Kiss Wedding Books: photography

OHEMGEE. I have a gazillion things going on this weekend and am going to have a gazillion things to post on my blog coming up soon, including an ever so fabulous session from yesterday!! But I had to stop right now and post this blog really quick, in between the photobooth with a Junior High class and running off to pick up lenses for the weekend and then off to see "the" Christmas Lights with some of my favorite people [and THEN a sleepover!!] Because when I walked in the door right now I was greeted by a HUGE package from KISS Wedding Books. I almost cried I was so excited!

Having my first package waiting for me from KISS makes me feel like a real live legit, dare I say professional photographer. Nothing I have done thus far has made me feel this way. So, I had to blog this moment... so it will forever be documented in my photo business history. ;]









I am in love with these albums! There are 2 "Little Kisses" and 1 10x10 album. I want to hold them all the time and never let them go. [Too bad I have to actually deliver them to my amazing clients LOL] I want to get packages in the mail like this everyday! So everyone I've taken pictures of, you should ask me about ordering an album, like I'm not even kidding! They're kinda the greatest thing EVER! ;]

I have to take off, but I hope all of you, my amazing blog readers, take a moment to remember a time in your life you were absolutely giddy with excitement and smile with me today. Love to you all! ♥

Ugly Sweater Party: personal

You know when you laugh so hard your eyes start to tear up, and it becomes impossible for you to catch your breath, your face turns bright red, and I’ll be honest *sometimes* a snort escapes… sometimes more than once. [I’m not judging you Cassandra <3 LOL] That sums up my day yesterday. A giant gasping-for-breath, fit of laughter.

It started at church in the morning, then continued on at our church Christmas banquet, and on through a long line in the Starbucks Drive Thru, Goodwill, Goodwill again, K-Mart, Ralphs and eventually to “The Bridge” 20 Something’s Ugly Sweater Christmas Party. I was inspired by Jessica Claire’s blog post last year to make an impromptu Photo Booth to showcase our "Ugly Sweaters" and with the help of my amazing Alexis was able to throw one together in the hallway. That’s where I spent most of the party, the hallway, smiling bigger than I have in a long time with people that I love more than anything in the world.

Last night as I was crying tears of joy in the hallway I was again reminded of how blessed I am. My circle of friends, as small as it may seem at times, is genuine. I thank God for days like yesterday where the smiles and laughs the tears and glitter carry over into the days to follow.

"I have such great friends that all we need to have fun is a sheet, a stool and a camera. <33" - Brenna


Alexis, my amazing Assistant and photo "student" gets credit for this shot.




I'm not going to lie, she was probably the cutest girl there last night. ;]








The newly engaged. :D


They... aren't engaged. LOL










This is Lizzy.




Lizzy was awesome enough to take a few of the pictures of me in the Photo Booth. :D She's quite an amazing photographer herself and I think you should go check out here work here. <3










I literally had to shove this girl down the hall to get her picture. SO glad I did! because her shots are some of my favorites!




I love these girls, and these next 2 pictures. <3


Alexis also took this picture for me. :D


A few last words to all the people at the party last night and then this loooooong blog post will be over. ;] There are like 50 more photos that I didn't include because... well, that would be the longest post ever so after work I'll be adding all of those to my Facebook page. :D

Rain: personal

This morning when my alarm went off and I heard the rain outside I knew today was going to be epic. I love rain. I was supposed to drive to Downtown LA with one of my most favorite people but because of the rain we decided it would be better to go next week. So this morning I snuggled close with my puppy and made my internet rounds. Checking Facebook, Twitter, blogs, and having a heartfelt conversation with another favorite person in my life.

Then I decided to embrace my inner Jamie Delaine and go outside in the rain and take pictures. I spent an hour walking down the equivalent to "Main Street" in the city I live in and smiled and laughed and got completely soaked. It was absolutely magical. I love rain.

Now I'm back in my warm house snuggled in on the couch thinking about how I should start getting ready for work because my hair still looks like I spent an hour in the pouring rain ;] But instead I'm laughing with my sister while we eat Top Ramen out of a cup pretending its Cup 'o Noodle. [Because really, what's better than Cup 'o Noodles in the rain? LOL]

I am in love with today.

