Debbie Brown Photography

Goodbye 2011 and Happy 2012!

2011-12-31T16:07:00.000-08:00

Yes, in case you were wondering, I have been away from my blog for some time. I guess maybe some of it was laziness on my part, but a lot of it is that most of my clients really prefer that I post their images on facebook. If you haven't been kept up to date on what I've been doing the last few months, just hop on over to my facebook page and take a gander. There's a lot to see!

Can you believe it, 2011 is just hours from being history! I don't know about you, but so many people I've talked to have said they aren't sorry to see it go ;)

Here's to wishing you a wonderful, healthy and prosperous 2012. I know we are all looking for the light at the end of the tunnel ;)

At last...

2011-09-27T19:56:00.000-07:00

What a way to end September!!!! Nicole and Aaron's wedding was really something special!

I've known Aaron and his mom, Diana, for a number of years. When I heard a couple of months ago, that Aaron had proposed to his girlfriend, I knew this was going to be a wedding I wanted to photograph. If you know this family, you know how full their hearts are of love. They are some of the most special people I've ever known. It sure was nice to move into this town ten years ago, and meet people like them...actually this whole town is full of people like this-I love our "little" town ;)

Normally, I'm accustomed to seeing Aaron at his family's restaurant, so it's been fun getting him out of his "element", and having him be a "model"! Nicole had NO problem being in front of the camera. What a natural beauty! The day was about as fantastic as any couple could ask for. The location was beyond spectacular, the weather was picture perfect, and the love that filled the outdoors was indescribable. Periodically throughout the day, there were touches of sadness, when everyone thought of Nicole's late mom, and Aaron's late dad. However, through the occasional tears, came smiles of amazement, love and gratitude; amazement that this wonderful couple had found one another in rather unusual circumstances (it's a cute story), love for everyone who is a part of their lives-here on Earth, and in Heaven; and gratitude to God for everything He gives us.

Nicole's dress was exquisite, and as she walked down the aisle, you could almost see the excitement on her face as she walked closer to her groom. I attend a lot of weddings, and I can assure you that I've never seen a dress like Nicole's. It was elegant, whimsical, and (I think), captured her personality. In some of the photos, you can see a special ring that she was wearing on her right hand. The ring belonged to her mom, and I know how important it was for Nicole to have a piece of her mom with her that day.

The wedding location was the home of some of their dear friends. Yes, this was a PRIVATE HOME! Can you even imagine living here? I LOVED all the personal touches of the day. All the signs were made by hand, the table cloths were all plaid with a really cute story behind them, friends and family contributed to the favors, decorations and everything else that made this one of the most unique weddings I've ever attended.

The toasts and parent dances had me in tears-from crying and laughing. When Aaron's stepdad came up and made his toast there wasn't a dry eye in the place. Aaron, sure knows how to cut a rug and he proved that when he took his new bride for a spin on the dance floor, as well as each of his moms. Take a look at the photos near the end of the slideshow, and you'll see what I mean.

Scroll through their photos, and really look at the specialness of this day. There are more photos in their slideshow, so don't forget to take a few minutes to see that, and maybe leave them some well wishes.

Aaron and Nicole, thank you so much for inviting me along for the ride on the first day of the rest of your lives. With your families standing behind you, I know you will have a wonderful life filled with love, support and laughter.

Didn't I tell you she is a natural beauty?

These are two of my favorite images of the day. Aaron and his mom, Tery, share a quiet and special moment. The day would not have been complete for Aaron, if he didn't have both his moms standing next to him. What a lucky man to have such marvelous women in his life!

These guys were clowning around all day...and it was a blast!

Couldn't resist doing something next to this old barn.

I just am amazed this this is someone's backyard!

The second I saw this light in the barn, I knew I needed to put it to use!

This is one special young man, and he ADORES his new bride!

This is the golden light that every photographer hopes to get!

Better the second time around

2011-09-26T22:22:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, Julie and Tony declared their love for one another on a beautiful sunny morning, with their three children by their sides. This couple found true love the second time around. I haven't known this couple as long as most of my brides and grooms, however I COMPLETELY ADORE them!!

Tony looks like a tough guy, but after spending some time with them, and listening to the toast he gave, I realized he is a wonderful, gentle, loving guy-whose family means the world to him. He said in his toast that before he and Julie dated one another, they worked together years before. Their relationship consisted basically of "hi, how you doing?" conversations as they passed each other. He said, little did he know that he was working with the love of his life. Now tell me, how can you not believe a man like that is a gem!

I can't even describe who gorgeous Julie looked on her special day. From her tiara, to her black heels, she looked extraordinary! However, the piéce de résistance of her wedding attire, was the diamond watch Tony gave her as a wedding gift.

To watch these two exchange vows with their three kids next to them brought tears to my eyes (I think I'm getting sentimental, the older I get). This blended family is something special, and I know these kids are lucky to have such wonderful parents.

Take a peak at some of their images, and then look at how beautiful this couple is, as you view their slideshow.

I can never resist getting photos of the kids as they marvel at the rose petals on the ground.

The table honoring Julie's late dad.

Lincoln Love

2011-09-26T21:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, here's wedding number two of September! I adore this couple!! There's always a special place in my heart for couples from Lincoln. Between them being from my town, getting married at my favorite location (Lake Natoma Inn-in case you've never read my blog), and being so completely beyond cute-I couldn't be more excited to share their photos with you!

I met Erika and Brian at a tasting at LNI. They called me a couple weeks later and I KNEW I wanted to work with these two. Brian is very quiet and reserved, but boy does he love to have fun...and the look he gets on his face when his wife is nearby, is so darling! I feel like I've known Erika for years. She's so easy to talk to, and fun to be around. Whenever I see her through the lens, I see a classic beauty! When I was doing their engagement portraits, I asked her if she was going to be wearing a veil. I knew that her beauty would come through with a traditional look of the veil...I was right!

Take a look at this exquisite couple's special day, and then enjoy their slideshow.

What a wonderful mother of the bride. I've been so fortunate, and have gotten to know some spectacular MOBs this year!

This wedding party was coming up with ideas for ME! Normally I'm happy when they are receptive to my ideas; I LOVED that they were offering ideas to make the photos even more fun.

I knew I wanted to get a photo with Erika and her bridesmaid's tattoo, and wasn't really sure how to go about it. I love what we came up with!

There's that traditional look I was telling you about. Brian is so handsome, and Erika's beauty is classic!

A sharp dressed man, and his lady.

I think one of my favorite images of the day!

Married on the anniversary of their first date

2011-09-26T21:18:00.000-07:00

Don't you just love this image of a bride, who cannot wait to marry the love of her life?!

I've been pretty behind on blogging all the weddings I photographed in September. It's been tough transitioning from a pc to a mac, and I think the fact that I'm going to be a cross platform user, is going to add a little extra time to my workflow for the next few weeks.

I can honestly say that this month has been one of the most fulfilling I've ever had, photographing weddings. I have had a variety of couples and have loved every single one of them. I'd like to introduce you to Kristina and Adam. Kristina called me last year (when she was attending school out of state), and I think over three phone calls, we spent about two hours talking to one another. She essentially booked me over the phone, but sent her grandfather and Adam over to meet me, and sign the contract.

One of the things I don't often get to do is to know the grandparents of my clients. Many times, I have the opportunity to get to know the parents, so this was a unique situation. I must say, I fell completely in love with Kristina's grandpa ;) She had told me a lot of back story about him, and her close relationship to him, so when I met this gentleman, I felt like I already knew him. What a charming, eloquent man! Kristina told me about her grandparents' love story, so she is one lucky lady to have such a great role model of what a husband should be; and then to marry a man like Adam! This guy is the type of man that every girl dreams of--and deserves! Respectful, gracious, loving and funny are just a few of the adjectives that describe what I have witnessed with Adam, in the way he treats his wife.

This couple had one of the most fun wedding parties I've ever had the pleasure to work with. When I left the wedding that night, every single bridesmaid gave me a hug and didn't want me to leave! I felt like I was working with a bunch of people I had known for years...actually, that's the way I felt about Kristina the first time we talked on the phone ;)

Scroll through some of their photos, and when you get to the end, take a few minutes to look at their slideshow. I think you'll feel the same way I do....this couple is completely adorable!

Adam is a true Giants fan, and I LOVE this image!!!!

This shows the kind of relationship that Adam has with his family (and Kristina has the same type with her's). I left that wedding wanting to be adopted ;)

I said I think she looks like Kim Kardashian...but much prettier! ;)

Kristina and the three best role models a girl could ask for!

Yup, we laughed all day long!

The stunning cake, and it looked spectacular with the uplighting provided by Mitch.

I love this father/son moment.

Why a professional?

2011-09-21T08:35:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, a friend of mine posted something that I thought I needed to share with all of you. The article talked about "rookie" photographers vs. "professional" photographers. I've always told my clients that part of my job is to educate them so that they can make the best decision for themselves. So many times a client goes to a photographer and the main deciding factor is price. "Why do you charge so much more than the photographer I met with yesterday" is something I often hear. Sometimes the photographer they met with is someone from Craig's list, or someone who is "new" to the business. As with any business, operating expenses must be built into the price of the product. Therefore, below are some questions that will hopefully answer "why does a professional photographer charge so much more than someone starting out?"

Obviously quality of photography is important, but there are so many behind the scenes things that a client needs to ask. Here are just a few...
*Do you carry liability insurance? This is something EVERY photographer MUST have! What if your 85 year old grandmother trips over the photographer's tripod and breaks a hip. What happens if, God forbid, something should happen to your wedding images (your photographer looses a memory card, his/her equipment is stolen along with your memory cards). Liability insurance will take care of recreating the wedding if need be!
*Do you charge sales tax? If a photographer isn't charging sales tax (in a state that requires it), then they are probably not reporting their income and could potentially be shut down if the BOE finds out. I know of a number of sting operations that the state has undergone to protect the consumers agains businesses who are not operating legally. Do you want your photographer to be shut down just weeks before your wedding? If this happens, you can kiss your retainers goodbye, and you'll be forced to find another.
*What do you do to my images before I receive them? Before any client receives a product from me, I spend hours editing those images, putting on the final touches, to make sure that I'm proud of each and every image that goes out into the public. Often times a new photographer does not have the resources for the type of computer equipment and software that is needed. I have approximately $10,000 invested in computers and software to allow me to make your images as perfect as you expect them to be. This does not even count the thousands of dollars and hours associated with taking classes, seminars and whatever else it takes to utilize all this equipment.
*Do you retouch images? I am often asked this question. I have the ability to perform basic retouching (removing a blemish), to full retouching (removing a person from an image, opening eyes, etc). This has taken hundreds of hours to perfect, and this is not something that a rookie often has the ability to do.
*Can you show us a full wedding (whether it be on disc, web, or in print)? Everyone shows their "greatest hits", but you need to see that a photographer is consistent and can photograph an entire wedding, beautifully.
*Can you give us several references from former happy clients? If they can't provide references, you must wonder why. Additionally, it's always a good idea to ask for professional references as well (venues, coordinators, DJs, florists, etc).
*Do you carry backup equipment? Often a new photographer doesn't have the funds to purchase (or rent) multiple cameras, lenses, and flashes. A seasoned photographer knows that Murphy's Law stalks each and every wedding. It's our job as a professional, to stay one step ahead of him and prevent any disaster that may be lurking around the next corner. I have approximately $15K-$20K invested in my multiple cameras, lenses, lighting equipment, etc.

I hope this gives you a little glimpse into why a professional photographer is the ONLY one to hire for your event or portraits. The old addage "You get what you pay for" often holds true in photography. Remember, JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE OWNS A CAMERA, AND KNOWS HOW TO TAKE A PHOTOGRAPH, THAT DOESN'T MAKE THEM A PROFESSIONAL!

Be well, and be blessed!
Debbie

Christalle and Daryl

2011-08-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

Here is a couple that you're going to absolutely love...I know I do! Between our consultations, two portrait sessions and viewing sessions, I really got to know, and love, this couple! The two of them have kept me laughing and smiling for months. I don't know the last time a couple has made me laugh as much as these two have. You can tell by the photos that they have a great sense of humor.

This photo really shows Cristalle and Daryl's personality. They are always laughing and joking around!

This silhouette is one of my favorites of Christalle's mom helping her little girl get ready for her big day!

This man sure knows how to pose for the camera. He looks so relaxed!

The first time he saw his beautiful wife.

There she goes again, having a good time ;)

I couldn't help using the uplighting for a unique photo with their rings and hands.

Their daughter is just like them...always being goofy! She just walked up to me and threw the sign my way ;)

Three sharp dressed me...Daryl, his dad, and grandfather.

Jumping the broom; and African-American tradition.

Enjoy their slideshow! After watching it, you'll know as I do, that this is one fantastic couple!

A small town emergency

2011-08-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

Today, at about noon, an employee was working on a propane tank in Lincoln, when an emergency happened in a heartbeat. We've all had that feeling in the pit of our stomachs when something like this happens, but when it's close to home that pit feels like a watermelon. Within minutes, avacuations began to occur and as of five and a half hours later, thousands are out of their houses and filling the evacuation shelters. As I sit here and type this, I wonder how long it will be before I'm told that we need to evacuate. Please pray for all the emergency workers, volunteers who are helping, and those affected by this.

Back to Lake Natoma

2011-08-11T15:09:00.000-07:00

Do you ever spend an afternoon, or even a few minutes, people watching? Some people love to sit for hours on end and watch perfect strangers, as those strangers go about their tasks on hand. What is it that is making them move with such purpose as if they are going to meet a friend they haven't seen since childhood; or walking as if they are headed to the dreaded tax audit. I always wonder what is putting a smile on someone's face when the are traveling alone-hmm, wouldn't you like to be in their head ;). As I was sitting in a food court yesterday with my daughter and niece, I was observing the hundreds of people around me, and it dawned on me that I have the perfect people watching job. I obviously know why they are gathered in the particular location, and sometimes I know from where they traveled. Trust me when I tell you that not every wedding is all smiles! I've seen fist fights where the groom as walked out of the reception; sheriffs coming to the gates of a private estate looking for a "deadbeat dad", and other things you wouldn't believe! Regardless of how much, or how little I know, it's still fun to watch everyone at a wedding, and Valerie and Kyle's wedding was absolutely no exception.

One of the things I enjoyed so much about last weekend was the guests and everyone's sense of humor. I met a lot of people who were there for two reasons...to watch Valerie and Kyle get married and to have a GREAT time, and from what I hear and saw, they did just that!

When a photographer gets a dream couple like Valerie and Kyle, capturing great photos is E A S Y! I have never seen a dress like Valerie's. Enchanted Bridal Shoppe outdid themselves with assisting Val to find just the right dress! To make sure that all those people who came for a good time, did just that, Ray from Perfect Sounds DJ created a party that will go down in history! One of the reasons this wedding was so successful was because of the hard work of Valerie's mom, Deb. One of her top priorities was to find the right vendors. She knew if she hired the right people, the day would be perfect and she, and the family, could relax. From what I've heard, I think we all did our jobs ;) This was one of the best weddings of the year!

One of the cutest moments of the day was when Kyle's 91 year-old grandmother is the one who signed the marriage certificate! What a spry young lady she is ;) From the happy couple to the grandmas, to the bride's mom and aunts, to the entire wedding party, I felt very lucky to be a part of the day!

