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Favorite Winery Wedding Venues In California
There’s Just Something So Totally Romantic About A Winery Wedding! And Here In Wine-country, We Have Some Of The Best In The Us. Winery And Vineyard Wedding Venues Give Off Such A Classic, Elegant And Rustic Charm With A Hint Of Fairytale! Here Are Some Of The Most Stunning Winery Venues To Make All Your Wedding Dreams Come True.
Mendocino Garden Wedding At Yokayo Ranch
When Covid Hit And Ultimately Postponed Their Wedding, Jenna And Ryan Decided To Make The Most Of It. They Took Their Van, Affectionately Named Lucy, And Hit The Road For A Four-month Cross-country Road Trip. After Their Adventures, They Returned To The Bay Area. When It Was Finally Time To Say Their I Do’s, They Just Knew They Wanted To Maximize Their Time Celebrating With Their Loved Ones By Throwing A Community-oriented Wedding Weekend.jenna And Ryan Hosted Their Wedding Weekend At Yokayo Ranch In Ukiah, Ca. Yokayo Ranch Has A Rich And Varied Past, Including Being A Fraternity At One Point, Meaning There Is A Ton Of Onsite Lodging. With The Capability To Accommodate Their Closest Family And Friends For An Entire Weekend And Its Serene Mendocino Garden Vibe, Jenna And Ryan Knew It Was The Perfect Place For Their Long-awaited Nuptials. Jenna, Ryan, And Their Bridal Party All Got Ready On Site. The Bridesmaids Wore Gowns Of Varying Hues Of Blush To Dusty Rose. Ryan And The Groomsmen Paired Tan Jackets With White Button-downs, Black Ties, And Black Slacks. Jenna Was Stunning In A Simple Silhouetted Gown With A Detailed Lace Bodice. Once Everyone Was Ready, It Was Time For Jenna And Ryan To Do Their First Look Before The Ceremony.as Guests Arrived On The Warm Summer Evening, They Were Immediately Greeted With Artisanal Sorbet To Refresh Them Before The Wedding Ceremony Began. Jenna And Ryan Let Yokayo's Ceremony Space Speak Primarily For Itself. The Site Is Among A Lush Garden Full Of California Native Plants. They Adorned The Existing Archway With A Spray Of Their Wedding Florals In Hues Of Cream, Blush, Sage, And Pops Of Pink. The Ceremony Was Sweet And Heartfelt—quite A Few Guests Found Themselves Wiping Tears Away. With Their Vows Exchanged, And The New Union Sealed With A Kiss, It Was Time To Celebrate!we Made Sure To Capture Photos With Jenna And Ryan's Families, Their Bridal Parties, And A Few Extra Special Guests. Cocktail Hour Was In Full Swing By The Pool, Where Pizzas Were Being Freshly Wood-fired For Guests To Enjoy. Jenna And Ryan Joined Their Guests And Then Danced Their Way Into The Reception As The New Mr. And Mrs. The Entire Evening Was Hosted Outdoors From Dinner To Toasts, Cake Cutting, And Dancing.it Was Important To Jenna And Ryan That Their Wedding Reflects The Sense Of Community They Want To Carry Into Their New Life Together. Many Of The Vendors Were Friends, Friends Of The Family, And Mendocino County Locals. There Were Also So Many Special Touches To Mark The Day As Uniquely Jenna And Ryans. Instead Of A Traditional Guest Book, They Requested Their Guests Bring And Sign A Copy Of Their Favorite Record For The Couple To Enjoy. They Also Had Their Van Lucy Onsite To Serve As A Photo Booth For Their Guests.jenna And Ryan's Wedding Had The Intimate Feel Of Being Hosted In A Backyard Summer Garden While Benefiting From The Fantastic Accommodations Yokayo Rancho And Their Selected Vendors Had To Offer. All Their Personal Touches Throughout Their Wedding Made It An Event That I Am Sure Jenna, Ryan, And Their Guests Will Remember Fondly For Years And Years To Come.see Just A Few Of My Favorites From Their Day By Clicking View Gallery! 
