Ceremony Magazine San Francisco: I made the cover!

February 6, 2014

I'm so excited for this issue of Ceremony magazine — not only did a few of the gorgeous weddings I photographed make it into the pages, but one of my images made its cover! You can see and read the current issue online here, where you'll find tons of Bay Area wedding inspiration, advice and more!

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

January 10, 2014

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!

Maternity Photography in Berkeley - From Bride To Mom!

January 10, 2014

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!

Here's adorable Alessia!

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

Maternity Shoot Oakland and Berkeley - Allyson!

January 10, 2014

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!

Piedmont Community Center Wedding - Catherine and Eytan

January 1, 2014

I've always loved this little gem of an east Bay Area wedding venue! Piedmont Community Center has it all — convenient location, redwoods, gardens, lawns, a lovely courtyard and a beautiful indoor hall for the cooler months or dancing. I was thrilled when Catherine and Eytan contacted me and also told me that Svenya of Chestnut and Vine Floral Design referred them to me. I love working with Svenja! Her work is gorgeous and so original. She created the most beautiful chuppah for the ceremony beside the redwoods. Blue Heron Catering also created a wonderful buffet of food and made sure the day went smoothly for all. And who could miss the beautiful cake by Masse's Pastries? Catherine and her family had a huge hand in the details of the couple's big day. For their handmade programs, Catherine designed a "Catakshy" family seal, a name that combines Catherine's first name with Eytan's last name. Her mother also designed and sewed traditional Vietnamese gowns for the bride and family members to wear during the reception!

Catherine and Eytan and their families were an absolute joy to work with, and I was so pleased when I got this thoughtful note from Catherine:

"We can not thank you enough for your consummate professionalism and astoundingly beautiful work. It was such a true pleasure to work with you before and during the wedding. We couldn't have asked for a better photographer and will recommend you to all our friends!

Looking at the photos is such a joy. It's like reliving the joy of the day each time, for which we thank you!"

What a thrill to get this note from Catherine and Eytan. I could go on and on about what lovely people they are, and am so happy that they have found each other. What a wonderful couple!

Vendors involved in this wedding included:

Venue: Piedmont Community Center

Floral Design: Chestnut and Vine Floral Design

Catering: Blue Heron Catering

Bakery: Masse's Pastries

Featured: Karen and Mike's wedding on Elizabeth Anne Designs!

December 19, 2013

Karen and Mike had the most elegant and vibrant outdoor wedding. And their beautiful big day was recently featured on the ever-classic Elizabeth Anne Designs! You can read the feature here, and be sure to check out my original blog post!

Atwood Ranch Sonoma Wedding - Lindsay and Andy

December 9, 2013

Oh how dreamy! Lindsay and Andy's intimate wedding at Atwood Ranch in Sonoma was such a gorgeous affair. I just love Julie Atwood's incredible styling and Atwood Ranch is one of the absolute best in Napa and Sonoma valleys. Simply one of the most gorgeous wedding venues in wine country. Despite having fewer than thirty guests, Julie managed to make this large property a gorgeously intimate venue with her magical styling. The property was in all its fall glory and the barn was magically lit with hundreds of candles. Gott's Roadside served up burgers, fries and onion rings from it's food truck and Anne Appleman Flowers & Plants did such an amazing job with the rustic and stunning floral arrangements.

Oh and Lindsay and Andy! What a darling couple! Loved their style and their passion for each other. The day was filled with excitement, loads of love and lots of emotion. I especially loved the idea of the Bible guest book. Set with the backdrop of the chalkboard claiming "love is eternal", guests were asked to write an inspiring passage for Lindsay and Andy and sign it. What an incredible way to start your family Bible! I also loved that in lieu of a cake, the couple opted for a milk and cookie bar by Model Bakery. How adorable!

Congratulations, Lindsay and Andy!

Vendors who participated in this wedding included:

Venue: Atwood Ranch

Event Coordination: Julie Atwood

Florist: Anne Appleman Flowers & Plants

Caterer: Gott's Roadside

Bakery: Model Bakery

The Flood Mansion and Palace of Fine Arts Wedding - Chelsey and Mark

December 9, 2013

I shared a sneak peek of this one last week because I was just DYING over the coral colors and the pink splash of color on Chelsey's insane Tara LaTour gown. Feast your eyes on more loveliness from San Francisco's James Leary Flood Mansion and Palace of Fine Arts Theatre wedding. Chelsey was all about the color and details and Amy Nichols of Amy Nichols Special Events and Nancy Liu Chin Floral & Event Design did an amazing job of pulling everything together. Loved that lit up "LOVE" sign and the homemade kissing booth!

This wedding was not just about gorgeousness, however. It was a true fairy tale wedding overflowing with emotion and surprises for both bride and groom. The culmination was when Mark presented Chelsey with his wedding day gift which was a commissioned painting by Mary Grand Prix of a prince proposing to his princess. This was followed by a surprise by Chelsey to her groom of a song sung along to her own playing of the piano and then out the windows a fireworks show started over the bay! What an amazing night!

