Newborn Session | Talia
I feel so incredibly lucky to be doing what I love, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t pinch myself just to make sure it isn’t a dream. Each session comes with a brand new set of favourite images and photographing this sweet little 6 day old baby girl was pure and simple joy! I truly loved every single image, each for a different reason. Fortunately, I was already eagerly anticipating her delivery date since Mom had thought to schedule a session months in advance. Booking a session well before baby arrives ensures that I can arrange my schedule to accommodate that perfect window of opportunity when baby is 6 – 14 days and still snuggly and content. Congratulations on your new arrival mom and dad!! She truly is as sweet as can be!
Newborn Session | Talia
One Year Session | Andon
If he was talking, he would have had me at hello, but instead he had me at his first toothy grin. And yes, I am smitten. Just a few weeks shy of his 1st birthday, Andon had just started walking days before our session and was pretty eager to show off his new skills. We started our day in Golden Gate Park before heading back to the studio for some yummy cake from Pretty Please Bakeshop which I know he enjoyed! Wishing the birthday boy a very special Happy Birthday this weekend!
One Year Session | Andon
Newborn Session | Raylinne
While those cute, curled up newborn images are best captured between 6-14 days of life when baby is still in the super sleepy phase, it’s not something that always occurs to first time parents. You would never know by looking at these images just how awake this gorgeous 45 day old baby girl was for the majority of her session, but for the 10 minutes she did actually sleep (thanks to grandma’s mad skills) we managed to get some really sweet shots. And ironically, one of my favourites of the session is the one of her wide awake and staring at the camera… go figure!
- Newborn Session :: Raylinne
Leaving Las Vegas
While the unofficial rule states that what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, it certainly didn’t mean that we had to stay put. Having travelled to the Nevada hot spot on more than one occasion, this was the first time I had ever ventured beyond the city limits and oh, what landscapes to behold! The arid terrain gave all of us flashbacks to the old Star Trek episodes of our youth and I immediately thanked my husband and our friend Greg for allowing me to crash their male-bonding time. Technically I had been invited early on but had thought that I might take the time to lounge poolside and/or shop. Yet at the 11th hour, realizing that life is more about experiences than another pretty dress in my closet (although I do like those too!), I announced that I would indeed join them on their car rental adventure. Thus I found myself quietly viewing the open road from the back seat, taking drive-by iPhone photos and yelling STOP whenever I needed a real photo, to which my husband good-naturedly obliged. Initially when packing for the trip, I had apprehensively decided to pass over my fancy-schmancy Canon DSLR in favour of no camera at all and then quieted my misgivings in favour of my faithful old Asahi Pentax Spotmatic. Once the decision was made (and committed to publicly on Facebook) I de-chilled a few rolls of film from my fridge stockpile and happily packed it, along with just one (55mm) lens. I had forgotten how much I enjoyed shooting film on vacation – the last time being Burning Man 2007 – and I consciously found myself being far more thoughtful about each photo; really taking the time to visualize each shot and then only taking one or two, both from different angles, instead of spraying the usual 10 – 20 and deleting half of them later. I felt that I was really living the vacation moment, enjoying the sights and sounds all the way from Vegas to Pahrump to Death Valley and back again before deliberately snapping each image, knowing that when I got that film back there would be no editing in Lightroom or Photoshop and no cropping whatsoever. Sure, I could have done that if I wanted to since it’s all scanned and delivered on disc, but there is something so pure about film that it just isn’t necessary. I found myself really re-living not only it’s simple art form again but the relief that these shots did not need to be post-processed perfection. While I’m not about to give up the ease of my digital for client shoots, I think going old school might just be my signature vacation standard from now on.
Leaving Las Vegas
Couples Session | Rob + Thoro
Anyone who followed my old blog already knows how in love I am with Alcatraz and so once again, I found myself booking tickets to The Rock when my dear friends Rob and Thor announced they were going to visit enroute to their Maui vacation. It was their first visit to San Francisco (and hopefully not their last) and we spent a wonderful three days packing in as many tourist activities as humanly possible. Since they don’t often have an opportunity for photos together (my husband and I are equally as guilty of this), I took advantage of the super bright, overcast day to snap some pics of these two for the first time since their Maui wedding four years ago (an event at which I was honoured to be their “Best Chick”). I absolutely love this set – not just for the images themselves and the way the few colours of their wardrobe pop off the page, but for the way that they immediately bring to mind the giggles of the day. It never ceases to amaze me how a photograph can so vividly re-create moments in time. Here’s to friendship… and holidays.
