Digital Xmas Card Holiday Special

Still trying to figure out how to pick a photo for your Christmas card out of the thousands you probably took this year?  Or perhaps you are just having a difficult time justifying the cost involved in mailing all those cards.  Don't worry, the answer is right here!

For the past few years we have been creating a digital xmas card that we share with friends and family via email, Facebook, YouTube, and Blogger.  What can I say, the holiday season gets us all warm and fuzzy, which is why we are sharing this gift with our friends.  For the low cost of $45 (plus tax) we will create a custom digital greeting for you to share with your loved ones this holiday season ~ that's less than the postage on 100 greeting cards!

Contact us today to start your custom greeting and dazzle all of your friends by bringing 2011 to life in a stunning movie complete with graphics, text, and of course, photos!  Contact us at info@tremediasd.com to get your video started today!

Check out these sample videos:

Generic:


Holiday Theme #1:


Holiday Theme #2:

* This is a limited offer and is based upon availability.

Composting at School

Anybody who knows me understands that I have a passion for gardening and the outdoors.  I would rather spend my Sunday in my backyard transplanting succulents and building retaining walls than wasting away the day on the couch watching football.  I bring that same passion to my job working as a school nutrition professional, enhancing the foods that are available to students and enlightening them on the benefits of eating a balanced diet and exercising. 

I also believe that in order to understand why food is important for our bodies to properly function, we must also have a deeper understanding about where our food comes from and how it is cultivated.  I have found that our children are now the product of a highly industrialized society, which has resulted in a disconnection from our food sources.  Kids actually think food comes from the grocery store.  That it just magically appears on the shelves.  And I digress...

Anyway, in addition to teaching nutrition education, I have also began to develop programs through our school kitchens that support gardening in schools.  We have piloted a successful composting program at one of our schools that illustrates the food cycle:

1. Veggies are grown in the school garden.
2. Veggies are served in the school cafeteria.
3. Leftover veggies are collected for composting in the school garden.
4. Compost is used as fertilizer for more veggies.

Can you think of a better way to teach kids about the food cycle than to create one at their school?  The success of efforts like our composting program gives me hope that changes can be implemented that will have a meaningful impact on the future health of our children. It took us a long time to become the unhealthiest nation in the world, but I refuse to give up making things right again.

The Smith Family Digital Christmas Card is Born!

Every year we scramble to select a few photos and assemble a Smith Family Christmas card that recaps the entire year.  After coming to the realization that our year could not be summed up in a single photo, the idea of creating a digital Christmas card was born!  Although I admit that this idea is not entirely original, I do take credit for utilizing it as an alternative to the traditional holiday salutation. 

We had a lot of fun picking out photos to illustrate all of the amazing things that happened to us over the course of the year and seeing the final product, which we can watch over the years.  Perhaps the best part of sending a digital card via email, Facebook, Vimeo, and YouTube is the money we saved on printing and postage.  We found that each Christmas card we sent was costing us about $1.25 after all the expenses of printing, stationary, and postage.  With all those savings we have extra cash for stocking stuffers :)

The digital Christmas card has now been established as a Smith Family tradition that all of our friends and family members will look forward to each year.

Season's Greetings from the Smiths!

Angsana:Judistira Wedding

There is something magical about Balboa Park that draws people there, like a moth to a flame.  Joseph and Julianty were one of those couples who loved it so much, they decided to get married there.  Joseph was one of my biggest critics, which became very clear during our first consultation.  He came armed with tons of questions and even waited a week to book us while he continued to do his research.  One of the most important things to Joseph and Julianty was my ability to effectively capture every moment of the ceremony in great detail.

In order to accomplish this during a religious ceremony with limited mobility, we utilized two wireless lavaliere microphones and a shotgun mic.  Needless to say, both Joseph and Julianty were extremely satisfied with the outcome of their custom wedding story.  In addition to capturing all of the sounds and sights of their wedding day, I was able to capture unscripted moments and detail that they weren't even aware of. Priceless.

