Family photography session with The Norton family from Davis in gorgeous winter light at Jenkinson Lake in Pollock Pines, California

Fast forward to December 2019 and Xavier no longer the squishly little infant surrounded in pets but an energetic, little guy with a smile that can turn any day around

Wrapping up 2019…
I always pause at the end of a year and try to take it all in. And while I enjoy the Christmas holidays, I am much happier in general in that space between Christmas and the New Year.

I think this was smart as your photographer is with you all day long at your wedding and it’s important that a couple not only likes you but that they they love your work. Meg and Brandon knew that you don’t get to do important milestones like weddings, nor the photography, over again.

The Inn at Park Winters has a rich history. This farm has been here since 1854, when George Washington Scott, one of the first American settlers in what is now Yolo County, bought it after crossing the plains (a six-month trip!). There were so many fun options for making really creative and unique portraits of these two fine ladies.

What high school senior doesn’t want their own car and a Subaru WRX STI at that? Well, and then there’s the passion of working on your car all paid for by a part time job in Apple Hill. What a great kid! Where does the time go? Raising chidlins’ in the small town of Pollock Pines, we’ve known the Ogzewalla’s since grade school days.  My kids took piano from Drew’s mom Christina and Drew’s dad Jeremy was a favorite soccer coach. These kids all grew up together and now they’re finishing up high school. The Class of 2020. Wait, it…

Where does the time go? Jarrett was just 4 years old when I captured this image of him(below) at Emigrant Trail pre school, where my oldest daughter also attended… back in the day. These kids all grew up together and now they’re finishing up high school. The Class of 2020. Wait, it is 2020…..What? Long ago are the Emigrant Trail days. Jarrett is currently a senior at Virtual Academy and loves baseball- he’s been playing since he was 5 years old. Currently he’s a lefty pitcher for the Varsity EDHS team and is “cool, calm and collected” on the mound,…

I first met Chris in Bear Valley where we were working together, Chris as a hair stylist and me as a photographer. She was just putting the finishing touches on our bride Briana’s wedding day hair, which I might add looked just as lovely at the end of the wedding as it did at the start of the day. How do you do that? (check out Acqua Hair Design in South Lake – Chris does some beautiful work!) I was honored when she reached out asking me to come to Lake Tahoe for their first family session. It was a…

Some families just have it. Sure it often takes a little to get warmed up to a camera in front of you and I get that. Though, some families are able to just settle into their own unique vibe rather easily. That was my experience with the McDaniel family. Love, warmth, joy, playful… silly. As a human, so much fun to be around. As a photographer, so much fun to capture. We met in Camino on a beautiful fall evening and spent about 30 minutes or so playing around in the lovely fall light. When our session ended I felt energized,…

It’s the evening before Thanksgiving and if you live in Pollock Pines, you likely just got your power restored after enjoying about 24 hours of lovely snowfall. While it’s hard to have the last working day before the holidays…powerless, I’m grateful for the oven. Yup, the oven. Sigh…mountain loving. But, before I retire to my own family gathering, I wanted to share this blog of some of my favorites with you. This is the 2nd year that I have gotten to photograph the Gustafson family. I went down to Folsom to their new home to accommodate their new pup, Gidget…

Well sorta….it was two Gray sessions in one weekend. We just split one session up….first was an early morning with Jack at the Cameron Park Airport before his flying lesson (really what teenagers want a family session at 7:30am?) and then the next afternoon I met the whole family at a more reasonable hour at Sly Park Lake. There’s so much love in and around this family- it’s always a pleasure. The love seeps in to those around. Melinda and I just determined that it has been since 2005 ish that we’ve known each other as our kids went through school…

How cool is it to be a high school senior and working towards your pilot’s license? I know I’m impressed but definitely not surprised. Jack- serious and goofy, bright, humble and funny… gentle and kind ALL in the same breath. Jack’s the oldest of those  and talented Gray family kids. We all love them. Having known Jack (my oldest is the same age) since he was a pre-schooler at Miss Ruthie’s Emigrant Trail and to see him now navigating the airspace around the Cameron Park Airport- is a blunt reality check. These amazing kiddos are all grown up and getting…