Catherine and David - San Francisco Engagement Session!

So looking forward to seeing what Catherine and David wear on their wedding day! I LOVED their e-session outfits! 

So interesting that circumstances unfolded in which I ended up photographing two e-sessions two nights in a row in the exact same locations! I haven't been to Palace of Fine Arts and Chrissy Field in a long time for an e-session and here I was two in a row! 

BUT, I always say to people, every couple is different and every wedding is different. Here is proof that we had the same locations, different couples, slightly different lighting and how different they can be. Loved that Catherine and David had this vintage and formal look and even though Cara and Albert were slightly formal too, it looked very different. The locations were perfect for both couples! Of course, there will be some similarities, but overall, pretty different!

Lisa and Ian - E-Shoot!

Terra stole the show at Lisa and Ian's engagement shoot! Their bulldog Terra, loved to sniff around all over the place while I was shooting, but when I wanted her in the shots - well, it took a LOT to get her attention and to get her in the right place. We had a blast photographing this session at the location where Ian proposed which was their favorite hiking trail where they used to walk Terra when they lived nearby. I'm looking forward to photographing their wedding at the DeTurk Round Barn in Santa Rosa this year!

Family Portrait Berkeley - Angela's Family Continues to Grow!

It's been such fun to watch my good friend Angela's family grow. It started with her first maternity session, then Miranda, then a second maternity session and then Lucas! Now look how the kids have grown!

Here are a few from Angela's maternity session and another of the family's portrait sessions with me. They've grown so much!

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Maternity Photography in Berkeley - From Bride To Mom!

My beautiful Healdsburg Country Gardens bride Jen contacted me when she was expecting their first baby. I was so thrilled to see Jen and Dario and to shoot their maternity session. We had fun shooting around Tilden Regional Park in Berkeley, and Jen was truly glowing! Their daughter, Alessia, ended up being born just a few days later on my own birthday! Wow! What a surprise! Congratulations Jen and Dario, and welcome Alessia!

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Here's adorable Alessia!

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And in case you need a refresher, here are a few from Jen and Dario's beautiful wedding at Healdsburg Country Gardens!

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Maternity Shoot Oakland and Berkeley - Allyson!

Gorgeousness! I love shooting a maternity session, and Allyson looked so gloriously happy and beautiful. We were running out of light when we finished up our shoot on a small beach in Emeryville, but I loved how soft and cool the light was. It worked out just fine!

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Edible Excursions San Francisco Craft Cocktail Tour - Inaugural Event!

I was so excited that a former bride of mine asked me to photograph the inaugural Edible Excursions San Francisco Craft Cocktail Tour. Edible Excursions is an award-winning culinary tour company that offers foodies guided culinary walks through several areas of San Francisco. Lisa, the owner was in the infancy of her business when she got married and asked me to be her wedding photographer. I also photographed their firstborn, and I am so excited to have seen Lisa's business grow and to be a part of this newest venture in her business. We have some star mixologists in the Bay Area, and I'm so excited to see Lisa add this tour to her Edible Excursions options. These tours are not only great to go on, but they make great gifts or the perfect plan for a party idea!

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Berkeley City Club and UC Faculty Club Wedding - Katie and Beat

Katie and Beat traveled the world celebrating their wedding! Currently living in Australia and celebrating their first festivities in Switzerland where Beat is from, they ended their celebrations with another ceremony and reception to celebrate where Katie comes from:  Berkeley! I always love shooting at the Berkeley City Club. It's Julia Morgan-designed, and Katie and Beat embraced the gorgeous and formal architecture during our somewhat formal portrait shoot. Then we were off to The Faculty Club at UC Berkeley lawn (called "the glade") for a ceremony in the lovely natural surroundings of the campus, and then back to the Berkeley City Club where Pat Gibbons Floral Design did such an amazing job with the flowers. I LOVED the blackberries in the centerpieces celebrating the height of summer, and then it was on to the WOW factor of the dancing and amazing horn ensemble. This group were quite the dancers to the tunes Elite Entertainment played!

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Vendors who participated in this wedding included:

Ceremony Venue: The Faculty Club at UC Berkeley

Reception Venue and Catering: Berkeley City Club

Florist: Pat Gibbons Floral Design

Entertainment: Elite Entertainment

San Francisco Engagement Session Photos - Colette and Kevin

We had such fun on this engagement session. It was a bit cold, but taking photos around and about where Colette and Kevin spend a lot of their time was great fun. We even took the California cable car up to Nob Hill which is part of their commuting transportation. This e-session was loaded with personal meaning for Colette and Kevin, and I was so pleased to be able to capture their lifestyle with them! Watch out for their Marin Art and Garden Center wedding photos in April!

Newborn Photo Shoot - Welcome Harlow!

I photographed Jodi and Shane's wedding a few years ago and was so excited to be invited into their home to photograph their two-week-old baby girl, Harlow. What a little darling! Here are some photos from our session along with some photos from their wedding at the Kohl Mansion in Burlingame. Jodi was such a gorgeous bride and I remember how gorgeous those flowers by Nancy Liu Chin Floral & Event Design were!

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And here are a few photos from Jodi ad Shane's wedding!

San Francisco Wedding - Kate and Erik!

