Chico, Ca. Wedding Photographer- Niki Ross Photography

Northern California Wedding Photography - Lauren & Andrew's Wedding Day: The Vintner's Golf Club, Yountville CA.

2012-01-15T20:05:00.000-08:00

I first met Lauren in the summer of 2009. She was interested in modeling and we connected to build each others portfolios. Lauren and I had several fun photo shoots - her bubbly and very sweet personality always made for a fun photo shoot. Although we had an existing friendship, when Lauren met the man of her dreams it was not set in stone that I would shoot her wedding...I had to be approved by Lauren's mother and grandmother - both photographers. When I got the email from her mom, I was super excited to get their approval.

Since Lauren and Andrew are both military the wedding was planned in a semi quick-like manner, but you could never tell. Each detail was exquisite and the love the couple share for each other is undeniable. The wedding was to be held in the evening in Yountville, a small town near Napa, CA. The venue was The Vintner's Golf Club , a place both the bride and groom worked, although at different times. The beginning of their lives together would begin at a place special to both of them.

Congratulations to the newlyweds, Lauren and Andrew. Thank you for having me and my team photograph your wedding. Here are some of my favorite images:

Chico CA. Wedding Photography- Jennifer & Kyle's Creative Session

2012-01-09T11:23:00.000-08:00

Even before Jennifer and Kyle's wedding at beautiful Skylake Gardens , a stunning venue in Durham just South of Chico, Jennifer had decided she wanted to do a Creative After Session to get additional romantic portraits of the newlyweds. We decided that late fall would be the perfect time and that we wanted to include their Harley, but the tough decision was where to shoot. After tossing around some ideas with Jennifer, we decided on a few locations that would provide dramatic backdrops and bring a creative angle to my photography.

As always, Jennifer and Kyle are so cute together and Jennifer looks gorgeous in her dress - I did not have to work hard to get them to look good for the camera. Although the lighting was a fun challenge, the images from this photo shoot turned out awesome!

Thank you, Jenn and Kyle, for spending the day with me for this Creative After Session of the two of you. I love photographing the two of you and getting the opportunity to capture your love for one another, which is truly something special. Here are some of my favorite images from the Creative Session:

Northern California Wedding Photography- Rachael's Truckee, CA Creative Bridal Session

2012-01-07T15:44:00.000-08:00

During a recent visit to Truckee I made plans to photograph the beautiful bride, Rachael Brown, in her wedding dress. Her husband, Ryan Brown, had to work so this creative session would give us more bridal portraits of Rachael. The day we ended up photographing was a very windy, cold day. Rachael was such a good sport wearing only her wedding gown, a shawl to cover her arms and her cowboy boots which helped keep her warm (and also made for some cute photos of her showing them off for the camera). For some of the photos she even had her cowboy hat which helped control her hair in the frigid wind. Here are some of my favorite images from this Truckee Creative Bridal Session. Thank you so much for getting together with me for another fun photo shoot!

Northern California Romantic Wedding Photography - Jessica & Benny's Creative Session

2011-12-27T22:57:00.000-08:00

Newlyweds, Jessica and Benny, tied the knot in July, 2011. After their wedding at The Palms Pavilion in Chico, CA, we discussed a future Creative Session. Bride and groom romantic portraits are some of my favorite to photograph. Since Chico is so gorgeous during the fall months we decided we would wait until the leaves started to change color. The foliage all over the town turns into golden yellows and oranges. As the summer months left Chico and the fall months hit, we made a date to take photos. In their wedding attire we met on a beautiful, slightly rainy, afternoon. The rain made the ground glisten and all the colors exploded. The fall colors really set the mood for some romantic, after wedding photos of Jessica and Benny.

As always I have a blast photographing this couple. They are both so photogenic and are excited to have photos taken. Thank you both for putting your wedding attire back on, handling the rain like champs and meeting me for this Creative Session. Here are some of my favorite romantic portraits of the two of you!

Denelle & Chris's Engagement Session- Truckee, CA Engagement Photography

2011-12-22T19:33:00.000-08:00

During the last visit to Truckee I had an engagement session planned with fellow Truckee High School Graduates, Denelle and Chris. One amazing thing about being from a a small town is everyone has known each other for a very long time. But Denelle and Chris have something more special in common then just being from Truckee. They are the classic story of "the girl/boy next-door." Growing up as neighbors on Donner Lake, it wasn't until after High School that they started dating. You can really see the love for each other that they found. You can also see the love they have for the town they live in.

Since both Denelle and Chris are Truckee locals and their families are long time locals, the locations of their engagement session were easy to decide on and they knew they wanted their two dogs to be in the photos. Downtown Truckee was where we started out taking photos. The Bar of America was a perfect location for some fun photos of the dogs outside the bar and the couple drinking a beer inside. We spent some time on the Railroad Tracks and behind the shops but decided we needed to rush to our second location before sunset. Rainbow Bridge on the West Side of Truckee would be the first to lose sunlight during the winter and when that happens, it gets cold. We made it up to the scenic overlook with enough time for some fun photos on the bridge with Donner Lake in the background.

I had so much fun on this engagement photo session. Not only did I get to take engagement pictures in beautiful Truckee, but I also got to catch up with some old friends. Thank you Denelle and Chris for the amazing session. Congratulations on your engagement and I can not wait to capture your special wedding day!

1st Birthday Portrait Session - Happy Birthday to Maleigha!

2011-12-17T18:49:00.000-08:00

Ever since I took maternity photos with my wedding clients, Ashley and Andy, I have been so excited to schedule their first family portrait session. As things worked out, we ended up getting together in time to celebrate their daughter, Maleigha's, 1st birthday and decided to use that as the theme. I had a friend make a giant cupcake with extra frosting - this would be Maleigha's first super sweet treats - and she obviously enjoyed it.

Thanks, Ashley and Andy, for the fun portrait session. Happy Birthday to Maleigha!! Here are some teaser photos from the session.

Truckee CA. Family Portrait Photography- Ian and Kristina's Family Portrait Session

2011-12-13T23:52:00.000-08:00

When a long-time friend from Truckee, Ian, contacted me and said he was interested in a family portrait session, I was super excited! After speaking with Ian several times we finally decided to do the photo shoot in the sheep herders camp in Russell Valley. I was super excited with the location choice because I had an awesome engagement photo shoot there earlier this year. We had such a great time with Ian, his girlfriend, Kristina, and their beautiful daughter, Mackena.

Thanks again Ian and Kristina for the family portrait session...I had such a blast photographing this beautiful family. Here are some of my favorite images from the session:

Bartel Family Portrait Session- Destination, Truckee CA.

2011-12-08T20:58:00.000-08:00

I love taking pictures of this family! When Kathy heard about my plans to stay up in Truckee to photograph families, couples, and brides who wanted their pictures in the Truckee area, she was all over the idea. Kathy, her husband, their two kids and their golden retriever made the drive from Chico to Truckee for a family portrait session. I was super excited for my Chico recruits! Because we were in my old neighborhood the location was totally up to me, and I knew the perfect location for this family portrait session.

Kathy and her family stayed the night in Truckee and met up with me first thing Saturday morning. Even for a mountain girl like me, I must admit it was cold! We grabbed our ear warmers and gloves and headed to where I thought would be a perfect location for family photos - one of my favorite places - Klondike Meadow. We spent some time shooting in the meadow, and around the bare aspen trees, plus we found a perfect patch of snow to really show that the family had made it to the mountains for their family portrait session. After running around and taking as many pictures as we could, we loaded back up into our cars. I had one more location in mind - the rickety old bridge that crosses the Truckee River, at the Boca Reservoir exit off of I-80.

Thank you to my Chico recruits, The Bartel Family, for making the trip to one of the most gorgeous places in Northern California - Truckee. I love so many of your portraits, but here are a few of my favorites.

Melissa & Elijah's Downtown Truckee, CA. Family Portrait Session

2011-12-07T20:24:00.000-08:00

Being from Truckee I am always looking for an opportunity to head up to the mountains for any given portrait session (or wedding, of course). An old friend and fellow Truckee High School graduate, Melissa, contacted me recently for a photo shoot. She wanted portraits of her and her adorable son, Elijah. I was more than excited for the opportunity, plus I had a weekend where I was already planning to be in the Truckee area taking bookings for family portraits. It worked out perfect! We met in the afternoon and photographed all around Historic Downtown Truckee.

I had so much fun with the Little Guy, Elijah, especially while he was playing on the train. Plus it was great getting to catch up with an old friend. Thank you, Melissa, for the wonderful family portrait session. Here are some of my favorite images.

Tom & Shannon's Family Portrait Session- Chico CA Portrait Photography

2011-11-28T21:03:00.000-08:00

Ever since last year I have been excited about getting together a family portrait session for one particular family: My Uncle, Tom, his wife Shannon and my two beautiful cousins Fiona and Amelia. Last Christmas, my gift to them was a family portrait session. It took a while, but we were finally able to schedule our fall portrait session here in Chico, CA.

Although the weekend we scheduled the shoot turned into a slightly rainy weekend, the overcast skies helped create a soft lighting effect. And, although it was a chilly day, it did not stop us from taking pictures all morning. We started at Chico State with a few books, a step stool and their new puppy, Charlie, even made an appearance in a few photos. Everyone was really excited about the photo shoot - the girls were finding their own "spots" and coming up with creative poses for the camera. After the first 1 1/2 hours of photographing we all started to get a grumble in our stomachs, but as we looked up at the sky we knew we had to keep photographing or we might get rained out. We loaded up into our cars and headed over to 5-Mile Park.

5-Mile park has a beautiful grassy area covered with trees that I was thinking would be a great spot for fall-colored photos. We lugged out a couple more props - a white bench and an old ladder. I had so much fun with these end-of-the-session photos! As it turned out, the entire morning was successful - we got some great pics and kept dry!

