"Bliss Salon & Spa" Photo Shoot by rsthurston photography

Santa Barbara, California

Among many goals for my business, I’ve been wanting to expand my business and network with local salon owners this past year (for what better place to find cool local women?!)

My good girlfriend Kimi Vandyk recently connected me with a sweet, beautiful little salon on Mission Street aptly named “Bliss Salon & Spa” and owned by Santa Barbara local Tracy Grossmann. Beautifully decorated with Buddha statues and warm colors, it’s a very inviting place to spend a couple of hours feeling pampered.

Tracy is looking to expand the look on their website with more colorful, artsy images as well as to celebrate their upcoming one-year anniversary with an ad in The Independent.

The eight of us were lucky enough to catch a break in this crazy spring weather last week on the morning of our shoot.….relishing the early morning sunshine pouring through the windows of the salon then tramping about at one of my favorite local gardens where you can assured something will always be in bloom!

I’m looking forward to continuing my relationship with the women at Bliss Salon~

Check them out…it’s a gorgeous place to spend an hour or two feeling doted on…

Pictured in these images are the following gorgeous women:

Tracy Grossmann, Mimi Anderson, Laurie Campbell, Alison Fuller, Angela Ireland, Laura Weidl, and Lauren Woodard.

Note: If the music doesn't come on when you click on "play," try refreshing your screen and clicking "play" again.

Magical Moments in Santa Barbara....

‎"Our hearts were drunk with a beauty our eyes could never see."

George William Russell

Viva La Santa Barbara Women’s Festival 2011!

Founded by Patty Dedominic

Santa Barbara, California
http://www.womensfestivals.org/womens-conference-santa-barbara-producer.php
Organized by a host committee and an intrepid group of volunteers…
March 5-6th 2011 at Earl Warren Fairgrounds

I’ve lived in four states, along both the Canadian and Mexican borders, and spent a few years of my life living and traveling abroad. I’ve spent countless years working in male dominated fields of river guiding and the testosterone-powered world of rock n’roll (King Bee) but since coming to Santa Barbara I’ve been surrounded by the most magical amazing women of my life!

Among a million other reasons why Santa Barbara is the most amazing place I’ve ever lived is one very surprising and unique quality. The women. I’ve never lived in a place that had a greater concentration of seriously rockstar diva goddess uber-talented gorgeous amazing creative female spirits than I’ve found in Santa Barbara

Enter the Women’s Festival. We couldn’t find a greater way to celebrate International Women’s Day (3/8) than by rubbing shoulders, sharing ideas, laughing, networking, and cavorting with a few of the yin-spirited (?) movers and shakers from Santa Barbara.

Because of a connection with a good girlfriend of mine who was involved with helping to promote the event this year (the ever-so-marvelous Kimi Vandyk!) I had the honor of being one of the photographers this year for the Women’s Festival (I had great fun sharing the role with Kenji of Kenji Photography…I think we’re two of the most extroverted photographers you may come across). Earl Warren was positively abuzz with creative energy as men and women shared ideas, sampled products, attended roundtable discussions, watched some beautiful dancing (Tribal and Middle Eastern) outside, sampled chocolates, coffee, beauty and health products, and had an all-round blast basking in each other’s energy.

It was my first year experiencing the festival and I look forward to seeing it continue to grow in the coming years. I celebrate living here in Santa Barbara but more importantly, I’d like to celebrate what an incredible group of women (and men!) live in our beloved town!

I’ve put together a slideshow of a few of my favorite shots from the weekend…

Enjoy!

WEV'ing Up For 2011!

r.s.thurston photography exhibition

Santa Barbara, CA

For years I've been wanting to blow up (no fire needed) a bunch of my favorite images from over the years and do a show. Woohoo! It's finally happened. Women's Economic Ventures (the cool non-profit which features an entrepreneurial course twice a year) has asked me to be their Featured Artist this spring.

R.S. Thurston Displayed in WEV's Santa Barbara office: March - May 2011 R.S. Thurston is a travel, food and fine art portrait photographer who has traveled to six continents. Her love for movement and natural light infuses her photography with a whimsical, fantasy-like air. Over the years her photography has been featured in theLos Angeles Times, Santa Barbara Magazine and Food and Home Magazine. One of her greatest joys in photography is creating intimate connections with her clients who have described their time with her as “phenomenal,” “magical” and “beautiful.” A WEV graduate, she loves creating connections with her clients and making the process of taking the photos as much fun as receiving the final outcome – the images. Whether you’re looking for beautiful new portraits of you and your loved ones or wanting to create a fresh new look for your website and business cards…..R.S. Thurston is your go-to gal! R.S. Thurston's work includes ”Goddess Photography,” in which she celebrates women of all ages, shapes and sizes in helping them feel radiant, beautiful and strong; lifestyle photographs of you and your loved ones, including babies, pregnancy, families and couples; promotional photographs of dancers, artists and musicians; sumptuous food photography for chefs, caterers and restaurants; event photography; travel photography from six continents available in prints and notecards; and so much more. View her work or contact her at rachel@rsthurston.com

http://www.wevonline.org/success-stories/featured-artist

*Many of you may know that I took their course last fall....it's a great opportunity for business owners (both men and women) to hone their skills in writing a business plan, doing cash flow projects, and becoming more savvy at pitching their business ideas. I've made some good friends in the program with whom I continue to meet regularly for a little mutual cheerleading.

