MEF Photography Blog! » San Francisco-Based Wedding, Family + Portrait Photography

If you are not a fan of color, well… two things: 1) We can’t be friends. Sorry. And 2) Get ready for this session because it may be the most vibrant I’ve ever shot.  Like, BLAMMO sort of color. In fact, remember when I said in my previous post that Pasadena and I were best friends? Well, don’t tell her, but that’s kind of a lie, because downtown San Diego up and stole my whole dang heart.  I have never been so enamored of a few square blocks in my entire life—COLOR EVERYWHERE! And the light! Oh, the glorious light! Just imagine me, talking about San Diego and holding up crossed fingers, because that’s what we’re like now. Forever.

But allow me to be just a touch sappy and say that even if SD had been the blandest, crummiest town west of the Pecos, I still would have had a blast photographing Kate + Matt in it. Because c’mon, look at them. But seriously, when Kate and I met for the first time and managed to shut down the coffee shop because we couldn’t stop talking, I knew both that I was very lucky to be hired by her AND that anyone she would choose to marry had to be pretty darn fantastic. I don’t mean to brag but… I was completely right. In fact, it didn’t occur to me until I was compiling my favorite images for this post, but they’re smiling in every single photo, and not because I asked them to–they’re just that happy! (Yep, you guessed it, another key to my heart!) I almost can’t pick top favorites; I love them all!

One last thing: Kate + Matt get BIG TIME points for their outfit choices. I die.

On with the color / love show! Favorite #1 because that shadow is just outstanding (although not nearly as outstanding as Kate’s hair!):

COLOOOOOOOR! P.S. Photo on the right, I asked Kate to hug Matt like I wasn’t there and her hand went right for his rear. If I told you how often I smack my husband’s bum on a daily basis, you would know exactly why I love her oh so much for this.

Kate, I gasped when I saw this image for the first time. You are unbelievably beautiful and your eyes are CRAZY GORGEOUS! :D

Favorite #2 because I just love it and that’s all the explanation I have!

I don’t think “convenient” is quite the right word to describe finding giant boat tie doohickies the exact color of Kate’s necklace. Suffice it to say, I squealed.

Can I be totally inappropriate for a sec and talk about how gosh dang pretty their children are going to be? A friend of Kate’s introduced her to Matt, and I don’t think it’s over the top to say that Kate owes that friend a lifetime supply of varied gift baskets. HANDSOME!

This is a favorite because it’s just too cool not to be. Favorite #3!

I think the black and white “couple in a bar shot” might be becoming my thing. Although, this was half bar half noodle shop, so we did change it up a bit. :)

I love me a crinkled nose laugh. :D

Oh, sweet love. Favorite #4. :)

Kate + Matt, the only thing I can say is that I wish you lived up here, because we would totally hang out if you did. You guys are remarkable and kind, smart and funny and I have a good feeling that your wedding is going to perfectly showcase all of those qualities. I was going to think of something else heartfelt to write, but really… I just miss you guys. If you love these photos even a fraction as much as I do, you will LOVE THEM A LOT. And I hope that’s true. Enjoy them. :)

My sincerest apologies to all who live there, but I have never been a huge fan of the Los Angeles area. Just not into it. At least, I wasn’t… until I met and photographed three of my couples down there. Although, now that I’m thinking about it, maybe it was just my love for my couples that rubbed off on Southern California? And it sure didn’t hurt that I got to spend some time with my own best friend and maid of honor while I was there, either. Whichever way you slice it, my dislike has softened significantly since my recent Long Beach / Venice / Pasadena / San Diego romp. Although the traffic is still atrocious—they do not get a pass there. ;)

First, we’ll meet my perfectly precious Pasadena pals. (Sorry! The opportunity for alliteration got the better of me!) And I tell you what, they hold a special place in my heart. I am a BIG fan, and not just because they laugh at all of my terrible jokes (But they did! And boy were they awful!). I am their number one fan because they are so totally and completely lost in their love for one another. They are head-over-heels in love. They’re forget-we’re-being-photographed-and-snuggle-up-like-we’re-at-home-on-the-couch in love. And guys? If ever you were looking for the key to my heart, you just found it. Well, that, and laughing at all my jokes. And ice cream. Can’t forget ice cream. :D

Before I stop babbling, I will say this: My goal with my photos is becoming somewhat singular lately. I want to walk away from each session with a small series of images that clearly conveys a couple’s dynamic, even to those who have never met them (big hint for my motives here: think great-great-grandchildren). So I’m knowingly tooting my own horn when I tell you that this session CRUSHES that goal.  Crushed. Gone. Disappeared. Dust. There are four specific photos that could stand on their own in this regard, and they’re my absolute favorites. Like, I might hang them in my own house, I love them that much. :D

Ready? :D :D

Who says parking garages can’t be beautiful? Favorite #1:

Can I just say that the entire time I was editing this session, I was smiling? We never stopped laughing:

Seriously!

I honestly thought that the rumor about the light in Southern California was a lie. But they are not kidding. Pasadena and I are best friends now.

Oh, P.S. Bowling is yet another key to my heart. (And not just because I got my first Turkey last weekend! Ya daaaaang right I did!) :D

This is a close contender for a favorite, I have to admit:

But anyone who really knows Krissy + Sean will understand exactly why the photo on the right is favorite #2. Perfect:

Favorite #3. GUYS, I LOVE YOU.