Here are some of my favorites! Thanks Tom, Shannon, Fiona and Amelia for the amazing family portrait session and the wonderful visit.

Chico CA. Family Portrait Photography- Kim's Family Portrait Session

2011-11-24T11:17:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend I had a family portrait session scheduled with Kim and her family. For the portrait session we knew we would want to capture the fall colors in the backgrounds of their images, so we decided Chico's Bidwell Park (1-Mile Swimming Hole) would be a perfect location. The leaves are gorgeous this time of year. We found ourselves a nice spot along the creek and took photos there for a bit. Since this was just a short portrait session we didn't spend much time out along the creek - we took the photos we needed then moved on. I brought a cute little white bench for them to all sit on. Here are some of my favorite images from the family portrait session. Thank you Kim & Family for the amazing time!

Truckee CA. Portrait & Engagement Photography- Nikki & Jason's Family Photo "Shoot Out"

2011-11-19T21:00:00.000-08:00

Nikki is a long time friend of mine and sister of one of my recent brides, Dana. She contacted me for a portrait session just after her sister's wedding. She wanted to take family photos with her fiance, Jason, and their two Boston Terriers, Dexter and Zoey. Of course I was more than excited to get the opportunity to photograph the couple and their dogs, so I made plans to drive up to Truckee for the photo session.

Nikki said she had a great location to shoot near Russell Valley. As we drove down a dirt road to the location, I got really excited when I saw what would be a photographer's dream location. An old base camp for sheep herders, the camp is still used but, lucky for us, the camp is closed down at this time of year. We started taking pictures along the old buildings, some with the dogs and some with out. This quickly turned into an engagement style photo shoot. However for this couple a big wedding was not important to them. Shortly after this engagement/portrait session I saw the news, 11-11-11 would be Nikki and Jason's wedding date. SO CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEWLYWEDS, NIKKI AND JASON!

Just as we were nearing the end of the portrait session, Nikki reminded me of some props she brought along for the session. An antique rifle, a pistol, plus the attire they go with - yes, chaps! I had so much fun with the couple and at the new location. Thank you Nikki and Jason for the awesome portrait session, congratulations again on your marriage. Here are some of my favorite portraits of the two of you and your little family.

Chico, CA. Wedding Photography- Charise and Cody's Engagement Session

2011-11-13T13:48:00.000-08:00

I have been so spoiled this year with amazing clients. Charise and Cody were referred to me from one of my favorite photographers, Vinnie. Happens to be, Vinnie will be a member of the wedding. I knew before I met the couple I was going to like them, and it was true, the day of our initial meeting, me and Charise just talked and talked. An hour into our meeting we decided we better finish up the rest of the paperwork when we do our engagement session because we could keep talking wedding details and engagement session ideas for hours.

As the engagement session neared it was time to decide on a location, lucky for me, Chico does not have a shortage of awesome locations for outdoor portrait photography. We decided we would start our session at the Genetic Resource and Conservation Center. Located right in Chico, the facility provides a wide array of foliage, including a bamboo groove. We played around at this location for awhile but I was really excited for the second half of our engagement session.

Cody is the proud owner of a Ford 28 Model A Roadster Pickup. When we met for the first time it was decided no matter what we did for the engagement session, in someway it would have the truck included. We decided that Orange St. would be perfect location for the second half of our session, a popular location for wedding and portrait photography. We spent the rest of the evening shooting around this location, with the truck and with out. As the sun started to come down it was time to wrap up the session, the trucks headlights are out of commission and Cody had to get it home.

Thank you Charise and Cody for the amazing engagement session, I can not wait to photograph your special day.

Rachael & Ryan Got Married- Beautiful Donner Lake Wedding, Truckee CA.

2011-10-16T23:37:00.000-07:00

Since Rachael & Ryan's engagement session back in March, I have been looking forward to their fall mountain-style wedding. The day finally came for Rachael and Ryan to join each other at the hitching post and say their vows to one another.

First thing in the morning, Ryan and his boys met my crew and me at the Rainbow Bridge on Old Hwy 40. Next, we made our way down to the Lock Leven Lodge on the north side of Donner Lake. Here we took photos of the bride-to-be and her girls getting ready. The entire bridal party would come together and join family and friends as Rachael and Ryan walked down the aisle to become man and wife. The love from all of the family and friends was in the air as the time came for their first kiss as man and wife.

Congratulations to the newlyweds, Rachael & Ryan Brown, married one week ago today. Here are some teaser photos of your magical day - it was as beautiful as a fairytale.

Kristine & Jeff's South Lake Tahoe Creative Session - Romantic Photography Session the Day After the Wedding

2011-10-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

Early in September of this year I was lucky enough to photograph the wedding of my old Truckee friends Kristine and Jeff in Reno, NV. It was a fabulous day from beginning to end. Even though we took romantic photos of the newlyweds immediately after the ceremony, there just wasn't enough time to get all of the shots they knew they wanted. Because of this, they opted to do a Creative Session the day after the wedding.

There are so many great places in Reno to photograph, but being from Truckee, Kristine and Jeff have a love for Lake Tahoe. We decided it would make the perfect spot because of the sentimental value and ... well, it is an absolutely beautiful place. Once that was decided, the next question is where on the lake do we go? We knew we wanted a wide open view of the lake, a semi-private location to avoid distractions and a nice sandy beach in case the couple decided to get wet if they chose to go that far (I never push TOO hard).

My crew and I left for Tahoe early so we could cruise the lake looking for a good spot. We started our search at Incline Village because Kristine and Jeff would be driving in via Mt. Rose Highway. As we travelled clockwise along the edge of the lake, we noticed that Nevada's east shore is not endowed with a whole lot of sandy beaches. So, once we drove by Sand Harbor and saw the large boulders and the sandy beach, we decided to stop and take a closer look. It did not take long to realize that this was the place.

While we waited for Kristine and Jeff to arrive we explored the area. It was a busy weekend so we weren't sure how things would play out. However, just before the couple arrived it began to lightly rain - only for a few minutes, but it caused almost all of the beach goers to scatter. Once the couple arrived, we practically had the place to ourselves.

First, we took a bunch of shots out on some large boulders. Because it was evening, the sun created a spectacular glow across the cove, enhancing the already dramatic rain clouds in the distance. The sky looked awesome and the wind was blowing Kristine's hair and her elegant gown.

Below are some of my favorite shots from Kristine and Jeff's Creative Session.

Because soccer is such a huge part of Kristine and Jeff's history together (it's kinda how they began their relationship), I asked them to bring a soccer ball as a prop. I wasn't exactly sure how I would use the ball during the Creative Session, but I knew we would have fun playing around with it. In the end, I love these shots.

It was getting later in the evening and the sun was going down. Kristine told me that it was time...time to get wet! I could tell she was a little nervous about actually trashing her dress but she was excited, nonetheless. The moment made for some stunning images.

Kristine and Jeff cuddled tight for the camera...one last image wrapped in their towels to end our Creative Session and time together. It was an amazing wedding weekend and I am so thankful to be able to document such a beautiful relationship and the love they have for one another. Congratulations to the high-school sweethearts once again. Your story is one to cherish forever.

Dana & Jacob's Beautiful Mountain Wedding- Russell Valley, Truckee CA.

2011-10-13T19:52:00.000-07:00

Dana and Jacob tied the knot on Sept. 24th, 2011 in beautiful Russell Valley located in Truckee CA. Dana is a good friend of mine from Truckee so I was super excited to shoot her wedding. For one, I knew she would make an exquisite bride and, of course, Jacob a handsome groom. Additionally, the choice of having the wedding on the edge of a meadow in beautiful Russell Valley was sure to make for a unique photographic experience.

When my team and I arrived in the morning we were greeted with open arms by the entire family...then got right to work. I was to take pictures of the girls getting ready and my second shooter, Don, would photograph the guys. The entire bridal party was to get ready at the Brides house just over the hill from the venue. All the girls were wearing their cowboy boots and their dresses were handmade. In fact, the entire wedding day was filled with whimsical do-it-yourself details and fun surprises.

Once the Bride and her girls were all dolled up and ready to go, we loaded into the Father of the Bride's Army Jeep - photographer on hood, of course - and were shuttled to the meadow. It was time for Dana and Jacob to have their "first look." Because the couple opted to see each other before the wedding ceremony, it allowed me ample time to take a good amount of romantic bride & groom shots in addition to photos of the entire bridal party. This way they would not have to break away from the wedding after the ceremony to rush through the bridal party photo session. After the couple said their vows and were pronounced man and wife, the party began with the entire bridal party having a toast under the photo booth tent. It was an amazing evening of dancing and celebration.

One thing I learned growing up in Truckee is that the weather can be unpredictable at this time of year. Luckily, the puffy, dramatic clouds held their moisture and created a warm glow across the valley. Once the sun was tucked behind the mountains, it cast a beautiful, albeit painfully brief, Alpenglow across Mount Rose in the distance. Really, it was a wedding photographer's dream.

Congratulations, Dana and Jacob. Your day was beautiful. Thank you so much for having me and my team there to document your special day.

Dana and Jacob knew they would want a photo with the Alpenglow of Mount Rose in the background. These are some of the first "romantic" photos of the couple as man and wife.

Dana & Jacob's Wedding Day Teaser Photos - Russell Valley, Truckee CA.

2011-10-02T18:59:00.000-07:00

Here are some Teaser Photos of the mountain style wedding day of Dana and Jacob. The entire day was stunning. The ceremony was in the meadow of Russell Valley, located in Truckee CA. Mount Rose was gleaming in the background. There will be many more photos to come from this romantic wedding day.

Congratulations to the Newlyweds, Dana and Jacob.

Megan & Cory's Engagement Photo Session- Oroville, CA.