Valerie and Kyle-what a perfect couple you are. I knew from the minute I began taking your photos at your engagement session, that the wedding was going to be one of my all time favorites! It's always wonderful for me to meet all the parents the day of the wedding, and see the people who raised the incredible couples I work with. There is not a doubt in my mind that because of the wonderful role models you have, you two will be celebrating your 75th anniversary together! Thank you so much for introducing me to your lives and allowing me to be a part of your new beginning!

Enjoy their slide show, and be sure to leave them some well wishes!

Simple Pleasures

2011-06-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

Living in Lincoln for the last ten years, simple pleasures are some of the things I love most about this town. I love the little moments and all the joy I get from them. However, Simple Pleasures is also my favorite place to eat in town. Diana Burke, along with her family, owns this cozy little restaurant. It's been in the family since 1979. I remember coming her just a few months after we moved here, and I knew I had found a treasure! Not only is the food delectable, but I love the smiles on all their faces when a customer walks through the glass door. With the family owned stove that is in the front room, and the greeting all their employees give you when you go in, you definitely feel that you're being welcomed into their home.

The reason I'm blogging about this special place is that I went out there early this morning to photograph them as they were being interviewed for Sac's Fox 40 morning show. It was fun to see Diana prepare her famous potato salad at 5:45 this morning! I could eat this potato salad ANY time of day or night! The reason for the spot on the morning show was to showcase Simple Pleasure's signature line of sauces and dressings. The line is called "Mom Like Me Best", and everything in their product line features a photo of Diana's mom on the label. Among other things, Doris was a pin-up girl in the '40s, so all the photos that are used are from when she was a young girl and woman. They have dressings (that can be used for everything from potato salad, to fruit to green salad), barbecue sauce, chipotle dressing and...wait for it..... APPLE CINNAMON DESSERT SAUCE (try it with vanilla ice cream to make an apple pie milkshake!).

One of the highlights of the morning was when Diana showed me the small cooking utensils she used as a little girl, to help her mom make the pies. She said she remembers the first dinner party she and her mom threw. She recalled that she made a pear salad, a wedge of meatloaf with mashed potatoes. She didn't remember what was made for dessert, be we figured it was probably pie ;)

It is such an honor for me to live in this town, and to know people like the Burke family. Wonderful and generous don't even begin to describe them. It's truly wonderful to know people who care so much about what they do. If you'd like to support this family enterprise, please visit their website at MOM LIKES ME BEST, or visit Simple Pleasures on 5th St. in Lincoln. They're open M-F until 3:00 pm, but during the summer they're even open for dinner on Thursday nights (when the farmer's market is open). Trust me when I say you will enjoy anything that comes out of their kitchen!!!

If you'd like to see more of the images from the shoot this morning, please visit my facebook page

Ally, and her spirit that continues to guide us

2011-06-15T21:56:00.000-07:00

Saturday was the 2nd Annual-Ally's Run benefiting Lincoln's Ride to Walk. As you can tell from the above photo, the venue for the race was at a location that is breathtaking! Photographing a charity event is always something I love doing; however, this event has a special meaning to me. As my loyal blog readers know, I photographed Ally, her sister and their parents about a year and a half ago. Three weeks after I photographed them, Ally passed away. If you'd like to read her story from the fall of 2009, click on Ally's Story To the right is one of my favorite photos from the session, and one that has left a handprint on my heart. I actually urge you to read her story so that you can discover for yourself, what an extraordinary little girl she was.

Ride to Walk is a program with which Ally and her parents were very involved. RTW is an unbelievable program that helps children and adults who have neurological illnesses. Through this program, patients ride horses and develop skills that may otherwise be unattainable to them. Because of all the budget cuts with our state government, RTW survives only by the generosity of the public and the fundraising events the organization does every year. Please take a moment to read more about this inspirational program at their website.

I left the race on Saturday with such a euphoric feeling. I never leave this property without thanking God for introducing me to this organization and these people. Everyone involved with RTW, and the race, always make me smile. After getting to know Ally's family over the last couple of years, I've realized that her parents are two of the most extraordinary people I will probably ever meet. Although I know that Nikki and Joe asked themselves "why" over the last six years, they have taken that question and worked to come up with solutions. Because of this desire, they continue to work with all the programs that were so important to Ally when she was here, and continue to make this world a better place for those who may not have a voice.

To say that the race was a success would be a drastic understatement. There were runners of all ages who participated, and it was a complete family oriented atmosphere. There were parents who were doing the 5K or 10K while pushing their child's stroller; senior citizens who spent the morning running for children they don't even know, and dozens of volunteers and businesses who came out in their support. One of the reasons Saturday morning was perfect was because of Corey McKenna, and all his hard work. This man ROCKS!!! Corey knows how important RTW was to Ally, and he is taking his love for running and making an annual event for all of us to enjoy.

As you're looking at the slideshow, notice some of the horseback riding photos. These were photos I took on Saturday of some of the riders in the middle of their therapy session. For those of you who don't know Ally, or her story, I chose to start the slideshow off with a few of the photos I took at her familiy's portrait session. They melt my heart everytime I see them, and I don't think I'll ever tire of looking at that adorable face. As usual, I am always trying to find just the right song for whatever slideshow I'm putting together. I remembered that when Joe delivered his daughter's eulogy, he used a line from Garth Brook's song "The Dance". Thinking about the words that Joe so eloquently spoke at Ally's service have stuck in my mind (and made me cry today as I was putting this together), even a year and a half later. When he said "I could have missed the pain, but I'd have had to miss the dance", it made me look at this song in a completely different way.

Please be sure to check out the RTW website and send a donation if you can. It is one of the most worthy causes you'll encounter. Better yet, call RTW and ask if you can go out and become a volunteer...you won't be sorry! To see additional photos from the event, go to my facebook page.

All in the Family

2011-06-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

I think one of the things a bride dreads most on her wedding day is rain; especially when all the festivities are outside. Everyone tries to tell her that rain is supposed to be good luck--don't know too many brides who would agree with that, smack in the middle of a rain stormm when everyone is trying to retreat to shelter and tear down a beautifully set up outdoor reception. With everyone running about trying to come up with a dry alternative, I don't know that Madison and Ray's wedding could have been any more perfect! The outdoor ceremony (in her grandparent's yard) took place around 4:00, and with the skies teasing us with rain all day, the clouds finally gave way about half way through the ceremony. By the time the first kiss took place, and the ecstatic couple made their way back down the aisle, things were really beginning to come down. While we came up with a dry location to do the post ceremony formals, all the friends and family retreated to the backyard, stacked the wet glassware and plates, and whisked the linens from the tables. Since there was no wedding coordinator, I always try to step up my game and offer as much assistance as possible to help make the day perfect. I suggested we put the dj on the large from porch, open the double french front doors and have the first dance at the front entryway. It worked better than anyone would have imagined. Madison told me that she spent so much time growing up in this house, and it was actually quite fitting that everyone was gathered around on the furniture, floor and fireplace hearth of the living room when the reception fun started. It was so cozy and intimate (both physically and emotionally). I have to say, that it was one of the best receptions I've ever attended. By about 7:30 the rain stopped, the sun came out, the guests re-set the reception tables and the day ended up being better than anyone had ever dreamt!

Now, to explain why I titled this post "All in the Family". Anytime I do a Lincoln wedding, I always feel like it's a family wedding. Lincoln is a relatively smal community, and with the social nucleus it has, we all seem to know one another through a six degrees of separation theory. Madison's wedding took that one step further. Two years ago I photographed Madison's cousin's, Katrina, wedding. Katrina happened to marry my third cousin, Chris! I remember one of the first times I had an opportunity to really talk to Katrina, and when she told me her last name I thought it sounded familiar. We talked a little further and I figured out that Madison went to high school with my daughter, Katie (they also saw the same endocrynologist for their type 1 diabetes). What a small world, and I think it's so awesome that our families are now forever connected!

Madison and Ray have been dating off and on since their freshman year in high school. The broke up several times, they graduated high school, and then Ray went off and joined the Navy. As Madison tells it, "he grew up in the Navy" ;), and realized the love of his life was still in Lincoln. When she went back east to see him graduate from boot camp, the did some sightseeing in Chicago. They went to the top of the Sear's Tower, and went out on the lookout perch. At the top of the world. Ray told Madison how much he loved her and he proposed to her right then and there. I love when I hear how romantic men can be! This couple is so spectacular and have already been through so many "tests" to their relationship. There is no doubt in my mind that this union will live on forever!! There is one photo in the slideshow that shows Ray looking at Madison as she's coming up the aisle. His eyes are closed-not because of an inopportune photo moment, but because there are tears streaming down his face...oh my, it just melted my heart when I saw that.

So, without further ado, here is their wedding story. From rain in the beginning of the day, to pure sunshine just before I left, the wedding was stupendous!!!!

A wedding of sunshine, family and love

2011-05-25T15:59:00.000-07:00

Well, amongst everything else that has been going in the last few days, I had the joy of photographing Sarah and Kevin's wedding on Saturday! I felt like I was hanging out with old friends all day. Several years ago I photographed Sarah's brother's wedding, so actually it was a group of friends!

The ceremony took place at Sarah's sister and brother-in-law's house. WOW, what a gorgeous place for a ceremony!! They have a little bridge in front of their house and that's where we chose to have Keith see his new bride for the first time. I hear Kevin is quite the romantic, so this was the perfect location!

This wedding was all about the details. From the family heirloom coin Sarah carried, to the way the FAMILY decorated the hall (and did all the cooking themselves). What an elegant, but fun wedding! The coin that Sarah carried was an old 1800's silver dollar that her grandfather carried everyday, for decades. In fact, he carried it so often that eventually both sides of the coin rubbed itself smooth. After her grandfather died, the family had his name, DOB and DOD engraved on it-how special!

When I walked into the reception room, I was speechless! I would have thought a coordinator put the entire wedding together. It was absolutely esquisite! Besides everything looking great, the food was mmmm, mmmm! http://www.shelleyssweetsensations.com/ did the adorable cupcakes, and I must tell you-of all the cupcakes I've ever eaten at a wedding, NONE have been as moist as here's! I wish I'd had a dozen, to go ;)

I'm so excited for you to see their slideshow and take a glimpse into this adorable couple's, perfect day! Feel free to leave them a comment, and go to my facebook page to see more images. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Debbie-Brown-Photography/132190279226

Thankfulness

2011-05-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

As you can tell from my previous two posts, last weekend was one that was packed (I'll be getting the wedding slideshow up later today)! When my head finally hit the pillow on Sunday night, I had an overwhelming sense of thankfulness. Thankfulness for having a career that allows me to meet so many wonderful people; thankfulness for being able to be a part of paying it foward; thankfulness for learning things to remind me not take my blessings for granted; thankfulness for life!

Jon and Kristin are relatively new to the cancer fight. Jon was diagnosed with brain cancer a short time ago and after reading his journal on Caring Bridge, I have NO DOUBT this couple will be triumphant and not only win the current battle, but be victorious in the war!

This doesn't happen very often, but I cried as I was taking their portraits (thank goodness it wasn't the "ugly cry", but the tears came, nonetheless). The time that really got to me were the ones where mom and dad are standing in the field. When they gave each other a kiss and their daughter laid her head on her dad's head, I KNEW I caught a moment in time that will be cherished for generations. Actually, as I'm sitting here writing this, I have tears in my eyes just thinking about it. It's been a pretty emotional week, so I've been kind of sappy lately ;)

It's working with families like this that make me speechless (and for those who know me, you know that's a difficult thing to do). Awe, inspired, wonder, blessed-those are just a few of the adjectives that come to my mind when I think about the families I've been working with lately. When I donate portrait sessions to families who are battling cancer, they are amazed that I do this and don't look for anything out of it. I should probably admit to you, that there is a selfish reason that I do it. I love the feeling that I walk away with after spending an hour or so with people who are this brave and strong.

Thank you Jon and Kristin for allowing me into a little piece of your lives for a brief time. You made me smile all day! To see more of their photos, please visit my facebook page http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Debbie-Brown-Photography/132190279226 Off to a 10:00 session to photograph Sherry, another survivor!!!! I hope it doesn't rain on us.

The first of several inspirational stories

2011-05-24T14:49:00.000-07:00

I met Josh a few weeks ago at a survivor's reception that the RFL committee had organized. On Sunday I had the pleasure of meeting his wife, and two adorable children. From the minute we began chatting until the session was complete, we laughed and had so much fun! I learned a little about their family, some exciting things that will be happening for them in the near future, and I also heard about their fight with, and triumph over, cancer.

Josh was diagnosed six years ago with a brain tumor, and he has been cancer free for two years. Although the odds were against them having children, you can see that God smiled on them and they are truly blessed. It never ceases to amaze me when I meet a couple who have fought such an battle and come out even stronger, when all is said and done. I think the thing that is most remarkable about Josh, is that he said cancer was a blessing. He told me he has lived his life completely different since being diagnosed, and if it weren't for cancer, he doesn't know where he'd be.
There are no words for how much respect I have for this family, and I hope I can watch them grow and their blessings prosper, for many years to come! To see more of their photos, visit my facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Debbie-Brown-Photography/132190279226

Everyday People

2011-05-22T22:18:00.000-07:00

Everday people is what this weekend was all about. May 21st and 22nd was Lincoln's annual Relay For Life. As I was watching the opening ceremonies and listening to the awe inspiring stories, I looked at everyone there, and saw all these "everyday people"; some of whom have cancer, and others who support the efforts to eradicate the disease. The common thread, was that we were all gathered at the Lincoln High School stadium to support one another, those we love and everyone who has (or may be) affected by cancer.

This year RFL took on an extremely immediate meaning to me. My half sister is in day ten of hospice and we don't know how much longer she will hold on. As a mutual friend of our's said, it's awful to think we can take our dog to the vet to be put down when our four legged family member is in pain, but all we can do for the humans we love who are suffering, is to keep them heavily medicated. All any of us can do is to pray that our loved ones don't suffer and that they leave this part of their journey in peace. I am always reminded of my Aunt Daisy who fought for decades to beat the disease. She had one helluva spirit and I am thankful to have known her, and we miss her!
I met the woman at the left yesterday. She reminded me of my aunt because of her spirit. She is 81 and is a three time cancer survivor. She told me that her mom died at 108 and battled cancer as well.

As our community participates in RFL every year, I think it can't be any better than the previous year-and I'm always wrong! The committee this year, knocked it out of the park! To see the amount of people, from infancy to young at heart, who gathered for this cause, one couldn't help but smile at the love that filled that stadium!

As you can see from the photos, there is no shortage of fun at this event. I wish I could have spent all day there, but with a wedding in the middle of the day, I was only able to spend a few hours in the morning, and a couple hours at the end of my day. This entire event is a year in the planning, and that goes for the little things as well. My daughter, Cass, has been growing out her hair for an entire year, so that she could get it cut off and donate it to Locks of Love. Here's a photo of her and a little friend, who did the same thing ;)

One of my favorite things about Relay is when the survivors walk the first lap. They were lined up in order of how long they have survived. People who are in their first five years of survival in the front and progressing to decades and decades in the back. What an amazing thing for everyone to see that there are lots of survivors! If you could have heard everyone on the grass cheering for the survivors as they walked that first lap, I can promise you there would have been tears in your eyes...there were in mine.

I have some special stories to tell you later on in the week. You're going to meet a couple survivors and their families, so please do yourself a favor and check back here. In the meantime enjoy the slideshow, and remember that everyday people are the ones who make a difference in all our lives!

Let's celebrate

2011-04-30T18:54:00.001-07:00

The month of May is pretty special in Lincoln. It's when we celebrate cancer survivors and band together to help find a cure, when we rev up for our annual Relay for Life event. I'm doing something special this year for you survivors. If you're a survivor, or know someone who is-be it one week or 40+ years, read down...

For the month of May, if you contact me with a cancer survivor's name, I will send them one of these cards that is good for a portrait session and 8x10. Completely free, and solely to allow them to get an all important family portrait. So m...any people want to do photos (especially when something like cancer occurs), but whether it's money, or time, or whatever, we often put it off. I don't want people putting off being able to get something that may mean the world to them. All you have to do is email me (or private message me on fb), their info and I will take care of the rest.

Winning!

2011-03-24T19:31:00.000-07:00

Hello again! Yes, I've been gone a little while, but as is usually the case with the first of the year, I've been quite busy with other things besides weddings. I've been posting a lot on facebook, but have been a little lax with visiting my blog...please excuse the absence ;)

I titled this post "Winning" because we've all heard plenty of that word from Charlie Sheen, in recent weeks. Mainly I titled it that, because that's what the groom yelled at the end of the ceremony! Vanessa and Josh's day was absolutely perfect...as long as you don't count rain. But, as Vanessa told her mom the next day, the rain were tears of joy from her grandmother in Heaven. I have been so excited about this wedding, and from the minute I met Vanessa and her mom, I KNEW this was going to be a SPECTACULAR day!!! It couldn't miss...the bride got her dress from Enchanted Bridal, the wedding was at Lake Natoma Inn, Mark the dj was superb, and Ester's flowers were exquisite!! Even if there had been a hurricane happen during the wedding, I think this family would have found some sort of silver lining in it, and gone on smiling throughout the day! Vanessa wanted outdoor photos so badly, so that was my main mission for the day. I always have a little trick when I'm photographing at LNI, but with it being windy as well, I wasn't sure it was going to work. Well, in the end a little wind and a lot of rain did not stop us!

What do you think about the newleywed's shoes? Pretty cool, huh? Vanessa looked gorgeous from her feet to her head. Her hair style by Ashley suited the day perfectly, and I just loved her "something old/something new". She wore the same garter that her mom, Dolores, did and the couple's adorable son, Andrew, selected the green jewel that adorned it. I think Vanessa is a very lucky woman. She has an adorable (and I might add hilarious, AND well behaved, son) who made me smile throughout the day; and she married a guy who adores Andrew and treats her like a queen. If their families are any indication of what their life will be like together, then I am confident they are going to have many, many decades of love and happiness!

As you're scrolling down to view the photos, don't forget to scroll all the way down to their slideshow. Feel free to leave them a comment, as well!

Vanessa and her men

2011-02-15T10:19:00.000-08:00

Saturday was Vanessa and Josh's engagement session. We had this scheduled weeks ago, but they wanted Andrew to be there for the photos as well. I'm SO glad we waited, because he is a little cutie! The weather was perfect, and their smiles were as bright as the sun. We chatted about the wedding, their honeymoon, and Andrew was talking about how there was a lot of goose poop out in the country...ah little boys-gotta love them! I can't wait until March when Vanessa and Josh are married. The wedding is going to be fantabulous!!! To see more of their engagement photos, go to my facebook page.

The artist and the client

2011-01-23T20:08:00.000-08:00

I was on the internet last week when I came across an article by Blair Blanks. She addressed the issue that photographers and clients alike, are always thinking about.

Something that photographers often hear is “why do you charge so much for a print, when I can just get one at a fraction of the price a place like Costco or Target?”; or people don’t understand why photographers won’t just “give” the client the disk with all their images.

The equation she made to this was related to books and the Kindle (or another electronic device to download books). Here is what she had to say…”Books, up until recently, were just paper and ink...people bought books not for the paper and ink, but for the ideas, the creativity, the insight, the wisdom, the artistry, the experience contained within those pages. Now, books are going electronic. E-readers are all the rage. But the price of an e-book is still only slightly less than the cost of a bound paper book (and e-books are MORE expensive than used paperbacks, and you can't lend out an e-book to a friend)...why is that? Stupid question, right? Everyone knows the money you pay for an e-book is for the ideas and artistry contained within the words of the book, so you can have them to read over and over again and enjoy for many years to come. Book authors surely deserve to get paid for the products of their hard work, right? Right!

It's the same for digital photos. Some people wonder why professional photographers charge for the digital negatives of the photos they create. I've even had people tell me they would be happy to kick in $2 for the cost of the CD! That is like telling an author you will pay him for the cost of the paper in his book, or like telling him that the e-book should be free since there is no cost to the author. When you buy a digital photo, or even a print, the bulk of the price is not for the cost of the CD or the paper the photo is printed on. Both of those are very small costs. You are paying for the years the photographer has spent learning and perfecting his or her craft, the way she knows how to get your cranky baby to smile, the way she has learned to pose you so you look your best, the tens of thousands of dollars worth of camera bodies, lenses, lighting, backdrops and props in her studio, her studio rent, utilities, insurance, taxes (we self employed photographers fork over 30% or more of our profit to Uncle Sam), her computers and massive hard drives needed to store so many digital files, child care, marketing, continuing training and education, and so much more.

Consider that for every shoot in the studio, which, with me, lasts up to three hours, a photographer will spend around four or five more hours before and after the session, communicating with the client, preparing for the shoot, then after the session, sorting through all the shots, backing up the files, editing the images for the perfect crop, color, saturation, removing imperfections, blogging the images or posting sneak peeks on Facebook; then, during the ordering process, creating a proof gallery and publishing it to the web, uploading orders to the print lab, packaging prints and shipping them to you. It's A LOT of work! The session fee only compensates the photographer for a fraction of the work she does in creating your images. She depends on sales after the session for her income. It's kind of like the waitress who gets paid less than minimum wage by her employer, but earns her living off tips. Her tip income depends on how well she does her job, and a photographer's print sales are the same.

In the marketplace today, there are many hobby photographers who will photograph you for "fun money." Many are just starting out, inexperienced, working off the books and under the table, and do not yet realize all the true costs of operating a portrait photography business. I was, about nine years ago, one of those very people who thought I only needed to charge just slightly over my lab costs in order to be successful, until I realized just how much my "business" was actually costing me and my family.

So, remember, you pay your photographer not just for the price of the paper your images are printed on, or the CD they are burned to, but for her artistic eye, her creative heart, and the hours of her life she spends making portraits that you will cherish until you are old and gray and bouncing great-grandkids on your knee. And she's worth much more than a $2 CD.”
Thank you Blair, for approaching this subject in such a wonderful way, and for allowing me to use your analogy.

One of my favorite stories from Picasso is when someone questions the cost of one of his drawings. The client told Picasso that he only had a few dollars in canvas, and it only took him a few minutes to draw it, so it shouldn’t be so expensive. Picasso’s comment back was “That’s where you are wrong sir it took me a lifetime to create it.”

A little sugar and spice

2011-01-23T15:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I photographed Heather and Bob's adorable new daughter. Finnley is just a few weeks old, so the newborn photo window was running out. This little girl is so adorable, and her parents and big brother absolutely adore her! Big brother, Ledger, is so gentle with her and they are so cute to see together! Finnley wasn't sure what she thought of her first modeling session, but after we figured out the "secret" to getting her to stay asleep, she didn't seem to mind it ;)

To see more of their wonderful images, visit my facebook page.

Until next time!

An afternoon with Kenz

2011-01-08T17:40:00.000-08:00

Just before New Year's I spent a couple hours photographing Mackenzie. I couldn't think of a better way to end the year, but to do a fun, nonsensical, "just because" session with my favoite pre-teen! I've been photographing Kenz since she was about three. In fact, I put a couple of her previous photo sessions on here as well, just so you could see how little she was when I first met her (click on the photos to see them larger). Wow, time sure has flown by! One of the best things to come out of the time that I've known her is that she and Cassie have become as close as sisters. You should see the funny looks from people who know that Cass is the youngest of three girls, when she introduces Kenz as her little sister!

Cass and Kenz "cooking" their crispy treats. Awww, I can't believe how little they both were!

A couple weeks ago I asked Kenz if she'd like to do a fun photo session and she JUMPED at the chance :) We knew we wanted an urban look and had planned on doing the session in Lincoln. Since I wanted to run out to Roseville that day, it suddenly dawned on me that we should go over to the old Tower Theater in downtown Roseville. We...struck...GOLD! I loooooooved the teal color building, and the fact that the old railyard was just across the street meant we hit paydirt. We had a blast-even taking photos on the dumpster! Obviously a session with Kenz, meant adding Cass into some of the photos.

Cass and Kenz are as close as sisters. They picked out these shirts months ago and I knew I had to use them for the session!

Other than having an unlimited credit card, I don't know anything that two young girls have more fun doing, than to ham it up for a photo session.

If you know a pre-teen, then you know they are all about the 'tude! They are SO full of attitude that sometimes you have to remember how much you love them, just so you can get through the daily drama (believe me, having three daughters, I know that all too well!).

What made this so much fun, is all I'd have to do is say "give me some attitude", and away she went with the looks. She is always such a happy kid that it was fun to let her go with some really atypical expressions.

I've been trying to come up with a song that I wanted to use for the slideshow (and that would also be appropriate for a pre-teen's photos), and thought the song I selected would be perfect! Kenz loves GLEE, so it was a natural choice to select something from their repertoire. If you want to see more of her images just go to my facebook page.

The last of the best

2010-12-22T20:31:00.000-08:00

Saturday was the last wedding of the year, and what a year it was! The wedding certainly fit in with all the memorable and wonderful weddings of 2010. Jessica and Ben were married on a rainy, cold and stormy day. However, regardless of the bad weather outdoors, inside the church there was nothing but warmth, sunshine and smiles. I briefly met this wonderful couple earlier in the year when they were contemplating on even hiring a professional photographer. After chatting with them a bit I KNEW I wanted to photograph this wedding! I was not wrong-I'm ecstatic that I was able to spend the afternoon with Jess, Ben and their famiies! Ben's family was so much fun, and I enjoyed hearing about their trip out here from Michigan. Jess' family was just as awesome, and I discovered I even had an unknown connection to her family. Through some of our conversations that day, and chatting with some other family members, I found out that I went to high school with her uncle! Frank and I didn't really know each other in school, but I definitely knew who he was when we started chatting. This is all the more remarkable if you consider the fact that the wedding was in El Dorado Hills, and I went to high school in San Jose!
I can't wait for you to see these photos, and I know you're going to be able to see just how special these two people are, just by seeing their images.
What a way to end the year!!!! If you'd like to see more of their images, please visit my page on Facebook.

Really is a small world...and the internet helps to make it that way!

2010-12-13T19:20:00.000-08:00

You know your blog/facebook posts are being seen by people when a client recognizes another client from their photos & walks up to introduce themselves! I had coffee with a bride this morning and she started talking about another former client. I was wondering how she knew him (and didn't think she met him at my house). She said she was at a theater and recognized the other client. She walked up to him & said "Didn't Debbie Brown take your wedding photos? I recognize you. She took my wedding photos too." Had to SMILE at this story!

Tis the season...

2010-12-01T13:11:00.000-08:00

...for everyone to want family portraits done. I love working with families, and have really been having a great time working in a variety of locations, with some many laughs and smiles! Yesterday was Edward and Jess' turn to photograph their family. We were in a race with the light, but it looks like we won...what do you think? To see more of this fun family, visit my facebook page!

Thankful for the little things

2010-11-24T23:41:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, a day that we all show our thanks; but I'm sure you know this-we should express our thanks everyday. Whether it's journaling our gratitude everyday, or taking a quiet moment to think, or pray, about what we're grateful for, it's something one doesn't often take the time to do. I'm guilty of this-I get so busy in the daily "process" that I take all the things I'm thankful for, for granted.

This morning I found out that a young person I know died unexpectedly yesterday. I don't know that I even know a word to describe the way I felt. I've been thinking about her all day and a lot of things have been going through my mind. I haven't seen her in a number of years, but her late mom was someone who reminded me what it means to be grateful for the things we have-big or small. I have tried very hard this year to be more cognisant of all the good things in my life. The catalyst for this thinking may have been a friend's suicide earlier in the year; maybe it was that fact that I had a milestone birthday halfway through the year; or it could have been that my "baby" graduated high school, and all the realizations that went along with that. Regardless of how aware I have tried to be this year, today gave me a punch in the gut, and I felt as though I was transported into a different reality.

Tonight before I go to bed I am going to take 60 seconds and think about things that make me love my life; maybe a moment today that made me smile; someone I care about who is a part of my life-even if I don't see that person as often as I like; the fact that I am fortunate enough to have my family around me for dinner every night and we all get to sleep in a wonderful bed everynight; or just the smile on a child's face, and their laughter, when I photograph them.

Maybe the key to us loving our lives is relishing the little things. Here's a mission for you...I want to hear about the little moments that bring a smile to your face tomorrow (not just on Thanksgiving, but any tomorrow). Feel free to leave a comment, either here or on my facebook. Even if you don't leave a comment, at least THINK about a small moment that brought you joy. God bless, and live in the moment!

A week working in Colorado

2010-11-18T21:10:00.000-08:00

Last week I took of to spend some time in Colorado. I went out there to work. I had quite a few portrait clients how wanted family portraits done, so I figured I better get out there before winter moved in! I had SO much fun working, playing and visiting. It was great, because I was able to make it a working vacation. In addition to photographing, I was also able to spend time with my family who lives out there, and spend the day with a couple friends from high school. It had snowed just a little near the end of last week, but it didn't stick as much as I would have liked (or so I thought). I was working all day on Saturday, and during the last portrait session of the day, I took one of the families over a bridge I had been working near all day. About 50 yards after the bridge, I found exactlly what I had been looking for...SNOW! All day I had been getting autumn looking photos (which were beautiful), but suddenly those sessions took on a winter feel.

Here are some samplings of the sessions, a few personal photos, and some images of the awesome scenery. If you'd like to see more photos, hop on over to my facebook page.

Incredible, spectacular, awesome, beautiful...what a wedding!

2010-11-08T23:04:00.000-08:00

I spent last Saturday at the Old Sugar Mill, and what a spectacular day it was! Tiffany and Travis became husband and wife just after sunset in front of everyone who cares the most for them. I met Tiffany and her mom earlier this year when they were trying on dresses at Enchanted Bridal Shoppe. I remember seeing Tiffany in her dress while I was in the shoppe. Talk about being in the right place at the right time! I was so excited when they called me to photograph the wedding.

