love of his life Kate. But I didn't. I wanted to, but with a full work day ahead of me it just couldn't happen. Luckily we live in a world with DVR so I'll be able to watch the full event later tonight.

I did however jump out of bed this morning at 7am to watch the re-caps. There was the beautiful dress that fit her just perfectly. there were the trees that lined Westminster Abby, and there was the Prince waiting for her at the end of the aisle. But my favorite part? When Kate got to the end of the aisle and took his hand, William turned to Kate and told her...

"You look beautiful."

(source)

I was sitting there almost in tears. I couldn't hear him but I could read his lips. It was so sweet and so sincere. In the middle of their crazy day with millions of people watching, he took a second to tell her exactly how he felt about her at that moment. It wasn't meant for the world to hear, but it was heard loud and clear.

Have you watched the wedding yet? What was your favorite part? Share in the comments!

New York Part One: New Haven & Yale

2011-04-28T03:55:00.000-07:00

I'm finally ready to show you my photos from our trip! After sorting through all 800 them, I've finally narrowed them down enough to show you :)

We started our trip by heading to New Haven, Connecticut. Why would we do that? My brilliant sister is there studying at Yale! I haven't been back to see her yet, so since we were so close we made the 2 hour trip up from New York.

We were starving by the time we got there, so we headed straight out to dinner! And what better place then the place that created the hamburger! Louis Lunch is a TINY little joint in the middle of New Haven. And by tiny I mean TINY. There is only seating for 10 people at most.

They still use the original ovens (is that what they are? I have no clue what to call them!) that they have always used!

These burgers are a little different then most. The bun is just white toasted bread, and they only come with tomato and onion! No ketchup! In fact, they have a sign that tells you you can't put ketchup on it!

The next day my mom and I walked around Yale before we met up with my sister. Yale totally reminds me of Oxford. It's almost creepy how similar they are!

Apparently if you rub the foot of the statue of Theodore Woodlsey it's good luck. Couldn't hurt!

After we met up with my sister, we got to check out the lab that she works in! It was fun looking at all the test tubes and chemical formulas that I will never understand.

Then we headed to East Rock Park. From the park you can see all of New Haven.

The next day we headed into New York City.... which I'll have for you next time!

FAQ: What to Wear for an Engagement Shoot

2011-04-26T09:29:00.000-07:00

The second most asked question I get about engagement shoots is, what should we wear?
Here are a few tips:

-Bring 2 outfits
We have two hours to shoot, so bring a change of clothes. By changing your outfit, it gives the photos two totally different looks!

- Wear something on the "fancy" side
Wear and outfit that makes you feel pretty (or handsome!)! It can be super fancy, or just a little nicer then your "everyday" outfit.

-Dress comfortable
Wear an outfit that is your "everyday" you. Jeans and a t-shirt. Casual dress. Something you can move around in.

-Don't be afraid of prints!
I hear so often not to wear prints for a photo shoot. I say, if you love it , wear it! The right print can look amazing in a photo!

-Bold colors
Don't be afraid to wear a bold color! They help the photo pop!

-Wear Black
Black is universally flattering! In photos, black can hide just about anything!

-Wear fun accessories
The simplest way to make a basic outfit pop is to wear some fun accessories! These can range from a chunky necklace, to cowboy boots, to a fun colored belt.

-Compliment each other, but don't be matchy-matchy!
This is my biggest one! No one likes those family photos where everyone is wearing the exact same thing (I know you've all seen those family beach photos were everyone is wearing a white button up and jeans!), so don't do it for your engagement photos! You can both wear the same color, but make it two different shades.

-Girls, leave the purse behind!
Nothing is more annoying then constantly trying to find somewhere to set your purse during a shoot. It makes for less spontaneous photos and can slow down the shoot. So please, leave it in the car!

-Treat the shoot like a date
Have a good time! Pretend the shoot is just a date that happens to have a camera tagging along. Take me to one of your favorite places to go on a date and show me your everyday lives. Those pictures can be just as good as the super posed ones, but they will have more meaning.

Got a question you'd like me to answer in a future FAQ post? Ask me in the comments!

Wedding: Lucas & Deanna

2011-04-22T07:48:00.000-07:00

Saturday couldn't have been a more beautiful day. The sun was shining, it was warm, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky! It was a beautiful day to get married!

Lucas and Deanna chose to get married in a place very near and dear to their hearts. Downtown Los Angeles has been a huge part of their relationship, so what better place to get married! We spent a ton of time getting to run around the city, first with Lucas and the bridal party, and then with Deanna and the bridal party!
(You won't see any shots of Lucas & Deanna, they are doing those shots in a few weeks!)

Thank you again to Andy Kitchen for letting me second shoot!

