so stoked to be home! looking forward to my own bed, shower & fast internet connection. although, i want to go to SXSW, but i have a wedding | Follow me
Hey there! My name is Becker and I am a wedding photographer from Orange County, California who specializes in capturing relaxed portraits, amazing details and real moments for the coolest brides and grooms on the planet.
This blog follows both my personal and professional life, and features images from the weddings I shoot, the places I travel and the friends and family members that mean so much to me. It's basically like my own personal photo album combined with an information source for my current and potential clients and a source of inspiration and education for other photographers. This site is a little more informal and I just want to give everyone a sense of who I am, and what I am all about. Thanks for visiting.
It may not sound like a big deal to you, but I am going to give up my drug for the entire month of February. I will not be watching any television at all!
(with the possible exception of the Superbowl, which I don't even want to watch, but I am going to a party to be social, and I am sure it'll be on).
I decided to do this for a few reasons...
#1- I probably watch too much TV, and I am hoping to be more productive in the coming month.
#2- The writer's strike is bumming me out and there's nothing really good on these days anyway. (plus football is over and baseball isn't on until April).
#3- I really do hate my new DVR that came with my new DirecTv HD box. It has hampered my enjoyment of watching television. I wish DirecTv would hook back up with Tivo, because their new generic version is just horrible. There is no way I'd switch back to cable, or the Dish Network, but I hope DirecTv knows that their new solution sucks and I am sure I am not the only one who has noticed.
Anyway... at the beginning of March, I'll write my observations about how it went without the boob tube. Also, It's now the last day of January and I haven't had any fast food at all. I've hardly ever gone an entire week of my life without fast food let alone a month.
I am at the WSOP Circuit event down in San Diego. Its now at the dinner break and I am the chip leader army table, just a few places away from the money.
Updates to follow!
(from my iPhone):
UPDATE: I am in the money!
Update #2: over 100k in chips!
Update #3: down to 2 tables, 16 people left. I just lost a big pot with AJ to AQ. Still have 60k or so.
Midnight update: I made the final table and we resume play tomorrow at 2pm.
final update: after doubling up early, I ran into a set of 9's with my pocket 10's against the big stack. Oh well, I had a blast and I am off to Vegas!
Service announcement to my clients: I apologize if you've emailed myself or Kathleen in the last few days and no one has gotten back to you. Apparently while I was in Vegas last week, something happened with my web server and my site was down for several hours on Thursday and Friday. We are still having email issues and not sure if we've received them all. If you don't get a reply by the close of business today, please send your note again.
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Speaking of Vegas, I am headed back later this week for PMA? Anyone going to be in town for the show? Up for any late night poker?
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I saw this quote on Seth Godin's blog and it made me feel so much better about my writing style (or lack there of):
Just say it
Don't let the words get in the way. If you're writing online, forget everything you were tortured by in high school English class. You're not trying to win any awards or get an A. You're just trying to be real, to make a point, to write something worth reading.
So just say it. _____
Sorry for leaving y'all hanging with last Monday's post about the surprise thing I did last weekend. I was hoping to get the images to post (because blog posts with images are so much more interesting), but the photographer hasn't come through and emailed me the files yet, so I'll just tell you what we did without the photos. Last weekend Jessica and I went to poker school, more specifically, the WPT Bootcamp and it was so much fun and very helpful. It was her Christmas present to me and I am so thankful because it's really an investment in my future (at least that's what I told her as I was begging for the present). I've won several Sit and Go tournaments since last weekend, I've tripled my online poker bankroll and I made 2 final tables while in Vegas last week. Jessica actually won a small tournaments that we played in. I'll be playing in the WSOP circuit event in San Diego this week and next, as well as the LA Poker Classic in February, not to mention another trip to Vegas later this week. It's much more fun playing now that I have a better idea of what I am doing.
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I haven't seen the U2 3D movie yet, but I'll get to it asap. I finally saw "There Will Be Blood" and that movie was a very interesting piece of storytelling. Not what I thought it was going to be about at all. Great film though. I saw Daniel Day Lewis won the Sag award for best actor last night, and I think he's a shoe in for the Oscar as well.
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I am kinda wishing I sold my Apple stock when it was over $200 per share a couple of weeks ago. But I guess now might be a good time to pick up some more.
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The last Party of 5 date until the fall is going to be on tax day, April 15th. Sign up now!
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Here are a few of the relaxed portraits that THEbecker shot at THEwedding chapel at THEhotel THEother day!
The couple are wedding photographers from Houston, Chris Wineinger and Janine Stoddard, whom I had the pleasure of meeting a few years ago. They decided on a small intimate wedding with just a few close friends and family members, and I told Janine I'd love to come out and if nothing else, just to shoot some bridal portraits of her. They were contractually obligated to use the staff photographer who worked at THEhotel, and Jess and I did our best to stay out of his way, but managed to get a few images of the happy couple.
The bride just chillin' in the room:
I could have literally shot her all day long. Instead we just shot for a couple of minutes.
The groom right before the ceremony, nice and relaxed:
Jess and I are out in Vegas right now for a small intimate wedding.
No not our wedding silly! Bite your tongue!
Some photographer friends of our who live in Houston tied the knot this afternoon at THEhotel's wedding chapel and we came out to shoot a few photos for them (although by contract, they technically had to hire the hotel's photographer). We also came out for a little poker action. Jessica actually won the morning tournament today at Mandalay Bay.
I'll post some shots from the wedding tomorrow, because I have to hit the poker tables right now.
Attention Photographers: In case you didn't get the email a couple of weeks ago... I just wanted to let you know the new [ b ] school blog is alive and kicking. Check out the trailer, then click the link below. It's 100% free and we are excited about what the future holds! If you want to be notified of future [ b ] school goodness, make sure to pre-register on the sticky at the top of the blackboard.
Today's Party of 5 workshop turned into a Party of 2 due to a last minute family emergency of a husband and wife team who couldn't make it, but we still had an amazing time... and it reenforced my desire to start offering Party of 1 sessions for those who want one on one consulting. Look for an announcement soon. In the mean time, here are some photos of the lovely recently engaged ladies who attended today.
I reminded Lisa that it is important to stop and smell the flowers every now and then:
