The doctors are in the house (and getting married!) - Bay Area Engagement Photography

Brian and Millad are two of the busiest people I know.  To be honest, I still haven't figured out how they both got time off for us to come and shoot them.  But they worked their magic, and here we are.  Capturing a beautiful couple as happy as can be.  Plus, it's always amazing to run into old friends, and Millad and I actually went to elementary school together!  I know I've said it before... and I know I'll say it again... the world gets smaller every single day.

Onto a different topic.  I think Millad and Brian are cool people.  Like, SUPER cool.  But don't take my word for it.  Let's take just a moment and let's discuss for a moment why Brian and Millad are so cool.

#1 - They read.  How many people actually read books anymore?  Or maybe it's just me that doesn't read.  Bah... I suck.  ANWYAY  They read.  And that's awesome!
#2 - Brian's a doctor and Millad is a Physician's Assistant.  Can you say "wicked smart"?  I have the utmost respect for anyone who works in the medical field.  The years of school, training...
#3 - They live in SF less than a 5 minute walk from the ocean.  I mean... come on.  100 cool points right there.
#4 - Brian has a rad car.  A Porsche?  A Lambo?  Absolutely not.  It's a Volvo.  And one of the coolest cars I've seen in quite a long time.
#5 - They're adorable.  Seriously.  No joke.  Flat-out adorable.  If you meet them, tell them I said this.  They need to hear it more often.
#6 - They love each other.  Like... seriously... love each other.  And that makes my job so much easier.

Millad and Brian, thank you for allowing us to capture a few moments of your day and reminding us what love looks like.  It's always a joy to see two love-birds in love.  And... oh yeah!  WE CAN'T WAIT TO SHOOT YOUR WEDDING IN SEPTEMBER!!!  AHHHHHHHHh!!!!!!

 www.michaeljamesphotostudio.com

Ben and Danielle are husband and wife! - Northern California Wedding Photography

Danielle Fox... Excuse me!  Danielle Popa!  How far back have I known you?  Since you were 6?  7?  Or was it 10 or 11 when you and Tracy got into Junior High School?  Either way, it's been a while.  A long while.  Long enough to know more inside jokes between you and my sister than any older brother ever wants to know.  But it certainly gives us something to laugh about... "A dip-dip!"  Okay, enough with the jokes.  :-)

Danielle's beautiful late-winter wedding took place in the normally blistering hot Sacramento, but in February it gets cold there!  Who knew?  Danielle picked the perfect backdrop in Arden Hills (http://www.ardenhills.net/) as it was gorgeous with everything you could ever want.  And we had amazing weather!!  (it was raining a few days before and a few days after).  Amazing weather is such a blessing, especially in February.

The details and hard work from all sides made this wedding beautiful.  The rings, the shoes, the dresses - all perfect.  And everyone's hard work - WOW.  If I'm not mistake, I saw Danielle... THE BRIDE... doing eyelashes!  I guess Danielle's hard-working attitude carries over into even her very own wedding!  Amazing!

The best part about working with old family friends, is how smooth everything goes.  No awkward silences or breaks.  And complete and utter trust.  I trusted Danielle would make her wedding beautiful, and she trusted us to capture the day.  Things like that are why we love to get to know our clients before their wedding...  It just makes everything so much more fun!  And fun this wedding most definitely was!

Gotta' love the verse they cited in their ceremony... "Love is patient, love is kind..."  As often as we hear this, it will never be cliche'.  It's so true.

Danielle and Ben, we love you guys and wish the absolute best for you both.  We simply cannot wait to see what the future holds for you two in your marriage together.

 

  

    

 

 

 www.michaeljamesphotostudio.com

The Rischowskys! Bay Area Family Photography

It's funny the way you meet people...  Through friends, relatives, work.  For Damon and I, we met through church.  We're a rare select few covered in tattoos (me somewhat, Damon VERY covered) who wander the sanctuary on a Saturday evening or a Sunday morning (that kinda' made us sound like vampires, didn't it?).  At an evening meeting of our church's artists we met, talked for a minute, added each other on Facebook, and the rest is history.  Again, it's funny how you meet people.  And as it turns out, my wife knows Damon's wife from high school.  How funny!  The world continues to grow smaller every day.

Damon and Courtney are expecting a new little one soon, so we headed out to get some family photos on a BEAUTIFUL, non-rainy, sun-shiny Saturday morning before Courtney decides she just can't be called to wander a local park for a little while.  I tend to like to drag my clients to remote places for the best pictures.  I'm the photographer who likes to torture his clients!  LOL!  I'm kidding, I'm kidding...  sort of.  *insert evil laugh here*

Here's to wishing a healthy new little one to Courtney, Damon, and their daughter Zoey.  We'll be praying for you guys!

Baby Wyatt has arrived - Bay Area Infant and Family Photography

Bryan and Laura have been friends of mine and my wife's for a few years now.  In fact, we all hung out together for the first time at a mountain bike race (do all of my blog posts involve mountain biking?  LOL!) in Tahoe two summers ago.  Laura and my wife, Jehn, cheered Bryan on as we raced down the rocky mountain trails.

Well, we had a chance to get some shots of them with their adorable (and well behaved!) new son, Wyatt.  Afterward, we hopped in the car to head home and both had a good talk that went something like, "Isn't it a blessing to have good people in our lives?"  "Yes, yes it is.  People like Bryan and Laura (and Tonks, and Zoomie - their adorable bulldogs), and of course, OF COURSE, their new family edition, Wyatt Ty."

Having amazing people in your life is one of life's simplest pleasures, but probably one of the most often overlooked.  And having a new child in your life is probably one of the greatest and most well known pleasures in life.  We got to appreciate both the simple pleasure of good people, and the greatest pleasure, a smiling new baby, for an afternoon.  It totally made our day! We truly are the luckiest people around.

Welcome, Wyatt Ty.  Bryan and Laura, we are so happy for you!  You guys will truly, make amazing parents.  And Bryan, you best get Wyatt on a mountain bike ASAP!

3 Generations of Huot boys, all in one house.  I love these shots!

Zoomie and Tonks are obviously not camera shy.  And they love their new baby brother!

Las Vegas - Bay Area Wedding Photographer Convention

Wow... it was awesome.  I got home last night and I'm STILL tired.  And I slept like a baby last night.

Can't wait to go back next year.  I learned so much this year, I can't imagine where I'd be without good people, good vendors, and my amazing wife. 

A shout out to the people I ran into!  Denise Birdsong, Monina Wright, Lindsey and Nathan Freitas, Jon and Joanne Encarnacion, Mike Steelman, Janet and Lisa from JL Photographia, and so many others! 

What a blast!

Why I shouldn't be up at 2:00 AM.

Teaser shot #2...

One more... because I'm so frickin' excited about these images, and the couples that I got a chance to work with!!!

Credit to Denise Birdsong photography for letting me assist her all weekend long!

*Image temporarily removed.  Have a great day!*

Teaser shot...

...from this past weekend with Denise Birdsong-Zavala at Costanoa in Pescadero, CA.

More to follow...

*click for full size*

*Image temporarily removed.  Have a great day!*

Costanoa Shoot

Holy cow.  Weekend is half over but I've been running non-stop. What a great weekend though.  I LOVE IT.

Worked in Costanoa with Denise Birdsong yesterday, met some amazing new faces (both behind and in front of the camera), and got some amazing images.  But for now, I'm just going to throw this image up because, well, I feel like giving a teaser.

Sunset somewhere on Highway 1 - 02.05.2011.

Plenty more images to come!