Ivan’s baptism invitations arrived today.
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Well since my last blog post was about reflection on 2009. This blog post is about moving forward for 2010. Notice anything new? Yes I’ve completely changed our portfolio and blog layout and finalized my logo. And what better day than today to launch the new look. This totally completes my transition from web/graphic designer & part-time wedding/lifestyle photographer to a full time wedding & lifestyle photographer running on my own. Fail or Succeed it’s all in my hands now.
Do you like the new look? Let me know what you think.
Oh and for those of you reading this on facebook – follow this link to view the new layout. http://www.kimmendozaphotography.blogspot.com
This 1st month of the New Year is coming to an end in few days. Time just seems to fly when your as old as I am I guess. 2009 has been really wonderful to me, I got the opportunity to grow dramatically in my photography skills and as a person as well. I’m not the social butterfly by any means…I’m a bit shy. But thanks to the so many wonderful couples who I’ve meet with in the past year and their wonderful family and friends who embraced me into their world just for one day… I was actually that social butterfly prancing around to capture such beautiful moment. And at every corner I was greeting with a smile.
In 2009 we doubled in wedding booking and we are hoping to be doubling that number in 2010 – now that I am dedicated full time as a Wedding & Portrait Photographer. Available 7 days a week! =)
So looking back here are a few of my favorite shots of 2009 a collection from wedding photography, event photography, family portrait, senior portraits, children & newborn photography. A big thank your to all my clients and as a gesture of my appreciation for letting see a glimps into your beautiful lives – I will be giving away an 11×14 to the image that is voted as best of 2009. If you have suggestions for a favorite that your have seen from this past year please email me at info(at)kmendozaphoto.com and I will add it to the list.
Voting begins now and will end February 1, 2010.
Please vote by leaving a comment along with the image number you like and maybe a little tidbit on why (just maybe) =)
1.These two following images were shot in one of my favorite fields out here in mountain house. Mountain House has been a location with so much potiential with stunning natural scenery – i’m so lucky to be living here!
2.Location: Mountain House, California
3.Location: Altamont Hills, California
4.Location: Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, California
5.Location: San Francisco, Calfornia
6.San Francisco, California
7.Location: Irvine, California
8.Location: San Francisco, California
9.Location: Stockton, California
10.Location: Oakdale, California
11.Location: Mountain House, California
12.Location: San Jose, California
13.Location: San Francisco, California
14.Location: Pleasanton, California
15.Location: Modesto, California
16.Location: San Jose, California
17.Location: San Francisco, California
18.Location: Pasadena, California
19.Location: Stockton, California
20.Location: Alameda, California
21.Location: San Francisco, California
23.Location: San Francisco, California
24.Location: Modesto, California
25.Location: Santa Cruz, California
Miya & Jeff, you were cutting it really close. Your email arrived in my mailbox at 11:59PM. Whew! Our one last story for the night.
Couple #4: Miya & Jeff’s Story
We were sixteen years old when we first met…
To make an epic story (a tad) more concise, Jeff and I had admired one another from afar for almost a year before we were set up by our close friends. I needed a date for my junior prom. Jeff’s best friends were dating my closest girlfriends at the time and they all thought it would be a great idea to get us to go to prom together. It was the night that started everything. We instantly clicked and conversations flowed like water. From that night on, we were inseparable. We spent the rest of our high school career together, young, and crazy in love. When it was time to start thinking about college, I decided to follow him and attend the same college he was planning on attending. Awesome decision for an eighteen year old in the midst of her first love, right?? Not so much (duh).
We spent the majority of our freshman year in college fighting like cats and dogs. While in love, we were too young to think to compromise in order to make our relationship work. We both knew that we would always love each other, but right before Thanksgiving of our sophomore year in college, we decided it was no longer a healthy choice for us to stay together.
During the time we were apart we were able to focus on ourselves and finishing school. In addition, we both dated around and enjoyed being single, for a while. We reunited nearly two years later and have been together ever since. It has been over ten years.
This past December a few days before Christmas he proposed by taking me to all of the significant places in our relationship and then asking me on a park bench. It was perfect, for us.
We will be starting our first day of voting for the Soulmates Contest tomorrow. I sat down this evening to start preparing for tomorrow’s blog entry for the voting process when low and behold, one last entry for the contest pops up in my mail box. Thank you to all the wonderful couples who have shared their story with us over the past month. I have enjoyed each and every story, but in the end it’s not up to me – I wish everyone the best of luck and we will be posting the voting polls tomorrow afternoon.