La Playa Carmel Engagement Session
Despite All The Weddings I Attend For Work, Nate And I Haven’t Been Simply Guests At A Wedding In Over Two Years! (looking At You, Working Weekends!) When Our Dear Friends Kelsey And Joey Got Engaged And Invited Us To Celebrate Their Big Day As Guests, We Were Very Excited. I Was Also Excited And Honored That They Said They Just Had To Have Their Engagement Photos Taken By Me.kelsey And Joey Are Hosting Their Wedding Next September At La Playa Carmel In Carmel-by-the-sea. They Wanted To Take Their Engagement Photos At The Venue And Surrounding Areas. Nate Grew Up With Kelsey, And I Was Shooting Another Wedding In The Area On A Saturday, So We Turned The Engagement Session Into A Bit Of A Weekend Getaway With Kelsey And Joey! We Stayed At The Normandy Inn, Grabbed A Fantastic Lunch At La Bicyclette, And Then Got Ready To Head To The Shoot!we Started Off Getting Pictures Of Kelsey And Joey At La Playa Carmel Hotel & Bar. They Wanted To Capture A Couple Of Pictures In Front Of The Venue’s Sign And In Its Patio Area. I Thought This Was Such A Cute Idea Not Only To Take The Opportunity To Visit Their Venue But To Have Pictures They Can Use To Give Their Guests A Feel For Where They’ll Be Hosting Their Wedding.once We Finished At La Playa Carmel, We Set Off To Point Lobos State Park. Due To Its Overcast Nature, The Park Closes Two Hours Before Sunset, Making Point Lobos An Attraction Primarily Visited Midday. We Waited Until Around 6 Pm, And By That Point, Most Of The Crowd Had Cleared Out, And There Was Plenty Of Parking. While The Offshore Flow May Be Why Point Lobos Closes Early, We All Loved The Fog And Cooler Temps In Mid-july Compared To The Heat We Experience In Chico. Plus, Overcast Skies Can Make For Some Of The Best Lighting For Photography!we Captured Some Stunning Shots Along Point Lobos’ Path, Tide Pools, And The Neighboring Beach. Kelsey And Joey Were Game For Any Shot Suggestions I Threw At Them. Kelsey Has A Dance Background, So Many Of The Recommended Movements Come Naturally To Her. These Two Were Also Just So Loving And Sweet To Each Other. It Was Easy To Photograph Moments I Know They’ll Cherish For Years To Come. We Had A Truly Amazing Weekend With Kelsey And Joey At Carmel-by-the-sea, And Nate And I Cannot Wait To Return There To Celebrate These Two Next Year!see Some Of My Faves From Their Destination Engagement Session By Clicking View Galley Below!
Creative Ways To Use Your Engagement Photos
For The Vast Majority Of Couples, Your Engagement Session May Be The First Time You’re Getting Professional Photos taken Together! from Experience, I Know It Can Feel Exciting And Intimidating All At The Same Time. that’s Why I Strive To Make The Process Fun And Natural By Guiding You With Easy prompts And A Ton Of Positive Energy. i’ll Give You Things To Do Together That Will bring out Your Personalities. This Keeps You From Ever Feeling Awkward In Front Of The Camera Or Wondering What To Do With Your Hands. I’ve Worked With Hundreds Of Couples, And Making Sure You Feel Confident And Love Your Photos Is What I Am Most Passionate About.now Let’s Be Honest For A Second… I Know We All Look Forward To Sharing All Of Our Engagement Photos With Our Instagram Followers! And While That Is Great, There Are So Many More Creative And Practical Ways To Make Use Of Them That I Think So Many Of Us May Not Realize! In This Blog Post I’m Sharing Seven Ways To Showcase Your Photos Before, On, And After Your Wedding Day!
Things You Should Know Before Planning Your Wedding | Wedding Advice From Real Couples
Let’s Be Honest, Wedding Planning Can Be Stressful… And You Know What Can Make It Even Worse? Reading Through Hundreds Of Blog Posts All Over The Internet Filled With Tips! Truthfully, These Blog Posts Are Filled With So Much Great Education And Helpful Tips, But Can Be Overwhelming. That’s Why I Want To Share With You Wedding Planning Advice From Real Couples! These Are All Past Ashley Carlascio Photography Couples That Made Their Wedding Day Meaningful!!! So Grab A Glass Of Wine, Find Your Wedding Planning Notebook And Take In These Helpful Tips!
