Hello! Thank you for stopping by! I am a wedding and lifestyle photographer located in Southern California who enjoys documenting "life as it happens". Through this blog I will share with you my current work, my life, and random musings– probably more than you ever wanted to know, ha!
I'm now offering Workshops and One on One Mentoring. Check it out by going to the drop down menu at the top titled, Workshop | Other Info.
Enjoy your stay, visit as often as you like, and leave nice comments :)
Be Blessed and pass it on! –Rowena
Contact Information:
info@rowenacurtis.com / [909] 362.7362
What a gorgeous couple Lisa + Kevin are. An intimate wedding with 7 special guests, I must say, it was a nice change. Even though it was a very intimate wedding, Lisa and Kevin did not spare on the details as you will see in the pictures below. This was shot at a golf course 5 minutes from my home, closest venue I’ve shot at thus far. Congrats Lisa + Kevin!
Curious, full of life, explorer, just a few words to describe this little cutie.
- Beautiful little one. Great set Ro (as usual). Fabulous work!
- she is a cute pie, great job at caputing the wonder of childhood
My friends on Facebook begged for this recipe and I’m sharing it here as well since I know that once the word got out, my blog friends will want it too, ha! Actually I think they are just trying to amuse me since they know I’m not much of a cook. Enjoy! Let me know if you try it and what you think 
Hearty Kale and Bean Soup
1 C. Chopped Onions
2 Medium Cloves of Garlic, minced
1 Tb. Olive oil, optional
5 C. Water
2 C. Cubed Potatoes
2 Cans Navy Bean, Cannolini, or Red Kidney Beans
3 C. Chopped Kale (packed)
1 1/4 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Cumin
2 Tb. Nutritional Yeast Flakes (health food store carries this, can be optional)
1/4 tsp. Cayenne Pepper (optional)
In a large soup pot, saute onions and garlic in olive oil OR just add them directly to 5 C. water with potatoes and beans and bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Cover and lightly boil 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and cook covered an additional 10-15 minutes until potatoes are soft.
- Sounds yummy! Mark and I will have to try this!
For the third year in a row our family celebrated the New Year by attending the Cervantes|Guerrero New Years Eve costume party. Something we always look forward to– complete with food, disk jokey, games, a costume, and a dance contest, we had a blast! Matt dressed up as Kramer from Seinfeld, me as Edna Mode of the Incredibles, Krista as Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and Kayla as Shirley Temple. Following are some point and shoot picts. BTW, Krista won a $25 gift certificate for “Best Costume”. Happy New Year everyone!
- Rowena, you're girls are gorgeous! I'm sure you already knew that though. :)
Yes friends, it’s been a while. Much has happened since I last posted– the good, the bad, and the ugly. It all happened at the same time if you can believe that. On November 15th (an uber gorgeous day may I add), while I was out with Matt scouting a location for my next shoot, the unthinkable happened. I stumbled off a huuuge, gigantor of a hill, oh alright, it’s a little slope. No clue what really happened (although I tell our church friends that Matt pushed me). All I remember was at one point I was up and in a blink of an eye I was down. I wish I could say that only my ego was hurt but noooooo, I had to go down BIG! I broke my foot– the fourth metatarsal on my left foot to be exact, and yes, it hurt.
I think it’s obvious what the bad and the ugly are but you’re probably wondering what good this has done me. To make it short, I know that God allowed it for many reasons. For one, I was never able to call the blazing event of last year a trial but this broken foot has been one of my biggest trials ever– strange how the smaller events in our lives can have the biggest impact. I hope that in the end I will have learned to rely less on my own strength which is pride, more compassion for others who are indisposed, and more patient in all aspects of my life. Not gonna lie, this has not been fun, but I know and trust that God has a plan and it is ALL good.
I am slowly trying to get back to work. Although my foot seems to get better daily, the boot is still a close companion. I’m thankful to the Lord that this happened after my wedding season was over, see, that’s another good thing!
Consider yourself updated. Thanks for your patience as I’m trying to take things slowly, one step at a time (pun is intended) :))) Blessings!
- Wow that was out of nowhere~ I havent seen you, maybe we can get togather after -mas? You are so optomistic i love it~
- Enjoyed this play so much. Great photos!
- WOW! That is really good! I love how elaborate Lifehouse's sets and costumes are! Woohoo!
Quick sneak from today’s session. Baby A is cute as a button, wouldn’t you agree? Yes, I’ll update this soon and the other sneaks I’ve done in the recent weeks. Thank You for your patience!
Such a pro poser... this was actually the first shot I took.
Lookee! I can read!
Busy exploring.
- What a cute little whipperschnapper!
- the last one is so cute. I love that one.
- Aw, I love the last one the best. Don't worry, I am faithfully checking your website for anything new! I love the pictures you take!
