UKIAH HIGH SENIOR SESSION : MASON : CLASS OF 2013

Ohhhh - - every time I get to 'play' with Teens, I wish I had the opportunity to do it again day after day!!! Last nights' shoot was a little more special since I also shot Mason's older Sister a couple yrs back - and she was home from School this weekend to help us out! So fun!

We started out at the Family Property in Hopland....with his entire entourage looking on! "-)

His Family has this amazing, little Pool oasis right next to their house...so jealous!! Oh - and it was a perfect place for photos, too! hee hee

Once the sun was settled behind the hills, we headed back into Town for a few more backdrops.

If you listen closely, I'm sure you can all hear the laughter & teasing billowing from the car as everyone looked on...?

Awww ~ that adorable Sister I mentioned earlier!!

Oh yes...there they are...the Entarouge. The boys. The 'A Team'!

Thank you to everyone that hung out with me today! Had a blast!

And, Mason! Congratulations on your upcoming Graduation!!! 

Have fun, enjoy every moment & just know ~ it all goes by way too fast...just ask Mom! xo

ROHNERT PARK ENGAGEMENT PHOTOGRAPHY : SARAH & CORY

It's true - I don't always know where I'm going for a Photo-shoot until I get there...which I absolutely LOVE!! You get to go into it with an open mind, no pre-determined backdrops or 'scenes' you need to force & just roll with it! Which is kinda why I think Sarah & Cory just might be so perfect together...they're the type of people to just roll with it! Which is AWESOME...!

Getting to shoot them in this stunning, outdoor environment was amazing! A chance for them to step away from home & take a little break from their Spring-time Gardening at their new house - plus, get to know their Photographer a little bit! And, when they told me they really didn't have anything in particular in mind to do with the Photos? It was Photo-Freedom to explore & play! Thanks, guys!!

These two 1st met on their way to a Concert with friends! How fun is that for a kick-off?! 

- and I'm guessing it's that SMILE that grabbed Cory right away! 

Now wait a second...no one told me we had HATS!!! xo

We were on our way out, a full Session behind us - but, I had warned them...I'm never done until the Camera's are tucked IN the car - and I'm driving down the road...poor things were kind enough to let me play with just a few more poses on the way out...but, in all honesty - I could've shot all day! 

THANK YOU, guys, for being so easy-going & what we here call 'totally chillaxed'! I'm so excited to be working with you this Summer! I can tell it's going to be an amazing day to be a Photographer! xo

...a Photographer's Support Session...

Today I reached out. I wanted to - and it feels great!

One of the things Wedding Clients don't see? (and probably don't want to)
The physical & emotional roller-coaster being a Wedding photographer can be.

I've had friends tell me I should write a Book - since each night, as I returned home, I would share all the wild & crazy adventures we'd just experienced. A little 'therapy' session before jumping into the editing portion with a clear head & happy heart.

I don't know how many times Photographers have said to me over the years, "You do WEDDINGS?! No way - it's too stressful - I prefer landscapes!" I've always chuckled a bit.

Because, well - yes. I guess the Wedding Photographer is a certain 'breed'. Weddings are stressful - for everyone involved - but, they are also so very, very rewarding if you're up to it!

Another thing I've always been in my own career-journey is a 'Trainer' - a helper. The person put in charge of teaching others how things should be done. It fulfills me to take the time & energy to really show someone how to do something & see them get it done right...

Of course, in photography, 'right' is a very personal thing & is actually always changing. For me, seeing someone struggling & sitting back to watch? Not going to happen!

So, as the 2013 Season is off to it's start - I reached out to one of the young people we know in the community that has a passion for Weddings. I offered to look at their images strait off the card (no hiding the bad ones!), listen to their wild & crazy stories from the day + help them towards THEIR goals for their Wedding business. Let's call it our 1st 'Support Session'! "-)

Weddings are an absolute joy to be a part of - and I want that for everyone out there putting the time & energy into this for their Clients! That's how it needs to be for the Photographer - that's how it should be for the Client...

But, the biggest reason I wanted to do this? The real reason that takes me back several yrs now? I wish just one...all it takes is one...of the local Photographers I emailed or called when we, ourselves, were starting out had actually taken a moment & returned my call...