Questions You Should Ask Before Booking Your Wedding Photographer
Each Vendor You Work With On Your Wedding Day Is Important From Invitations To Djs. It’s Always A Good Idea To At Least Have A Phone Call With All Of Your Vendors Before Booking To Make Sure They See Your Vision, You Click And You’ll Be Happy With The Outcome. But One Vendor That, I Think Is The Most Important To Ensure You Have A Good Vibe With Is Your Photographer!as A Wedding Photographer Myself, I Take Getting To Know My Couples Serious. We Spend So Much Time Together On Your Wedding Day And I Want You To Be Completely Comfortable With Me And Feel Like Friends The Entire Time! Whether We’re Working Together Or Not, I Can’t Stress Enough How Important This Is! That’s Why I’ve Put Together A List Of 10 Questions You Should Ask Before Booking Your Wedding Photographer.
When You Should Send Save The Dates For Your Wedding
So You’ve Set A Wedding Date And Now You’re Wondering… When The Heck Do I Need To Send Out My Save The Dates?! Well, You’re In Luck! In This Blog Post, I’m Answering That Question To The Fullest Sharing When Exactly You Should Mail Out Your Save The Dates And Why! So Let’s Get Straight To The Juicy Details…
Why + Where You Should Create A Wedding Website
There’s A Likely Chance One Of The First Things You Thought To Do After Getting Engaged And Setting A Date Was Create A Wedding Website, But You Don’t Know Why They’re So Useful Or What You Should Use To Build One. In This Blog Post, I Want To Share A Few Reasons Why I Recommend Having A Wedding Website And Some Of My Favorite Resources! Let’s Jump Right In.
10 Questions To Ask Your Wedding Officiant
No Matter What Type Of Wedding Ceremony You Have Planned, Whether Religious Or Not, Finding An Officiant That Feels Right To Both You And Your Fiancé Is Super Important! Here Are A Few Questions I Recommend Asking Before Booking To Ensure You Find The Perfect Person To Marry You.
5 Ways To Use Your Wedding Photos After The Wedding
So Your Wedding Day Has Come And Gone, Your Honeymoon Is Over And Your Photographer Just Sent Over Your Final Gallery. Whew! What A Whirlwind!!! Chances Are, This Has Been One Of The Best Seasons Of Your Life And You Feel Like It’s All Over. But Settling Into This New Season Of Newlywed Bliss Is One Of The Best And Having Your Wedding Photos To Look Back On Makes It So Much Better! I Remember Getting My Wedding Photos Back. It Felt Like I Looked At Them All Day, Every Day! I Just Couldn’t Believe How Truly Lucky I Was And I Wanted To Think Of Every Possible Way To Use My Photos And Share Them With The World. Here Are 5 Ways I’ve Found To Use Your Wedding Photos After The Wedding!
Engagement Session On A Cattle Ranch
Each Time A Couple Selects Me To Be Their Photographer, It’s An Honor And A Compliment. When Della And Jake Chose Me To Capture Their Engagement Photos, This Was Especially True. Della Is An Incredible Photographer Herself, Specializing In True-to-life Photography Of Both People And Ranch Livestock. It Was Flattering To Have Her Reach Out To Me, Particularly Since We Were Shooting In Her Natural Element; Jake’s Family Farm!on The Day Of Della And Jake’s Shoot, A Summer Storm Had Rolled In. About Two Hours Before Our Session, I Had Called Della To Discuss If She’d Like To Postpone. While It Had Been Raining In Chico, Where I Am Based, It Hadn’t Rained At The Ranch, Which Is Located Just Outside Of Willows, Ca, About 40 Miles Southwest Of Chico. We Had Decided To Stick To The Session Plan And Chance A Few Raindrops In Hopes Of Catching Some Stellar Clouds.we Started Our Session By An Old White Barn On The Property And Then Moved Down A Eucalyptus-lined Gravel Road. Both Della And Jake Grew Up Raising Cattle, And Jake’s Family Farm Is An Active Cattle Ranch. I Couldn’t Help But Notice All The Cows Noticing Us And Shyly Asked If We Could Take Some Photos Around The Cattle. Della And Jake Both Very Excitedly Agreed, As That Had Been Part Of Their Hope For The Shoot The Whole Time. They Were More Than Happy To Quite Literally Run Around The Fields And Get Up Close And Personal With The Cows. The Cows Were Curious About What We Were Up To And Seemed To Enjoy Being Included In All The Fun.our Slight Rainy Day Risk Yielded An Amazing Reward By The End Of Della And Jake’s Session. The Rain Never Did Fall On Us, But We Enjoyed A Gorgeous Sunset At Our Last Location On The Farm, The Rice Fields. The Wide-open Green Fields And Dramatic Clouded Sky Provided The Perfect Backdrop For Final Shots Of This Fun-loving Cattle-ranching Couple. See More By Clicking View Gallery Below!