February 25, 2011

Sitting in a coffee shop in Santa Barbara, CA

Reflecting on Travels in Tasmania, Australia

Wow. It's truly amazing how long it takes to feel like you've caught up with work after being out of the country for five weeks! I'm not quite there yet but I'm at least coming up for air, taking a huge gulp, and telling myself..."Yes! This feels amazing! I live in California and at some point in the near future I'll have an inbox with less than 100 emails in it!"

Ahh, the sweet smell of 21st Century Bliss!

I've been working on a photo exhibition that will be showing at Women's Economic Ventures for the next three months and blowing up some of my favorite travel, food, and portrait photographs. I've just begun dipping into editing my Tasmania pics but wanted to share one of my most favorite ones that was borne from a truly beautiful moment.

These are the words I've used to describe it on my FB Page:

"This was one of those magical moments that happens when you're traveling along a country road just riding the "flow"....a storm had recently come through and these horses were standing beneath this gorgeous, old tree as the wind whipped their manes...we literally screeched to the side of the road and watched them in awe...it was one of those moments that you know at the time will always stay with you."

Check back in a week or two and I'll have more of my blogs up from Tassie....good times and lots of catching up to do! Year of the Rabbit...HERE I COME!

Alpha Resource Center Holiday Thank You Party, Montecito, California

Photography by r.s.thurston photography

What do you get when you take a beautiful Spanish-style Montecito Home, mix in mini-cupcakes, a make-up artist, jeweler, Artiste Wines, a tarot-card reader, masseuses, loads of scrumptious plated cheeses, breads, and stuffed mushrooms, and a costume room full of hundreds of alter-ego possibilities?

A dang good time right before the holidays!

Alpha Resource Center wanted to give back this year and thank some of their top donors for their generous support. For those of you who wonder what Alpha does besides operate those killer-good-deal thrift stores around town, they're a Santa Barbara based non-profit committed to empowering individuals with developmental disabilities. The rewards event was spearheaded by Alpha’s Outreach Coordinator Marisa Pasquini. My good friend Michele Sakakibara was in charge of helping to orchestrate the night at Molly Houston’s gorgeous home in Montecito (she generously donated her place to be the event venue).

In my humble opinion, I think I had the coolest job of all! In my photography I absolutely love to “style” my clients and I’ve always been a glutton for costumes. I’m known for bringing several pieces of my own clothing, accessories, and props along to pump up fun in the shoot. Molly’s costume room is an absolute dream for anyone who loves to dress up…for all of you who love to try-on different personas….you wouldn’t believe the quality of costumes she’s both collected and created over her past many years in theatre and events….hand-beaded mermaid dress with matching slippers, Spanish dresses with layers of ruffles and matching hats, Chinese headdresses, weighty beaded flapper dresses, and whimsical chiffon princess skirts and bustiers…..and there’s a room full of Tupperware packed to the brim with every color feather boa and wigs you could imagine and hope for.

For four hours I helped to style, dress, and then photograph the guests at the party. I know, I know, it was rough work but we made it through the night….laughing, cajoling each other, and having a ball encouraging these beautiful women live into their alter-egos.

Of course, we had to have a costume contest and the winners were given some fantastic prizes. I’ve posted the top three winners here but definitely take time to check out the slideshow as well!

Molly is hoping in future years to grow this event and possibly hold a fundraiser here. Her place is an absolute dream to celebrate in and I hope to be a part of it next year~

Thank you again to all of Alpha’s Donors as well as to Marisa, Molly, Michele and the rest of the amazing men and women who came together to donate their time and help to create this event.

Happy New Year~!

Enjoy the Slideshow~

r.s.thurston is available for events and private portrait sessions. To see more of her work, just click on “portfolio” above or check out some of her photo sessions here on her blog. You can contact her at rachel@rsthurston.com

*The slideshow does have a music track. If the sound doesn't come on within a second or two, refresh your page and then click "play" again.

For those of you who attended the party and would like to download some of these photos, please follow these easy steps:

1) Click in the upper right corner to “visit gallery.”

2) You will be redirected to my Zenfolio Professional Gallery. Double click on the picture you would like to download. Roll your cursor over upper left portion of picture and select “Download Original.”

Inspiring Speech by J.K. Rowling to the Harvard Graduating Class of 2008

I rarely post videos unless they're either a) super inspiring or b) super entertaining. This is a bit of both. My boyfriend's Mama recently shared this with me and I finally had the chance to listen. It's great to put on in the background while you're doing work.

I think this is a beautiful way of wrapping up the year and starting the new one, feeling grateful for all that we have and full of fire in our bellies for the upcoming year.

Enjoy and have a beautiful holiday and New Year!