Catching Up!

This last season has been the busiest I have faced so far. Although stressful, it brought some of the most amazing memories with it. I would love to share some highlights with you and will be working to do so over the next few days. I will start by posting the video for the Netherton wedding from this past Halloween.

Afternoon at Oakland

Kirk and I go way back...back when Aqua Net was a necessity, "where's the beef?" was hysterical, Space Invaders and Frogger were the games to beat, and everything was like totally awesome. He had a wicked sense of humor, an abundance of charm, and was an amazing friend.

When I heard that Kirk was getting married and that they were interested in having me photograph their wedding, I literally cried. I was honored that they thought of me, completely lost in nostalgia, and devastated that I was already booked on the day they needed me. Luckily, plans changed and I couldn't be happier. The wedding is coming up on Halloween and we will be there with camera in hand. The only question is whether we will be in costume.

An early treat for me was this engagement session. After more than a decade, I got to hang out with Kirk again and also had the privilege of meeting Tina. What an amazing woman! She is so vibrant, creative, engaging, and beautiful...inside and out. Seeing them together and so happily in love still has me smiling.

Tim and Kim

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of celebrating the blending of two very special families. The location was beautiful and the weather was simply perfect. This intimate ceremony brought together the closest of family and friends, so the atmosphere was full of love and encouragement. What a joy to share such a special day! Click below to see some of my favorite images...

Georgia Snow

We don't get snow very often here. It is one of natures most beautiful special effects and I love being able to photograph our home in it. Of course, playing in it isn't too bad either :) Our dog was kind enough to wake me up around sunrise the following day, so I thought I would share a few images I captured that morning...

Something new....

Trying out a new video service and used the Armes' custom album for the content. I am sure it is going to beautiful when printed. For now, enjoy the sneak peak!

One Big Loving Family...

I had the extreme pleasure of joining the Armes family at their home as they celebrated the Christmas holidays with their children and grandchildren. I stayed just a little while to take some family photographs, but could quickly tell that they were a loving family, full of many talents...one of which is certainly hospitality.

Maybe one day I will have the chance to return and enjoy a closer inspection of the gorgeous artwork throughout their home. Not only are their granddaughters budding artists, but their daughters-in-law both have artistic talents as well. Their paintings and scrapbooks were breathtaking. It was also a treat to see the little girls getting ready to help bake in their personalized aprons and the Christmas decorations filled the home with such a cozy feeling.

Even though my visit was short, the impression made was great. Here are just a few of the images captured during my stay.

The Prophetts...

This is one of my favorite families! I have simply fallen in love with these boys and their parents are wonderful as well. My girls are always thrilled to know we are having them over to our home or going over to visit at their house. I cannot think of anything better than taking photographs of friends and I count myself quite fortunate to call Shannon a dear friend. Watching her boys grow through my viewfinder is something I will always cherish. Unfortunately, I am quite behind in posting their images, but thought you might like to see them despite the delay. There will be more to come, including a first birthday session that we are scheduling soon!

The Grays...

It is easy to remember why I love my job so much when I encounter children like Noah and Olivia. They were so delightful and the entire family is just beautiful, inside and out. They came out to the studio, and in spite of the wet grounds and dreary day, I thoroughly enjoyed myself and the images that resulted from our brief session together. I hope that you feel the same.

A Perfect Family...

What a delight to spend an afternoon with the Thompsons! Everyone was so relaxed and willing to just enjoy this experience together. The girls were amazing and I would not be surprised if a modeling career is in their future. Their perfect smiles and natural beauty made my job very easy. The twins were adorable and kept a smile on my face during the entire session.

I think the hardest part of this session was narrowing down the choices for their gallery. With a family this beautiful and children this cooperative, I ended up with more successful images than I expected. Because of this, I was able to be a little more creative in my "darkroom." I spattered their gallery with vintage images, black and whites, and even a few fairies. Here are a few of my favorites...

Brand New...

I had the extreme pleasure of photographing this precious newborn recently. Every once in a while, I have a chance to simply enjoy everything about my work. It was wonderful to spend time with this family and share in the joy they felt over this addition to their family. It didn't take long before I was captivated as well.

Due to the remodeling of my studio space, I stretched outside of my comfort zone quite a bit. Most of the session was indoors and with low lighting. Of course, challenges are just food for creative minds and it was a lot of fun to experiment. Mom came ready with some wonderful ideas and was so patient with my girls fascination with the baby. The mini-diva duo played the role of assistant photographers. I would not recommend having a five-year old rearrange your lighting as you are shooting!

Overall, this session has been a bright spot in my October. I have loved every step of this process and have been so encouraged by this family. I am looking forward to watching as this beautiful little girl grows.