Fall Engagement Session In Bidwell Park
One Of The Easiest Things Couples Can Do To Make Sure Their Engagement Pictures Come Out Beautiful Is To Keep It Simple. Select A Location You Love, Outfits You Feel Good In, And Have A Fun Time! Grace And Ben’s Session Is The Perfect Example Of How A Beloved Spot And A Joyful Attitude Can Make My Job Easy.i Met With Grace And Ben At Peterson Memorial Drive Off Of Vallombrosa In Chico. Peterson Memorial Drive Is One Of The Entrances To The Middle Park Portion Of Bidwell Park, One Of The Most Beloved Areas Of Chico. Locations Throughout Bidwell Park Are Some Of The Most Requested Sites I Receive From Chico Clients. Bidwell Park In Its Entirety Is 3,670 Acres That Stretch Over 11 Miles Through The City Of Chico. The Middle Park Portion Of Bidwell Features A Tree-lined Paved Access Road, Walking And Riding Trails, And Day Camping Spots All Set Along Big Chico Creek. we Started The Session By Walking Along The Paved Pathway. Grace And Ben Decided To Lean Into The Fall Season’s Natural Color Palette For Their September Engagement Session And Selected Outfits Rooted In Earth Tones. Their Classic Looks In Burnt Orange And Forest Green Were The Perfect Accent Against The Stately Oaks In Bidwell. With The Fantastic Location And Classic Ensembles, All That Was Left To Do Was Let Grace And Ben Shine.this Engagement Session Was Full Of So Much Laughter! Ben And Grace Were Entirely At Ease In Front Of The Camera. They Nailed All Of The Engagement Poses I Suggested And Were Having Fun Doing It. Grace And Ben Kept It Simple And Just Enjoyed Their Time Together, Which Resulted In Beautiful, Authentic Engagement Photos. See A Few Of My Faves By Clicking View Gallery Below!
Fairytale Disney-themed Wedding At The White House At Churn Creek
Disney Parks Are Known As The Most Magical Places On Earth, And For Matt And Tiffany, That Couldn’t Be More True. Matt And Tiffany Met While Working At Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom In 2016. The Two Became Fast Friends, And That Friendship Quickly Blossomed Into Romance. Matt Is Originally From Mount Ephriam, New Jersey, And Tiffany Is From Red Bluff, California. They Spent A Good Portion Of Their Relationship Living Thousands Of Miles Apart But Always Had Their Shared Love Of All Things Disney, And Their Love For One Another, To Keep Them Close. Matt Proposed To Tiffany At Walt Disney World In Her Favorite Portion Of The Resort, And After Some Happy Tears On Tiffany’s Part, It Was Time To Start Planning Their Own Happily Ever After. matt And Tiffany Planned A Glamorous Wedding Day, With Little Nods To Their Disney Beginnings Throughout. They Hosted Their Ceremony And Reception At The White House At Churn Creek Golf Course In Redding, California. White House’s Lush Garden Setting, Historic Federal Revival Style Architecture, And Matt And Tiffany’s Inclusion Of Disney’s Signature Colors Of Gold And Midnight Blue Created The Perfect Backdrop For Their Fairytale Wedding Day.taking Advantage Of Everything White House Had To Offer As A Venue, Matt, Tiffany, And Their Bridal Parties Got Ready On Location. Matt And His Boys Wore Blue Suits With Gold Bow Ties For The Groomsmen And Gold Ties For The Best Man And Groom. They Each Also Wore Socks Featuring Their Favorite Marvel Superheroes. Tiffany’s Bridesmaids Wore Gold Sequined Dresses, With Her Maid Of Honor Donning A Champagne-colored Satin Gown. Tiffany Herself Looked Every Bit A Disney Princess With Her Intricate Lace Bodice And Full Tulle Tiered Skirt. Once Everyone Was Ready, Matt And Tiffany Did A Spin On The First Look And Opted For A First Touch! It Allowed Them To Share A Moment Before The Ceremony While Also Saving That First Look When Tiffany Walked Down The Aisle!matt And Tiffany’s Ceremony And Reception Were Full Of So Many Sweet And Fun Special Moments. Tiffany’s Nephew Served As Ring Bearer And Wore A Ring Security Outfit Complete With A Badge, Shades, And A Safety Briefcase To Transport The Wedding Rings In. Tiffany’s Father Is A Pastor Who Officiated The Wedding. At One Point, The Whole Family Came Up To The Altar To Pray Around The Couple. It Was An Incredibly Powerful Moment That Left No Dry-eyes Among The Guests. Once Their Vows Were Exchanged And It Was Time To Dance The Night Away, Tiffany Surprised Her Mom, Including A Mother-daughter Dance. The Whole Evening Was Full Of Laughter And Happy Tears. while The Saying Goes That The Devil Is In The Details, Disney Was In The Details For These Two. From Their Color Palette To A Few Hidden Mickeys And All The Small Disney Accents They Included, An Extra Dash Of Magic And Joy Could Be Felt Throughout Matt And Tiffany’s Fairytale Wedding Day. See 50 Of My Faves By Clicking View Gallery Below!