The groomsmen cracked me up! I love this series of silly & serious shots!

FAQ: Where to do an Engagement Shoot

2011-04-19T01:02:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be starting a new feature on the blog today! I'll be answering some of the most frequently asked questions I get from clients. To start off this series....

"Where would you suggest we do our engagement shoot?"

This question comes up in almost every meeting I have have with my clients. Choosing a location for your engagement photos is a huge decision! No only do you want the background of the photos to be great but you also want the photos to be meaningful. Every time I get asked this question my answer is always the same.

Pick somewhere that is important to you as a couple.

When the location is important to you, the photos will have more meaning. Alynne and David love going to Little Tokyo. When we did their engagement session there it was so much fun! Not only could they show me little bits and pieces of their lives, but they also were very comfortable knowing their surroundings.

Now, what if you don't have that special place?

My next suggestion is to look around for engagement photos you like. Inspiration can be found anywhere. Use google, search my blog, and/or look at other photographers blogs. Find a look that you like. Is it a beach look? Is it a park/nature look? Is it a city look?

The Beach Look

If you decide on the beach look, I usually suggest two options. The first being El Matador State Beach in Malibu.

I love this beach! It's beautiful. It has sea caves, tide pools, old staircases that lead to nowhere, and a sunset that can't be beat. This beach would be for couples that want romantic beach photos.

Keep in mind, if you pick this location you will be doing a lot of posing with rocks. If you (or your fiance!) don't like posing for the camera, this location may not be the best for you!

My second beach suggestion is the Santa Monica Pier.

This location is perfect for couples who want a beach location, but with some pops of color! It's also great for the couples who I mentioned above that don't like posing with rocks for 2 hours :) There are a ton of different locations on and below the pier to give you a great mix of photos, and a lot of different things to interact with!

The Nature/Park Look

I think most people would be surprised by the beautiful pictures that can be taken at your local park. The one in the photo below is a park that's down the street from my house! (If you're near La Crescenta, try CV Park! I love it!) Is there a park near you that has some special features like a bridge or a stream? How about one with a rose garden or a pond? These can all be great options!

Don't think your park is good enough? Would you be surprised if I told you the photo below was taken at a park with only one tree in it? Don't rule out any location!

The City Look

Downtown LA has so many options for photo shoots. There's the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Library, the many statues that litter the streets of downtown, Angels Flight, Chinatown, and etc. All of these would be great photo locations!

I hope this helps with your search for a location!

Have another question for a FAQ post? Let me know in the comments!

New York: "Love Locks"

2011-04-13T16:26:00.000-07:00

I'm back!

New York was a blast and I can't wait to share photos with you! But since I took almost 1,500... you'll have to wait until next week to see them :)

In the mean time, I wanted to share one special photo with you.

When my mom an I were walking along the Brooklyn Bridge I noticed something a little out of the ordinary. Attached to the tower of the bridge were some locks. And not just one or two, but ten. Some were padlocks, some were combination locks, some were big, some were small, some were colorful, and others were gold. Upon further examination I noticed that each one had a couples name written or engraved on it. I showed my mom and she said that my dad had just read about a similar phenomenon in Russia.

They are called "Love Locks". According to Wikipedia, "Love padlocks are a custom by which sweethearts affix padlocks to a fence or similar public fixture to symbolize their love." By putting their love lock somewhere for everyone to see, and throwing the key in the river, it symbolizes how their love will last forever. I love the idea of attaching your love lock onto another couple's lock and another couple attaching their lock onto yours.

Some people complain about how they are littering the bridge, but from what I saw, unless you are very attentive you would never notice them. And as someone who's job it is to capture love, it's reassuring how many couples still believe in love that lasts forever! I hope one day I can take my husband to the Brooklyn Bridge to leave our own love lock :)

Out of Town!

2011-04-01T22:04:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!

I will be out of town until April 10th!

I'll be heading to New York with my mom for a girls only vacation!
If you'd like to follow our adventures I've set up a Tumblr (aka mini blog) for you!

Follow our adventures here!

I'm not sure how much internet access I will have over the next week, so if you email me please give me a few days to get back to you!

The Pioneer Woman

2011-03-30T10:45:00.000-07:00

If you're into reading blogs, I'm sure you've heard of The Pioneer Woman. And if you haven't, you must be living under a rock. Or photography, cooking, and romantic love stories about cowboys and city girls just arn't your thing. I'm huge fan personally, I own both her cookbook and Black Heels and Tractor Wheels, and my favorite part of her website is her photography section. Every few weeks she has a photo assignment and I almost always sift through my pictures on Flickr to find one that might be good enough to be featured on her website.

