Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Josh's Audi A4 - Bay Area European Steez Photography

I met Josh through my buddy Brent a while back... shoot... probably 2 years ago now?  He's been working on his Audi for quite some time.  Between and that sweet-sweet boser c/f hood, the paint, the FMIC, the wheels, brakes, and the engine mods he's been busy.

We ran a little short on daylight this evening, but cool 77 degree temps at 9:45 at night made for some pretty stellar shots.  Not to mention the fact that, well, the police let us off the hook for being in SJSU's parking garage a little past our bedtimes.





www.michaeljamesphotostudio.com                             Facebook

Saturday, June 18, 2011

A super-moto kinda' family shoot - Northern California Family Photography

I love capturing a few moments in people's lives.  I find it so strange that people only capture 1-2 hours of their life every 6-12 months.  And it seems to me that capturing only 8-10 hours of the most important day of their life (eg. a wedding) just doesn't do it.  Which is why I was super stoked for today.  Isaac and Michelle have been friends of mine for quite a while.  Isaac I've known from the Volkswagen scene many, MANY moons ago, and he later got me into my #1 free-time passion, mountain biking.  If it weren't for that stress relief of being on a bike, I've have lost my mind 100 times over.  And Michelle, I had the pleasure of working for doing freelance paralegal work.  Not everyone will find this fun, but I found reading police reports relaxing and enjoyable.  But hey, I'm weird.

Well, today we headed out for a full day of fun and photography.  First some Highway 9 action on their bikes.  I got to drive their door-less "4-door" Jeep.  Then we took off for Discovery Bay where their boat is docked.  I got the grand tour of Discovery Bay by those who know it best.  I've also had the pleasure of watching their two kids grow up.  As Jehn and I prepare for our son to come into this world, I'm happy to know that awesome friends like Isaac and Michelle will be in our lives to watch our kid(s) grow up.

Here's just a few shots from today.  I suppose, considering this moto-riding, bike racing, wake-boarding family, these could be considered... dare I say it?  Family SPORTraits?  ;-)






 




http://www.michaeljamesphotostudio.com                                   Le' Facebook

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

And we'll all float on OK... - Bay Area Floating photography -

Sometimes, you just have to stay up late, playing with Adobe products, taking ridiculous pictures of yourself, and float.  Yes.  I said it.  Sometimes you just have to float.  Like...  Float.  Kinda' like flying, but not quite as quickly.  It's almost a hover, but with less weight.

I think you get the idea...

I backed my car into a cop car the other day.
Well he just drove off, sometimes life's OK.
I ran my mouth off a bit too much, oh what did I say?
Well you just laughed it off, it was all OK.

And we'll all float on OK. And we'll all float on OK.
And we'll all float on OK. And we'll all float on anyway.

-MM


www.michaeljamesphotostudio.com                Add us on Face-beezy fo' Sheezy...

Sunday, June 5, 2011

ALLorNOTHING - Bay Area Classical Guitar Photography... J/k.

So, last year I got a call from my buddy Chris Chance who owns In His Name Clothing.  He sponsors a few bands with his shirts/sweatshirts/hoodies.  ALLorNOTHING is one of those bands, and they needed some promo shots, so of course I took the job!

A few weeks ago Lazarus, the lead singer of the band, hit me up and told me that they had a show going on in Sunnyvale, CA.  And, again, of course I took the job.  And I had a blast.

I'm not a music aficionado, but can appreciate some talent.  What I can also appreciate is the message that Laz and the rest of the brand bring.  Right before their last song, Laz paused for 2 minutes, and gave a message of hope.  Something that, when you hear their music, if you don't listen carefully to their lyrics, you just might not pick up on.  But this message of hope offers something greater... As Laz put it, "It's not about me, it's not about us, it's not about you... it's about Him."  Laz was confident but not cocky, and entirely unapologetic for offering a message he knows has changed his life, has changed my life, and has changed millions of lives.  This is something rare to find these days, especially in a band with such talent.

I plan to be at many of of ALLorNOTHING's shows.  You should plan on doing the same.

Check out ALLorNOTHING at their MySpace page here:  www.myspace.com/aonmetal

Check out Chris Chance's clothing line, In His Name, over here:  http://www.ihnclothing.com


www.michaeljamesphotostudio.com             Facebook

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Nancy and Jeff are married! Bay Area Wedding Photography

Jeff and Nancy are two of the sweetest people in the world.  I'm serious.  Humility, kindness, soft spirits...  and boy are they hilarious.  They love to laugh.  From our time with Jeff and Nancy, if they're talking, then they're laughing.  And they have such a sense of family.  Watching Nancy's dad walk her down the isle almost brought tears to my eyes, and Jeff?  His dad was his best man.  Family... is... a... #1... priority for Jeff and Nancy.

We got to know Jeff and Nancy over coffee, and had the absolute privilege of photographing their engagement session a few months ago (you can see that session by clicking HERE).  But celebrating Jeff and Nancy's wedding day and capturing their moments was honestly like celebrating a wedding with old friends.  How is it that by picking up a camera I feel like I've made new friends?  Jeff and Nancy have found each other as their life-long soul mates, and so they are certainly blessed.  But maybe we're the ones who are blessed just to know them?

Throw Jeff and Nancy's love into a bowl, mix it with their favorite beer, a live band that rocked Oak Meadow Park in Los Gatos until it got dark, and the fact that the weather was an absolutely perfect 70 degrees on the nose, and that's one mean recipe for smiles, dancing, laughing and just pure celebration.

Congratulations, Jeff and Nancy.  We seriously love you guys, and cannot wait to see what the future holds for your lives together.  And Jeff...  you still owe me a mountain bike ride.  :-)

Thanks to our amazing friend Cassie Green for photographing this wedding with us.  We just love working with you so much, Cassie!

{Please click the images below for high-resolution viewing}




 













 



www.michaeljamesphotostudio.com                    Add us on Facebook!