We left for WPPI on Valentine’s Day. All week long, we kept hearing reports about all the rain (and possible snow) that would dump upon Southern California and Vegas that weekend but we had clear, blue skies all the way through the whole weekend until the late night drive home.

We had a fun drive to Vegas and finally got to catch up with the one-month-weds Daniel and Vaness. It was such a treat to talk “wedding” and hear all about the exciting stuff going on with them.

Getting our photog on in Barstow.

I’ll translate Adam’s look for you: “Are we really starting to take photos ALREADY? We’re not even in Vegas yet.”

We stopped in what is quite possibly the biggest In ‘n’ Out EVER. It seriously had line barriers like you’d find at Disneyland! We also had the pleasure of running into Ed and Karen Atrero for the first time out of the dozen of times we would later run into them actually in Vegas. Such a treat to see PPT peeps while sipping on a strawberry milkshake. Yum!

Then, we were back on the road again. Originally we had wanted to stop at a desert place, or what I described as a “rusty, dirty, run-down” place for some couple shots and we did drive past a really cool abandoned gas station, but the timing was always off. People were napping or the next stop to turn around and go back was too far. So we didn’t end up doing any “married sessions” in the desert like we had hoped.

We did drive past some snow - which was a first for me. I’ve been to Vegas more than 20+ times in my life and have never seen snow on the way there. Seemed quite paradoxical - hot desert & snow.

I’ve always wanted to get out and take a shot with one foot in Nevada and one in California, but we did a drive-by instead.

So we finally made it to Vegas, and made good time while at it! We checked into the MGM Grand and it started to feel real that we were in Vegas for WPPI. We bummed around for a little bit and then decided to celebrate Valentine’s Day dinner at Bellagio’s buffet. YUM! There was a super long line for it, but it was SO worth it.

My first plate. Everything was de-LISH! Daniel couldn’t stop talking about how great the Chilean Sea Bass was all night.

Daniel and Vaness’ plates.

One of the things I love the most about the Bellagio buffet are their super cute desserts. Lucky for me, the Galangs love desserts and grabbed a whole bunch of them so I could take pictures of them. Say you say “tourista”?

And then I went to the dessert bar and took more photos. Aren’t they cute?!

What does one do with a full stomach after eating at the buffet? Why, take pictures of course! And so ensued the random picture-taking.

Photo TAG, you’re it!

Look at my husband with my Canon. Mmm… he’s looking quite sexy.

Taken by Adam.

Once we could pry our gluttonous butts of the chairs, we headed over to the Bellagio Conservatory. They re-decorate this beautiful area several times a year. So far, I’ve seen it at Christmas a handful of times, 4th of July, Autumn and Summer-themed. I was so happy to see that they had it decorated in honor of Chinese New Year! It made me proud to be Chinese.

This is a Chinese god of money - hence, all the coins he’s standing on top of. There’s a mini porcelain statue in my parent’s home that I used to play with as a kid. See those things sticking out of his head? Well, I broke one - and thus ended the time I would play with my grandparents’ strange-looking Chinese gods.

2009 is the Year of the Ox.

These pandas were amazingly life-like.

This was absolutely majestic. Like one of Auntie Pam’s paintings come to life. Breathtaking!

The conservatory was filled to the brim with these red lanterns.

Fake incense burning in a huge pot. I used to HATE the smell of these in my parents’ home. UGH.

Videotaping all this beauty for my Mom.

When in Vegas, one must go see the Bellagio water shows! I’ve seen dozens of these and they never get old.

Paris Hotel.

So NOT impressed by the identity crisis that Planet Hollywood is having.

We headed back to MGM after this and called it a night. Definitely a lovely Valentine’s Day to remember.

My husband, Adam, didn’t want to be a photographer. In all honesty, he probably dislikes my camera at times. Probably A LOT. Mostly due to the fact that he often finds himself as the subject of my photos. I’m not completely sure if he dislikes my camera more or less than my computer, but that’s a whole other story.

When I first started taking my photography more seriously, I toyed with the idea of Adam joining me and being my second shooter… Kind of like being the JD to my Jasmine Star. (You like that analogy?) He really did NOT want to do that and had no interest in taking photos at all. Needless to say, at that point in time, I was disappointed that he didn’t take more of a interest in something that meant so much to me.

A year later, he continues to be my partner in Christ, but now is also a partner in my business as my CFO and bag carrier extraordinaire.

I came home from WPPI last week super tired, full of ideas and inspiration for my business, but even more than all of that - even more in love with my husband.

