I had the most tazmanian whirlwind of a time at the Wedding and Portrait Photographers International trade show and conference, hosted by the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. This year I got to see what everyone talks about and yes, it was everything everyone said it was going to be.  When I say everyone, I mean everyone that is related to or working within the wedding and portrait industry. You know, just your average 12,000 photographers, any business relating to a camera and the photographic process, and other people like on site backdrop artists to paint you a custom fantasy background of your desire. Crazy! Being in a room with so much stuff and so many energy vortexes bouncing off everyone creative is completely overwhelming, but when I stopped looking around amnd bumping into people, I was in front of my favorite booth and I listened and allowed myself to be inspired by other artists tell their story and how they made that picture, and even how they feel when they work. I learned a lot, absorbed a year's worth of ideas, but mostly, I had fun goofing around with my dear friend, business partner and ultimate gal pal, Cherry Thomas. Here are just a few peaks into our Vegas adventure!

My mother turned 60 on February 21st and for her birthday she had but one request ... that my sisters and I take her to get a tattoo. After we picked our mouths up from the floor we all were so excited and knew exactly where it was to be done. Immortal Art is the best tattoo parlor in Scottsdale and it was there that my mother's birthday wish came true.  Her tattoo artist was Jeff and he drew up exactly what Mom wanted, a tendril vine with 5 flowers for each one of her 5 children. "Make it danty and feminine but I want it to be cool." Mom said to Jeff.  An hour later, my sisters were watching and mom was in the chair.  They even let me be so obnoxious taking multiple photos of the magical moment.  :)  Her only regret is that she didn't bring her knitting so she could have something to do during the process ... we'll capture that photo-op during your next tattoo! :) 

I made a slideshow for everyone who just couldn't believe that my mom, a devout Catholic and the only sibling from a family of 10 kids with the only tattoo, actually did it!  Oh yes, she is Bad to the Bone! Love you Mom and welcome to the world of tatts!

I just loved checking my email today!  *blush*

Dear Kristen,

Congratulations! You have been chosen to receive a 2009 Bride’s Choice Award! This award recognizes the top 3% of vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility.

Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews. That means your past clients have spoken on your behalf and chosen you for this honor!  WeddingWire would like to commend you for all of your hard work and dedication to the wedding industry and look forward to a great 2009.

Congratulations!

All our best,
The WeddingWire Team

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that kristengrinnellphotography has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards™!

In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. That means kristengrinnellphotography is one of the very best Wedding Photographer.

Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews.

“We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community,” according to Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”

kristengrinnellphotography would like to thank our past clients for speaking on our behalf and helping us win the 2009 Bride’s Choice Award!

When I first met Breanna, code name Bree, we were both shooting a wedding for another photographer in the Santa Ynez valley on the hottest day of last summer.  It was such a hard wedding, beautiful and very heartfelt, but brutal conditions.  Bree and I kept laughing at nothing because we were so delerious from the heat, but we were on a mission to find fun things to shoot ... in the shade. :) 

One thing I immediately recognized in Bree was her passion for photography and being an artist and truly honing her skills by surrounding herself with creative, wonderful people.  After the shoot, throughout our car ride back to the cool ocean coast, Bree told me all about Todd and how he proposed to her and their wedding in San Diego. She had just as much passion, if not more, in her voice when she spoke of Todd and it was really beautiful to hear.  When I finally got to meet Todd for their enagagement shoot, it was non stop laughing and we all had soooo much fun.  It was easy to see how they just fit together.

What I love most about Tood and Bree is their freedom to love each other with the confidence in who they are as individuals, and the knowledge that they are growing together side by side.

"And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow."
~Khalil Gibran 

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Coshow!! {and thank you again}

The amazing vendors of the day:
Rancho Bernardo Inn for the venue, catering and the
best coordinators, Gloria and Tiffany.
Flowers by Adelaides on Fay, music by DJ Guy from San Diego and of course,
my amazing second photographer, Cherry Thomas.
It was a pleasure working with you all. :)