A-SESSION LOCATIONS- Mountains

Stephanie and Aaron drove up from San Jose for their engagement session up in high country. Little did Aaron know that he was just up this way the previous weekend when he was 4-wheeling with his friends out past Loon Lake. I enjoyed meeting Stephanie and Aaron outside of their wedding day. It’s great to get to know my wedding couples through a photo session prior to their wedding day. It helps me to better understand their connection so when the big day arrives, I know what is natural and what is comfortable for them, in order to capture them…

On a most spectacular Thursday afternoon in the mountains, my daughter Jaz and I headed to Sorenson’s Resort in Hope Valley to capture Bethany and Dan’s very intimate wedding ceremony. The day was beautiful and the drive made me realize how much adventure and road trips give me renewed energy. Bethany and Dan’s connection was clear when I first met them as we hopped in my car to photograph them together, down the road in the open meadow of Hope Valley. Here are a few of my favorites…including their dessert bar and charcuterie plate. They give you a good flavor…

A self proclaimed “fall, winter” person, Jordan, who graduates from Charter University Prep this spring wanted WINTER in her senior photographs so off we went to Echo Lake. Highway 50 was clear but I was glad to have AWD once we turned towards Echo Lake. It sure is beautiful out there. Jordan’s super kind-hearted boyfriend, Conner came along and I got to capture a few of their nurturing relationship, too. Once she graduates, Jordan plans to attend Folsom Lake College this fall for a couple years and then transfer with Conner to UCLA to study orthodontics. Both Jordan and Conner…

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…

  Sessions like this make my heart sing. Sierra and Cory, a happy couple with warm personalities and very much in love, scooped up me and my camera, in their Tacoma, hoping for aspens still in bloom but ready for any old up country adventure. Free creatively, washes of sunshine color, open to discovery and landscape for miles. This is what we found. Who’s up next?  

Cameron and Erin have know each other since they were very young. They used to play together on the field while their older siblings played baseball. They even attended the same junior high and high school however it wasn’t until senior year that they started dating. Now, they will marry this month at the Flower Farm in Loomis. I simply LOVE the Flower Farm. Cameron LOVES basketball and is a Warriors fan. Having enjoyed many a Kings game in the past (my husband calls me a fair weathered fan), I had to know. They enjoy going to games together. Erin,…

It’s so hard to believe Graydon just turned five. Having known his parents since 2009 and having had the incredible honor of photographing his birth, I sit back and wonder…5 years ago? Really? It was wonderful to get out by the river with this very busy five year old and his dad, Tom.  Tom is great dad and one of the most genuinely kind people I know. Graydon is awesome and full of big hugs…well, and very busy feet. I spent about 5 minutes capturing Graydon exploring the riverside before I increased my shutter speed 3-4x to make sure to…

THE BEST phone call to receive is from a bride asking you when you are available so that she can choose a wedding day and THEN book their wedding venue. And it all makes me smile. I photographed the wedding of both of her sisters, Courtney and Erin, and now it’s Kristin’s turn! Kristin is tying her own knot to Derek at a beautiful vineyard-side wedding this fall, in Lodi. If it is anything like her sisters’ previous weddings, the absolute abundance of love, family and laughter will abound. I love her family and all the fun I’ve had documenting some very special milestones.…

It’s never too late to take senior photos – it still counts, even if you already have a year of college under your belt.  Because senior photos are not about what age you are on the calendar, but what place you have graduated to in your heart. David admitted to me that he was actually feels more “like himself” now than he did when he graduated last year, and I think the comfort and ease with which he approached his photo session proves it.  I just loved how he incorporated different looks and activities into his session, allowing me to document his incredible…