we've changed... new kids on the blog

as awesome as it would be if i could permanently have glowing starburst fingertips and plastic-perfect skin, that is not what i've changed (yet) :)

i never thought i would say this, but this will be our final post...
on this blogspot blog.
it might sound crazy, but it ain't no lie, baby. bye, bye, bye.

FEAR NOT!
thanks to my better judgement i still look the same, and thanks to my brother from another mother, ross, and his ass-kicking team at flosites, we have a shiny NEW BLOG at
**********************************************************************WWW.OHANABLOG.COM**********************************************************************
surf on over there and check out papa's new shoes.

one final note before we make like a tree and get outta here...
if you're reading this you better bring it in for a big virtual hug from our whole ohana. we can't thank you enough for supporting us 3 years running now. like mama, you are appreciated.
hope to see you on our new blog!

thank you for visiting our wedding photography blog
check out our portfolio.
contact us by phone at 858.663.3283
or email: david@ohanaphotographers.com

ohana photographers | ohana photographers blog | hawaii wedding photography | san diego wedding photography | orange county wedding photography | los angeles wedding photography | san francisco wedding photography | wedding photographers | san diego family photographer | hawaii family photographer | orange county family photographer | los angeles family photographer

nobody can be uncheered with a balloon

coming soon...
chris and traci's wedding at brunswick studio in los angeles. don't fly away!

thank you for visiting our wedding photography blog
check out our portfolio.
contact us by phone at 858.663.3283
or email: david@ohanaphotographers.com

ohana photographers | ohana photographers blog | hawaii wedding photography | orange county wedding photography | los angeles wedding photography | wedding photographers | hawaii family photographer | orange county family photographer | los angeles family photographer

make-a-wish... come true

back in december i volunteered to shoot a christmas party for the make-a-wish foundation in san diego. i was so inspired by the wish kids that i immediately offered my services to make-a-wish for some upcoming events where they might be able to use my abilities. i was thrilled to get a call back less than a week later with a request to help with a wish.
this wish was for brandy.
brandy was born with a congenital heart defect and has seen a lifetime of medical challenges by the age of 15, but still has a smile brighter than the las vegas strip. her wish was to celebrate (a little early) her 16th birthday with all of her friends and family, a la my super sweet 16, at the fabulous hotel del coronado. lindsay (brandy's wish coordinator) said that at the heart of brandy's wish, she wanted to have the time of her life, thank her family and friends for being so supportive, and feel pampered. all three of those things were achieved. this party was incredible!
kim and i were just two small niblets on this huge event corn cob. along with brandy and her family, we send out a massive mahalo to everyone that helped make brandy's wish come true. i hope i got everyone here:
wish fulfilling angels - make-a-wish
venue - hotel del coronado
hair and makeup - marinello schools of beauty
brandy's dress - betsey johnson
planning/coordination - the bridal bar
dj / izzy - wayne foster entertainment
videographer - eagle lion video
lounge rentals - kool party rentals
layout/design - wedding elegance by nahid
floral/decor - embellishments floral & event design studio
candy station - candee by sandee
invitations - dolldine designs
linens/lighting - indulge contemporary catering
floral/lighting - crown weddings
floral/decor - hartworks floral designs
photography - ohana photographers (hey, that's us!)
if i missed anyone that helped, please let me know. i don't want to leave anyone out. thanks everyone!
happy super sweet 16 brandy... and many more!

brandy looked absolutely beautiful for her party, but then again, doesn't she always.

brandy's mom gave everyone a huge surprise when she grabbed the mic and sang a song to brandy. it was a pretty sweet moment.

thank you for visiting our wedding photography blog
check out our portfolio.
contact us by phone at 858.663.3283
or email: david@ohanaphotographers.com

ohana photographers | ohana photographers blog | hawaii wedding photography | orange county wedding photography | los angeles wedding photography | wedding photographers | hawaii family photographer | orange county family photographer | los angeles family photographer

thirst relief mentor auction is ON NOW!!

give me a break
give me a break
break me off a piece of that...
...fan-cy feast? no
...foot-ball cream? no
...claude-van-damme? no, it's gotta rhyme with piece.
...thirst re-lief! :)
it's about saving lives. nailed it! the thirst relief mentor auction is going on right now! February 16th & 17th only! there are a grip of awesome photographers to bid on, so what are you waiting for ;)

what's it all about you ask?

it's about you growing as a photographer while saving lives!

i am so stoked to have been nominated to be a mentor for the 2010 Thirst Relief Mentor Auction! what an honor.

Thirst Relief International is responding to the worldwide water crisis by helping thousands of families each year gain access to safe water through simple, low-cost means. A locally manufactured biosand filter or a well repaired by nationals has the power to radically improve the health and well-being of an individual, a family, a community.
more than 1.1 billion people in our world lack access to safe drinking water. (UNICEF) living without this precious resource results in a host of preventable illnesses and even death. each year 2.5 million people die from diarrheal diseases, many of them caused by contaminated water. ninety percent of those deaths are children under age five. (World Health Organization)

Thirst Relief’s vision is simple yet profound—to save lives and change the world.


help me help you help them :)
bid on a mentoring session with your favorite photographer.

