This sweet, generous couple was such a treat to work with. So gracious and genuine, Leah and Bruce were married at John and Annie Bowler’s fabulous Flower Farm in Loomis. Bruce, from Alabama, is a real southern gentleman. Leah grew up in San Francisco’s Mission with hippie parents. During the First Look, Bruce came out the door from behind Leah and completely surprised her (she thought she was in someone’s way)! Just close friends and family made up this small, intimate wedding, serenaded by a string quartet. Unexpected tears were shed during the toasts. The striking color of the orchids…

What a beautiful day, down at the river’s edge at Alder Creek Tract, just up Highway 50. The Bonzo family won an auction item of a free session that my business donated for a local fundraiser. As most sessions go, there is a period of warming up to each other, and of course, the kids, wondering…What have Mom and Dad gotten us into?! Well, I don’t want to put words in their mouths–but while those feelings may have existed–any worries soon subsided into a really fun and laid-back session. Lisa and Ed have raised completely delightful children: David, Emma, and…

It’s so important to make sure that the wedding day is not all about photography (even though I am quite sure I would have fun with that). I try to encourage my couples to allow me the trust to capture the day as it unfolds—the particular rhythms, ebbs and flows that mark that day, and create a natural and authentic album of memories.

Their wedding definitely reflected their personalities and their sense of humor and aesthetic. Their wedding invitation said, “Dinner, drinks and awkward dancing to follow.” The theme colors red and turquoise figured prominently, giving me great contrast and super-saturated hues to play with. Check out the wedding party’s shoes!

  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…

I made this photograph of Ann in 2011 as she was retiring. While I too had Ann as a junior English teacher, strangely it is not what I remember about her. You see, I was fortunate to spend a few days with Ann every year since my graduation from Chatham in 1984. I stayed with her up until 2011 in her cute little home at the bottom of the hill in Chatham, Virginia. Each night after a day of my graduation photography and her end of the year grades, we would retire to her living room to chat about school news,…

Their wedding day was a beautiful and windy ocean-fresh day. Scatter in some oyster shooters and a lodge full of very close family and friends, and you have a pretty good idea of what a great time it was. I love the image below of the whole wedding party laughing.

Lots of fun and a little bit of friendly competition! That’s how our session with Kristin and Jason was filled. They’ve been together for two years and clearly enjoy playing together on and off the courts. They live in Redondo Beach, where Jason has fun high-fiving people bicycling past. (He says he was practicing his “Calvin Klein look” for this shoot.) Jason works as a motion camera assistant. Kristen is a physical therapist. Her folks have beautiful home in Placerville and that’s where their “big day” will take place. It’s usual to wonder just how the wedding event will go…

We all got together just a couple weeks prior to Mikal and Michelle’s Forest House Lodge wedding to have some fun on a beautiful property in Placerville. Michelle is also a photographer and as I have said in the past, it is always a little intimidating to not only have been chosen by another photographer to shoot their wedding (i.e., one of the most important days of their lives), but then to actually do it! This session was a good way for all of us to loosen up with each other and just be creative and have fun. Super easy…

Nikki will soon be brightening the campus of University of Reno/Nevada with her dimpled smile and blue eyes. She’s just finishing up her senior year at El Dorado High. I spent the end of a lovely day with her at the High Sierra Iris Gardens in Camino—the natural background of vibrant flowers is the perfect complement to Nikki’s glowing beauty, especially since she has a strong interest in the healing properties of plants and foods. She’ll be studying nutrition in the fall. Joining us for the shoot was Nikki’s Dad, Ben. He watched and admired his grown daughter through the…

Gorgeous Leah is graduating El Dorado High School this May and heading off to Santa Barbara in the fall to continue her studies.  We got together recently at Alder Creek to celebrate this upcoming new chapter in her life. The only girl in the family with two brothers, Leah is an easy-going and fun-loving girl who I had a great time with, rolling around in the moss around the creek and joking that we’d better get some “mom friendly” photos for her mom, Denise. (When it comes to High School Seniors, there’s always the shots they want and the shots mom…

Ahhh… and thus begins 2014’s engagement season! Engagement sessions are such a fabulous way for me to get to know my couples before their wedding day (and visa versa.) Not only can we become more familiar and at-ease with one another but I can work with them to see how they like to be photographed. It really pays off on the wedding day because all that initial awkwardness is already out of the way. In this case, there was no awkwardness at all since Sallie Grace and I attended the same boarding school, Chatham Hall and so had lots to…