Graduations

When Kevin approached me to create a photo montage of the Pollock Pines schools in his district – Pinewood, Sierra Ridge, and Silver Fork – I knew this was going to be a special and very meaningful job.  You see, for 6 years Kevin has been my kids’ school Superintendent, and our community has gotten many good opportunities to get to know him.  Always approachable, he would stand outside the school entrance at drop off to socialize with the students and their parents.  Everybody knew Mr. Monsma!  This hands-on approach has always been something I really admired about him.  This summer he moved on to a…

Congratulations to El Dorado High school  senior, Jakob, who I photographed at Larsen’s Apple Barn in Camino recently. Senior year. The big finale. Jakob is crazy about soccer (as you can see from his images) and he plays for Ethos Academy, which is an affiliate team for the San Jose Earthquakes.  You could see him really come alive as he practiced with the soccer ball. Mom, Andi, is an old friend of mine(and a fabulous, sought after Real Estate agent). The Wagners used to live up here locally and I photographed their family a few years back. As always, it’s crazy…

“Know that you are loved. Encode this in your head and heart. You are worthy.” Suzanne Walker Buck, Rector, Chatham Hall Enjoy the slideshow. And remember, it is a show that requires Adobe Flash, so put down your iPhone or iPad and watch it on your main computer or one that supports Adobe Flash. Slideshow link: http://www.lisarichmondphotography.com/SHOWITSHOWS-/2015_ChathamHall This was my 31st year photographing graduation ceremonies for my alma mater, Chatham Hall in Virginia. Every year it’s an emotional event for me and each year I take away something different from my experiences; listening to the student and faculty speakers and…

I have known Jacqueline and her family now for some time. Along with her two older sisters, Samantha and Kalene, Jacqueline has baby-sat my daughters over the years. In the early days, when my girls were toddlers and we would go on family camping trips, the even short moments of respite they provided my husband, Jeff, and I were MUCH appreciated. And now it’s Jacqueline’s turn to fly the coop, heading off to Philadelphia to study the science behind textiles. Such an interesting and different major. Jacqueline tells me that many graduates go on to work as consultants for companies like…

It gets fuzzy but I think I first met Justin when he was about 8 years old. Marcia, his mom asked me in on a project dear to her…to document their children playing in their long time family home that they were preparing to sell. The kids playing on the swing set, fishing on the pond, the afternoon light streaming through their kitchen window and even their dog standing in the front doorway waiting to be called outside- all those memories you want to hold onto forever.  It was a fun project and we put together a beautiful book to help remember their beloved…

  Enjoy the slideshow. And remember, it is a show that requires Adobe Flash, so put down your iPhone or iPad and watch it on your main computer or one that supports Adobe Flash.  http://www.lisarichmondphotography.com/SHOWITSHOWS-/2014_ChathamHall   I just finished this year’s Graduation slideshow. I never know exactly how it is going to turn out or even what music I will use, but I have found over the years that if I just surrender to the creative process and let it happen, everything seems to fall into place. I am grateful for that. This year sifting through countless images, I’m struck…

Being back at Chatham Hall, in many ways, can feel for me like time has stood still. Most of the same traditions still exist as when I was a student at this Virginia Boarding school 30 years ago. My French Teacher, Mary Lee Black, (aka: “Madame”) has remained, although retiring this year after more than two decades of service. Even the students looked familiar, a few of them daughters of my own classmates. I was reminded that the school has also retained the same spirit of generosity and kindness that I remember fondly from my time there; Shelley, my assistant…

River, rocks and the Death Gap. Ok, Ryan didn’t make us jump the gap (thankfully) but we sure had fun in the outdoors down by the American River at Alder Creek Tract. Ryan is a senior at a local charter school in Camino and is about to graduate. Next fall he will start at Lake Tahoe Community College where he will be closer to one of his great loves… the snow! Ryan competed for the Sierra-at-Tahoe team. He yearns for adventure and I know one day we will see him on the cover of an extreme sports magazine. I’m so…

Photographing a photographer; what a joy- two creative souls working toward a common end. And then the nerves of being watched. Hard to avoid those self judgements (“she must think I am crazy”).  I think Ashlynn and I both had nerves (for about 2 minutes) but that instantly dissipated into a creative jam session out in the field, me behind the camera and her in front. We were on a roll, we couldn’t stop and it was SO much fun. I LIVE FOR THAT FLOW! I’m not sure anything feels better than being in “the flow”. Working with Ashlynn was…