2011-10-01T18:40:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I had the privilege of photographing Megan and Cory's engagement session. Because this cute and enthusiastic couple are both from Oroville, we decided that it would be the best place to have the shoot. Oroville, a small town just south of Chico, CA, is a great place for wedding and portrait photography because of the vast array of backgrounds and amazing details strewn throughout the historic downtown area.

Cory and his family have a long history in Oroville as rock masons. Because of this, we decided to start our day in Miner's Alley to take advantage of the crumbling brickwork and unkempt alcoves. From there we made our way to the recently completed Bicentennial Park which is perched above the levee bike trail where the couple jog frequently.

I had so much fun photographing this fabulous couple and cannot wait for their wedding in 2012! Congratulations on your engagement, Megan and Cory, and thank you for including me in your special day.

Northern California Wedding Photography - Kristine & Jeff's Wedding Day - Idlewild Park, Reno NV

2011-09-27T14:38:00.000-07:00

Kristine and Jeff are old friends of mine from the small town of Truckee, CA - we were all on the high school soccer teams together. I remember when news came that they were an item, it was no surprise because they made such a cute pair of high school sweethearts. Eleven years later, when Facebook notified me that they were engaged, I could not have been more excited when Kristine asked me to photograph the wedding. The date? September 9th, 2011. The venue? The Rose Garden at Idlewild Park in Reno, Nevada.

The day began with the bridal party getting ready in suites at Reno's recently renovated Peppermill. From there, the limos transported the guys and the girls separately to the site of the ceremony: the Rose Garden at Idlewild Park. The roses were in bloom and the sound of the Truckee River in the background made it a great venue for this couple with their ties to Truckee. The reception was held only a few steps away at the California Building where Kristine and Jeff began their lives as husband and wife.

Enjoy some of my favorite images from this special day. First up the bride and her beautiful bridesmaids.

The groom and his groomsmen were very photogenic and had a great time striking poses for the camera. I especially love them under the Reno sign, "The Biggest Little City in the World".

Here comes the bride with her Father on her arm. Let the ceremony begin.

Before the husband and wife were introduced at their reception, we took some images of the couple for the first time as newlyweds.

(Sidenote: The California Building and Idlewild Park was a gift from the state of California.)

Thank you Kristine and Jeff for letting my team and me be a part of your special day. I will never forget when I asked you to stand belly-to-belly and you guys chest-bumped. You two are just as cute now as you were back in high school. Congratulations and I wish you both a lifetime of happiness together.

Northern California Wedding Photography - Skylake Gardens, Durham, CA. - Jennifer and Kyles Motorcycle Themed Wedding

2011-09-08T16:39:00.000-07:00

Since shooting their engagement photo session back in March, I had been eagerly looking forward to Jennifer and Kyle's wedding. They are big time motorcycle riders and decided that their wedding ceremony would have a motorcycle theme.

Just south of Chico, California, in the small agricultural city of Durham lies a little gem of a place called Skylake Gardens . Tucked away amongst the nut and pomegranate orchards, Skylake Gardens rests at the shore of a man-made lake that is lined with massive willow trees. There are multiple gardens containing an array of romantic arches and walkways lined with beautiful flowers and various sculptural elements. The girl's "getting ready room" had a shabby chic style and made for a great backdrop for some fun detail shots. The boy's "getting ready room" was actually located in a boat house looking out on the lake. There were multiple locations on the property to choose from. This venue is a wedding photographer's dream!

My second shooter, my assistant and I showed up early in the morning on the day of the wedding. The girls were already in their chairs and Jen, the bride, had curls in her hair. Hanging in the corner was the dress. We start out shooting images of all the wedding details, and let me say one thing, this bride has style and class. I am always so surprised to see all the wedding details come together and Jen was going to be one gorgeous bride.

According to our Wedding Day Schedule, the majority of the photos would be taken pre-ceremony. The guys were first. Lined up with their shades on, standing along side the motorcycles made for some wonderful groomsmen portraits. Next, the bride and groom would see each other for the first time. Jen was looking down into her flowers as her groom walked towards her creating a beautiful "first look." We spent some time around the willow tree and in the gardens for some romantic, bride & groom portraits. Next, I was able to send Kyle away on a break and the girls were up. They were so much fun and full of energy! We managed to get just about all the photos done before the ceremony allowing for the bride and groom to greet their guests as newlyweds much sooner.

During the summer, Chico (and Durham) can get HOT! Being on a lake helped cool the temperature but the 100 degree weather was no surprise. The surprise was seeing all the motorcycles lined up at the front of the alter come ceremony time. You could hear the gasps in the audience as Jen rode up on the back of her father's motorcycle. She looked so stunning as she got off the bike and walked down the aisle to her groom.

Congratulations to the newlyweds, your wedding was amazing! Thank you for allowing me and my crew to be a part of your big day.

Todd & Corinne Gibson Wedding - Beautiful Chico, CA Wedding Photography - Cory's Country Inn

2011-09-01T13:44:00.000-07:00

Since I met Todd and Corinne several months ago at our engagement session at 5-Mile Park, I have been looking forward to their wedding. They seemed so excited about photography and insisted that the venue, Cory's Country Inn , was perfect. You can see on their website that it is a nice venue, but it doesn't compare to what is actually Cory's. For this event, the property was divided into three main areas: the pool area for appetizers and cocktails, the large grass courtyard where they had the reception, and the newly developed Secret Garden with beautiful white crape myrtles was the perfect ceremony setting. Each section was divided by stunning iron gates and arches. One of the best parts about the venue was Cory herself. She is so warm and helpful. We arrived and she immediately asked if we needed anything and told us about her property. Her bright personality really made her venue shine.

Now that we had the beautiful venue all I needed to do was be the wedding photographer. Corinne is gorgeous - her smile can light up a room. She and her bridesmaids really brought a sense of class and happiness to their photos. Then their was the groom, Todd, and his groomsmen. Just two words: Doublemint Gum. Not only are Todd's brothers identical twins, so are his cousins. Both parties were so much fun to photograph and Cory's Country Inn really allowed for some beautiful scenery.

As the time for the ceremony approached, everyone took their places. Finally, the majestic Secret Garden gates were opened to reveal the stunningly gorgeous bride, Corinne, to her waiting groom for the first time. The smile could not be removed from Corinne's face and soon enough, the pastor said, "I know pronounce you man and wife," followed by the nuptial kiss.

For the reception, Todd and Corrine were announced as husband and wife in the courtyard. It was a hot day but, luckily, they had a large tent covering the courtyard lawn which not only made the guests comfortable and happy, it also helped with photography so I wasn't working in direct sun. One fun addition to this part of the wedding was that before being able to get in line for the fabulous buffet, each table had to sing a song to the newlyweds! First up, Todd sang to his bride, then each table earned their spot in the buffet line with a string of fun party songs. Later in the evening, we had another song from Todd. This one was dedicated to his new wife and his parents. His father sang the same song to his mother on their wedding day. The low light and romantic venue made for the sweetest moment during this song - during their first dance the light was just low enough to create a dramatic flare as they danced away.

Congratulations to the newlyweds, Todd and Corinne Gibson!

Jen and Travis Engagement Session- Honey Run Covered Bridge, Chico, CA.

2011-08-25T22:22:00.000-07:00

I can not stress how lucky I am to have such awesome clients. Jen and Travis are both outdoors enthusiasts: they spend their free time fishing, camping, bike riding, hiking, and they enjoy these activities with the company of their Black Lab, Shasta. When Jen and I met for the wedding consultation our initial plan was to go with a fly fishing engagement session, but as the date got closer they realized they didn't have all the right gear for that type of fishing e-session. I told them we would play it by ear and to bring all sorts of outdoor gear to our photo session.

We met at the Honey Run Covered Bridge in Chico, CA later in the afternoon so we could end our photo shoot with that low, warm sunset light. We started out the session with a little fishing along Butte Creek. When I had heard we wouldn't be fly fishing I went on a mission to find some kind of fish to use as a prop. A few days before I was lucky enough to find a plush fish at The Dollar Store. Score! The plan was to hook it onto the end of the fishing line but eventually the fish caught the engagement ring.

Honey Run Covered Bridge is such a great place for a photo session. Because there are plenty of beautiful trees, we were able to take traditional style photos with beautiful green backgrounds. The covered bridge itself allows for some different fun and creative images, plus we had no problem letting their dog Shasta out of the truck for some photos. She was so full of energy but very well behaved so it made it easy to get a few shots of the the three of them.

For our last part of the engagement session, we were thinking bikes. We took a few bike shots at Honey Run, then I decided we would relocate. I recently noticed a new large bike chain-link entrance at the front of a bike trail and thought it would make for a fun spot to take some photos of the couple. I was right! The evening glow ended our engagement session and the final location surprised us with a rock wall and a fence. Plus Travis really started getting into the Engagement Session by poppin' some wheelies!

Thanks Jen and Travis so much for the wonderful engagement session, I am super excited for your wedding day.

Jessica & Benny's Northern California Wedding- The Palms Pavilion, Chico, CA.

2011-08-05T20:58:00.000-07:00

A few weeks before Jessica and Benny's big wedding day I was talking to Jessica on the phone to finalize the wedding details. She was so excited and she had a big surprise which included me, the photographer. Jessica proceeded to tell me about how she was hanging out at her apartment complex one day when she saw her maintenance manager pull up in a 39 Ford. Having a love for old cars she asked him if she could use it for photos on her wedding day. Luckily, he agreed, since it meant he would be able to hang out at the wedding and eat wedding food (which is often amazing). This awesome car really added a splash of class to Jessica and Benny's wedding day photos.

Jessica and Benny said their wedding vows at The Palms Pavilion in Chico, CA. The day was hot but it did not stop me and my fellow photographers from having a fun filled day of wedding photography. What made the day so fun was the enthusiasm and cooperation of the entire bridal party. Several of the members of the bridal party have been in weddings I have shot before, so they knew the drill. We are serious about having fun while taking photos. The guys were naturals and played the parts of "gangsters" and "The Mighty Ducks" and the girls were experts at being "Sassy and Shy" with their cute pockets that their dresses were made with. Plus Jessica's boots were a big hit - the guys had to show them off.

