NEW GEAR!!!

So, I splurged yesterday… Well, actually invested… I purchased another Nikon yesterday, the D70s – a great upgrade to the D70 that I already currently own. I’ve noticed that shooting in past events, it was VERY helpful and efficient having a second body to throw another (different) lens on.

Speaking of lenses, I got the 10.5 FISHEYE too!!! OMG, I’m sooooooooo excited about this bad boy. I’m afraid, though, that I’ll overuse it… I’ll have to find a way to LIMIT (did I JUST say that) the use of this sub-$700 lens!!! I’m still excited nevertheless for the 180 degree WIDE angle of it. If my application for any given image doesn’t call for that “fishy” effect, I have the tools to turn it to a rectilinear, wide angle panorama!!! I can’t wait to use it this weekend for Rose and Dennis’ wedding also…

While I was there, I picked up an SB-800 flash and extra Nikon battery too. I previously have been using the SB-600(and LOVE it), so the 800 will be great supplement to my slowly-growing arsenal. BTW, I need a new bag to hold ALL this gear. My lil LOWEPRO “lunchbox” can hold all of this anymore… I'd like to stick with Lowepro because I like the idea of the All-Weather technology they've implemented and with the unpredictable weather we have here in Seattle, it's very useful -- especially because I want to have a slot for my mobile workhorse too! I'm thinking about the COMPUTREKKER PLUS AW. Shoot, my 600 STILL hangs off the side of my old one, LOL!

All of this gear will be utilized at this upcoming wedding. Kit lens on the D70 and the fisheye/rented macro and telephoto on the D70s. I can’t wait!!! You know, I think LINDSEY is excited for the new gear too! Why? Because she’ll want to rove with MOSES and shoot too! Check back next week for all of our images. Until then, check out ROSE AND DENNIS'S WEDDING PAGE (www.asencilimaging.com/bonifacio) I’ve started and will continue to build through this experience. Oh, and it HAS been an experience… A GREAT ONE at that!!!

The tC's back!

I received the “company car” back from Bob Bridge yesterday. It was there overnight because I had a MONSTEROUS nail (more like BOLT) in my front passenger tire. I drove Lindsey home on Monday night and the main road to her house was blocked off. There were two detour routes, one going left, the other going right. I went left… “NOOOOOOO, you went the WRONG WAY,” she belted. So, after recoup’ing from her outcry and about three houses down, I a flip a U-y and preceded the RIGHT (or the “correct”) way. We FINALLY arrived at her house (maybe a few minutes LONGER than it would’ve taken if I continued MY way, LOL) and we went on our way. That’s when we heard it! I felt a pitter-patter on my steering wheel and heard the synonymous noise of klink-klank’ing of rubber on the asphalt… OH NO – My FIRST flat with my new car! I pulled over and Ashley and I inspected the tire… We heard the hissing noise of the air seeping out, but I couldn’t see the culprit causing this monophony… But I knew it… I knew it was a nail!!! So, before it fully deflated, Ashley and I zoomed through the streets of Seattle to get home – I’d much rather change my tire in the privacy of my own driveway… NOT in the urban streets of Rainier Valley! LOL

When we got home, the tire was STILL intact, WOW! My car’s a trooper! Since it was 11pm, all the service shops were closed. I had to wait until 5pm THE NEXT DAY to drop my car off. By then, I was certain that the rim would be kissing the asphalt… NOPE! Still not deflated.

So, after work, I took the tC down to the shop and they did what they did. Seriously, the bolt-head was the size of a half-dollar!!! HUUUUUUUUUGE!!! I’m surprised it didn’t pierce through the rubber and puncture my rim in the process!!! LOL!!!

Fast forward -- Stacy at Bob Bridge called me to tell me that they couldn’t patch it (for free) because it was humongous! LOL! So, $260 dollars and one day and night later, my car’s back and better than ever (though my wallet is getting the brunt of it).

Sorry Ashley, we’ll have to hit Taco Bell next time! LOL!!!

Check back later for the images of my old tire.

Until then...