- Hi Row, I love the last one. (I also happened to see Kathy's similar comment here :) It's such a beautiful and precious picture.
Last Saturday I had the pleasure of photographing a beautiful, intimate wedding at the Redlands Country Club. Just a quick sneak, more to come soon.
Now that I’m nearing the end of my wedding season, I have time to share images I took this year as a 2nd shooter. I enjoy working with other photographers because I pick up so much from others. This is the first time I’ve shot for Karen Barnes and I must say, I had a super time. I’m just sharing one for now, a picture that stood out to me. Doesn’t Lizzy’s smile make you smile? It’s contagious! Her happy and confident attitude so shines that when I saw this image I nearly gasped out loud because of the warm fuzzies I felt inside. I’ll be sharing more from this wedding and others in a couple of days. Thanks Karen for having me, it was a pleasure working with you and your beautiful couple!
We’re going on 9 months since the 2008 Christmas Blaze. Here’s the link to the “fire” blog post in case you want to reminisce, ha! There hasn’t been any update because up until about 2 weeks ago, movement towards rebuilding was at a standstill. Many of whom I tell that to automatically think it’s because of insurance issues– not at all. Our insurance company has taken excellent care of us from the very beginning and continue to do so to this day. The issue was in trying to find a contractor we’re able to work with and I’ll leave it at that.
Most of the burden in dealing with the fire Matt has shouldered and thank the good Lord for His strength for he could not have done it without Him. As for me, He has continually kept my perspective straight and gently reminds me that compared to what could have been, this is nothing. The girls have been nothing but superb troopers. This whole ordeal has not been lacking in frustration but I am truly amazed how God has held all of us up– His provision has been incredible. From the minute details to the large, HE has taken care of it all.
Sincere thanks to all who’ve prayed and continue to pray for us. God Bless You and Happy Fall!
"A Room With A View"
The patio has to be rebuilt as well because apparently it was not to code when it was built.
It's as if a tornado had hit instead of a fire.
View from the entrance.
White doors led into my office that I had just closed off about a month prior to the inferno :)
View through the sunroof.
My poor kitchen that we rebuilt in 2003.
Hallway towards the girl's rooms– See the white box... they are going to try to save the tub. Yeah, right.
Our Bedroom. I sure hope rains don't come any time soon.
Geez, where is this? Oh a toilet, must be near the bathroom, lol.
Girl's bedrooms. Note what's left of the wall, charred remains.
I joke in my comments but fires are really no laughing matter. Lives are lost, homes devastated, and people are displaced. You can’t really know what it’s like to go through a disaster such as a fire unless you experience it first hand and I hope you never will– As I’m posting this there is a fire right now in the town next to ours, I’m praying.
- I would leave the sky light it gives such an "open" feeling. J/K WOW! They are totally rebuiling the house! So thankful it wasn't worse and that even your pets came out safely! God had His hand on all of you! Continuing to pray can't wait to see it finished!
- I know right, they might as well have just torn the whole thing down and started over. I have to say that after seeing the house in this state it's the first time I felt "down" about the whole thing, a sense of grief. I liken it to when we have sin in our lives. It starts out a little flame, a little flicker but it permeates and grows. Although hidden for a time it gets into all the nooks and crannies and the damage it leaves is devastating. It not only affects you but affects others. The good news is that repentance through Jesus Christ gives us hope and trades beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3).
- Row- I"m so glad to see things are moving forward with the house. I so admire the way you have dealt with all of this. Here's to hoping that the "new" old house will continue to roll along smoothly!!
- I love the spiritual lessons you found in your loss to fire. I see another one: You chose to rebuild, not tear down and start fresh. That's what Moses chose when God suggested the destruction of the whole multitude of rebellious Isrealites. Moses was a man, so there must have been a few annoying ones he wouldn't have missed, but he didn't want to risk losing ones he liked. He begged God to save the whole bunch, to try to restore them as a people, to convert those who would and endure the others... It would have been so much easier to tear down and re-create. You could have sold your lot and picked a whole new life, new neighbors, new design. You could have tried for much bigger or much smaller. Wasn't that appealing to the adventurous side of you? What made you stay faithful to the old? Why did you rebuild? Was it some of God's character in you? A godly tenacity that is loyal to something good that has a history? I have a history with God. He's not going to destroy or abandon me when someone more talented or easier to work with comes along. If he allows a fire to reduce me to a shadow of my former self, He'll remake me. I'll be like your rebuilt house: new and improved!
- Thanks ladies. Camille, I hope so as well. Kathy thanks for that perspective. To be honest there were times when I thought of just selling and getting another but that would not have been a sound financial decision. In fact right before reconstruction began someone offered to purchase the house as is, oh was I tempted! LOL.
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