Ashley and I had been planning the session months in advance for sweet Micah’s first birthday. We’re about an hour away from each other, so we decided to meet halfway down near the Auburn/Foresthill Confluence in late May. The weather has been fairly mild for this time of year which is always nice when babies are involved. We pulled out the stroller and made our way down to the river. Ashley rocked it in heels!

With the unusual amount of rainfall we had in recent months, the river was raging more so than I’ve been accustomed to. I braved sticking my toes in, but that’s about as far as brave as I dared. (I’m a sissy when it comes to cold water)

Micah smiled at me with his four teeth the entire session and was such a happy, sweet baby. What a dreamboat! I was one happy gal. 

Spring is in the air! Well, sort of…

It has been *quite* the winter here in Northern California. And while it is technically springtime, it sure hasn’t felt like it. But! With Spring comes family sessions. And oh, how I love spring family sessions.

Green rolling hills, wild flowers, what more could you want? I’ve enjoyed the few days we’ve had of sunshine spent with some pretty great moms, dads, and kiddos. This, my friends, is my definition of living the dream.

Family Sessions are unlike any other type of shoot. Kids can be unpredictable, (parents, you know what I’m talking about) and honestly, that’s what makes them so fun! You can’t always make them stand still, smile, or look at the camera. But what you CAN do is give them permission to be who they are. And that is what makes each session so unique and special.

Leave a comment and tell me what you think! I love hearing from you!

With love,

Vanessa

Choosing the right photographer for your wedding day is a kiiind of a big deal. Should you choose solely based on price? Or on their work? When you get down to it, remember that who you choose is the one who is documenting one of the most important days of your life. Your main goal should be this: Choose a photographer who will best tell your love story in such a way that when you look back at your photos 20 years from now, you will know exactly how you felt in that moment.

If you’re still looking for your wedding photographer, here are a few things to keep in mind to help you find “the one.” (I’ll give you a hint. it’s about the chemistry!)

Aside from choosing them because you like their work, connecting with your photographer is just as important when considering who to hire. If you love a photographer’s work, but can’t stand to be around them for more than 20 minutes, you *might* want to reconsider hiring them.  On one of the most important days of your life, make sure it’s someone you actually like! Seems fairly obvious, I know. But, just remember that your photographer will be your joined by your hip for 8+ hours.

 Don’t just meet with one photographer. Meet with a few. Check out different styles you like. Get a feel for who they are, how they work, and what their personality is. Find someone who you connect with. Find some who could be your friend. Find someone who you are 100% yourself around.

And just like every photographer has a unique way of capturing a wedding day, every bride and groom has a unique wedding day story to tell. When meeting with photographers, ask them what their approach is to storytelling and how that will translate in your wedding-day collection. Personally, my approach is pretty hands off. Meaning, my main goal is to capture the day as it unfolds naturally. Sure, I might need to rearrange a thing or two or give some direction, but otherwise, I want your day to be how it’s meant to be, not how I think it ought to be.

At the end of the day, go with your gut. Not every photographer is going to be right fit, and that’s okay. The right photographer will be able to bring out those real smiles and genuine interactions that will perfectly capture your special, one-of-a-kind day.

Do you agree? Disagree? I want to hear your thoughts.

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As you might have guessed from the title, my FIRST blog post – there will be many more to come in 2017 – will be featuring some of my very favorites from weddings to engagements to families! A rough year for many; for myself, however, it was a year of both personal and professional growth and perseverance. 2016 tested me in many ways and consequently, I believe, I am stronger and more focused because of it.

Incidentally, it was much more difficult narrowing down than I had initially expected! But! Without further adieu, here are a select few of some of my favorite adventures in 2016 in no particular order. Most of these are never before seen on an social media! Enjoy!