Monthly Archives: March 2009

Click on the title of the blog post to view the entire entry.


And we’re off! The American Entrepreneur Portrait Project begins.

March 31, 2009 – 10:26 am

Today we set out on our journey to meet and photograph American Entrepreneurs.  Trent encouraged me to start my own business several years ago, and in 2008 I did the same for him.  As two small business owners, we’ve found this recent shift exciting, anxiety producing, even magical – opening doors we weren’t even dreaming of six months ago.

An Intimate Portrait of the American Entrepreneur. This is how is all begins:

  • Two adventurous American Entrepreneurs.
  • One adorable and furry snuggle machine a.k.a. Sadie, our dog.
  • One Corolla, packed to the gills with essentials.
  • Camera gear.
  • Twin portable hard drives- Yummy and Tickles.
  • Voice recorder and This American Life archives for interviewing inspiration.
  • Clothing for the cold altitudes and east coast attitudes ahead.
  • Emails, phone numbers and addresses of countless American Entrepreneurs between here and Boston.
  • Enthusiasm, moxie and vision.

The American Entrepreneur Project is sponsored in part by the automated marketing gurus at Infusionsoft and is championed by the spirited zeal of The Toilet Paper Entreprenuer and TPEs across the universe.

And we’re off!

By allana | Posted in travel | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (4)

wedding | san francisco city hall | sumner house

March 31, 2009 – 8:12 am

Taking awards in the following categories:

  • most artistic vows (in the groom category)
  • strangest pre-ceremony craving (in the bride category)
  • best use of limo ride

Celeste and Sergio got hitched yesterday at San Francisco City Hall. As we pulled up in the limo, we found Sergio waiting outside of City Hall, holding the paperwork and looking forward to seeing his bride. While waiting for their number to be called, Celeste had a corndog emergency of which her sister Emily promptly took charge.  With a happy and full stomach and only their immediate families and two witnesses, Celeste and Sergio stood in the rotunda at the top of the stairs and were married. On the way back to their reception site, Sumner House, they had the limo pull over at the Post Office where they placed handfuls of wedding announcements into the waiting mailboxes.  With another tier of guests, they read personal vows to each other.  A delectable Indian dinner was served along with flowing glasses of champagne; the guests kept coming and the dancing began. It was all joy and music and love and food.  This wedding was true reflection of two distinct individuals and their delight at being in love, as you can see below.  Can you tell I fell a little in love with the bouquet?

w0083paez-0010

w0083paez-0095

w0083paez-0192

w0083paez-0264

w0083paez-0280

w0083paez-0309

w0083paez-0338

w0083paez-0397

w0083paez-0473

w0083paez-0442

w0083paez-0451

w0083paez-0639

w0083paez-0684

w0083paez-0726

w0083paez-0763

w0083paez-0771

w0083paez-0815

w0083paez-0827

w0083paez-1057

w0083paez-1159

w0083paez-1174

Happy Cesar Chavez day!

By allana | Posted in weddings | Tagged , , | Comments (11)

engagement | kelley & joe | SF

March 22, 2009 – 5:23 pm

Against the wind, the whipping bursts of rain and gusts of sand, Kelley and Joe toughed out a cold and windy engagement shoot at one of my favorite San Francisco parks, Fort Funston.  I am usually there with Sadie, our dog, enjoying the views of the sea, the hills of the city. When it’s clear you can see out to the Fallarons and the peaks of the Golden Gate bridge.  Alas . . . yesterday was another story.

Despite the less than ideal weather, Kelley and Joe were upbeat and terrific to shoot.  Kelley kept warm snuggling into Joe’s arms, which seemed like the perfect place for her to spend a stormy afternoon. We ended the session with some coffee and pie at Joe’s of Westlake. Classic booths called for a sweet image in the evening light coming in through the windows. Lovely to be around two beautiful spirits – Looking forward to their August wedding in Danville.

arsmagna_wedding_sf_boston01

arsmagna_wedding_sf_boston02

arsmagna_wedding_sf_boston03

arsmagna_wedding_sf_boston04

arsmagna_wedding_sf_boston05

arsmagna_wedding_sf_boston06

arsmagna_wedding_sf_boston07

arsmagna_wedding_sf_boston08

arsmagna_wedding_sf_boston09

arsmagna_wedding_sf_boston10

By allana | Posted in Portraits, engagment portraits | Comments (2)

Sustainable Fine Jewelry Showcase

March 20, 2009 – 9:49 am

It was remarkable to come together as group of like-minded entrepreneurs who are working consciously to bring sustainable best practices to our businesses, and provide a viable alternative to our clients.Especially as a wedding vendor, finding beautiful custom ethically created commitment jewelry to recommend is wonderful.