Intimate Wedding In The Canyon, In Northern California
Work-life Balance Is Always An Adventure For A Small Business Owner. While It’s Important To Set Boundaries And Stick To Them, Sometimes You Meet A Couple Worth Bending The Rules For. As Soon As I Met Matt And Courtney, I Knew I Wanted To Work With Them—even Though Their Wedding Day Fell On My Birthday—and I Am So Glad I Did!matt And Courtney Are Both Chico State Alums But Didn’t Meet Until They Matched On Bumble While Living In San Francisco. It Was Courtney’s First App Date, And While She Was Anxious, Encouragement From Her Best Friend Bolstered Her Confidence To Meet Matt In Person. That First Date Was All It Took To Form An Instant Connection. The Two Bonded Over Similar Experiences At Chico State, Mutual Interests, Good Beer, And Lots Of Laughter. Matt And Courtney Couldn’t Get Enough Of Each Other And Spent The Next Two Years Dating And Adventuring Around The San Francisco Area. They Then Decided To Move Back To Their Mutually-beloved City Of Chico Together For Matt To Undertake Chico State’s Credentialing Program. On December 31, 2019, Matt Proposed To Courtney While On A Hike In Ashland, Oregon. Courtney Says It Was The Easiest Question She Ever Answered. Although Wedding Planning During A Pandemic Created Challenges, Matt And Courtney Decided To Stick To Their Original Wedding Date In The Fall Of 2020, No Matter What.when Their Wedding Day Arrived, Matt And Courtney Found Themselves Excited For The Intimacy Their Smaller Guest List Allowed. These Two Committed That On Their Wedding Day, They Would Stay Present And Focus On What The Day Was Truly About—devoting Their Lives To One Another In Front Of Their Most Beloved Family And Friends.matt And Courtney Hosted Their Ceremony And Reception At The Sundog Ranch Just North Of Chico, Overlooking Rock Creek Canyon. They Chose A Natural Fall Color Palette That Played Off The Property’s Ranch House And Sweeping Views Of The Canyon, Valley, And Distant Coastal Range. Matt And His Groomsmen Dressed Classically In Black Suits With Simple Burgundy Ties. Courtney’s Bridesmaids Each Wore A Dress Of Their Choosing In Rich Autumnal Hues Ranging From Blush To Rose, Maroon, And Rust. Matt And Courtney Looked The Perfect Pair With Matt In A Dark Suit And Burgundy Tie And Courtney In A Simple Silhouette Set Off By Dramatic Lace And Long Train. matt And Courtney’s Commitment To Staying Present And Enjoying The Company Of Their Cherished Guest Shone Throughout Their Ceremony And Reception. The Warm Fall Evening Was Full Of Love, Laughter, And Unadulterated Joy Towards The Future Matt And Courtney Are Building Together.click Through Some Of My Favorite Snaps From Their Day By Clicking View Gallery Below.
