Cassie & Sam • Knights Ferry Engagement Session

I met Cassie & sam out at Knights Ferry on Sunday. It was a sweltering hot day, but they were such troopers and toughed out the 110 degree heat with total grace. Cassie and Sam may look familiar to some of you, and if you're wondering why, it's because they were the winners of KHOP's Bridal Idol contest. They're such a sweet, fun couple it's no wonder they were voted the winners! Here's a peak at their session:

Gil & Eduarda • San Juan Bautista Engagement Photography

Last weekend, Gil and Eduarda met me in San Juan Bautista for our second attempt at an engagement session. We had met in San Francisco two weeks prior for their session, but Mother Nature had other plans that day and we were met there with rain and wind. But it was a beautiful day in San Juan Bautista last weekend, and I'm really glad for the change of location as the mission provided a beautiful backdrop for their portraits. I always have fun when I'm with Gil & Eduarda, as they're such a lighthearted, funny couple. So we really had a great time exploring the mission together, and I'm looking forward to their wedding next month!

Christine & Jay ☼ San Francisco Engagement Portraits

Last weekend I headed to San Francisco for Christine & Jay's engagement session. It was a rare hot day in San Francisco, I think the temp sored to a whopping 80 degrees! So, with the sun shining, we headed to the beach for our shoot. They live right above Baker Beach, so it made selecting the beach easy. Now if you're familiar with San Francisco, you know that Baker Beach is a nude beach. If you're reading this, and weren't previously aware that it was a nude beach, it may seem odd to you that I would take clients here to shoot. But in my defense, I must say that I've taken at least a dozen couples to Baker Beach for engagement shoots and have never seen a single nude person. In fact, I'm so comfortable with this beach that I take my kids there to play. I really just believed that it was more of a nude beach in theory than in practice. I was wrong. Apparently they just wait for these rare hot days, and then half the people in San Francisco shed their clothes and run to the beach. Okay, so maybe I'm exaggerating a little bit, but there were at least several dozen nudies on the section of beach I was on. Lucky for me, I was there with Christine and Jay, who are native San Franciscans and were totally unfazed by the lack of bathing suits. And despite the colony of clothing deprived people hangin' out around us, we still had fun and made some beautiful portraits. I have a feeling though, that Jay & Christine manage to have fun where ever they go. They are such a laid back, happy couple, I had a great time shooting them & learning a bit more than I wanted to know about San Francisco!

Jennifer & Jimmy Santa Nella Engagement Session

I met with Jennifer and Jimmy for an engagement session at her family's land where they graze cattle in the hills over Santa Nella. And I have to tell you, the shoot was just like an adventurous day right out of a Mark Twain novel, complete with abandoned buildings, windmills, coyotes, balancing on a log suspended above water, climbing trees & boulders, something that may or may not have been a turkey, I could keep going... The only things missing were vagabonds and riding the rails. We shot until the sun went down, and really could have kept going. The scenery was so amazing that the hardest part was narrowing down the places to shoot. The location was a photographer's dream, and to top it off, Jen and Jimmy were willing to do whatever it took to get a great shot. Climbing, balancing, walking a tightrope, you name it, they were willing (okay so maybe the tightrope was an exaggeration- but balancing on a slippery log in boots with heels seems pretty darn close to walking a tightrope). As we explored this area finding places to shoot, I got to know Jen and Jimmy, and not only are they just cool people to spend the day with, they are one of those couples that you just know will be together in 50 years when they're old and gray. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to capture a little bit of their love in portraits that they'll show their kids and grandkids someday.

Jen & Billy ♦ Santa Cruz Engagement Session

When I woke up yesterday and saw that the sun was shining and the sky was clear, I knew it would be a beautiful day for a beach engagement shoot. As I drove to Santa Cruz to meet Jen & Billy I was so excited that I wouldn't have to try to work with another drizzly damp day at the beach, but I have to admit that I was still a bit nervous about driving all the way to Santa Cruz to shoot a couple I'd never met. When I shoot engagement sessions, almost without exception, I've met the couple at least once or twice before. But I had no idea what I was in for with Jen & Billy. Boy was I relieved to find out that they are a down-to-Earth, fun, relaxed couple! In fact, I quickly felt as if Jen was an old friend. We strolled the boardwalk and the beach and enjoyed a relaxed session in the sun. And as if things weren't good enough, Jen & Billy have this love for each other that is almost palpable, which was just amazing to capture.

Lorna & Declan ☼ Modesto Children's Session

Just thought I'd share a little teaser from a recent session in Modesto. These two little cuties didn't like sitting still, but I had a ton of fun chasing them around! I love the outfits their mother Nickie chose for them. The touch of the hat on little Declan was just so cute!

Casey & Dave Santa Cruz Engagement Portraits

Casey & Dave met in high school. Normally at this point I would tell you that they were high school sweethearts who fell in love during their formative years and have been together ever since, but that's just not the case. Casey was just way too cool to go out with Dave in high school. Then they met up again after high school. Okay, I know you're thinking that this is when she realized what a great catch Dave is and fell in love. Nope. It's a good thing that Dave is a tenacious guy. When they met up again after high school, Dave hounded Casey for a month & a half before she gave in. It's a good thing she did too, because these two fit together so well, it's hard to imagine that there could have been a time when they weren't a couple. They have this amazing chemistry, you only have to be close to them to see how in love they are. The thing that amazed me the most about them was his ability to make her laugh. As you can see from the pics, Casey has the most amazing smile- but when she looks at him, her whole face lights up in a way that would melt your heart!
I had a blast shooting their engagement session yesterday in Santa Cruz at Lighthouse Field State Beach. It was one of those days when everything just came together perfectly. The weather was fantastic, the beach was beautiful and the couple was a ton of fun- what more could I ask for?

Here's a little Q & A from the happy couple:
How did the two of you meet?
Casey: We met in high school, he kept asking me out & I kept blowing him off
until after we graduated.
What initially attracted you to him/her?
Casey: His determination and dry sense of humor. His eyes.
Dave: Hard to get.
How did he propose?
Dave: Our fifth dating anniversary I had planned dinner at a restaurant where
I planned to propose. We had to cancel & attend a funeral. I ended up
proposing in our bedroom at the foot of our bed.
If your life was a movie, what would the title be? What would hers be?
Dave: Mine would be "Take it Easy." Casey's would be "The Big Sideways Cracker."
Casey: Ours would be "Always & Forever through thick & thin."