The wedding Saturday was one of my favorites of the year, and probably in my top ten of all time! Travis looked SO handsome in his suit (also from Enchanted Bridal Shoppe), as did all the groomsmen. The bridal shoppe also supplied all the bridesmaids dresses as well as the flipflops the girls were decked out in.
Jennifer of Enchanted Bridal was the coordinator, and she planned a wedding that every girl dreams of! Naturally a wedding needs to be fun, and Rick of Vision Entertainment created a party that will go down in Old Sugar Mill history!
This couple was every photographer's dream. It didn't matter what I wanted to do in regards to the photos, they were up for anything! As with every wedding, it's not just the couple who make the day memorable-it's also the family. I could not have asked for a more welcoming, friendly, and fun family that this couple has. I knew from the minute I met Tiffany's mom that she was going to host a wedding that her little girl will remember the rest of her life.
TIffany and Travis, I'm so excited for the two of you and I can't tell you how special you two are! You are going to have an incredible life together and I know the Disney magic that was a part of your engagement, as well as your honeymoon, is going to pale in comparison to the magic the two of you are going to create for the rest of your lives!

A little autumn air

2010-11-01T21:09:00.000-07:00

I was thinking the wedding for Saturday may have been rained out. Kaila and Travis were so looking forward to having their ceremony take place in front of the beautiful fountain at Lake Natoma Inn. However, the Gods, pirits, or World Series Wizards must have been looking out for us, because the day was perfect! Yea, it was a little gray, and as I was photographing Travis it began to sprinkle, but hey, at least it wasn't 100 degrees out! It was actually nice to have the cool air surrounding the ceremony. Pink seems to have been the color for 2010, because I sure have seen a lot of it this year. Doesn't matter though, because it looks spectacular!

I didn't do an engagement session for Kaila and Travis, so I didn't know them as well as a lot of my couples. I REALLY wish I had been able to spend more time with them, because they are cute, fun, sweet, one of the nicest couples I've ever met, and just...ADORABLE!! I had SOOOOO much fun on Saturday, I wish the photo session of the day could have gone on forever. Everytime Travis got close to Kaila, he completely melted! I'm so happy I was able to spend the day with them, and CAN'T wait for you to see their slideshow.

Some cute personalities

2010-10-24T08:31:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy couple weeks of portraits, so I thought I'd post a few of my favorites. Wow, these kids really do show their personalities!

True Love in Lincoln

2010-10-11T19:25:00.000-07:00

With each wedding I attend, I witness so much emotion and love. On Saturday, everyone who attended Lori's and Ken's wedding was greeted with love in a variety of capacities. Being a mom myself, I really felt the emotion between Ken and his mom. It wasn't difficult to tell how much this mother adores her son. That easily went through the generations, because I saw the same love between Ken and his son. From the minute Lori walked into the church, Ken would not take his eyes off is beautiful bride-and rightfully so-she looked exquisite in her dress that was reminiscent of the 1940s. Actually, because of the love a sister has for her brother, is why everyone celebrated this wonderful couple. From what I understand, Ken's sister, Karen, is the one who played matchmaker for the bride and groom. This couple was everything I had hoped, and a lot of fun...I would expect nothing less from a Lincoln couple ;) If you've read this blog often enough, you know how much fun I have at Lincoln weddings.

One of the things that made me laugh the other day was the activity that Ken was participating in after he arrived at the church. The alarm of one of the cars was going off, and Ken got right in there and was trying to disconnect what ever needed to be disconnected under the hood. I was cringing at the thought of his shirt getting greasy before the wedding. When I went over to remind him we needed to do photos ;), I walked away thinking he was shortly behind me. Ater a few minutes I went to see the actvity that was going on in another area of the parking lot. Wouldn't you know that one of the groomsmen locked his keys in his car, along with some of the jackets! It was quite a site to see all the guys on the "fishing" expedition, trying to get the door open!

Enjoy this happy couple and their slideshow...it was quite a day!

Every little girl's dream

2010-10-02T10:48:00.000-07:00

I've been busy with preschools the last couple of weeks, but yesterday I did some promo photos for Hampton Inn and Suites in Elk Grove. Thank you to Api Limo Service for allowing our models to use their party bus, Jennifer with Enchanted Bridal Shoppe for providing the dresses, and to Ali, Katie and Cassie for being the three most beauitful models I've ever met (okay, okay, I'm a little partial because they're my daughters). Isn't it every little gir's dream to be able to dress up like a bride? Well, I know from personal experience that girls love to do that, even when they're not so little ;) I had never seen Hampton Inn before and I was blown away by this hotel! It was beautiful, the rooms were spacious and the staff was incredible. If you're looking for a place in Elk Grove/Sacramento to stay, or you're a bride who's getting married in the area and are looking for a room, there's no other place in the area to stay! They have large suites and even soom rooms with a great whirlpool tub. Take a look at the photos and judge for yourself! To see more photos, visit my facebook page.

Devin and Strand

2010-09-20T14:22:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a spectacular day-the bride looked gorgeous, the groom (with his Dodger's hat) looked like the happiest man alive, and everything else that took place in Devin and Strand's world was perfect! I met Strand five years ago when he was in Lindsey and Keith's wedding. In fact, Keith is the one who introduced Devin and Strand to one another.

From the minute I arrived at the wedding yesterday, I felt like I was with old friends; Devin and Strand's families were incredible and treated me so warmly. When I think of this couple, I think about laughter. Each time I see them together, Strand seems to make Devin smile and laugh all the time.

I love the emotion on the ladies!

The colors of the day undoubtedly revolved around the autumn season. The flowers and favors were so beautiful! Devin and Lindsey made the small jars of strawberry jam, and I can tell you with 100% certainty that the jam was absolutely delicious! I brought a jar home and when Ali and Cassie tried it, they were blown away! The cake yesterday was created by Divine Desserts, and it did not disappoint!

On of my favorite unique touches from the wedding was a little beach vignette that one of Devin's friends made. I took complete advantage of it when it came to getting some photos of the rings. It gave me the opportunity to try out my new macro lens. If Saturday was any indication, I'm going to have a lot of fun photographing the details of the weddings with it!

This wedding was what I would consider "perfect". It was fun, the families and wedding party were awesome, the weather was beautiful, and all the planning unfolded without a hitch. I'm sure Devin and Strand's life together will be just as perfect as their first day as husband and wife!
Enjoy their slideshow, and feel free to leave some comments. If you'd like to see more images, please visit my facebook page.

A little of everything

2010-09-16T19:47:00.000-07:00

This week has been a lot of fun, because I've been able to photograph a lot of things...a new preschool, a wedding, some portraits, and today I photographed something for Estee Lauder at Macy's in Valley Faire. Here's a couple shots of something you're not used to seeing on my blog.

2010-09-12T22:23:00.000-07:00

The theme of Kristen and Andrew's wedding seemed to be multifaceted. Nearly all the music connected with the ceremony was a Beatles song. Additionally their favors had Beatles songs written on them. The other thing that really stood out about this awesome wedding was that Kristen and Andrew love to play scrabble (hence the table names at the reception as well as the favors), and reading is at the top of their list of things the love to do. I don't think anyone could argue that the Library Galleria was the PERFECT location for their wedding reception. Kristen had asked if we could have access to the library for a few shots, so naturally some cool photos with the books was in order.

Since they LOVE the Beatles, I KNEW I need to get a photo that would remind them of Abbey Road.

Kristen and Andrew were so much fun to work with, and so easy-going. I can't wait for you to see all the photos in the slideshow! Kristen and Andrew, have a great time in Croatia!

THE NEW SITE HAS ARRIVED

2010-09-09T17:42:00.000-07:00

Oh wow, I'm so excited about my new website, I can't even begin to tell you! Take a few minutes and feel free to stroll thorugh it. There are so many new features...improved shopping cart, new vendor section, an awesome rave section, and a really user friendly interface that allows you to see the photos much larger than previously.

Here are a few comments I've received today...

"To heck with your drum roll - STRIKE UP THE BAND! What a hit, what a website. Anyone who doesn't hire you does not realize what they are missing. Think you are busy now? HA! Just wait till this gets out - Bravo Deb, Bravo!!!!!"

"I looked all through the sight. I LOVE IT!!! It reflects you and your beautiful work. The music is just perfect. Fun to listen to and goes perfect with your photography. Congratulations on a job well done. This sight ROCKS!!"

"The website is AMAZING. I LOVE it! The songs are perfect, I especially like the one by Taylor Swift. Great job Debbie. Looking through the wedding pictures makes me want to get married again, to Matt of course!"

Enjoy the new site! Same address, different look. http://www.debbiebrownphoto.com/

Another week of portraits

2010-09-08T21:04:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Saturday was Kristen and Andrew's wedding and I'll be posting their slideshow by Friday. For right now, I wanted to share some portrait sessions from the last week. It was a mix of sessions...engagement, a single mom and her two beautiful children, and a family with young kids. I had a BLAST with every single person! I hope you love looking at the photos as much as I loved taking them!

Some real cuties this week!

2010-08-31T22:33:00.000-07:00

Lately I seem to be filling my days with family portrait sessions. I've had so much fun working with some local families, and have found some great new areas around Lincoln. Now, YOU tell me that these kids aren't completely adorable! To see more photos from the session, go to my facebook page.

Reminds me of a Normal Rockwell scene.

Don't ya just love the tongue?!

I love this family portrait...traditional yet modern.

This is a great moment...what a happy family!

Look at those EYES!

A love worth waiting for

2010-08-26T12:30:00.001-07:00

Saturday marked the beginning of Joni and James' life together. Their beautiful day began at The First Presbyterian church where they met one another. Their good friend performed the ceremony, and the day was off to a perfect start! Naturally, the flowers that Joan of Beautiful by Nature did were incredible, as usual! One of the highlights of the day was the trio of old Model Ts that were waiting at Lake Natoma Inn for the bride and groom. James' dad belongs to a Model T club, and his friends pulled out all the stops for the occassion. Another special touch was the old hanky that one of Joni's friends gave her for her "something old". This has been passed from friend to friend as each one got married, and Joni will pass it on when their next friend ties the knot.

Joni and James had so many friends and family surrounding them on their wonderful day. James' mom and sister told me that they never thought any girl would steal James' heart and they are to happy that Joni came into his life. Joni got a second chance at love and found the man of her dreams in James. Everytime I took a photo of the two of them, I could hear how much they love each other. When I'm taking photos of clients I have a front row seat for some really special moments and hear some touching things that couples say to one another. I'll just say that James' is completely in love with his new bride and he makes her feel like a princess! Scroll down to see some of their photos (click on them for larger and clearer views), and to see their slideshow.

Here's Joni doing what she did all day...smiling and laughing!

A little time to be artistic.

James as he arrived at the church.

My favorite image of the car!

Since I just saw the Michael Buble concert the other night, I knew I had to use one of his songs for the slideshow...I think this one is really appropriate. Be sure to leave the happy couple some comments that they can enjoy when they get home from Maui!

LOVE...the tattoo said so!

2010-08-18T21:25:00.000-07:00

Saturday was Amber and Ross' wedding, and I have been SO looking forward to it! Ross' mom, Sally, is someone I met a few years back when I photographed her parents' 50th anniversary celebration. Wow, was I ever excited when she called me earlier this year and asked if I was available to photograph her son's wedding...ABSOLUTELY!!

One of my favorite photos of the day is the one at the top of this post. The bestman had this tattoo on his hand, and no decent photographer would have let this go unnoticed ;)

Sally and Gary's home was the venue for the very special day on Saturday. Oh my, I wish my daughter's would have a home like this in which to get married! This place was MADE for a wedding...a separate area for the ceremony, one for the reception meal, one for the cake, and one for the dancing.

Ross was like most grooms-not a fan of having his photo taken, and just wanted to hang out with his buddies...UNTIL, his beautiful bride made her way to where we were doing photos. It seemed like the minute she arrived, his mind was on nothing else but her; as it should be ;) He is COMPLETELY head-over-heels in love with Amber. With the exception of a few times during the day, the two of them were completely lost in one another and their magical day. Amber looked stunning in her mom's wedding dress. Amber told me that her mom's dress looked too '80s/'90s so they removed the sleeves and created a dress that was very current.

Amber's dad did the officiating and it was so touching to watch him perform the ceremony. He barely got started and he was in tears; when it came time to pronounce them husband and wife, he was in tears again. What a special moment for him! Amber is so lucky, because she had something at her wedding that I think only about 1% of my clients have. I was able to photograph a five generation photo for Amber. Amber's little girl is the youngest of the group, and the generations go all the way to a great, great grandmother. What an amazing photo that will be for them all to look at in years to come!

Take a look at their slideshow and be sure to leave them some happiness wishes!

Old friends, new friends, love and a special weekend

2010-08-01T21:18:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was a day that I have been looking forward to for years! One of Ali's best friends, Maddie, tied the knot with her sweetheart, Caloub. As you know, I always pride myself on getting the slideshow up very early in the week. Of all weeks for me to be out of town with NO internet access, it had to be the week after Maddie's wedding...go figure! Indulge me, I couldn't resist putting a photo of me and the adorable bride on this post ;)

Who wouldn't have had a great weekend with everything that I got to do? I LOVE when I have the opportunity to photograph a wedding that requires a plane trip ;) It's a lot of fun to work in a venue I've never seen before, and to meet new people as well. I left Friday morning and headed to Boise for the celebration of the year (and that celebration was two fold-but more on that later in the post). Ali met Maddie in 2005 when Ali was an RA at UP. Maddie was one of the incoming freshman (and along with Jena), the three of them became fast friends...best friends in fact. Everyone who knows Maddie had awaited her engagement to her prince charming, and squeals of delight were heard in my house when Ali found out that Madds and Cay (as they're affectionately known) were on the road to matrimony. There is no doubt in my mind that you will find this bride just as adorable as I do! Don't you love this photo of her showing off her shoes? I did a little photoshop effect and it's one of my faves of the day!

Although I've known Maddie for several years, I had never met her family. Meeting a more gracious and welcoming family probably would have been impossible. Gregory and Lor (as the girls call them; in fact all the parents have been given "pet names" by the girls-I'm Deb-NONE OF THEM call me Debbie!) were the perfect hosts. It was so much fun to share this special time with someone who means so much to my daughter.

I had no idea Boise would be just as hot as Lincoln! Saturday was an extremely warm day, but the large wedding party sure was full of troopers. Part of the fun of the day was that we took a trolley from the ceremony to the reception; what a great mode of transportation! It fit the entire wedding pary, and then some!

Part of what made this wedding so incredible for me to photograph was that I knew so much of the back story of Maddie and Caloub; one of the things being that I knew how he proposed to her (with a handmade sign lit up with blue lights spelling out "Will You Marry Me"). I think the most emotional part of the day was just before the father/daughter and mother/son dances. Maddie and Caloub had written messages to their parents and just before each dance the dj told us all those messages. Actually, I got to read them several days before the wedding and I was in tears reading what Caloub wrote to his mom. He had been in a car accident years before, and he talked about how she was by his side until he awoke. Just last year he and his mom both graduated from the same college together and what a mother/son moment that must have been! One of the other really special moments of the day was one that very few people got to see. Maddie's dad, Gregg, was sitting on the back patio looking over his speech for later that afternoon. Before I knew it, Maddie was out there, sitting on her dad's lap, having one last "daddy/little girl" moment. The whole time I was standing inside the house looking at the window, I kept hoping that Maddie would look at her dad. Neither one of them looked at each other, and now that I think about that moment, I'm sure if either of them at looked at the other that emotions would have been uncontrollable. Oh, I just love this photo, because you can see her dad wiping away a tear and just imagine what he as thinking!

