Beautifully Blue Lake Tahoe

Congratulations Eric and Valerie on your new lifelong adventure! What a simple and sweet and beautiful wedding ceremony in South Lake Tahoe. Stay warm you two :)

We had the opportunity to have a little family time on Sunday, so we rested up, walked around after breakfast, and took the gondola ride up to Heavenly. No snow boarding this round though :( We enjoyed a sunny and crisp day that helped refresh the soul. This was JK's first real experience with snow, which he calls "ndo". It's such a joy to have the freedom to share in his experiences, and to really invest in what matters most. Your loved ones are the most important investment you can make. Sure, work matters...but my challenge to you as either another photographer, business owner, employee, average joe or whatever, INVEST IN THE LIVES OF YOUR FAMILY. Step out of the box and recalibrate your life, so to speak. Put God first, and then pour your heart and soul into the lives you touch the most! Think about who would show up to visit you (God forbid) in the hospital, and be grateful for them. Our families are the ones who watch us dive in sometimes over our head, and are there no matter what, through thick and thin. It's a GREAT thing to come home to those special and dear to your heart, and catch a glimpse of encouragement, hope and love. The way my wife looks at me can help make me realize that I can conquer the world! And the way my son looks up to me is absolutely priceless - he does not care what I do, how well I do it, doesn't worry about bills, employees, and the perpetual to do list. All he cares about and knows is the fact that his "Daeee" is there for him to love on, protect, guide, and care for. The fact that my hand on his face when he goes to bed comforts him enough to quiet him in his crib and makes him to know that he is in a safe place is one incredible blessing and responsibility.

So back to my challenge. What would you think about today, in the place that you are in right now, that is taking your attention, thoughts, actions, energy and focus off of your family? Recognize it, call it out, and challenge yourself to re-prioritize asap! God has blessed you with the very air you breathe right now, so what are you going to do with it? Invest in the things that last and matter the most.

You'll see a lot of the personal side of my life on this blog, obviously, because it's just who I am, and that's why this is called "a glimpse into the life of...". I am passionate about what I do and love the job that I've been blessed with. To me it's not just a job - it's someone's life. I was asked once when I realized my passion for photography, and I got to thinking about it. Sure, I absolutely & fully enjoy photography! But what I'm truly passionate about is LIFE, and the people I work with and for. It comes back to the relationships we make. Life is too short to always be in the hussle-bussle of work, eat, pay bills, play, do taxes, work some more, etc. I guess that's why I so enjoy weddings - it's your special day of joy, full of real life moments, and blessed happiness. I hope this post encourages you to think outside of the box, and inspires you to look up at the beautiful sky, trees, or birds the next time you walk down the street among the stoplights, cars, horns, trash in the gutters, and businesses. I call it a "mini mind vacation". Have a wonderful day!

Tahoe trip

Hi everyone. We're on the way up to South Lake Tahoe for a beautiful
wedding tomorrow (and maybe some snowplay on Sunday:) and I wanted to
share another picture of you know who! Here's my son so cool & laid
out... Doesn't it look tempting (minus the carseat)?? Have a great
weekend!

My Rockstar Kid

Have I mentioned how obsessed I am becoming with my son? I think about him all day long (and of course my wifey too!). Yesterday morning at breakfast...this kid is so special!

Fun Shoot

On Monday I had the opportunity to have lunch with one of San Francisco's great wedding photographers, Jennifer Baciocco. We met last year at WPPIand I am privileged to call her a friend. Her work has recently been published on the cover of southern California's edition of "Here Comes The Guide". It's all listed in the press section of her website!
Anyway, after lunch we took our cameras for a quick 45 minute "day off" and shot at the Embarcadero in South San Francisco. I cranked up the saturation and contrast in camera, and just shot normal stuff. Nothing too spectacular or extreme by any means. But, just for fun. Sometimes you just need to stop thinking about it and explore a little. I fully expect to see my creativity to blow up and explode out of the box the more I take the 45 minute day offs. If you're a photographer, I am working on setting up a "Day Off" where we can all go out with just one camera, one lens, and one great attitude to shoot for fun, enjoy some lunch, and share our goof ups! But for now, check out these images from a very quick trip. :)

Andre & Chanel

Introducing Andre & Chanel. Recently engaged, they're planning a terrific wedding in Santa Barbara for September. I took them out to one of my favorite local places in Carmel, just under the Carmel Meadows residential area. What a beautifully cold day it was...But these two are troopers! Despite the chill factor, their love seemed to warm them up from the inside, and we took some great photos. Thanks you two for a great time! I love being able to capture life's truest moments.

Celebrated Love

Here are Christina and Gerardo. I have had the privilege of knowing them as dear friends for a few years now, and they have touched my heart so much. Two of the most authentic people on the planet! They recently celebrated 10 years of marriage with their renewal of vows, and I was fortunate enough to join in on their celebration. It was an intimate ceremony, and was one to be remembered. Here are a few images from their special day...





Such a special couple...after their kiss, they had a genuine heartfelt hug too!


And of course, the "rice shots"(but I think they used flower seeds instead).





Congratulations again!

Mini Fashion Show Monterey

At "A Day to Remember" bridal faire in Monterey a few weeks ago they held a mini fashion bridal show, showcasing many of the wonderful bridal boutiques here locally. I left my booth in my wife's hands and ran up the street to grab my camera from my studio office to snap a few shots off for the models. Here are just a few...

Braggin

I probably have more images of my kiddo than clients on this blog, but he is such an integral part of my everyday life! Judah Kai is sincerely a blessing from the Lord...and I know every parent thinks that their kid is the cutest, but as a proud "dada", I have to claim it to the fullest extent! The latest kick is his "E.T." voice when he says "I want douwnnn". And the cows on the ranch next to us went from saying "moo" to "meee". Weird, but adorable. This picture was from our friends Christina and Gerardo's renewal of vows. Christina and Gerardo are such true friends and probably some of the most authentic people you can meet. They've been married for 10 years and have 2 beautiful little girls. I can't wait to post about their day... hang on! :0)

Sunrise

So the other day I was driving to work early and noticed something spectacular. Something that we too often take for granted, or, if you're like me, rarely get to see. I walked out of the house on our ranch and began to take it in... The New Day. The sun was just about to rise on over the hills, and I could see the fresh morning light reflecting off of the clouds. It's been raining here like crazy for the last 2 weeks or so, but the rain stopped just enough to enjoy a breath of crisp, fresh country air. Then on the drive out, in my rear view mirror I saw the sunrise, simple yet so powerful. My cheap phone camera was all I had, but here is the image I got through the back of my truck window. Just enough to help visualize, ya know? I had to stop (mentally) and soak it up. It was then that I was reminded about a verse, "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness!" (Lam.3:22-23) God's mercy is new every morning...wow. Have a great day!