a calm in the storm : Issue No. 7 "Your Move"

Growing up in Orange County, the ocean was always close. Most of my closest friends and my brother were no strangers to the world of surfing. Unfortunately, I never dove deep into the sport but have always had a respect and love for the art of surfing. Every true surfer I've met holds a dedication to the sport that is awe inspiring. One of the legendary big wave surfers, Laird Hamilton made a statement in the movie "Riding Giants" that struck a chord with me. "I don't want to not live because of my fear of what could happen." So often we allow the "what ifs" of life to keep us from taking that step forward. We allow our hesitations to become our primary response to circumstances around us. If you ask any surfer what you can't do in the water, it's hesitate. You have to be confident in your ability to ride the wave. The possibility of wiping out or being owned by the wave is always there, but the possibility of having an amazing ride is also always there. I've met few surfers that pass up catching a wave when the opportunity presents itself. Having said that, I've also noticed they take the time to know what a wave worth catching looks like. This has come through trial and error and they refine their skills every time they are in the water. And for any true surfer, you'll know that's as often as they can be. We can learn a few things from their dedication to their passion. Do you want to not live because you are scared of what could happen? Or are you willing to take risks to chase after your passion or your dream? Of course, there's going to be issues a long the way. That's life. But you can't sit in fear wondering what could happen. If you've done your homework and your heart confirms the facts, then what are you waiting for? Grab your board and run off into the water, figuratively speaking, of course. If you allow the fear of what could happen paralyze you, you'll begin to regret not giving yourself a chance to reach your full potential. What's the worst that happens, you fall and have to get back up again? True character is not defined by how many times you fall, but how many times you get up after you fall. If anything, take it from a man like Laird Hamilton. He has set the pace for big wave surfing. Do you think he accomplished that by being fearful of what can happen? I think we all know the answer to that question. Believe in who you are and make your move.

Radu & Andrea: August 11

We were so excited when Andrea called us and told us Radu had proposed. Andrea is an old roommate of mine from my Santa Barbara days. We shared a lot of memories together and one of the most fun was that we both were there for the beginning of our relationships with our husbands. It's always a great privilege to share in the different chapters of friend's lives. Radu and Andrea were perfect for each other from the beginning. Both are intelligent and fun loving people. But my favorite quality they both share is their loyalty to those they love. You can ask any of their friends or family and they'll tell you the same thing, you can always count on these two. We had a great time enjoying their company during their engagement shoot at the Santa Monica Pier.


Andrea has always been the anti-bride. She is unique, confident and usually makes her own trends. They're beautiful qualities to possess all at once. Radu carries himself in a way where you can tell he is content with who he is and always chooses to see the good in things. He is so refreshing and relaxing to be around. As they were getting ready, we captured some shots of the details. Music has been a huge part of Radu's life. It only seemed fitting that we capture the symbol of their union, their rings, with the other love of his life, music.


When it came to planning their wedding, Radu and Andrea enlisted the help of Alicia K. Designs to make their wedding about the uniqueness of their personalities. Both, Radu and Andrea don't care for the spotlight to be on them, so they really crafted their wedding around spending time with family and friends. The wedding bouquet was simple and elegant, their guests were seated in a circle so everyone was involved during the ceremony, and their Rabbi kept it light hearted and filled with laughs, a perfect representation of how Radu and Andrea live life.


Both the bride and the groom have strong family values. You can see this in the way they conduct themselves on a daily basis as well as during their wedding day. Everyone was excited to see these two join their lives together in marriage and connect their families together. Andrea's dad had a leg injury that kept him in a wheel chair during the wedding. While this changed the flow a bit, her dad didn't skip a beat during the wedding. You can see Radu and Andrea learned by example how to take life as it comes. Radu's dad, revealing his whit and humor suggested he sit on a chair in the family photos to equal the playing field. We thought it was a great idea! It was another example of how great these families fit together.


As we mentioned before, Radu and Andrea don't care for the spotlight, so needless to say, pictures aren't their favorite things to take. Both were great sports during their wedding day. They looked amazing together.


With Alicia (Alicia K. Designs), Andrea and Radu's collaboration, the reception had a beautiful ambiance. There was a sushi station, an appetizer table, wonderful bartenders, amazing crepes for dessert in lieu of a cake and a wonderful candy station with containers for people to take home as favors. Next to the dance floor they had a lounge area with couches and a fire to keep you warm. With Radu and Andrea's love for music, they went outside the box and hired a Beatles cover band. It was a great addition to the feel of the wedding and kept the dance floor moving after their first dance. We hope you enjoy a few snapshots from their reception.


From the beginning of the day until the end of the night, Radu and Andrea created a wedding day that showed their lively spirit, their candid personalities and their desire to make sure everyone was a part of the day. Their parents proudly welcomed their guests and showed off their kids as they started a new chapter in their life. Their wedding was such a delight and honor to capture, we forgot we were working by the end of the night. It's always a pleasure to share in friends' weddings, but it's a complete honor to be asked to capture it.
Radu and Dre, we love you both so much. Congratulations again on your wedding day. Thank you for putting your support and trust in us as your friends to capture your day. We look forward to many more memories and growing old with you.