Lift Photography by Josh Elliotthttp://www.liftmylife.com/blog/en-US2010-02-08T23:26:30ZSquarespace Site Server v5.9.1 (http://www.squarespace.com/)a hour at the beach...http://www.liftmylife.com/blog/2010/1/26/a-hour-at-the-beach.htmlJosh2010-01-26T23:17:21ZLaguna Beach Photography personal portraitsA few weeks ago my beautiful girlfriend was willing to be my model for an hour down in Laguna Beach. This is what we shot.

]]>engagement: becca & josh: 01.03.10http://www.liftmylife.com/blog/2010/1/5/engagement-becca-josh-010310.htmlJosh2010-01-05T23:52:22ZLaguna Beach Wedding Photography engagements portraitsI don't mean to brag, but this is the fastest I've ever turned around a shoot and processing... shot this on Sunday and finished by Tuesday! It's amazing what you can do when you have the time to follow your passion. I'm so blessed.

I met Becca and Josh over 10 years ago at our small high school in San Juan Capistrano when these two were just buds... but that friendship grew stronger over the years and evolved into a loving, romantic relationship that will carry out into marriage. I'm so happy for these two and so happy they've allowed me to capture their love story.

Like many clients, Becca & Josh were a little apprehensive to have photos taken of them but I kept reassuring Becca that it will be relaxed, easy and fun... and guess what? It was. I love when clients have smiles on their faces after their engagement session and admit that it can actually be FUN having a big camera in their faces. I always tell my clients that the first 10-20 minutes may be a little awkward as we are all just warming up but once we get going, it's nothing but smiles, laughter and love until the end of the session. I love this job.

The sunsets in Southern California have been amazing the past couple weeks...

This tree means a lot to Becca & Josh... she grew up playing on this tree as a child, he grew up and proposed to Becca with a picnic in front of this tree. :)

I love how this next shot looks like they are an extension of the branches.

The last shot of the session... Becca's old apartment where they fell in love.

]]>In Love: Kelli & Seth: 11.29.09http://www.liftmylife.com/blog/2009/12/30/in-love-kelli-seth-112909.htmlJosh2009-12-31T01:41:29ZOrange County Wedding Photography engagements portraitsOver Thanksgiving weekend Christie and I headed up to Lake Arrowhead to enjoy the mountains for a couple days... little did we know that we'd be blessed with a full day of snow! We had planned to do an in love session for her friends Kelli & Seth, but we didn't plan for the cold, wet weather. Christie and I had to purchase snow boots but these two troopers toughed it out in the wind and snow to get some great images. We had a lot of fun but after awhile their feet were starting to freeze so we called it quits. Here are a few images of this fun couple who also happen to be amazing architects if you're in need. Hint, hint.

PS - I'm officially caught up with my editing! This is the first time in almost two years! Bring on more work!

Christie, my super assistant/beautiful girlfriend with Kelli...

]]>wedding: Courtney & Jimmy: 07.18.09http://www.liftmylife.com/blog/2009/11/27/wedding-courtney-jimmy-071809.htmlJosh2009-11-27T17:28:57ZweddingsI met Courtney and Jimmy over a year ago through a referral from the wonderful and talented Amanda of In The Now Weddings. During their engagement shoot, we instantly got along and had a blast walking around downtown San Clemente. After that day I knew their wedding in July was going to be amazing and one of those weddings you really look forward to because these two love each other so much and love having fun! Not to mention that Courtney and Jimmy are ridiculously good looking.

As I thought, this wedding was so much fun and these people knew how to party! Beautiful people, beautiful details, beautiful locations = beautiful day! Thank you Courtney and Jimmy for allowing me to capture your special day. I was also lucky enough to have the talented Blake Beamish second shooting with me that day and he killed it.