Couple #4: Kathy & Danny’s Story
This story begins four and half years ago on May 19th 2005.
He was a high school senior just three weeks away form graduation and she was a freshman looking forward to the next few of years that would end her childhood. It was just two days from prom. Kathy really wanted to go with her friends but couldn’t because she wasn’t a senior. Danny wanted to go but his date canceled. They weren’t looking, but they found each other.
May 21st, 2005
Right before prom (on the right)
He was nervous when he picked her up. He was so nervous, it took him almost 10 minutes to open up the corsage box. Neither of them knew how the night would turn out or whether they would even enjoy it. It turned out to be one of the best nights either of them would ever have.
While Danny and Kathy were waiting to go home, they both saw a star dart across the sky. She told him to make a wish while she did the same. Danny would tell you what he wished for but then it wouldn’t come true and it holds great importance to his future plans. Her wish however was a little more obvious. She batted her eyes and puckered her lips, and who could blame her. But he was gentleman and he didn’t kiss on the first date, besides it was a lot more fun watching her squirm in anticipation. So that night ended with a nice hug and a “good night” at her doorstep. She was dying for a kiss, but for him it was a perfect ending to a great night.
May 23, 2005
Two days later, they were already on the phone talking about their feelings. It was obvious what Kathy wanted, but she wasn’t sure what was on his mind. So she asked, “What do you want?” He said, in the softest, most honest whisper, “I want YOU.” and that was it. One date and they were in love.
June 1st, 2005
She was in concert choir, and (lucky for her) he was in chamber choir. That meant that both of them would be going on the end of the year trip to Santa Cruz. The ride there was beautiful. It was great getting to spend time together before Danny graduated. Just ten more days until he would leave. Yup, leave. “Hey, Danny? How long will you be going for?” Someone asked. “Thirteen weeks,” he said quietly. “Shhh, she doesn’t like to think about it.” Kathy gave a glare and then pretended nothing was happening. She didn’t like to think about him going away to boot camp. In just 10 days he would be in the Marine Corps unable to see her, talk to her, or even finish getting to know her.
But that time they spent was enough. They wrote back and forth. They stayed and even grew in love. And after what seemed like forever, Danny returned. But the hard part wasn’t over yet. Danny was only there for the weekend, because on Monday, he had to be 3 and a half hours away for his first day at Chico State. He was already three weeks late, and couldn’t stay even a minute longer. And so, after all that waiting, they said good-bye again.
October 2006
A year and half went by and it became harder and harder to make it work. They were both in separate places. She was a teenager and he was a man. They wanted different things and in the end went their separate ways. Throughout the time they were apart they were the best of friends. And for 2 years, that‘s what they were. It was in that time that their love matured and became whole.
Being best friends, Danny went over to Kathy’s house to help her apply for college. They used Chico State as their foundation. Kathy went through the process and completed the form with no intention of attending. She saw it as practice and some could say a “back-up”. For even while Danny and Kathy dated, she had no intention of joining Danny. Since he was 3 years older, they would only be there a year together and that didn’t seem worth it.
October, 2007
Low and behold, Kathy received her letter of acceptance just two weeks after submitting the application. And after some careful thinking, realized she didn’t want to turn down a school that so obviously wanted her. Unfortunately, Kathy had some life difficulties during her senior year and did not qualify to attend, and assumed she was unaccepted and moved on with her life.
About three weeks before fall, Kathy received a letter informing her she was still accepted and welcome to attend in the fall. But Kathy had gotten a good job just two months before and didn’t want to lose it. Kathy told her boss, who then called their district, and that day Kathy was transferred to Chico; no questions asked! It seemed like it was meant to be.
September, 2008
Finally, Danny and Kathy were reunited. There was no discussion about it, it just was. It was a perfect fall and start to their new found love as adults. Kathy was looking forward to Halloween in Chico, when suddenly, her plans were interrupted. Danny was being deployed in November to Iraq. And the waiting begins.
December, 2009
Now back from Iraq, Kathy and Danny cannot wait any longer. Everything seemed to have fallen into place at the right time, effortlessly. They’ve had a great 4 and half years and now, there is no doubt in their minds that this is true love and that true love can last though the ages. No matter how much time passes, how many miles in between, or how many years apart they are in age, they have grown together; they have made it.
Marine Corps Ball ’08