Check out some of the highlights here:

Aqui:Disman Wedding

I had the great pleasure of providing video services for Precila and Aaron in beautiful Ventura, CA on a sunny summer day.  Precila was actually a classmate of Marjeri's at UCSB and a fellow member of Alpha Kappa Psi.  The day proved to be memorable from start to finish with a delightful ceremony on the beach followed by a reception with views of the ocean. 

This was an experimental wedding for me because I shot the majority of the wedding on my Canon XH-A1 but also shot enough footage on my Canon T1i to create an HD highlight.  I particularly loved the footage captured at the park prior to the reception.  Check out the videos and give me some feedback.  Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. Disman!

Original Version:



Canon T1i Version:

Newman:Rowson Wedding

Steven and Regan were down to earth country folk who knew how to have a good time.  From the moment their chocolate lab walked the rings down the aisle I knew we were going to have a great evening!  Their wedding took place at Marina Village and the day could not have been more perfect.  The ceremony was held on the lawn with live music followed by photos on the water and an intimate reception in one of the banquet rooms.

The most memorable point of the evening was when Steven and Regan broke into one of the fastest two-steps I have ever seen in my life.  Granted, I have not observed many two-steps in my lifetime but this one was fast!  The wedding went off without a hitch and the happy couple and their guests danced the evening away.

Here are some highlights:

Summer Youth Camps at Mission Bay Sports Center

Ever wonder what kids do during the summer these days?  I can remember riding my bike across town to go throw rocks in the lake or building a tree house in the backyard.  Kids these days just aren't entertained as easily as I was back when things were simple.  

One of the coolest ways to spend the summer is at one of the various summer youth camps at Mission Bay Sport Center.  They offer a variety of half and full day summer camps that fit every budget.  Have your child learn to surf, sail, wake board, water ski, or paddle board under the close supervision of one of MBSC's highly trained staff.

I have a great time working with the staff in producing their promotional and education videos, especially since I have to be out on the water!

  

Slade:McLaughlin Wedding

On October 17, 2009 I was able to shoot my first wedding in Historical Balboa Park here in San Diego. Andrew and Emily were the lucky couple who tied the knot in a terrace behind the Prado on a gorgeous fall afternoon. We took pictures in the hallways and in classic spots such as the coy pond.

The reception jumped off to the sounds of Timbaland and Nelly as the couple burst through the curtain. The evening kicked off to a wonderful start and that same vibe carried itself throughout the whole evening. I had a lot of fun shooting the day with Randy and Erin from He & She Photography who did an amazing job orchestrating all of the photos.

Good luck Emily and Andrew, we had a lot of fun working with you!

Here's the video:

Rabot:Bosshart Wedding

October of 2009 was a busy month for weddings. On October 10th I had the pleasure of documenting the day for David and Cathy. A very down to earth couple who had a wonderful family and a great bunch of friends. The day started at St. Catherine Laboure Church in San Diego, CA where Cathy arrived in a white stretched H2. A beautiful ceremony ensued and the couple said "I Do" on a day they will never forget.

The reception began as the bridal party hopped in the H2 and headed down to the Shelter Island Yokohama Friendship Bell for a photoshoot with RHS Photo. We then headed to the Shelter Island Hilton to celebrate. In cooperation with photographer Richard Santini, we documented the day for David and Cathy in a way that will stand the tests of time.

Congratulations to the new Cathy and David Bosshart, we wish you the best in the future!

Here is the video:

Bosshart Wedding from Herbie Smith on Vimeo.

Santa Cruz Island

Although I am a little bit tardy on this post, I am doing it in the honor of Nikolai's birthday today!

The ship left the Santa Barbara harbor at 4am the morning of August 16, 2009 while we were still snug in our cots. As the engines rumbled silently beneath the floorboards, we lay asleep knowing that another SCUBA adventure would soon begin. The next morning came quickly, making waking up that much harder. We walked up the stairs to an amazing made-to-order meal and a buffet with something from each of the five food groups.

