The 10.22.08 KISS Workshop in NYC!

We are announcing the 2008 KISS And the winner of the free Seat I'm giving away for the NYC KISS workshop on 10.22.08 is mike steelman Congrats man! Hope to see you there, as for the rest of you guys, check out more details on KISS's BLOG. Thanks for all your comments and inquiries on the Blog post earlier.

Here are the details for the workshop:
Oct 22nd, in Manhattan, just before Photo Plus. We're still trying to iron out a location. Kevin Swan will talk about branding and albums. Mike Larson will talk about character, leadership and how that effects everything, and then lead a photo shoot with a bride in downtown Manhattan!

The cost will be $140 per person, with a max of only 12 people.
The seminar will be all day and include lunch.
If you want to book, or have questions, email Kevin@KissWeddingBooks.com

There will be the option of One on One Mentor Sessions as well, if your interested please email either Mike or Kevin, or you can decide later at the Workshop if you want to switch.

If your interested in signing up for the Workshop, Click here

Photo of the Week

One of the most beautiful drives in the world, Highway 1 has some incredible views. Julia Pheiffer Burns State Park has this waterfall that goes into the ocean. Its 20 miles south of Big Sur. If you take the 101 south, take the 1, mileage wise its the same, but it may take an hour longer, but its therapeutic and relaxing.

KISS workshop seat to be announced...

KISS workshop seat to be announced on Tuesday morning. I'm traveling this weekend and while shooting do not have access to my blog, so I will be posting on tuesday when I get back into town. Have a great weekend!

-Mike

Sent from my Iphone

Maui, HI Wedding Shoot { Aldo and Nicole }

My Cousin got married in Maui last week and I had the honor of shooting it. It was a sweet ceremony South of Kehei. Its kinda crazy to see your little cousin get married, but it was really special and she looked so beautiful. Here is a selection of my favorite shots from the wedding. Nicole you looked amazing and Aldo, same to you, Contgrats guys!

KISS get simple:Upcoming NYC workshop on October 22nd!

To all my photographer friends out there, I'm pumped about this and hope those of you on the east coast will be able to make this new event in NYC! Not only do we have our Step it up workshop coming up in Las Vegas Nevada with BLR life studios, on October 6-7th in a few weeks, (i guess there is one seat left) email here if your interested. We are also hosting another workshop with KISS. We are doing a series on "Get Simple". Its been great, the last one we had 25 photographers and we spent a day in the fast paced packed workshop with a shooting session to cap things off. Here is a shot from the session.

KISS get simple: NYC workshop on October 22nd!

The details:
We will be in New York City, Manhattan
Date: October 22nd, 2008, 8:30am - 5:00pm.
What: Mike, Kevin & Shaun are talking..
Mike:Get Simple, intensive workshop covering how to get your business simple and grow fast, how to be a better leader, shooting more effectively, and also, most importantly how to simplify your business so your business supports you to serve your clients better, and not burdening you with unorganized back end. Our clients depend on us to be there available for them. Get a plan for 2009 and succeed.
Kevin: Simple branding and albums? Good credentials. I was a creative director of an ad agency, and was in marketing for almost 15 years before launching into photography. Kevin inspires me quite a bit in his push to have a better business, and taking care of clients in a simple way. I learn so much from him.

Cost: $145
Sign ups: limited to the first 12 people.

email here if your interested.


if your interested, email me, or check out the KISS blog for more info!

San Diego, CA Wedding Shoot { Krystal & Jason }

Krystal & Jason, a sweet, sweet couple who I had the honor of photographing their wedding. Here are just a few of the images from the day. It was such an intimate beautiful ceremony. The location was superb and the people, (family and friends) were all such a pleasure, from what I heard from the speeches, these two are amazing people and had such sweet comments to say. Enjoy...

Photo of the Week

Maui Sunset

There is something crazy about the sunset here in the South Pacific. The clouds that form throughout the day, dump warm rain showers, then later they light up as they evaporate away. In the morning its as clear as a bell outside, you can see for miles. The colors here are straight out of the camera.

Maui Engagemen Shoot { Nicole & Aldo }

My cousin is getting married today and here are some shots we got to take yesterday. I am so excited for her, it's going to be a beautiful wedding here on Maui! It's sweet to have the family all together, it seems like that never happens enough. Here is Nicole and Aldo, her groom to be...
Congratulations you guys!