Earlier this week she posted a new assignment. Horses. At first I thought to myself, as much as I love horses and miss my younger days when I wasn't allergic to them and could ride them, I don't have any pictures of horses. Heck, I live in Los Angeles, why would I have a picture of a horse.

But then I remembered my trip to Mammoth this past summer. I remembered our little detour into Yosemite. I remembered our quest to find a restroom which led us to parking next to some horse stables. And then I remembered one of my favorite pictures of two horses pulling at each other. So I headed on over to Flickr, found the photo and submitted it. As usual I figured there was no way my photo would get picked with how many hundreds of people enter.

And then yesterday while sitting at a restaurant, I checked my Facebook on my phone and saw that Ree (aka The Pioneer Woman) had posted a link to the first group of her favorites. So I clicked on over, like I usually do, to see if my photo was good enough to get featured.

As I scrolled down, I saw something familiar. Wait a minute. That's my photo!

You can ask my sister in law. I literally froze and stopped listening to what she was trying to say to me. And then I had to attempt to explain that a blogger who I love who has millions of followers just put my picture, little old me, on her blog for the world to see.

Ya, I'm just a little excited!

Now go on over there and tell her how much you love the photo and maybe I could win something shiny and fun (her words not mine!)!

The Pioneer Woman Photo Assignment: Group 1

February Snow

2011-03-09T04:54:00.000-08:00

The weather has been really weird at our house lately. One day it's gorgeous and sunny, and then next it's pouring rain. Two weekends ago it even snowed.
Yes, you heard me right, SNOW.
At our house.
In Los Angeles.

So like every other person in our neighborhood we ran outside, took pictures, and played with our half an inch of snow like it was a snow day.

I now have a picture on this corner from the fires last year, the snow covered mountain later last year, and now covered in snow itself!

We headed up to the Deukmejian Wilderness Park where it had really snowed. There were snowball fights and snowmen!

Got any weird weather stories?

Engagement: Brian & Clare

2011-03-02T01:15:00.000-08:00

There are some couples I will never forget. Brian and Clare are one of those couples. They met in high school, she thought he was cute and he was to shy to get her number. A few years after they graduated they bumped into each other again, and the rest is history. Since then they've moved all over the country, from their home state of Texas, to Washington D.C., getting engaged at a Bed and Breakfast on the East Coast, to moving to California for Brian to go to Law School at USC.

Brian and Clare, I had so much fun at the beach with you two! It was fun for me to share some of my California knowledge with some new Californians! I hope your wedding in Texas is everything you dream of!

Is it just me or could Clare be Emily Henderson's twin? Clearly I watch to much HGTV...

Remember, 20 comments get Brian and Clare a free 8x10 print!

Valentine's Day 2011

2011-02-23T04:48:00.000-08:00

This year we had a relaxing Valentine's Day. We started on Sunday wandering around Long Beach, worked for a bit at the SCS Jr. Olympics, and then headed down to Disneyland for the rest of the holiday.

We walked around Shoreline Village. I don't remember the last time I walked around there, but it's so cute! I'd love to do a shoot down there sometime.... any takers?

Handmade churros. OMG so good!

The sunset was beautiful in Long Beach....

The next day we headed to Disneyland. I'm in love with the purple plant from Tomorrowland. Did you know all the plants in Tomorrowland are edible or have edible material on them? Cool Fact ;)

We had lunch at the Blue Bayou. We were so lucky and got to sit next to the water!
(This picture isn't from our seat unfortunately, but I like it!)

We stayed late and saw the World of Color. It's so amazing. Even though it was my 2nd time seeing it, it was still stunning. Definitely go see it if you can!

Oh, and Happy Birthday Dad!!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T01:38:00.000-08:00

Sports: 2011 SCS Junior Olympics

2011-02-06T20:00:00.000-08:00

Bat Mitzvah: Sophie & Mara

2011-02-01T20:55:00.000-08:00

The fun part of being a photographer is sharing in special moments in families lives. Like a daughter's Bat Mitzvah. But sometimes a special moment is made even more special, like when a daughter shares her special day with her mother who never got to have hers.

Sophie & Mara, thank you for letting me be a part of your special day. Sophie, I am so proud of you for taking this step later in life. I know I wouldn't have been able to. Mara, you are such a amazing, mature young lady. I wish you all the best in the years to come!

A special thanks to Dana Bresin from DB Creativity and the guys from Real Genius Entertainment! You guys are amazing and so much fun to work with!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE the theme! I'm a Broadway geek...

Mara's Aunt and Uncle did a special song for Mara. They are from Chicago so they sung a song from the musical Chicago, but changed the lyrics to be all about the Bat Mitzvah! So funny and cute!

The kids played a game where they had to run into the adults eating dinner and find whatever the DJ asked for and bring it back before everyone else got back to the seats! It was fun to watch!