Thank you, Jessica and Benny, for allowing me to be a part of your wedding day. It was so much fun and simply beautiful. You two amaze me...the love you two have for each other is obvious in every picture. The honest love and friendship that a couple should have, you two have, and it really is something.

Congratulations to the Newlyweds, Jessica and Benny!

Northern California Wedding Photography - Kelsey & Cooper, Chico Ca.

2011-07-31T06:08:00.000-07:00

A couple of months ago, I had another opportunity to photograph a wedding with my good friend and colleague, Don Campbell. Here in Chico we don't expect rain in June so when the weather reports called for showers, the family scrambled to put together "Plan B." They decorated a work shed so creatively with holiday lights and old, rustic window frames. It was so beautiful that I wish I could have seen their "Plan A." Even though there was a constant sprinkle throughout the day, nobody seemed to notice and many guests came prepared with brightly colored umbrellas to shelter them as they watched the couple say, "I Do."

Congratulations to Kelsey and Cooper and thanks again, Don, for having me along. :)

As the "second" photographer, part of my job is to capture some of the fun, creative details - and this wedding was full of them!

Also, we were lucky enough to get a lot of great Romantic shots despite the rain.

Jessica & Benny's Northern California Wedding Day Teaser Photos- The Palms Pavilion, Chico, CA.

2011-07-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

Since the engagement photos of Jessica and Benny I have been excited for their wedding day. I knew that they were going to have an amazingly beautiful wedding. Not only was the wedding beautiful but it was so much fun. As I look through the images I smile and I laugh and am very excited that I got to be a part of this magical wedding day. Here are some teaser photos for the Newlyweds. Congratulations to Jessica and Benny!

Chico, CA. Wedding Photography- Corinne & Todds Enagagement Session

2011-07-14T17:16:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Corinne and Todd on their engagement. I am more than excited to photograph your wedding. Here are some of my favorite images from the engagement photo session taken at Bidwell Park in Chico Ca.

Northern California Wedding Photography-Junction City, Ca.-Kayla & Jaime

2011-06-29T13:36:00.000-07:00

One really exciting thing about being a wedding photographer is getting the opportunity to photograph the weddings of my friends, new and old. Almost 2 years ago my friend Jaime came to me with the unique idea of photographing the proposal to his girlfriend on Sundial Bridge in Redding, the location of one of their very first dates.

The wedding date was set and I was the wedding photographer. Destination: the parents of the bride's beautiful home: a mountain ranch in Junction City, Ca. Fresh mountain air, green grass and trees as far as the eye could see. The wedding day was beautiful and everyone was excited about pictures. The father of the bride even pulled out a Ford4000 tractor for us to use as a wedding day prop. Kayla and Jaime sure knew how to put on a reception: homemade tamales, a smoke pit bbq and even a dunk tank!

As a wedding photographer, it is important to capture those special details of every wedding. Some of the most important details of the wedding day are, of course, the rings, the dress and the shoes. As we were photographing the rings, Sean noticed this cute "sprinkler dog" looking up at it's forehead and said, "he just needs something on his head." I loved the idea!

The Bride, Kayla, was stunning and so were her girls. We had a drink on the tractor and mom even brought out a horse for a few pictures with the bride. However, the horses attention was distracted by the fresh green grass and even the bride's bouquet.

The guys were hilarious! They really knew how to work the camera.

Before all the festivities of the evening began I captured some images of the couple beginning their new lives together as Mr. and Mrs. Fuentes. Congratulations to the newly weds, Jaime and Kayla!

Missette Butte County, Allison- Oroville Portrait Photography

2011-06-24T14:11:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I got to photograph Allison at the Lott Home in Oroville. The location was beautiful and Allison was so much fun to work with. Here are some of my favorites from the portrait session.

Elizabeth & Christopher's Creative Session- Nevada City, Grass Valley Wedding Photograpy

2011-06-03T15:40:00.000-07:00

As one might imagine, a wedding day is often a GO! GO! GO! kind of day. From morning mimosas during the hair & makeup session to the dance floor frenzy of the reception, the day just seems to blow right by. Because of the time restrictions, I offer my wedding clients the option of having a Creative Session on another day (most often the day after the wedding, but could be before the wedding or even after the honeymoon). Not only do these sessions give us extra hours of the bride and groom in their wedding attire, they also allow us to free up valuable wedding-day hours to pay more attention to the formal shots (family, etc.). We still take plenty of photos of the bride and groom on the wedding day, this is just another way to get the bride and groom to their reception asap so they can boogie.

Elizabeth and Christopher were eager to have photos taken the day after the wedding. I was more than excited to photograph the newly weds in their full wedding attire without any time limits and at additional locations in Nevada City/Grass Valley. One of my favorite aspects of a Creative Session is the location, a decision I usually leave to my clients (especially when I am traveling out of Chico) because I am always excited for a new location to photograph. The primary location Chris and Beth decided would be the Empire State Mine. Rock walls, fountains, old style architecture, the place was beautiful!

Here are my favorites from the session. Thanks Elizabeth and Christopher for the amazing Creative Session.

Elizabeth and Christopher's Wedding Day - Wedding Photography in Nevada City

2011-05-23T19:38:00.000-07:00

The Goodlaff wedding has been a long wait since the engagement pictures taken back in January. As I mentioned in the engagement session post I have known Christopher (Chris) for a long time. So not only was this wedding important to me because I was photographing it but also because I got to see someone dear to me commit his love to someone as beautiful and smart as Elizabeth (Beth).

We started out the day with the bride and her bridesmaids at their hotel spending time taking pictures of the many details a wedding will have, most importantly the wedding dress. The hotel room gave many different options for where to hang the dress. I loved the dress on the gold framed fruit basket picture.

Beth spent endless hours preparing for her big day, paying attention to every detail creating a fabulous DIY wedding. Beth has also started a blog, The Goodlaff Bride. I enjoy following her blog because of all her creative ideas plus she tells it like it is. For her big day, Beth made a birdcage veil, a hair flower piece, a necklace, personalized hangers for each of her bridesmaids, and a lot more. Plus, the hint of blue on her wedding dress and the blue wedding shoes just showed how fun of a girl Beth is. She and her girls looked so stunning together.

One thing that really made this wedding unique was the old style buildings and architecture of Nevada City, California. The Miners Foundry Cultural Center was really a beautiful venue for a wedding. The guys photos were a little pressed for time but because we had the rustic buildings that Nevada City has to offer we got a few really neat pictures of the them hanging out around the buildings. Plus they had matching argyle socks so we managed to grab some photos of them showing their socks off.

After the ceremony we took some photos of the newly married bride and groom. Here are a few of my favorite of the two of them as newlyweds.

Congratulations to the newly weds, Christopher and Elizabeth Ratzlaff!

Senior Portrait Session - Beautiful Andrea

2011-05-17T17:51:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of photographing Senior Portraits for the lovely Andrea. Her mom is a friend of mine and was super excited to show me a location where all the high school seniors hang out. It is always awesome to find new locations to shoot.

We met in the afternoon at Chico's Hooker Oak Park and walked a ways until we found our first location...one of my favorite things - a graffiti covered wall. Andrea was wearing her Prom dress to start out the photo shoot: a perfect contrast. The graffiti covered wall made a lovely surrounding for the beautiful gown Andrea had found for her senior prom. (The dress was going to be a surprise for her boyfriend so I decided not to post the pictures until after the dance.)

We shot for a few hours with several outfit changes. Here are my favorite images from the photo session:

Congratulations Andrea!!!

Table Mountain Family Portrait Session - Roxie, Kat and The Kids

2011-05-03T12:19:00.000-07:00

During Christmas time my friend Kat asked me if she could purchase a family portrait session from me as a gift certificate for her girlfriend Roxie. Kat and Roxie have been friends of mine for several years now and I knew Roxie would be super excited to receive this gift from Kat. So, I made a gift certificate on the computer for Kat to give to Roxie in a card or as stocking stuffer.

Christmas came and went and because spring was quickly approaching, we decided that a great location for a family photo session would be Table Mountain, just north of Oroville, California. This location is famous for it's abundance of wildflowers and vast open space. As the date approached, we decided to shoot in the late afternoon into the evening to take advantage of the naturally moody sunset lighting.

Before the shoot, I suggested the family grab some props that are meaningful to them - and they brought PROPS! We played with a few stuffed animals, an umbrella and a toy microphone. The day of the photo shoot, the forecast called for showers all day but we decided to head up the hill anyway, just in case there was a break in the weather. Luckily, only minutes before the shoot, the clouds parted and the rain headed to the north. The props, the amazing natural beauty of Table Mountain and the perfect moody weather made for another fabulous photo shoot.

Here are some of my favorites from this family portrait session.

Model Photo Shoot on the Oregon Coast

2011-04-25T12:30:00.000-07:00

I am so lucky to have such good friends in my life. My boyfriend and I were invited to spend a week on the Oregon Coast at our friends' new home. We had no plans except for tide pooling, sand dollar hunting and exploring. Because we had so much time, I thought it would be a great idea to plan a photo shoot. While doing research on the location, it occurred to me that a model I worked with previously had recently moved to Oregon so I shot her an email to find out if she would be interested in making the drive out to the coast for a day of shooting with me, my boyfriend and our good friend Bruce. She replied, "Yes!"

We spent the day shooting around the Oregon Coast. Starting at a fabulously rustic walking bridge, we then went to a beach we had scoped out a few days before. The beach was perfect because it had tons of amazing drift wood, colorful river rocks and an arched cement bridge. It was so windy we decided to play with the wind using a colorful fabric to create motion. Finally, we ended our shoot at the beach - Washburn State Park - and our goal was to get some pictures of Edly walking along the beach. We didn't last very long with the wind blowing. It was cold and we were racing the waves trying not to get swept away.

