Lindsay & Ulysses ♥ Turlock Engagement Session

"Each moment of a happy lover's hour is worth an age of dull and common life."--Aphra Behn
I can't think of a better way to describe Lindsay and Ulysses as a couple than this quote. They seem so completely happy just to be together, and their personalities compliment each other perfectly. We had a great time shooting their engagement portraits at the CSU this last weekend, despite the crazy wind. Here's a peek at some of their images (doesn't she look just like Audrey Hepburne in the shots on the ground?):

Tyler & Alyssa ♦ Snelling Engagement Portraits

Recently, I went with Tyler and Alyssa to their home in Snelling for their engagement session. They live on a beautiful piece of land with rolling hills and golden grass, so it made a beautiful backdrop for their session. The happy couple recently purchased their first tractor, so they decided to hop on it and get some shots while it was still shiny and new. It was hard not to fall in love with the their home and the area surrounding it. It was so peaceful and quiet, but it had signs of the fun life lived there all around. They even house a cow who comes running like a puppy when you call her name (I never thought I'd think a cow was cute, but Mojo was just adorable!). Tyler and Alyssa are a happy-go-lucky couple with a shared sense of humor and
total admiration for each-other, and I can't wait to shoot their wedding in August!

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.