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I am a Ferrari

6 • 21 • 11

There are times in life when you are so high, jumping out of an airplane seems the only logical thing to do to come down. There are times when you’re so low, only a booze and drug drenched towel can wipe you off the floor. I’ve had my fair share of it all, the extreme highs, the pitch dark lows and everything between.

And you know how I get through it all? My friends. You can’t get so high alone. You’ve gotta have a friend by your side to fly. You can’t get out of a ditch without a hand reaching down to bring you back.
There are so many of you who have influenced my life and built beautiful friendships with me that mean so much. SO MANY of you. I am so blessed by all of you who are in my life. But specifically today, I’d like to call out Maureen. Sheila. Brandi. XTY. Roozbeh. Farano. Carol. Cecilia. Kelly. Hannah. and my g-funk Garrett.

Thanks for being my everything. I am everything through you. I am everything because of you.

I am a Ferrari. And you are my shiny, supportive rims that spin with me through it all. 🙂

orange photographer www.lovatoimages.com PINME

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June 24, 2011 - 12:26 pm

B-cicle - This drunken stupor is not what it seems. It helps me laugh… It helps me dream. — I AM. YOU ARE. <3

Orange County Charity Event | An Evening of Songs for Change

6 • 17 • 11

In January 2010, I traveled with 17 others to the other side of the world to try and help people. We bumped along dirt roads for hours and went out to remote villages in Tanzania to provide health care and aid to Africans unable to get medical attention. We helped many wounded, diseased and sick. But when we came back, I feel like we were the ones who were really helped. My life is forever changed because of these people and the help they gave me, showing me their side of the world. Their side of life.

And now it’s over a year later, and it’s easy to focus on only my side. It’s easy to push and strive and go to get better…for me. It’s easy to work hard and pay bills and spend money on stuff. It’s easy to slip on my shoes to go outside, or turn on the faucet to take a shower or pour some from my Brita to have a drink. It’s not so easy for them.

Health authorities believe that most diseases in Africa are carried through unhealthful contaminated water. Many of the issues we saw and treated will come back to the Tanzanians, because these villagers don’t have access to clean drinking water. So the Saint Paul’s Greek Orthodox Church Mission Committee has taken up arms to raise money and awareness for our Tanzanian friends, specifically by raising money for well-digging equipment in Western Tanzania. Providing fresh water will save lives and empower the Tanzanians to self sufficiency.

The Committee organized An Evening of Songs for Change with soprano Jamie Chamberlin and the Istochnik Choir to raise money for well-digging equipment in Western Tanzania. It was a beautiful event with music that blew me away. “We are literally saving lives tonight,” Jamie said after her first piece. Then she sang Ave Maria and the Istochnik’s sang Lord Have Mercy and I wept. Literally…as I was shooting, tears were streaming down my cheeks…the music was that moving.

So I’m sorry you missed a beautiful evening for a beautiful cause. But you can still help. You can still make a difference. Monetarily, sure (see donation button below). But more importantly, mindfully. Be thankful, folks. Not everyone has what we have. Not everyone has 9+ pairs of shoes to choose from, let alone one, not everyone has a Brita to quench their thirst, let alone a single clean drop…

orange county charity event www.lovatoimages.com PINME

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June 21, 2011 - 8:37 am

Robb Davidson - I love love LOVE these shots! There is an incredible blend of art, creativity, and still journalism to represent this event so well. I can smell the awesome lenses used from here!! Well done!

Fullerton Family Portraits | Influencing Lives

6 • 15 • 11

Joe and his sister Paula scheduled portraits in Fullerton of their four boys for their mother’s (or the boys’ grandmother’s) 70th birthday. Aged 14-17, these four brothers/cousins were a blast to shoot at the really cool Hillcrest Park. I love working with high schoolers because their perspective and attitudes are so interesting at that age. I remember the way I thought and felt in high school and it’s a trip to interact with kids who are in that crazy stage.

So we had a good time. Got some good images. Sent them the proofs, they loved, ordered their prints and then the disc and were going to order a canvas, and we were about set. But then Paula emailed me one morning about a week later…and with a few tears I realized that the importance of my work reaches depths that I most often don’t even know of…influencing people and their lives in ways I never could have envisioned through my viewfinder vision.

