Cruisin down the PCH

Cruisin down the PCH, originally uploaded by justinmarantz.

And it is breathtaking!

Headin to Cali

Headin to Cali, originally uploaded by justinmarantz.

It's entirely WAY too early & we're here at the airport to head out to
California for a killer engagement shoot in Napa and to speak to the
Santa Barbara PUG. We're actually boarding right now, but I just
wanted to jump on real quick to thank all of you for the wonderful
birthday wishes the past couple days! You guys rock my world!!

Xoxo
M:)

Happy Birthday Little One!!

My Mary's birthday is today, and there's no better way to start than with breakfast in bed just like when she was little. It's funny, she still makes that face first thing in the morning. And look, there's a glass of milk left on the nightstand just like she still does today. I wonder how long THAT one has been sitting there!

Love you M!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

ETA: I think comments are the BEST birthday gift ever, so keep em' coming! :) xoxo M

Let the games begin!!

Today we begin the MAMMOTH task of going through all the applications for our new office manager position. With well over 30 applicants to sort through, we knew we needed to enlist some help! So Joey is on his way down, and together the three of us are going to comprise a panel that would put Paula, Randy & Simon to shame. Let the games begin!

Meet: Julian Sage

"I have no intentions of being a heartbreaker. *I* am a romantic."

And with that, he softly but sternly put an end to my "hey you're gonna be one heckuva heartbreaker kid" banter. And what's more, he did it with such grace, such quiet sophistication, that I didn't even mind being told I was wrong (and you KNOW how well that usually goes over!) But I mean c'mon, this is a kid who lists "learning to be a gentleman" as one of his interests. How could you not forgive him??

Meet Julian Sage. A thirteen year old powerhouse with the pipes of a Pavarotti and the panache of a Mister Michael Buble. I'm telling you, this kid is going places.

Literally.

Julian is currently touring all over the country for performances, including recently opening for the Jonas Brothers. (insert girly squeal here). Julian's about to hit the studio to record his first album, so he & his mom came down to hang out and shoot some album art. It's totally gonna go without saying, but this kid is a natural!

Special "pretty please with the sugar on top" thanks go out to the AWESOME Steve DePino for letting us "borrow" his equally awesome idea from a recent shoot of his that you can see HERE. Hey, what do they say about imitation being the best form of flattery? Oh wait, that's it.

In Search Of: Office Manager & New Intern Program

Justin & Mary want YOU!!

Things are really cranking over here at Justin Marantz Photography, and it's WAY more than just the two of us can handle anymore! So we're looking to expand our team with a new full time office manager and our brand new summer intern program. The intern program has two openings for people who are looking to get started in photography and learn all about the business side that goes into it. The winners will each receive a $1000 scholarship to use toward attending a photography workshop or purchasing equipment. If you or anyone you know would be interested in applying for any of these positions, please email the studio at justin@justinmarantz.com

Yum!

Yum!, originally uploaded by justinmarantz.

Kick @ss cupcakes!!

Kick @ss cupcakes!!, originally uploaded by justinmarantz.

We (me, Jus & Shyla) just spent a half an hour driving around Harvard
and dodging road work to find this place, but it was sooo worth it!!!

Taren & Brian: Take Two!

Every package that Justin & I offer comes with at least a short engagement shoot because we believe so much in how important they are for building friendships (not just relationships, but friendships!) with our clients and getting those fun, relaxed, trusting shots when the wedding day rolls around. But one of the add ons we've been offering is our full day, themed "Get to Know You" shoot. This starts with the "GTKY" sheet that we give to our clients, and ends with a full day of themed fun that we come up with for these couples. And sometimes, like in Taren & Brian's case, there's just SO much themed goodness that it turns into multiple days of shooting fun!

We did Taren & Brian's first shoot back in January, knowing that we would do their real themed shoot once the weather got a little nicer. These guys really just made it wayy too easy coming up with a plan for their day. For his proposal, Brian took Taren to four of their favorite places and at each place gave her a gift: an antique spoon at the pub where they had their first date, a blue shirt, a rope he borrowed from her father, and last but definitely not least...her ring! Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. So yea...we had fun with that!

People are always asking which shots are Justin's and which ones are mine, so we divided them up! We also had the amazingly talented Miss Shyla down to shoot with us, so check out her blog later for her take on things!

First up are Justin's:

And mine!

My tribute to C10ike!

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Taren & Brian, we love you guys!! We can't WAIT for the wedding!

Girl's Day Out!!

When we were away in Chicago, I missed the birthday of two of my girls: C10ike & Miss Amanda Harris. So I thought it was only fitting that we go out for some pedicure action to celebrate them being on this earth and more importantly, having them in my life! Before hitting up the salon we stopped off for a boatload of sushi....no seriously, it came to us in wooden fisherman's boat that took up the whole table. Needless to say, we were giddy. Then we plopped ourselves in the massaging chairs for 10 toes (well 30 toes in all!) of uninterrupted bliss before finishing off one glorious day with a super cheesy chick flick. It just doesn't get any better than this!

hyjinx at the movie theatre!

Just a little snapshot into our lives....

So we were just enjoying a yummy dinner of chicken & snowpeas in a peanut sauce when the "Beverly Hillbillies" Geico commercial came on (y'know, the one where they speculate that Jed really made his money by switching to Geico) when the following conversation transpired:

Justin: So how did Jed Clampett make all his money?
Mary: Seriously?
Justin: *shrugs shoulders*
Mary: Well....one day he was shootin at some food....and up through the ground came a bubblin' crude. Y'know...black gold. Texas Tea?
Justin: Well why did they have to move to Beverly Hills?
Mary: Because his kin folk TOLD him to!! Honestly, have you ever actually LISTENED to the song?!?

Yea...that's just how we rock dinner.

Ta Daa