For months I had yeard about how spectacular the reception location was. The Sky Center at Boise State overlooks the football field and was an extraordinary location for a reception!

Oh, the joy I have being able to photograph weddings for people who I have a history with, is truly one of the best parts of what I do. The laughter, happiness and emotions that I experience with the couples and families I have a personal connection with is the icing on the wedding cake ;) When I photograph most couples I don't know their backstories, or maybe the special moments that happened previously. Although all my couples are truly special to me, it's always fun when I get to spend a day, or weekend, with someone I have a past with.

Maddie and Caloub, oh, what can I say? I have been so excited for the two of you and am so happy that you've begun your life together. Madds, UP gave you and Ali a wonderful education, but more importantly it gave all of you these incredible friendships. Maddie, one of my favorite things about photographing you last weekend was how your "attitude" came through in the photos. All I would have to do is say the word attitude, and you were on fire! The way you scrunch your nose when you laugh and your smile when you look at your new husband was precious! Caloub I have no idea what your wife was talking about when she said for me to make sure that you don't get that "goofy" look on your face in the photos ;) We'll show her...your photos are amazing! ;) You are an incredible young man and I know that life with your new bride will be nothing but perfect for decades to come!! Every bride should be so lucky to have a man like you.

A couple things about this slideshow. I've been planning this slideshow for months, and there was one song that was in the back of my head that I thought would fit this couple perfectly. It's fun, whimsical and cute...JUST LIKE THEM! I had sort of forgotten that I was planning on using it, until about 30 minutes ago. If you see my slideshows on a regular basis, you'll know this one's a little different for another reason-there are two songs...Madd's, Deb promised you a longer one, so here it is! Take a look at their slideshow, leave some comments, and then scroll down past their slideshow to read about the rest of my weekend! If you want to see more of their photos feel free to look at my facebook page.

So here's the story...two of my best friends from high school have moved out of state. Nicole lives in Oregon, and D'Jean lives in Boise. Well what do you think I got to do last weekend? Yup, within an hour or so of me landing, D'Jean showed up at my hotel and we spent the next six hours getting reacquainted and had SO much fun. Saturday night Nicole was supposed to come back into town (she had passed through the previous weekend, but found out I was going to be there, so she and her partner came back to town. I haven't seen either of them in 11 years, and 11 years ago was the only time I've seen either of them in the last 25 years or so! Along with D'Jean's sister, they all came to pick me up from the wedding, and from the minute I got in that car, to the minute they dropped me off at 1:00am I don't think we stopped laughing!! It was so much fun to catch up with all of them and we also met up with Michelle whose husband's band was playing that night. So many things I had forgotten about came back to me on this trip, and it was truly a weekend that I will remember for a long time. Between Maddie's wedding, and then being with old friends all weekend, who could have a better job than your's truly?

IDAHO!!

2010-07-25T21:24:00.000-07:00

This seems to be my week of Idaho weddings. I'm leaving Friday morning to photograph a wedding in Boise, and yesterday was Christina and Kris' wedding. This adorable couple met each other while they were students at the University of Idaho. One of the things that I really loved about this wedding was how relaxed and low key everyone was. When I got to the bride's house yesterday, Christina was sitting in a chair havng her hair done and reading a magazine; her mom was unloading the dishwasher ;)...I knew it was going to be a fun day!

Their wedding to place at my new favorite church-Holy Trinity in Eldorado Hills. The coordinator, Kathy, is so wonderful to work with; Joan of Beautiful by Nature did the flowers, and as ALWAYS they were exquisite; the reception was at the stunning Serrano Country Club, and Mike from Creative Sound Entertainment was the DJ...IT WAS A PERFECT DAY!!
One of the things Christina really wanted for her wedding day was a full moon. She said that there was a full moon the day she was born, so she felt things would have come full circle; she got her wish!
Kris looked SO handsome in his tux and it was so easy to tell how much he is in love with his new bride. He couldn't take his eyes off her, and the tears came very easily when he saw her for the first time.
Christina is the apple of her dad's eye, and she adores him as well. Their father/dance dance was precious! I heard her dad make a comment to her mom yesterday that I know I'll probably be thinking someday when one of my girls gets married. He said "Do you think that we can ground her so that we can keep her home and not do this?" He loves Kris, but I know he was just talking as a dad who doesn't want to let go of his little girl.
I can't wait for you to see the photos, so without further ado, here's their slideshow! As always, feel free to leave them a message.

SPECIAL OFFER!

2010-07-24T09:02:00.000-07:00

Thank you everyone, for voting Debbie Brown Photography as BEST PHOTOGRAPHER IN LINCOLN! I wanted to do something special to thank all of you, so I've put together a special offer...Portrait sessions that are normally $125, are being offered for $50, PLUS you get 15% off your total order! I have other specials going on for high school senior portraits, and weddings, so please call me or more details.
If you'd like to take advantage of this incredible deal, just print out the coupon, give me a call and we'll set up a session! HURRY, BECAUSE IT EXPIRES ON 10/15/10!THANK YOU AGAIN! By the way; you DO NOT to be a Lincoln resident to take advantage of this offer!

You'll love these!

2010-07-23T20:52:00.000-07:00

Today I photographed Nikki, Joe and Josie. If you've been reading my blog for a while you will remember dear, sweet Ally (if you have never seen the posts about her, please do yourself a favor and read the following posts about an adorable little girl, who left us all too soon (Ally and her family ; She touched my heart ;Ally's service)

Nikki and Joe wanted to have a recent family portrait done of the two of them and their precious daughter, Josie. Pink was the color of the day, in honor of Ally (it was her favorite color). Each time I see this family I think to myself "I love them more everytime I see them". Their sense of humor, their outlook on life, and the love they have for their girls is truly inspiring! We had so much fun doing the photos this morning, and although the ground was a little wet-good thing I didn't get any photos of any of our backsides ;), things couldn't have been more perfect.

Here are a few photos from our session today, and if you'd like to see more, please visit my facebook page. I have to comment on one of these photos before you begin enjoying the rest of them. I went back to Nikki and Joe's house after our session, and I couldn't pass up taking a photo of Josie when she was looking at Ally's photo. From what I understand she does this a lot and she will often kiss it. Oh, it just touched my heart!!!
Enjoy, and don't forget to see more on my facebook page!

Fun, Love and tears

2010-07-19T17:04:00.000-07:00

Saturday was Jenny and Shayne's wedding at Lake Natoma Inn, and because of the heat, we were all thankful that it was a morning wedding! Jenny and Shayne were so adorable. I had not met Shayne until that morning, and I only met Jenny for the first time, a couple of months ago. Jenny's mom came to meet with me and did all the planning because the bride and groom live out of state. Jenny is so lucky to have a mom like Susie, because she did an awesome job planning, and putting together, the wedding! I know Susie also had a lot of help from her dear friend, Kathy. Ladies, you two did a remarkable job!
Shayne is in the Navy and Jenny is a kindergarten teacher, and they are two of the sweetest people! I told them that their wedding was one of my favorites! I always say that it's the wedding party and families that make a good wedding spectacular-and this definitely fit that description! This wedding party was over the top, and there wasn't a single thing that they weren't up for when it came to photos! That was the "fun" part of my blog title.

The "love" part of the title is really combined with the "tears" part. As you know, every wedding has love included in the recipe. But this wedding had a little somethin' special that brought everyone to tears and I don't think I will ever forget it. Shayne's dad passed away about the time Shayne was in high school. As Jenny's dad got up to make the toast on Saturday, he began speaking about this amazing gentleman whom he had never met. He went on to say that he had to have been an incredible man because he raised Shayne to be such an outstanding young man. At that time, a surprise bottle of champagne was unveiled. Shayne's dad purchased this bottle of champagne when his son was born, and it was to be opened the day Shayne became a husband. There was no doubt to me that this room was filled with all the love that Shayne and his dad have for one another...this room was also filled with tears, because I don't think there was a dry eye in the house. In fact as I write this now, I have tears in my eyes thinking about what a special moment that was and that no son could have felt more loved by his father, than Shayne did then.
One of the other very touching moments was something that Mitch of Showtime DJ does at a lot of the weddings we do together. He puts the bride and groom on the dancefloor with all the guests surrounding them. He takes the michrophone around and asks everyone to say something to the couple. I love it when I see this at receptions, because it really gives me an opportunity to find out even more about my wonderful couples. One of the things that was mentioned several times was that people thanked Shayne for the service he gives to our country. Jenny is very lucky to have married such a kind and loving man; and Shayne knows that he married an incredibly beautiful, gracious and fun woman. I hope that Jenny's personality comes through in the slideshow, because she made my "task" so easy and I smiled and laughed with her all day long.
To both families, and one of my new favorite couples, thank you so much for allowing me into this moment in your lives. The love that surrounded you all day on Saturday was palpable, and I know your future will be incredible. Godspeed to you in your lives as you continue to serve our country.

Spectacular is a complete understatement!

2010-07-08T21:47:00.000-07:00

Tonight I attended the re-grand opening of Enchanted Bridal. You may be thinking "didn't they have a grand opening a few months ago?". The answer would be yes. However, The ladies of Enchanted Bridal had the opportunity to move into a larger location so they took the opportunity. Although they have moved, the Disney line of wedding dresses is still one of the things that makes them unique. I don't know many businesses,

especially in this economy, whose business is doing so well that they outgrew the original store in seven months. I am so proud of Enchanted Bridal Shoppe and how well they have done in such a short time. I hear time and time again, "Wow, Enchanted is better than any bridal shop I've been to"; "The customer service is so much better at Enchanted than it is at all those other stores I've visited".

The minute I walked into the new shoppe, I was impressed with everything about it! I think you'll agree that Enchanted Bridal Shoppe is inviting, spacious and elegant. They now have four dressing room for women who may be looking for bridal gowns, bridesmaid dresses and mother's dresses. One of the awesome things about the new store is they also have a tux department. Enchanted Bridal Shoppe really is one stop shopping for all the attire you'll need for your wedding. They are even selling the cutest flip flops by J*Flops Jennifer created the most adorable flip flops for the ladies of Enchanted complete with a pin that has their logo on it. One of the other areas of the store that a lot of though was put into is an area for the kids. The ladies wanted everyone who comes to the store to feel comfortable, so there are some activities for the kids while the adults shop.

The celebration this evening was a lot of fun. I couldn't believe how many people were there! Enchanted Bridal is going to be (if it isn't already) the most talked about wedding store in the area! It was great seeing familiar faces, but also meeting a few new ones. Jennifer Johnson from Party of 2 was there this evening, as well as Sue and Buzz Gallardo who put on some of the best bridal shows in California (if you're a future bride, don't miss their bridal show on February 20, 2011 at Cal Expo).
You'll see that people of all ages had a great time this evening. I think there were a few 2025 brides doing their dress shopping a little early.

If you were at the former location you really need to go to the new place. It's in the same center just a few doors closer to Trader Joe's. I have no doubt that Enchanted Bridal Shoppe will be the fastest growing bridal shop in California in no time!

Two people fell in love

2010-07-07T17:37:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday was Bob and Sandy's 50th anniversary. Because of this celebration, people came from all over to join them in this happy occassion. I have known Bob and Sandy longer than I can remember. You could say they are family (at least I like to call them that). Sandy is my Aunt Pam's sister, so although we're not related by blood, it seems like we're family. Bob and Sandy's oldest daughter, Renee, and I were flowergirls in Aunt Pam and Uncle Bob's wedding in 1964...see I told you I've known them "forever" ;) Ever since we moved to Lincoln, Louie and I pack up the girls several times a year for holidays and head to auntie's and uncle's house in Gilroy, and consequently, the five of us have gotten to know Bob and Sandy's family even better over the last decade or so.
I wouldn't have missed the celebration last week for anything--it was as fun as I knew it would be! The party took place at my aunt and uncle's house, which was the perfect setting. The day started out by doing portraits of the three generations of the family...all 17 people (including the silly one at the top of this post)! Bob and Sandy have the most wonderful family. Their four kids are incredible, and their grandkids are so much fun. After the portraits were finished, all the guests began arriving. Although I didn't know many people, I knew enough people that it felt like I knew everyone...does that make sense? At any party, the real bonding experience happens on the dancefloor. People dance in groups with people they don't know, and everyone just gets silly. I think one of my favorite things about my family is how we all love to dance at parties. I didn't dance beacause I was too busy taking photos, but I was in the middle of the dancefloor anyway. The DJ was great because he played all the crazy songs that were requested. This family loves to dance to anything where they can get crazy-YMCA, the Chickendance, Thriller...you name it, and the "nerdier" the better. When you see the slideshow you'll definitely be able to tell the photos that were taken when Thriller was being played.
Bob and Sandy are two of the most incredible people I know, and I am completely blessed that I know them personally. They are the sort of people who make you feel welcome whenever they see you, and they really value their friendships; this was proven by the amount of people who were at the party. Thank you so much for including the five of us (plus Nick and Chance) in the celebration. You both should be very proud of the legacy you have built, and the love you have for each other will carry on for years to come through your children and grandchildren. Here's to another 50 years!!!!

What I wouldn't have given for the weather of the coast

2010-06-27T20:18:00.000-07:00

Sunday was day three of my triple work weekend. Although I didn't have much down time this weekend, this was probably the most perfect three day work weekend I've had in my life. From the Nordstrom job on Friday, to Mary and Jim's wedding on Saturday the weekend was perfect. I KNEW that Sunday would be the incredible cap to such a great weekend. Sunday was Kelly and Sean's wedding reception. You may remember that I photographed Kelly and Sean's wedding just a few short weeks ago in Monterey (here is their blog post http://debbiebrownphoto.blogspot.com/2010/05/headed-to-coast.html). Sunday, about 50 of their friends and family joined them for a wonderful, but HOT, celebration.
I knew this event was going to be awesome, because I know how incredible Kelly and Sean's families are! I photographed Kelly's sisters wedding a few years ago, and I have really grown to love this family. They are SO wonderfully generous; they are FUN; and I have a feeling that everyone who meets them likes them instantly (I know I did!) A bonus about being able to photograph these two weddings is that Kay (Kelly and Kerry's mom) is related to Barbara. Barbara was the RN who took care of Katie in the pediatric diabetic care clinic. She is a wonderful woman and it is always fun to see her!

The reception was everything I had expected it to be. I felt like I was spending the afternoon at a neighbor's house. Kay and Ray have one of those homes where the minute you walk in you feel like you've been friends for years. Kay is such a wonderful "coordinator" and has done an INCREDIBLE job in planning both her daughters' weddings. To give you an idea of the lengths that Kay goes to, just take a look at the candy buffet. I have done a lot of weddings wear the candy displays were created, but NOTHING has ever come close to this! The ONLY downside to Sunday was the extreme heat! I took Kelly and Sean out for some photos prior to everyone arriving, and I know they would have much rather had been back at the air conditioned house. Between the heat and all the bugs, Kelly and Sean were pretty uncomfortable, but what troopers they were! You would never know by looking at the photos that it was the hottest day of the year so far. I selected these photos because regardless of how hot they were, you can still see the love and emotion that comes through.
Kelly and Sean, we're going to have to "create" some things so we can all work together again. I have had the most incredible time hanging out with you and the families, and you have definitely made an impression on my life!

