Claire & Matt {Sept 25th, 2010} A Wedding!

I have butterflies in my stomach as I get ready to make this blog post. Why? I love this couple. I loved this wedding. I love these photos. I met Claire and Matt earlier this year when they first contacted me about wedding photography. We met over coffee and I went home and told my husband how excited I would be if they chose me as their wedding photographer. I didn't hear from Claire for a couple of weeks. I'll be honest, I was heartbroken. When Claire did call, it was to tell me that they thought I would be the perfect fit for their wedding day. The feeling was completely mutual. She also told me about how her mom was diagnosed with cancer and was going through a tough battle. My own mom is my best friend so my heart ached for Claire as she explained the diagnosis and everything that her mom was going through. Claire and Matt live in Florida but Claire stayed with her mom in the Sacramento area for weeks on end. Claire and Matt offered to put their wedding on hold, but of course her mom was having none of that.

As September 25th finally rolled around, I was excited to see Claire's plans manifest themselves on her wedding day, but I was also nervous to meet her mother. I was worried that she would be very sick. I wear my emotions on my sleeve and I knew that it had the potential to be a very emotional day. I am so, so pleased to say that Claire's mom is doing wonderfully and was a ray of light on their wedding day. I met her and would have never known how ill she had been. God is good!

This was my very first wedding where the bride and groom did a first look and saw eachother before the ceremony. I was so excited! The couple wanted to do some photos in Matt's uniform before the wedding, and to be honest, a first look just fit with Claire and Matt. Claire was strikingly (as in girl crush-like) beautiful in her simple gown and bare feet. And okay, admit it, what's better looking than a man in uniform? Claire and Matt also told me beforehand that they are lovers of black and white, which is why you will see more black and white photos than I normally do. I too love black and white which made editing their wedding photos even more enjoyable. PS - this gorgeous, perfect location is The Flower Farm in Loomis, CA. I'm not even kidding you, if I would have known of this place back in 2005 it's where I would have been married. This venue is AMAZING.

Everything about Claire and Matt and their wedding day was raw. It was honest. It was true.

I am very sad that this couple lives across the country. I know that we could be great friends if distance weren't such a barrier. In fact, they made me feel so comfortable that I allowed myself to have my very first glass of champagne at a wedding in which I was working. Normally I turn it down, always airing on the side of professionalism...but as we were standing in the warm September sun and the wonderful catering staff came out offering it to all of us, I'm pretty sure I would have felt just a little less "me" if I turned it down.

Matt & Claire.....you are beautiful. Your wedding was beautiful. Thank you.

Ngia, Becky, and their adorable babies!

These two lovely ladies are sisters in law. How cool is it that they each had their first born only a few months apart? Little Olivia is barely a month old and Jacob is 6 months old (Miss Olivia was overdue and Jacob decided to come early, so they are actually pretty similar in size!) I won't lie, after doing these photos for Ngia and Becky I totally want a photo session with my own siblings and our kids. Sadly, we all live in different states, but a girl can dream, right? (Special shout out to my beautiful nieces, Emma and Kaydriana!)

For our session, Oliva, at 4 weeks old, could have very easily made things difficult. Typically 4 weeks is a hard age for photography. Lucky for me, she slept the entire time. On a suitcase, in a basket, next to her cousin and in her mama's arms. Jacob protested a little more but after he got a full belly he was full of sly smiles and was a total dream to photograph. I swear to you, my clients (both kids and adults) are the BEST. They make my job so wonderfully easy!

Ngia, it was great seeing you again and Becky, it was lovely to meet you! Congratulations on your beautiful, beautiful babies!

7 Months, 3 sessions, 1 Beautiful Boy

This is my 3rd time photographing Baby M (won't be able to call him that much longer!) - I first met him when he was just a few days old for his newborn session, then again at 4 months, and now at 7 months. To say that this family is one of my favorite clients is pretty obvious, and not for the reasons you would expect. They love custom photography, they love their gorgeous son, and they are truly kind, awesome people. I am definitely the lucky one on the end of this deal. I had grand plans for my 3 sessions last Sunday. I've lived in Northern California my whole life, but I always try to visit my locations before I shoot, just in case. Since we now live in Riverside, I didn't have that opportunity on Sunday. I have shot at this location twice before, but both things in spring. When my assistant, this family and I arrived at the locations, I tramped into the grass with my sandals on. Oh boy...big mistake. The beautiful, formerly soft (in spring) grass was now brittle and full of burrs and thorns. All of my plans went out the window as I limped around trying to decide what to do. See the shot of them on the quilt? I had to limp over there, pull off my shoes and attempt to remove thorns from my feet before we moved on. Luckily for them, they were all wearing close toed shoes. What good is a photo session without a little drama, right? I'm positive that it was worth my very minor injury.

Enjoy - and I'm pretty sure with how cute little M is, you really don't have a choice. This was another one of those sessions where my face hurt when I was done because I was grinning at my screen like Ms. Nutso Photographer. His smile is contagious!