We had such an amazing time on the Oregon Coast, thanks to our friends for inviting us and to our model, Edly, for making the journey and being such a professional. Here are some of my favorite shots from this photo session.

Kiley Ann is having a little girl- Chico, Ca Maternity Photo Session

2011-04-13T22:29:00.000-07:00

Just about 6 months ago I heard the wonderful news that my close friend Kiley is having a baby. A few weeks ago we got together at Bidwell Park for her maternity photo session. Her faithful companion Hallie, a beautiful and energetic Silver Lab, was along for the shoot and made an appearance in a few photos. My assistant had a fun day of playing fetch with Hallie to keep her occupied most of the photo session. Here are just a few of my favorites from the maternity session. Thank you Kiley Ann, I can't wait to meet the little girl!

Creative Clients! The Goodlaff Wedding Invitation's

2011-03-26T20:00:00.000-07:00

As a wedding photographer there are many elements of a wedding that I take photos of. One of them is the details of the wedding, and one of the most important details is the wedding invitation. A few weeks ago, I received a wedding invitation in the mail from a couple whose wedding I am photographing. I was so excited I had to take a picture of it, for several reasons. First, so the couple would have nice photographs of their wonderful invitations, and second, Beth is a blogging bride and I knew she would want to post the images to her BLOG. I have asked clients in the past to save me a wedding invitation so that I can photograph it wedding day and it always seems to get forgotten one way or another. Just so happens that The Goodlaff Couple wanted to send me an invitation.

When I pulled the invitation out of the envelope and saw their names written in an elegant cursive, I smiled. You could really see all the time and effort this couple put into their DIY wedding invitations. The colors are perfect and the ribbon around the front really added a simple beauty to the invitation. Most importantly they had all the information about the couple's big wedding day. And not only am photographing the wedding but I truly am guest as well. I have the privilege of capturing a day in this couples lives that will forever be remembered.

I included the images I took on the engagement CD and I had been waiting for Beth (Elizabeth) to post the invitations on her
BLOG before I posted them here. I would not want to spoil the surprise for any guests. Here they are, the wedding invitations to The Goodlaff Wedding.

Jennifer and Kyle's Engagement Session- Table Mountain, Oroville Ca.

2011-03-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

Two things that any wedding photographer would be excited about: stormy weather and a Harley Davidson motorcycle. Before every photo shoot, especially during the rainy months, I get anxious about the weather. I keep my fingers crossed that it wont rain but there will be clouds in the sky. The days leading up to Jennifer and Kyle's engagement session were rainy. We had to cancel our 1st scheduled session due to rain, but only had to postpone one day. The storm was still lingering in the sky, crossing my fingers worked this time.

When I had met with the couple they had told me about their love for riding motorcycles, so we knew right away that we would use the motorcycle in our engagement session. For this shoot, I knew I wanted a vast open space so I decided Table Mountain, in Oroville Ca., would be a perfect location. I have yet to see the mountain in full bloom but it is gorgeous up there. We were lucky to get bright greens, yellow and some splashes of purple. Here are my favorites from the session.

I had so much fun photographing this motorcycle riding couple and can't wait to photograph their big day. I see myself photographing a bride on a Harley in my near future. Thank you so much Jen and Kyle for the amazing engagement session.

Rachael & Ryan's Snowy Engagement Session at Boreal Resort

2011-03-13T23:23:00.000-07:00

Now is the time to introduce Rachael and Ryan. Rachael is an old friend from my home town, Truckee Ca. When I saw that ring on her finger I was so happy knowing my old friend had found the person she was choosing to be with the rest of her life. I had not met Ryan yet, but I knew I was going to like him.

After talking for a long time about engagement pictures we finally decided on a date: March 4th. Destination: Truckee Ca. Because both Rachael and Ryan work at Boreal and spend so much of their time there, we thought it would be a perfect place to start our snowy engagement photo session.

We loaded up my Subaru with the camera and snow gear. I was so excited to finally get the chance to photograph a couple in the snow. I had so many different ideas running around in my mind. Luckily, Rachael and Ryan were so much fun! It wasn't snowing, but there was plenty of fresh powder from the heavy amount of snow that fell the day before. For a few shots, we threw snow up in the air to create the look of falling snow. A few times, the couple even hiked halfway up the bunny hill, strapped on their skis and snowboard and rode through the powder snow to get a few action shots. After that, we had to have a snowball fight!

After exhausting all of the easy to get to spots at Boreal Resort, we decided to make our way into town. Being that Rachael and I are both from Truckee we both have a special attachment to a certain bridge - Rainbow Bridge on Old Hwy 40 that overlooks Donner Lake. Personally, every time I see that bridge and the amazing view of the lake below, a vast collection of memories flood my mind. Taking photos on the bridge, which is not equipped with a human-sized walkway, is a bit like playing live-action Frogger - dangerous, but so much fun!

After the bridge, we headed down the highway to Loch Leven Lodge where Rachael's Mom had dock access for us on Donner Lake. We photographed here for only a little bit because the day was getting long and our tummy's were starting to grumble.

Rachael and Ryan treated us to Burgers at a new (to me) joint called Burger Me. They have an eclectic menu with somewhat decent prices. They made their own veggie burger patties in-house and their sweet potato fries are addictive. Thank you two so much for such an amazing engagement session. I am looking forward to photographing your wedding in October. Also, thanks to my wonderful second shooter Don Campbell and my assistant, Sean, for carrying everything and throwing beautiful light.

Chico, Ca. Portrait Photographer- Regan and Drew have a Tea Party!

2011-03-07T16:15:00.000-08:00

My friend Kathy and I had been talking about having a tea party photo session with her two kids since before Christmas of last year. Kathy is an amazing cake decorator so we thought it would be a lot of fun to have some cupcakes and a cake on the table, as well as the tea pot and tea cups, so she would be able to use these photos for her own business website and portfolio. We discussed outfits and props before hand and we decided that the kids would be adorable in classic or formal style clothing. Kathy hit up the thrift stores around Chico and Orland and found a few things to add to her already large collection of costume outfits.

We decided before photographing that we would eat lunch and hang out. This way the kids would be slightly more comfortable with me rather then jumping right into the session. Once we were done eating the kids were excited for their cupcakes, Mom had been working on them all morning. She made a simple two tier white cake with a yellow flower on it, around a dozen assorted sizes of white and red roses and I must not forget to mention the white cake with fluffy white frosting and delicious freeze dried pineapple (Yummy!) Yes, Kathy sent us home with an assortment and they were delicious!

After lunch we were ready to start our tea party, we brewed the tea and loaded the cupcakes up to carry out to the field where we decided to have our tea party. We placed a table and two benches under a bare tree that we placed a Bakery Sign in, something she had in her kitchen. The kids were "at The Bakery, having a tea party" and they couldn't have been more cute and fun to photograph. I felt like a kid again as we were "guzzling the tea", as Drew would say.

Thanks Kathy for getting everything together! I love all the images, but here are a few of my favorites. It was so hard to pick, it went like this, "awwww I like that one, That one is cute, and that one too, and that one....over and over!"

Chico, Ca. Wedding Photograper- Jessica and Benny's Engagement Session

2011-02-28T13:25:00.000-08:00

When I initially meet with my clients one of the major goals is to really get an idea of who they are. Doing this helps me come up with unique ideas to bring those traits out in our photo shoot. When I met with Jessica and Benny back in November, I had mentioned how I wanted to photograph a couple at the Honey Run Covered Bridge, in between Chico and Paradise. Jessica got the biggest smile on her face and proceeded to tell me how she and Benny used to take drives up Honey Run Road all the way to Paradise and that it had special meaning to them. With that, the main location was picked out.

After talking to Jessica on the phone a few times we came up with a pretty fun-filled day of engagement photos. Because Jessica is a 49ers fan and Benny is a Cowboy's fan, we had to play a little football. Additionally, I was also very excited for a giraffe umbrella (which turned out to be a tiger) and we needed some "Save The Date" photos so we decided to have some fun with chalk!

The long-anticipated engagement session of Jessica and Benny was so much fun and well worth the wait. Thanks Jessica and Benny, I had so much fun and can't wait to share your wedding day with you.

Destination Wedding Photography- Darla and Marvin's Florida Wedding

2011-02-18T20:37:00.000-08:00

In August, 2010, my boyfriend and I bisected our 15-day cross-country train adventure with a few wonder-filled days in Lakeland, Florida. The mission: meet up with fellow wedding photographer Don Campbell and shoot the Darla & Marvin Short wedding.

Being a Northern California wedding photographer, this little stopover in the South really taught me a couple of lessons both as a photographer and as a traveler.

First lesson: the enveloping Florida humidity can wreak havoc on your lens. When going from the A.C. to the outdoors, the inside of my lens would completely fog up for almost 5 minutes.

Second lesson: while shooting weddings in the southern heat, one set of clothes may not be enough. Being a wedding photographer, your priority must be to get the shot. Sometimes, this requires standing in direct sunlight in 95'F at 100% humidity (literally - I looked it up!) which, inevitably, means you're gonna get wet. After the bridal party portrait session, I felt as though I had just jumped out of the lake, clothing and all.

Third lesson: Spanish Moss makes an amazing background and it grows everywhere around here! I would love another chance to shoot a couple in the moss - it would be the perfect setting for a fantastic creative session.

Darla, Marvin and their friends and family sure made our visit to Florida a wonderful experience for our first trip to the south. They make such a sweet, southern couple and told us we are more than welcome to visit them if ever we found ourselves in the Lakeland area - we just might take them up on their offer someday.

