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Posted on May 29, 2009
If you follow my blog you already know that I love Polaroid film. You might also be aware that the company Polaroid decided to stop manufacturing this film in Feb 2008. Sadly it is quickly disappearing. There are still a few boxes left out there and they have quickly gone from $13 a box (10 images) to $20!! and maybe even more. I am happy to announce that The Impossible Project was started to manufacture more of this delicious instant film, hoping to remanufacture this film by the end of 2009. I am hoping it happens!! Until them.. I will be contributing to the increasing Polaroid price as a buyer and seeing as my Economic 101 class proves right in the rule of “supply & demand”.
The next two images I took by holding a magnifying lens up.
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Posted on May 28, 2009
I could say so many nice this about Gail, but I wouldn’t be able to say enough. She is not only an awesome wife & mother she is also a fabulous & loving person. The best way to show you this is to show you how many people came out to celebrate her birthday with her. The evening was filled with so much love! and food!
I wouldn’t be able to tell you who is luckier Gail for having such a wonderful family that loves her or her family for having a wife/mother such as Gail.
Although in all honesty I think I am the luckiest one for having been invited to such a fun event!! And being able to call Gail & her husband, Bill, my friends. Oh and did I mention what cuties their sons are?
I love how the whole family blew out the candles!
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Posted on May 25, 2009
Hello! Memorial day has never been so much fun for me! I had an amazing wedding at a GORGEOUS venue yesterday. However today you guys will only get a sneak peek, which everyone always tells me is such a TEASE. ;-P
Doug & Grace are so awesome! I feel like I have known them my whole life. Really I’m not making it up. As I walked into Grace’s room and gave her a HUGE hello hug. The make up artist asked Grace if I (the photographer) was also a friend. That made me feel so warm & fuzzy inside. I love that I mesh really well immediately with my couples.
Waiting for his bride (shot by my second shooter Micaela who is absolutely AMAZING!)
I will post the rest of this wedding soon. Come back often and be sure to leave some Love in the form of a comment!
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Posted on May 22, 2009
Have a great weekend everyone! Get outside and enjoy the sun & all the beauty such as these two plants wildly growing outside of my house.
Posted on May 20, 2009
As promised last week here! A maternity session is so special it deserves it’s own post.
The following images show how beautiful Debi’s baby bump is! As well as how much love both parents have for each other & for their little one.
Maternity sessions are fun especially in today’s age where the Baby Bump is shown off ( not like in the past where it was hidden under loose clothes (the moo moo) and never ever shown off.
I look forward to meeting your little one!! I wish the 3 of you much happiness in your future!
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Posted on May 19, 2009
I had an absolute blast with Adam & Salina! They were so much fun!! And up for anything!!
I leave you with this very tame image that shows how beautifully happy they are!
Be sure to check back for more from this awesome couple! Be sure to leave a comment for them below!!
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Posted on May 16, 2009
It’s been gorgeous in the Bay Area these past few weeks! Luckily for me I’ve been all over it in client meetings, and shoots! I’ve snuck in some personal work in between. Here are a few scanned in images taken with my Pentax. Apologies for the dust specks.
San Francisco, taken on different days:
Did anyone get a chance to go see the SF Andy Warhol exhibit? What did you think?
Santa Cruz.:
This was really cool! It had been washed up to shore.
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Posted on May 14, 2009
Vidal & Debi are so awesome! They were so fun and a joy to be around. I especially love the way Vidal looks at Debi. His eyes light up each and every time! Debi had mentioned that she is a little camera shy, I think she is beautiful. I especially love her baby blues- Franck Sinatra would be jealous!! Don’t you agree?
They are both transplants to the Bay Area and as such don’t have family here. Therefore to share their special day I have posted a slideshow at the end of this post so everyone who was here in spirit only can see the days events!
I am inspired by many things! I would say in my top 10 places to find inspiration is in Art, regardless of the era. Border’s might hate me- I tend to plop myself in front of the Art & Photography section for hours thumbing through all the beautiful books. One iconic image which is burned into my mind is that of Grant Wood’s American Gothic. (I must also add I was fortunate to see this piece in Mardid’s Museo Thysen-Bornemisza while on exhibit borrowed from the Art Institute of Chicago)I would like to thank Vidal & Debi for playing along. Here is my version of this iconic image:
and a bit of a spin:
Another item of inspiration for me is architecture. I love the architecture in San Francisco’s city hall. Here we see Vidal waiting for his bride and her best man doing his duty of holding her purse. 
