Grace Ormonde Blog

The illustrious Grace Ormonde of Grace Ormonde Wedding Style magazine posted this on her blog at the end of Jan. We tweeted about it, but hadn't posted it; check it out here: http://graceormonde.com/tag/michael-anna-costa/

Amanda & Chris

Website Update - Two New Galleries

Click on the images below to visit their galleries:

The Royal Presideo Santa Barbara

Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara Pier

Featured on the Hip Blog: GreyLikesWeddings.com

Click Here To Check It Out:  greylikesweddings.com

Angie & Jessie

Calista's 1st Birthday with Big Sister Kaitlyn!

Featured in "Visual Poetry" by Chris Orwig

Chris is a dear friend of mine so anything I say would probably sound like a plug, but I must say Visual Poetry really is a beautiful book. I first met Chris as a student while attending Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara & immediately put him in my top echelon of instructors for his ability to teach the difficult subject I was taking, Flash. I remember one of his analogies for explaining the way designing website menu navigation goes to different portfolios on a website is like one of those Russion Babushka dolls of decreasing sizes placed one inside the other. I was sure learning Flash would make me feel like trying to run through a coliseum of stairs. And it did, but I got through it with the first working website for our business.

In Visual Poetry, Chris not only creates an inspiring workshop book, but really inspires one with the photo assignments by adding the thoughts & photographs from various Legends like Joyce Tenneson:
PHOTO BELOW BY JOYCE TENNESON from "Light Warriors" Series:

PHOTO BELOW BY JOHN SEXTON from "Places of Power" Series:

PHOTO BELOW BY DOUGLAS KIRKLAND from "An Evening With Marilyn Monroe" Series:

and images of Chris’ own during his session with 9-Time World Champion Surfer, Kelly Slater:

my images from the book below:

Amazon Link to it.

Heather + Josh

When Heather first met Josh, she said to her friend, "Now that is a guy I could marry." And the rest is history. Heather and Josh had an amazing celebration of their marriage at the beautiful Firestone Vineyard in Santa Ynez, and we were very honored they chose us to document the day for them. When we met them for the first time for their engagement session we immediately hit it off. They are two peas in a pod (as are Michael and I) and both with a zest for life and an entrepreneurial spirit. Our kind of people! :) They had their wedding at the beautiful Firestone Vineyard fantastically coordinated by Debbie Hews. The food, music, flowers and ambiance of their event was absolutely stunning - which is less than a shock because Heather certainly has a knack for detail. An amazing event - an amazing couple. We had a blast working with our videographer friend, Russell Fowler who's simply amazing at what he does.
Catering - Pure Joy, Challah Bread - Our Daily Bread, After Party - Corque Hotel in Solvang

Michelle + Rob

Anna & I had the privilege of our wonderful couple, Rob & Michelle flying us out to photograph their New York Wedding at some of the coolest locations in the city. We started out shooting Rob & his groomsmen at The Hotel Gansevoort, which has been a place I've wanted to visit since getting this really cool book last time we were here called, Hip Hotels: New York. Next we were off to The Carlyle Hotel to take some getting-ready & creative images with our beautiful bride, Michelle. The only problem with shooting in places like this is not being able to enjoy hours more having fun & being creative! But, that is not the nature of the beast... For the wedding must go on! We took a cab to the Upper East Side to photograph their wedding ceremony at a beautiful church called, St. Thomas More. Catholic churches are great to photograph in for their symbolism & old-world aesthetics. The wonderful day of shooting continued as we headed over to Central Park for some creative images on the bridge & at Belvedere Castle. Afterwords, we arrived at our final location with a view across the water. We took some final images during "magic hour," with the sun falling behind the horizon & giving way to twinkling skyscrapers.