Anniversaries

Alex and Matt married just over 7 years ago at Fausel Ranch in Placerville and I was there to capture their wedding day celebration. It was a memorable day for me as their wedding party was comprised of two other couples who I had also photographed weddings of recently. It’s the kind of connection that makes a wedding day that much easier for any photographer. It was a celebration, a reunion of sorts and a big ol’ dance party! Fast forward to 2019, now settled into their recently completed beautiful home, they have two wonderful kids, Brock(4), a vivacious, sweet…

One would think that simply getting your once West Coast, now mostly East Coast, family together for a holiday in Lake Tahoe would be enough reason to celebrate and capture family photographs, the Blair family squeezed so much more in. When Rebekah, their oldest daughter contacted me months ago with an holiday gift idea for her mom(and my old friend), I was all in. I knew Ruthie back when my kids were young and it really seems like forever ago. As I remember (and that can be tougher these days), she was the mom who always made it all look…

“On each wedding anniversary, take a picture of yourselves to keep inside this photo album. In time, the photographs will tell the story of your marriage and your life together; you may be surprised, through the years, by what you see.” Each year, as it nears their anniversary I send each of my wedding couples a gift of an album that starts with an image from their engagement session and follows with one from their wedding. The idea is that they take a picture each year on their anniversary (or near it) and put it in the album to look…

Tom and Bethany may very well be one of the kindest couples I know. We’ve only spent a few occasions together- a meeting or two, an engagement session, their wedding and then shared a lovely winter dinner last year at Cafe Luna in Placerville. So I guess one could surmise that I really don’t know them that well. How could you after only a few times? That’s the funny thing about my job. Weddings are of course, very personal. Spending a day with a couple on one of the most important days of their lives, meeting family and friends and…

Imagine attending a college reunion for Syracuse University where the only “Orange” reunion attendees were sporting was carefully crafted into a handmade tie dye. Imagine getting together with not several thousand folks in a banquet hall but with 60 or so of your closest friends (and their children whom you’ve never met) on a beautiful property in Woodstock, New York complete with round the clock jamming. Imagine sharing a weekend with these very same people whose time at college was also defined by music, art, friendship and community. ahhhhh- ain’t it great:) Many thanks to my wonderful friends. I am…

Recently I got the opportunity to photograph a very special day for the Barba Family. Their twins Gwyn and Drew were being baptized on their first birthday with a big family and friends celebration to follow at the beautiful Van Der Vijver Estate Winery in Fairplay. And if that wasn’t enough Kate and Pete, their parents, were celebrating a 10th wedding anniversary with a Vow Renewal ceremony. It was a perfect California day complete with that gorgeous late afternoon sun, made all the warmer by the family and friends that surround and support them. We took 15 minutes after the…

Outdoor spring weddings are tough to plan and to nail weather-wise around here. It is a bit of a crap shoot. I know this of course because I got married in the pouring rain (May 6, 2000) in Amador county not to mention my experiences with spring weddings in this area. Vivian and Eric hit the jack pot, not only with each other but with what was the most beautiful spring day so far. Viv and Eric were so easy to work with and so mellow- a really great way to kick off the wedding season. They both work for…

October is a big month for the Child family and their offspring. Diane and John Child celebrate their 38th wedding anniversary this week. They have four children Justin, Vanessa, Amy and Emily. I think that they all also celebrate their wedding anniversaries in October. I was fortunate to meet this super fun and kind family while photographing both Emily and Amy’s weddings over the years. Diane and John now also have 4 grandchildren all between the ages of 1 and 2. Their kids purchased them an “extended family session” last Christmas for a gift. Diane loves the fall so we…