BTW - their cake by Beaux Geaux was a replica of a cake on another painting by the illustrator Mary Grand Prix, which was also given to Chelsey by Mark while they were dating. The castle also appeared on their wedding invitation. Oh my! What a day! You two were meant for each other!

Vendors involved in this wedding include:

Bridal gown: Tara LaTour

Ceremony Venue: James Leary Flood Mansion

Reception Venue: Palace of Fine Arts Theatre

Event Coordination: Amy Nichols Special Events

Florist: Nancy Liu Chin Floral & Event Design

Baker: Beaux Geaux

Featured: Danielle and Tomas on Elizabeth Anne Designs!

December 8, 2013

Danielle and Tomas had the most classic, elegant wedding at Beaulieu Garden — and one of the most classic and elegant wedding blogs, Elizabeth Anne Designs, shared it with their readers this week. I couldn't be more thrilled! Be sure to check out the feature here, or read more about the wedding on my blog!

Vera Wang Trunk Show Event San Francisco

December 5, 2013

Fun at the Vera Wang Trunk show event last night! Melia of Wedspring organized the event and asked me to set up a photo studio setting for a self portrait station. Guests had a blast getting "styled" by the ladies of Vintage Box 1947 who provided gorgeous custom headpieces. The photos are available at www.pictage.com/1526826 for viewing and ordering!

Guests!

Sonoma Mayacama Golf Course Wedding - Karen and Mike

November 23, 2013

Always lovely shooting at Mayacama Golf Club which is nestled in the Mayacama mountains of Sonoma Valley just south of Healdsburg. Stephanie Beer of Covenant Coordinating and Maria Philbin Floral Design did a stunning job with this classic look in Mayacama's luscious Tuscan courtyard. Karen and Mike and their families were all about the love at this wedding and all had such a great time. The ceremony outside the wine cave and overlooking the golf course was stunning, followed by cocktails on the terrace with a BACON appetizer (gotta love that) and then as the light faded, dinner in the stunning courtyard with candles hanging from the trees. But let's not forget the beautiful cake by Fleur de Lisa Wedding Cakes! Truly magical.

Vendors involved in this wedding included:

Venue: Mayacama Golf Club

Event Coordination: Covenant Coordinating

Florist: Maria Philbin Floral Design

Bakery: Fleur de Lisa Wedding Cakes

Kenwood Inn Wedding, Sonoma Valley - Holly and Tosh

November 10, 2013

I've been wanting to photograph a wedding at the fabulous and intimate Sonoma wedding venue The Kenwood Inn ever since doing a photo workshop with the incredible wedding and lifestyle photographer Elizabeth Messina. I was thrilled when I booked Holly and Tosh's intimate wedding and couldn't wait to photograph it! I could not get enough of this gorgeous, intimate and classic wedding — and guests surely knew they were in for an elegant affair when they received beautiful letterpress invitations from Invitations by Ajalon. And my BRIDE! Holly was pure beauty itself, in her Jasmine Bridal wedding gown. It took all I had to not completely take over her wedding day with photos of just her. But, Tosh was adorable to photograph, too. He had so much fun and was so besotted by his bride — who can blame him — and the ceremony site and table styled and decorated by Fleur Essence were stunning. I loved the greens with splashes of color.

The dinner was an incredible multi-course meal created exclusively by Chef Snook of The Kenwood Inn. The chef even came out of the kitchen to pass around a plate of truffles! It was a fabulous meal and long and intimate dinner filled with toasts, great food and wine, capped off with a delicious cake by Patisserie Angelica. I think Holly and Tosh got their exact dream wedding. Oh, and then vavoom! Holly changed into her sapphire green evening gown and I went bananas all over again!

The following vendors participated in Holly and Tosh's wedding:

Venue and Catering: The Kenwood Inn

Floral Design: Fleur Essence

Bakery: Patisserie Angelica

Invitations: Invitations by Ajalon

Bridal Gown: Jasmine Bridal

Chelsey and Mark Sneak Peek!

November 7, 2013

I just had to share some if this fabulous wedding as I still put it together for Chelsey and Mark! Look at this gorgeousness! I so loved the coral colors paired with the stone of the Palace of Fine Arts. And just look at Chelsey's DRESS! There's so much more to share so take a look back within the next few weeks!

Credit Where Credit is Due!

November 1, 2013

Last year, a friend contacted me with questions about becoming a wedding photographer, and I had the pleasure of mentoring her most of last wedding season. She was a terrific second-shooter, and I wanted to give credit where credit is due for some of the gorgeous images she captured while working beside me. I directed some of the images while some were all her own. Either way, each is incredible! Thank you, Olivia!

Rancho La Puerta Photo Shoot!