After a small bite, the captain went over the dive plan and instructed us to get suited up. It was quite a task orchestrating each of the thirty divers in and out of the water. The first dive we took it easy while we acclimated ourselves to the new environment. After we surfaced, our breakfast order from earlier was completed sitting on the counter of the galley with a sheet of strategically placed aluminum foil. We ate quickly and hurried for our last two dives of the day. We managed to get our wet gear back on for another giant stride off of the deck. Nik was equipped with his Canon S50 equipped with the waterproof housing - Nice! Rather than me trying to describe it, why don't I just let the video speak for itself...



We had an amazing time on this trip and cant wait for the opportunity to dive again with Truth Aquatics. A special thanks to the Manager Chris Callahan and the crew of the Truth, you guys have a first class dive operation!

Sachs:Hill Wedding

AnneMarie & Adam had come to us with an idea of incorporating paisley into their wedding. We were able to design their entire event around a swatch of paisley fabric that they had purchased online. The aisle runner, table runners, belly bar sashes, pillows, invitations, stationary, and the cake were all made with a paisley design. This wedding was not only beautiful but unique and personalized to compliment the couple's non-traditional style. Their wedding party was another example of their unconventional ways because it wasn't just broken down into bridesmaids and groomsmen, they also had bridesmen and grooms women. This group was definitely a fun crowd and continued their party with bottle service at Prospect Bar & Lounge.


Venue: Museum of Contemporary Arts, La Jolla
Coordination: Events by Design
Photography: Bauman Photographers
Videography: treMEDIA Group
Floral Designer: Willem-Aidan Floral Design
Rentals: Magical Party Rental
Lounge Rental: Concepts Event Design
Catering: French Gourmet
DJ: Events by Design
Guitarist: Colin McAllister
Officiate: Pastor Mike
Lighting: Events by Design
Stationary: Eitak
Hair/Make-up: Susie Beyer-McCartney
Transportation: Simply Elegant Limo
Photobooth: ePod Events
Flower Donations: Blooms from the Heart

Doran:Burns Wedding

Kathy and Josh's wedding marked the first ceremony for me where an english bulldog (Chunk) was part of the bridal party. That pretty much illustrates Josh and Kathy's personalities - fun, original, and family oriented. I had fun with this couple and their families who were respectively from New York and California.


Although the day was hot at the Rancho Bernardo Courtyard, the weather cooled down just before the ceremony began at 5pm. The prelude music was comprised entirely of Enya songs. The crazy side of the bride and groom came out during grand introductions when I played Ozzy Osbournes Crazy Train and AC/DC's Thunderstruck.

Catering and coordination services were provided by PearTrees Catering and Stefanie Lynn Muse from Inspired Events. I thoroughly enjoyed the made-to-order stir fry station accented with chinese to-go boxes, chopsticks, and chili sauce.

The guests had a great time and the dance floor stayed packed until I had to pull the plug at 11pm. Since the bride is from the east coast I was asked to a lot of play De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, Diddy, Run DMC, the Beastie Boys, and Notorious BIG. The last song of the evening was the YMCA and everyone in the courtyard participated... even the Dj.

Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Burns!

MovementU

I have worked with professional tri-athlete Jessi Stensland on several video projects in the past, so when she called me about helping to develop a video for her new seminar, I quickly jumped at the opportunity. As a tri-athlete, Jessi has continuously pushed her body to it's physical limitations to become one of the premier athletes in her sport. In the process, Jessi has developed key workout strategies to minimize injury, increase flexibility, and enable to body to become more energy efficient. We both agreed that adding a video to the seminar homepage would be more personable, encouraging more participants to register. We filmed the spot at San Diego Audio & Video in approximately one hour.

Her new seminar titled MovementU will be held at the top athletic performance training centers across the United States. This full-day experience is designed to enhance participants' understanding of the body and how to prepare it to perform injury-free and energy efficiently. A dynamic and functional workout will kick-off the day followed by an in-depth introduction to the fundamental elements of athletic performance. Each of the three sports will then be addressed individually with an emphasis on the following:

• Proper mechanics for movement efficiency
• Common sport-specific biomechanical limitations
• Functional and corrective exercises

Click Here to Check Out MovementU!

