Oh no! The first post and I already have writer’s block! Forget it people…come back next week!

I’m only kidding!

Welcome everyone and thank you for visiting.  I introduce to you the brand new blog by Andy Rea Photography, Smiles & Blessings.  Smiles & Blessings represents everything that I do and wish to provide to all the families that trust me with their memories.  In our lives, we could only wish that it was filled with smiles and blessings.  If I can be even just a small part of that wish for you, then I have accomplished my goal!  I have been planning this blog in my mind since I returned from a WPPI 2010 (Photographer’s Conference) in Las Vegas.  Everyone in the photography industry was screaming at me, “GET A BLOG…GET A BLOG…GET A BLOG!”  I’ve tried one before (maybe twice actually) and completely fell flat on my face.  I had no idea what to do or even how to do it.  Basically, I had no direction.  Well let me tell you that many things have changed.  I realized that I wasn’t doing a good enough job of allowing people the opportunity to get to know me before they ever even inquired about my services.  The point of any blog is to give the reader a chance to relate and connect to the author.  My website, as cool as it is, really is only meant as a tool to showcase my imagery.  With my new blog, my goal is to share my thoughts along with my images.  Together I want to give you a distinct vision of who I am and what I represent.

For my first blog post out, I wanted something that would express everything that I am about.  I wanted the message to be clear from the very beginning.  My life is made up of family and friends.  I am blessed to have friends that have become family and they mean more to me than I can usually express.  Sometimes a simple, I love you is sufficient.  In this case though, my brother in Christ, Jason Companion, a simple I love you isn’t good enough.  I am blessed to have you as a friend and companion in my walk with the Lord.  My happiness for you having been blessed with Veronica is immense.  I love your smile Jason and I wish you nothing but Smiles & Blessings for the rest of eternity with your precious Veronica.

This is their story:
A passion for God and a passion for volleyball. On one ordained evening both were playing the sport they love at the same place at the same time. Both ended up on the same team and eventually, by the Hand of God, the passion for God and the passion for volleyball were seen reflected in one another, and both decided to play for the same Divine Coach on the same team Forever!

“May Your unfailing Love rest upon us O, Lord, even as we put our hope in YOU.” Psalm 33:22

I had the honor of capturing their proposal on July 10, 2010.  Congratulations to both of you!

It didn’t take us long to schedule their engagement session.  We had this session planned in about 5 days!  These are just a few of my favorites.  I had such a wonderful time getting to know Veronica more and enjoying the opportunity of capturing the love and happiness these two share.  Thank you Jason and Veronica for letting me be a part of this precious time in your lives.  Enjoy your images and treasure the memories forever.

Thank you everyone for coming to visit my blog and enjoy the images from Jason and Veronica’s engagement on the Monterey Peninsula.  I hope you continue to come back and before you know it, images from their wedding will be posted.  I’m just as excited as they are about the future.  Many thanks again, for sharing a part of your life with me today and reading my blog.  Please leave your comments.  I would love to hear what you have to say about my first post.

Smiles & Blessings.
Andres Rea

In honor of my first blog post, I would like to offer any Monterey Peninsula or Salinas Valley local a $100 voucher toward any portrait session and product of their choice.

Here’s the fine print!  Follow this blog by using the RSS button, Share with your Facebook or Twitter friends, and leave a comment.  Afterward, simply contact me through my Contact Me page and I will get you your voucher.  You must redeem your voucher by September 1, 2010.