Farmlab: just for fun

I am *so* tired! I was just taking a nap on the couch with my beloved puppy. Yes, a nap at 9:45 at night. Why not go to bed you ask? I have no idea... that just makes too much sense. I was going to tell you this epic story about how Brenna and I went on a museum excursion this last Friday for her Art class and how we almost died. But my brain is *so* not working well enough for that story to make sense right now. Instead I'll leave you with a definition that is cracking me right up.

for realsies: It's usually used when you are surprised to learn something. Other uses are to add how serious you are being about something. The last and most obscure usage is to explain the status of a couple. They are "For Realsies" if they are officially dating.

Usage 1:(shock)
"Koalas aren't bears they're marsupials!"
"For realsies?!?"

Usage 2:(add sincerity)
"I have always dreamed of being a plumber"
"Are you serious?"
"For realsies."

Usage 3:
"Did you here Jack and Jill are for realsies now?"
"For realsies?!?"
"For realsies."

















Brenna loves chickens. Who knew? ;]






Just the other night I was sitting in traffic driving through downtown LA and I couldn't help but notice its beauty. There's just something magical about the lights and the skyline and even the traffic because sometimes you need it to make you stop and notice. Random tangent sorry LOL. [I said I was tired! :P]

Brandon: "welcome to the legend"

Good morning! So far this morning I've learned how to launch a bomb in the Batman game for DS AND that throwing a green filing cabinet at Wolverine does NOT in fact kill him. It always cracks me up how dramatic and reluctant I am to say "yes" after asked to babysit [and how I usually ask someone to come for moral support/backup... I'm not kidding, I'm dramatic. LOL!] Kids are *so* not my thing, but these kids... I don't know. It's just different. :]

When Brandon emailed me about doing a shoot I was super excited, not only have I *never* taken pictures of him [this is epic, I've known him my whole life] but he would was giving me another chance to use my new camera! What's not to love about that whole situation!? A couple days before his shoot we were texting back and forth working out the details and he said he was so excited to have his pictures taken by, I quote: "The legendary Stacee Lianna". I couldn't stop laughing and I couldn't figure out when *I* had become legendary. Clearly he has me mistaken with some other Stacee Lianna. I am hardly a legend! hahaha! But, we decided that our shoot would be titled "Brandon: Welcome to the Legend" That's how it's written in my calendar. No joke. LOL!





I was kind of out of my element taking these pictures because they were inside but It was so fun playing with the stage lighting! [after we figured out all the light switches LOL]










*LOVE* this one!! Definitelymy favorite!

Stacey & Eric: just for fun

Stacey [you may remember her from a senior session earlier this year!] is my oldest friend. Not age-wise but years-we’ve-been-friends-wise. LOL! We’ve been friends long enough that she was actually my babysitter before she was my friend. By comparison Eric is a much newer friend, but a friend just the same. :] Seeing these two so smiley and happy during their session made me so happy. It's nice to know your friends are happy. :]

Angie, Brittney, & Danielle: portraits in the park

You know, I wasn't planning to blog these pictures because they were taken spur of the moment when Danielle came to visit me during Portraits in the Park. [Because come on, even if you didn't book a session who could pass up sitting on a couch in the park? really?] I was inbetween sessions and made them pose for a few minutes. But now that I've finished editing from those days and the rush of getting everything to clients has passed I was uploading these to facebook and couldn't help but feature these beautiful ladies on my blog.

If you've been reading my blog for any length of time I hope it's obvious that I love people and that relationships are important to me. Whether it is a romantic relationship or a friendship. But, having never experienced a real romantic relationship myself, friendships have an extra special place in my heart. [I'm tearing up writing this! What's wrong with me?!] It's rare that you see friends getting together to have portraits done, maybe it's awkward because you're not blood-related and you think hiring a photographer is for something more "important". It's not.

I'm going to go somewhere I never dreamed I would go on my blog LOL!

"Most women define themselves in terms of their relationships, and the quality they deem those relationships to have. I am a mother, a sister, a daughter, a friend. Or, I am alone. I'm not seeing anyone right now, or my children aren't calling, or my friends seem distant. This is not a weakness in women-- it's a glory. A glory that reflects the heart of God." -Stasi Eldredge, Captivating.

