Another "Day in the Life", another incredible family. As a gift to his wife, Dad bought a "Day in the Life" photo essay for his wife for her birthday. This was a jam packed, morning to night, event filled day. I don't know how they do it. After looking back at this book, and all the different activities, places and things, I'm exhausted! These kids were amazing. So polite, smart, respectful to everyone, and smiles on their faces. This day reminded me why saving these moments are so important. They go by in a an instant. The days are about "Go! Go! Go!", and by the time you have a moment to breathe, you get to start all over again the next day.
The Blog
Tanya and Sean
Nothing like Vacaville in June for a wedding. Well, was I wrong! The weather was perfect! I had been looking at the forecast for weeks anticipating 100 degree temperatures. But when the day came, it couldn't be more perfect. The wedding was at Pippo Ranch , about an hour north of San Francisco, a unique venue where the ceremony and reception both took place. It lent itself to many wonderful moments and images. The bride, Tanya, was so fun and incorporated balloons and other festive things in the wedding and photographs. Sean, who is in the Coast Guard, displayed his incredible honors dressed in his military attired. Besides being such a wonderful couple, they approached the day with such a fun , light, attitude in the spirit of why there were there. . . for each other. Here are a few from their day.
Watermelon Face
Ah, Summer Camp. This this is one of the faces I came home to yesterday . . .
Baby Ella
My latest baby shoot was for the gorgeous Ella. This little one , beyond being beautiful, was so incredibly strong. At 1 month old, she would roll herself off the blanket on the floor, and even held her head up for me to take one of the cutest photographs I've ever taken. Take a peek at our shoot . . .
2 hours . . .
Photography is about light. Ways to control it, ways to bend it, ways to modify it, ways to fight it. However, one of the easiest things to do with light is pick the right time of day.
Here are two shots taken 2 hours apart.
I think it was worth the wait.
Day in the Life : Randall
My latest "Day in the Life" photo essay featured the Randall family. I'm sure I sound like a broken record, but I'm constantly amazed what wonderful families I get to meet and know. Spending an entire day shooting a family , seeing their daily routine, watching the fights, hearing the laughing all makes me feel like I'm now part of this family. These shoots are always gruelling , but after the 15 hour day, all the post on the images, and the design of the book, I get to deliver a piece of family history to these wonderful people. Selfishly, when I deliver the book, I like to stay to watch them view their life through my eyes. It is always the most gratifying part of the process for me. After taking in each page of the large book, mom closed it , brought it to her heart, and hugged the book. My work is done! :
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it"
-- Ferris Bueller
fun at pixar
For Father's Day, my girls took me to see Monster's University at Pixar. There is just something so special when you walk into that incredibly impressive room. We've been fortunate enough to have gone many times, but each time you walk in, it still has that impact of the first time. Think she feels special?
Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdon
That's what came to mind when watching the standoff that happened outside my back door . Part of me wondered if I should do something, but , well, think of the picture I could get ! . . .
Father's Day . . .
Take a good look, because it's rare you will see me in a photograph, but as my wife 'jokes', when I'm no longer around, my children will have no evidence that they had a father. So, I turned my camera (and pride) over to a family member to document a moment in my life that included me on the streets of San Francisco.
My family spoiled me yesterday with cards and gifts and lot of activities. We got to see an pre release screening of Monsters University at Pixar, and then off to the city for an "Urban Quest". A trek around an area in San Francisco (Washington Square) to find clues that will all lead us to solve a puzzle to figure out where we will be eating dinner. A reservation will be waiting for us, but we have to figure out what the restaurant is.
Thanks girls for a fun day.
Flag Day
On May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day on June 14. Many Americans celebrate Flag Day by displaying the Red, White and Blue in front of homes and businesses.
Instead , we in my household celebrate something much more important. . .
my Father-in-Law's birthday.
Happy Birthday Kip.
Lovin' the Lovins
Got to see some good friends that we haven't seen in a while this weekend. It's incredible to see their pair of twins after a year. That time between 3 and 4 years old shows such a monumental leap from baby to kid. All the personality and vocabulary and just overall confidence shows through. . . well, you be the judge . . .
time. . . .
