Monthly Archives: March 2008

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Happy Anniversary Jen and James!

Edit: Jen called me on the morning of her anniversary completely ecstatic. “Guess what James got me for our anniversary?!” she asked. Hmm, well she does have s soft spot for purses so I guessed a purse. Wrong!

James bought the sheet music to their first dance song and had it framed and matted in the color palette of their wedding! OMG! How sweet is that!?

Here’s the weird part: I blogged about their anniversary a day early because I knew I would be really busy on Thursday. What photo did I pick? Their first dance song because it was one of their favorite photos:

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She sent me a photo: pict0003.JPG

Jaya and Chris: A Mill Valley Engagement Session

On Sunday afternoon I took a trip up to Mill Valley to photograph Jaya and Chris’s engagement photos. It was so nice seeing Jaya again… she’s actually the sister of one of my former brides Jennifer who married back in 2006. Her sister was sweet enough to give the session as a gift since their photographer is based out of Arizona. The ceremony will take place overlooking the Grand Canyon where Chris proposed to her. How romantic!!

We explored the nooks an crannies of Mill Valley, and even found an old movie theater, which is fitting since Chris is a director. We then drove over to Tennessee Valley and took a hike to the beach. Jaya and Chris love hiking so we made it a point to go to one of their favorite spots.

Jaya you are going to look beautiful in a wedding dress!! Have an amazing wedding in September!

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Baby AJ has arrived!

Yesterday I had the honor to photograph a friend and fellow wedding vendors newest addition: little AJ! He just turned a month old and is already so animated and full of life! And boy does he have a head of hair already!

I will always have a special place in my heart for Brandy of Bliss Event Productions. I truly attribute the success of our business to her. She gave us a chance when we were the “new photographers in town” as we all know there are so many of us! From there her good word spread like wildfire and folks in the industry started to take notice.

Brandy, thank you so much for having faith and entrusting me with the your clients, and even more, the first documentation of your family. I hope you, Angelo and AJ will cherish these pictures forever.

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Happy dreams…

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Aren’t they the all American family?

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Fine Art Album with a Coffee Table Twist

My jaw dropped when I opened the box containing Dhivya and Jay’s wedding album. They loved the Fine Art Albums but were torn, because they also loved the contemporary twist of the Coffee Table Album we offer. Luckily for them, our album supplier just recently announced they are now offering a combination of the two.

I can go on… but I think the photos will say so much more:

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North Beach Engagement Session: Shawna and David

I really had toooo much fun this afternoon with Shawna and David! You know when your face hurts from laughing so much? Driving back over the bridge I was experiencing this! We met at Washington Square Park in San Francisco and ducked into all the nooks and crannies that North Beach had to offer. I am so happy for these two, they are so much in love and it totally shows in their engagement photos. At the end of their session we hopped in the car and drove to the top of Union (yes, we could have walked… but you know that hill!) We stopped 4 or 5 times to take photos…each time so excited by what we found. Especially the light you’ll see in the last few photos.

I cant wait for their wedding in June. It’s at the Dunsmuir Estate in Oakland. Why am I excited? They have created their whole event off of a 1920’s theme! (I secretly wish I could go back in time to that era… guess it’s not so secret anymore…)

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As a loud firetruck was passing:

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Luckily Shawna wore her bloomers, especially since it was  bit breezy today!

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One of my favs from the whole day:

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But I think this takes #1

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Yet, I’m torn: This is some pretty amazing light!

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Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay Wedding: Carissa and Ken

Yesterday was such a beautiful day…. which started very early for me!! I think the last time I was up before the sun rose was to take Erica to the airport at 3 am! Groggy yes, but I was excited for today none the less. Carissa and Ken are actually from Bellevue Washington, where my mother grew up. They did most of their planning from afar, as many destination weddings do nowadays. The heart and thought they put into the details was very touching. The couple had signature quilt strips, an impressionistic painter, and personalized wine bottles (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic wine (did you know there was non-alcoholic wine?!)) for their guests to take home.

This is Carissa and her mom Francis, she was soooo excited that her daughter was getting married!

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Doesn’t she just glow?

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I love the color palette they chose: lavender, purple and soft shades of green. It really made the observatory room at the Ritz Carlton pop!

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Beautiful food right? Thats the old food photographer in me though…

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Carissa and Ken hired an impressionistic painter from San Diego to capture the essence of the day through a large canvas that will now hang in their home. He started at 9 before the room was even set up just to get the base of the room. He finished the painting just after 4.

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And the last photo of the afternoon:

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Yountville Engagement Session

This morning I photographed Jennifer and Joe in downtown Yountville. They actually are from San Diego, but thought it would be fun to do their engagement session in the wine country. We took a few photos at the Vintage Inn and then took a walk down the street to a mustard field! I LOVE Napa in the spring time. Its the only time the hills are a beautiful and green and spotted with patches of mustard. And then summer sets in…. and well… we all know how what beautiful shade of brown they turn! Anyways… they were good sports and rolled around in the field for me! Thanks you two!

Afterwards I drove over to Sonoma for a site inspection. Jennifer, who’s getting married at Cornerstone Gardens was there to show me around the site. This place is soooo neat! There are so many little nooks and crannies to photograph in. If you are in Sonoma and have never been its worth a peek! Check back at the end of April for her and John’s engagement session in San Francisco.

A portrait for mom and dad:
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AJAXed with AWP