Chasing the Light - girkephoto blog

Valerie and Ryan - Reception

2012-03-02T10:45:00.001-08:00

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Kids Being Kids - Fun at the Wedding - Just Few More

2012-02-29T19:55:00.001-08:00

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The faces speak volumes...

Guess who was Mr. Popular?

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Valerie & Ryan - Mission Inn Wedding, Riverside - More Images

2012-02-29T16:30:00.000-08:00

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Finding new favorites every day...

Mission Inn offers many beautiful places with lovely details and the perfect light. I love to photograph there.

www.girkephoto.com

Kids Being Kids - Fun at the Wedding

2012-02-28T18:13:00.001-08:00

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I love moments like this. Spontaneous and sweet moments that now will be remembered as a part of the wedding, and being a family, or just having a good time.

Valerie & Ryan - Mission Inn Wedding, Riverside

2012-02-27T17:12:00.003-08:00

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Valerie and Ryan said "YES" to each other in the romantic Mission Inn in Riverside.

The Bridal Room was filled with bridesmaids, friends and cute little girls laughing, twirling and running around.

And the first kiss as a married couple...

Group shot with rose petals in front of the St. Francis of Assisi Chapel.

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Introducing Standouts

2012-02-23T11:22:00.000-08:00

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Watring Family

2012-02-22T21:54:00.001-08:00

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I have to give all the credit for planning and executing the creation of this collage to Sharon, the most amazing mom of nine. The collage is meant as a support of a dear family member.

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Childhood Friends: Paloma and Helena

2012-02-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

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What a better way to spend an afternoon than singing your favorite songs with your best friend and just "hanging out"? Thank you, Paloma and Helena, you were awesome and your singing delightful.

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Paloma

2012-02-21T18:55:00.000-08:00

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I'm a big fan of back lighting. Here are my first attempts with off-camera-flash. Love the look of it ...

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Valerie - Boudoir Images

2012-02-17T08:26:00.000-08:00

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This was my first boudoir shoot. In the past, I'd say "Sorry, this is not my style. I don't do this kind of photography". Valerie, who is getting married in only 9 days, convinced me to give it a try, and I ventured into this new field. Thank you, Valerie. It was wonderful to work with. I'm looking forward to photograph your wedding.

www.girkephoto.com

Sweet Baby Boy

2012-02-15T16:00:00.000-08:00

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Sweet little baby boy is here. He looks like his daddy and has conquered his mom's heart already. Congratulations Stacy and Aaron.

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Mother and Daughter

2012-02-15T15:50:00.000-08:00

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Mother and Daughter. Friends. So lovely together...

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Janine

2012-02-13T09:05:00.000-08:00

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Some trees on Victoria Avenue in Riverside were blooming white and pink and provided a nice background for a portrait of a young girl. Thank you, Janine. It was a pleasure working with you.

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Jennifer

2012-02-11T08:35:00.000-08:00

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Time of Wonders

2012-02-10T12:02:00.000-08:00

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Time of Wonders

2012-02-09T18:15:00.000-08:00

When a pebble is a treasure...

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The Cutest Mickey Fan and His 2nd B-Party

2012-01-23T09:24:00.000-08:00

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This weekend was a special 2nd B-Party celebration for little P., a big Mickey Fan. The party took place in The Children's Museum in La Habra. Little P. and his guest had a lot of fun exploring and playing. His creative parents lovingly designed and handcrafted many Mickey related sweets, gifts and details. It was a pleasure to photograph this little man's big day.

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Ocean View in Rancho Palos Verdes

2012-01-16T18:31:00.000-08:00

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Views like this still take my breath away. Rancho Palos Verdes is full of hiking opportunities and gorgeous ocean views.

Enjoy. Every. Moment

2012-01-13T15:26:00.000-08:00

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It is January and the weather is mild with those absolutely gorgeous beams of light. Light like this makes me happy.

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Photography Workshop: FEBRUARY 2012

2012-01-06T12:05:00.000-08:00

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BECAUSE SO MANY OF YOU ASKED.... HERE IT IS: GirkePHOTO WORKSHOP

Do you own a DSLR camera and would like to learn how to use it? Join our workshop and learn to create images that will impress your family and friends. We will tailor our instructions to your specific needs and there will be plenty opportunities to practice. The availability is limited to ensure individual attention.

One more clarification: $60 per attendee per Sunday

Coffee Table Albums - New Sizes

2012-01-04T14:16:00.000-08:00

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Simple lines & stylish design

Our coffee table books are a great way to present and share your favorite images. Wedding, baby or family photos - the albums are sure to become your family's heirloom.

