{he asked…and she said yes!} Napa Valley Wedding Proposal Photography

Early Saturday AM:

Right now a lovely un-expecting woman is waking up on a gorgeous Napa Valley morning. What she doesn’t know is that in a few short hours her boyfriend will ask for her hand! (and I get to document it- Ninja-photographer like) Good stuff!

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 Ok…I’m getting nervous. They should appear any moment.

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There they are. Oh my…look at her smile. She is beyond thrilled. SO surprised and just giddy with joy! He pulled it off- she had no idea and has an amazing proposal story! Oh did I mention…she said yes!

{Wine is bottled poetry – Robert Louis Stevenson} Commercial Product Photography . Napa Valley

A local client asked me today if I ever shoot bottle shots. Yes. quite often. It is not an area that I advertise nor talk about much, but I do enjoy some quiet studio time at times.  I appreciate all of the art that goes into making an amazing bottle of wine and I try to convey the client’s story with my images.  Here some of this last year’s work.

{Winter Sunshine} Natural Lifestyle Family Portraits

Meet this beautiful family. We met the sunrise on a gorgeous winter morning and discovered a  few things.  Chilly winter mornings cause serious runny noses. Pulling wagons bring out big smiles. Trampolines make everyone happy. And this family loves each other very much.  Oh…and I love my job. I discover that last one each and every time I go out and shoot.

 

{Alyson + Cory – Engaged!} San Francisco Engagement Shoot

A cool day spent in San Francisco laughing & enjoying each other…reminiscing of the day they were first engaged.  I can’t wait for their summer Sonoma Valley wedding!

{sweet mornings} Family Photography . Napa

It was such a warm & lovely morning spent photographing this beautiful family! I couldn’t get enough of that sweet pooch’s wrinkles or little boy giggles and always a compliment when a photographer as talented as this momma asks me to document her family. enjoy.

{Miss Representation } Clinica Verde Hosts Screening

Last night the Cameo theater was packed full for the sold out screening of the dynamic documentary  MissRepresentation.  This powerful film, Co-sponsored by Clinica Verde and the St. Helena Women’s Center showed the misrepresentation of women in the media and the drastic negative effects on young girls. I strongly urge everyone to see this film;  eye-opening, empowering & important!

View the trailer here: http://missrepresentation.org/the-film/

About the Issue :

• Women hold only 3% of clout positions in the mainstream media (telecommunications, entertainment, publishing and advertising).
• Women comprise 7% of directors and 13% of film writers in the top 250 grossing films.
• The United States is 90th in the world in terms of women in national legislatures.
• Women hold 17% of the seats in the House of Representatives (the equivalent body in Rwanda is 56.3% female).
• Women are merely 3% of Fortune 500 CEOs.
• About 25% of girls will experience teen dating violence.
• The number of cosmetic surgical procedures performed on youth 18 or younger more than tripled from 1997 to 2007.
• Among youth 18 and younger, liposuctions nearly quadrupled between 1997 and 2007 and breast augmentations increased nearly six-fold in the same 10-year period.
• 65% of American women and girls report disordered eating behaviors.

To find out more about Clinica Verde’s important work: http://www.clinicaverde.org/

{Caitlin + Ryan} Wedding Photography . Napa Valley

Love. True Love- it’s beautiful to witness. It’s magical to share. It’s a dream to photograph.

{warmth, light & love} children’s photography . st. helena

On this beautiful fall afternoon we had all of the parts to make beautiful images – beautiful light, warmth of spirit & lots of love. These two girls had me smiling from the moment we met. Thank you for sharing your joy with me!

On this beautiful fall afternoon we had all of the parts to make beautiful images – beautiful light, warmth of spirit & lots of love. These two girls had me smiling from the moment we met. Thank you for sharing your warm spirit with me!

 

{storybook ending} wedding photography . st. helena

From an engagement that began with David riding up on a white stallion in full knight’s gear to a wedding laden with elegant fanfare, this was a wedding was a fairy tale!  Stephanie of A Dream Wedding went all out with this couple, planning a weekend that their guests would never forget.

Special thanks to Megan Clouse for second shooting this incredible day with me!

Coming soon- Rehearsal Dinner Images & more details from this wedding to remember!