God designed us to be relational people and documenting the joys and the laughter in friendships is just as important as taking family or engagement portraits. Friends are just as present in peoples everyday lives as family or boyfriends/girlfriends. Thank you lovely ladies for letting me capture a moment in your friendship because your smiles and laughs resounded in my heart more than I ever expected. ♥

Thanksgiving: personal

I'm sitting on my bed alone in my room as I type this. I'm overwhelmed with all of the things I have to be thankful for. Perfect cups of coffee [like the one sitting on my nightstand beside me], french vanilla creamer, pajamas, sisters who laugh loudly at inside jokes and bring me flashdrives filled with newly downloaded songs from last nights episode of Glee, a puppy who cuddles with me while I edit and lovingly kisses away my tears when I'm sad, friends- new friends I've made over the last few months, "new old" friends that I've reconnected with recently, and just plain friends that I can always count on. I'm thankful for cameras, and for the people who trust me to capture their memories. Most of all I'm thankful for my God, who has taught me so much in the last year about who I am and has provided time and again in ways I never dreamed would happen. I am truly blessed.

My Return to 9-3: just for fun

"Ohana means family in an extended sense of the term including blood-related, adoptive or intentional. It emphasizes that families are bound together and members must cooperate and remember one another." Whenever I walk into 9-3 I always feel right at home. It's intentionally more than just a classroom; it's a place where laughter, learning, mocking, and group hugs are expected and accepted. I love visiting!!











Besides sitting in the TA Chair and drinking a Caramel Brulee Latte from Starbucks my purpose in visiting this last Friday was to take pictures of Mr. Andersons' AVID Ohana. It was so awesome sitting in on this particular day because the AVID Class of 2011 is just beginning to mentor the AVID Class of 2012 so each class received letters from their mentor/mentee. Everyone was so excited about it! It was so fun to see the energy in both classes.













One of my favorite parts of 9-3 is the details. I could walk away with hundreds of pictures without ever capturing a person. [Which I have to admit would be quite an accomplishment considering how many people come through that class in a day!] The room kind of reminds me of a life-sized PostSecret.













When Brenna and I walked into the classroom I told her I wasn't going to take any pictures of her that day... I *so* lied!







I know there are already a million pictures in this blog post but it was hard for me to narrow them down to even this many! So, [later tonight] you can check out these and more over at my Facebook page. To the AVID Class of 2011: Thank you for welcoming me into your class again. I really enjoyed seeing you all again! To the Class of 2012: It was great meeting you for the first time! I look forward to visiting you again! ♥

The Steinbach Family: portraits in the park

So much has been going on lately I feel like I have a million blogs already lined up. I’m all over the place with things I want to say and things I want to save for later. In an effort to save some stories for later I’ll tell you something that happened at work tonight: Someone asked me if I dyed my hair this color for Christmas. Why yes, I thought I would make a statement about how very much I love Christmas… year round… for the last 5ish years. I love working with the public ;]

There is a natural redhead in this family you are about to see. Yes, I’m quite envious. LOL I am *so* excited to blog these pictures! [I know, I always say that… but I *really* mean it… every time!] Dave & Cherish were the first to book a Portraits in the Park session and I basically couldn’t contain my excitement when I got their email. I love this family! Dave & Cherish were my youth leaders when I was in Jr. High and High School and I have spent countless Sunday mornings in the Sound Booth with Dave. Since my days in youth they have two new additions to their family, Conor and Madi. ADORABLE! I just couldn’t get enough of those two! It was so incredibly great to be able to catch up with this beautiful family I definitely miss seeing them as often as I used to. I love you guys!! <3





Their eyes just look like that. No photoshopping required! :D










LOVE this one!!

Candice & Family: portraits in the park

You may remember Candice from a blog I posted earlier this year. [I love being able to link to previous posts! I feel so legit! LOL] Well, now you get to see her whole family! :D I was so excited when Candice booked a PitP session for her family because her family is moving up to Washington at the end of the year so this was a fun time to get portraits of them all together before the move.

I always mention that I laugh during my sessions and I have to admit, again, I was cracking up while wandering the park with this awesome family. :] I am truly blessed that I have found something I love to do so much.

Sarah: portraits in the park

Meet Sarah. :]



Taking pictures of Sarah was extremely exciting for me because she was the first person I booked based only on seeing my work. She saw these pictures I took a few months ago and saw a link to PitP on facebook and booked a session! It's magical when my photos speak for themselves.

Besides automatically loving Sarah just because she loves my pictures ;] I had a fabulous time hanging out with her! Sarah is an actress and is performing right now at the Westchester Playhouse in A Little Night Music. From what I've heard from our mutual friends she has a most AMAZING voice! We also share an extreme love for fall, the colors green and purple, and laughing. :D This girl is amazing.