ille Photography Blog

New Year… More Blogging!

2010-01-13T19:42:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! So, I’m not the biggest fan of new year’s resolutions. For most people, they just mean crowded gyms from January to about February right? Really, I think we should set goals for ourselves throughout the year, not just in December-January. It probably sounds like I’m setting up to tell you a resolution doesn’t it? Well, as you may have noticed, the blog has been a bit quiet (again) and I’d really like to change that, but not just because it’s 2010 but because it’s a goal I’ve had since starting this blog – to blog often. How else will you get to see what I’m working on and get to know me better? 2010 is going to be a wonderfully exciting year for me. I’ve got some great weddings that are fast approaching. So, call it a resolution if you want but get your RSS readers ready cause I’ve got lots of exciting stuff to post.

To start things off right, let’s see a few photos from part two of the Roseville, CA engagement session with Kathryn and Jeremy. When I’m shooting creative engagement photos, I like to let the couple ease into the photo session and get comfortable in front of the camera. I mean that’s what the engagement photo session is for, so we can get to know each other better and get used to what it’s going to be like when we work together on one of the most important days of your life, your wedding. This process is a lot of fun for me and the couple I’m working with because it’s relaxed and we get to make awesome pictures too.

The photos below are a great example of where a creative photography session can end up. We started the day with some fun, themed photos based on ideas Kathryn and I worked on beforehand but I don’t like to limit sessions to just one idea. That’s why I suggest that couples bring a change of clothes in case we want to mix things up. Not only did Kathryn bring a change of clothes, she actually MADE the dress she’s wearing. How cool is that?

The light was fading fast but with a quick setup of lights, we had ourselves a portable studio to work in, right in the middle of this field. Three lights here: two flashes and the beautiful setting sun!

Apple Hill Photography 2009

2009-11-16T21:09:00.001-08:00

My wife and I have been heading up to Apple Hill for a few years now. It really helps us celebrate the fall. It’s wonderful to be in the crisp mountain air and enjoy the fall color palette. This year it was extra fun because we were in the company of some dear friends.

Here are a few photos I snapped in the apple orchard before we went exploring. If you like nature, fresh produce, and a variety of delicious apple treats, Apple Hill might just be the right place for you to celebrate fall too! It might also be the perfect spot for your engagement photos. ;)

Roseville, CA - Engagement Photography - Kathryn and Jeremy - Part 1

2009-11-03T21:36:00.001-08:00

So perhaps you’ve noticed it’s been a bit “still” on my blog lately? Well, good news and bad news… The good news is that I’ve been busy photographing super-wonderful-awesome couples and I have lots of pictures to post. The bad news is that I haven’t had the time to get these photographs on the blog! So, without further ado, meet Kathryn and Jeremy.

Kathryn and Jeremy know each other incredibly well and it shows. They’ve been together since high school but even after all the years they are some of the most playful people you will meet. It’s like the “honeymoon period" of their relationship never wore off.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing them both for some time, having met Kathryn and Jeremy back in college. Jeremy and I shared a mutual interest in cool cars back then but Jeremy has managed to turn that interest into a career. He works for one of the coolest car manufacturers around! Tesla Motors.

I’m honored to be photographing their 2010 wedding in Spokane, Washington at the beautiful Bozarth Mansion.

PS: Look for Part 2 from this session. The photos were so different from these I felt they deserved their own post.

Nevada City, CA - Engagement Photography : Mary and Tyler

2009-10-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

When Mary and Tyler told me they wanted to shoot their engagement photographs in Nevada City, California, I was thrilled! I love to follow couples to new places. When I arrived in Nevada City, I found Mary and Tyler in a local watering hole where Tyler was finishing up a drink, a Bud Light with lime to be exact. You see, contrary to popular belief, Tyler is the real inventor of the Bud Light Lime, long before it was commercialized by Budweiser. Well, that’s the story he tells anyway. Tyler’s inventions don’t stop at beer though folks, he’s also got a great solution for on-the-go laptop users with his ingenious Fold N Flip.

Mary and Tyler are full of wonderful stories and warm laughter and I can’t wait to shoot their 2010 wedding at the beautiful Monte Verde Inn. Thanks for taking me to a new place to photograph your love!

We headed over to Shuniaa where we were kindly invited to participate in free yoga but we just did a little relaxation on our own in this sweet little patio.

We even found time to sneak over to Empire Mine to continue taking engagement photographs. We only had a few minutes as the sun set but it was really beautiful there!

Mountain View, CA – Wedding Photography : Trish and Bryan

2009-09-20T23:14:00.000-07:00

When I asked Trish to describe the feel of her wedding during our initial conversations, she told me she wanted, “Simple Elegance.” Well, amidst the quaint gardens of the historic Rengstorff House in Mountain View, with guitar notes in the air and fresh lemonade to sip on, I think Trish’s goal was executed beautifully.