Weddings

Photographing another photographer is nerve-racking. Especially when that photographer is one who is incredibly successful and whose work you greatly admire. When that person is also a good friend, there is added pressure to not only produce technically beautiful photos but also to capture something a little deeper – the emotional spirit of the day. So, when Chip, who is an accomplished architectural and fine-art photographer (plus friend of ten years), asked me to photograph his Monterey wedding to Shannon, I was not only very honored but, I’ll admit, a little daunted.  That said, I’ve been photographing weddings for more…

Baby Mark’s parents were referred to me by some wonderful clients/friends of mine, the Haffners, and Mark Alexander is their first child. I got to shoot this new family at home in Grizzly Flats recently.  It’s so wonderful to photograph a new baby at home. Those womb-like newborn shots are just adorable (and I enjoy capturing those too) but there is something so incredibly special and intimate about being invited into someone’s home to document their first, authentic moments as a newly-expanded family. At four weeks, Mark is past the curly-q, newborn stage but that didn’t mean that we weren’t…

A ballerina in the woods = magical. There is just no way to not say “ahhh” when you look at these images of beautiful Rebecca, during our session to celebrate her upcoming graduation next year. Just a couple of short years ago I was photographing her brother, John, as he prepared to join the Marines. Becky is considering the US Coast Guard Academy as well as Geneva college in PA,  Montana State, and Tulane. Her plan is to study chemical engineering and pre-med. High school has been busy for Becky, where she has competed in track-and-field (her specialties being long…

Wow. What a spectacular venue for Madelyn and Justin! Loved this easy-going couple and the breathtaking hilltop backdrop of David Girard Vineyards in Placerville. One of the many wonderful things about this wedding was the relaxed timeline they had created for themselves and our photography. Building in plenty of time to get from one ‘event’ to the next and have cushion to appreciate the special moments can be the difference between a stressed-out wedding party and one that is relaxed and having a fantastic time. This was definitely a wedding of the latter. And having time helps us photographers too.…

Cowgirl boots, stetsons and shot guns. Yeehaw, it’s a country wedding for Briggette and Dean, who married recently on a private estate in Rescue, CA. Briggette’s mom, Sharee, was my daughter, Ember’s, first grade teacher and so I  started off with a special connection to this fun-loving couple. Not that I needed it, I quickly found, during our engagement session at Sly Park Lake earlier this year. This couple is relaxed in front of the camera and willing to try anything for a great shot. This came in extra handy as me, my assistant, bride, groom, and groomsmen tore across…

Welcome to the world, Carter! Born on September 24th at 10:56pm, Carter is the first child to Ashley and Aaron, a wonderful couple whose wedding I photographed almost exactly four years prior (Ashley and Aaron’s David Girard wedding) Carter was ten days past-due when Ashley was induced early in the morning. She seemed to be progressing fairly quickly and so I raced down to Folsom to be closer for Carter’s arrival. Like all babies, however, Carter was moving at his own pace and the timeline slowed down some. So I ran around Folsom taking care of errands (and even squeezing…

This session was the best: an old Beetle, paddle-boarding, a glass-like lake, a stunning sunset sky, and a handsome Senior, Sawyer. This photographer’s dream! I have known Sawyer’s family for many years and have been photographing them for just as long. It all started with a lifestyle, anniversary session at their lovely home in Camino, and most recently I photographed their son, Colby, before he left for college (Colby’s session from 2011.) They are some of the kindest and most generous people I know; playful in spirit, sensitive and warm. This year it was Sawyer’s turn in front of the…

As the preferred photographer for Wedgewood event centers, I get to photograph brides and grooms at the Sequoia Wedding and Banquet Center quite a lot and I love it. The old-world charm of the white, Victorian home is the perfect backdrop for a ceremony and bridal portraits. But for Christine and Gary, they really wanted a more “garden like” feel for their nuptuals, and so they took advantage of the Wedgewood’s partnership with the gorgeous Seasons Bed & Breakfast (just around the corner) to exchange their vows and then made the short drive to Sequoia for their reception. It’s the perfect combination: colorful…

“Ishi” – is 91. Our society is weird, isn’t it? We celebrate our young children’s birthdays and milestones with such gusto but then, somewhere in our 20s, the enthusiasm sort of dies out and birthdays become (for most of us) pretty ho-hum affairs. This is reflected back at us through the photography world too: lots of weddings, babies, families with young children, and high school seniors. As mothers and fathers we are revered when we have young children, meanwhile older parents and grandparents… where are they in our photographic record? In the trillions of images shared on Instagram, blogs, and…