Time is at once the most valuable and the most perishable of all our possessions.
-John Randolph
As I looked through the viewfinder of my camera at my girls this morning, I had this wave come over me about how hard it is to fathom how much has happened our lives. Another last day of school, another year gone, another last picture. There are so many quotes about time, but this one spoke so much to me. This is the exact age I lost my dad (I was 9 and he was 42 . . ok, I'm 43 now). Time is constantly the most incredible concept for me, and to this day, I wish I had and endless supply.
Welcome Darcy J.
Here are a few shots from a photo session I just did of the 1 day old Supermodel Darcy J. It's been a while since I've had babies this little and you forget just how small and fragile and dependent on you they are.
C o n g r a t u l a t i o n s L e s l i e a n d T o b i n !
Amy Nightingale
As is typical of my wife, she tries to care for anyone/anything in need. So was the case yesterday when a small bird was cornered by our cat. Our cat must have gotten a swipe or two in, because the bird was just sitting there not flying away. My wife swooped up the cat and put him out of sight and began trying to save the bird. She picked up the scared little guy and put him in a homemade cage with some water and food. After a few hours of nursing the little bird, she brought him outside to set him free. The little guy hung around for a few minutes, as if to say "thank you", and then flew off safe from danger.
eyes of blue . . .
Another quick portrait shoot of a future star . . Maggie. With these gorgeous eyes, I'm not sure if the blue polka dots brought out her eyes, or her eyes brought out the polka dots !
the extra effort . .
I had the pleasure of shooting a wedding last weekend up in Vacaville, CA. A wonderful couple, a beautiful venue, and incredible weather. As much as I love shooting, at the end of an 8 hour wedding, I'm pretty exhausted. I haven't sat down all day. . . climbing, squatting, crouching, laying down. . you name it. Anything to get that photograph. Well, it was 9pm, I had carefully loaded all my gear into my trunk, and sat down in the driver's seat ready for my hour plus drive back home. I pulled out of the venue, still a tiny bit of light left in the sky (only visible by a slightly long exposure) only to see, in my opinion, something that would make a great photograph. But I JUST put all my gear neatly away in the trunk. But I JUST sat down for the first time in 8 hours! But I have over an hour drive ahead of me. I haven't eaten since breakfast and I'm starving! But as tired, sore, hungry and exhaused, I thought about how much worse I'd feel tomorrow if I didn't get the shot. You tell me if it was the right decision . . .
Matthew the "Great"
I had the pleasure of shooting Senior Portraits for Matthew Magnus (Magnus in Latin means "Great"). Well, "great" is certainly fitting for this young man. Beyond the knowing smile and cavernous dimples, Matthew is a polite, considerate, and motivated kid ready to take on the world. Here are some of the images from our shoot this past weekend. . .
the endless hour . . .
I know when it happened. . . .the smart phone . . .
I'm
sitting here waiting for a minor repair on my car at the dealership.
As I look around me, everyone is in "the position". . . Head down ,
thumbs up.
I used to be able to kill an hour in the blink of an eye.
Now,
that same hour seems to be endless. Even with the constant stream of
useless information flying at me, it seems as though time is slowing
down.
Oh well, back to the useless bits of random information.
"model" citizen . . .
For the past 5 years, I've had the pleasure of shooting my "little" niece's "Model Shoot Birthday Party". Her and a bunch of girlfriends go out and we do a photo session for a few hours as if we were on a magazine shoot. Now 17, she's no longer the little girl that I picture in my head. She, and her friends, have grown to be beautiful young women. It's crazy to think how fast time races by. It seems like just yesterday, I had this little 9 month old sitting on my lap playing with a cast on my broken arm. Although she has a lot more teeth now, the smile is the same. Happy Birthday Charlotte.
headshots with Paolo
I got the chance to photograph Paolo, a kindergartener who is as poised as he is handsome. It was a last minute shoot that he and his parents needed for a shot at a major catalog. Look out for this kid. . . he's going to be something!