You wouldn’t think a trip to Vegas, to a huge convention with thousands of other photographers from around world would do that for my marriage, but it did. Adam didn’t really want to go with me, but after some subtle persuasion (read “insert pouty face”) he decided he wanted to come to support me. We went with the newlyweds (Daniel and Vaness) and had a wonderful weekend getaway.

I expected Adam to get tired, grumpy, overwhelmed by the number of people and products at the trade show and then go hide somewhere while I would secretly be upset with why my husband didn’t understand how important this was to me. Two years ago, I read some photographers’ blogs and they had posted about attending WPPI. I googled it, of course, and remembered thinking to myself how cool it would be to be able to go to WPPI and be a part of all the fun. It felt more like something to dream about, but probably would never happen to me. So of course, I wanted Adam to be a part of it all when this dream of mine finally came true.

My husband wow-ed me beyond my expectations. I was already beyond myself that Adam even came along for the trip, but he was just so amazing ALL weekend long.

So here is a list of reasons why I love my hubby even MORE after WPPI:

* He was open to everything and anything that I wanted to do that weekend.

* He continues to learn about taking photos and is learning how to shoot manual.

* He was so excited when he got his badge and it said “Jasmine Marie Photography” on it.

* He came with me to the Go|Bee and Photography Mentor’s party at the Luxor Suite and danced up a storm with me.

* He was beside himself for hours that he got to meet Jasmine Star and JD. He said the whole weekend was worth it because he got to meet Jasmine Star. He couldn’t stop talking about her!

* He woke up early the next day to drop me off to help at the Shootsac booth and then arrived early at the tradeshow with the clothes I wanted to change into after my shift at Shootsac. THEN, he helped me unfold the many giveaway totes that Shootsac was giving away because they were going so fast!

* He walked the tradeshow floor with Daniel and Vaness while he waited for me to finish my shift.

* He made sure I sat down for a little bit to eat the lunch he bought me before I walked the tradeshow floor. He also made sure I drank water periodically throughout the afternoon.

* After my three hour shift, he walked the whole tradeshow floor again with me. When I had too many pamphlets, knick knacks, and flyers in my hands - he would take them from me and put them into his bag. He didn’t make any remarks about why I gathering up all this weird stuff.

* Then, as if that wasn’t enough, he did not complain ONCE while walking the floor with me. He didn’t rush me when I dawdled through some booths I couldn’t get enough of. He didn’t pout when his feet hurt. He didn’t get mad when I went in circles. NOTHING. In fact, he would listen in to the conversations I was having with various vendors and asked really good questions too!

* He drove us home through the rain and snow (!!) and didn’t complain that we got home at midnight which would mean he’d be tired the rest of the week catching up on the rest we missed out on during the weekend.

* And last but not least, (I could keep going on and on and on) he is wholeheartedly my number one fan. I love you Adam. Thank you so much for supporting me. It means the world to me.

Here’s a photo of Adam playing his role of following me and carrying all my stuff while walking the tradeshow while Daniel is playing the role of me being super awesome?

More photos to come from WPPI!

Everybody wants to live happily ever after
Everybody wants to know their true love is true…
How do you know he loves you?
(How does she know that you love her?
How do you show her you need her?)
How do you know he’s yours?
(How does she know that you really, really, truely-)

Well does he take you out dancin’ just so he can hold you close?
Dedicate a song with words in
Just for you? Ohhh!

He’ll find his own way to tell you
With the little things he’ll do
That’s how you know
That’s how you know!
Lyrics: “That’s How You Know” - Enchanted Soundtrack

I struggle to find the words to say how much I truly love Vaness and Daniel. They are closest friends here in San Diego because most of our other close friends live elsewhere. God has truly brought us together in friendship, but also as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Being able to be a part of their wedding day meant so much to Adam and I. So much so that it was difficult for the both of us to maintain our composure most of the day and hold back the joy that was just overflowing from our hearts. For me, overwhelming emotion typically manifests itself in tears, so I struggled most of the day to not cry all my makeup off.

Of course I couldn’t leave my camera at home the day of the wedding. How I managed to take more photos on this day while being IN the wedding than I normally shoot at a wedding that I’m NOT in, is beyond me. (I actually had a blister on my thumb at the end of the day. I think that balancing my camera with my right hand while holding a bouquet in the left hand had something to do with it. Multi-tasking, perhaps?) Once Melissa Koehler arrived though, I did try my best to stay out of her way. I had a hard time picking out my favorites, which is why this series has taken so long to blog.

I think it’s totally different when the people you’re taking photos of mean so much to you. I honestly believe that you can’t help but want to capture all the moments because they are all special and boy, did God give them SO many beautiful moments!