Hosted by Meghan Connolly Haupt of C5 company and held at the W, last night several jewelry designers came together for a San Francisco Showcase of Sustainable Fine Jewelry. Featured sustainable designers: Jennifer Dawes, Alberto Parada, Kimarie Burnette and Amber Marie Bentley.  The sexy, sustainable style ladies from ecofabulous were also in attendence.

Guests were able to view and admire gorgeous pieces from designers who are all committed to sustainability. The gems featured were ethically sourced – including a unique rare gem from Turkey, Zultanite, and all the metals used were made from recycled precious metals.

The entire evening was held as a benefit for Under the Baobab Tree, a nonprofit dedicated to providing education, health care and economic opportunities in Malawi.

arsmagna_c5-3

arsmagna_c5-5

arsmagna_c5-7

arsmagna_c5-9

arsmagna_c5-21

arsmagna_c5-22

arsmagna_c5-53

arsmagna_c5-36

By allana | Posted in events | Comments (1)

wedding album | zoey & scott

March 15, 2009 – 4:45 pm

Just a quick share of Zoey and Scott’s wedding album before I ship to it down to them in Santa Monica. I chose a duo of warm brown leathers to work with the colors in the interior spreads. Happy Ides of March!

arsmagna_wedding_album8

arsmagna_wedding_album7

arsmagna_wedding_album6

arsmagna_wedding_album4

arsmagna_wedding_album5

arsmagna_wedding_album1

arsmagna_wedding_album3

arsmagna_wedding_album2

By allana | Posted in albums, weddings | Comments (1)

songs that are completely inappropriate for weddings

March 13, 2009 – 2:00 pm
  • Everyday I Love You Less and Less
  • Different Drum
  • Better Than Most – AC Newman
  • You Don’t Send Me
  • Seeing Other People
  • Not The Same
  • Ex- Darlin’
  • Trouble
  • I Can’t Seem to Make You Mine
  • Stranglehold
  • Ain’t that Asking For Trouble
  • No No No
  • Let’s Call if Off
  • Don’t Make Me Over
  • This is Not a Love Song

By allana | Posted in friday fun | Comments (0)

wedding album | Jana & Nii

March 10, 2009 – 12:04 pm

Sending out Jana and Nii’s album this week.  It’s always wonderful to relive the wedding through the narrative of an album.  The energy and mood of the day comes through as you turn the pages and interact with each images individually and in sequence.

Here a few images of their album, and some spreads that I love:

ars_magna_album-9

ars_magna_album-8

ars_magna_album-7

ars_magna_wedding_album1

ars_magna_wedding_album4

ars_magna_wedding_album3

ars_magna_wedding_album2

By allana | Posted in albums, weddings | Comments (2)

wedding site | pima osel ling

March 8, 2009 – 8:07 pm

This afternoon Tracy and Ryan took me on a little drive down into the Santa Cruz mountains to check out the site of their September wedding, the Pima Osel Ling Mountain Retreat.

The retreat is a place of peaceful and serene natural beauty, and I suspect that Tracy and Ryan will fill the entire place with boisterous fun; costume party rehearsal dinner, toasting with mead made of honey from Tracy’s beehive and possible impromptu whiffle ball games.  The ceremony will take place at the foot of a grove of redwood trees:

pema-ceremony-site2

And looking up from below – breathtaking:

pema-ceremony-site

Can’t wait for their wedding.

By allana | Posted in weddings | Comments (0)

in search of the lyrical

March 6, 2009 – 5:18 pm

I actually crossed three lanes of traffic to pull over and capture this double rainbow.  It was this vibrant in person. I’ve never seen a rainbow that was so distinctly a prism like this.  It was breathtaking.

k0070patton-0324

By allana | Posted in compelling scenes from history | Comments (0)

It was my birthday. Fact.

March 1, 2009 – 11:50 am

Yesterday was my birthday.  A fact which Trent wrote on the dining room wall – a la Dwight Shrute. This gesture had to be one of my favorite all time birthday cards.  We had a big birthday dinner last night – squeezing in an impressive amount of people and two dogs, and it was wonderful.  Many of the fantastic people we have met here in San Francisco all came together.  I’m so grateful to have such a fantastic group of people, all eating and drinking together.

Thanks to all who were able to come over, and to everyone who send their birthday wishes.  It was a lovely evening.

it-is-your-birthday

it-is-your-birthday2

By allana | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (2)