100% of the proceeds directly benefit Thirst Relief. add to that the incredible wisdom and talent that is being shared in the one-on-one mentor sessions and you have better and more successful photographers! it's truly a win win for everyone involved!

click the link here to go see all the mentors that are up for grabs.
************THIRST RELIEF MENTOR AUCTION****************
my head is spinning after looking at the company i'm keeping on the mentor list this year. so many insanely good photographers to choose from. help us all make a positive difference in the world.

along with getting that warm feeling inside that lets you know you did something good,
you'll get a 90 minute one-on-one mentor session with me, but wait, there's more!
just to sweeten the pot a little, the winning bidder of my auction also gets a tiny huge bonus pack of goodies.
for starters, if you are able to meet up with me in las vegas during wppi, i can arrange your mentor session to be a photo shoot in vegas with an uber fun and hot couple as our models.
if you like that sort of thing :)
and that's not all!
you'll also get the following insanely sweet swag from my awesome sponsors...
GRATIS! yep, FREE!
chris and jen at flipside album designs are hookin you up with a set of album design templates!
those will work perfectly to help you fill the 15 spreads in your
very own 10x10 or 9x12 album from vision art!
when you're done with all that fun send your favorite image to roxy at pixel 2 canvas and she'll send you a beautiful 20x24 canvas to hang on your wall!
there was one other thing. let me see. what was it? oh yeah...
you get 1/2 off the price of a crazy rad customized blog, HALF OFF! from ross at flosites!!
CRIPES!!
what are you waiting for people?!
get out your schrute bucks and...
GO!
BID!
NOW!

thank you for visiting our wedding photography blog
check out our portfolio.
contact us by phone at 858.663.3283
or email: david@ohanaphotographers.com

ohana photographers | ohana photographers blog | hawaii wedding photography | orange county wedding photography | los angeles wedding photography | wedding photographers | hawaii family photographer | orange county family photographer | los angeles family photographer

Shannon & Anthony's Wedding in San Diego

it seems like it was just last week when we did shannon and tony's engagement session. actually, that session was way back in november. this year is flying by. it was so nice seeing shannon and tony again. they are such a sweet couple and two of the nicest people on the planet.
i love their smiles here. they show just how truly in love they are.

lets back up a little to a time known as pre-ceremony.

love the shoes!

after seeing shannon at her engagement session i didn't think she could be any happier. then i saw her in her wedding dress.

shannon and tony have surrounded themselves with wonderful, gorgeous people. everyone in these next two shots made us all feel like family. thank you all.

honestly, i could not have asked for a nicer group. as an added bonus, these hilarious guys had us laughing all day. i love laughing while i work. it makes work less worky.

i'm not sure whether to file this under something old or borrowed or just plain awesome. shannon had this old prayer book to offer her blessings on her wedding day.

i love the fact that every time i saw tony and shannon looking at each other that had ear to ear smiles.

BUBBLES!

The Thursday Club was decorated to the nines and Events by Christopher served up some delicious catering.

shannon and tony put a little spin on the traditional wedding cake. different flavor cakes were spread out, one per table, and guests were encouraged to visit other tables to sample them all.

when shannon and tony ducked into the booth by PhotoBoothNOW to serve up some CHEESE I couldn't help but to take a shot of my own.

insert your own caption here.

luckily we had our backpacks with us because shannon took us to school.
DOMO AREGATO.

is this just the cutest smile ever? she was so adorable.

Disco Friend Daniel was on the ones and twos and did an awesome job at keeping the floor packed all night. tony tried to sit one out, but shannon wasn't havin' that.

happily in each others arms, shannon and tony stole the spotlight in all it's yellow majesty. THAT'S AMORE!

you didn't hink we'd forget the rings did you?
we had a little help from the fab four on this one. thanks lads.

shield your eyes kids.
kim had this idea and asked me to take this shot for the ladies.
i may have looked a little funny taking it up close with my macro, but are those some good looking balls or what.

mahalo shannon and tony for being one of the sweetest couples we have ever worked with. we are so happy for you both. have a wonderful life together.

shannon and tony might possibly be the luckiest.
watch the slideshow below and see for yourself.

and thanks for our best friend in the whole wide world (no not patrick, or the big peanut guy) alyssa for coming out and shooting with us!

Mary & Brandon's Wedding at Bali Hai

as promised, here are some more details from mary and brandon's wedding at the Bali Hai. Actually, the pre-wedding shots were taken in mary's choice suite at Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn & Suites.

mary's dress was beee-yooo-teee-ful.

i loved mary's necklace, but i had to go and guy-it-up a little by puting it on this fine leather.

have you guessed the secret of this shot yet? props to whoever guesses the light source correctly first.
not so fast melissa. :)

maybe this will help. insert jeopardy music here.

picture perfect

i love the bali hai. it's a great place to get married or simply relax by the bay.

mary looked absolutely amazing as she walked down to marry brandon.

there's something about mary.

mary's maids, bride's maids that is.

there were amazing fresh flowers by Nancy Stevens everywhere. she really did an incredible job.

i love the flowers on this cake by Shirley the Cake Lady (619-561-9377). for one second they made me feel like i was in hawaii.
not pictured here was the dj, Bill Calhoun. his music couldn't be captured in camera, but it was enjoyed all afternoon.

no more fishing for brandon. mary's a keeper.

baby smiles are the best!

thanks mary and brandon. i love seeing couples that know how to have fun at their wedding. may you have a life full of happiness together.

thank you so much melissa. it was such a pleasure working with you (and you ally). can't wait to shoot with you again.