Holy wow. There’s something about film that amazes me. It’s been so long since I’ve actually shot with it on a paid basis. Honest. The simplicity of digital. But the quality is freaking outstanding. I’m going back to film, the mood, the texture is so who I am as a person and a photographer. Expect me to make the complete convergence by 2012 to film, medium format, to really show who I am as a person, as a photographer. A film post from my family shoot with my high school friend a couple weeks ago. This is her daughter Avery. Amazing young girl. I cannot wait to see what and who she evolves to be in the near future. She is amazing. I love this 13-year-old girl. As I’ve said in an previous post, I still think Avery came from my eggs and not Jessica’s. It’s an outstanding joke with me and Jessica.

Avery, 13 years and a whole world to accomplish before her. Many successes and failures and experiences on her life path. She is the world to me. Jessica’s whole family is.

No post processing on this image. Direct from Richard Photo Lab to resized for this post. Film. Amazing.

It was a gorgeous and hot day on that Friday, Saturday was cold, drizzly and soon to be rainy. What can one do when God decides to show his happiness in whimpering tears for Heidi and Trevor’s wedding? We had such a great day, regardless of the rain. The ceremony took place on the deck of the Dockside Guest Quarters, instead of the grassy lawn. (Mosquitos were sooooo loving me on this trip!) Very close quarters as the guests stood very close to the tiny space where Heidi and Trevor said their vows. I wouldn’t have missed her wedding for the world, such happiness and tears and love. Such joy! I had such a great time reconnecting with her two sisters and finally meeting her brother and her parents. Even hanging out with old friends that raise hell as I raise hell back. (muhahhahah!) Heidi, Trevor and I finally were able to venture out sans rain to make photographs following their wedding (when the mosquitos were so out and about raising hell!) Thank you Heidi and Trevor for bringing me out from Tahoe to photograph your amazingly phenomenal wedding. Now come visit me! You ain’t been to Tahoe yet!

Something I learned during the WPPI Road Show in Sacramento last week from Bambi Cantrell. Shanae and Ronald - Preview. More to come soon.

I approached Lenora following her ceremony and was so close to tears. I think I sniffled a bit. I tilted my head to hers and said, “Thank you so much for allowing me to photograph your wedding.” I was overwhelmed with such love for Lenora and Gabe. They’ve been nothing short of mind-blowing to me, from our first meeting at Walden’s Coffeehouse in Reno last year to getting up really early for their engagement session in Nevada City, to being so incredibly welcoming to have little me into their lives. I would definitely call Lenora and Gabe friends. The love that they share, the way they express it, to the way they treat their children with compassion, their quirkiness, their art. Everything. They even brought me back a bottle of Cruzan Rum from their honeymoon in the Caribbean. I am amazed by them. I can’t even write I’m so speechless. All I have to say in one word about them - WOW.

I’ve been friends with Jessica since high school. We are pretty close, as we can go months without talking and instantly have the camaraderie when we catch up. I took a road trip a few weeks ago to photograph her, but I had scheduled too much during my 1500 mile road trip from Truckee to Vegas to Wickenburg to Phoenix to Flagstaff and back home. I ran out of time. Jessica is a friend I’d do anything for. I flew back out to Phoenix last week to photographer her, re-energize my life support, and capture some cool photos of Jessica and Vulture City Mine. Anyway. Jess means the world to me. Her son, Braydon, is 14 years old now and a freshman at Jess’ and my alma matter, Arcadia High School, in Phoenix. Her daughter, Avery, is 13, a total hottie, and a total exercise buff. Cracks me up how at such a young age, kids can be so self- conscious. I know I was. Avery has come up with two rules, which I fully support. She says, no matter how sweet talkative a guy is to you, he has to compliment you in front of his friends, and not put you down. Second rule is do what makes you happy, if someone makes you unhappy, time to vacate the premises, always search out activities and people that make you feel good about yourself. Avery’s a total sweetheart. I used to kid Jessica when Avery was really little, that Jess must have stolen an egg, since she looks more like me than anyone in her Italian family. Jessica’s been through hell in her life. She has a vasculitis disease which attacks the nerves in her fingers and skin. Back when she was first diagnosed, she blew up to resemble the Pillsbury Dough Boy, taking Prednisone among other drugs. She thought for sure she wouldn’t ever get pregnant ever again. She’s a big advocate for holistic remedies and drinks kefir every day. (I drank that shit for a year, yuck! Mostly because of the cow’s milk didn’t agree with my system, but apparently one can grow kefir in coconut milk and almond milk, even skim milk - the things we learn). Jessica is 8 months pregnant in these photos. She’s so little, barely 120 pounds, and carrying a baby that will probably weigh 6 pounds on September 3rd when Jessica is scheduled for her C-section. I talked Jessica into eating so more cheesecake. Baby’s eating it all. Her little girl, Riley, not yet born has a huge belly in Jessica’s ultrasounds. Ha! I love this girl and her kids more than anything. Jess has always been there for me, she’s a great friend and I am so incredibly thankful to be friends with her. *sniff*

Kelsey and Bo ventured out to Donner Lake and to the Summit to play on the rocks and in the tunnels for their engagement session. Nothing like taking a windy hike up to the Summit Tunnels and be amazed at the climbers scaling the wall in the 40 MPH winds over the summit. Kelsey and Bo will be getting married in Graeagle in November, and I’m so incredibly stoked about their wedding. They are so much fun to play with, where Kelsey’s all over going for the risk for photos, and Bo is more the cautious one.  You two make me ready for winter, and I’m still waiting for my spinach and squash to show up in my garden! Yes, I’ve eaten all the radishes, but no sign of the beets either! Can’t wait for November to finish off the summer wedding season for their I-can-only-imagine-how-freaking-cool-their-wedding-will-be, it’s officially snow season! Oh yeah, I’m so ready!

