A Lovely Experience | Elizabeth Messina, Sunstone Winery Villa | Santa Ynez, CA

In September, I went to California.

All by myself. Pensacola to Los Angeles, and then a coastal drive to take it all in from L.A. to Santa Ynez.

I met Elizabeth Messina. She is not a unicorn, and is in fact, a real human person. I love that about her. She never waivered from keeping the experience real or from being herself, she was not cookie-cutter, there were no smoke and mirrors, and that made me have a redefined appreciation for her as an artist.

I shot medium format film. I had to learn to trust myself.

I chased light.

A Lovely Workshop as a whole was more than I had hoped for. It was lovely. Beautiful. Needed. Exciting. Intoxicating. Refreshing. New.

I learned a little about photography and a lot about myself. I cried. I also laughed, a lot.

I was surrounded by AMAZING people and lots of pretty things.

This is my new friend Sarah of  Beautiful Isolations Photography.  She was one of my roomies, along with Michele.

I am so excited to finally be able to share my images from my Lovely Experience.  More posts are coming!

A few of my A Lovely Workshop images were featured on Utterly Engaged and Hearth Magazine alongside the other awesome photographers that attended!

CREDITS: event planner MINDY WEISS // design & florals MINDY RICE // calligrapher MAYBELLE IMASA – STUKULS // patisserie & Martha Stewart food editor ELIZABETH COLLING // location SUNSTONE VILLA// hair & makeup ERIN SKIPLEY // hair & makeup CHRISTINA BURNS // album company KATIE of ARTIFACT UPRISING // couture bridal gowns CLAIRE PETTIBONE // vintage rentals JENI MAUS of FOUND// paper goods & design RACHELLE of WILEY VALENTINE // table settings & dishwear JASON MURAKAWA of SMALL MASTERPIECE // chocolate DELYSIA // food & catering THE BAKERS TABLE // album company VELVET RAPTOR // film & cameras FUJI FILM // linens LA TAVOLA // photo lab IMAGE SOURCE // accommodations FESS PARKER INN