Design / Coordination: Stephanie Cole – A Dream Wedding

{ sand & smiles } Tiburon . Marin Children’s Photography

One of my favorite ways to get new clients is from warm referrals. Although Napa Valley is a beautiful place to live and photograph, it’s always fun to have an excuse to play with new locations and light.  I met this beautiful family near their hometown and we explored a bit of Tiburon. I adored these children- full of energy, curiosity & a bit of spunk…my kind of kids!

My message to parents

{shy smiles } Children & Family Photography . Napa Valley

It seems only yesterday when I photographed a beautiful wedding  between the parents of this little one. Now, I smile at the sight of this sweet couple with their little boy. Eager to explore with his shy smile, he is a delight!

{many more roads} personal

This past month as I’ve been challenged to some new & exciting projects, I  have realized something about myself. Early on in my career I remember a professor demanding that photographers will never make it unless the specialize. Focus. Narrow down the scope. I’d leave his lecture visualizing looking down a long road and the destination is perfectly clear.

There is just one problem. I’m not so sure that I want to go down just one path. I love the little tugs for me to wander to the left. The giant push for me to leap up to another hillside. The sweet breeze that catches my attention just long enough for me to notice something beautiful off to my right.

Focused?  Yes, I am… but narrowed? No, instead I feel as though I am stretching. Reaching. Widening my scope. I am inspired…and that inspiration breaths life into my dreams.

I’ve got many more roads to travel and the destination is so very far away…this journey is too much fun to even contemplate arrival.

{fall joys} lifestyle children’s portraiture . napa valley

 

.things to do on a crisp fall day…

….. 11. go outside . breathe deeply

12.. run into the arms of someone you love

13. explore & discover the beauty around you

14. hold the hands & swing bravely high into the air

…..

thank you little Noe for bringing us out into a crisp fall day; I enjoyed every moment!

{Lauren + Paul } Auberge du Soliel . Napa Valley Wedding Photography

I love those first moments when I meet a couple in person. We’ve been emailing and speaking on the phone for months and at last, the wedding day is here and I get the fortunate experience of witnessing & documenting these ‘firsts’. The first ‘first’ is the bridal suite where Lauren was surrounded by her girls, Mom & Sister. Everyone is  happy nervous and the anticipation is palatable.

From moment to moment the day unfolds and memories are created. Lauren rides in the limo with her father, Paul’s groomsmen provide humor and support and the last finished details are placed as the guests arrive from near and far.The ceremony in the Catholic church is personal with the priest coming from their home town to do the service & complete with marriage advice from the ‘experienced’ in the room.

The couple is whisked away and finally their day is celebrated; their first moments as husband and wife;  laughing, teasing, nervously holding each other.

It is these images that always my favorite. We wandered the Olive Grove at Auberge and then visited a nearby vineyard laden with grapes ready for harvest.

The night ended with warm toasts by their amazing family, fantastic music by the Brian Cline Band, and a final ‘first’  dancing as husband & wife!

This gorgeous wedding wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the following awesome professionals:

Wedding Coordination: Suzy Berberian Weddings & Events

Reception: Auberge du Soleil

Hair / Makeup: Katie @ It’s a Date at the Powder Room

Flowers: Tesoro

Cake: Perfect Endings

Ceremony Music: Wine Country Piano Music & Strings

Cocktail Hour Music: Mike McCall- Accoustic/ Spanish Guitar

Dinner / Dancing: Brian Cline Band

{ Angie + Andy } Sonoma Wedding

When Andy & Angie and I began our discussions about their wedding day, I knew from the first moment that this day was going to be a whirlwind of celebrations.  They had friends & family who traveled from far and they decided to incorporate both families’ traditions into the day.  We began at St. Eugene for a full mass and then went on to St. Francis for a wine tasting & charcuterie lunch. Then, we moved on to Ledson Winery for a  beautiful outdoor sunset ceremony. The guests enjoyed touching toasts, a dramatic moon rise over the mountains followed by hours of photo-booth and dancing fun! It was a challenge to choose a selection from the day for this post but I hope these images tell the story of the amazing wedding of Angie & Andy! Congratulations to you both!!

As usual I must say thank you to the amazing team of vendors who make my job so much easier on such a grand affair as this:

St. Eugenes Catholic Church, Ledson Winery, St. Francis Winery

Park Avenue Catering

Aaron Lee Films

Fluers De France

Wine Country Piano Music & Strings

It’s a Date at the Powder Room

Perfect Day Events- Photobooth

ATL Events- Lighting

A Dream Wedding by Robbin Montero