Just a few things I learned at the mind blowing wedding of Katie and Ben at the Monte Verde Inn in Foresthill. I’m in love with Katie’s Mom and Dad. Mom said she loved me so much, she’s willing to drive me to her other daughter’s wedding in Colorado Springs whenever Allie and Dan decide it’s time to tie the knot. Katie’s dad’s favorite dessert is strawberry shortcake. So is mine. I could live for weeks on the yummy summer goodness of the strawberries drenched in whip cream and it don’t matter if it’s angel food cake or pound cake, they’re both the bomb. Luckily though for me, I can satisfy my weekly cravings by buying a huge 64 ounce container from Costco. But the strawberries off that little road side stand on Shaw Ave. between Clovis and Sanger has the sweetest strawberries I’ve ever had. Yes I’m having a rare moment of missing Fresno. Okay it’s passed. Allie’s soon to be fiancé, Dan, HATES his photo being taken. Don’t ever tell me that at a wedding. You will become my challenge to make sure I steal your soul with my camera. Oh yeah, no worries. Dan’s at the end of the montage! Katie and Ben have the incredible moments of tenderness and adoration, it melted my heart like melting whip cream on strawberry shortcake. Yep, Katie, whenever I need a lawyer, I’m calling you Sunshine! You are awesome and amazing and so incredible! Oh yeah, Katie and Allie’s Mom - I’m ready for a trek to Colorado Springs. Pack me up, feed me strawberry shortcake and you’ll never get ride of me!

Melissa and Ryan live near DC and since Ryan’s family lives here in Truckee, they ventured into having their fabulous wedding at Northstar at Tahoe.  I worked last winter in the kids’ ski school at Northstar, so I found it quite amazing to see the changes in the landscape since all I know was covered in snow. So funny for me to see all the mountain bikers and people flooding the Village in the summertime. I saw a few familiar faces from working last winter and still I found the whole day a little surreal. One of my favorite qualities in Melissa and Ryan, they were up for anything. From chairlifts to Smores to taking over the roller skating rink, a phenomenal day only a 15 minute drive away from my home.  Preview Melissa and Ryan at Northstar. More to come soon.

I’ve known Maria for years. When I first met her back in Pahrump, Nevada she was really quiet, (I think she was, or maybe I’m just too loud?). She made the move to San Francisco a few years ago, and wow, she has completely blossomed. When she asked me to photograph her wedding (hell yeah!) there was no way I was going to say no. NO WAY. Even if I did have weddings on Friday and Saturday. NO WAY am I missing Maria’s wedding. She and Vanessa have been all over the news this past week in San Francisco (and the world, I heard Guam newspaper last night???) since being major players in support of the resolution of Prop. 8, which was overturned August 4th, after a federal judge ruled that it violates the U.S. Constitution. Preview Maria and Vanessa at the deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park yesterday.

Weather’s looking good as I leave my home in Truckee down to South Lake Tahoe to photograph Laurie & Drew’s wedding. Made it to Laurie’s getting ready location an hour early (which I love). I walk around Lakeland Village looking for a location for their “first see” and do some bridal party portraits. Wedding on beach, thus I figure looks like we’ll play on the pier. (I’m digging the benches, thinking some fun cool stuff). Weather’s looking a little dark and cloudy over Carson City. Eh. Still a gorgeous day. Inside to photograph Laurie getting ready with her bridesmaids. 2.5 hours later I emerge to find Drew who’s missing and we’re just about ready for the first see. (Last minute craziness that’s all due to a wedding) Uh Oh. Dark rain filled clouds are coming closer as I look out towards Heavenly to my south. Hey no problem! First see and bridal party portraits go off so freaking smoothly. Even darker clouds are moving in towards the northeast. Rain plummets Round Hill Pines Beach where Laurie and Drew were having a sunset ceremony. South Lake, eh, no problem, few sprinkles. 7:15pm rolls in and we’re all heading off to Round Hill. Laurie and Drew are going to do this. My text to Laurie :Drew was right! It is going to be an incredible sunset!!! Laurie’s text back: lol yes it will!! OH.MY.GOD freaking insanely exquisite. Which is why I love Tahoe and Laurie for being the least stressed out bride in such weather conditions (all she did was laugh slightly nervously). Preview. Laurie & Drew sunset Round Hill Pines Beach, Zephyr Cove, Lake Tahoe.