I know it's the start of Football Season and all, but starting out my third trimester with the babe and nearing the end of a way cool bonding experience with our child, I am finding so many similiarities between pregnancy and baseball... There are 9 innings, things are pretty slow the first half of the game, but pick up towards the end of the game. The one part that totally sticks out in my head is called the 7th inning stretch.

The 7th inning stretch takes place in between the halves of the seventh inning of any game. It's a time in the game where you get up stretch, talk, get more snacks, what have you. Well.... I'n my pregnancy I am at the top of the 7th inning and the stretch came early.... Stretch Marks have taken over my lower abdomen and they are here to stay!!! It won't end before the bottom of the 7th, but will be with me for eternity!!! Oh how they have plagued my stomach for life.. haha... But worth it.. I guess. haha.. I thought I was so in the clear of stretch marks, boy was I wrong... I didn't scratch or anything... I don't have stretchy skin... oh well. I am still debating whether this is picture worthy or not.. I mean, with pregnancy, there is the good, the bad, and the ugly... more on the ugly side... but we'll see if I'm compelled to share. And it's totally weird. I got to bed and do my normal examination and I wake up and there are more!!! And I"m using an oil rub... like I said, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Chinese Tea Ceremony: Crowne Plaza Hotel - Redondo Beach White Dress Ceremony: The Neighborhood Church - Palos Verdes Reception: Universal Hilton - Los Angeles, Ca Videographer: Red5Studios.net Remember our latest Wedding Sneak Preview?!  =) One of the most important aspects for Lauren and I when it comes down to shooting weddings, starts with having great rapport with our clients and when we first met Linda+Dennis, we knew we had met one of the most down-to-earth, fun-loving and kindest couples yet. With everything from a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony to a 400+ guest reception it was definitely an action packed day.  Regardless, Linda was radiant and Dennis was always right there by her side to keep her smiling =) Here are a few photos of the day followed by their slideshow. Off camera lighting makes me happy =) We caught this just at the right moment as the flash of another camera illuminated her veil...one of our favorites. We like silhouette shots...=) ...And Linda loves Disneyland =) To Linda and Dennis, you guys are awesome!  And Linda, despite the million and one things that were going on, you looked radiant and beautiful.  It was an honor shooting your wedding.  You treated us like royalty and we can' t thank you enough.  We hope you both love and enjoy your slideshow as we did puttig it together.  We wish you only the best! with love, John+Lauren **************Linda+Dennis Wedding Day Slideshow**************

This past weekend Lauren and I and a few of our friends headed up to Joshua Tree  and had a BLAST!  (more on that tomorrow!) If you haven't had a chance to go, please do...trust me, you won't regret it.

But besides that, there are so many other things that Lauren and I are so thankful for!  Question, when was the last time you've had a chance to reflect back, maybe a week, 2 weeks, 2 months or even 2 years?!  Is there anything to be thankful for?  Yeah I know, this isn't Thanksgiving yet but it's always great to look back and see how you've grown as a person, with your relationships or even with your business and or skills, you know, camera skills, nun chuck skills etc. =)  So if you haven't, do it and let us know how it went by leaving a comment! So what are we thankful for?! Here's two... 1) We're excited and thankful to announce that our NEW website will be going live really soon!! YEAH!  We know it's long over due so we're putting the final touches on the site and I'm hoping it'll be up by Oct 1st (crossing my fingers!).  We really can't wait to get it going so check back with updates before then. 2) This one is obvious but...we've been uber blessed this year with our soon to be new born baby in December (she’s going to be a Christmas baby!!  hehe)  We know, as you know, we're having a girl and with Lauren now 7 months, she'll be here faster than I could change my camera lens!'

So what's this mean really?! Well, with so many cool things happening (the above two just to name a few), Lauren and I thought it would be great to somehow “Give Back” and the way we're doing it is with a Promo for all our soon to be Brides and we've also included Families as well!  Our deadline for our Promo is December 2008! So what’s included in the "Give Back" Promo?! For our Brides...

from now until 12/08, we’re including the following in all three of our Wedding Packages:

A High-Res DVD of Images from your Wedding Day ($795 value)  - This DVD will include a collection of 600+ custom color corrected images (or more depending on the Package) as well as all the remastered images found in your Custom Slideshow.

A New Print Package ($150 value) - Choosing from any of your Wedding Day or Engagement Session images, this Print Package includes 2-8x10, 2-5x7, 2-4x6 and 8-wallets for you to keep, frame, give away or...you get the picture =)

For our Families...

from now until 12/08:

All Family Portrait Sessions ($250 value) will be discounted 30% off it's normal cost!  Anyone in Southern California out there?!  This is perfect for the Holiday Season just around the corner!

 A New Print Package ($150 value) will also be included - Choosing from any of your Family Portrait Session images, this Print Package includes 2-8x10, 2-5x7, 2-4x6 and 8-wallets for you to keep, frame, give away or...you get the picture =)

Ok so how exactly do you take advantage of the Promo?  Simple, just shoot us an email at Weddings@johnlauren.com and be sure to put "Give Back Promo - Bride/Families (which ever one it is you're inquiring about) in the Subject line so we can point it out and in the email let us know who you are. Thought of anything that you were thankful for yet?!  Let us know with a comment!

When Lauren and I shoot weddings, we're always looking for those little and even not so little details that the Bride may add to her Wedding to make it her own.  From the Brides bouquet, to the intricacies of her dress, we love detail shots and we're ALWAYS looking for them =)

In the same way, there are so many little "detail" type things that a new born does that maybe as parents, perhaps don't even notice.  But sometimes, it's in those little things that bring out the best and warmest memories.

Its amazing to think that at one point in our life our hands couldn't even wrap around our parents' finger...or

 how our feet were so small and (for some of us at least), were soooo cute! haha.

Meet Jerrilyn+Kevin and baby Gavin! =)

 This was my favorite shot of the day.  We love shooting late afternoon, when we could use the sun to our advantage and where the shadows are at it's longest.

Even though baby Gavin cried for most of the day (maybe he doesn't like Harley's Kevin..haha), when he let up, we took advantage =)

 

Not sure what got over me to ask for this shot but whatever it was, I'm happy I did!  This was a close second to my favorite shot =)

 

 To Jerrilyn+Kevin and baby Gavin, thank you so much for asking us to capture this moment in your family's life for you...it was an honor and we loved shooting them for you both.

Your friends,

John & Lauren

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For Wedding or Portrait inquiries, simply shoot us an email at Weddings@johnlauren.com or give us a ring at (626)806-4990 (day) or (951)520-5674 (night).

Don't forget our "Great Names Derive from Great Inspiration" - Name Our Baby contest deadline is 1 1/2 weeks away!!  Give yourself  a chance to win a $100 GC.  Just submit your entries to Contest@johnlauren.com and you're in!  Simple as that!

Our "Give Back" Promo will officially start Monday, Sept 22nd (due to some technical issues with our site) so don't forget to check back in then!

After who knows how long, we FINALLY designed and picked a vendor for our business cards!  A few weeks back I decided to do a letterpress business card.  Basically rather than just hand out a standard card stock type card, we went with a thicker and more textured card.  We're happy we did because they turned out great!

Our awesome new friends from Dolce Press worked long and hard on our crazy design of a logo and we can't thank them enough!  If you're looking for more of this textured goodness yourself...call Alex.  Not only did she put up with my...oh what's the word...indecisiveness, and/or cluelessness, but she's as down to earth as they come and completely willing to help!  Gotta love those New Yorkers! =)  (did I just compliment myself being that I'm from NY?! haha) Drop us some comment love and let us know what you think!