Bridal Diapers are they for real and who wears them?

posted in Misc.,Weddings on Friday 13 August 2010 at 5:47 pm

OK my neighbor came across this article and I had to share it.  I have to admit this is one of the weirdest things I’ve come across that a bride would need to wear.  In the article it says that it takes over 20 to take the dress off and on.  I”m sorry but I’d get a new dress before I put a diaper on for the day.  How uncomfortable and what are you going to change it.  Wouldn’t it take as long?  Why can’t you have your girlfriends take you in to the handicap stall and hold your dress up.  Women have been doing that for generations. I admit if you have a problem then that is understandable but because your dress is too big.  It just cracked me up and I hope it makes you chuckle.

http://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/fashionista-blog/bride-diapers

Flamingo’s Food Drive Fundraiser and Potluck Mixer| Second Harvest Food Bank San Jose

partyflamingo12 There are 120,524 children in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties who are at risk for experiencing hunger during the summer months.  Summer is the season of childhood hunger.   The Share Your Lunch campaign is committed to collecting food and raising funds that will be used to feed children during the summer months when they do not receive free or reduced-price meals at school.  The need is great.  The Summer of 2010 will be one of the most difficult seasons for local families to endure. Second Harvest is partnering with the community to help stave off hunger for thousands of children who don’t know where their next meal will come from.  Statistics along from summer of 2008 to summer of 2009  increased by 30% for the demand on the local food bank.   To meet the increased need, the Share Your Lunch campaign has a fund raising goal of $1 million and collection goal of 100,000 pounds of food. Reaching these goals will provide food to approximately 85,000 children each month this summer.

Flamingo and I will be hosting “Flamingos Family Food Drive and Potluck Mixer” along with some other talented and giving individuals in the wedding community.  The event will be on June 22 at Edith Morley Park in Campbell.  This will be a very laid back and family fun mixer with some of the greatest people in the wedding industry.  A potluck dinner/picnic and a lot of activites for adults and kids.  Yes, I said kids! We encourage you to bring your families and  your dogs as long as they are on their leash.  In fact, dress your dog up for the “hottest dog” contest.  It’s a picnic you have to have HOT DOGs.  They can literally be dressed up as hotdogs or as HOT DOGS your choice.

How can you help with the fundraiser

· Bring a minimum of 10 food items or a minnimum donation of $10. Each $10 feeds abut 20 kids.

· Bring a dish to pass for 6-8 people.(Salads, fried chicken, sandwiches, pastas, veggies, fruit, etc) (preferebly in a disposable tin so we don’t have to worry about them)

· BYOB Bring your own beverages (not allowed to sell anything there)

· Bring a blanket or chairs-some tables are provided.

· Gas grills are allowed but no charcol grills

·Below is a great video where you can learn more about how Second Harvest Food Bank and how they help children and schools.  There is also a link for food request that you can bring to the food drive.  If your not able to make it there a link and directions are so you can donate online to Flamingo’s Food drive.


Here is a link of most requested food items

http://www.shfb.org/ffdmostneededfoods

You can RSVP and let us know your coming a:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=134211689926484

If you can’t make it but would like to make a donation go to the following link.

https://donate.shareyourlunch.net/

Donor type: Family and Friends
Organization: Flamingos Food Drive




Wish Upon a Wedding “National Raise Awareness Week”

posted in For Photographers,Misc.,Weddings,press on Friday 5 March 2010 at 12:16 pm

Just wanted to share a little bit with you about a great organization that has just started up here in the bay area.  It is called Wish Upon a Wedding.  Starting on Monday is National Raise Awareness week for the organziation. The purpose of Wish Upon a Wedding is to produce weddings and civil union ceremonies at destinations across the USA for terminally ill individuals, regardless of sexual orientation. Below is the first recipient’s story and her wedding is only a few days away. With twenty chapters across the nation, we are ready to begin making dreams come true.  To find out more about them and ways you might be able to help you can find them on the web, facebook, and twitter.

In 2002, Florence had moved from Oklahoma City to be with her mother in the San Francisco Bay Area. After moving there, she decided to stay.

A few years later, in 2006 Florence was on her way to a birthday party, to hang out with her girlfriends. As usual, she waited for the Route 93 Bus. That evening, Michael the bus driver noticed Florence and began a conversation with her. Route 93 was his regular route, and Florence and Michael began to see more and more of each other.

He asked for her phone number, and eventually called her. After playing hard to get, Florence finally decided to answer the phone. For their first date, Michael asked Florence out to dinner in San Francisco. They ate dinner by the wharf, watching the boats come in and out of the bay, and they began to fall in love.

Michael told Florence he’d found his other half and wanted to be her husband.

When Florence was diagnosed with cancer, she worried Michael might leave. But he was always there for her, supporting her throughout the entire experience, including a double mastectomy.

Michael proposed to Florence by saying “I want to make you my wife” and “make our family official”. He let her know that no matter what happens, he loves her and wants to be with her unconditionally.

Florence and Michael | Wish Upon a Wedding Wish Recipient

Wish Upon a Wedding is proud to grant Florence and Michael their wish of a very special wedding, set to take place on March 13, 2010.

Thank you to my past clients for nominating us for Wedding Wire’s 2010 Bride Choice Award!

posted in Boudoir "Girly" Sessions,Destinations,Engagements,Misc.,Personal,Weddings on Tuesday 9 February 2010 at 1:39 pm

San Jose, CA Febrruary 09, 2010 – WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced Jill Johnson Photography has been selected to receive the WeddingWire 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards™ for Wedding Photography.

The annual Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence in quality and service within the wedding industry, as determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 500,000 newlyweds.

Jill Johnson Photography is among the top five percent of all vendors in the WeddingWire community, which includes over 100,000 wedding professionals across the US and Canada. Awards were given to winners across 19 different service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers.

