Michonne is 29 tomorrow, so we're going out for a night on the town...in Beverly Hills no less! We started out at an amazing restaurant called Crustacean, where they boast an owner/chef that is a genuine princess (not sure which country) and they also have a secret kitchen that only the chefs are allowed in, no employees. I guess there's not much luck of obtaining a secret recipe....anyway, we were with our friends Marc Flemming, Mel and Will, Shannon McRandle, Amy & Chris and Marisa & Griffin who helped us celebrate Mish's birthday. After a wonderful dinner, we cruised over to an exclusive club called Area, that Marisa & Griffin were kind enough to get us into. We had a great time at a private table and danced the night away. Happy birthday Mish!

After a long day at the Celebration, we decided to go out. Dinner was at a gorgeous Spanish restaurant called Ciudad in the heart of downtown L.A. Great food and Margaritas! Then Amy Allen and her fiance Chris took us over to the movie set she is working on for National Treasure II. I was very interested and I got to see all the lighting setup and the steadicam work. We watched about 3 takes of a scene...very cool stuff! They started after sunset and work until just about dawn. Us outside Ciudad having a great time! The set of National Tresure II in downtown L.A.

Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars! It was about a week of the Star Wars Universe for Mish and me. For those of you who don't know, Mish was fortunate enough to play a small role in Star Wars Episode I, The Phantom Menace in 1999 as Aurra Sing, a ruthless female Bounty Hunter. She only has about 3 seconds of screen time during Anakin's pod race, but she is the only one on screen. She watches as they speed through the canyon from an overlook. Ever since this small appearance, she has traveled all over the world signing autographs on photos, action figures...she has five, and comic books. Here character is very popular in the Star Wars expanded universe in the novels and comic books. We're hoping she lands a part in the upcoming T.V. series filmed in Australia. Michonne has met many friends through her Star Wars travels, 2 of whom are Shannon McRandle (who plays the jedi character of Mara Jade that eventually marries Luke Skywalker in the expanded Universe) and Amy Allen (who plays the role of Ayla Secura, a blue Twilac jedi in Episodes II and III) and her fiance Chris Hess, the drummer with Hoobastank. Our good friends Mel and Will joined us , and Marc Flemming traveled from Santa Barbara to hang out with us . Needless to say, we had a great time! At least the guys did while the girls signed autographs for 5 days... A fan in adorned in Michonne's character's costume...Aurra Sing. Not Bad, but Mish looks better with a little color and some hair. This little girl won a costume contest as Ayla Secura, Amy Allen's character Boba Fett, Bounty Hunter. C3-PO: "We're doomed!" This guy was great! Savvy? Not much too do with Star Wars tho. The L.A. convention center Will admires Darth Maul The last thing a rebel will see Then Michonne and Amy are escorted to the fan lounge for discussion Han Solo frozen in Carbonite The closest I will get to being a Jedi Shannon, Mish and me Mish with Steve Sansweet, director of fan relations for Star Wars The girls are interviewed and get their photos taken Michonne is detained by the storm troopers for further questioning Will takes Luke's speeder for a test drive and decides to go Postal... X-wing fighter, just stopped by for lunch. Michonne being interviewed for Yahoo! Games. She was interviewed 3 times on camera during the week.

We are really looking forward to Kathryn & Phil's wedding! They are working with the wonderful planner Jubilee Lau, and we are sure it's going to be quite a party! As far as obtaining these photographs, I really feel that lighting is number one. Look for the best light that you can (or create it) and then it is much easier to create a beautiful image. If htey are in the right light, then you can let them interact as you capture...if they are uncomfortable, or unnatural when they know the camera is around, you can give them direction to help their poses feel more natural, and most of all, flattering and pleasing. Everybody wants to look good!

This session took place at Wendy and Steve's home, which was beautiful, and had quite a view. We are going to be putting together a family album from this session. It will be a compilation of all the different types of photographs we did for this family portrait photography session. They will also be hanging a large family canvas above their fireplace. It is an irreplaceable heirloom that they will cherish forever. Mish should make this into a postcard Hop on Pop