MEF Photography Blog! &raquo; San Francisco-Based Wedding, Family + Portrait Photography

Jun 13 2012

Goodbye, Chester | Personal

Filed Under: Personal

I’m an animal lover. At no point of my life have I been without a pet—from relatively normal mammals like dogs and hamsters, to slightly weirder (and not totally advisable) reptiles like iguanas and turtles. But none of them has been as important to me as our cats. Yep, I’m one of those people.

I’m a cat lady.

When I was 12, I was pretty certain I wanted to be a veterinarian. So, in all my pre-teen wisdom, I sent out letters to every local animal hospital asking if I could volunteer once a week. To my surprise, one said yes, and I spent each Wednesday of my summer between seventh and eighth grade assisting in everything from routine office visits to blood draws, medical tests and surgeries. In hindsight, this was probably in violation of an endless number of labor laws, but I adored every minute of it, because I’m an animal lover. Even cleaning kennels was enjoyable to me.

One mid-August morning I arrived to the office to find that overnight someone had tied to the front door knob a garbage bag filled with five, day-old kittens, covered in afterbirth and ants—a tragic mess, both physically and emotionally. We cleaned up and cared for the kittens (two black and white, two gray, one orange), bottle feeding them every two hours, bathing them, warming them in towels, piling them into a wriggling, mewling mound. A heart-melting, precious, wriggling, mewling mound.

Despite our round-the-clock care, only two kittens (one gray, one orange) survived. For some reason—perhaps the fact that he was an obvious fighter, clutching the bottle with a ferocity unexpected for his tiny frame; perhaps the fact that I had the hormones of a 12-year-old girl—I formed an unusually strong attachment to the orange kitten, and through some miracle, convinced my parents to let me adopt him, despite already having two family cats at home.

By the time he came to live with me permanently, he was a whopping three inches long. I named him Chester. Behold:

I’m sitting here, absolutely balling looking at this photo.

Because Chester never had a momma cat, the unnaturally strong attachment I had to him was mutual. And it made him quirky and weird and perfect. He followed me everywhere. He slept on my chest, tucked neatly beneath my chin. He meowed with a cadence more similar to human speech than to normal cats. He developed a deep and abiding love for recently-worn shoes. He so thoroughly enjoyed having his ears scratched that doing so acted as a temporary paralytic, stopping him in his tracks no matter his current activity. Plus, he was darned handsome.

One of my favorite memories was from several years ago when I was living on the other side of the country: My mom and dad called me early in the morning and left me a voicemail singing me Happy Birthday. In a moment of silence at the end of their song, Chester let out an expertly-timed meow. I must have listened to and laughed at that message a hundred times. It was perfect. :)

I realize that to some people this might seem ridiculous, but today, just two months shy of his 17th birthday, I’ve lost a very good friend. This afternoon I held in my arms for the last time a sweet and gentle creature for which I’ve cared for well over half of my life, that I’ve loved and bonded with in a way never matched by another animal.

This afternoon I said goodbye to Chester and cradled him as he was put to sleep. And I am completely heartbroken.

By the end he was skinny, with ragged fur and a raspy voice. He was in kidney failure and developed a large tumor that had infiltrated his lungs. And yet he was still his loving, happy, bright-eyed self—in some ways a blessing and a curse. I am grateful to have spared him pain, but my heart aches to have lost him while he was still enthusiastic to have his ears scratched, to drool on my shirt, to rest his forehead on my chest, and to bask in the sunshine.

My plan is to place his ashes inside a recently-worn shoe and bury him in his favorite sun spot in my parents’ front yard, where you were almost guaranteed to find him on warm days. I think he would appreciate that.

For 17 years I have cherished him, and today I am heartbroken. Goodbye, my sweet and quirky friend. I love you.

by Molly

1 comment

Jun 08 2012

Sunny + Adil | Engaged

Filed Under: Engagement

I’m just going to come out and say it: Welcome to the absolute worst engagement session I’ve ever experienced. And I’m absolutely not kidding.

But before I get into that, let me introduce you to Sunny + Adil, who I feel I should say are NOT the worst engagement session subjects I’ve ever experienced (not that I would say that about anyone, ever—good gravy!). In fact, they are throughly fabulous—sweet, quiet, and completely in love with each other. They’re also gracefully navigating a long-distance relationship (she lives in Dallas, he lives here in the Bay Area). Having tried the long distance thing a few times, I have a huge amount of respect for them, especially knowing that they’ve been 1,500 miles apart since day one. But I think it’s pretty clear from the way Adil looks and Sunny, and the comfort Sunny finds in Adil’s presence that the old adage, “absence makes the heart grow fonder,” is nothing short of the truth in their case.

