Renee Vanni Images

Venice Beach Flash Class

I was in Venice Beach, California for a course I wanted to take with  Julia Dean Workshops.  It was a great week and we were in LA during torrential rains and flooding. The board walk was pretty quiet, due to the rains and I liked that just fine, since I really do not like crowds. The course was intensive and since my old brain does not absorb as quickly as it used to, it was a tough study for me but I am thrilled I had the opportunity to take the class. Dori came with me so we made a girls trip of it and our evenings were free to discover this eclectic liberal town. I loved it and want to go back. Julia Dean is a fantastic soul and really a very good teacher. If you get the opportunity, you photographers really should consider taking one of her workshops.  Dori and I really enjoyed her laid back, fun, teaching style.

Pieces of Skagway, Alaska

I was in Skagway, Alaska last September photographing a wedding. I enjoyed that weekend, hanging out with my bride and her family. My friend, Gayla, came along with me to assist and then we extended our time to enjoy the area.  That whirlwind day was over quickly and I spent the next couple of days enjoying photographing parts of Skagway, Alaska. We also flew to Juneau and stayed over a couple of days. I will plan to post a few pics from Juneau in another posting.

I walked all over Skagway, exploring and taking photographs. I came upon this wooden fence. I have never seen anything like it. Someone painstakingly cut out these heart holes, painted and attached the filler hearts in red. What a treat! I took the two pics I shot below and played a bit with some graphics and I loved the colours. Photoshop can truly be an addicting medium. Enjoy.

Crystal and Stefan Hoelzler in Skagway, Alaska

I had the privilege of flying to Skagway, Alaska to photograph a very intimate wedding! I photographed Crystal Jones and Stefan Hoelzler’s wedding. That was one fun weekend! Gayla, came along to assist me. My super cool couple were traveling from Canada on ship with their families. We all met in Skagway for their small Catholic ceremony. After the ceremony, we headed into the heart of historic Skagway. This is one very picturesque little town. I have not been here since I was young when I used to fly to Haines to visit my grandparents. Together we would flew to Juneau and sometimes, Skagway.  . . I am getting off track. Gayla and I discovered the Red Onion Saloon and we knew it was a perfect spot to bring our couple for some fun shots at the old time bar. Crystal drinks MY drink . . . the lemon drop. Well, when I am not drinking my signature margarita. The people of Skagway are really great. I even ran into an old aquaintaince from Anchorage, who has a fur gallery there. All round fun time. This is Staci. She is one of the “ladies of the night” of the old saloon and has 2 de-lish lemon drops in hand.

This is her Staci’s “treasure chest” .  .  .  and I quote her.

Crystal’s wedding gown was just gorgeous.

These pearls were a gift from the bride’s father.

Crystal peeks to make sure that Stefan will not see her as we walk the street to the small church.

This was the smallest catholic church ever and it was a bit different than any other Catholic Church I have ever been in. There was a giant mural painted on the sanctuary wall of a mounting climbing expedition. I cannot resist using old camera technique for an old time look!

We were all over Skagway photographing and we managed to get their cruise ship behind them in the background.

We all had so much fun playing on and around the old train, which runs frequently for tours, by the way.

I turned to catch a shot of my lovely assistant, Gayla and caught the groom’s father photographing me while I was photographing the bride and groom on the rail tracks! It was a fantastic day of fun for all of us, I would say.

From every turn we took in this busy little town, people were applauding and congratulating the bride and groom. Some tourists took pictures of them, which I thought was a bit odd, but it was all in good fun for our celebratory couple of the day.