This post is special to me in many ways. First, it’s the launch of my new blog, new name, and the start of my photography business. I have so many people to thank for helping me get this off the ground.

Matt Knox-I met Matt Knox of Stormforce USA through my job at Downey Adult School. He helped my school with all of our marketing, logo and branding.  About 8 months ago I had asked him if he could help me with business cards when I got to that point in my business.  I had no idea that what I would get would be my new logo, and amazing amount of expertise and knowledge, and a product that I am so proud of.  We sat down for about 45 minutes as I showed him some examples of logos and possible business names.  At the end of the meeting I had given him my logo and he took it from there. He designed my cards using my signature logo. Thank you Matt for the countless hours you put in after your long work day to help me with my design and cards.  

Moe Rayat-I met Moe of Moley Photography at a mini shootout a few months back. He’s such a talented photographer and you’ll love his work. Check it out.  After stalking his blog, and realizing I needed a new blog I had asked him some questions on what blog template he had used. I loved the look and feel of his blog.  He directed me to Tofurious. That was the start of constant emailing and questioning on my part, from formatting, html, etc. He has been so incredibly patient with me answering my emails within the same hour.  Moe, thank you for all your help, direction and the teaching you’ve done to get my blog to where it is.  I still owe you that homemade Italian dinner, and by the way we love beer too.  We’ll have “Smithwicks” on tap next week.

Rita Clifton- You know how some people just stick out to you after your first meeting, making that first impression that is a lasting one. Rita Clifton of Clifton Photography was so helpful and sweet from the first moment I met her.  I met her on our first big photo shootout.  It was such a scary experience for me as I had never been around other professional photographers, considering myself an amateur just wanting to glean as much as I could.  She has been answering all my technical photography questions, and directing me to the best tutorials and sites.  Thank you Rita for your knowledge, sharing your passion, and helping me along the way.

Lastly I would like to thank my husband Jeff.  We’ll be celebrating our 11th anniversary this weekend. Can you believe it? I couldn’t have moved forward without his support, love and prayers. Thanks for helping me set up our email, for dealing with our computer’s hard drive after it crashed and installing 2 new hard drives for all of my photos.  I love you.

Secondly, I’ve decided to deliver this blog with my first Wedding.  Our good friend called me up a few weeks ago to see if I’d be interested in shooting a wedding for a coworker of hers.  She said she wanted to give it as a wedding gift.  I met the bride and groom a week before the wedding and the rest is history.  Hugo and Mirna met in high school and have been in love ever since. Together they have a beautiful 4 year old little girl.  

I want to thank my brother Noah Ciccanti and his fiancé Merissa Garcia for second shooting with me.  They gave me the encouragement I needed to take on the task.  Of course we started the day with a little Korean BBQ to get us started.  

Part 1 of Hugo and Mirna’s Wedding