Couples Session | Rob + Thoro
Family Portrait Session | Half Moon Bay
While this beautiful baby girl definitely held centre-stage this past year, mom thought it would also be terrific to have some family photos to commemorate the beginning of Elisabeth’s second year. I couldn’t have agreed more!! Rather than the family traveling to me in the city, I instead headed south to Half Moon Bay where the family had scoped out this absolutely amazing backdrop of trees located on a cliff top overlooking the ocean. The area, unofficially referred to as the Enchanted Forest, is decidedly on my list of places to return to in the near future… it’s so dreamy! It was the ideal romantic setting for this family so clearly in love… not just with their baby, but with each other. And [girlie-girl alert!], I can’t help but think that mom and baby’s matching Kate Spade bags – Lili’s being a present from her daddy – are simply too cute for words!!
Family Portrait Session | Half Moon Bay
One Year Session | Elisabeth
I can’t believe this little cutie – my very first baby planner – turned one this March! An absolute delight from day one, this happy, giggly and super smart little peanut truly lights up my day and melts my heart each time I see her. Nevermind that she crushes on my husband every time she sees him…. the girl obviously has good taste. Our day started in the Queen Wilhelmina Tulip Garden where Lili showed off her ballet skills before donning her adorable Austrian dirndl to give the landscapers a helping hand with the flower beds. Afterwards, we headed to the studio to celebrate Lili’s big day with a Lemon Debutante Cake from San Francisco’s Miette Patisserie – simple perfection for this stylish babe. Much love to the birthday girl… can’t wait to see what the next year brings!
One Year Session | Elisabeth
San Francisco SPCA | Bark and Whine Ball
While event photography isn’t what I normally do, I simply cannot pass up a request from the SPCA to photograph the arrivals on the red carpet at their annual Bark & Whine Ball. The yearly event, which includes dinner, dancing and a live auction, benefits the San Francisco SPCA’s Cinderella Fund, which cares for the medical needs of homeless animals under the care of the SF SPCA.
The attendees are simply the nicest and friendliest group of people around, and it is so fun to see guests arriving with their dogs in tow. In some instances, the pups are so excited that they’re dragging their owners through the entrance doors… I mean, wouldn’t you if you had your own ‘bar’?! The images I take throughout the night are wirelessly transmitted from my camera to the large screens on each side of the stage (a big hat tip to my husband here for figuring out all the ‘tech’ stuff) and I love how excited the guests become when they see themselves and their pets on those screens. It makes for a much more interactive experience than if I was just running around hiding behind my camera for the evening. Thank you to the SPCA for the opportunity and hope to see you all again next year. Woof, woof!
- Bark & Whine Ball 2012
Portrait Session | Megan
I have been wanting to do a shoot in Marin Headlands ever since a good friend drove me around the park when I first landed in San Francisco a couple of years ago. With beautiful old buildings, awe-inspiring ocean and city views and nature all around, I knew it was the perfect location for this pretty strawberry blonde. Megan wanted more of a fashion feel to her session so, inspired by the beautiful spreads from the Anthropologie catalogues, we set out to achieve just that. Her mix of ultra feminine dresses paired with simple hair and makeup loaned themselves well to the day and I had the most amazing time. She was game for anything I suggested, even holding a yucky cigarette that I bought specifically for the shoot (nevermind that at 40-something I was secretly chuffed that I was asked for i.d. when buying them). Megan has a smile that could light up any small city and it’s always a good day when there are more laughs than not – especially when half of them are caught on camera! Enjoy!
Portrait Session | Megan
Newborn Session | Morgan
Given the fact that this 21 day old baby girl couldn’t wait to get into the world and opted to arrive early, it should have come as no surprise that she wanted to be fully awake and present for her photographic debut. She was full of wide eyed wonder and sweet expressions as I snapped away with my camera and not even her little Sleep Sheep could get her to fall into a much needed slumber. Eventually the soothing (!?!) sounds of the vacuum cleaner did the trick and her sleepy faces proved just as adorable as the awake images. Congratulations to mom and dad on your new arrival!
Newborn Session | Morgan
sweethardt photography 