Photo Shoot With Philipp

2012-01-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

Yep, that's me. Thought it was about time to come out of my safety zone, which is BEHIND the camera. Special thanks to my son, Philipp, who without farther ado graciously agreed to this little Wednesday morning photo shoot.

New Year, New Dreams

2012-01-02T12:38:00.000-08:00

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Children have the wonderful ability to completely get lost in the moment... That's one of the reasons I love to photograph them.

Chasing the light, chasing the dreams, trying something new... May 2012 will be full of wonderful surprises.

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Red Haired Baby Girl

2011-12-28T17:58:00.000-08:00

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Sweet Holiday Traditions

2011-12-28T11:21:00.000-08:00

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Make a Wish...

2011-12-27T19:23:00.000-08:00

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Monica, Michelle, and Christian - More Images from San Clemente

2011-12-26T11:40:00.000-08:00

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Michelle - Photo Shoot Under the Pier

2011-12-25T13:58:00.000-08:00

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Happy Holidays

2011-12-25T13:45:00.000-08:00

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Monica - Photo Shoot Under the Pier

2011-12-24T13:38:00.000-08:00

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Beautiful Monica in gorgeous light...

...and some belly laughs too...

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Kylie - More Images

2011-12-22T16:01:00.000-08:00

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...because it is so hard to choose...

Kylie - High School Senior Portraits

2011-12-21T13:23:00.000-08:00

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Kylie was just wonderful to work with: easygoing, graceful, and beautiful in and out. The photo shoot was very harmonious. We just moved from one gorgeous location, enjoyed the magical light, and got to know each other a little.

Kylie, I hope the future holds wonderful things for you. Thank you for a lovely afternoon.

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Purrrrrfectly Cozy

2011-12-13T12:15:00.000-08:00

Winter Palace Dream

2011-12-07T16:05:00.000-08:00

This photo shoot was styled in collaboration with the very talented Judy Davis,a designer and mom extraordinaire. Thank you, Judy, for this special Wednesday morning. J& J, you are both amazing.

More Images of Alec & Fabian

2011-11-29T11:31:00.000-08:00

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We had to climb a steep hill to get those shots. Alec and Fabian were awesome. Thank you for your enthusiasm, boys!

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Sunset in San Clemente

2011-11-26T11:17:00.000-08:00

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This was my first visit to San Clemente, a small beach town between LA and San Diego. It makes me happy to see any kind of water. I think the reason is because I grew up at the lakes in Poland. (This is for Polish friends who are reading my blog: Jestem z Mazur, z Mragowa.) Can't wait to go to the beach again. This image (above) is a result of my experiments with HDR photography. Here again, special thanks to my talented son, Philipp, for his advice and encouragement.

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Naomi - Part II

2011-11-25T17:37:00.000-08:00

Alec, Fabian, and Grandma's Visit

2011-11-25T16:33:00.000-08:00

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Naomi - Prelude

2011-11-21T21:05:00.000-08:00

Quintero Brothers

2011-11-21T21:03:00.000-08:00

More images to come soon...

In the Rain...

2011-11-20T16:50:00.000-08:00

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girkephoto PORTFOLIO

For Bertha

2011-11-19T19:23:00.000-08:00

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Silhouettes

2011-11-17T08:45:00.000-08:00

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Kerah

2011-11-16T08:01:00.000-08:00

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Kerah has the high school years ahead of her. I'm sure she will enjoy them.

Best wishes for your future, girls.

girkephoto portfolio HERE

Kriston - High School Senior

2011-11-15T07:58:00.000-08:00

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Easygoing and cheerful. Always smiling.

Kriston & Kerah : Sisters

2011-11-14T08:20:00.000-08:00

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Kriston is a senior this year and originally this was supposed to be her high school senior photo shoot. The family decided to include her younger sister, Kerah. I've photographed this family for several years and love to catch up with returning clients and see the children grow.

Kriston and Kerah grew into beautiful young ladies. By the way they smile at each other one can tell that they truly care for each other and have a lot of fun together. Seeing those images makes me miss my sisters!

I'll follow up with Kriston's images in the next post.

girkephoto.com PORTFOLIO

Sunset in Malibu

2011-11-12T08:51:00.000-08:00

Natalie and Camryn

2011-11-07T12:22:00.000-08:00

An afternoon in the park with Natalie and Camryn was filled with running, jumping and some giggles.

