Anjali. Our little angel.

Well, you saw the photos from the Marvin family gender reveal, which we shot at the incredible Heritage Museum of Orange County. But Miss Anjali had so many great shots on her own, that I figured this little performer deserved her own post. So here you go- Enjoy! (and I dare you to not smile while viewing.)

 
 

Two left feet?

So many of my wedding couples are nervous about their first dance. Why? A couple of reasons, actually. Most people don't dance socially anymore, so they tend to feel awkward and self-conscious on the dance floor. Also, the spotlight is on you and you alone! How can one alleviate the inevitable nerves that come with this pressure-filled moment? With dance lessons at Atomic Ballroom, of course! 

Atomic Ballroom offers not only private classes at two different locations to help you and your honey become the next Fred and Ginger, but from time to time they even offer Wedding Dance Workshops- a crash course ensuring you start your married life off on the right foot (instead of two left ones...). 

For a limited time, we are offering a stellar partnership deal.

Any couple who books any wedding photography package with Intuitive Images AND takes the Wedding Workshop at Atomic, will receive a FREE 16x20 gallery wrap canvas, AND the high resolution images from your big day! That's a $450 value, PLUS you're making sure you glide across that dance floor like pros! 

To take advantage of this offer, email stephanie@intuitiveimagesphotography.com for wedding photography package pricing, and go sign up for March 24th's wedding dance workshop HERE! 

The trouble with muses....

... is that they never stop inspiring you. 

Okay, I guess that's not necessarily trouble. 

Erika and Mark {Wed}

So, there's this girl. She models.

I started seeing her images on the facebook pages of the photographer's groups I've been involved with.

And from the first image I saw, I thought.. Yeah. She can model.

There's just something about her. Some models just want to get attention. Some might even be beautiful. And then there are the rare few who just emit a light from within.

Erika is one of those few.

Now, I hadn't shot with her, I hadn't even met her in person. So, when she informed me that she bought one of my Groupon portrait sessions, I was so incredibly honored! And so excited to finally get her in front of my camera.

She later informed me that her session would be her engagement session, and that she and her fiance, Mark, actually knew of me through my ties with the swing dancers over at Atomic Ballroom! How incredible!

Must be fate, I thought. :)

So, we went to Old Towne Orange and shot some beautiful images of Erika and Mark for their engagement, some of which can be seen on their wedding website, http://www.erikaandmark.com/. Take a moment and browse around there- you can also see the actual video of Mark's proposal, at our very own Atomic Ballroom in Irvine!

So, after our engagement session, Erika and Mark graciously asked me to shoot their wedding. Now, I consider myself a portrait photographer first, so I am always so blessed and grateful when a couple ask me to be a part of that big day. But for these two to ask me, I was even more blessed. When a couple knows so many photographers, it's a complete honor to be the one they choose. It's sort of like being chosen first at dodgeball in fourth grade. And I take that honor as seriously now as I did back then. (No, really. I took it SERIOUSLY.)

So, without further ado, here is a little look into the beautiful wedding of Erika and Mark Schwartz.

 

 

 

 

 

Congratulations Erika and Mark!!!

May you dance every dance hand in hand.

xoxoxo

Stephanie

  

Behind the Ballroom

As many of you know, Intuitive Images will be opening a new studio space inside Atomic Ballroom in Placentia. The Placentia location is the second Orange County location for Atomic, with it's first flagship location still rockin over in Irvine. Both locations are owned and operated by Shesha and Nikki Marvin, both internationally acclaimed competitive dancers and teachers, and pillars of the dance community here in Orange County. They've been my clients, my friends, now my partners in business and new opportunities, and it's time I introduce you to them.

Here's a little Q and A with the taller half of the First Couple of Atomic, Shesha Marvin.

1. When and how did you get started dancing, and what's your background with the late Frankie Manning (one of the founding fathers of Lindy Hop)?

I started dancing when I was dragged out onto the dance floor at Disneyland one Saturday night Jan 1996. A few months later I took my 1st class from Frankie Manning and I was instantly converted from a spazzy swing kid to a lindy hopper with a clue.

2. How did you meet your beautiful wife, Nikki, and when did you two acquire The Atomic Ballroom?

I met my beautiful wife Nikki at dance class in the summer of love 2003. She was my student. We were married in 2006 and purchased ATOMIC Ballroom in 2008.

3. If you could be born in another decade, which would it be, and why?

I'm happy with my decade. If I had to play your game I would choose the 1920s so that I could see the true progression of charleston to lindy hop.

4. What drove you to open the second location for Atomic in Placentia?

Opportunity knocks and you open the door. I've known it was the next step for me for over 2 years.

5. What class or program is most exciting for you at the new Placentia location?

Argentine tango is ON! I've been trying to get into this personally for years. Friday nights, me, and Tango.

(The Argentine Tango series will be kicked off on Friday Jan. 28th - click here for more info on a stellar night of Tango, including basics, musicality, and workshops.)

6. Favorite thing to eat at home, and favorite thing to order at a restaurant?

Spaghetti and Spaghetti. Why fight it.

7. Do you hope your beautiful daughter, Anjali, will take over the Atomic empire when she gets older?

Anjali might just hate dancing. We could sell it and retire, who knows. I think of the ATOMIC empire as a small stepping stone in my life.

8. What are your hopes for the future of social dancing?

I need to keep pushing my basics and fight for more freedom.

9. You're somewhat infamous for your 101 Hat Tricks. Any plans to teach others via class or workshop?

Teaching hat tricks to geeks has been a long standing activity for me. I'm sure I will continue as requested.

(Here's a little taste of Shesha's Hat Trick Magnificence)

10. What would you say to someone who wants to get into social dancing, but has no experience?

I can't imagine living a life without social dancing. It fulfills so many human needs at once while also being fun. Any hopeless, clueless dancer can achieve competency starting at any age.

Thanks Shesha!

For more info about any classes Atomic offers, visit http://atomicballroom.com/ , and look for more articles in the Behind the Ballroom series, as I introduce you to more of the friends of Intuitive Images.

~Steph