United Way - Live United Campaign Shoot

So last Monday I had the pleasure of hanging out with some really cool people who do really cool things for our community. The Sacramento chapter of United Way is getting ready to launch their Live United campaign and they needed some shots to get them started on the right path. It was a mighty long day...but I enjoyed every minute of it. And it helped that Gabrielle was hustling her AMAZING chocolate chip cookies to all that came down to the shoot...seriously...AMAZING COOKIES!!! Watch out Mrs. Fields! If you don't know what United Way is all about...please take a few minutes to explore their website...or better yet...donate some time to a worthy cause. I pulled out a few shots of a few cuties and some familiar faces....Enjoy!

Sacramento Fashionable Senior Portraits {Kate}

So mom drove the getaway car on this awesome Senior Urban Session...GO MOM!!! I sat shot gun giving her directions to all my favorite little places around town. We managed to crash a Girl Scout party, were approached by a helpful soul who thought we were broken down and got little Emma into a fierce frenzy at the park...not bad for a days shoot! Miss Kate is a fabulous 2009 Whitney High senior with grand theatrical plans in her future! With such an artistic and creative soul herself...we had fun running around capturing senior portraits unlike any other. Here are a few of my favorites from the day...Enjoy!

Sacramento Professional Business Headshots, Sacramento Photographer

yes..i know...I've been a very bad blogger...so many things happening in life that sometimes something has to give...and this time it was the blog. But I'm back and ready to share some awesome work and announcements with you all again! Here's one for starters...

I had the great fortune of meeting the lovely Noelle Favour last week. After talking with her...we discovered how many people we knew in common but yet we had just met. Noelle is getting ready to do some advertising for her esthetics business and was in need of some new headshots that were different than the rest...I think we nailed it! Here is a quick peek at one of the many great faces of Noelle Favour! You can find her at Lush Salon in downtown Sac for your skincare and makeup needs.

Band Promo Shoot...Bluegrass style!

My uber-talented boyfriend Brian (far left) needed a new band promo shot for his Bluegrass Band he's in. I'm not even sure what they call themselves...but I know they're good! He's in so many different musical projects plus he teaches...so it's hard to keep up with him. Lately he's been giving private lessons to my little brother and sister (Gabe and Bella)...right now they are working on Back in Black by AC/DC...it's so cute to hear them struggling along with the chords. Every week they get a little bit better and the song becomes more recognizable! If anyone's looking for guitar lessons...let me know!

Mr. and Mrs. Session {Bruce & Maya}

I can't say enough about how fabulous Maya and Bruce were during their Mr. and Mrs. Session. I loved how much fun and laughter they shared with each other...it made for some wonderful moments captured in front of the lens. Here are a few of my favorites.

p.s. - Bruce...I told you we could make the dive bar look good!

These boots are made for...

Flying! I decided to be a little adventurous and book a last minute workshop with Vicky and Jed Taufer of V Gallery. I have always been impressed with their business savvy and I am so excited to spend the next 2 days learning the ins and outs of this power duo. I will share more tomorrow from our first day at their studio...I am so stinkin excited...I can hardly stand it!

I will be back to Sacramento on Wednesday - so if anyone needs to reach me...I may be slow to returning calls. Thanks for your understanding.

All DJ's should look this good! {In the Mix 916}

Lately I have been working with some wonderfully talented women business owners...and it is completely rockin my world to see some fabulous and successful female entrepreneurs. Kisty Rose is without a doubt...an up and coming diversely talented business woman to be reckoned with. Not only do we share a birthday...(September 16th...if anyone cares to mark their calendars...late gifts are accepted!)...but we share a desire to see other women thrive and grow as business women. She and her husband, Justin, own In The Mix 916, she also has her own web solutions company...and we just launched the new Sacramento Wedding Network. I was honored and thrilled when she asked me to photograph her new headshot for her upcoming ventures. I think she's shhhhmokin' hot...how bout you!?

It makes me a little nervous....

Being a photographer...one of the most unnerving things for me is to be asked to photograph another photographer. They know all my tricks and I can't fake them out if something goes a little sideways during a shoot. They know my game...and perhaps play it better than I do! So awhile ago, Jodi Yorston, another talented photo diva, asked me to photograph her for the upcoming AFWPI calendar shoot. I was honored and petrified all at the same time...but from the looks of the shot below...I think we nailed it. She looks ferocious!