I love the expressions on children's faces when they run.

The colors of their outfits were nicely coordinated by the mom.

Such a nice family... It was a pleasure.

Location, Light and a Nice Family

2011-11-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

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Family photo shoots are wonderful experiences. Don't wait. Email us today.
elisabeth.girke@gmail.com

girkephoto PORTFOLIO

Bruschetta with Tomato and Basil

2011-11-03T11:01:00.000-07:00

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Easy to make and always delicious. Remembering Italy...

girkephoto PORTFOLIO

Philipp

2011-11-02T19:07:00.000-07:00

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Lovely Photo Gifts

2011-11-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

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My photo albums and mounted prints are my most cherished possession. When I look through the pages, and I often do, I'm transported to the times when they were taken and my other senses respond to the visual stimulus. Photos = memory.

Photo albums and mounted prints preserve your images in a beautiful and stylish way. It is worth finish your photo session with a high quality product. After all, beautiful images deserve a stunning presentation.

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T07:24:00.000-07:00

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girkephoto.com PORTFOLIO

Still Life with Pear

2011-10-29T15:08:00.000-07:00

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girkephoto.com Portfolio

First Cupcake and More... - Part II

2011-10-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

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Well, "cupcakes are overrated", she seemed to think. But they are fun to play with...

So much cuteness...

I love to include bubbles in my sessions with the little ones.

First Cupcake and More...

2011-10-26T22:10:00.000-07:00

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This little girl couldn't be more adorable. I'm so happy to be part of her "First Cupcake Experience".

I can still hear them giggle...

Bridgett Lou has the most beautiful smile and she loves to share it.

Not even one year old and she is walking.

Does she like it? More images to come...

Portfolio

Family Portrait Sessions

2011-10-26T08:38:00.000-07:00

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Are you dreaming about beautiful portraits of your family? Don't wait. Contact us today.

Custom Family Portraits by Elisabeth Girke Photography

Portfolio

Skipping, Twirling and Bubble Gum - Part II

2011-10-24T07:48:00.000-07:00

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Portfolio

Skipping, Twirling and Bubble Gum - Part I

2011-10-23T17:49:00.000-07:00

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This photo shoot was so much fun, that the children didn't want it to end.

To see Elisabeth Girke's portfolio click here

More Images of McKenna and Casey

2011-10-20T17:34:00.000-07:00

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I'll let the images speak for themselves...

Prelude - Casey and McKenna

2011-10-20T10:49:00.000-07:00

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I'm excited to share the images form yesterday's photo session with Casey and his sister McKenna. Having all the creative freedom and spending an afternoon with wonderful young people chasing the perfect light, makes my life as a photographer a dream come true. Thank you, Casey and McKenna for being so awesome.

More images to come soon ...

To see Elisabeth Girke's portfolio click www.girkephoto.com

Onion Pie

2011-10-19T10:27:00.000-07:00

Combining Two Worlds - Digital Art

2011-10-17T10:33:00.000-07:00

My kids love art. They also love technology. I love how effortlessly they create original digital art. Endless imagination ...

created in GIMP

brushes painting on iPad

Mary's Dress

2011-10-13T16:16:00.000-07:00

Every wedding is different. We continue, drop, add, and create our own traditions. Among all those changes, a white wedding dress seems to be one of the few traditions we still hold on to... There is something about Mary's dress that makes me come back to this image...

Mary and Michael

2011-10-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

Mary and Michael got married in a beautiful intimate ceremony in a private residency in Riverside. It was a typical Southern Californian charming afternoon and warm night with full moon.

Mary and Michael - Prelude

2011-10-10T12:40:00.000-07:00

"Charlotte's Web"

2011-10-09T12:08:00.000-07:00

Riverside Community Players presents "Charlotte's Web", based on the children's classic story by E.B. White and dramatized by J. Robinette. Carol Damgen directs this charming story of friendship and self-sacrifice.

portfolio: girkephoto.com

Dance With Me...

2011-10-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

Kids Being Kids

2011-10-04T12:48:00.000-07:00

Kids are always delightful to photograph. They know how to enjoy a party.

Pretending...

2011-10-01T10:59:00.001-07:00

Wedding Shoes

2011-09-27T07:09:00.000-07:00

The Taste of Summer

2011-09-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

Apple Strudel

2011-09-24T13:11:00.001-07:00

Food Photography

2011-09-23T09:06:00.000-07:00

We Are On Facebook

2011-09-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

I started to blog in the beginning of this year and really enjoy to post images after each photo shoot.