On 4/15/11 10:33 AM, “Paula” wrote:

Hi Jackie – I wanted to share with you an email from my brother regarding one of the photos you took – how powerful it is to us. I think I have read this 10 times and cried each time. Joe will be instructing you on which one for the canvas, I don’t want to confuse you about that. I just knew you could appreciate his sentiment here.

Have a great day

Paula

From: Joe

Sent: Thursday, April 14, 2011 8:58 AM

To: ‘Paula’

Subject: RE: Mom’s Bday

Let’s make a decision today / tonight if possible as I want to get this to the canvas place and try to get the picture in time for Mom’s party.

Take a long look at picture #1. The boys are sitting on steps very similar in style and construction to those that grandpa used throughout the home they built. As discussed, the era is also from this same great depression that provided Grandma and Grandpa with such tremendous challenge and more important, opportunity. I see these boys sitting at the bottom of a long set of strong steps pointing upward and believe they have the opportunity to climb a path provided for them with the hard work of those who came before. As I look up though the steps in the photo and into the sky above I believe and feel Dad looking down on them, smiling, and I hope influencing their lives.

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Orange Portraits, a Trio of Love

6 • 14 • 11

I’m quite pleased with the images from this shoot and I’m not sure if it’s that they’re actually good, or that the subject matter is so close to heart.

You see, when I first met Geoff and his kids, I was smitten…mainly with Wesley to tell you the truth. That little brown nose and that little sweet face…Ruby and Geoff were cute too but Wesley had it goin’ on. Then Geoff asked if I’d take pictures for Wesley’s birthday and I immediately agreed to a pet portrait session trade (Geoff’s a video editor, so stay tuned for a new promo video coming soon!).

So we did the shoot, got some fab images and then I kinda fell in love. With all three of them…but Wesley has lost the lead. So I’ve put off posting this sesh on the blog because I haven’t quite known what to say.

I’m a lover. And some people have tried to dismiss my love as it’s so free flowing, wide ranged and seemingly (to some), watered down. But this little family has become very dear to me indeed and I just have to make it known. I couldn’t have posted this session w out highlighting my love for this trio.

Some loving points to consider:

-Wesley is grumpy at times, but he’s straight 15 lbs of unconditional love. Even if you made him grumpy 5 seconds ago, he’ll turn around and love you the same again (I love this about dogs).

-Ruby is the biggest little love emission source I’ve ever seen. Touch her and love oozes out. Smell her and your nose is full of it.

-Geoff has become a beautiful backbone of love and support to me as our relationship has grown. He’s been a best friend to me lately as I’ve been struggling through some rough times and I’m thankful he’s on my team.

So this trio means a lot to me, and even though we weren’t as close when this session was shot, I hope you can see the loveliness in each image.

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July 9, 2012 - 8:00 am

Michelle - These pictures brought tears to my eyes. We never booked our planned dog session with you; unfortunately, the first dog I had adopted on my own, and had seen me through the most harsh of times, fell ill the week of my (supposed to be awesome 40th leap year birthday) and we had to make the gracious choice of letting him move on to a peaceful place without pain. Randy thought to call you last minute, but I felt it was too late. Please feel free to share this with anyone, dog lover or not. We are now blessed with our second rescue from SBACC who is a Chocolate Min Pin like the little guy on your photos. I will be calling you within a short time to set up a “sesh.”

Thank you for your inspiring photos and courageous, skill- building words.

Peaceful, Easy, Breezy | Orange Engagement Portraits | Jill + Jeff

6 • 9 • 11

Jill and Jeff are one of those couples that are easy to be around. They’re cute together. They’re super comfortable together. Together, they illustrate an effortless form of compassion that makes you believe in easy love.

And by easy I don’t mean there isn’t conflict or drama or disaster. That exists everywhere. But what doesn’t exist everywhere is the strength and commitment that Jill and Jeff have for one another. And that depth with one another makes their love easy; easy only because their love is stronger than anything else. I could see all this just by watching they way looked at one another…

He’s sweet with her. She’s real with him. For five years they’ve made it through life’s ups and downs, and finally this December they’ll tie the knot. The legal and spiritual knot that will bind them together forever. And no one’s ever said that marriage is easy. But Jill and Jeff have that peaceful easy feeling together…light and breezy and seemingly easy on top of their earnest and everlasting love.

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June 12, 2011 - 8:53 am

Christina Tsichlis - wow! they’re some sort of adorable together. i love the shot with the three filled in windows and the power line for the lead in line. they both look tiny and manage to be the focus, like they’re in their own world. 🙂