Here are some of my favorite images from the day:

Chico, Ca. Pet Photography- Table Mountain, Oroville Ca.- Little Misha

2011-02-16T21:30:00.000-08:00

This last weekend we decided to have a picnic up at Table Mountain, we had little Misha with us so I brought the camera hoping that there would be blooms and we could capture her running in them. However, we found ourselves to be a little early and there wasn't really any flowers in bloom, just a few specs of spring here and there. Still Misha had her own little photo session and was as cute as can be.

Chico, Ca. Wedding Photographer- The Goodlaffs Engagement Session

2011-02-03T20:39:00.000-08:00

Christopher (Chris) Ratzlaff and Elizabeth (Beth) Goodrich, together make Chris and Beth Goodlaff. Everyone needs a Goodlaff and this photo shoot was filled with plenty of good laughs. Chris is a long time friend of mine from my hometown and I couldn't have been more excited when I saw the news on FaceBook - he had found the one who stole his heart and was ready to share the rest of his life. I had to click the "like" button. I had yet to meet her, but I knew I was going to like her.

As life will take you in many different directions, Chris and I have talked only a handful of times in the past few years. A few months after announcing their wedding, Chris sent me an email asking if I would be interested in shooting their big day: of course I would! After meeting Beth, I knew he had made a great decision: not only is she a sweetheart, she keeps him in line! Best of all, it is obvious that their love for one another is real. I told them to give me funny faces they both stuck their tongues out at me, as if they read each others minds. Not to mention that they both look great in glasses! Chris and Beth have chosen to spend the rest of their lives together and they couldn't be more excited about it.

Because they are getting married in Grass Valley, we decided to do the engagement photos in their stomping grounds. We started shooting at the North Star Mining Museum in Grass Valley, then made our way to the wedding venue, Miners Foundry Cultural Center in Nevada City. This building is absolutely gorgeous - it has the church feeling without actually being one. From there we looked around downtown for a little then decided we better hurry on our next location. Chris and Beth treated us to lunch and we ate at their place so they could change into their evening outfits. These more formal photos, taken at the covered bridge in Bridgeport, remind me of a Valentine's date.

Thanks Chris and Beth for such a wonderful day, I can not wait for the wedding day!

Look for The Goodlaff's wedding photos in May!

Chico, Ca. Wedding Photography- Beautiful Brides and Bridesmaids

2011-01-28T21:18:00.000-08:00

Brides and Bridesmaids spend hours before the wedding planning their perfect hair style and finding the perfect lip gloss. When game day comes they are always ready to look their best. As a wedding photographer, my job is to photograph the girls getting ready in fun and creative ways. Here are a few fun getting ready photos. Then I have some of my favorite bridesmaids photos, these ladies were all ready for their close ups.

Julie and Jesse are having a Girl!- Chico, Ca. Maternity Photography

2011-01-15T21:14:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I got an email from from Julie saying that they were expecting a little girl. I shot the wedding of Julie and Jesse in the Spring of 2009 and it felt so wonderful having them think of me to do their maternity photos. With plenty of notice in advance to plan, we came up with a few fun ideas for the shoot. I saw Jesse on TV after the Giants won the World Series, saying he had been a fan since he was a little kid, so what better than to wear their colors. Chico's Bidwell Park provided plenty of natural beauty for the photo shoot. Thanks Julie and Jesse - I can not wait to meet little Aubrey Madison!

Ashley and Andy Prego Session- Chico, Ca Maternity Photography

2011-01-02T21:30:00.000-08:00

One of the most amazing parts about being a photographer is getting the chance to see a couple grow and build a family. Ashley and Andy have been with me since the beginning, I even shared my 25th birthday with them on their wedding day! Now I get to photograph the new addition to the family! Here are the belly photos taken a few weeks back on a beautiful weekend in Durham, Ca.

Creative Clients!

2010-12-08T20:17:00.000-08:00

I love what my clients create using the images we took. Andy made a beautiful bench from the photos taken from our first photo shoot, before the two were even engaged, for Ashley. The possibilities are endless!

Megan & Justin- Chico, Ca. Wedding Photographer- Creative Session, after the wedding!

2010-12-05T18:23:00.000-08:00

Megan and Justin were so excited about the Creative Session, they let me do whatever I wanted. Whenever I get the opportunity to photograph a bride and groom after the wedding day I get really excited, and my creative juices start to pump. As usual I grabbed my orange suitcase of props and decided that we would venture all around the City of Chico. We went from Bidwell Mansion over to the 5-mile recreation park, where sunset was amazing. The first few images I want to show are just of Megan, a natural beauty, following will be my favorite images of the two of them, fully enhanced in Photoshop.

Thank you Megan and Justin for allowing me the opportunity to create these images, you two are beautiful subjects and I could not have done it without you:)

Megan & Justin- Creative Wedding Session- Thank You!

2010-11-29T18:51:00.000-08:00

I love when my bride and groom are excited about photos. Megan and Justin were so excited to have a
Creative Wedding Session with me after the wedding. So, shortly after the wedding we got to spend all day shooting photos all over Chico, Ca. This was a great opportunity for Megan and Justin to create a "thank you" image, sent out with the thank you cards. I knew I carried around a mirror for something:) More from this amazing artistic wedding session to come soon!

Armed for Apocalypse- Chico, Ca. Band Photography

2010-11-23T22:58:00.000-08:00

The guys from the band are always so much fun for me to work with. I love working on their photos in post production just as much. Here are some more from the grungy, moody weather photo shoot.

Thanks guys for the awesome photo shoot!

Chico, Ca. Band Photography- Remember these guys!

2010-11-20T12:08:00.000-08:00

Armed for Apocalypse, the band that I have grown to love photographing, recently got back from a tour of the U.S. They had the idea to take photos just as they were pulling back into Chico from their limited shower trip.

Just over a year ago they were looking like THIS

Here is the 1st image in this bands, back from the road, photo session.

Family Portrait Photography- Bidwell Mansion, Chico, Ca.- Riley and Andersen

2010-11-11T22:53:00.000-08:00

Here are the rest of the images from the shoot with Riley and Andersen. I had so much fun with these little ones. The mansion really made for a beautiful backdrop as well as the golden light from the morning sun. Right now is the perfect time to get family portraits done, right before the holidays!

This first image is of Riley, I brought a string of pearls for her to wear and play with.

Andersen just loved the suitcase and wanted to take a picture by himself and the suitcase. He approved this image by picking it out from the whole set out of the display screen on the back of the camera.

Both kids just loved all the trees, they ran from tree to tree and I followed waiting for the perfect look.

Here is one of the most familiar and beautiful benches in Chico. Riley called the pathway that leads up the bench "the secret pathway". The bench reminds me of a classic movie, "The Secret Garden". So, "the secret pathway" led us to these next images.

Here the kids are playing around on the columns of the mansion.

It's holiday portrait time! Chico, Ca- Family portrait photography- Bidwell Mansion, Chico Ca.

2010-11-10T21:35:00.000-08:00

These two cute kids are Riley and Andersen, Mom hired me to take pictures of them for Christmas presents for the family. We met early a few mornings ago and the kids were full of energy. They had no problem playing with the suitcase I brought along in this 1st image.

Portrait season is here! More to come soon of these two.

Wedding Photography- Chico, Ca- Bride and Groom Portrait Session

2010-11-05T12:42:00.000-07:00

Every wedding should have a special time set aside for the bride and groom to get their portraits taken together, in traditional and modern style images. Here are my personal favorite images from Megan and Justin's Romantic Portrait Session.

Chico, Ca. Portrait Photography- Karli and Amanda

2010-11-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

Just before Halloween I asked Karli if she would model for me and the Butte College studio photography class. With little convincing I had two models for a simple class portrait demo. To my surprise when we arrived at the photo shoot there was another family there. This was not a bad thing because it allowed most of the class to do their own photo shoot while Vinnie and I took pictures of the girls. The pictures in the previous post were the Halloween themed portrait where as these images are a more modern style portrait. Enjoy!

Happy Halloween!!! Portrait Session- Karli and Amanda

2010-10-31T20:16:00.000-07:00

A not so scary Halloween photo session:

Paradise, Ca. Wedding Photography- Megan & Justin- A beautiful fall wedding

2010-10-26T16:25:00.000-07:00

About a week ago I shot the wedding of Megan and Justin in Paradise, Ca. The lighting was stunning and the trees have started to turn colors. This time of year makes for some stunning photographs, one reason why fall in my favorite time of year.

Here is an image taken of Megan and Justin where I just love the colors the trees in the background. Congratulations again you two, and thanks again for sharing your day with me. I will post more photos soon.

Halloween Portrait Photography- Chico, Ca.

2010-10-25T19:22:00.000-07:00

Fall is here and so is Halloween. This last Saturday my roommate, boyfriend and I ventured off to the corn maze and pumpkin patch in Orland, Ca. The weather was bad but we decided we could beat the storm. This included taking photos of Emily, picking out our pumpkins and completing the maze. Mission Accomplished!! I got some fun Halloween style images of Emily, we completed the maze in only 40 minutes and we picked out three adorable pumpkins (to be carved later).

Here are a few fun Halloween portraits I took of Emily.

Chico, Ca.- Modeling Session- Sara Continued

2010-10-22T22:42:00.000-07:00

Here are the rest of the images of Sara. Thanks Sara for not being shy or afraid of getting in the water, these images are Sexy, And Beautiful!!

Modeling Session with Sara, Oroville CA.

2010-10-03T10:54:00.000-07:00

About a year ago I shot images for a client who wanted pictures done of his motorcycle with a beautiful babe. Well that beautiful motorcycle babe, Sara, came back to me to get some personal images for her own portfolio. This hot and oily shoot contained several outfit changes and some tulle in water.

Although she is not a fan of the water and the Feather River was cold and full of huge salmon, Sara waded out to a flat rock for a few shots. Here is one of the them taken near the end of the day. Enjoy!