Ashley's (pre)sweet-16 BBQ

Since her birthday is September 15th and school would be in session by then, Ashley wanted to celebrate it during the summer, to give ALL her friends an opportunity to come by while the weather is still nice -- we all know how unpredictable the weather can be here in Seattle, LOL.

So we had it at ALKI BEACH and there couldn't have been a better day! The weather was in the mid-80's and there was an abundance of FOOOOOOOOOOD! Always good...

We weren't exactly on the beach, per se, but we were just ONE BLOCK from it. Perfect! We still had the aroma of the saltwater, with no crowds. The BBQ officially started at 1pm, but her friends didn't show up until 5! Talk about making an entrance!

Here are the some photos from yesterday:




You can also checkout the SLIDESHOW by clicking HERE (www.asencilimaging.com/ashleyssweet16)


Oh, by the way there was a cinnamon-colored Lab Retriever named "DOLCY" there too. She and her owner put on a half-hour long impromptu show for all of us. We had front-row seats... She was amazing. Check her out:

As always, these images are for YOUR enjoyment, so please feel free to use these images as you wish. Also, feel free to leave comments. I'd love to hear what you think!

-Happy (early) Birthday Ash!!!

Christine and Ryan

I was the FIRST “professional” to show up to Christine’s hotel and capture her getting ready for her BIG DAY – and I wasn’t even the primary photog for this event! I was the FOURTH videographer (the rover). For all you future brides, I just want you to know that I’m highly dedicated to YOUR day and I NEVER want to miss any details when I shoot.

So, as I’m filming this past Saturday, Christine says, “Okay, Mr. Video, I’m going to get dressed now, so you’re going to have to leave the room.” It was hilarious. “What… I thought you wanted shots of ALL the details, LOL?!?” So as I’m walking back through the main hallway at the W HOTEL in Seattle, I realize, her real photog isn’t even there yet. She even placed her rings, shoes and LOVE lettter from Ryan nicely on the bed for him to photograph, but he wasn’t even there! It’s okay, A. Sencil Imaging to the rescue!!!

I run back and ask if she wants me to take some quick stills of her stuff before she puts them on. She was glad I asked! So, I took a few.

I was getting into the groove of it, when Christine gets a call from the Concierge informing her that her photographer has arrived. I put my Nikon away and continue to record video as if nothing happened… LOL, it was pretty entertaining! As much as I wanted to continue photographing through the afternoon and capture these beautiful newlyweds, I knew that would be VERY UNprofessional of me - I was there to shoot video.

Anyway here are a few shots from the wedding. I’m not selling these, so don’t even ask, LOL! I just wanted to share with you how beautiful the bride was and how excited/eager/anxious we all were to see her tie the knot to her loving husband, Ryan! Thanks, guys, for letting me share that day with you.


        

(Read their story HERE. It's a good one!!!)

BTW, this is just a warm-up to Rose and Dennis’ wedding I’m going to shoot Labor Day weekend. I can’t wait… Check out the webpage I’ve started for them BY CLICKING HERE.

I’ll have my associate photographer AND my trusty partner (so that makes THREE of us) to cover ALL angles of THEIR day. We won’t miss anything! And you shouldn't either! Subscribe to this blog to get all the up-to-the-hour A. Sencil Imaging updates. Until then... Love!

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One great reason to sign up is – you won’t have to keep checking back with eagerness to read what’s new, but are saddened, when you visit back, nothing’s been updated. Here, EVERYTIME I update my blog, YOU’LL receive an email, allowing you to fulfill your blog needs! Everyone wins!!!

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I Was a Wedding Videographer!!!

I had the opportunity this weekend to shoot video for a wedding this Saturday and boy was that an experience. I majored in Broadcast Journalism at CENTRAL WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, so I was around video-related equipment ALL THE TIME but since I’ve graduated college - and embraced my new-found love for photography and digital imaging - I haven’t even touched a video camera! Shoot, my Uncle Patrick had my cousin Max at about the same time I came home from college, so I “loaned” him my Sony DSC Handycam at that time, so I couldn’t even hold one if I wanted too… LOL!

