a while back a good FRIEND of mine who writes a little blog called SNIPPET & INK told me about an amazing book company she though i would like….soooo, i checked it out & literally fell off my chair….VELVET RAPTOR makes the most scrumptious swoon worthy books….many people don’t know, that before my photography really got going i did lots of little creative odd jobs to make money….for a while when my oldest daughter was a wee one, i made hand made velvet books & sold them to boutique stores…it was truly a labor of love…i know how hard it is to get good velvet that will work with the binding process….i bow down to VELEVT RAPTOR…their books are what my books wishes they could have been….anyhow, i am just happy to live in a world where VELVET RAPTOR exists….last year at WPPI i introduced these books to everyone who came to my presentation…after that several talented photographers starting using their products….now i want to share them with my KISS THE GROOM world….although these are fabulous books if you are a photographer, they are really great for everyone….they’d make a lovely journal or scrap book too… so today i am happy to announce 1 lucky someone will win one of these beautiful books (pictured above)….just leave a comment & double check to make sure you are not on santa’s naughty list…may your day & nights be full of VELVET & PHOTOGRAPHS…..(gown by the CLAIRE PETTIBONE)…xoxo

sunday’s are for relaxing…just saying…xoxo

IMAGINE

“Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace

You, you may say
I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world

You, you may say
I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one
I hope some day you’ll join us
And the world will live as one”

the new year is gonna be full of pretty pictures…
be sure to open the newest issue of REVERIE MAGAZINE
on january 12th…i am so proud of this cover & the beautiful
spread of CLAIRE PETTIBONE’s incandescent gowns…xoxo

-NEW MEXICO-

LIFE ON LOCATION-as a photographer i am often on the road
i thought i’d be fun to start sharing some of my personal experiences….i’ll let you know about
the hotels i visit, sweet spots to eat & any other little details that might help you on your travels

it may come as a surprise to some, but NEW MEXICO is a second home to me…i grew up between CALIFORNIA & NEW MEXICO, my father still lives there & over the years i have been lucky enough to find some wonderful little gems, places to see & things to eat…so here is my insiders guide…

1st up…you must eat at THE SHED in SANTA FE….

now, usually i am a green chili kinda girl but on my last visit i ordered the chicken enchiladas with red chili…(they are known for their red chili) & let me just say it was pure deliciousness & spice…check out the MENU…(i also highly recommend the posole & green chili stew)…truth be told, you can’t go wrong…between the good food, mellow atmosphere & fabulous location, it is the perfect pitstop with a mix of travelers & locals alike…after lunch i recommend taking a stroll through SANTA FE…

2nd…look up…the light in NEW MEXICO is incandessent….
so beautiful & abundant & ever changing…a dream for a photographer…

3rd the sweetest ALPACA FARM called VICTORY RANCH….ever nestled in the hills outside of SANTA FE….ALPACAS are the sweetest softest creatures….after feeding & petting them for a while you can go to their gift shop & get yourself an ALPACA hat or sweater or some other cozy souvenier

4th the amazing EL SANTUARIO DE CHIMAYO

….this lovely church is one of my favorite places ever….

one of the most magical places i’ve been to…in the back of the chapel is
a little room with a small hole filled with dirt in the middle…this is sacred dirt
& people come from all over to take a little bit of it & say a prayer….there are many
crutches & noted that line the wall from all of the miracles that have taken place…

CHIMAYO is definitely worth a visist

the NEW MEXICO dessert mountain landscape is stunning….
fyi…much of TRUE GRIT was filmed in MORRA, filled beautiful
lush landscape just about 2 hours outside of SANTA FE….

& 5th…take a little walk through the ZOO in ALBUQUERQUE
(aka life on location meets life as a mother)

truth be told i am really not a big fan of zoo’s…in general they make
me sad & i have visions of setting the animals free…but as a mother of three
i find my children learn so much from a trip to the zoo…the ALBUQUERQUE
ZOO touches my heart because i remember going there as a little girl…there
are lovely grass areas you can sit in the afternoon sun & my children love
to feed the ducks…it is a literal feeding frenzy…

although new mexico is mostly dessert, there is
so much beautiful natural beauty everywhere…

simply put NEW MEXICO is a gem…well worth a road trip

please take a minute & let me know some of your favorite new mexico sweet spots
_______________________________

xoxo….elizabeth

“a strong desire for or impulse to wander or travel the world”

__________________________

where do you want to go?

“You’re not the man who gave me everything
I’ve ever wanted

You’re not the man
Who stepped inside my life
And haunted every, every day

You’re not the man
Who said he’d never leave
Couldn’t breathe
And could not sleep without me

That was someone who you left behind
A long time ago

You’re not the man
Who would bleed for me
Never shed a tear
You’re not the one
Said he’d always be near

You’re not the man
Who threw me a lifeline
And you’re not the man
I am so proud to call mine

And you’re not the one
Who said he’d never leave
The one who made me believe in me
That was someone who could do no wrong
But you lost him

You’re not the man
Who would bleed for me
But never shed a tear
You’re not the one
Who said he’d always, always, always be here
Said he’d always, always be near

But don’t get me wrong
Although it seems sad
It’s not all bad
You see
I’m not the little girl I used to be

You’re not the man
Not the one
Who said he’d always, always, always be near

He was everything you see
He made me believe in me
Said he’d always, always, always be here”

SADE

_________________________

keep up with all the KISSES…xoxo

a little more sweetness....

so honored to have photographed the cover of PORTLAND BRIDE & GROOM
& can i just say, my copy arrived in the mail last week & i was so blown away by
the quality of the paper…it is a stunning a magazine…large & full of page after page
of serious eye candy…brides will love the inspiration & photographers are sure to be
captivated by the feel & quality of this lovely magazine….it is truly a gem….xoxoxo

xoxo