The next game they had to get into groups with the amount of people the DJ asked for. Watching kids running to get into groups was hilarious!

Mara lit candles for her past, present, and future. It was very touching.

Conga line!

My fellow Gleeks...

Thriller!

Crazy kids....

Remember, 20+ comments gets them a free 8x10 print!

Engagement: David & Alynne

2011-01-19T03:12:00.000-08:00

David & Alynne are an amazing couple. David is smart, quiet, and romantic while Alynne is spunky, cute, and creative (Check out her Etsy Store! I want to buy the whole store!). They are crazy in love with each other. They are so comfortable with each other. In fact, he didn't propose to her... they proposed to each other! I am just in awe of their love :)

This was one of the most fun I have ever had on a shoot. We ran around Little Tokyo bothering business owners, sneaking into Buddhist Temples, and climbing into flower beds. They were up for anything which was so much fun! I can't wait for their wedding in July! Seriously, is it July yet???

View the rest:

Remember, 20+ comments gets them a free 8x10 print!

Sneak Peek: David & Alynne's Engagement

2011-01-17T10:27:00.000-08:00

Come back later this week for the rest of David & Alynne's engagement shoot!

Vacation: Mammoth 2011

2011-01-12T05:31:00.000-08:00

I couldn't have asked for a better way to start 2011. Got up early to go the the Rose Parade (my 25th straight year! Well, unless you count the year I was in my mom's tummy, then it's 26 straight years!) and then Mammoth! It's so nice to be able to visit my uncle and just relax in the snowy winter wonderland.

This one icicle on the back of my uncle's cabin was almost 2 stories tall!

For some reason I've always thought the outlet stores parking lot is so pretty in the winter....

Mammoth had a record snowfall the week before we showed up! They set the record for the most snow in the world!

This picture isn't so great, mainly because I was trying to keep a dog still while holding up my camera and just shooting, but I love how you can barely see the sign because of the snow!

From the walkway next to the stores you could look out and see gorgeous icicle formations.

First family picture!

We really wanted to see Mono Lake in the snow. Unfortunately the paths weren't cleared so we had to forge our own! Fun, but hard!

Before we left we had to go sledding! Even the dogs got in on the fun :)

Pixie wouldn't go into the deep snow, so we decided to make her. I swear she was enjoying it! That's just the way she jumps....

Did you go anywhere fun over the holidays? Tell me about it in the comments!

Looking Back... 2010

2010-12-29T04:40:00.000-08:00

2010 has been an amazing year for Laura Laing Photography. I feel so lucky to have had so many people believe in what I do this year. I got to meet some of the most amazing people and photograph some of the most beautiful people.

So to everyone that chose Laura Laing Photography in 2010, thank you!

I can only hope that 2011 can top this...

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-24T04:04:00.000-08:00

Last Chance to Lock in 2010 pricing!

2010-12-21T09:51:00.000-08:00

Introducing... Pixie!

2010-12-14T12:06:00.000-08:00

I must admit, it wasn't how I saw my weekend going.

Sunday morning we headed down to Montrose for an early lunch. The local Farmers Market and Craft Fair was open later then usual, so when we finished our breakfast pizza and french toast, we walked around to take a look. On our way back to the car, my husband spots her out of the corner of his eye. She's perfect. Just what we were looking for.

A few hours later we took her home and named her Pixie.

Family: The Mooney's

2010-12-07T08:34:00.000-08:00

Alan and Lisa are two of my husband's oldest friends. Lisa is one of the sweetest and most supportive person I've ever met, while anything crazy my husband has ever done can be blamed on Alan. Last year they had the cutest baby, Brenden! We haven't gotten to see them much since then, so I was very excited when Lisa asked about doing a family shoot!

Alan, Lisa, and Brenden, I had so much fun with you guys! We need to do this more often :)

Remember 20 comments gets them a free 8x10 print! Comment away :)

Maternity: Darvie

2010-12-01T04:43:00.000-08:00

"There's two to wash, two to dry;
There's two who argue, two who cry...
There's two to kiss, two to hug.
And best of all, there's two to love!"

Darvie is having twin girls next month! Personally I think she looks amazing for only being 8 months. And she's one of the sweetest pregnant ladies I've ever met!

We headed down to the Walt Disney Concert Hall to explore and take some pictures. It's such an amazing location with every corner offering something different.

I had such a great time with you Darvie! I hope I get to meet those two little cuties one day!

Remember, 20 comments gets Darvie a free 8x10 print!

Out of Town!

2010-11-03T07:26:00.001-07:00

Just a quick note to let you know that I will be out of town today (Wednesday 11/3) to Sunday (11/7). I have no idea how much internet access I will have, so if you email me please be patient! I will get back to you as soon as I can!