May happiness surround you and yours.

I just wanted to pop in to announce our winner for the "Giving" contest. All the entries were hopeful yet heartbreaking and it was super hard to choose. I would love to give it to each and every one of you. But, choose I did. The winner is:

Donna Matsumoto and her little sweetness Sabinne. Her name was submitted by her friend Kathryn Fujioka. I'll be contacting the both of you by email in the next couple of days. Congratulations to the both of you and I look forward to our time together.

Thank you to all of you who took the time to enter. I hope to do this yearly.

I also wanted to wish you all out there a very merry holiday. May your spirit shine today, tomorrow and always.

Here is a sneak peek of our "New Years" card to come. I promise.



Annie also wishes everyone a day full of kisses.

Thanks for stopping by.
-lisa

giving back for the holidays

This post is inspired by a client of mine who didn't hesitate to do this for another family, as well as the hundreds of photographers taking part in this project.

You know someone. You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography -- $1000 worth, to be exact. Whether it's canvas or albums, prints for Grandma, or a slideshow to watch over and over, it's in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.

Oh, and the frosting on the cake? The person who nominates the winner receives a $250 print credit.

The rules:

* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)

* The nominee must reside 0n Oahu, Hawaii. Tell me who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.

* You must e-mail me the full story : lisa@utopia-photo.com

The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve -- get nominating! I can't wait to read all of your entries!

Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

With love,

Lisa

**Many thanks to Kristen Kalp of Essential Imagery in Pennsylvania who started this grassroots project in an effort to give back this holiday season. What started as a simple act of kindness by Kristen, has now become a worldwide contribution by 357 photographers, and donations totalling (as of today) nearly $383,000. I am grateful to be a part of this project with so many amazing photographers.

To Film or not to Film

I really do feel I am giving you an amazing print from a negative. To print in the darkroom especially on fiber paper is a wonderful process and produces an image with deep tones and real grain. Not to mention the longevity of the picture, kept in the right conditions, will be treasured for years.

You all know that I take the time to scan in all my negatives and work on them to proof with you digitally. Also, I create cards, collages and canvas prints from the digital files. I have about 300 GB of data filed in my drive. Most of it ( 3/4) I also backed up in a second smaller drive. Can you tell where this is going? Yes, my drive ( the big one) crashed last week. I lost the whole drive. All that design work gone. I do have client work in the other drive, not all of it, but a lot. I did lose a bunch though. Enough to make me sick to my stomach. The one saving grace - my negatives. I was able to rescan and redesign many of your cards. Yes, it was a ton of work, but I am glad to do it, just knowing that I can.

So if anyone asks if I will be sticking with film, I will snub my nose at them and say, "Why, of course." I love the quality and I love the stability.

Here are some wonderful FILM images:

This is one of my favorite families. I love the kids and their awesome parents. Hey Ku'u, I heard you are doing all the Christmas shopping! You go Shanlyn!







Here is another super fun fam. They come out from Maui to hang with me. Love that.









Annie's random tip: " Never climb a palm tree when it's snowing."

Good one.

Thanks for stopping by,
-lisa

Please come back in a day or two. I have a HUGE announcement!

Back so soon?

Meet three awesome-tasticly cool families!







This guys will be a big brother next year! How much fun are these?












More water with this beauty.







Annie's tip of the day: "Don't ask for a puppy or a baby sister from Santa. He doesn't bring those things. He brings things like alarm clocks."

Thanks for stopping by,
-lisa

tis the season

So it's been over a month since my last post. As many of you know I've been bustin' butt shooting, proofing, designing and printing. It's been so busy that I haven't even thought of my own family holiday card. It may or may not happen - I'm only human after all. I have been thinking a lot about my blog lately and I don't know how people do it, blogging regularly. I just need to get on it. A couple of exciting things on the horizon but I'll need to be hush for now. Soon though. I'm just going to get on to the images.

Just as a side note, I am currently booking mid January. Except for newborns under 10 days old. Wee little ones.

Here are a few of the older kids. They are so much fun to hang out with!

These two cousins are such sweet guys. I'm sure they will be running from the ladies soon!









A fun family that I get to hang with every other year. I'm not sure you can get more photogenic.










Another family I had the pleasure photographing. We had so much fun.








A quick trip home to Hawaii from Japan. Mom and I go way back. It was nice meeting her girls for the first time. Loved hanging with you.






So it's late and I need to sleep. Annie has a load of tips she wants me to post but I'll need to leave them for next time. I have so much to post. Yikes.

Thanks for stopping by.
-lisa