Model Session: A few more of Ashlee

2010-10-02T19:27:00.000-07:00

Before I left on vacation I had a fun modeling session with my friend Ashlee. Whenever I photograph with Ashlee it is always so much fun because we combine props and ideas. She brings many different outfits and I bring suitcases and old cameras. Ashlee has a pair of skull boots that were just sooo cool for the first part of the photo session.

The second part of the session Ashlee put on a soft white dress and totally changed the mood of the session. With my parasol we played with lighting on her face and around her neck. Thanks Ashlee for the fun shoot!

Adventure Florida via Amtrak

2010-09-04T21:56:00.000-07:00

The next 15days my boyfriend and I are on adventure via Amtrak. Here is the route we will be going (in red).

Follow our
BLOG for a glimpse of being on the road. We will see sites in such as Chicago as well as eat a deep dish pizza, explore the National mall in Washington D.C., ride the roller coasters at Walt Disney World and eat good food in New Orleans.

Chico Portrait Photography- Model Session: We love Ashlee!!!

2010-09-04T18:58:00.000-07:00

Who can I count on for a last minute photoshoot? Well Ashlee of course. One of my favorite models. In the midst of planning our 15 day train trip adventure I wanted to get a photo shoot together so I would have something fresh and new to work on while on the train! Not to mention I missed shooting with Vinnie and I love shooting with Ashlee, having new photos for the train was a must. SO, I messaged Ashlee and she was available for me no problem!! Vinnie and I brought all of my props to Oroville where we spent the day shooting! Here is the tease from the shoot, I will post more when I get back from my trip!

Chico Portrait Photography- Lovely Emily

2010-08-06T21:57:00.000-07:00

Introducing my lovely roommate Emily We were bored the other day and decided we would finally take pictures of Emily around the apartment complex. We have been talking about taking pictures but time has been an issue. The shoot was so short, but WOW was it fun, mostly because of the semi challenging location. I am so very happy with the images we ended up with after a short 40 minute photo session. My poor roommate Emily ended up getting a good taste of what a model goes through. Thanks Emily, you are beautiful!!

Chico, Ca. Wedding Photography- Monique and Eddie

2010-08-03T23:40:00.000-07:00

Recently I got the privilege of assisting a wedding photographer from Santa Cruz. Amanda Lock Photography was traveling to Chico, Ca. for a wedding and was looking for an assistant photographer. I answered an add and she liked my work and immediately we hit it off! I knew the wedding was going to be a blast with lots of opportunity to learn from another photographer and plenty of opportunity to shoot. The wedding was beautiful, the couple was stunning and the whole day was fantastic.

Be sure and check out Amanda Lock Photography! Also here is more coverage of the beautiful Monique and Eddie Wedding via Amanda's Blog. Thank you Amanda for everything. And of course Congratulations to Monique and Eddie.

Here are a few images I really enjoyed

Helen Lake- Lassen National Park

2010-07-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

Vacation Image #1

Just after reaching 8,551 ft, the highest road point in Lassen National Park. We started driving down the mountain. Around a few turns we see this Lake, frozen over with the most beautiful shades of blue water. My breath was taken away by this site, the photo does only partial justice. Please Enjoy!

Chico, Ca. Wedding Photography- Beautiful Dress, Beautiful Bride Jenny

2010-07-21T21:06:00.000-07:00

Chico, Ca. Wedding Photography- Congratulations Cherie & Alex

2010-07-04T13:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my friend and fellow photographer, Alex, said "I do" to his beautiful fiance, Cherie. The wedding was small but absolutely beautiful, all the way to the last detail.

Here is a HAPPY 4th of July post with a wonderful CONGRATULATIONS to the newlyweds:
Cherie and Alex (accompanied with Marco, their puppy). I wish you two the best of luck on your new adventure as bride and groom! Thank you so much for including me in your wonderful day.

Chico, Ca. Wedding Photography- Ashley's Bridal Session

2010-07-01T20:22:00.001-07:00

Before I shot the wedding of Ashley and Andy, I spent some time with Ashley shooting a bridal session which included pictures of her in her after party/honeymoon wedding dress. Bridal sessions are so much fun and we always get some beautiful images. Thanks Ashley!

Chico, Ca. Wedding Photography- Ashley and Andy's Oroville Wedding

2010-06-28T22:27:00.000-07:00

I have been looking forward to this wedding since the couple photos we took several years ago, then the engagement photos. Ashley and Andy are so much fun and I was more then thrilled to be able to photograph their wedding, even though it was on my 25th birthday. The Bridal Party got ready at Oroville Gold Country Casino and the wedding ceremony and reception was at Lake Oroville Golf and Country Club. The casino had nice large rooms and large windows to allow for a lot of natural light and the staff at the Country Club was so friendly making my job easier. I am very happy with how the wedding turned out. Here are a few of my favorite images.

Wedding Photography- Chico, Ca- Tasha and Keith

2010-06-10T23:08:00.000-07:00

I got the privilege of assisting a wedding with a friend of mine a few weeks ago. The best part about assisting on a wedding is I have the choice of working up only the photos I want to work on. Here are a few artistic style wedding images from the wedding.

Chico, Ca. Wedding Photography- Janae and Danny Tease

2010-05-19T21:16:00.000-07:00

This last weekend I helped celebrate the commitment and love of a wonderful couple as they said "I Do". You might remember Janae and Danny from their engagement session, HERE.

Here are just a few tease images from the wedding. I will have many more to show as we did have an Artistic After-Session on Sunday.

Wedding Photography- Chico, Ca- Creative Wedding Dress Session

2010-04-19T19:50:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more from the photo shoot on Table Mountain with Trisha!

Chico, Ca. Senior Portrait Photography- Mira in Wonderland

2010-04-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

Mira, a fellow student in Mike Agliolo's Photo Studio Class at Butte college, had asked me to shoot her high school senior portraits for her. Being interested in the arts as well she wanted fun images of herself and who she is. Mira, is a fan of Alice in Wonderland. She has read many of the books, and has watched a lot of the movies including some foreign films. I brought a mirror to play with reflections and Mira brought her cat ears. This shoot was slightly different than a normal senior portrait session. I had such a blast! Thanks Mira for the fun photo session, I think we got some really neat photos!!

Chico, Ca. Wedding Photography- Creative Wedding Dress Session

2010-04-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

About a week ago I had decided to get a small group of photographers together for a fun photo shoot up on Table Mountain in Oroville, CA. The Goal was to catch the weather at it's most moody point. I had already been talking to Trisha, the model and also a fellow photographer about the shoot so she was ready for whatever the weather had to offer us. With luck we picked the perfect day!

Chico Pet Portrait Photography- Kiley and Hallie

2010-04-06T22:50:00.000-07:00

Last week my friend Kiley and I had decided to retake photos of her and her dog, Hallie. I shot pictures of the two of them when Hallie was just a puppy. Together we decided we wanted to head up to table mountain in hopes that some flowers would be in bloom and we would get some nice weather and a wide open blue sky. Sure enough, there were yellow blankets of flowers and the weather was cloudy out.

Being a Lab, Hallie had a lot of energy, so we played "chuck it" with her until she sort of calmed down. After playing "chuck it" and treating Hallie to some doggie snacks we were able to get the attention of the high energy dog.

To see Hallie as a puppy, view them Here.

Sundial Bridge Surprise: Kayla and Jaime: Chico Engagement Photography

2010-03-30T21:55:00.000-07:00

Before Kayla said "YES" to Jaime we spent several hours shooting on the Sundial Bridge and the botanical gardens.

Here are the images taken before Jaime asked the question:

Oh ya.... There is one thing that made this day almost a disaster:

Don't worry the equiptment is fine:) If you watched the video closely you can see that this was right before the proposal. I was in the process of positioning Jaime and Kayla so that Jaime could get down on one knee! And you can see both families on top of the bridge getting ready to surprise Kayla. Thank you Jaime and Kayla and once again, Congratulations!!

Butte College Photography: All American, Norman Rockwell: Model - Lauren

2010-03-29T20:50:00.000-07:00

The first shoot of the Studio Photography class assignment, "All American, Norman Rockwell," was mine.

The original plan was this: put a male and a female model, acting as though they were on their first date to the carnival, on the Butte College football field with about 40 balloons and a wide open, beautiful blue sky. Unfortunately, as should be expected, there were a few issues. First, the male model was a no-show. Second, rain began to fall.

So...? Plan B: shoot in the Butte College art department's brand new Black Box Theater. The new concept? Shoot the female model, Lauren, as a southern belle at the carnival jumping with complete excitement and happiness. Thankfully, Lauren was able to really get into character and turned a failed shoot into a fun and educational day of photography.

Here are some more images from the shoot:

As the shoot neared the end we realized we had 20 balloons that needed to be taken care of. Lauren wanted to take one home, and a few others were inhaled, always a good laugh. I had decided that I wanted to pop the balloons and maybe catch something exciting. Here is a fun video of this event.

and an image:

Thank you everyone for helping me with this shoot!!!

Chico, Ca Engagement Photography: Redding, Ca.- Sundial Bridge Surprise

2010-03-23T22:06:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, my friend Jaime came to me with a unique and exciting idea. He was planning to propose to his girlfriend, Kayla, at the Sundial Bridge in Redding, CA. Being that this is the location of one of their first dates, almost five years ago, it holds very special meaning to them.

This is how it went down:
Jaime told Kayla that they were going to get portraits taken at the Sundial Bridge. My assistant and I met them at the Turtle Bay parking lot at 10A.M. After a few hours of shooting on the bridge and in the botanical gardens, my assistant went back to the car to get "an important piece of camera equipment." In actuality, he was going to the parking lot to meet with both Jaime and Kayla's families. While I was photographing the couple under the sundial side of the bridge, the families gathered together above them, just out-of-site. When the time was right, my assistant signaled the family to move to the side of the bridge, at which time Jaime got down on his knee to propose. Through the shock of seeing her and Jaime's families standing on the bridge above them, and realizing that the whole day had been a set up, Kayla said, "Yes!" Well, that's not the only reason why she said yes. Even a passerby overhead said, "you can see the Bling from up here"

Congratulations Jaime and Kayla!

