What I am working on today.... portraits!

As I've said, my schedule got lucky and all my bay area weddings were booked back to back this August-September so I am currently sitting in my parents family room in San Jose at a wooden card table with a stack of papers to my right, a hard drive and a cup of coffee to my left, a mouse and a circa 1998 Hanson mouse-pad that I dug out of my parents old computer table (MOE anyone?), and my laptop. This is my desk until September 7th and I'm kind of loving it. I miss Timmy (who is visiting soon thank goodness!) and Stella and Stanley and Morgan and Gabe and Heather but I am so happy to be hanging out with my mom, dad, and sister on a daily basis! It's no secret that about a year ago I started feeling the "move home" itch. I miss it up here- the rolling hills, trips to San Francisco, Santa Cruz, neighborhoods fit for running and riding bikes, best friends since I was one years old- all of it. I still have a few weekday session openings and so if you're interested let me know and we'll set something up! Here is what I am working on today! Much more of these types of shoots to come in 2010!

 

The "I live in Los Angeles; therefore shoot headshots" post!

So, living in Los Angeles and being a photographer- shooting the occasional headshot is pretty inevitable. There are a lot of really great photographers that specialize in headshot shoots that charge an arm and a leg for their insider knowledge and there there is me. I have no idea what an agency is looking for, and I honestly don't care. I shoot at a low f-stop and make you look super pretty! So if you have an agent breathing down your neck I probably am not your girl .... But! Here are some samples from a recent shoot of the lovely Samantha Hendy who has features to die for!

Kate : Pregnancy Session

The afternoon my best friend Aubrey called to tell me her sister, Kate, was pregnant I started planning this session in my mind.  You  might remember her from this engagement session. Kate got pregnant shortly after her wedding to the lovely Jason and we are all anxiously awaiting the arrival of her and Jason's little Ivy Catherine Schatz Pontius- or Ivy Cat for short.  I think Kate wears pregnancy beautifully and it was such a joy to photograph and document this exciting time! (even if it did mean stripping down in a strangers barn...for her.. not me..) Kate is currently writing a blog about her adventures in pregnancy- check it out here!

I can't wait for Ivy to arrive so I can starting documenting her life!

Kaumyar and Ashley - Anytime Session

When prospective clients view my website they stay there for an average of about 2.5 minutes before either leaving, bookmarking my site, or filling out a contact form. 2.5 minutes! I have 2.5 minutes to make a big enough impression on someone that they'd consider me to photograph one of the biggest days of their lives! I think one of the most important things in deciding who is going to be your photographer is to find someone who's work and personality you love. Such a large part of what's important about your wedding day is the experience and I wanted to find a way to show my clients a little bit of how their experience with me will be before they even meet me. I want them to walk into my home for a consult and already feel like they know a little bit about who I am and what type of imagery I am really about. So! I had the super great and talented Jeff Conrad direct a short video documenting one of my shoots for my main page. I just wanted something simple and romantic and I think Jeff pulled that off so amazingly well! Here are some of the final images that will end up in that video! (Check out the "HOME" link at the top of the page to view the video.)

One location, available light, + video light when it got darker due to impending rain, one assistant, Canon 5D, 50mm 1.2 lens, and two gorgeous clients!

Onward! (Thanks to Tim for being my grip/lighting/assistant/support for the day and to Gabe for loaning her gorgeous fainting couch!)

Vicki Forman : This Lovely Life

It's been neat working with people from all walks during this off season from weddings- tons of talent surrounds us! I had the pleasure of shooting Vicki's new writer's portrait for the upcoming release of her new published memoir entitled, This Lovely Life.