jen lauren grant photographer / los angeles wedding photography / wedding, engagement, family, boudoir, maternity photography

Sarah is so beautiful and one of my good friends and most favorite people…  We had such a fun little boudoir weekend mini-marathon and these are some of my favorite shots.  I shot a combination of film & digital.

Kelly Moore Bag – The Libby in Sapphire

Canon 5d Mark ii

Canon 5d

Canon 24-70mm F/2.8L

Canon 50mm F/1.2L

Canon 35mm F/1.4L

Canon 135mm F/2.0L

Canon 85mm F/1.8

Canon 100mm F/2.8 Macro

Canon 580EX ii Speedlite

Canon 430 EX Speedlite

Canon CP-E4 Compact Battery Pack

PocketWizard Mini TT1 and Flex TT5

Stellar Lighting Systems Video Light

LOTS of extra batteries

CF Cards – 168gb Total (not pictured)

Canon EOS 3 – Film Camera (not pictured)

Canon 40d – (not pictured – using to take this photo)

Canon 50mm F/1.4 (not pictured – using to take this photo)

ThinkTank Roller Bag – Airport Security V2.0 (not pictured)

There are still a few more things that I would like, but I’m pretty close to having all the gear I want.  I have all of it insured through Hill & Usher – they are the best!

It’s actually hard to tell in these photographs just how much it was raining.  But, I can tell you, it was raining quite a bit and it was cold.  Which means Jessica + Kevin = troopers.  Especially Jessica in her little sun dress!  This was my first time meeting them (they’re delightful!) because they are currently living in Chicago.  Which is why this was the only day we were able to do photos while they were out here visiting.  In spite of how uncomfortable running around in the freezing rain can be, they were so easygoing and fun and game to try and make the rain work that we all had a blast! (I think?!)  And I love the photos.  Everyone in California has photographs in the sunshine we’re famous for – it only rains a few days every year – so these are really special!  And the sun did come out at then end – even though it was still raining – which made the light really amazing.  I can’t wait for their wedding in July!

So, I’m trying to be a little healthier and to prepare more meals at home.  My idea of healthy isn’t really about calories or grams of fat or anything like that – it’s things that don’t come in a box; or rather, aren’t made by science.  Now, I normally really do not like salads.  At all.  I hate them.  But, for some reason, I love this one.  It’s so simple and refreshing and it makes a great side dish to practically anything or alone as a light lunch.  I’m sure many of you have had this before at restaurants or at home – I’m by no means inventing recipes over here – I’m just sharing stuff I like…  I hope you enjoy!

Ingredients

Arugula

Lemon juice

Salt + Pepper

Extra virgin olive oil

Grated parmesan cheese

Preparation

Mix it all together (to taste) – takes about 5 seconds.  :)  (hint: arugula is a little bitter, and the lemon juice goes amazing with it – so don’t be stingy with it – for me, the more lemon juice, the better! Go a little easier on the olive oil.)

Variations

With this salad as a base, you can add to it other things you like and it still tastes just as good.  Try adding kalamata olives, or pine nuts, or crumbled goat cheese (instead of the parmesan).

Today is my beautiful mom’s birthday and this past Saturday was my wonderful dad’s.  They live in New Jersey and my sister and I live here in Los Angeles.  So on Saturday, Rodney and I had my sister and her boyfriend over for a little birthday party with Facetime on our iPads.  We planned it for when they’d be eating and I was going to cook the same dinner that my mom was making (lobster) and my sister bought a cake that looked just like the one mom got for dad with white frosting and blue roses…  Unfortunately, the night before, my dad came down with the flu – so my sister and I thought it would be funny to have “flu birthday food” too… So, I didn’t get the lobster and instead went to Jerry’s Famous Deli and got matzo ball soup, saltine crackers and ginger ale.  It was really fun and despite getting disconnected a few times, it really felt like we were all having dinner together…  I love that we were able to sing happy birthday and help him blow out candles from 3000 miles away – yay technology!