Christmas in Disneyland

Its like Tinseltown here...

Disneyland E-session

No time to type! there will be more time for that later. Here is Rach
and I on the carousel!!

MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS PRESENT!!!

So my amazing wife, who picked out the sweetest present for me. I
have always wanted a Hawaiian Ukulele, and when we were strolling
through Honolulu last week, we stopped by a shop there that sold
nothing but ukuleles. Being a passionate but temporally "to busy to
play much" musician (i have my own cd from a few years back). I
picked up this beauty and started playing. Immediately i fell in
love and HAD to have it. But the coolest part was that my wife had
not yet picked out my Christmas present. When we left, i had NO idea
she was going to call and order that same one for me. So when
christmas time came around, i was thinking, what did she get, she
only got me one box. I opened it up, "no way", i said as i saw the
black case. I knew right away what she got me! So i have some
learning of new chords to do. But give me a bit and i'll be rippin
it up! I'll serenade anyone who requests. First song I am going to
learn "Over the Rainbow", then i'll maybe mix it up and write one of
my own :) Thanks amazing wife!

Jose Villa

Jose Villa, (www.josevilla.com) a photographer friend who I admire
and respect, just supported the "Children's Cancer Fund" which 500
people posted on his blog to raise awareness and support. I think
that is such a powerful and positive thing to use a blog for. Cheers
to Jose for doing such. You inspire more people than you know!

- Sent from my iphone...

Touring the streets with lights.

At home with my family, there is nothing like our traditions. After
church tonight, we cruised by and drove through many blocks if
Christmas lights. Decorated by the entire neighboorhood. The coolest
thing is that they had a bunch of bins out for food for the homeless.
May you have a Very Merry Christmas with your family!

Party of Six - in Tampa Florida!

I hope your holidays are going swell! I am headed from Ventura up to the Bay Area, from one parents to another. Its been a pretty crazy end of the season, driving and delivering albums to our couples and getting it all before christmas. It would have been nicer to have a sleigh, cause traffic on the 405 would not be an issue.

Anyways, the exciting thing is that I am teaming up with KISS albums. They will be at booth 508 for Imaging USA, we hope you can come hang with us. They’ll have a great photo booth and free (very cool) t-shirts for folks that stop by. Kiss Albums have become very popular with my clients as well as mine! I am going to be showing off some of my new designs in their snazzy books. I LOVE the 8x8 and the 12x12 albums most. Everything from the Leather to the whole page spreads.

We are doing the first "Party of" Tour, starting in Tampa Florida for PPA Imaging (professional photographers association)

First, we will be doing a sunset fashion shoot on Monday, the 7th. If you want to tag along and have the opportunity to shoot some sweet bridal fashion, and take some shots yourself, just show up at the KISS booth at 4:00. There‘s no fee! Just show up ready to have a great time and get some good inspiration. We have a Bridal Gown designer from Beverly Hills who will be supplying an amazing gown for us to shoot.

Second, for six photographers (first come, first serve) is offering a six-hour, comprehensive planning session for 2008. Here‘s some of what will be covered:

• What you should know about changing your prices in 2008.
• Trends and industry status, how some simple things national economy will affects each of us in '08
• Analyze your 2007 stats, and review the highlights and lowlights,
• Review your pricing and marketing
• Choose best financial and timing strategies to grow your business in 2008
• 1 on 1 portfolio reviews (bring any material you want to be covered)

The second half of the session is determined by the photographers. The coolest part of these is the mutual inspiration from seeing other ask questions, and we will review each other. The New York Party was really great in that way, everyone walked away energized and amped. That is why I am doing these. A special Thanks to kiss for helping put these on!

To sign up contact us soon at: info@mikelarson.com or 805-549-0199.

The cost is super low -$195, so ask for it for a christmas present!

19 flights in 3 weeks

So here ends one more year. I try to live my life so that I have no
regrets, as well as as much adventure and fun. Work hard and play
hard, as I grew up with that family motto. In my efforts to fly
around and spend part time teaching photographers, as well as shooting
more events, weddings and portraits in crazy locations all over the
world, I took 19 flights, which may be a record for me in a 3 week
period. I am looking forward to a bit more time home this holiday
season with family and friends.

Tim & Kelly [Kauai'i]

I met tim 5 years ago @ Cal Poly. We have grown up from college students to running our own businesses. Tim has a Wakeboard Shop in the Delta and does many other things as well. Kelly and Tim are a great couple because they value time away with each other. They spend a week in Kauai'i and invited us over for a few days to hang out and do a shoot on her favorite secret beach on the north shore. We had a blast hanging with them. My favorite thing while shooting them was the spark they have in their relationship. They threw sass back and forth, they flirted, they teased, and did all the things couples do that have fun together. That makes these sessions so fun to shoot. They were full of life. I know they will look back on this day and always remember how much fun their relationship is. I say, let this be the benchmark showing the Joy they have in their future marriage. And let this be the session they remember as when they loved each other the least, and inspires everyone who sees them. I feel so passionate about what I do. I really hope that these kinds of sessions are more than just "something we do before we get married". I want these to change the way people think about being photographed forever. Amen...

