We are excited to introduce to you the first Wedding 4 Africa couple, Glenda Hoffman and Michael Coppolino!  There is so much to share with you about this amazing couple who share my dreams and heart for the children of Heart 4 Africa.  It always amazes me when people come into my life that care so deeply for children they've never met.  But the most awesome experience is when I get to hear african children talk about their sponsors.  They say, "Wow, my sponsor must really love me....to send me to school and not even know me!"  The sponsored children in Africa live drastically different lives than those who are not sponsored.  They hold their head higher, wear clean clothes and look like they've had breakfast.  But the miracle of knowing that someone loves you enough to send support is the life-changing seed of hope that propels them beyond their small imaginations.  They have much smaller dreams than children in America.  Too many times they've hit the wall of impossibility and despair but with God's help, Glenda and Michael will cause many of those walls to come crashing down. 

 This fall we will celebrate with all of the crazy awesome sponsors to bring enough funds to begin the building process for a school, a home, and a farm for our favorite African children in Kenya.  Glenda and Michael will open their guest list to those willing to join in this life-changing venture.  Please email me if you would like to be put on the guest list at annette@triplecord.com.

Ruby Rideout will be joining us for another one of our famous epic style engagement shoots!  We have got big plans! Coming to a blog near you mid-July. 

Wedding 4 Africa is Sponsored by: Your Wedding Day Magazine See all of our life-changing partners by clicking here.

See our last event that was featured on Get Married TV by clicking here. Also endorsed by Your Wedding Day Magazine.  Read the article by clicking here. 

We've all seen high school drama on the screen and become quickly bored however, Glee keeps our interest with their fabulous mash-ups and perfectly harmonized voices.  If you've ever watched the new television series Glee, you have heard and seen the artistry of Tim Davis.  He may be their best kept secret.  From vocal arranging and contracting to personally coaching the cast on set, Tim is the magic behind much of Glee's success.

When Tim asked us to do his photos for his new website, I asked him to send me samples of his favorite looks.  I am always interested in "nailing" it for our clients.  So I quickly got to looking through my idea file and searching images on the web.  There were three actors that inspired me most when I thought of Tim's style; Matthew Fox, George Clooney and Denzel Washington.  After a few hours of looking at their professional photos, I discovered that all three of them had images that stuck out from the Hollywood crowd. They had some of the most impactful and moving images of all.  It was like comparing Annie Leibovitz to the paparazzi.  Not even a contest.  So I knew I was on the right track finding inspiration for Tim's shoot.

The image below was inspired by non other than Glee.  He looks like the vocal coach that the entire cast can feel comfortable approaching and confident with the advice he gives.

This image reminded me of Lost actor, Matthew Fox; the jet flying over Los Angeles helped too.  I love Tim's leadership capabilities more than even his incredible out-of-this-world singing talents and this image says "powerful leader" with contagious humility.  

Tim Davis is such a fun person to hang around and at the end of the night he joked saying that I was an amateur photographer.  He can get away with stuff like that!!

All of this fabulous lighting was provided by Colin.  Above, Colin was standing in the middle of a pond on a rock.  Not sure why he wants a raise!?! Also, the above and below pictures have a TripleCord Texture added.  You can buy our textures here.

Tim married the most beautiful woman, Melody, who also beholds an amazing singing voice.  I wish her beautiful face would have accompanied him on a few of these!  She looks like Marilyn Monroe!

One of my favorite Christmas CD's is Tim's own Christmas Dreaming CD. Buy it here.

All of the following images were taken in the dark. I was manually focusing my camera which slowed us down quite a bit.  The park ranger was getting a little impatient with us and I felt a little hurried.  So, they are a miracle!  This is when I said, "I hope the ranger doesn't ask me for a permit!" and Tim replied, "Don't worry, you look very amateurish!"  haha.  Note to self...modeling lights are a good investment and might make me appear a little more professional.

If you have ever visited Disneyland you will hear Tim's amazing voice while watching the Halloween Scream's fireworks show, a song with over 30 tracks of his own voice.  His resume' includes too many movies, TV shows and commercials to mention here but a few include, Spiderman, Superman, Santa Clause, King Kong, Raiders of the Lost Ark, X-men, iRobot, and Happy Feet.  Many artists have been coached by Tim such as, Kelly Clarkson, Nicole Kidman, Faith Hill, Barry Manilow, Amy Grant and Natalie Grant.  

Tim Davis' dedication to instilling value in the people he coaches is what makes him superior to his contemporaries.  Everything he touches turns to gold, it seems.  We are anticipating his next venture to be bigger and better.  Be watching for his new website launching soon!    

We are so excited to announce the release of Marika's incredible hit single, Soldier!  Yesterday we listened to it in the TripleCord office and could not help but get goose bumps and chills up our spine.  An epic message and timeless cry of passion intertwines it's lyrics.  Coupled with Marika's powerful vocals and musical talent, we are confident that it will rise to #1 fast!  It did not surprise us that the Canadian Armed Forces helped her celebrate the release.  Let's celebrate together this praise-worthy legacy that is unfolding in our world; a legacy of heroes standing firmly for the benefit of the voiceless and weak.  The weak shall be made strong, the last shall be first: Marika passionately calls this truth into existence.