Details: Anseth Richards

Flowers: Adelaides Flowers

PS - Yes, there are over 100 images in this blog post but I couldn't help myself. :)

]]>A JNP Workshop with Eliesa from Photogen Inc!http://www.liftmylife.com/blog/2009/11/16/a-jnp-workshop-with-eliesa-from-photogen-inc.htmlJosh2009-11-17T03:38:37ZworkshopsMy good friend Jeffrey Neal will be doing his first workshop on January 25, 2010 with the amazing and talented Eliesa from Minneapolis, Minnesota. There are only 15 spots available so be sure to sign up fast. It will be held at Jason's Downtown Restaurant in Santa Ana, CA. All of the info is below and be sure to check out the JNPWorkshops website to sign up and see what will be taking place.

You would be crazy not to sign up with the things we will be covering! Also with the amazing sponsors Fotoworks Pro, Into The Dark Room and Leather Craftsmen, there will be awesome giveaways and cool stuff to help your business.

This workshop will be very personal and intimate so only 15 spots. The first three to sign up get a little something extra!

Or you can just go here to sign up now!

]]>engagement: michele & caseyhttp://www.liftmylife.com/blog/2009/11/6/engagement-michele-casey.htmlJosh2009-11-07T06:51:46Zengagements portraitsMichele and Casey are the type of clients that every photographer dreams of. The type that give full creative license and control of the entire session to me, the artist. The only thing they wanted was to start out at the beach and then they were nice enough to follow me into a super dark, super scary, super sketchy abandoned underground parking lot with graffiti in Mission Viejo... and I'm so stoked they did. The funny thing is that they weren't scared at all while myself and super assistant Cami Jane were completely freaked out! I think the rustling of rats in the dark did us in.

All that to say, I'm so blessed to have Michele and Casey as 2010 clients and it's quite the story of how these two fell in love and chose me to capture their special day. I have to give credit to my beautiful sister Leah for referring them! Casey, for someone who "can't smile", you really brought it that night! Michele, what can I say... amazing.

Sha. Bow!

]]>Calmes Trio: Portraitshttp://www.liftmylife.com/blog/2009/10/30/calmes-trio-portraits.htmlJosh2009-10-31T04:54:50Zartists portraitsSo I've been told recently by a couple friends and past clients that I have "Josh speak"... which goes a little like this... "I. Love. These. Girls." And it's true, The Calmes Trio are honestly some of the nicest, sweetest and most supportive people I've ever met. From day one when they were bridesmaids in Stephanie's wedding, they spoke of working with me in the future...only, they live in the Washington D.C area. So they were coming out to California last August and scheduled a shoot with me... I was so stoked. We had a ton of fun and they rocked their gorgeous costumes! These talented sisters (triplets) are quite the performers and they are available for hire! Please check them out here!

So a big THANK YOU to Beth, Melissa and Laura for being so supportive and so much fun! Also a big thanks to Erin Alaine and Jeffery Neal for assisting that day as well as my good friend Molly from Cheek Couture Hair and Make Up for working her magic on the triplets' hair.

]]>wedding: katie & james: 05.23.09http://www.liftmylife.com/blog/2009/10/20/wedding-katie-james-052309.htmlJosh2009-10-20T08:03:42ZweddingsI've been so excited to share this wedding with everyone and have been working some late nights to get it finished...totally worth it! Meet Katie and James... these two are both such amazing people with a great love for one another it's a little ridiculous... in a good way. :) We had such a fun time at their San Diego wedding last May and the weather couldn't have been better. It was one of those weddings when you're driving home you can't help but have perma-smile because of how amazing it was.

I was also lucky enough to have the help of Matt from Mathieu Photography for the whole day and he helped setup the killer night portraits. Enjoy...

Love all these moments after the ceremony... all real.

]]>sneak peek: michele & casey engagementhttp://www.liftmylife.com/blog/2009/10/11/sneak-peek-michele-casey-engagement.htmlJosh2009-10-12T05:35:41Zengagements portraitsWow. I. Loved. This. Session! More to come soon!

]]>sneak peek: calmes triplets portraitshttp://www.liftmylife.com/blog/2009/10/7/sneak-peek-calmes-triplets-portraits.htmlJosh2009-10-08T04:57:15Zartists portraitsJust a few selects from this super fun shoot back in August. More to come soon!

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