aileen secord photography

engagement :: reina + mark

Aileen — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:05:49 +0000

Oh goodness. Blogs are hard to keep up with. I’m behind in posting up a colorful bridal shower for Denise and a beautiful maternity shoot for Nicole. I will eventually get to them. I promise. But first let me introduce Reina and Mark and their gorgeous breed of a pup named Leela.

Reina and Mark met in college while in Florida and both have recently moved to the LA area so Mark can pursue a music career. Yes, he is VERY talented. He seranaded Reina on his acoustic guitar during the shoot. The sun was setting. The weather was cool. The deer were out prancing around. She swooned. Heck, I swooned. I definitely was in wonderland for a moment or two, but then I snapped back to reality and started firing my shutter finger to capture the moment of the 2 of them.

Beautiful. Gorgeous.

I can’t wait to shoot their wedding this October.

(Be prepared. This is a long post with 29 of my favorite photos.)

I love artsy shots. I took this next one purely for myself.

… and then I started to swoon. Deer were literally prancing around. The light was pure gold.

portraits :: michelle reiter fitness

Aileen — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 03:10:40 +0000

Being healthy is an important part of my life that I take seriously. I was never really an athlete until I realized that I’ll be hitting 30 years old soon and my metabolism isn’t what it used to be… well, I woke up and decided to run a half marathon and take on a triathlon. But completing any of these feats is no easy task. It takes conditioning and training. LOTS of conditioning and training. It requires a lot of time out of my already busy schedule, but the feeling of accomplishment and pushing my body to its limits that I thought could never be reached is an adrenaline high. If I go too long without a spin class or running I get a little stir crazy. I’m no gym rat, but I do love my spin classes.

And this is where I met Michelle of Michelle Reiter Fitness. I’ve been a member of a spin studio for over a year and I’ve rode next to Michelle many times but never really formally met her… this is until one of my favorite spin instructors introduced us and told me that Michelle needed updated photos for her business. And I was excited! Excited to do something a little different (outside of weddings). This is a woman who I envy – of course her body rocks – but what I envy most is her spirit for life and her commitment to health. She’s no Jillian from Biggest Loser – likely just the opposite… she’s warm, funny, and down to earth. A fitness instructor I’d like training me (if I had the extra dough) to push me to my limits (but without the military talk and yelling – “get down and give me 20!”).

Stay healthy folks! It gives you the energy to enjoy the guilty pleasures in life… like those red velvet cookies I love from Sweetsalt.

i do :: katie + ryan

Aileen — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 02:15:13 +0000

I once heard someone say, “The greater the capacity to love, the greater the capacity to feel the pain.” But here lies the paradox to love – it may be the very thing that causes pain, but it’s also the one thing that can heal it…

Ever since I started shooting weddings, it’s easy to see the beauty behind love and the quiet, genuine happiness between the bride and the groom or between a father and his daughter. Not all couples I shoot are the same. Some are bubbly, energetic, and obvious about the way they feel about each other. Other couples are more quiet with a secret passion and love for the other that you only see in their eyes or by the way they look at each other. Sometimes the look may be some sort of heartfelt pain – much of which I see in fathers as they walk their daughter down the aisle to only be handed to another man that will take care of her… or when a father gives his toast to say he loves her one more time. It is this pain that I understand through a father’s eyes… he’s letting go and knows that she is loved by another but yet he knows that she’ll still love her father most. I only know this to be a kind of fatherly love that heals the pain in his heart.

A few months ago, Katie and Ryan invited me to Nipimo, CA to shoot their wedding at the Dana Powers House. It was a hot day, but a beautiful one nonetheless. I was sincerely touched by the intimate setting and the small party. And the reception venue itself – AH-MAZING!… even if it was in a barn.

The display of cakes and cupcakes were handmade by Katie’s sister, Sarah, who took a cake decorating class just so she can do this for her sister. That’s sisterly love! And, boy, were these sweet treats DELICIOUS!!

You can see more of Katie + Ryan’s highlights HERE.

momma knows best…

Aileen — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 14:00:40 +0000

… even my fortune cookie thinks so.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

family :: carrera family

Aileen — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 06:00:19 +0000

Now tell me this isn’t a good looking family! I had a great time shooting a few shots at Lake Balboa in Encino. Such a beautiful park!

Thank you, Carrera family, for giving me the opportunity to spend time with you.