So, if they’re so smitten and adorable, why was this the worst engagement session of my career? Among smaller irritants, like an out-of-nowhere temperature drop, wind so strong even the kite surfers on the bay were coming off the water saying things like, “No way, man; I don’t want to die today!” and encountering a veritable field of human feces (keep it classy, San Francisco), after just 30 short minutes of shooting we discovered their car had been broken into in a full parking lot in broad daylight. Adil’s phone was stolen. Sunny’s wallet and ID were taken and her credit cards had already been used by the time she called to cancel them. And since she’d flown in for the long weekend, she had to have her passport overnighted to her so she’d be able to fly back home. Basically, it was terrible. And although there was nothing I could have done to directly prevent it, I (still) feel tremendous guilt over the whole thing.

I take solace in the fact that in the brief time we had together, we were able to get some photos of the two of them that showcase their contagious smiles and their overwhelming love for one another. It’s a small consolation, sure, but sometimes that’s what we get. Lemonade, right?

So, friends… have a sip of some really well-dressed lemonade:

Are you kidding me with that smile? :D Plus, how beautiful is her makeup?

Yeah, they make each other happy, alright.

This would make a very nice large canvas print, in case anyone was wondering. ;)

LOOK AT HOW MUCH HE LOVES HER! LOOK AT IT!

Favorite. No contest.

Sunny + Adil, I’m really, really sorry. Like Adil said, I’m grateful that what was lost was nothing irreplaceable, but still: I’m sorry. I hope that you’ll enjoy these few images we got before it all went to heck. And of course, I hope the next time Sunny is in town we’ll get our chance at a do-over—and we’re locking everything in the TRUNK! ;) Enjoy, you two. You deserve some more smiles. :)

by Molly

1 comment

May 31 2012

Alyssa + Adam | Engaged

Filed Under: Engagement

Welcome to my very first engagement session where I actually had to tell the couple to stop kissing for a second. Yeah, you heard that right. Alyssa + Adam love each other A LOT (which as you know is one of my favorite things). So much in fact, that they would have spent the entire time smooching if I’d let them. And I almost did, but somebody’s got to keep this place PG-13, right? ;)

I’ve peripherally known Alyssa + Adam for several years, actually. I went to high school with his sister and brother-in-law (whose son I photographed three years ago when he was a wee newborn) and attended many parties at their home where A+A were also present. But their engagement session was my first opportunity for quality time with them. And can I just say that REALLY I like them? I mean, like, really, really. They are kind and unassuming, smart as whips and seriously funny. Plus they love animals, and while they were finishing up getting ready I played a game with Monty, their ADORABLE golden retriever, wherein I tried to discover how many socks he could fit in his mouth at once. The answer is seven, by the way. ;)

After I stuffed their dog full of socks, we spent the afternoon wandering around downtown Redwood City, which offered us a lot of fun textures and good light. Well, let’s be honest: I wandered—they mostly kissed ;)

Oh, I’ll stop talking about it and just show you! Starting things off with two favorites! :D #1:

And #2!

How cute is Alyssa’s dress, by the way?

Yeah, I really, really like you guys. :)

DO YOU SEE ADAM’S FACE HERE?! 110% pure love. :D

Inappropriate comment alert: Alyssa, you’ve got a nice tush. ;)

Alyssa tells me she doesn’t work out and that her unbelievably hot legs are a consequence of “walking a lot.” Well, whatever you’re doing, it’s working, my friend. :D Favorite #3!

I’ve been to your house, and I know you need some art for your walls, so here’s my professional suggestion: Print the following photo on a GIANT canvas and hang it over your couch, k? (Also, the “hot legs” photo would be an acceptable second choice, which would look equally good over your bed, for instance.) :D Favorite #4!

I’m in love with how in love you are. :)

Like, seriously in love with it.

I saved my most favorite for last. Alyssa, in case you weren’t already aware of this, you are one beautiful woman. Favorite #5!

So guys, if I haven’t made it quite clear to you yet, I LIKE YOU. A LOT. I think your photos showcase just how caring you are with one another (while managing to keep it safe for parental viewing!) and how much fun you have together. There is a great comfort in your relationship that is a pleasure to document. And Adam, if your sister and brother-in-law’s wedding was any indication, yours is going to be one heck of a party—to which I anxiously look forward. :D I hope you love your photos as much as I like you (hint: A LOT). Enjoy them! :D

by Molly

1 comment