After many, MANY weeks of rain, the sun came out just as I had back to back maternity sessions.

Spring is an especially popular time for expectant mamas, and it’s no wonder. The birds are singing, the grass is green and the weather is a 10/10. From the ocean to the American River, these two mamas rocked their sessions, Check out a few of my favorites and let me know yours!

We haven’t had much of a winter in Northern California, but with March came lots of fresh snow up in the mountains. Jen and Travis are some of my most adventurous and outdoorsy friends so I knew they’d be the perfect fit for what I had in mind. My typical approach to couple’s session is to drive in a general direction and pull off when I see something magical, whether it be light or landscape. All I knew was I wanted snow, so we detoured off of the freeway and headed up to a lake I’ve wanted to photograph for years.

The road we went up wasn’t plowed, so we kicked it in 4 Wheel Drive and had a little fun. Once we arrived and jumped out, we quickly realized that the snow was thigh-high and it was going to be a workout to get down to the lake, which was a good 50 yards or so. Thankfully, we all brought layers because it turned out to be quite the chilly trek! Chilly? yes. But worth it? Absolutely.

Thankful for my assistant, Christie, for grabbing this behind the scenes shot!

I’ve deemed 2018 to be my official Year of National Parks, visiting (and photographing) as many  as I can squeeze. First on the list was decidedly Pinnacles National Park. Located about 30 minutes outside of Hollister, we were met with a desert-like climate. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but a desert terrain wasn’t it!

For mid-February, it was pretty darn warm, which made for comfortable day time outings yet cooler night temperatures. As we trekked through Pinnacles in short sleeves, it was easy to imagine how hot it must get when visiting during the summer months. Luckily, February was totally the perfect combination of good weather and few visitors!

Knowing we had a full day in the park on Saturday, we committed to a longer hike in the late morning and a shorter hike before sunset, breaking midday for lunch and an obligatory nap. We discovered some unexpected caves (flashlights recommended) that were both awe-inspiring and a bit claustrophobic at times. 

On Sunday, we set the alarm for what felt like the middle of the night to hike the high peaks before sunrise. One of the main things we hoped to see while visiting the park was a California Condor, an endangered bird that calls Pinnacles National Park home thanks to a recovery program that’s primary focus is to help the species survive. Sunrise turned out to be a win-win because not only were we the ONLY ones on the trail to watch the sun come up, but we also found about 8 condors flying above the high peaks of the pinnacles! The markings under their wings distinguish them from other like birds; you can easily see a white triangle on their wings when beneath them. 

Pinnacles National Park is certainly a hidden gem and an easy weekend getaway for campers and outdoor lovers alike! But the real question is, who wants to do their engagement session here? 😉

Julie and Will brought in the new year on January 6th, 2018 by tying the knot and partying like it was 1999. What better way to kick off the year than by getting hitched?! 

We watched the forecast leading up to the wedding, sure that it would be an overcast, rainy day. But the sun surprised us (as California has a sneaky way of doing) and kept us warm all day! Julie and Will had us all in tears, from and laughing to crying and everything in between. Their day was heartfelt, hilarious and an all-around good time. 

 

Photography: Vanessa Lynne Photography

Venue: The Century, Modesto                      

Make up & Hair: Christi Reynolds Beauty

Event Planning and Designing: The Century, Modesto

Dress: David’s Bridal

Ring: Shane Co.

Catering: Diana Burke, Simple Pleasures Catering

DJ: Matt Brys, Extreme Productions

Florist:The Century, Modesto

 

When Molly emailed me shortly after she got engaged to Ryan, I did a little happy dance that would have put Tom Cruise to shame. I’ve known her since she could walk and really wanted to do her love story justice. Their relationship can be summed up as pure fun with lots of jokes, so naturally I felt comfortable immediately. My approach to engagement sessions to keep them light and energetic so we don’t have to time to take ourselves too seriously.

We started in Hope Valley, running through wide open fields with snow covered mountains as our backdrop with (my personal favorite) a good amount of moody clouds in the sky.  Then, we finished up in the desert as gorgeous blues greeted us after the sun had set. 

These two are a perfect match.