“We are excited to recognize and honor the success of the top wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “The annual Bride’s Choice Awards program has given us the unique opportunity to highlight the best wedding professionals in each region as reviewed by brides and grooms who have utilized their services in the past year.”

We are happy to announce that Jill Johnson is among the very best Wedding Photographers within the WeddingWire Network, which includes WeddingWire and Martha Stewart Weddings. We would like to thank our past newlyweds for nominating us for the 2010 Bride’s Choice Awards.

Happy New Year! We are currently booking for 2010.

posted in Misc. on Monday 4 January 2010 at 1:30 pm

Happy New Year everyone.  We are so excited about the new year and can’t wait to tell you about some of our favorite things about 2009 and to share with you what has been going on.  But there is so many things to do , show, edit, and blog that I just wanted to say hello so that I could get working on all the things to share.  So many of you sent such wonderful cards and gifts and I was so touched.  It was so fun to hear what was going on with your lives.   One of my favorites was a couple sent me a picture of the dog they said they were always going to get.  They named him Burger, love that!  Plus, they even had more exciting news that they were expecting their first child.  So many of you shared your adventures of 2009 and your plans for 2010 it made my day.

Over the holiday my e-mail and computer came down with a horrible virus.  The doctors weren’t able to save it.  So, if you wouldn’t mind resending me your contact info.  I would so appreciate it.  So saying that 2010 is also teaching me a whole new operating system etc.  My first challenge of the year.

If your new and looking for a photographer I’m so looking forward to talking with you and getting to know you too.  Please contact me with any questions or to set up an appointment.  Now off to work so I can share what we did and what have cooking for 2010.

Last  in the meantime if your planning a wedding don’t forget to check out the Vintage and Consignment dresses and the wonderful Vendors that make up Adorn Bridal in Los Gatos.

“Faces to Recognize” a great idea from a bride

posted in Misc.,Weddings on Saturday 20 June 2009 at 3:12 pm

Kelly, one of my brides, sent me over the coolest thing when I asked for her final papers.   Normally , I ask all my couples to send me a wish list.   I ask them to list things that they want us to try and photograph during the day.  I tell them I know to get you coming down the aisle, the toast, the cake, all the things that happen at most weddings.  What I like to know is the broche that your wearing was your grandmothers, the watch he’s wearing was a gift from his father, we decorated with wheat because it is significant to my fiance’s family etc.  Make sure you get the different centerpieces I spent 50 hours picking them out and I want to remember them.   I also ask them to make a list of groupings they want taken.  I have about 6 standard family formals that I do.  If there is time and they are requestiong more I ask them to list the people and the groups they want.  For example my mom and her brother, they haven’t seen each other in 5 years and he’ll be there.  I’d like a photo with all my nieces and nephews.  Family dynamics can be difficult at times so this is also when I ask will divorced parents be in a photo together etc.  It is like a blue print for the day and for us to know  what and who is important.

So when Kelly sent me over this page with family member photographs I loved it.  I didn’t have to guess if they were family or not and I knew ahead of time who to look out for during the day.  She called it Faces to Recognize.  It was great.  She also sent me another page that had some poses and photos I’d taken at other events that she loved.  This was such a fantastic asset.   Thanks Kelly for the inspiration.  I’m going to ask other couples to do the same thing.

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Your invited to “Una Bella Sera” April 5, 2009 at the Julia Morgan Ballroom

posted in Engagements,Misc.,Personal,Weddings,events on Monday 23 March 2009 at 1:13 pm

I am so pleased to be part of the Una Bella Serra again this year and more excited to invite you.  All past, present, and future couple are invited to participate in a wonderful experience created by Amaze Special Events and Nicole Ha Floral design.  A World of Glamour will definatly knock your socks off as you see what these two talented and  creative professionals can do with their magical skills. This event will be held on Sunday, April 5, 2009 at the infamous and historical Julia Morgan Ballroom at the Merchant Exchange Building in San Francisco.

You will be inspired as you view the latest trends, tabletops, and floral designs for your wedding or event.  Come out for a night of inspiration, fun, entertainment and food.  We know you won’t be disappointed and I personally would love to see you there.  There is a limited amount of spaces available for this event so please register yourself at www.unabellasera.com.  Also, check out the list of other vendors that will be there under The Great List.

Here are a couple of shots from last years event.

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Behind the scenes, special thank you’s, and just stuff from WPPI 2009

posted in Flamingo,For Photographers,Misc.,PUG on Friday 27 February 2009 at 4:32 pm

Like I mentioned earlier we had a fantastic time and here are just some of the behind the scenes stuff.  Andrew Hsu of MSV Studios hung out with us crazy girls for the week and was an intricate team member. He did a fantastic job on all the videos for the presentation.  To see some of them about Dork energy check out his blog.  These were just funny silly stuff and if he can make this look good then you know he can do it all.   He does amazing work so if your looking for a videographer check out his website.  You’ll love working with him

Andrews Hsu of MSV Studio’s Video Recap of WPPI!  Click here for some behind the scenes fun and to watch the video.

Andrew was just one of the amazing sponsors we had for this talk.  Besides Andrew the main sponsors were Richard’s Photo lab and YWD Magazine.  A special thank you to Richards because they really encouraged Tanja to do this.  YWD provided beautiful magazines for everyone attending the talk.  Plus, we had some wonderful give aways from some very special companies!  Special thanks to:  Big Folio, Gigbooks, Gross National Product, Carlos Baez “Seeing the Light”, Fast Track Photographer, Fuji Film, and Waxworks.  In fact here I am with Leah the super talented artist behind waxworks.(We’re in the right hand corner of the collage).   I’ll be talking about them later. :)

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