Browning:Waibel Wedding

Terri and Erik were my fun couple from Arizona. They selected the Bernardo Winery as the location for their wedding ceremony and reception. What I will remember most about this couple was their love for each other, their love for wine and cigars, and their awesome family.


I had the opportunity to work with Krystel from Couture Events who was providing day-of coordination services for Terri and Erik. Krystel and her crew did an amazing job in pulling off a spectacular and intimate event. The music of the evening included classics such as Louis Armstrong, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, Jack Johnson, the Beatles, and of course, lots of 80's music. Yes, Erik was a HUGE 80's fan and had me build my dance mix around Michael Jackson, Depeche Mode, the Beastie Boys, Run DMC, the Cure, and many more classics.


The entire event was documented by Erica Schneider and her team from Acres of Hope Photography. The evening concluded with the bride and groom exiting the venue to the main theme from Star Wars. Thanks for such a memorable event and congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Waibel!

NOTE - I forgot my camera and these photos were captured on my Verizon Wireless Blackberry Storm.

Roman:Rich Wedding

When I first met Duane and Jen I thought they were such a cute couple. Just the way they interacted as I asked them questions about the wedding illustrated that they were madly in love with one another. After I was hired to provide Dj and lighting services for their reception and the Bernardo Inn, Duane and I immediately went to work on the music.

With such a profound love for all types of music, it was very important that I take their guests on a musical journey through the minds of Duane and Jen. This musical journey began at the cocktail hour as I played some classic jazz infused with 80's and 90's R&B hits from artists such as Keith Sweat, Jodeci, Stevie Wonder, and Smokey Robinson.


As guests were invited into the reception ballroom they were immediately inundated in the decor accented by the dramatic uplighting placed throughout the room washing the walls in pink and amber. The journey then continued at dinner as we listened to the sounds of John Legend, Robin Thicke, Ben Harper, Jack Johnson, Neo, Jamie Foxx, and Usher.


Erin Melton from Behind the Bride provided the day-of coordination services and kept me on track with the timeline and entertained with her "funky" dance moves. Each of the guests had nothing but great things to say about how the event turned out - all thanks to the vision of Duane and Jen. We danced until 11pm when Boyz to Men's End of the Road concluded the evening and our musical journey. Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs Roman!

Smith : Benson Wedding

Who would have ever thought that you could find true love through social networking sites? Although Brian and Heidi originally met at summer camp as teenagers, Facebook is what ultimately brought them back to each other. And on the one year anniversary of their first date, they became husband and wife.

I had the pleasure of providing Dj and MC services for this happy couple at the Rancho Bernardo Courtyard on what turned out to be a gorgeous day. The mood was set with a modern mix of contemporary music including Ben Harper, Jason Mraz, Robin Thicke, John Legend, Amy Winehouse, and more. The couple's first dance song was performed by San Diego musician Tyler Hilton. This was my first time hearing of Tyler but he is awesome!

The evening ended on the dance floor as the guests rocked the night away to a mix of old school hip hop, funk, R & B, and top 40 hits. Good times, good people, and good fun. Congrats to the new Mr. and Mrs. Benson!

May:Hoffman Wedding

The end of the summer is such a bittersweet time of year here in San Diego. It means beach days and backyard bbq's will soon be coming to an end for yet another year. Labor Day is often seen as the "end of summer" holiday and it makes the perfect environment for a wedding.

I had the pleasure of providing dj/mc services for Danny May and Christie Hoffman as they tied-the-knot at the historic El Cortez in downtown San Diego. The ceremony was vintage Hollywood with a modern flair highlighted by the use of Goapele's Closer as the recessional song. The beautiful ceremony was performed by Jeff Zlotnik, Executive Director for the Meditation Initiative located in San Diego.

Cocktail hour took place outside to a DJ Mark Farino Mushroom Jazz mix that put everyone in a mellow mood while they awaited the grand introductions. Our grand introductions started off with the guys entering the ball room to nothing other than What They Do by the Roots. Although the guys did it up big time, the girls definitely outperformed the guys when they hit the ballroom to Ciara's 1, 2 Step.

