Resting or just grabbing another angle? Only I know….., thanks Michelle McDaid

Getting to photograph the continuing stories of my past wedding clients is one of my most favorite things to do. I love the connections maintained with my wedding couples and the candidness that a little history can bring to my work for a client. A wedding, though just one day, is often a multi year process from an engagement session to wedding booking and planning to the actual wedding to their wedding album completion.  Stephanie and Bill’s particular story began with an engagement session at Sly Park Lake in 2011 and then a 2012 wedding at Stephanie’s family home in Placerville. Several years later and…

May in Tahoe and the weather forecast was uncertain. Snow had just fallen on the mountain peaks and the wind was, shall we say, brisk. On Friday, gray clouds crested over the hill and the outlook on my assistant’s weather app was for rain right at the moment we were due to be standing in the middle of Squaw Valley’s famous meadow with our bride and groom. We checked our umbrella inventory and made contingency plans.

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…

Alright- it seems I am on a roll these days with cute babies. Or maybe it is just those bright eyed, “the world is my oyster” smiles that captivate my heart and imagination? Whatever it is…keep it coming. I’m having a great time! It has been a few years now capturing the Moreland crew. It’s one of the favorite parts of being a photographer; getting to experience and record these incredible life changing moments and often, if I’m lucky, year after year too. I know them, we’ve worked together many times, We have already built a rapport; at a session, I’m familiar with their…

Jake graduates from El Dorado High this spring so it was the perfect time to get out to the lake and capture some photographs of him. As an avid wake boarder, the lake was a natural choice for him. I always joke with my senior male clients that the images we take are “not for you” but for “your mom”, so just be yourself so that she loves them. This tends to take off the pressure off this photo shoot being “all about them” and guys are able to relax into it more easily. Jake is a super sweet guy…

A pair of denim jackets, a beautiful spring day…Ok. I think I want another one. Serious, look at all the cuteness blossoming out of this session. Stevie Lynn is such a big blue eyed love pumpkin—and to think that I had the honor of being there when she was born just about one year ago. You can feel how loved she is in the way she moves around her world- both connected to her mama and curious and independent too. If you know me, you know I am kidding. My life is more than full with two amazing children. Plus, raising kids is…

Last week I met up with local high school senior Abby and her mom, Alice to capture this life milestone in Abby’s life and talk about the beginning of the next one. Abby and Alice have a wonderful mother/daughter relationship and I enjoyed observing them both take it all in; Abby, clearly excited about what is next and Alice, also excited for her but still preparing to see her youngest leave home. These sessions can be a shared rite of passage and as a mom myself, beautiful to be a part of. With three college acceptances to choose from and graduation only a few short months away, Abby now gets to decide…

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…

  Going from two to three is a big change. In fact going from one to two is a big change, but also different. An engagement, to a wedding to a pregnancy to a birth. I feel so fortunate to get to capture these changes and to capture the love. When Nyron was just 9 days old I spent some time with him at his home witnessing all those adoring moments of being a new parent. It’s a time you can’t get back and truly incredible to witness their love for this little boy they brought into the world. Nyron, couldn’t be any more lucky than to have Kailey…

My friends, Nate and Shelley are making it official on August 14 this year at the Sacramento Yacht Club. They will be surrounded by close friends and family and in fact, the cool thing is that their friends are my friends too! I don’t often photograph friends’ weddings mostly because I am not very good at multi tasking wedding photographer and wedding guest. In fact, I don’t think anyone is. It’s usually one or the other for me. If I’m photographing a wedding, that is where my brain is- I guess it is muscle memory and hard to turn off with…

A part of my website that describes some little anecdotes from my years as a photographer states, “The sight of a Tacoma extended cab, packed to the gills with mountain bikes and kayaks, lights a fire to my imagination. Their truck in my driveway, Tiffany and Keith brought me the promise of adventure, fresh scenery, and an attitude I love.” Tiff and Keith. Since 2009 and their pre-wedding engagement photographs, this has held true. I love this “fresh scenery” and getting to work and play with all of them year after year. A Nevada City wedding, 2 births, some bike riding maternity shots and riverside…