There is a lot of anticipation on my clients's side and their responses are usually very emotional. Making people happy is a wonderful part of being a photographer.

Over the past few years some of my clients and friends suggested to open an facebook account for my photography business. Being a quite private person, it was not an easy decision. But yesterday I did it!

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Jacinie - Part 3

2011-09-19T18:33:00.000-07:00

The afternoon was filled with many smiles and belly laughs... I catch myself smiling every time I look at the images.

Beautiful family (+ two little party guests) in a backlit light (my favorite).

Jacinie - Part 2

2011-09-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

Jacinie enjoyed the pizza she made.

A perfect setting for a backyard party...

Jacinie's Birthday Party - Prelude

2011-09-18T12:57:00.000-07:00

I was very excited when Jacinie's family hired me to photograph her 4th birthday party. First of all, it is always a privilege to be welcomed into one's family and trusted with documenting special moments year after year.

Secondly, I knew that this party will be a real treat. Judy, Jacinie's and Jackie's mom, is an artist when it comes to planing and organizing her daughters' parties. They are truly made with love, beautiful details and a great deal of perfectionism. Her husband and grandparents are very supportive and it seems like they enjoy the parties as much as the children.

This year's party evolved around the "Top Chef" theme, or "Top Chefer" how Jacinie calls it.

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Shana - Bridal Portraits

2011-09-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

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Smile...

2011-09-13T08:47:00.001-07:00

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Joshua Tree National Park

2011-09-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

Joshua Tree National Park is a place of rare beauty. Here are my first attempts
using HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography.

My son, Philipp, introduced me to HDR photography. Here he is filming time lapses.

Little Sofia

2011-09-09T18:15:00.001-07:00

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Zwetschgenkuchen

2011-09-09T09:09:00.000-07:00

.... a balance between sweet and sour....
I love to use fresh ingredients and make food from scratch. Although time consuming, it never fails to create a feeling of home and gratitude.

www.girkephoto.com

Simple Pleasures: Pears

2011-09-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

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Mrs. & Mr. Torbett -Part 2

2011-09-07T10:45:00.000-07:00

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Mrs. & Mr. Torbett

2011-09-07T09:39:00.000-07:00

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Video Contest

2011-09-02T12:57:00.000-07:00

Philipp (18) and Tim (17) collaborated on this about 3 min long video about Tim's passion for photography and surfing.

To view their video please click here: http://indiespot.tv/this-is-my-story/tim-kothlow/

Every vote counts. Hope you'll enjoy the story and images.

Flower Girls

2011-09-02T12:23:00.000-07:00

Flower girls add so much joy to each wedding. And they always love to dance... I'm always looking forward to photograph them.

Please visit my website: www.girkephoto.com

Treasure or Nuisance?

2011-08-30T12:30:00.000-07:00

Treasure or nuisance? Sometimes is up to us and how we decide to perceive the world around us. Hope you can enjoy how the dewdrops are forming a delicate necklace and intricate lace.

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Happy Baby

2011-08-29T09:20:00.001-07:00

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Daydreaming

2011-08-28T12:43:00.001-07:00

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Nanuk's Portrait - White Shepherd

2011-08-26T13:26:00.000-07:00

A Thank You Card from Megan

2011-08-22T18:24:00.000-07:00

It is always a pleasure to photograph sweet couples like Megan and Grady. We had a wonderful session in Balboa Park, San Diego, in the beginning of July.
Few days ago, Megan's card arrived in my mailbox. She wrote: "... oh my goodness. You have no idea how grateful I am that you were able to drive down again to share your phenomenal photographing skills. You completely made me the happiest girl on the planet! Thank you, thank you, thank you..."

www.girkephoto.com

Bridesmaids

2011-08-21T18:42:00.000-07:00

I love how this image from Mari and Patrick's wedding, shows genuine joy of Mari and her bridesmaids. Weddings like this one are a pure celebrations of love, friendship, and family, and I'm always honored to be trusted with the incredible task to preserve those special moments. Forever...

www.girkephoto.com

Little Flower Girl Dancing

2011-08-20T15:13:00.000-07:00

Little flower girls enjoys dancing at the wedding reception.

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Carefree Summer Days

2011-08-19T15:29:00.000-07:00

Simple Pleasures - Light Summer Dinner

2011-08-17T14:03:00.000-07:00

Blending in

2011-08-16T16:54:00.000-07:00

Magical Views at the Pacific Ocean

2011-08-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Solitude

2011-08-11T13:47:00.000-07:00