Stay Cool, Hollywood.

Immense apologies for my absence. I have a valid excuse, however. I had to go to LA for 2 weeks so I could find a place to live. Yes, that's right. We're moving across the country. whaaaaaat? I still don't think the hugeness of this has fully set in yet. I am a Texas girl through and through. I have never lived anywhere else...never been away from my family. Consequently I am shitting my pants. (Don't get grossed out! It was a metaphor)! 

J has earned an awesome opportunity out there, so we're not just go out west with stars in our eyes and dreams in our hearts!!!! He actually has viable income, which is ahhhmazing. I'm confident this move will open doors for me too. New things to shoot. New people to meet. I really want to start focusing my work. (I'll give you a moment to stop giggling at my hilarious pun). But fo' realz, ya'll...for the past several years I've been shooting anything for anyone everywhere. I feel I'm going to L.A. with enough experience to shoot what I want to shoot. I'm pretty pumped about it. 

How lucky I am to get a fresh start with my best friend and to see the fruits of his labor. To consider the path we've been walking down together for 5 years only to find ourselves here is a wild thing. Also, in my nostalgic-boohoo-I'm leaving home-waah-waah time I realized how incredibly blessed I am to have such a loving and amazing family to miss with all my heart strings...

Some people don't have family to miss, right?

So here are some images of our 2 weeks. It was a whirl wind. 

An adorable service dog in the eatery at The Pali Hotel in West Hollywood and the cute dining room. 

(This hotel was almost too hip...down to every last detail)

An orange tree on our patio. I want to get one of these for our garden as soon as I get out there. GAWD I love hotel robes..Here's Jonathan in one....that's what I look at every morning. Too funny. 

The little coffee shop in our hotel.

And finally, Venice. This is where Jonathan and I found a little 2 bedroom Bungalow. We love it. I found the "World's Smallest Front Yard" on the boardwalk, by the way. Just incase you were wondering where it is. 

More on California later. 

xo

a

Holi....Moly.

It's a gloomy day in Dallas, but these images are brightening it up. To celebrate the beginning of spring, Hindus throw brightly colored scented powders and perfumes at each other in the streets....they call it Holi. This video was shot by Jonathan Bregel and Khalid Mohtaseb. (I recommend waiting for it to load completely and watching it in HD) 

via: Honestlywtf

Luke and Lily

I love these moments because they're genuine ones. 

Yeah, that book says "Dating and Seduction". Some how she got a hold of it, and some how she opened it to that page, and some how I captured the exact moment. I love it when that happens. 

Pesky Skeeters

Hop on over to the Yeah Vintage Blog and check out these bad ass DIY Mosquito Repellant Lanterns!!

Kendall's a country gal now and this is one of my favorite DIY's from her blog so far!

Web Series Weekend

So stoked for the girls at Heal by Rain Productions, Haley and Brina. This weekend was spent filming the first episode of their new Web Series: The Troubadoors. (In which I play a member of an evil aryan-esque rival chior whose members only sing in auto-tune).  There are a lot of insanely talented ladies involved with this project and it makes me proud to be a part of it. Haley has been a close friend of mine for a while, but I was bowled over by her chops as a committed director and producer.  Brina is astoundingly amazing on camera. The AD Amanda I've never met before but at one point man-giggling was starting to get out of control and she was all, "Guys! C"MON!" .... in that moment I decided I liked her a lot. I love a woman that can tell giggling boys to stop playing grab-ass and get to work! Not to mention every lady in the cast....they are all uniquely talented. 

Ummm so now that I've gone on a tangent about the pretty ladies I fear this may come off as an after thought, but the man folk are fabulous too. And FUNNY. Jonathan plays a washed-up-recently-blinded-rockstar, and at least one character is a bear gay. What a treat!

 Our loft filled to the brim. Amanda breakin' necks and cashin' checks.

 Martha plays the angsty femme Jane, and Kellen is our sound guru. They're a couple....aren't they kewt?

(Kellen looks reeeeal pissed in that photo, but that's just his digesting oatmeal face so be cool).

Our Director of Photography and 2nd DP. Chuck and Paul. Of all the maniacs I know, these two are the most maniac-est. But in a good way. And with a fishtail braid! 

 J in his Kimono. His character is a bit of an eccentric. He was real pumped when he found out this was his look for the day. And Rico, our Alem.

 That's Brina and Andrew....and then Brina again. 

Everyone reviewing footage. Love it. Early mornings, but totally worth it. 

(last group shot by Lindsey Bever).

If you would like to donate to their Kick Starter campaign please go HERE. Every little bit helps. 

xo.

Ode to Pleats

Here's something: I live for pleats. I think it's because somehow they are simultaneously tailored and playful. Even when the fabric is a solid color, they are reminiscent of a pattern. Pleats are completely timeless. (Except of course on the front of men's pants.....and many women's pants) I'm talking waist to hem pleats. On my list of ten things every girl needs for her wardrobe, a great pleated skirt falls between 3 and 7. (I can't decide for sure right now, that would take some time....next post maybe????) This skirt I'm particularly fond of because of the cute retro pattern. It also goes great with pink hues. 

Me and Jonathan stepped out to meet some friends for drinks on a patio, and this was the ensemble. 

Cat Eyes: Nordstrom, Skirt and shirt: Thrifted, Necklace: Stolen from Mama, Cameo Ring: Lula B's, Shoes: Seychelles, Cardigan: Thrifted/The Limited (old skeeewwwl)!!! Bralette: UO

Sunny Side

This time of year provides this kind of light. Spilling into our windows. The fur children love to lounge in it. And I love to shoot in it. This is a better portrait of our new edition, UB40. 

In other news, I revamped my website. It's much more clean. As my friend Chris put it, websites need to be like hotel rooms: clean, minimal and everything easily accessible. Hopefully I pulled it off. Check it out!

www.ashleyrandallphotography.com

May your weekend be full of patios and sunshine. 

xo

a