Does anybody else think this is amazing?

UPS. I pretty much think they are amazing. So all my wedding albums get printed in Italy, thousands and thousands of miles away by GraphiStudio. What always amazes me is how quickly a huge package of albums and other things can get halfway across the world, to me!

The package leaves Italy at 10:30am on Tuesday, goes through Denmark, Kentucky, and Ontario, California, and now it's here (almost) on Thursday. Whaaaat?

I've always been super impressed with UPS, not only because they get things places incredibly quick (WAY quicker than USPS) but because their customer service is so great. This is an organization that knows how to work with people, not just for people. And that, is what separates great companies from mediocre ones. Companies that get that the relationship they have with customers is a give and take relationship are the ones that are successful.

Sometimes we lose track of why we do the things we do, and I think it's important to realize that it all really comes down to people - people are the important part of everything that goes on in our lives, and loving people is one of the best things we can do. I'm not saying that UPS loves me, but maybe.....

Martina & Malcolm

I just got home from Martina & Malcolm's wedding up in Fallbrook at the Pala Mesa Resort, and I'm beat! We had so much fun today hanging out, and everybody at the wedding was so much fun! Pala Mesa is a beautiful place for weddings, and with all the little touches that Martina put into her wedding, this was no exception.

The coolest thing about Pala Mesa is that at the top of the gazebo that the weddings are held under there is a huge bell, and after the couple heads down the aisle, the best man (or whomever) gets to ring it and it is such a cool way to celebrate! It's all in a canyon so it echos and is super loud...so cool!

The Important Things...

Yesterday I got to spend a few hours with my friend Meagan from Collages.net, who was in town for a few days before WPPI. We talked a lot about all the things that are going on at Collages, and about all the new products that they are going to be offering to us photographers in the near future!

I'm really excited because I'm all about outsourcing things so I can have more free time, and with some of the new stuff they are doing, I'll be able to do that more. Which allows me to spend more time doing what I love with my business - taking pictures and getting to know people - and less time on the boring, time consuming parts.

My tendency has always been to try to do everything myself, not just with my photography, but with everything. I've historically had a hard time letting go of things so that other people can do them, but now I'm realizing how important that is. The times when I've tried to do everything myself has left me tired, and worn out, and has made relationships suffer. I think it's important to realize that we have friends and family and other people for a reason - we aren't meant to go at this life on our own, you know?

What's something that you do all the time that you don't necessarily need to? What can you outsource?

Traveling rocks the house!

I love to travel, in fact it is probably one of my favorite things to do. Airports don't stress me out, I love airplanes, and not knowing where I'm going or getting lost in a crazy place is a cool thing to me.

Erin and I have been talking a lot lately about getting out to Europe again to do some traveling, and I think we're going to make that happen this Fall perhaps, which could be so cool! I lived in France for a year, and Erin studied in Spain for a semester, so we've seen Western Europe a bunch, so I think this time we'll hit up Eastern Europe, which I've heard is amazing!

Anyway, check out this cool website. You check the places you've been and it makes a map for you, and tells you just how few places you've really been! And it makes you want to travel more!

PS: If you're reading this on Facebook, you'll need to click "View original post" at the top, if you want to see the map.

Stacy & John: CSI Engaged!

How cute is this couple? Yesterday I spent the afternoon with Stacy and John down in Ocean Beach, and we had a blast! Stacy & I went to college together, and we have a lot of fun memories! Both John & Stacy are both CSI people in real life, and I just think that is so cool. Stacy is the lab rat, and John is the field guy. So not only are these two good looking, they are both basically brilliant!

We shot a bunch down in Ocean Beach, and then decided to head over to Old Town for dinner, but continued the photo session while we waited for some other friends to show up.

It was such a blessing for me personally to get to photograph them, they are so in love, and you can really tell. And I'm not just saying that - it's true! As I said, I've known Stacy for years, and when John is around her, she just lights up and glows like nobody's business. It's so cool!

Click here for a little slideshow action!

Dinner & a Hot Tub

Remember my friends Dave and Jenny who got married about a month ago? Well last night a bunch of us went up to San Clemente to their new place to hang out with the newlyweds! In the picture above you see almost the whole gang - Jenny, Josh, Erin, Brewer, Dave, and myself...

While the women-folk were inside working on this amazing pesto pasta thing, us men hung out outside next to the grill, because we are awesome. Aside from grilling up a bunch of chicken for dinner, Dave also threw on this giant porterhouse steak and we seriously just grilled that thing up, and then ate it right off the grill. It was so good!

After dinner we just kind of sat around and hung out, and laughed a ton. We also hit up the hot tub (of course) and that is always a fun time! I'm so blessed to have such awesome friends- I just get so excited every chance I have to just kick back and hang out with buddies!