Cats and Karate

2010-06-27T19:37:00.000-07:00

Part of last weekend was spent in the bay area. Friday morning I headed to San Jose to photograph a job at Nordstrom. After the session I got to spend a little time with family and stayed at my cousin's house so that I would be in the area to photograph Mary and Jim's wedding in Woodside on Saturday. Mary is a teacher with my friend Kristin, and you KNOW how much I love to photograph weddings that are referrals. Mary had hired me over the phone, and although we were planning on doing the engagement session in Lincoln, I was able to photograph their engagement session at Edenvale Park earlier in the year. I met Jim that day, and I immediately knew this couple's wedding would be awesome. What I didn't know at the time, is just how much I would end up loving the day! Mary and Jim's wedding is now one of my all time favorites! In fact, if I hadn't been facing a three hour drive back home, and a reception in Folsom on Sunday I wanted to stay and enjoy the good time that everyone was having.

Take a look where Mary and Jim decided to have their celebration. Is it a bed and breakfast; a wedding venue; a botanical gardens; a California landmark? NOPE! This incredible location belongs to a woman named Jo. Jo is one of the kindest most gracious women I have ever met. She owns this home and Mary comes to ride the horses, which is how they met each other. There was not one area of this property that Jo told me was off limits! As I began photographing I thought there must be a coordinator who was "running the show". As I asked about various things I kept getting sent to Jo. I soon found out she has an occasional wedding here for people who she knows. Can you imagine pulling into this driveway everyday and saying to yourself "Ah, I'm home"? This wedding would have been anyone's dream! From the ENORMOUS bathroom where the girls were having their hair and makeup done, to the Austin Healey where the guys had their photos taken, or the garden ceremony, and the patio reception~everything was SPECTACULAR! All this would have been great, but what made this wedding over the top was the wedding party! There were four bridesmaids and four groomsmen, and I don't think ANY of them could have been more fun. The best man, Dennis, really made my job even more fun because of his sense of humor. Regardless of how silly he was yesterday, it was so charming to see him tear up during the toast. He talked about how Mary went to Petco to get some food for her cats when she decided to stick her head in the karate studio that just happened to be next door (and that Jim and Dennis just happened to own).

Mary looked exquisite in her dress and was absolutely glowing all day. The necklace she wore belonged to her matron of honor's grandmother. What a special addition to the wedding day! Everytime Jim looked at his wife, he was just glowing with happiness and pride. These two are an amazing couple, and I will forever thank my friend Kristin for introducing me to them!

I want to send a special thank you to the hostess for the day. Jo, "remarkable" is a complete understatement when it comes to the beauty of your home. Calling it a house does not do it, or you, justice. Your home was inviting and I felt like everyone who was a part of Mary and Jim's day was wrapped in the love you have created and share with everyone who crosses your home's threshold.
Mary and Jim, thank you so much for the honor of being able to photograph your wedding. Words can't express how much fun I had on Saturday, and how wonderful it was to share this small piece of your lives. Your friends and family truly made me feel blessed to have met every single person that day.

Please leave them a comment about their slideshow-I think you will be truly amazed at the beauty of every aspect of the day!

A hometown wedding

2010-06-22T17:07:00.000-07:00

This post is really delayed, and I apologize. With Father's Day being Sunday, and my birthday on Monday, things have fallen a little behind this week.
Last Saturday was Ceci and Chris' hometown wedding. After the heat we had the week before, I was wondering if it was going to be uncomfortably hot. In every way possible, the wedding was PERFECT!!! Ceci and Chris are both from Lincoln, so it was fantastic to able see so many familiar faces. I saw former clients, friends, and teachers that day. One of the coolest things about the day was the antique Cadillac that arrived. Talk about going to a reception in STYLE!!!!
Ceci and Chris are so sweet, and are so down to earth, that you can't help but love this couple. One of the main reasons they are so awesome is because of their families. You could tell how much Ceci's family loves Chris by the emotional toast that Ceci's dad gave. It didn't matter that it was said entirely in spanish, because the amount of emotion that came through was universal, regardless of what language you speak. Chris' dad's speech was just as impressive. He spoke of how Chris' younger brother (who was supposed to be the best man), couldn't be there and that there were only two things that would keep him away-death, and serving our country by being in the navy. He chose the latter. Ceci and Chris began dating when Ceci's brother was much younger. From the beginning she treated him like a brother and the two of them have a great relationship.

Now, that you know these things about this couple, I'll bet you wish you were at the wedding too!!!!! I can't wait to see what is in store for this couple; and with the fact that we all live in Lincoln, I'm sure I will hear for years to come about all the wonderful things that will be a part of their life together!

The most beautiful Princess you will ever see

2010-06-16T17:25:00.001-07:00

Before I begin, I know this is a long post, but I AM GOING TO ASK THAT YOU READ THIS STORY---YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!! Today was probably one of the most special bridal session I will ever photograph, and it was fun to help play fairy godmother. Before I tell you about today (and the INCREDIBLE people who helped to make it happen), I need to give you a little back story.
Heidi, along with her parents, Carole and Lou, are our neighbors. We met them right after we all moved into the neighborhood almost nine years ago. Heidi has Down's Syndrome, and the love of her life, Michael, does as well. Over the years I have taken hundreds of photos of these two and they are two extremely special people! In the first few years that we knew them, Ali and Katie spent a lot of time with Heidi and Michael because they were both involved as volunteers with Special Olympics. Michael is from Tennessee, and Heidi lives here in Lincoln (they met each other in the early '80s when they both lived in the bay area and were athletes with Special Olympics). Several times a year
they fly back and forth to each other's homes and spend a month or so together. Both of them are Type 1 Diabetics, so they are really lucky that each family knows how to handle this disease and how to take care of one another's "kids". I hope this isn't too much info, but I have to tell you how extraordinary Heidi's parents are. When Heidi was a baby, her parents were told that she would never do so many things that the average person does; she'd never walk on her own, never be a potty trained child, never be able to read or write. Carole and Lou refused to believe this and treated their daughter as they did their son. Heidi has dozens and dozens of medals for skiing, golfing, swimming and just about any other sport she trys. She is an incredible woman who makes the rest of us look "lazy" ;) She is also quite a reader and when she first got engaged, she poured over bridal magazines!

Six years ago Michael talked to his parents and said he wanted to propose to Heidi. Michael's parents talked to Heidi's parents and agreed that it was the right time. Heidi and Michael met each other in 1984, and got engaged in 2004. Heidi knew she wanted a June wedding, so for obvious reasons the parents suggested to this couple that since they got engaged after they knew each other for 20 years, they should set the wedding date 20 years out. SO, I now have June 30, 2024 on my calendar to photograph their wedding...sorry, if you were thinking about that date, but I'm booked with a very special wedding :-)

In the last couple of years Heidi has been wanting to try on wedding dresses, but for reasons I cannot understand, no bridal shop would allow it because her wedding was too far out. After meeting this couple, can you believe people didn't want to help her live every part of her fairytale? Carole had told me about a day where they stumbled on an incredible bridal store in Vegas where Heidi was able to try on some dresses. The problem was that Michael wasn't there to see it, and Carole wasn't really prepared to take photos. So, here is the rest of the story...

When I heard about this I knew I could do the photography, but we needed a place for her to try on dresses. I immediately called my friend Jennifer Baker at Enchanted Bridal Shoppe and told her about this heartwarming story, and asked her if she would help me to make another of Heidi's dreams come true. SHE DID NOT HESITATE!!!!! Today, Heidi, Michael, Carole and I arrived at Enchanted Bridal Shoppe and were they ever ready for us!!! I had told them that Heidi LOVES, LOVES, LOVES Disney, so we KNEW that this bride had to try on Disney dresses. In addition to her modeling for us, Michael brought his tuxedo. As I am writing this I am crying just thinking about how magical this day was. If you could have seen the look on Carole's face when she saw her only daughter try on wedding dresses that Heidi could only dream of, it just melted me! Nothing that Heidi wanted to try on was off limits...Tiffany tiaras, crystal bracelets, and any dress she wanted. An added bonus was that Ali had purchased a dress from the bridal shoppe and she was with us to pick it up. We couldn't help but get some "wedding party" photos with her, Heidi and Michael. I tried to do detail photos for them as well, and when I found out that the cufflinks that Michael had belonged to his late grandfather, I could not take a chance on missing those; Heidi's special engagement ring was Michael's great aunt's. As you'll be able to tell from the photos, Michael is quite the ham, while Heidi is the sophisticated one of the two ;)

I have three daughters and there are so many things that I take for granted...knowing that I'll probably be with them on their wedding day is one. However, when I looked at Carole today, knowing that this was quite possibly one of the most important days in her life as Heidi's mom, I can't even begin to tell you the emotions that overwhelmed me. The only thing that could have made this more emotional was if Heidi's dad, Lou, was there. He is THE MOST emotional guy I have ever known ;)

Heidi and Michael, I will never ever meet another couple like the two of you, and you make me so happy that I could share this with you!!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, look at this slideshow with the emotions and heart that this couple deserves. Whether or not you know this Princess and Prince Charming, it would be tremendously special if you could leave them a comment to tell them how much they touched your heart. Obviously, a Disney song was in order for this slideshow. It seems like "thank you" is not enough to Enchanted Bridal for what you did today. You made your motto "You are a princess, and so shall you be treated", come to life today for what you did for this family. I know they will NEVER forget you!!!!!!

Sarah and Mike

2010-06-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

Saturday was Sarah and Mike's wedding, and it was spectacular!! Pink was the color of the day, and every single detail showcased the various shades of pink. The wedding took place at Lake Natoma Inn and the exquisite flowers were created by Joan of Beautiful by Nature. This wedding was a photographer's dream-wonderful people, a fantastic venue, and incredible details to photograph! Sarah looked stunning in her dress from Enchanted Bridal Shoppe, and she was absolutely glowing all day! She and Mike met each other when they were in high school, and I'd be willing to bet it was love at first sight. Mike looked so handsome in his tuxedo, and I really loved the striped ties all the guys wore. As you're looking at the slideshow, you may think your eyes are playing tricks on you, but they're not-Mike's bestman was his twin brother.

This wedding was so much fun, and the reception was really lively! I also wanted to give some credit to my assistant, Brie. She did a great job as second shooter for me, and it was great to have her with me on Saturday.
Sarah and Mike had two flowergirls and a ringbearer. Sarah got the girls a teaset as a gift, and the girls played with it all afternoon! It was so cute to watch Sarah have "tea" with her flowergirls.
The song I selected for their slideshow is a song I just heard a few weeks ago, and I have been saving it just for them! Be sure to show them some love by leaving a comment!

Not sure how, or when, it happened

2010-06-04T07:36:00.000-07:00

Part of what I love about my blog is it gives clients (and others) an opportunity to see what I do for a living, but it also allows me to share with people what makes my life worth living~my family.

Do you ever have a day when you think, "When did I become a grownup, it seems like I was just a kid?", or "How did it suddenly become June, we were just celebrating Thanksgiving"? Ever since my first daughter was born, I always felt that I appreciated and cherished each day with my girls. I was a really active mom in the girls' schools, and I always felt being a mom is why I was put on this planet; being a mom is my absolute favorite thing in the world! However, lately, I feel like I've suddenly been transported into a time that I wasn't expecting, and have no idea when my kids all grew up! Even ten or fifteen years ago (not to mention when I was a kid), 2010 seemed so far away. When someone said "the 21st century", all I could think of was "wow, I'm going to be so old then" (haha, I guess this just proves that age is a state of mind). NOWHERE in my mind could I comprehend that my baby would be graduating high school in 2010. Oh sure, I knew it would happen "someday", and it might be a passing thought occassionally, but I never REALLY thought about it in depth; I was too busy being a mom to three little girls. Maybe some of it was denial on my part, but I don't think there are too many moms who truly think about the day one of their kids will donn that awkward, yet traditional, mortarboard and robe (don't ya love the gown that is two sizes too big for anyone, and the cap that is 12 sizes to small for everyone?!)

It seems like a completely different lifetime when my girls were little. And yet, in recent weeks, memories have been blowing through my mind like autumn leaves from a tree. I'm trying to rake them up as carefully as I can so that no memory gets away from me. I know the catalyst for all the flashbacks has come from the fact that I've been working on a couple of projects for Cassie's grauation which involved digging through my photos (too bad digital photography wasn't invented decades ago). After discovering that I had photos strewn about this house-in nearly every room-I took an entire week and completely organized the tangible proof of all these memories. This involved putting a date on the back of every single photo I have, and putting it in an appropriate container.

As you would expect, a slideshow was one of my projects. I've often mentioned what a challenge it always is for me to find just the right music. The first song for Cassie's slideshow is one that completely suits her. It's about a young girl who does things in life, her own unique way~which is exactly the way my girl goes about everything in her life. The second song is-well, there's a clue below :)

Now for a message to my gorgeous and remarkable little girl...
Cass, life is a long, bumpy, beautiful road. You've already encountered so many people along the way who have helped you navigate the difficult parts. However, I can promise you (whether you realize it or not) that you've detoured off your road occasionally to show other people the arduous path along their's. The amount of love, generosity and determination you have in your soul is tremendous, and you have shown so many people what it means to live life with all your heart. I have never known anyone who has always had the amount of persistence that is within you. As long as you hang onto that, you can achieve everything you want in life. You have everything important that all parents want in their children-compassion, respect, never giving up on yourself-or anyone else, and most of all generosity of spirit. When I saw you as team captain last month for Relay, and heard over and over again from other leaders, and moms, about how remarkable you were, it was one of my proudest moments. One of the things Dad, Ali, Katie and I love so much about you is that you are not ashamed to show your silly side and you aren't afraid to still be a kid at heart. I know you feel like your life is just beginning and that you are so excited to be finished with this phase. However, like I've been telling you, enjoy today and don't always wish for "tomorrow", because you're gonna miss this...I promise!!!!! I love you with all my heart! Mom

Headed to the coast

2010-05-31T07:47:00.001-07:00

I left the rainy days behind me when I traveled west on Friday. With the doldrums of winter lingering well into spring, I was truly ready to have a wonderful weekend in Monterey for Kelly and Sean's wedding. Although the wedding wasn't until Sunday, I headed out on Friday for a couple personal adventures with friends and family. Friday night I met up with my cousin, Renee, where we enjoyed a wonderful Italian dinner and then went to see Sex and the City 2. It was so much fun to spend the evening with her and catch up on things we don't have an opportunity to talk about when we see each other on the holidays. After we left the hilarious movie (which I would highly recommend), I headed down to Gilroy where I spent the night with Auntie and Uncle Bob. Although, I think we planned on leaving earlier on Saturday, Auntie and I didn't begin our journey to Monterey until early afternoon. I don't think we counted on traffic, but it took about twice as long as it normally does to get to Monterey.
It had been a while since I had been to the coast, so I was wondering what the weather was going to truly be like (especially after all the wet weather California has been experiencing). When we arrived, it was absolutely glorious! We had a late lunch, and then decided to head over to the rehearsal, where we were invited to the rehearsal dinner. I have known Kelly's family for about three years. I first met them when I photographed the wedding of her sister Kerry. It was wonderful to see Kerry and Brian again, and get reacquainted with everyone over margaritas and mexican food.
The weather on Sunday was just what I had hoped. It took me a little while to get to the park because the geese were out in full force yesterday. I think it took more than five minutes for someone to "convince" the geese that they just couldn't stand in the middle of the street. There was one particular goose that just did not like being told what to do ;) When I say geese, I'm not talking about one or two-it was more like a dozen! A pretty funny site to see that a dozen birds could completely stop traffic!
Sadly, Kelly woke up sick in the middle of the night. She was such a trooper as she was getting ready, and then later as we were doing photos. I kept checking with her to make sure she was okay, and I couldn't believe how well she was holding up. I think of all the weddings I ever photographed, this wedding was unlike any other. There were literally less than two dozen people in attendance, and it was on the beach on one of the most beautiful days we've had this year. It's always so much fun for me to photograph a wedding where I've had the opportunity to work with the family before, so that was just an added bonus! I loved the little touches that Kelly had selected for her wedding. Her color was Tiffany blue (and being the thoughtful bride she is, Kelly gave her sister Tiffany earrings!), and because of the location, seashells had to be a part of the theme. I was absolutely amazed at how Kelly and her mom could put a destination wedding together and had such an attention to detail. I loved the saltwater taffy that were in the little favor buckets, and the sand, shells and candles on each table were beautiful. One of the fun surprises for the day were umbrellas that Kay had printed. Each umbrella had a letter and when put together, they spelled "Kelly & Sean". Kelly also has two friends whose names are Kelly, so we did somthing with them and the umbrellas as well. Since my aunt was with me over the weekend, she graciously volunteered and helped do some setting up at the wedding (including putting flower petals on the ground as an aisle runner). By the end of the day everyone was calling her the "senior flower girl". As always, she was a really good sport, and it was fun to have one of my best friends with me!