Eliza had her iPod stereo and a little wedding playlist that started out with the Enchanted CD. I thought it was fitting because Vaness loves Enchanted so much and in many ways she is just as joyful and genuinely cheerful as Amy Adams is in that movie. Plus, it was her wedding day and she was getting married to her Prince Charming!

We started bright and early with getting our hair and makeup done.

Marilou getting her hair done.

Ginger getting ready.

I love when Marilou smiles because it just lights up her whole face.

Vaness’ dress. It was so small!

The back of Vaness’ gown.

Heidi getting her hair done.

The bride is awake! Sisterly love.

The poster Eliza made for Vaness. Vaness is a big *NSync fan. Like how our heads are pasted on top of theirs?

Airbrushed makeup! So cool.

The card Vaness gave to Daniel. It was so cute and even had a sonnet inside the little book. How romantic!

Having fake lashes can make taking photos quite difficult, but did that stop me? Nope!

Vaness writing Daniel’s card.

The bride getting ready!

The flowers Daniel bought for Vaness…

…and the delicious desserts too! (From Heavenly Sent Desserts)

I loved the bouquets… absolutely beautiful.

Eliza getting makeup done.

Vaness’ mom getting a first look at the bride.

Vaness’ dad hamming it up for my camera. He’s a Canon shooter too!

Papa Castano’s first look at the bride.

Daniel’s mom.

The tote bags that Vaness had made for us. SO sweet. Mine was pink and brown!

Vaness’s mom kept telling Eliza that she needed to wait a long time before she got married. Awww! So sweet…

Love the note… it’s so “Vaness”

Heidi’s hair all done.

Look at those lashes! Watch out, Sasha Fierce! You haven’t met Vaness!

Moms.

Marilou and Heidi

Eliza and Ginger.

And me too.

The moms showing off their matching gold purses!

Vaness’ SUPER tall 4″ heels.

Vaness’ mom’s outfit.

Daniel’s mom getting ready.

Curls.

Easily my fave shot of the whole day. I think Enchanted was playing while I took this shot. I love this girl.

Vaness’ mom talking about how she remembers when she gave birth to Vaness, an 8 pound baby. 8 pounds? Really? I’ll believe it when I see the proof.

Loved the hair clips.

Going to the chapel and we’re gonna get married…

Tristan (Daniel’s brother) escorting Vaness to the chapel in the mini-cooper.

She looks like a princess in her carriage in this shot.

More to come!

When one thinks of a bachelorette party, I believe words like stripper and lots of drinking come to mind. Not for our girl though! We were thinking more of eating desserts and watching wedding-related chick flicks. So we decided to throw a slumber party for Vaness’ last night as a single gal.

The night before the wedding, all the girls stayed with Vaness in her suite. Ginger (Vaness’ MOH) did such a great job gathering up all the fun goodies for the party.

Heidi setting up.

What kind of party would it be without a tiara and magic wand?

Marilou arranging the Ring Pops. Remember those?!

All the things one should NOT be eating the night before you need to squeeze into a bridesmaid dress, but oh well it’s Hans and Harry strudel baby!

Cute confetti.

The seating chart (and Marilou).

And the bride-to-be finally arrives!

The heart garland that was up on the wall.

I love how happy Vaness looks when she gets a call from Daniel and she shares with him what’s going on with our party.

Marilou, Heidi and Vaness.

Heidi made delicious Rice Krispie Treats!

All the girls. (We’re watching Father of the Bride on my laptop.)

No boys allowed!

Last minute details…

Getting Ready shots coming up next!

I will finish blogging all the photos from Vaness & Daniel’s wedding. There’s so many to sort through, but I WILL finish.

After the Rehearsal, we headed to the Courtyard Marriott for a planning party. I thought I was pretty organized, but Vaness and Daniel brought organization to a whole other level!

Each of us had specific to-do’s throughout the wedding day on little pieces of paper. It was really a group effort and I was impressed at the end of the wedding night how everyone got everything done. Go team!

Eliza Mae.

Forgot that I had some photos from the Rehearsal at North Chapel at NTC Promenade. It’s such a beautiful chapel with colorful stained glass windows with depictions of scenes with Jesus and sailors!

Vaness and her mom MADE these bouquets loaded with various dum-dums for the bridesmaids. And yes, I am still munching away at them. One day they will all be in my tummy!

The flower girl and ringbearer.

One of the many stained glass windows.

Marilou and Dan the safekeeper of all purses.

Catching a quick photo of the bride-to-be as she walks out of the entryway.

And Heidi with her bouquet. too cute!

Still more to come!