A beautiful Friday in June I headed to Napa to do a different sort of photoshoot. It didn't involve babies or couples or families... but it still held so much meaning. Let me back up a little. I received a sweet email from Shanna and she described to me an idea she had for a gift for she wanted to give her mom, Susan.
You see, 18 years ago when her mom became engaged to her Step-dad, Dennis, he gave her a beautiful, white grand piano as an engagement present - and most guys just stop at the ring! ;) Tragically, Dennis passed away about 10 years ago. In his memory, the piano has been beautifully displayed in Susan's home. Presently, Susan is selling her house because of circumstances out of her control which sadly means the piano has to go to storage for an undetermined amount of time. Due to space limitations in the new place, there most likely will not be room to display the treasured piano.
And here is where Shanna's idea came in... Even though her mom may not be able to display the actual piano, why not capture a photo of it that her mom can always have with her no matter where life takes her. So that is exactly what we did! :) From the sunlight pouring in from the windows, to the amazing bird-of paradise (Susan's favorite flower) picked right from the garden, it was perfect! I hope the photos are able to bring to mind many wonderful memories whenever they are looked upon.
There is special significance in that little cowboy boot. Dennis & Susan won it during a square dance competition!
Love it :)
Shanna, thank you so much for contacting me, it was a pleasure to work with you! And I still think it's a good thing you are an only child because I think you definitely may have earned #1 daughter spot!
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Last weekend was so much fun because Josh, my soon-to-be brother in-law's family came to visit. (wow that's the first time I've typed that I'll have a brother in law! weird I'm not used to that haha!) Josh's dad, Jim Rector, is an awesome photographer! So put the two of us and what do you get? A weekend filled with photoshoots! :)
We traveled all over Northern California taking picture after picture because Katie and Josh didn't have a choice were so willing! ;) Just kidding they were fantastic! I think between Jim and I, we took more engagement pictures than some people have wedding pictures! That made it tricky to narrow down but here are some of my favorites.
We started close to home, in the Vacaville hills... We didn't have much daylight left when we started but what was left of it made for some beautiful golden light.
The next day we headed over to San Francisco! We had the goal of getting some shots on the beach with the Golden Gate in the background. But the weather had other plans... Afternoon fog rolled in and there was no bridge to be seen! Instead we got a lot of shots around Fort Mason. It didn't have your typical 'city scenery' but I'm not complaining because it sure was fun to shoot there!
Loved this door! And the wall! Okay, and the couple too :)
Who would have thought that this garden-lke setting was steps away from the heart of SF!?
We made a quick stop at the Palace of Fine Arts - such a beautiful building!
Katie, you are so gorgeous!
And before wrapping up the day, we paid a visit to my other sister working at Brix in Napa,CA. I could shoot here FOREVER! Love it...
A little spin move? Yes please! :)
Don't they look good together? That's a rhetorical question, because of course they do! :)
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I am so excited to post these pictures of Samantha and Jay's wedding in Napa,CA. First of all, it was the PERFECT wedding. The weather was perfect, the venue, Brix restaurant in Yountville, was perfect, the couple was perfect, my second shooter wasn't half bad... ;) Kristen Booth flew up from Southern California to assist me and I could not have asked for a better second shooter! (Make sure you check out her blog to see her shots!) And second, this was my first wedding as the main photographer. I was excited and nervous all at once, but with this wedding, how could you go wrong? It was so difficult to narrow down the pictures, so please bare with my long post...
How beautiful are these ladies?!
Look out ANTM!!(America's Next Top Model) :)
Stunning ceremony site!
Seriously, these two are like something straight out of a magazine!
It's official, my favorite picture of the day...
Samantha is such a beautiful bride! She was so fun to take pictures of!
Jay is a Sous Chef at the venue, the fabulous restaurant Brix in Napa, CA. As you can imagine, the food did not disappoint... yum!
Having two sisters myself, the sister toasts are special to me!
Congrats Jay & Sam! I am so thankful for your trust & for booking me! Hope Maui is amazing!
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