Andrea Shaparenko and Barry Whalley's Engagement Party

I photograph many people's weddings and see people in love all the time. But this was extra special to me because it is my sister. She recently got engaged and this past weekend had her engagement party at The Montecito Country Club which is also the location where the ceremony and reception will be held later this year. It is the perfect place for them to say, "I Do," because they both love to golf! So here are some photos from the evening.







And the After Party was held at Sesto Senso in Montecito, the new wine and carpaccio bar.


Michelle and Alberto-owners of Sesto Senso

My friend, Sam Sosa, a realtor here in Santa Barbara, has many funny faces. :)

And can I just say, no fair! I can't even get my eye lash curler to get my lashes to look like that. Hahaha!


The bride and groom to be :)

Andrea and Julee

FREE Wedding Photography Contest!!!!

Attention all Brides out there,
I am going to be donating a FREE Wedding in 2008 to a bride and groom. So send in your stories to info@kristinrenee.com or enter a friend. Tell me your story, how you met, how he proposed, how you made it through the tough times, but love conquered all. I want to hear why you believe that you deserve free wedding photography.
-In the email subject line put: "free wedding"
-Attach a photo of the couple in the email
-Tell me your wedding date, ceremony and reception venue, city and state

The Free wedding photography package will include:
-8 hour wedding day coverage
-Unlimited photos posted online for viewing and ordering
-Online slideshow
-20 page coffee table book
-Travel for myself

All entries must be in by Feb 5th. I will be announcing the winner on my blog February 14th.
http://www.kristinrenee.com/blog

Happy New Year!

I always love the New Year. It is a time to re-evaluate where you are and where you want to go. Most people, myself included, make a list of all the things that they would like to do this year or do better. Yes, I have made my list too. But here is a different way to look at New Year's Resolutions that I saw on Tim Sanders' blog: (author of Love is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends-great book by the way)!

Tim Sanders:
"Is it just me, or do all New Year's resolutions focus on being less bad?

Some people are resolved to stop killing themselves through diet, drink or smoking. Others promise to stop wasting time, abusing people or working too hard. None of these resolutions are inspiring and more importantly, none of them can catapult you to greatness.

Instead, take something that you are already good at, and resolve yourself to improve on it in 2008. For example, my New Year’s resolution is to improve my ability to tell stories that move others to action. It is something I have a knack for, but could get much better at with focus. This is a new way of thinking about the new year – it is a time to contemplate how we can develop our skills and assets, not manage our bad habits.

Think of three things you are good at, but would like to get even better at next year. Pick one, make a resolution about it and plan at least one thing you’ll do a month to support it. Unlike a diet plan, for example, you won’t let a few setbacks knock you off the program. Since you are developing a strength, each time you use it you’ll be even more motivated to invest more into it. Author Marcus Buckingham’s breakthrough idea is that you are better off to focus on your strengths than to obsess about your weaknesses. Apply that to tonight’s celebrations and proclamations and soar with your strengths in ’08."


Kristin:
That really made me think. It is one more way to think positive and keep yourself going forwards toward a goal. I mean really, how many people actually hit all of their New Year's Resolutions from last year. Or is the list sound like this: "Okay, this year I will finally do ...." So try it, pick a strength or two and really focus on that.
One of mine will be to take the skills I have with my photography and soar through the roof this year. That sounds like a great goal to me.

Happy New Year everyone!!!