Kelsey and Jason : A San Jose Engagement Shoot

Meg Perotti May 3, 2010

There were class parties at Booksin Elementary, birthdays, projects in middle school, soccer games, summers, calling boys, tping houses of our crushes, walks home from school,.. we've known each other since Mrs. Cherry's kindergarten class and spent most of our school career up until 8th grade as friends. After 8th grade I left my lifelong friends and headed to Presentation and Kelsey attended Willow Glen High School. We definitely lost touch after 8th grade as young kids do- occasionally running into each other over the years at parties in high school, in college, and at Peet's coffee or Aqui dinners now that we've both moved back into the neighborhood.

I love that my job continually allows past relationships to come full circle. When Kelsey told me she was engaged, I was all, "Um, hello! You are going to make such a gorgeous bride, I must shoot your wedding!" She gave me some bs about how she doesn't photograph well or something but you be the judge! :) I am so happy she has found someone like Jason and I can't WAIT to be a part of their wedding day in June!

Here's a couple fun pictures I found of Kelsey and I... one from Kindergarten the other from 8th grade. Courtney- are you out there? ... LOVE the clown costume. How did I not remember this?? :)

Left: Cinderella is yours truly, Indian Princess is Kels | Right: Kels is front and center, I'm on the far right.

San Francisco Engagement Photography: Fort Mason Engagement Session : Carolyn and Andrew

Meg Perotti April 20, 2010

I've been going to SF a lot. Like, a LOT. It's quite funny really- I think I've been there more times in the past 3 months than all the trips from growing up here combined. Although, I am not complaining for a few reasons.....

1. It takes 45 minutes to get there from our house. Not on a good day, not on a bad day, just 45 minutes. I don't have to leave 3 hours early just in case the 5 is jammed, or a truck accidentally dropped orange cones all over the 10... it's stress free driving up here compared to Los Angeles and boy is it grand! A little known fact about me- I get road rage. Seriously.... its not good for my blood pressure.

2. I get to be a tourist! My clients keep suggesting these spots that I know I am supposed to have seen. So I kind of do that thing you do when you're trying to sound informed, "Oh yeah! I totally know where that is.. its that one street.. up by... totally you can see the Golden Gate? No? Oh well.. yeah I totally know where it is!" And then I revel at the fact that I get to cross off one more famous landmark on my "experience" list.

3. I get to catch up on my This American Life episodes. Ira Glass's (swoon!) adorable voice lasts almost exactly 45 minutes .. if you are a TAL fan you know what I mean when I say that sometimes I'm laughing all the way up there, sometimes I'm crying.

4. .... I love my job! :)

Carolyn and Andrew live in the city so the city was the most natural spot for them to choose for their engagement images. We tossed around a bunch of locations but inevitably we ended up at Fort Mason. I could shoot there another 5 times and not use the same spot twice- seriously. Now, I was a little bit nervous because Andrew had sent me some pdfs of some truly amazing photographs (think Annie, Helmut, Demarchelier) and I really wanted to impress! He had me and Carolyn in stitches the entire shoot with his quick wit and the day turned out to be nothing to be nervous about. (Shocking!) Can't wait for your wedding in July, guys!

Onward!

Bay Area Engagement Photography : Santa Cruz Engagement Session : Alicia and Vlad

Meg Perotti April 19, 2010

My dad said something to me Saturday afternoon as I sat in my parents backyard waiting for Uncle Tim to grill up dinner and I've spent the last two days letting it settle in. The sun was shining on the lawn, Mom was bent over her pots planting some new spring flowers, the wind had kicked up just enough to send the leaves rustling through the cherry trees, and my dad looked up at me and said, "It's days like this that make life worth living."

I know I've talked about this before, but my dad is right. Until the moment he let those words out of his mouth, I didn't know where I got my ability to always look on the bright side of life. I've always found it very easy to keep a smile on my face through just about anything and will credit many of my successes to that fact. People want to be surrounded by positivity, laughter, brightness. Life isn't about grand gestures or huge successes- it's about little things. Simple pleasures... the wind in your hair, the sunbeams on your porch, the sound of rain on the roof. I encourage you all to take a quick look at life today. Just a quick, simple look. Making someone feel beautiful for a day, photographing two people in love, documenting a newborns first week of life- my job is about these simple pleasures and I hope that when you have a chance to work with me- I remind you of this. Thanks for reminding me, Daddy.

As I drove over highway 17, headed towards Wilder Ranch, to photograph Alicia and Vlad I tried to take a imaginary picture of my clarity. The air was crisp and the sky clear, - it wasn't raining, we weren't going to have to reschedule, and I couldn't wait to spend my afternoon documenting love! These two are just ridiculously cute and I can't wait to photograph their wedding day later this year at Holly Farm!

San Francisco Engagement Session : Legion of Honor : Alison and Zack

Meg Perotti April 12, 2010

Rain rain go away, come again another day ... when I don't have engagement sessions to shoot...

A few of my 2010 clients are still waiting on their engagement sessions due to multiple reschedules, but Alison and Zack didn't really have that option. They live a ways away and were only in town for a few days so we had to make it work. After many e-mails back and forth luckily, for us, the clouds parted and we were gifted enough clear skies to get some fun images of them frolicking around SF. We ended up using I think what was our 4th option for locations due to weather but honestly, it was a blessing in disguise because we found some pretty magical spots with some pretty magical light.

Can't wait to shoot their wedding at the Holly Farm in September!

Onward!

Wait... is that.... Bella..?

Bay Area Engagement Photographer : Saratoga Engagement Shoot : Fiona and Eric

Meg Perotti April 7, 2010

I feel like I've known Fiona and Eric forever! Moving back to the bay area has been a journey for sure. New client base, new industry friends, new shooting locations, new light, new freeways, new traffic (no traffic!) ... etc. etc. etc. The thing with Fiona and Eric is that even though they are in the bay area, they are not new to me. They booked me as their wedding photographer before I even knew I was going to be moving... I might have been dreaming about it but I had no idea it was actually going to be a reality by the time their wedding at Nestldown in the Santa Cruz Mountains came around in August. Seeing their faces as I pulled up the Mountain View Performing Arts Center warmed my heart. I'm home! Eric and Fiona met when they were young teenagers in the theater so we wanted to bring aspects of this into their shoot with locations and props. I took a little inspiration from a shoot I have been loving lately in Vanity Fair and Fiona and Eric really, shall I say, "brought it." :) Sharing these images feels like a long time coming- can't wait to finally shoot their beautiful fairy-tale wedding day!

EXT. POOLSIDE AT VILLA IN TUSCANY - LATE AFTERNOON

ENT. ERIC, a budding screen writer working on his passion project- distracted by and then inspired by his leading lady, FIONA.