Soldier can be purchased on iTunes.  Search "Marika, Soldier" and you'll find it!

Marika and her amazing husband Stacy in historic Gas Town in Vancouver.  Stacy is TripleCord's newest fashion photographer/producer and provides services throughout the Pacific Northwest.  Our partnership with him, we believe, was a providential set-up!  

Dear friends,

Yesterday, Colin, Annie and I were discussing our next TripleCord 1-Day Workshop on July 14th.  A day of inspirational portfolio building.  As we were listening to Marika's song, the ideas came flowing.  We can't wait to share this tremendous vision with you.  Coming soon!  I can not express enough the importance of listening to music that inspires.  The song Soldier is a great example of strong word pictures and timeless value that produces food for the imagination and widens our perception and vision.  

 Friends, listen to inspiring songs....invest in your heart....surround yourself with people who speak life into your soul.  "Above EVERYTHING, guard your heart, for it is the well-spring of life."  

Much love,

Annette Biggers

Imagine this: soft pathways around a calm pond, the sound of gentle waterfall splashes, sculptural trees reaching toward southern California skies, and a bride and groom clasping hands excitedly.  Wait, you don't have to imagine; this is a photography blog!  

Congratulations to Breena Hughes and Kenny Nakamoto who were married last week at the Japanese Gardens at Cal State Long Beach!  The morning started with a few clouds over the Huntington Hyatt, where bride and groom were preparing for their big day, but later at the ceremony site up the coast, the skies were blue blue blue.  Here are a few romantic details to set the scene.

Breena made such a gorgeous bride! And I love how Colin set up this portrait of Kenny in the lounge: handsome groom.

These two had such great bridal parties. Lots of personality and laughter set the fun tone all day long.

There was PLENTY of romance everywhere!  The next two really show the privacy of the gardens.

We finished with some portraits in a nearby meadow.  Lots of texture on this first one, off camera flash on both.

Breena and Kenny,

Thank you so much for including us in your beautiful day.  It was such an honor to spend time with you and your families, and we wish you every happiness in your new life together!

Annie, Colin, and Annette

The topic of this post was going to be about living over your circumstances rather than under them, but a phone conversation with my friend Gloria McCune this morning changed my direction.  We were discussing beauty.  I know it seems a little shallow but honestly, it is a topic that seeps deep into the heart of a woman.  Beauty is either your friend if you have it or your enemy it you don't.  In my past, it was an enemy because I felt that I didn't have it, which drove me to reject it rather than embrace it.  What I missed in this thinking is what not embracing beauty did to my spirit.  Ultimately this, self-rejection, kept me in a constant state of dissatisfaction and defeat.  Life seemed to be doing something to me rather than me doing something with it.  Through the guidance of mentors, I discovered that I had been very wrong about myself and about God.  You see, God is the one who created beauty which means that He has also defined it and supplies it without limitation.  But we have defined it by comparing ourselves to anorexic models who have no shape and look like skeletons with skin on.  It was through a long process of losing every battle to change myself that got me to the place of looking up.  Up to the Creator of my body.  For so many years I had run to food for comfort when I didn't feel accepted or when loneliness visited.  And it seems like forever that I depended on healthy diets and exercise to sculpt and shape me into the perfect me.  This perpetual self-fixing put me on an emotional roller coaster with many more valleys than mountain tops.  I was worn out...

It is very vague in my memory when I discovered the power of embracing my God-given beauty however, I believe it must become a lifestyle and daily choice.  It is trusting in a loving Father instead of the negative voices in your head.  It's knowing that He is your comforter and will supply you of everything your heart longs for.  Without love and acceptance, any hope of beauty goes with it.  Author Nicole Johnson wrote, "Beautiful children are the ones who know they are loved and accepted.  A bright smile, confidence, and warmth are born in the soul of one who feels loved."  Unfortunately, we have taken our beauty out of God's hands and given it to men.  We listen too much to the distorted truth about who we are.

My friends, the key to a healthy body, mind, and spirit is to feed on the truth.  Find out what God says about you and then start telling yourself the same thing.  If you hear voices of condemnation or guilt, they are not from God.  He is dancing over you and celebrating your beautiful life.  Now is the time to join Him in this dance!  Then you will begin to notice the weight begin to melt away, health returning to your body, joy radiating from your face and a bounce in your step!  

My friends Stacy and Marika Siewert are two who have embraced the truth about themselves.  When they enter a room, it lights up and healing happens.  Here's some pictures of our recent adventures in Ft. Langley, BC at Eighteen 27, a vintage martini and piano bar.  Marika is wearing a stunning dress provided by The Little White House, also in Ft. Langley.

Be looking for Marika's new hit single, Soldier, coming out this month!  A beautiful and powerful song.

Dear Friends.....go meet today and all of your circumstances in the power of knowing that you are loved!

Your fellow loved one,

Annette Biggers