October 18, 2013

Off to Rancho La Puerta again! Rancho La Puerta is is a health and wellness spa located just south of San Diego, nestled on 3,000 acres in Tecate, Mexico. It was founded in the ’40s by a health-conscious couple and has grown into a lovely, healthy getaway. It was voted two years in a row as “best destination spa in the world” by Travel and Leisure magazine readers. I'm one of the lucky photographers who gets to go down a couple of times a year to shoot for their marketing materials and website and I'm off for a week Saturday, October 19th through Saturday the 26th. I will have limited access to e-mail and no access to voice mail while I'm away. I will try to answer e-mails as soon as I can!

Atwood Ranch Hosts ISES Industry Event

October 18, 2013

Yowsa! Julie Atwood of Julie Atwood Events and the folks at ISES really know how to throw party! Julie Atwood, already a talented stylist, worked with Meredith Law of M. Design on flowers and La Tavola Linen to create the feel of this lovely garden and barn event. Back to Earth Catering prepared such yummy food, including roasted harvest veggies and beef shank. YUM! Atwood ranch is a glorious Sonoma valley wedding planner that organizes events at elite wineries and estates in Sonoma Valley and the North Bay. ISES is a membership organization that provides training for event planners.

Planning: Julie Atwood Events

Catering: Back to Earth Catering and Sage Catering

Rentals: Encore Events Rentals and ATL Events

Linens: La Tavola Linen

Floral Design: M. Design

Lighting: Twilight Design

Wine Tour: Out in the Vineyard

Mayacama Wine Country Wedding - Jenna and Chris

October 8, 2013

Yowsa! What a stunning bride! Jenna was picture perfect in her gown and tiara! The Mayacama country club was the perfect backdrop for photographing Jenna and her very proud groom, Chris. I just LOVE those wine cave doors and wall of vines and that courtyard is such a gorgeous setting for dinner. Lanterns hanging from the olive tree branches were a special touch as the evening light progressed. As always, Stephanie Beer of Covenant Coordinating did a heroic job of keeping everything on track, including a VERY large family! Congratulations to Jenna and Chris!

Vendors who participated in this wedding included:

Venue: Mayacama

Coordination: Covenant Coordinating

Healdsburg Country Gardens Wedding - Amy and Jason

October 7, 2013

Oh my gosh! I had such fun shooting this wedding! Always a pleasure shooting at Healdsburg Country Gardens, of course. Being an intimate venue with so much to offer — gardens, barn, big oak tree and vineyards — it's a wedding photographer's dream! Not only that, but Amy was such a fun bride! She truly was able to completely let go on her wedding day and as a naturally funny person, she just was a joy to shoot! Add Jason into it — who was also just plain cool — we all just had a natural blast! Loved the bird theme throughout the wedding decor and LOVED the groomsmen attire! So festive and colorful. The linens on the table were subtle, but gorgeous and classic making the floral arrangements by Dandelion Floral really stand out. The food by Grapevine Catering was phenomenal, as was the adorable cake — topped by what else than a pair of birds! — by Pattisserie Angelica!

Vendors who participated in this wedding included:

Venue: Healdsburg Country Gardens

Florist: Dandelion Floral

Caterer: Grapevine Catering

Baker: Pattisserie Angelica

Chileno Valley Ranch Wedding - Anne and John

October 1, 2013

Oh how I loved the gorgeousness of this wedding and how absolutely RELAXING it was for all. It helps that Anne and John are incredibly low-key. That translated to all facets of their wedding and made for a truly enjoyable experience for everyone. This was my first time shooting at

Chileno Valley Ranch

, a private ranch in the heart of the Sonoma ranching community. I love the rolling golden California hills already and then add a barn, a gorgeous Victorian home and lush gardens and you have the PERFECT setting.

Madeline Trait did the flowers, which were perfectly fitting with all the antique touches of the furnishings and other details, and I LOVED that they did a pig roast by Pam Ferrari Custom Catering. And the cake by Della Fattoria? To die for! Here's a sneak peek!

Vendors involved in this wedding included:

Venue: Chileno Valley Ranch

Floral Design: Madeline Trait

Catering: Pam Ferrari Custom Catering

Cake: Della Fattoria

Campovida Wedding - Julie and Matt

September 29, 2013

Magical. Magical. Magical! Wow. I just LOVE shooting at Campovida. Julie and Matt chose this location because Matt's family has traveled up to their lake house in the area since Matt's childhood and when they saw the property they just knew how perfect it was for their wedding. I loved that Julie said about their sunset portrait session that they felt like they were discovering "secret gardens" as I led them through the property for the session. The property is so large that you could spend an entire day "discovering" it's many delights. For a destination wedding, it can't be beat. It will wow the guests. Julie and Matt put their hearts and souls into their wedding day with loads of individual and hand-crafted touches. The couple handmade their programs, name tags, menus and ribbon napkin rings! Grapevine Catering served an incredible meal, with a super sweet cupcake dessert by Kara's Cupcakes. Most important, however, was an incredibly special weekend spent with family and close friends. Again, what a magical place to do so. From the pictures, it looks like they had the time of their lives! Such a sweet couple!

Venue: Campovida

Catering: Grapevine Catering

Cupcakes: Kara's Cupcakes