I love the emotion of weddings and especially the interaction between parents and children. Here is a heartfelt hug from mother & son.
A proud mother can’t have enough photos!
How fun is the groom:
After the ceremony we headed over to The Presidio and did portraits at Chrissy Fields with the beautiful Golden Gate Bride in the background. (maternity images to follow in a separate post- stay tuned!)
Congratulations Vidal & Debi!!! I wish you much happiness!!
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Posted on May 12, 2009
Congratulations to Martha H. You are the winner! I will be emailing you to set up your mother’s portrait session!
A big heartfelt hug to your mother for being a good Samaritan as well as carrying the heavy load of the event!
Here is what Martha wrote:
“One day in June 1999, there was a women waiting at a signal light and witness a horific accident. Another mother with two small children were waiting at a bus stop when a car jumped the curb and plowed right into the family. Without hesitation, this women jumped out of her car to help the family that was struck. Here is one mother comforting another mother, who was calling out for her children because she had a broken leg and could not move. She held her in her arms, knowing fully that the ladies baby was pinned under the car still in her stroller. This women had enough strength to later that same night attend her own daughter’s wedding rehearsal dinner, not to say a word about what happened that day. She did not want to damper the wedding so she kept it all to herself and cried when she was alone on what she witnessed. It wasn’t until the next couple of weeks when the daughter found out what her mother had kept from her. It was then when I realize how strong and truely amazing my mother was. This was my wedding and to know that she wanted it to be the happiest day of my life, even though it turned out to be the worst day of her life, touches my heart deeply. She always give never to expect anything in return. She is a grandmother to 5 boys and 2 girls and is proud to say she babysat every one of them so they wouldn’t have to go to daycare. She is the type of grandmother that will drive all the way to San Jose from Manteca every weekend to pick up her grand-daughter because she “missed” her. My mother is a strong, loving, and caring person and for this reason, I wanted to nominate her for the Mother’s Day Contest, but most of all because she’s my mother.”
Posted on May 6, 2009
Hello everyone!
Mother’s give us the best gift possible. The gift of Life! In honor of this I am giving away one portrait session to one lucky “mother”. Since this contest is as a thank you to all the mother’s out there you cannot nominate yourself. Tell me who you are nominating (your mom/sister/auntie/grandmother/mother-in law/friend ) and explain why she is an awesome mother or mother figure. Stories are encouraged! Tell me here
The winner will receive an hour portrait session with a $50 print credit.
My mom is awesome! When I was little we would spend our summer’s in Mexico. I am the oldest of 4 siblings and we were all about 2 years apart. Each summer my mom would pack us up and we would fly into Guadalajara then take a LOOOOONG bus ride into a small town in the state of Guanajuato for summer with my grandparents. My dad would stay behind and work so it was just her with us. Thinking back on this adventure I am amazed at how she managed not to lose us nor our luggage. Those summer trips were so much fun!! Today my mom had expanded her travel to other parts of the world and I’m always amazed at her energy. My dad used to say .. “Everyone is getting older except your mother. She is getting younger. ” This is true! As a matter of fact- She just got back from a trip to Europe and her suitcase was just as heavy if not heavier as I remember those suitcases from my childhood.
here she is during a trip I took with her last November to Punta del Este, Uruguay.
The Prize fine print:
-Portrait session can take place anywhere, however after 40miles from downtown San Jose a travel fee will apply.
-Portrait session is a one person session and will last one hour.
-Model release will be required allowing Mariana Maya Photography to use all images in self promotion online & in print
-Portrait session is non-transferrable
The Contest fine print:
-Leave a comment nominating your mom/sister/auntie/grandmother/mother-in law/friend and explain why she is awesome or share one funny/sad/triumphant story about her.
-Please leave a valid email address, so I can contact you.
-One entry per person, however the same person can be nominated multiple times by different people. However a unique comment must be left.
-Only comments left on this blog will be entered
- 5 finalists will be chosen by awesome fellow photographer Kristel Wyman and one winner will be chosen by a random number generator.
*Deadline to submit is THIS Saturaday, May 9, 2009 at 9pm PST. The winner will be announced Tuesday, May 12 in the morning.