charley star photo

MaeMae Paperie Trunk Show // dreams, stories, paper

see that big gray beauty above? Underneath it's cover, it holds the dreams, stories, and paper of MaeMae Paperie's new and soon-to-be launched WEDDING COLLECTION!  now if you are already familiar with Megan's stationary, you will understand me when i say she had me at "pony" -- her adorable logo for MaeMae Paperie.  But this new wedding collection line knocked me off my feet. With several invitation suites to choose from, Megan has a story behind each one, each with their own characters, backstories of the couple, what their pets are, their hobbies, their dreams.  

If you're in Southern California, check out MaeMae Paperie's Trunk Show tomorrow, Saturday, Mar. 17th, at Urbanic in Venice Beach.

Here's the info:

And if you can't make it, stay tuned for the upcoming issue of Utterly Engaged.  I was lucky enough to spend the day photographing Megan as she showed me around her studio, gave me insights into her inspiration and process, and showed me the gorgeous new wedding collection.  Gorgeous! Can't wait til you see the photos in Utterly Engaged.

Have a great weekend everyone!

xxo

 

 

 

Adoration.

I love the way you look at me.

Well, not me. Him.

I love the way she looks at him.  

i was shooting this event and saw the lovely ms. elizabeth in a look of pure adoration of michael as he worked. CLICK! 

Ah, love... ain't it grand? 

{and uh, no, she is not a groupie, that's her man!}   :)  

///

i never got around to posting images from the Bow!Bash!Blow! event so you might see a sprinkling of them in the next few posts.

hope you all are having a great week!

Believe! // sneak peek Leigh's Birthday

...because what goes better with Summer than birthdays and magical thinking?

Happy summer everyone!

(and Happy Birthday Leigh!)

xxo

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Summer everyone!

a li'l bit of sugar // sneak peek Rome's 1st Bday

Oh Rome, you little drop of sugar, you.... 

happy birthday.
happy year.
happy life.

so glad i was there to capture your first birthday. thanks for staring at me with your big blues and melting my heart.

more to come....

 

xxo

kick-start to the weekend / / / (Hitched preview)

... a li'l kickstart to the weekend (and a Hitched preview) for you... hope yours is relaxing and festive!

xxo

a godfather-themed 50th birthday -- los angeles event photography

There are birthdays, and then there are birthdays. If you are going to ring any of them in in style, i'd say the half-century mark is the one to do it on. that's exactly what my client jennifer did for her husband randy's 50th last week. with the help of bash eco events, jennifer pulled off one spectacular, Godfather-themed, surprise birthday bash in the back room of Wolfgang's Steakhouse.   nice! happy birthday, randy!

videography: reel memories video
music: bob reynolds
yummy edibles: cuppielove and my sweet and saucy
florist: floral rush
photo booth: polite in public

this party blows -- the drybar launch.

the other night i had the pleasure of photographing the launch party for my friend alli webb's DRYBAR -- the seriously most fabulous concept for the hair challenged, or for those just wanting a little pampering.  drybar.  no cuts. no color. just blowouts. only $35.  not only is alli an amazing stylist, but this is a a serious deal. thirty-five bucks? don't most places charge like $60 for blow outs?  go during "happy hour," and you can get your blow out with a cocktail.

when i showed up, i was blown away by how gorgeous the salon was. they've been working so hard on this, and it definitely shows. they did such an amazing job! cameron, her hubby, (who just happens to be a creative director) so totally nailed it with the branding on this thing. i mean, check out that logo, the website, even the "this party blows" copy on the invite.  i just loved everything about this place -- the branding, the colors, the aesthetic...and best of all, the peeps! the whole drybar team rocks.  i had so much fun meeting everyone, hanging with friends, meeting new ones and taking photos.  the launch party was organized by the ambassadors of fun themselves, so you know it was a style-y good time, and they decked the place out with gorgeous succulents. cocktail bevies were provided by o.n.e. and 360.

i'm pretty much a DIY girl when it comes to cutting my hair, but when my hair gets long enough, i am so heading to drybar for the Mai Tai (sexy, tousled beach hair) or maybe the Manhattan (sleek and straight) blowout, with a floater (10 minute head massage).

big congrats to everyone at drybar! thanks for letting me document the night. you guys really outdid yourselves.

xxo

for more photos, check out the slideshow:
 

oh, lindsey.

i have been working on album designs from this and this event, and so i thought i would post some images that i have been lingering over that never made it to the blog...  i'm loving the intensity little lindsey's throwing at the lens here, contrasted by the warm smile of her beautiful mom...



diptych or triptych of this li'l pirate?

 

and this, below, was taken of me by Matt Cali who was my 2nd shooter that day, and perfectly captures why i love my job. :)

happy weekend everyone, and happy halloween...  and to matt + kara who are so patiently awaiting your sneak peak from their gorgeous carmel wedding, pics are coming soon i promise! ;)

xxo

sneak peak

coming soon:  pirates + fish + etc. + 4 + 6 + 40 + 50 = 100!

here's a little sneak peak from the event i photographed on saturday.... for the lovely Wooster Family's 100th Birthday party, and planned by the Ambassador of Fun herself.  so much amazing-ness in one event it was hard to select just a couple to show you... but i kinda liked this series so i'll leave you with this:

xxo.

Children. Childhood. Portraits.

last week i had the pleasure of photographing a kid's birthday party for Lindsey, who was turning 4.  Her adorable mom threw her a mom-n-daughter party at chi nail bar + organic salon. the kids got hello kitty (and kid & eco friendly) mani's and pedis, while the moms got to do the same, only while sipping cocktails instead of fruit smoothies. to complete the dress-up fun, the kids'-- and at least one spunky, beautiful elder's-- hair was decorated with braids, beads, sparkly glitter and colored spray.  throw in some delish cake, smoothies, pizza, and a few cocktails for the moms, and you've got yourself a full-blown birthday bash!

somewhere between the nail painting, the glitter, the cake, and the hair braids -- and the rambunctious, delightful hopping from one station to the next -- i aimed to find  those magical camera-connections...   and i was reminded all over again to what drew me into photography in the first place:  the magic and mystery and intrigue and wonder of CHILDREN. seriously, could photograph them forever.

here's just a little taste of what i found... hope you enjoy.

xxo,
charleystar

(usually for events, i will do more of a storyboard blog post, a photographic progression of the event. but i was so drawn into these little darlings, i had to show you this small sampling of children's portraits from the day.}

** Happy Birthday Lindsey! **

 

 

 

 

 

 

melissa celebrates!

______________________________________________________________________________

happy birthday melissa!
thank you for a fabulous and lovely evening as you rang in your birthday. it was so much fun being there to capture it all and working on your images afterward. kudos to the Ambassador of Fun, Paige, of Bash Eco Events for making it all happen with spot-on event design + coordination, and to stephanie of seed for the fabulous florals.  dash entertainment kept everyone moving with tunes that covered the decades.  moonlight and sound of the waves were compliments of the jonathan beach club, and, well, God.  :)

xxo.

summer nights.

from the project i'm editing now... sneak peak coming soon.