Los Angeles Event Photography - Roller Derby Season Champs

Even though I've been going to LA's roller derby games for years now, I went to more this season than ever before and was lucky enough to get to take pictures at many of the games. I can't think of a better way to wrap up an amazing season than watching the championships where my favorite team, The Tough Cookies, played against The Swarm. As always, much love to Gori Spelling for asking me to be her photographer!

 After a few ejections and much deliberation by the refs the final score was 148 to 106, with the Tough Cookies maintaining their champ title for three years running. Congratulations on an amazing season, Cookies and Gori! 

More Alexis Quinceanera

A few more favorites from Alexis' Quinceanera celebration now that I've had a chance to finish editing the set for her and her family.

Alexis' Quinceañera

A few weeks ago, I got to photograph Alexis as she celebrated her quinceañera. I met Alexis through her aunt Diane, a bridesmaid at the first wedding I ever photographed, so it was very cool to have the photography I've been doing over the past few years come back around in that way. Alexis is incredibly sweet, as was her whole family. I loved her mom's speech about how special Alexis is and how she'll achieve all her dreams, and I felt really lucky to be a part of the day for that.

There are about 200 photos from that day that I'm still going through, more of which I'll post soon, but in the meantime I wanted to post a little sneak peek of some of my favorites!

Los Angeles Derby Dolls

Anyone who knows me well could easily tell you that I am not into sports. I am completely uncoordinated when it comes to playing sports and just not interested when it comes to watching sports. The one exception to this is Roller Derby. I went to my first LA Derby Dolls game a few years ago and was instantly hooked. The games are fast and action-packed, the players are charismatic, and the fans are really into it. Matt and I and some of our other friends have been going ever since. Along the way, I became friends with lovely and talented Gori Spelling, one of the jammers for the 2008 and 2009 champions, the Tough Cookies. For awhile now I've wanted to take photos of a derby bout, but cameras aren't allowed in for the general audience. Gori was nice enough to let me be her family photographer for a recent game and I was really excited to take pictures for the first time.

Because of how fast the skaters are going and the low light of the arena, some of the pictures are a little dark and grainy, but I was pretty happy with how enough of them turned out. I'm hoping I'll be able to take more in the future and will keep getting better with practice.

Here are a few of my favorite shots, but there are a lot more to check out here.

Ireland - Oxegen Music Festival

After we finished the Antrim Coast tour, we headed back to Belfast and then took a bus back to Dublin. We got to our hotel late at night and crashed. Friday was our last day before leaving, and we headed down to Punchestown Racecourse for the Oxegen Music Festival. We got to see several bands, in between rain and mud, but Blur as the headlining band was definitely the highlight. They played all the songs on our 'wishlist' and played them well. It was a great concert.

Mogwai

Snow Patrol

Blur

Shot of the engine taken from the plane window on our return flight back to the US.

Happy Birthday.

Last weekend was a good friend/old roommate's milestone birthday. We celebrated in a style completely fitting to her personality - riding in a limo, drinking champagne, eating cupcakes, arriving at a bar that used to be a bordello to watch another friend go-go dancing and listen to good music. The Betsy Johnson dress is so adorable and kind of reminiscent of the blueberry cupcake my friend was sampling on the way to her party. I think it's safe to say she had a good birthday.