The photos I took before the proposal will be up soon:)

Butte College Photography: All American, Norman Rockwell

2010-03-22T22:21:00.000-07:00

The advanced students in Michael Agliolo's studio photography class at Butte College have decided to take on a photography challenge. The challenge to each of the students: Create an "all American, Norman Rockwell" themed image that tells a story. At the end of the semester, we should have a series of five images that tell a different story.

A week and a half ago we shot the first of the five images. As it happened I was volunteered to be the first Head Photographer. Here is the teaser on what sort of images are to be expected from this assignment.

Wedding Photography- Chico, Ca- Summer Love

2010-03-15T14:05:00.000-07:00

We just leaped forward one hour and this means long and hot, summer days and nights, something this photographer yearns for. Thinking back on last summer, and all that was accomplished makes me hope and plan for this upcoming summer to be twice as successful as last.

Last summer I got the opportunity to shoot a wedding with my good friend Rich. The wedding was in the Dahlia Gardens right along the coast of Fort Bragg. I never got the chance to blog about any of the images from this wedding because I was in the middle of other photo sessions to post process. Since I was just playing assistant on this wedding I never went through the images. As I have been reminiscing about last summer I came across a few romantics portraits that I really like. I decided I would blog about a few beauties from last summer as we get closer and closer to those long summer days.

Introducing The Band, Rewind! Chico Band Photography

2010-03-11T20:43:00.000-08:00

Again, here is the bands website, they are local!!
RewindRocksChico

Holly: lead vocals

Warren: Lead guitar, backing vocals

Susan: Backing vocals, percussion

Chip: Drums, percussion

Mike: keyboards, guitars, and vocals

Rich: bass guitar

Chico Band Photography: Rewind

2010-03-08T19:11:00.000-08:00

I got the privilege to photograph a local band, Rewind. Rewind is a group of 6 individuals who play cover songs from some of our all time favorite, Classic Rock and New Country titles. This band came to me in hopes for some fun and unique photos for their press release CD. I jumped right on this opportunity, I really enjoy shooting images of a group of people who are simply excited to get their photos taken. Sure enough, come Friday afternoon the band was more than ready to have their photos taken.

Please take a second to check out the bands website, which can be found here: RewindRocksChico

I will introduce the band in the next post:)

Chico Portrait Photography- Oldies BUT Goodies

2010-03-04T11:14:00.000-08:00

I have recently decided to go through all of my old dvds and back them up digitally on my hard drive. Most dvds only have a 5 year life span so it is important to make sure you have them backed up in two places. The images I have been backing up are some of the very first images I ever took as a student. I must say, I am so incredibly shocked with the amount of knowledge I have learned in the past 3 years. Going through these old photos has taught me so much about posing, lighting, editing and composition that I would recommend as photographers we all do what I have done at some point in our careers, and again in several years. As we progress further as professionals we must not forget where we started out at. This is what makes us the photographers we are today. Pull out those old photos and as you go through them you will remember what not to do, as well as what worked really well. You may have forgotten some old techniques or poses or locations. So, with that in mind here are a few of my first photos that inspired me to become a professional photographer.

Wedding Photography- Chico, Ca- Details, Details, Details

2010-02-27T16:53:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of my favorite wedding details from 2009:)

Using color balance in Photoshop

2010-01-25T21:07:00.000-08:00

Here is an image I created from the photo shoot last Friday. I was trying a new techinique using color balance in Photoshop. After many adjustments and a few textures later I created this dreamy, mystical photo. I hope you like it!

Chico, Ca. Wedding Photography- Heather and Adam

2010-01-21T14:51:00.000-08:00

My first wedding of 2010 has come and gone. This was a wonderful wedding to bring the new year in with. A simple church wedding with lots of smiling faces. I enjoyed working with this couple because of their simplicity and love for each other. This was a true and honest love that is hard to come by.

This Chico Wedding was located at the Grace Brethren Church and the reception was at the Chico Grange Hall.

Chico Photographers Group Photo Session

2010-01-17T21:41:00.000-08:00

A few Fridays ago I set up a photo shoot, with the help of other local Chico photographers, we were able to make this photo shoot a big success. We had about 10 photographers all with different styles and talent.

Here are a few of the photographers who made this shoot possible, and their websites:
Bruce King
Jan Austin
Vinnie Johnson
Jason Halley
Shannon Rosan
Debbi Smirnoff (N/A)
Andrii Avdieichyk (N/A)
Be sure and look at each website as they are, in my opinion, some of the best talent this city of Chico has to offer:)

And a special Thanks to our lovely model, Cheri Clark, who was professional and beautiful in every way. She was such a joy to work with.
AND
Alla, who I did not get the pleasure of shooting but she made it possible for us to split up into 2 different groups.

2010 Business Card

2010-01-04T20:41:00.000-08:00

My new business card to bring in the new year. Front and back!!

Thank you to Sean Orozco for the beautiful design work, this is exactly what I was looking for. And thank you to Bidwell Design for the fast and quality printer services. Think Local, shop Chico, CA.!!:)

Chico Wedding Photography- More Ashley and Andy

2009-12-28T18:31:00.000-08:00

Here are a few more pictures of the fun couple. Notice the matching Pumas:) and the date of their wedding, looks like I have to share. I am very excited about it!

Chico Wedding Photography- Ashley said "YES" to Andy

2009-12-26T19:08:00.000-08:00

Almost Exactly a year ago I took couple portraits for a lovely couple out in Durham California. On Thanksgiving day Andy popped the question to Ashley and she said YES!! I feel so honored to be involved in this couples wedding because they are so much fun to work with. Here are a few of the engagement photos I have worked up so far. I will be posting more soon.

to view the couples photos from a year ago: It's Ashley and Andy

Chico Pet Photography- Portraits with your Horses

2009-12-14T15:36:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I helped set up an event at my really good friend Tammy's horse stables. They event was titled "Pictures with your horses". This was an opportunity for all of her clients to get portraits of them with there horses. All the clients got really into the event and brought antlers for their kids to wear and poinsettia wreaths for around the horses necks.

Also I had two wonderful assistants at this event, Vinnie (whos work can be found HERE) and Don (work found Here). I would not have been able to do this without either of them. Vinnie, the ever wonderful and faithful reflector or second shooter boy, was as always right there when I needed him. And the Amazing, Don was set free to take wild action photos of the girls riding there horses. It was a Great event and I am lucky to have such wonderful assistants who made everything possible. Thank you Guys!!

Check out the entire event at
http://collages.net
Username: Portraits and Horses
Password: 24973

Chico, Ca. Wedding Photography- Engagement Session- Janae and Danny

2009-12-13T17:41:00.000-08:00

Thank you Janae and Danny for the wonderful engagement session. I had so much fun shooting your engagement photos. You were both such troopers as we traveled all over the town of Chico to produce such beautiful photos. The laundry mat photos turned out to be some of my favorite images.

Enjoy~

Chico, Ca. Family Portrait Photography- The Amazing Bartel Family

2009-12-09T15:56:00.001-08:00

You don't see many family sessions on my blog, but I do enjoy shooting them. Especially when they are as wonderful as this family. Such a joy to work with and such a challenge at the same time.

Thank you guys for being such troopers early in the morning. It was Chilly!

KaaaPOW (gets a smile on the kids faces;)

Chico Portrait Photography- Jen and Travis Finals

2009-11-29T21:54:00.000-08:00

Jen and Travis were a very enjoyable couple to work with. The first image from this set, in the previous post, was them allowing me have fun. Here are the more traditional photos of this lovely couple. I hope you enjoy!

And, here is me having a little fun in Photoshop.

Chico Portrait Photography- Jen and Travis

2009-11-17T20:09:00.000-08:00

Introducing Jen and Travis....

A very fun and enjoyable couple to work with.

More to come soon!

Chico Wedding Photography- Engagement Session- Butte College Photography Demo

2009-11-08T20:29:00.000-08:00

I was recently asked to give a portrait demo on an engagement session in Michael Agliolos Studio Arts class at Butte College. Of course I said yes, since I spend most of my time on Fridays in his class anyways. For this demo, I talked mostly about the lighting, the lens I would choose to use, when and why, and posing the clients to make them look comfortable and in love. I learned a lot from doing this demo and hope to do more like this in the future.

This lovely couple is actually not even a couple at all. They are two models who were brought for the demo. They did absolutely wonderful and you can't even tell in the images that they aren't a couple. Thank you Tiffany and Steven for being such great sports.

Chico Wedding Photography- Engagement Session- Heather and Adam

2009-11-07T17:25:00.000-08:00

Heather and Adam are an amazing couple, both raised in Chico and graduated at Chico State. I enjoyed shooting this couple for there simple shy yet playful personalities. They really shined and gave me some amazing images!

Look for there wedding photos in January!

Thank you Heather and Adam for the wonderful engagement session.

Chico Photography- Boudoir Photography- Kim's Finals

2009-10-25T18:30:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! As promised here are some more images of the always amazing Kim. The theme here is "give him what he wants"... What do you think boys;)

Chico, Ca. Model Session- Sara and Motorcycle

2009-10-19T21:13:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are some more images from the Model-Motorcycle session. The motorcycle was the primary focus for this photo shoot but the babe sure did her job! Thanks Sara.

Chico Photography- Kim's Boudoir Tease

2009-10-18T17:44:00.000-07:00

My good friend Kim recently asked me to take sexy photos of her, of course I said yes. Kim is a mother of two and she asked me to mention her kids as I post pictures of her, lol. Actually, one of my very first photo shoots in the studio was of the lovey Kim, nickname "Prego", while pregnant with her baby boy, Rowdy. I am very happy with these images so far~ For now, enjoy a teaser.