Good morning from Maui

It is such a blessing to be out here. I LOVE Hawaii and am looking
forward to a few days of rest from this non stop summer/fall schedule.
Surfing, spearfishing, chilling, hiking. Anyways September is the most
calm and empty month here. The weather and waves are the best at this
time. Have a wonderful day..

Aloha from Maui

We just arrived tonight and caught the sunset. It's amazing how
beautiful it is here. I miss being over here...

Photo of the Week

Pictage Partner Conference LA 2008

Tuesday, I had the honor of speaking in LA at the Pictage Partner Conference. All the photographers in attendance were great and it was a pleasure. I spoke about Leadership and Influence. These are two areas in our business lives that make a big difference. Apart from talent, being able to lead, encourage, and build up our clients is really important. Having the perception of when to be leading and when to be passive and step back is also so important. We are always influencing, either in a positive way or negative way, making sure that we are positive and encouraging is important. Having accountability when we are working is sometimes the only way to get real feedback on how we are doing. I think its an exciting thing as a business owner to see the capability to grow in these areas. That makes the evolution and improvement of our work always new. Anyways, I didn't realize until later the image was blurry, but here's a shot from the stage...

photo of the Week

Sweet family, cute girl...

I've grown to love these day in the life sessions, I feel like i get a glimpse into the family. This little family is no different. I love their little daughter. I'm not ready yet for kids, but in a few years, this is the kind of kid i want to have with my wife someday.

The funny part about this shot sequence, was she saw the moon and wanted to share her grapes with the moon. Because we were laughing, she kept going. How simple is the humor of kids. I feel younger after hanging out for the hour we shot.

I remember getting silly back in the day when I was younger, I don't think I have a single photo of that, but I'd do anything to have a shot of me goofing around with my brother and laughing. This is what a family is to me, enjoying the simplicity of life; live, laugh & love.

Thanks to Meagan who helped me on this shoot, and thanks to you guys for a sweet time. I love this job, its such a blessing to share with everyone that comes into our(me and my team) little world.

San Francisco/Napa Wedding Shoot { Aaron & Andrea }

Today was HOT, I think it was over 100. Not has hot as some earlier destinations we've had this year such as Singapore, or Brazil, next to the equator with 95% humidity and 98 degrees. Regardless, It was a challenge, but I'm stoked with how everything came out. The heat really takes the energy out of you, but its days like today when I get to work with such a great couple, and my team is awesome, and when I'm watching sweet images come out of the camera, I can't stop. Today we shot at the San Francisco Theological Seminary. Here are a few of my fav's as we drive back before crash out tonight. I love being a passenger and blogging while driving. Anyways, Aaron and the guys looked pretty suave. Normally I don't shoot inside if I can, but today it was hotter out side and inside was bearable. I tried this shot, I've never done it before, but I love how it came out.

moments before the ceremony was about to hit, Aaron happened to glance over.

Upstairs the girls were getting their "game plan" on. I suggested the idea and they rolled with it for a good while. I never imagined it would bring as many laughs as it did.

The guys wanted to help with the flowers and were joking around, so we rolled with it.

This venue had TONS of pianos in every room. They were crying out, SIT ON ME! and shoot me! So I broke down and we shot some sweet shots on them. I love shooting portraits, especially of the bride when they are not standing, everyone has those shots, I find it fune to try and get something different.

Cameron, thanks for inspiring me a bit on this one.

feel the love? Aaron was loving it and was so sweet to his bride. It was so cool how enamored he was.

The architecture of the castles we were surrounded by was an amazing backdrop, as were the hills we were nestled in.

David, a new, up and coming photographer from bakersfield came out to help us today. I fired off this shot as he met another guest from the same bako hometown.

Cameron and Monica

This is one from the archives, one of our couples who got married a few weeks ago, just got back from Bali(woohoo), and as we are prepping their images for their Premier Image Release Party, I saw this image and decided to post it. This just reminds me of how much of a blessing our couples and their friendship are to us. Its such a blessing to work with them and serve each of them.

Photo of the week

This was published in National Geographic Explorer Magazine a few months back. I pulled it from the archives.