Engagement Session {Caroline & Justin}

I am so excited about this session! Caroline, Justin and I had a small window of time to make some really great images and I think we did a fabulous job. Caroline and Justin have the cutest story about meeting at a camp that they both worked at about 5 years ago. Justin was the shy one and Caroline was the little tigress that stole his heart. Meeting them now...you would think that it would have been the opposite. We met up for their session at my studio in midtown and then headed out to the streets for an e-session urban style! We hopped in the car and scouted for spots as we me made our way to Old Sac. Caroline and Justin - thank you so much for a fun day and trusting me and my slightly wacky poses and locations. You both are beautiful people with wonderful hearts and an obvious love for each other and I can't wait for the wedding day.

Below are some favorites from the days adventures!

Enjoy!

p.s. GIVE EM' SOME BLOG LOVE! We're tryin' something new at the studio...for every comment left below - Justin and Caroline will receive $1 of studio cash! The lovely couple can use this to purchase some fabulous studio products...so give em' so love! Please only 1 comment per person - scout's honor!

I'm a horrible blogger!

I am embarrased to say that I haven't blogged in over a month. So many wonderful things have been happening and I have yet to share them with you all. I will slowly but surely be catching up on everything and posting new work for you all to peruse.

One thing I've realized lately is that I shoot for so many other people but not the ones closest to me. So in an effort to document those that I love so dearly...I will be shooting and sharing images from my family. First up is Brian. We just celebrated our 5th anniversary and I can't imagine getting old without him. He makes me laugh with the raise of a brow and has a smile that still melts my heart. I can't imagine life without him. He's also a wonderfully talented musician - who is so humble about his gift and so willing to share it. We've been talking for almost a year about doing a photo for him for his website and I finally got him in the studio. I think it's absolutely perfect for him...

CD cover shoot in the Hills

Hey Folks! Well I hope you had a wonderful and relaxing 4th of July. I took some much needed R&R with my boyfriend and family this weekend but I couldn't stand to not shoot during the whole holiday weekend so I managed to squeeze in a fun assignment for an upcoming CD.

Miss Lisa Phenix here is lookin a whole lotta americana sexy for the debute of her 2nd CD release. I had the pleasure of shooting her first cd 4 years ago and it was so much fun to get back together to collaborate on her 2nd album. Her album should be out before the end of the year and will be available on CDbaby.

I must send many many thank you's to Tina and Dean out in El Dorado Hills. I scouted the location the day before the shoot and they were the most gracious angels to open up their property to us (complete strangers and on short notice) - to allow us to shoot.

And one more thank you goes to my lovely assistant, Crystal, who is less out-doorsy than me! She's the most stylish and most awesome human sandbag and horsefly swatter any photographer could ask for!

Here are a few of my favorite shots from the shoot...let me know what you think? Not sure if these will make the cd but they are definitely high on my list of contenders.

Enjoy!

April + Grant = Midtown Lovin'!

I had the pleasure of shooting April and Grant's e-session recently and since we are both midtowners...we thought it would be fun to run around our own backyard to document the love that is - April + Grant! We met up at Hina's Tea (my new favorite place!) but I quickly realized that we were missing someone. April and Grant have the most adorable little wiener named - Bruzer. The 2 ran off to get him and then we were off on our midtown escapade. Even though I live in midtown - I was surprised by all the little photographic treasures that revealed themselves to me that day. It seemed like everywhere we turned there was something just so perfect for the shot that I have never noticed. Bruzer and I got off to a rocky start...he wasn't too sure of me at first but by the end of the day...it was us against the world!
Here are just a few of my favorite shots of the day.

Midtown has some amazing murals and I have always wanted to shoot a couple in front of this one. Thanks for making my dreams come true kids!

I usually tell my couple that I won't ever make them do anything I haven't done myself - but this was not the case. I have never rode a tandem bike and they did pretty good on their first time out. Bruzer was bummed though - he got stuck with me and was not a happy camper.

This is my favorite from the day! We were walking past a thrift shop and out of the corner of my eye I see a bin of old ken and barbies...and look what I found! A crocheted wedding Barbie - I don't think I ever saw this version on the shelves. Well - there were some pretty interesting looking Ken dolls but Grant was not about to be represented by a 1980's Ken doll with pink hot pants...I totally understand!

Is it just me or does it look like Bruzer is about ready to eat Bridal Barbie and she is giving him the look! I love it! I think I may have to go back and buy her...she's kinda growing on me the more I look at these pics.

Click on the Bridal Barbie pic to see the entire slideshow.

Thank you so much April and Grant for entertaining my kooky ideas! I absolutely adore you both and am so excited to be capturing your wedding day.