The fun doesn't end with this couple even though the wedding is behind us. We wanted to do photos on the beach, but by the end of the day Sean was also sick, so the photo shoot was put on hold and will happen in a few weeks. I also will get to photograph their "reception" in June that they're having for all their friends and family in the Sac area. One of the things that endears this family to me even more is something that is a little unique. As I mentioned, Kelly's sister is Kerry. Believe it or not my brother in law's kids names are Carey (although spelled differently), Kelly, and Sean. WHAT ARE THE ODDS!?
Kelly and Sean, you two make me smile! Your warmth, silliness and love for each other is what makes everyone love the two of you. I feel like you and your famiies are "old family friends", and love the time I get to spend with all of you! Thank you so much for the "gift" and card you gave me yesterday-it was so thoughtful! You are both extremely blessed to be surrounded by incredible siblings, as well as extraordinary parents. I know you'll have a wonderful time in Florida, and I can't wait to see you both in a few weeks!
It was so easy to figure out what music to use for their slideshow, because it was a song they used as they were introduced as husband and wife (and also a favorite of mine from the '70s). Enjoy their slideshow and feel free to leave them some love!

Round 3

2010-05-24T11:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a great day! I photographed two incredible weddings and met so many wonderful people! The morning was spent with Amy and Tim at the Slocum House in Fair Oaks. I had been to the Slocum House a few years ago and was really looking forward to this day, because I knew what a great venue it was. The one thing I didn't remember though, was the amount of chickens and roosters that walk the streets of Fair Oaks, and consequently a few of them wander onto the grounds of the patio at the Slocum House. It was so funny to see a few of them walking around like they owned the place ;) At the beginning of the ceremony when Amy and Tim's friend, Patrick (who was the officiant), welcomed everyone the roosters began crowing like they were the ones being spoken too...it was a wonderful light-hearted moment.
One of the other great things about the ceremony was the way the wedding party walked out when it was completed. After the breaking of the glass at the end of the ceremony, the dj played "Forever" by Chris Brown and the wedding party danced their way back down the aisle...IT WAS FANTASTIC!!!! I think fun was really the theme for their wedding. Amy's shoes were a testament to that!
Amy and Chris met each other in '93 when he went to a Footlocker to visit a friend. Little did he know that he would meet his future wife that day. Actually neither of them could have imagined what was in store for them. From what I hear there have been a few stops and new beginnings for Amy and Tim. They broke up a couple of times and kept running into each other at various events over the years, and would begin dating again. I've been told this is "round 3" for them ;) They are an incredible couple and I'm so happy they found each other (again). I know that with the amount of love and laughter they both have, they will be happy for many, many years!

A Second Chance at Love

2010-05-11T14:36:00.000-07:00

I was talking to someone on the phone today, and I said that the celebrations we cherish in life are some of the things that MAKE our life. The celebration I witnessed on Saturday made this statement more true than nearly any other one of which I've ever been a part. Imagine losing the love of your life, as well as the other parent to your children. That is, I'm sure, one of the most devestating things we endure as humans. However, then imagine finding someone who helps to fill the hole in your heart. The second chance that Ester and Paul have received is nothing less than remarkable. I believe in destiny, although I think sometimes destiny may need a little assistance. For them modern technology was part of it, but I'd also like to think that their late spouses may have had a divine hand in it all.

Regardless of how fate put the two of them together, it was definitely of miraculous proportions. Ester is from the Philippines, and Paul is from the US. They met (as so many of my clients have) through an online service. When I first met them they were telling me about all the similarities that made their connection even more significant. This incredible couple both share the same birthday (as did Ester's late husband). Their mothers also share the same first name. The day we initially met, Ester explained to me that her children were not going to be able to be at the wedding, because they were still in her native country. Whenever I photograph a couple who have been married before I always observe the children of the couple. Paul's son and daughter were the best man and maid of honor. I know that no one will ever replace their mother, but as an outsider looking in, it was incredible to see how much Ester loves her new children. When Paul and Ester are going to be able to finally reunite with all their children, it will be something uniquely special.

When I began photographing Ester, I think there was a switch that someone flipped on her! My first impression of her was a very demure and charming woman. The minute I raised the camera to my eye, she became a ball of fire! ;) She had me smiling all day long with how comfortable she felt in front of the camera. I feel certain she's done some modeling in the past because of some of the "poses" she created. To say she was a happy bride would be a complete understatement.

My heart melted everytime I saw Ester and Paul together. He is absolutely head over heels in love with his new bride. I think his favorite thing to do is to kiss her forehead, because everytime I'd get the two of them where they were close, he would lean in and gently kiss her. I remember when Paul told me how he was received when he visited Ester in the Philippines. From everything he told me, he was accepted into the family immediately.

I have photographed quite a few Filipino weddings and I always leave them with an extremely warm feeling. The sense of family at these weddings is palpable, and Ester and Paul's big day was no different. There were so many people there on Saturday who shared the heartache when they both lost their spouses, but who were also there to celebrate this joyous beginning.

Ester and Paul, I am at a loss for words to tell you how thankful I am to have gotten to know the two of you. You are an inspiration to everyone who hears your story and I am so honored to have been included in your special day. I know the two of you will grab every ounce of happiness that life offers you.
Enjoy their slideshow and Ester's favorite song!

Senioritis

2010-05-04T20:31:00.000-07:00

Yes, it has been quite a while since I posted anything, so my apologies. I had some minor surgery done on my left arm a couple of weeks ago and I was given strict orders to not do anything for 4-6 weeks (with the exception with the few weddings I have this month), but more on that in a minute.

It's that time of year again-the time of year when kids of all ages are looking forward to their summer break, parents of said children may, or may not, be looking forward to summer break (personally, I have always LOVED when the kids were off for the summer), and high school seniors who can't wait to finish their last year of high school AKA "their last year of childhood". In this household, all of the above is true. Cassie is graduating high school in less than a month, and she couldn't be happier. I, on the other hand, am going through thoughts that all moms do when the last "baby" graduates. I keep telling her how she should enjoy this last month and that she will definitely long for these days at some point in the future.

This is also the time of the year when I receive frantic phone calls from high school seniors, or their moms, because for one reason or another, their senior portraits have slipped by and they realize it's now or never ;) In the last two days I received a couple of these phone calls. Yesterday I got a call from a really nice mom who was beyond frustrated because the photographer who the school contracted with would not return phone calls. I knew that I could not let this mom hang up without trying to put her at ease and let her know that I would be happy to photograph her son, and that we'd have portraits for her to share with friends and family. After I hung up, I made a quick phone call to the doctor and asked what he thought about me doing a session this soon after post-op. He had mixed emotions, but he knew how badly I wanted to help out this mom, so he gave me the go ahead (but still said I should not overdo it...guess he doesn't know me :)

Anyway, I met with John and his mom today and I had a fantastic time! John is on the football, baseball and wrestling teams, so he wanted to work in some props from those sports. What a wonderful young man he was. Typically I find that the senior boys are usually doing the photos to make their moms happy, and I think John may have felt a little like that, but he could not have been more gracious and kind. It was a true pleasure to get to know him a little and, contrary to what he told me, he looked VERY comfortable in front of the camera-especially when he was able to put his sports equipment in the photos.

Enjoy the portraits, and look forward to some more posts this week!

Hometown couple

2010-04-11T16:18:00.000-07:00

Last week I photographed Ceci and Chris' engagement portraits. Ceci and Chris are a couple who have lived here for quite a while-let's just say A LOT longer than me. I have been really looking forward to Ceci and Chris' portraits, as well as their wedding. Ali went to high school with both of them, so they have a lot of mutual friends. If you've read my blog, you know how much I LOVE to photograph Lincoln weddings. Lincoln is such a small community and so many relationships overlap each other. Chris and I were talking about that at their session. We said that even though Lincoln has grown substantially in the last decade, the social nucleus of this town definitely keeps that small town atmosphere alive...I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!
Ceci and Chris are the cutest couple, and I KNOW their wedding is going to be fantastic! As I was doing the portraits I was watching the two of them together, and loved to watch how Ceci just melts when she looks at Chris. When she's around him, she just looks like being around him is the safest place in the world.

A perfect setting

2010-04-11T15:22:00.000-07:00

In the last couple of weeks I've been doing some portraits. One of the sessions I did was of Rae and Clark's beautiful family. I had not met them before this time, but I had met their newest addition, Sammy. Some of you may know that Ali is Sammy's nanny. He is absolutely adorable and I was thrilled to finally meet his big brothers and their parents. It was a gorgeous day in Folsom, and the perfect setting for these portraits. Rae and Clark are runners and love to be outdoors. Initially Clark wanted something in the studio that was more formal, but as our discussion progressed, we agreed that outdoors in the area where they love to spend so much time, was much more appropriate.

I did the portraits about three weeks ago, and when they came today to view them, I couldn't get over how much Sammy has grown since I last saw him! One of the true pleasures of this session were Rae and Clark's two oldest sons. It's not unusual for young men in their late teens and early twenties to not enjoy having family portraits taken-and their expressions usually show it. However, these young men were polite, respectful, and I think actually enjoyed the session; they also could not be any cuter with their little brother--Sammy is a lucky boy to have such nice role models. I had a wonderful time working with all of them am looking forward to photographing them as the boys get older.

A crazy couple of weeks

2010-03-27T08:56:00.001-07:00

Hello friends! It has been a couple of busy weeks in the Brown household, so I'm a little behind on my blogging duties-my apologies. Between being sick for two weeks, a couple of preschools, portraits, a bridal show, and now being out of town, it has been CRAZY! in any case, here are some goodies to get you caught up. Last Sunday I had the extreme pleasure to attend a bridal show where I was NOT an exhibitor...what a weird experience that was! HOWEVER, I did have the "duty" of being photographer for Enchanted Bridal's second fashion show. OH, did I mention that my three lovely daughters were half the models for the day? Each time the girls get to play "dressup" I am usually speechless at some point in the day. I cannot get over how grown up my daughters are, and how incredibly beautiful they are (yes, I'm biased, but what mom isn't?). ALL of the models looked stunning in these gorgeous gowns!

My beautiful red-head in an incredible gown!
Cass doing what she (and every other teenager) loves!
This was my favorite gown on Katie!

Currenty I'm out of town, and part of why I came down to So Cal, is because I've been wanting to photograph my nephew playing baseball. He's in incredible player, and I couldn't wait to get some photos of him in action. Here are some of my faves!

Here is one of my favorite pic of my handsome brother giving his son some pointers behind the plate.

Darling Davina

2010-03-11T21:06:00.000-08:00

Today I drove out to Elk Grove to photograph the completely precious and adorable Miss Davina. Each time I get to take photos of these little bundles, half the fun I have is when I get to hold them ;) Whenever I go out to a home to photograph the babies, I bring my lights and other studio goodies, because I never know what the lighting will be like. When I walked into Davina's beautiful room, I was so excited because of all the natural light that flooded her sanctuary. During our session, her big brother, Nathan, got in on the fun. It took a little coaxing at first, but he was a real champ. Hehehe, if you look at the photo of the crib, you'll see we had another little visitor...the family kitty. Here are few of my favorite images from our time together today.
If you'd like to see more images, visit my fan page on Facebook.

Out and about

2010-03-02T14:43:00.001-08:00

Today when I was driving down 65, coming home from a photo session, I looked to the right and saw this amazing site. It's times like this that I realize Lincoln is still in the country. As I was taking these photos I was laughing at the livestock's protector. Take a look at the bottom right of the second photo. This dog would not stop barking until I pulled away.

Friday as I was running some errands, there was a beautiful double rainbow in the skies over the Sacramento area. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera, but I did have my phone with me. So here's a shot with my camera phone of the spectacular double rainbow.

Directing the director

2010-03-02T06:34:00.001-08:00

This past Sunday morning, it was so wonderful to get out into the sunshine. With the rain storm we had Friday and Saturday, I wasn't sure we were going to be able to do Sarah and Mike's engagement session. However, other than a few pair of soggy feet by the time we were done, the day was perfect!
I met Sarah and her mom in January, and we became fast friends. In fact, by the time our consultation was over, her mom asked if she could give me a hug, because she said she felt like we had been old friends. I hadn't met Mike until Sunday, but Sarah had told me a lot about him. Mike is a director for a local news channel. He and I joked about how we both feel more comfortable behind the camera, than in front of the camera. I'm sure you'll agree that he looks great in front of the camera. Undoubtedly, the camera loves Sarah! I can't wait for their June wedding, and am so excited to photograph this couple again!

A little beauty on the road

2010-02-24T17:02:00.001-08:00

As I mentioned, I drove to San Jose last weekend to photograph Mary and James' engagement photos. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to go to Carmel while I was there. In the last two weeks I've been to Napa, Carmel and San Jose. One of the things that has struck me in recent weeks, is the beauty that I see on the roadside. Spring is one of my favorite times of the year when it comes to photography, so I wanted to make a conscious effort to document some of this beauty. Thinking about taking photos as I'm speeding down the freeway at 65 mph, definitely requires some thinking and planning. Not being afraid to pull to the side of the road, definitely helped my efforts. In the mix of photos, there's also a photo I did in Carmel of some of the beautiful architecture of the small shops in town. The last photo is from the flowering plum tree in my front yard.
Enjoy some springtime, even if it may be raining outside!