Anyway, I was the FOURTH videog this Saturday at the wedding. There was a “hired” video guy and his assistant. Then there was my uncle and me. It was like a two-team production working in synergy. It was cool, because my uncle and I’ve shot video before together so we know what each other’s thinking and what angles and shot types we were shooting the WHOLE time. He’d come up behind me in transition and glance at my LCD screen and say, “You read my mind. You’re all over it!” Just like photography, videography is truly an art!

Though I’m 100% photography now, the skills I learned and the proficiency I’ve developed through training in and studying video production will always be laid as my foundation to success in still shooting. I will NEVER scorn down videography because of this. If there’s one thing I could say even remotely about the business is this (and it’s not even about the art of video, either): In my honest opinion, as far as the wedding industry goes, it is a lot more challenging to market video services than it is with photography services. I know this statement can sometimes stir up controversy (and I’m probably only saying this because I’ve been studying the photography industry for the last few years, c’mon, I’m an aspiring wedding photog). There are A LOT of video company services out there who are working their tales off trying to contradict and surpass my statement. MUCH RESPECT TO THEM! If it was my choice, ALL wedding photographers should work collectively with videographers in the wedding industry. There’s SOOOOOOOO much we can learn from each other. So, anyone that wants to shoot with me at my upcoming weddings (video AND photography), let me know. I’d love to shoot with you too:)

Almost Ready...

Their wedding is right around the corner, and I can sense the anticipation from Rose and Dennis! It’s pretty intense. I don’t know why, but I enjoy this feeling. I’m pretty much prepared for the wedding. We’re meeting this afternoon to talk about some quasi-last-minute details (I’m sure we’ll meet up at least one more time before the shindig). I just wanted this to be a teaser to what they can expect the day of. I made these cool biz-card-type cards (wow, THAT was redundant) to place with the place-settings (that was too) on each table at the reception.

Front:

Back:

They're pretty cool. I'm hoping to drive traffic to this site so ALL of their family can share in this special day. I know that building and hosting websites are alot of hassle, so I offered this site to Rose for free. It's already up! Check it out HERE (or by cilcking here: www.asencilimaging.com/bonifacio).

I'll be updating this site with more photos and slideshows as the day comes and goes. Bookmark the link and check back on September 4th (ONE day after the celebration) for more images. I CAN'T WAIT!!!

Until then...

New blog theme

I was getting a little bored with my blog theme, so I switched it up a little. As you can see it’s black with reverse-text – easier on the eyes :) I’ve figured out how to place my own custom image on top, so I’ll be working on it tonight. Check back shortly to see what I come up with! Until then…

Harmony's Birthday

We celebrated my cousin Harmony’s 8th birthday on Saturday afternoon. WOW, there soooo many kids on that side of the family. My mother didn’t have any siblings, but HER mother had 15!!! And THEY all had kids, whom had kids, and now those kids are having kids. Crazy! So, since everyone else is doing it, I don’t need to right now :)

Anyway, Harmony’s the most quietly athletic little 8-year-old that I know! And I’m proud that we’re related. Though I don’t see her as much as I did before (college, business, LIFE), she knows how proud of her I am. We even share our own elaborate handshake that half of the kids her age wouldn’t be able to execute. It's funny, everytime she's spots me in a crowded room, she'll drop what she's doing or ignore anyone she's talking to to RUN over to me and give me a handshake... Now that's special! I made the handshake on purpose so only WE can share that. She got it down in ONE try! Shoot, even I mess it up sometimes. But not her, she’s flawless.

Her new sports are soccer and baseball. She was into basketball and any other activities that involved throwing a round object. I’m telling you, her hand-eye (and now –foot) coordination is AWESOME! The word to describe it goes great with her name, harmonious. Don’t be surprised to see her on the tube as the Seattle (or Oklahoma) Storm’s MVP shooting guard or World Cup women’s soccer team.

Until then, you can see her here on my weblog. Here are some photos from Saturday afternoon. Enjoy!