Dinner music consisted of a playlist including Frank Sinatra, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, John Coltrane, Dean Martin, and more. The highlight of the evening was when Christie's 80 year old great aunt Mary Ann performed Exactly Like You. She received a standing ovation and set the party off to a great start.

The evening continued on the dancefloor until 11:00pm when the staff made us pull the plug. The day was a complete success and all of the guests left in good spirits. Congratulations to the new Mr. & Mrs. Danny and Christie May! Thanks for including Events by Design in your wedding plans and I hope you have a muy bueno time in Cancun.

Venue: The El Cortez
Catering/FLorals: Ranch Events
DJ: Events by Design
Officiant: Jeff Zlotnik, The Meditation Initiative
Photographer: Justin Lee Photography

Huynh:Welch Wedding

I have been extremely lucky to have worked with the sweetest couples this year. Ailien and Drake were certainly no exception considering the fact that I was tearful when their wedding day passed. Logistically, this was a jam packed day filled with several wardrobe changes, hair & make-up touch-ups, and different venues throughout San Diego. Visually, this was one of the most beautiful and stunning events we've done this year. Every vendor really came together for this wedding to make it a spectacular day for Ailien & Drake.

The first event was a traditional Vietnamese Tea Ceremony in Mira Mesa. The couple wore traditional outfits with head pieces that were custom made and absolutely beautiful. Next, the church ceremony was held at St. Therese of Carmel which has an amazing view of Carmel Valley. The cocktail hour that followed was on the Windsor Lawn of the Hotel Del Coronado where guests were greeted with tray passed hors d'oeuvres and beverages. Finally, the reception was held in the Hotel Del's Grand Ballroom. The guests entered the historic room and were in awe by the amazing centerpieces, warm blue lighting, and the A&D monogram that made its way onto every little detail of the wedding. Lucky bamboo favors were lined up at the door which doubled as escort cards. Needless to say, the 3-course meal, seafood station, and sushi bar were a huge hit. The fun began with a live 5-piece band, The Antix, and continued throughout the night by the DJ expertise of Pro Motion Entertainment. This was definitely a night to remember and best of all...Drake & Ailien could not have asked for a more perfect day!

Venue: Hotel Del Coronado
Ceremony: St. Therese of Carmel
Coordination: Events by Design
Photography: Bauman Photographers
Videography: NR3 Video Productions
Floral Designer: Willem-Aidan Floral Design
Rentals: Concepts Event Design
Band: The Antix
DJ: Pro Motion Entertainment
Lighting: Swank Audio Visuals
Stationary: Eitak
Hair: Integrite
Makeup: DJ Castillo
Transportation: Top Dog Limo Bus
Rehearsal Dinner: Pacifica Del Mar

2009 Start! San Diego Heart Walk

As an African American, heart disease has hit very close to home. As a result, I started to change my eating habits several years ago in order to cut the cholesterol and fat out of my diet. In addition, it was necessary to remain physically active in order to reduce the factors that could ultimately lead into the development of heart disease that my father is suffering from.

That is why I have been a supporter and volunteer for the American heart Association for quite some time now. A close friend of the family is the Senior Director of Communications and Marketing for the San Diego branch and I have had the opportunity of working on a few video projects with him. Most recently, he contacted me to develop a short public service announcement with volunteer and CEO of ROEL Contruction Wayne Hickey to promote the 2009 Start! San Diego Heart Walk. Please come out on Saturday September 19th and support the cause! Here is the final video:

Updated Photos - Pacillo:Lach Wedding

I just received these photos for Ashley and Mike's wedding at the El Cortez and I had to share them. This was such a beautiful and fun wedding!

Venue: El Cortez
Ceremony: Prado Patio A, Balboa Park
Coordination: Events by Design
Photography: Jenetta Lea Penner
Flowers: Haydee's Creative Flowers
Linen: Magical Party Rentals
Catering: Culinary Concepts
Entertainment/Lighting: Events by Design