Thanks guys, Rachel and I had a blast with you in Kauai'i!

This shot was from the day before, when they were at the beach. I loved it.

They started out getting a bit of Shaved Ice, a Hawaiian favorite in the afternoon, or as Kelly says "any time of day!".

Chillin in Honolulu!

We only have 4 hours to kill, so we thought nothing better to do but
rent a convertable, head to downtown Waikiki and do a lil Christmas
shopping!...

Gas prices out of control!??

This remote island, gas is 75 cents higher than in Oahu. Crazy....
But when I get back to Cali, I won't be complaining about $3.35,

Go airlines

Check out www.iflygo.com. They have the coolest pilots and are so east
to book n flybyo those remote spots on Molokai. This little 8
passenger plane took us on the 21 minute flight from Oahu to Molokai.
Can't wait to visit the family there.

Flying in to Molokai!

This is a sweet little trip, I feel like I'm flying back in the 60's
or something on this little plane. But we fly close to the ground,
and get sweet views!

Hawaii mudding, I mean working...

So we just spent most of the day shooting Tim and his fiancé Kelly's e-
session here on the north shore of Kauai.. Hanalei Bay is such a
sweet town! But to get to the best spots, you need to go through some
killer roads with huge mud puddles. I'm not complaining..

Oahu & Maui

Ok, so there isn't enough time in the day to post a lot of text, because there is so much to do here, the last thing i want to do is be on the computer. Here are some highlights from the last few days, I'll post more soon! Id be interested to see what your favorite image is. Vote for images 1-3 and select "comment" and make your selection! I'll choose one person by random and send you a 5x7 print! make sure there is a way to contact you by email so i can get your address when you post your comment

1

2

3

These are on the north shore of Oahu, and the bottom image is from Maui, near Lahina.

Mahalo!...

Aloha Hawaii

So here we are again.. ..my favorite home away from home. This 12 day
trip is a much needed year end mini vacation. We do have a wedding,
casual esession with a couple for 2008, some time with a good buddy,
Jim Russi for his birthday, some time with by wife's family on
Molokai, and some much anticipated R&R with my wife. I feel blessed
to have Meagan in the studio back in Cali working away as we are able
to get away here this week. I was thinking the other day, I never
have a typical 'monday' where its hard to get back to work, as in
corporate america, and i think its due to the fact that we work hard
and we play hard. We have a great balance of time off and all of
working as a team when we do work. When I come back to work on the
17th, I'm stoked to finish up working on some projects due for
Christmas. Stay tuned for some sweet photos from Hawaii. Its so
beautiful out here!

Aloha

I LOVE coming to Hawaii, and this trip for the next 11 days is filled with a wedding, some casual e-sessions with some of our couples for 2008, a good buddy's birthday, time with family on Molokai, and some much needed R&R with my wife.  As we had the busiest year ever this year.  Its so important to us- and a high priority to spend time together.  Even though we work together and get a lot of quantity time, we makr sure to take plenty of time throughout the year to spend time being married and enjoying our lives.  That makes coming back to work so different.  I never have those dreaded 'mondays' because of the balance of work and play.  I believe that gives me the energy and passion to give 110% to my clients while I am working.  We work hard and we play hard, its the only way to live.  I also must give thanks to Meagan, our studio manager, working hard in the new studio. She is an integral part of the team.

Stay tuned for some insane posts of the sunsets and all the extreme weather out here!...

Sent from my iPhone

Fall Fun

After jumping off a plane and heading back to the studio, I met Brian and Audrey and we did a short session. Every so often, i get a dream to shoot something cool, and I send out to my current couples the opportunity to jump on a cool shoot. They did! When I flew into SLO this afternoon, i spotted a vineyard and nailed it down to the row. I was looking for a TON of leaves that were on the ground. So right at sunset we headed back to this spot. Even though the sun was behind the tallest peak on the horizon, missing direct sunlight, we still got some great shots, and I am amped and stoked at what we got. So here goes! Thanks for coming out guys, and NEXT TIME, when the snow is in the forecast, be ready, cause the option is on again!

I love it when I'm shooting, and my couple just relaxes and gets down. They didn't care about their hair, shoes, or details, even though they were dressed fly, they were in love and forgot the details, and just had fun with each other. Thats what these shoots are all about.

Rockefeller center

>

> Ouch, arriving at 6:22am on United's "ps" Premium Service, which is
> like a whole flight crew devoted to you having a good nights sleep!
> So, after landing Driving to our office in the upper west side, I
> passed by the solar powered Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center.
> Its so big, 65 feet tall I hear. It may be larger, but that is the
> urban legend here in midtown!
>