I can't disclose the location of this wedding or publish photos from the ceremony or reception, but rest assured, it was lovely! What I can share are some fun getting-ready photos and portraits of this adorable couple. Kate and Erik got married on the day the Blue Angels flew in downtown San Francisco. As they exited the Clift Hotel where they got ready, as if on cue, the Blue Angels did a fly-by! I loved everyone's reactions when it happened. It was so exciting! What a perfect San Francisco city wedding! Amy Nichols Special Events and Main St. Floralgardens did an exceptional job of coordinating and designing this lovely wedding. Wish I could share more, but here are some that I CAN share! Congratulations to Kate and Erik!

Vendors involved in this wedding included:

Event Design and Coordination: Amy Nichols Special Events

Floral Design: Main St. Floralgardens

Cupcakes! Adorable!

I pulled some files for wedding planner Dee Merz so she could share them with a bride who is thinking about having cupcakes instead of cake. These shots are from my Thanksgiving weekend wedding, which I won't be ready to post in full for another couple of weeks, but since I prepped these shots, I though it would be fun to do a little cupcake post for the weekend! These darling things were created by Perfect Endings of Napa, California. The lovey display was designed by the ever-talented Dee Merz and team! Sweet dreaming over the weekend! XOXO!

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Chrissy Field Family Portrait

My studio-mate and I did a trade of photography! She photographed my most recent head shots and I photographed her lovely family in exchange. Here are a few of my favorites from their family portrait session. I've also included some lovely shots she took of me!

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I call this one Vavoom! I recently lost weight am was pleased to see that I looked pretty darned good in a 3/4 length shot!

Newborn Photos - Welcome Abdu!

When my dear neighbors told me they had just become grandparents for the first time, I jumped at the chance to photograph their newborn grandson. I just LOVE taking photos of newborns. Within the first two weeks is ideal while they are still so very tiny. Enjoy these sweet photos of Abdu and his proud parents!

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San Francisco Wedding - Patty and Gerardo

Patty and Gerardo are going on celebrating their 10th anniversary, but never had a "wedding day." So to celebrate they threw themselves a lovely wedding! I thought that was super-sweet and loved the vintage '40s look Patty achieved, as well as the drop-dead gorgeous vintage cars they used, both owned by Gerardo. Patty arrived in the black car and they traveled to the reception in the cream colored car with red seats. The seats matched Patty's lipstick! Seriously gorgeous! Congratulations Patty and Gerardo!

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Portrait Shoot with Makeup Artist Nikol Elaine!

I met Nikol while she was doing her magic on one of my brides. We hit it off immediately and then discovered we both live in Oakland! Instant bond. Phew that she's also INCREDIBLE at what she does and extremely passionate about her work. Because of that, I asked Nikol if she would do a makeup trial on me so that I could learn (late in life) how to apply makeup for everyday occasions. It was a huge success and we decided to do a trade. So I was lucky enough to recently photograph Nikol. Nikol is at that point in her life where her business and confidence are both building quickly. I remember those days so long ago and had such a good time capturing that spirit in someone who is at such a full time of her life. Nikol was a DREAM to shoot. Of course she did her own makeup and hair and brought a few fave outfits, and we had a blast! Enjoy and seriously consider having this spirited, talented and lovely woman to do your makeup on your wedding day! She's wonderful!

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Newborn Photos: Welcome Margot!

Previous wedding clients of mine welcomed their baby girl Margot into the world a couple of weeks ago. Erin and Nick were married six years ago and I was fortunate enough to photograph their wedding at the Fairmont, San Francisco and St. Ignatius Church. It's always fun to see former wedding clients as new parents. Margot is just the most petite little sweetie and I was thrilled to meet her and share in another intimate milestone of Erin and Nick's lives!

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And here are a few photos from Erin and Nick's lovely wedding!

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Newborn shoot - Deborah and Kwong's Love Grows! Indeed How Sweet it is!

I photographed Deborah and Kwong's lovely Casa Real wedding a couple of years ago and just as we completed their wedding album, they welcomed Jayden into the world! It's always an honor when former wedding clients welcome me into their home to capture another milestone in their lives. I was so happy to see Deborah and Kwong in their new roles in life and to see the ultimate outcome of their union!

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Here are a few photos from the couple's beautiful vineyard wedding!

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Sylvie's Six Month Shoot!

I just love doing a seven month series of shoots with parents-to-be. In this case, I photographed Elanne and Chris' maternity shoot, Sylvie's newborn shoot and her six month mark. I think it's a GREAT way to record the process. Adding a nine month and one year shoot is even better! Enjoy a few photos from each shoot and watch the progression to Sylvie at 6 months!

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Newborn portraits: Elanne and Chis' beautiful baby Sylvie

Welcome Sylvie! You may recall a few weeks ago I posted a beautiful maternity session with Elanne and Chris. Well, here's Sylvie! It's an incredible thing to be photographing someone's pregnancy and then just a few weeks later their precious new baby. Really, it's the miracle of birth.

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Here are a few photos from Elanne and Chris' maternity session. For even more photos, be sure to check out this blog post.

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Formal wedding portraits

I'm always up for a challenge -- and I knew I was up for a tough one when one of my recent bride's, Andra, asked me to take some very formal portraits at her wedding. Each bride and each wedding is different, and I pride myself on being a photographer who can read and match your style. I pulled from my classic training, and I was so happy to take these photographs of Andra.  I thought I would share a few with you today for a little something different!

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