And lastly, favorite #4, which I could just gobble up with a big ol’ spoon every day for the rest of my entire life. Perfection:

Krissy + Sean, you already know how much I adore you. You are a remarkable team whose love inspires and thrills me. I look anxiously forward to your wedding, but I’m not going to lie, it’s mostly just because I’m excited to see you again. I hope you see your relationship in these photos as clearly as I do (and that you print the holy heck out of them and hang them ALL OVER your new apartment). Because you’re fab. The End. :D

I must have some bananas karma built up this year because I have no other explanation for how great my clients are. I’ve already introduced a handful of them, but you’ll meet the remaining majority over the next month or so. I’m telling you this now so that you have ample time to prepare yourself for their awesomeness. Take heed!

Perhaps serendipitously, Erika + Chris are a perfect way to start this month, to ease you into all that awesomeness, because these two are so mellow and easygoing, so relaxed and in love. And they’re genuinely nice people, to boot. Erika works for a portrait photographer, so she knows firsthand how tedious and awkward it can be to have your picture taken, and how tough it can be for a photographer to get people to relax. But as always, I busted out my A-game crazy and washed away their anxieties in no time.  In that same vein, I wish to apologize to the homeless guy I woke up when I nailed a particular shot and yelled in delight. What can you do? ;)

ANYHOW.

Erika + Chris are goofy and happy, quiet and caring, and I think that while wandering around Lake Merritt in Oakland, we got some photos that show exactly that.

I’m structuring this post as a favorites sandwich: two at the beginning and two at the end with some deliciousness in the middle. Enjoy! :D

Bread favorites numbers 1 + 2:

And now middle-sandwich-goodness:

In this photo, Chris’ toes make me smile:

ERIKA, seriously. So gorgeous. :)

I blame it on the colors and the giggles, but this one just makes my heart happy:

Playing with light and shadow. And waking up homeless dudes:

And finally, bread favorites numbers 3 + 4:  Hello, Oakland!

Favorite, favorite, favorite, favorite! :D :D

Erika + Chris, you two are treasures and I am grateful to have met you. I am also looking wildly forward to the awesome party that is going to be your wedding and meeting all the people who love and support you. I hope you adore these photos as much as I did taking them (and you know how much that was!) :D

I almost don’t have words for this pair. They’re light-hearted and funny; they’re laid back and easygoing; they’re super smart; they are insanely kind; and they look like they could be the inspiration for a Disney couple. But more importantly, they are endlessly, hopelessly, effervescently in love with each other.

I don’t care who you are, what you look like, how old you are, or if you’re outgoing or painfully shy…if you really love your partner, I could photograph you all day long. For me at least, that’s the magic ingredient. When your future children and grandchildren look at your photos, three things will strike them: 1) How young you were, and 2) How in love you were (and, I hope, still are!). Oh, I said three things. They’ll also notice how outdated your clothes and hair are, but I think that’s the absolute perfect reason to focus on emotion first. No matter how silly your outfit may seem in 20, 30, 50 years, authentic love is never outdated. And you can’t get that from just smiling at the camera.

I think I was able to capture Jessica + Justin in exactly this way. (Although, as an aside, let me say that they were impeccably stylish.) These two love each other, and their photos scream it. So much so that I’m breaking two rules for their blog post: 1) I’m posting two very similar images (because I couldn’t decide which I loved more!), and 2) I’m posting several images from the same location (because they’re just too lovely not to). Enough of my jabbering! Let’s break some rules!

Similar heart-melting image #1!

Similar heart-melting image #2!

We started at Golden Gate Park, a place I could wander around all the live long day:

Jessica took a jewelry making class and crafted Justin’s ring—she’s legit!

Seriously, Jess, you could light fires with those eyes. So hot! :D

I don’t normally stay in one location for long, but the little white flowers and light in this corner of the park were calling my name. Observe:

I think they were giggling here because all of Jessica’s hair had just fallen in Justin’s face. :D

If I’m remembering the story correctly, Justin proposed after a candlelit dessert on the roof of their apartment (after climbing up the side of the building with furniture strapped to his back and getting reported to the cops as a cat burglar!). This was their view:

So of course, we couldn’t resist getting some photos at the scene of the crime:

Ray-Ban ad:

Oh, filthy San Francisco alleyways, how I love thee.

Getting the following photos required me to be all up in the collective businesses of several garbage cans. Worth it. :D

These two are moving to Portland soon, so I wanted to get a shot of them walking the streets of their SF neighborhood for nostalgia’s sake. Perfect colors in this. Success!

Our last stop was a local Noe Valley bar with this quaint little open air section (which is actually meant for smokers, but you don’t need to know that). We temporarily evacuated the nook, got some free beer and wound up with these:

And OH MY GOOD GRAVY, MY FAVORITE! This photo makes me lose my breath just a little bit. Beautiful, perfect, authentic love? Check!

Jessica + Justin, thank you for being your wonderful selves with me last week. You are joys to be around, pleasures to photograph and fabulous people. I hope you love these photos and I can’t wait to photograph your wedding in September. :D