The right place at the right time

2010-02-23T20:13:00.000-08:00

Friday I drove to San Jose to photograph Mary and James' engagement session, and what a great time I had! We decided to do the session in south SJ, and it was fun to see the old neighborhood again. The park was absolutely gorgeous this time of year, and we could not have asked for a better day. I was able to walk around a park where I spent a lot of time when my kids were younger, while getting to know this great couple.

I'm always amazed at how some of my clients have met. When I asked Mary how she met James, she said he was her teacher. I obviously wanted to hear more about this story :) Mary said she went to the pet store to get some food for her cat, when she decided to stop in at the karate studio that was in the same strip mall. James was the person at the counter that day, and ended up being her karate instructor. I learned in a very short amount of time that Mary is not afraid to laugh. Maybe that's why it struck me as a litle strange when she said that neither one of them like to have their photos taken. I got so many great photos of this couple I had a difficult time narrowing things down. I hope you like the photos as much as I do! Needless to say, I am so excited about their June wedding and the amazing photos we're going to get!

What a gorgeous February day

2010-02-17T09:55:00.000-08:00

Monday morning I met up with Amy and Tim for their engagement session at the Capitol. It was the perfect opportunity...a beautiful day, and a wonderful couple! Amy and Tim both work downtown, so they knew their way around the Capitol a lot better than I did :) It was fun getting to know them and hearing about the half marathon that Amy will be running in the next couple of months. Many times it's difficult for the grooms to feel comfortable having their photos taken, but this was not the case for Tim-what a ham he is ;) I'm really looking forward to their wedding, and if we have as much fun taking the wedding photos, as we did the engagement portraits, it is going to be an INCREDIBLE day!!!

Who cares about the calories!

2010-02-13T12:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I visited one of my new favorite places. Fortunately, it's in Loomis, which isn't too far away, because I have a feeling we may be making a lot of trips out there. Divine Desserts does an AMAZING job and they really know their stuff! We decided for my husband's birthday that we'd do something a little different than the traditional cake or cupcakes. Here are a couple pictures of the yummy things I purchased yesterday. We cut each of the desserts into smaller pieces, so we could all have a taste. I couldn't tell you which one was my favorite, so we'll call it a seven way tie!

1,2,3 o'clock, 4 o'clock rock!

2010-02-08T15:54:00.000-08:00

Saturday I spent the evening with a great group of people. Lincoln Crossing Elementary had their annual Daddy Daughter Sock Hop. There were so many adorable little girls who lit up the eyes of their daddies, grandpas, uncles and friends. You could tell how excited all these young ladies were, and it was easy to see that the men were just as thrilled, and proud, to be there! When I was chatting with the moms who were in charge of the festivities, one of our goals was that we wanted the evening to run smoothly so that all the men and their dates could enjoy the evening. I could never have photographed all these couples and trios if it hadn't been for my friend, Brie. Since she knew I was donating my time to the school, she graciously offered her time to help me out. THANK YOU, BRIE!!!!! As you can tell by these photos, everyone got into the spirit of the evening by wearing themed appropriate clothing, and a wonderful time was had by all!

Laughter and Love

2010-02-08T14:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I spent some time with Joni and James. We've been putting off their engagement session, because the weather just hasn't wanted to cooperate! FINALLY, we caught a glimpse of sunshine and grabbed the opportunity. The minute I opened the door when they arrived, I KNEW we were going to have a good time. Within about 30 seconds we started laughing and I don't think we stopped until their session was completed. One of the things I noticed about James is that he is absolutely, head over heals in love with Joni. Every girl should be so lucky to be loved like this!I'm so excited about their wedding in August, but because of an unfortunate twist with their wedding locations, their venue for their big day was moved. I know Joni had her heart set on the original location, but I know for a fact that Joni and James will be well taken care of at their new venue-Lake Natoma Inn . I know that she'll be beautiful, her location will be gorgeous and her groom will be beaming when he sees her in her wedding dress for the first time. I can't wait for August!!!

2010-01-29T16:45:00.000-08:00

Here is a photo I thought I'd share. I was on my way home from an event the other night, and the lumber factory in town was hard at work, and was glowing under the night sky. I've seen this before, but since I had my camera with me, I thought I'd take a moment to capture it.

An "Enchanted" Evening

2010-01-27T09:39:00.000-08:00

Last night I attended the first annual mixer at Enchanted Bridal Shoppe. The Baker family pulled out all the stops to make everyone feel welcome. Between, brides, their families (including some little ones), vendors and anyone else who just happened upon the celebration, everyone seemed to have a wonderful time...I know I did! It was especially fun for me, because I was able to see some old friends, and well as meet some new ones. A friend of our's even showed up to show off her new engagement ring! In case you haven't been by the store, please make sure you check it out. They're located on the corner of Madison and Sunrise, in the same shopping center as Chili's.

I can promise you, that if you visit Enchanted, you will not receive better service. This bridal shop is like nothing else in the area; at least that I've seen! The Baker family will take such good care of you-you will absolutely feel like a princess. And speaking of princesses...

Enchanted Bridal Shoppe is the ONLY Sacramento area bridal shop that carries the NEW DISNEY LINE OF DRESSES. Wait until you see the Disney line-it's INCREDIBLE! From ball gowns, to destination dresses, to accessories, Enchanted Bridal Shoppe has it ALL!! If you want to see the full line, be sure to attend their fashion show on Saturday, February 27th. Feel free to contact the shop for additional information 916.965.5683

In the meantime, take a look at some of the accessories, as well as the photos from the event last night. Thank you Baker family for bringing all of us into the Enchanted family!

Devin and Strand

2010-01-19T10:27:00.000-08:00

Last week I photographed Devin and Strand's engagement photos...and just in time to beat the bad weather we're having! Devin and I had been speaking to each other over the phone for quite a while before we finally had an opportunity to meet. I was so happy when the three of us had a chance to get together! I had met Strand about five years ago when he was a groomsmen in a wedding I photographed.
Their wedding is later on this year, and I can't wait until their big day! One of the things I love about this couple is how crazy they are about their little dog, Rosie. They rescued her from a shelter, so they aren't sure of her age, or her breed, but she definitely has dauschhund in her. If you look really closely at Rosie's photo, you can see that Devin painted her dog's nails ;)
Enjoy the photos and be sure to check back later in the year for their wedding photos.

Little Liam

2010-01-14T20:30:00.000-08:00

Today I photographed little Liam. I photographed his mom and dad's wedding in '07 and have been so excited about being able to meet the newest Mr. Maul! Jenn and I had wanted to have him sleeping during the session, but naturally he had other things in mind. I have heard about how adorable he is, and he certainly did not disappoint!. Here are a few of the photos from our time together.

2010-01-14T17:31:00.000-08:00

I'm always on the lookout for cool, or funny, things to photograph that are a little out of the norm for me. Last weekend Ali brought home this bottle of wine. It may look insignificant to you, unless you know that besides Ali, my other two daughters are named Kate and Cassie!

This next photo is a sign I saw at Cal Expo. When I drove past it, the first thing that came into my mind "animals can't read, so how do they know to stay clear 50 feet"! LOL Do you think the person who made the sign should have reworded it or used a little punctuation?

Just a few fun photos. I'll be posting some portraits tomorrow!

Enchanting ladies

2010-01-12T21:27:00.000-08:00

Tonight I had the true pleasure of photographing the new owners of Enchanted Bridal Shoppe in Fair Oaks. This was so much for for me. I have known Jenn for a long time and I'm so excited to be able to get to know the rest of her family now! Enchanted Bridal Shoppe is having a mixer next week, so the ladies wanted to have some special portraits taken for the big event. They thought it would be a lot of fun to have portraits with each of them and the men in their lives. If you haven't had a chance to visit the new store, go visit the Baker family...you will NOT be disappointed! Here are just a few of the photos that I did this evening...isn't Jenn's grandma just the cutest?!! ;)

Great moments from the holiday season

2010-01-04T09:01:00.000-08:00

As much as I wanted to post several times over the holiday break, I just couldn't find the time...I was having too much fun with my family and our friends! After one of my loyal followers emailed me last night and asked to see some photos, I thought I better make it a priority this morning.
Here is a smorgasbord from my holiday season. Some business photos, and some that will give you a glimpse of the fun I had the last couple of weeks. Here they are in no particular order (and most of the photos were taken with a little point and shoot, so don't hate ;)...
6/7ths of the cousins at my brother-in-law's wedding. Cary and Vicki have been dating for over a decade, so we were glad to officially welcome her into our family! I wish our other niece, Shannon, could have been there so the group of cousins would have been complete.

This is our great-nephew, Ryan. He's almost a year old and, as you can see, completely ADORABLE! Have you EVER seen eyes like this little guy has?!

Since Katie is now 21, Ali thought she should give red wine a try. Any idea on what Kate thought of it? What sisters won't do to each other!

The hubby and me at his brother's wedding. Although it was the second trip to the bay area in one weekend, we were excited to be there and really had a great time seeing all the Browns!

We had our annual holiday party with our great friends who live across the street. This year, we decided to have the party the week after Christmas. Much more relaxing, and less stressful than having to pack another activity in before Santa's big day. Here I am with all the ladies!

The guys had just as much fun as the girls!

Our little girl, Harper. I decided to put lights on the doghouse I built her earlier in the year.

My babies in their new Christmas jammies. Every year on Christmas eve they get a new ornament and new PJs. I think they will be grandmothers some day and still want me to keep up this tradition.

Contrary to what it seems, it wasn't all fun and games in the Brown household-I actually worked too ;)

Here is the wonderful Dansby family! Linda and Steve had their daughters and their families in Lincoln for the Christmas holiday. I was happy to be able to get to know them and spend a wonderful couple of hours with them on the 26th. Since we spent Christmas in Gilroy, it meant that I had to leave first thing Saturday morning so I chould get back in time. I am certainly glad I did, because Linda and Steve make me smile and I'm blessed that they asked me to work with their family.

This is Nancy and Tony's home. This is where they had the reception after Ally's memorial service a few weeks ago. I asked Nancy if she'd allow me to photographer her extraordinary home.

How would you like to lounge in this soaking tub while watching your favorite tv show on the flat screen!? This looks pretty luxurious to me!

I thought I loved the library I have in my house, but after seeing this one, I really never wanted to leave!

If I lived in this house, I would never need to go to a resort. Definitely a gorgeous home!

Here is the family room of their home. Now that I've gotten to know the family a bit, I can certainly see a lot of warm and fun family times that they probably enjoy in this room.

Well, there you have it; a little look at how I enjoyed the holiday times. A little work, a little family time, but a lot of great memories...with old and new friends!

A "boy" and his dog

2009-12-18T21:06:00.000-08:00

This afternoon I photographed Steve and his dog Gaiza. I was contacted a while back by Steve's friend, Debbie, and she wanted me to do some photos of Steve and Gaiza, since Gaiza is getting older. I asked Steve today where he came up with her name. He said she was rescued, and that was the name she came with. He said he and Debbie went to the SPCA to look for a dog for her, but ended up with a dog for him. It appears to be love at first site! Here is beautiful Gaiza!

I absolutely LOVE this photo of these two best friends!

My favorite "things"

2009-12-17T21:16:00.000-08:00

So much about this time of year makes me think about what I love the most. It never seems to be anything big, but just lots of little things. My mind has been on Ally's family so much this week, that the little moments in my life just seem to be that much more important and poignant. Don't you feel that what we sometimes view as "small", sometimes end up being the best, or most memorable, events in our lives? I want my husband, kids and I to look back on our lives and see the joy we had in the things that involved us spending time together, not things that we bought or that cost a lot of money.
Here are some pics of a few of my favorite "things"...

Watching the joy Nick has helping us with whatever project we may have going on at any given moment. Here he is standing on the overhang, looking into our second story window as he's hanging our Christmas lights-in the dark!

My favorite guy (aka, my husband) in the world, with my oldest friend. I am so proud of the 40 year long friendship that Scott and I have. The older I get the more special I know it is!

Since the kids call Scott their "uncle", naturally, Cassie calls his daughters her cousins. Here's Cassie and Simone when she and her dad came to visit us last weekend.

Hands down, my favorite thing about my "job" are all the clients who have since become our friends! Here are Katie and Ali with Stan and Colleen the night we all went out looking at holiday decorations.

Here are all my kids in front of one of the houses on "Candy Cane Lane". Our family tradition is to go out one night every December to have pizza and then to look at lights. We all look forward to it and can't imagine a December without it.

One of my new favorite things is seeing the joy on Cassie's face when she comes home from an afternoon of volunteering at the local preschool. Today she came home, after their holiday party, with an armload of gifts. I guess the kids ADORE her and showered her with Christmas presents!

A handprint on the heart

2009-12-13T20:54:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was Ally Ellis' memorial service. I was honored to photograph her celebration. I put together a private slideshow for her parents, and being the loving and giving people they are, Nikki and Joe asked me to share it with all of you. I know they would like to thank everyone for all the love and support they have received during Ally's life, as well as the time since she has passed. If you haven't done so, but would like to, please feel free to leave them a message in the comment section-I can promise you that they will see it.
It's a privelege to share this slideshow that celebrates the life of this little girl. She has forever left her unique handprint on my heart.

If you're engaged...

2009-12-10T18:27:00.000-08:00

If you're engaged and still looking for a dress and accessories, I HAVE THE PLACE FOR YOU!! Enchanted Bridal Shoppe in Fair Oaks is amazing! Pay them a visit, and you will not believe the amount of attention you receive. They are still working on their website, but you can visit them on facebook or at 5337 Sunrise Boulevard
Fair Oaks, CA, 95628
This is a family run business...not like those impersonal chain stores. Additionally, they are going to be the exclusive northern California distributor for the Disney line of wedding dresses!
Check back here in coming weeks and months, because as the Baker family takes Enchanted to new heights, I will be showing you WHY you should visit them before you purchase your wedding dress!

She touched my heart

2009-12-07T14:27:00.000-08:00

I have some heartbreaking news today. I just received a phone call from Ally's dad-and sadly, she passed away this morning. Words cannot convey how this family has touched my heart...and I know the heart of all of you. With all the other things that must be going on, I was so touched that Joe would take the time to thank me again for the photos. When I am blessed enough to get to know a family like this, it hits home why I love what I do. Please take a moment and send a prayer for the family, but I'd also like you to do something else.

I know a lot of you read my blog on a regular basis, but have never left a comment. Please take an extra moment and leave a message to the family. I think it will lift their spirits if they can see how much your lives were touched by their story. I will be sure that Nikki and Joe see each and every one of them. Thank you for helping me to let them know, YOU know how special Ally was! If you haven't read, or would like to view their post again, here's the direct link of Ally's story.

Different type of site

2009-12-06T20:30:00.000-08:00

I was contacted a while ago by Dr. Stephen Leamon, of Lincoln Chiropractic to help him design a site for his practice. He knows I've designed a few sites (one being for his friend who owns The Book Cellar in Lincoln), so I'm flattered he felt I could take on the job. I had my work cut out for me, because he had a site designed by a professional designer, but he was completely unhappy with it. After talking about what he didn't like about his old site and things he wanted the new site to portray, I began a new task that I promised would be completed in six weeks. Coming in a week ahead of schedule here is his new site!
If you have a website that needs to be completed, or have a friend who is in dire need of sharing their business with the world, then give me a call. In the meantime, vist the new site or drop by to schedule an appointment with Dr. Stephen Leamon.