Tropical California Wedding At The Palms | Jaci + George
Being A Traveling Photographer Has Taken Me To Many Places Throughout The State And Beyond, But My “home Base” Is Chico, California. Chico Is A Nationally Designated City Of Trees, And Much Of The Town Is Lined With Giant Sycamores And Oaks. The City Is Also Surrounded By Orchard Land That Deals Primarily In Almonds And Walnuts. Hidden Amongst All Of These Northern California Native Trees Is The Palms. As Soon As You Enter The Property, It’s Easy To See Why The Palms Is One Of Chico’s Most Popular Event Venues. The Breathtaking Private Venue Is Lush With Hundreds Of Palm Trees And Life Teeming Everywhere You Look. This Unique Tropical Oasis Is Where Chico-natives George And Jaci Chose To Host Their Tropical-themed Wedding.george And Jaci Initially Met In 2010 As Students At Pleasant Valley High School In Chico, But It Was Not Love At First Sight. It Wasn’t Until Their Paths Crossed Again At Butte College That They Started To Get To Know One Another And Spend Time Together. After Gym Dates, Hikes In Upper Bidwell Park, And Movies Together, The Two Became Official In 2012. Throughout Their Young Adult Lives, Jobs And Internships Kept George And Jaci Apart At Times, But They Always Had One Another And Chico To Call Home. In 2019 While On Vacation On The Big Island Of Hawaii, George Proposed To Jaci, And She Said Yes! They Decided To Incorporate Some Of Their Engagement’s Tropical Spirit Into Their Wedding, And They Knew That The Palms Would Be The Perfect Location To Do It.jaci Started Her Wedding Day At The Palms Getting Ready With Her Mom And Close Friends. They All Wore Robes Featuring Palm Leaves Which Set The Tone For The Tropical Celebration That Lay Ahead. Once Ready, Jaci Slipped Out Of Her Robe And Into Her Fairy Tail Wedding Dress And Jewel Dotted Veil. George Kept His Look Breezy By Forgoing A Suit Jacket In Favor Of A Tailored Vest, Tie, And Crisp White Shirt With Rolled Sleeves. george And Jaci’s Ceremony Was Held In The Palm’s Outdoor Ceremony Space. The Archway Was Adorned With A Flowy White Curtain And Gorgeous Oversized Sprays Of Palm Leaves And Tropical Flowers In Hues Of Orange And Blush. George And Jaci’s Heartfelt Ceremony Was Filled With Memorable Moments. Jaci Has A Special Relationship With Her Grandfather, And While He Was Not Well Enough To Officiate, He Shared A Sweet Prayer For The Couple On Their Wedding Day. With Their “i Do”s Said, George And Jaci Walked Back Down The Aisle Together, Arm In Arm, As Mr. And Mrs.after The Ceremony, We Captured Family Portraits And Shots Of The Bride And Groom. It Was Then Time To Head Into The Palm’s Banquet Hall For Dinner And Dancing. The Reception Area Was Decorated With More Lush Arrangements Of Tropical Flora And Accented With Pops Of Natural Wood Hues, Gold, Orange, And Blush. George And Jaci Shared Their First Dance And Beamed As Their Family And Friends Toasted To Their Future. The Whole Evening Was Full Of Fun And Laughter, But My Favorite Moment Came When It Was Time For The Newlyweds To Depart. George And Jaci Chose A Unique And Vibrant Wedding Exit. They Had Glow Sticks At The Ready For Their Guests To Light The Way As They Started Their Journey As Husband And Wife. George And Jaci’s Guests Headed Outside, Lined The Walkway, Glow Sticks In Hand, And Saw The New Couple Off In A Beautiful And Colorful Display. It Was The Perfect End To George And Jaci’s Tropical Wedding Day At The Palms.see Some Of My Faves From Their Colorful Wedding Day By Clicking View Gallery Below!
Jyla + Aj's Family Engagement Session
One Of The Wonderful Parts About Being A Traveling Photographer Is That My Clients Often Introduce Me To New Locations. When Jyla And Aj Told Me They Wished To Do Their Combined Engagement Family Session In Jonesville, Ca, It Was The First I Had Heard Of The Small Community. Once I Arrived, It Didn’t Take Long For Jonesville To Become A New Favorite Of Mine. located A Little More Than An Hour Away From Chico City Limits, Jonesville Is A Small Unincorporated Community In Butte County Situated On Jones Creek About 5 Miles East Of Butte Meadows. I Met With Jyla, Aj, And Their Son Cody At The Jonesville Hotel. Aj’s Mom’s Boyfriend Renovated The Over Century-old Jonesville Hotel, A Designated Historic Butte County Landmark. After Taking A Few Family Photos On The Steps Of The Jonesville Hotel, We Moved Into The Pine-lined Meadow The Hotel Backs Up Against To Continue Shooting. We Also Captured Some Gorgeous Images On Historic Humboldt Road In Front Of An Old Stage-stop Barn. for Jyla And Aj, Their Engagement Represents A Big Step In Their Journey As A Family, So While They Wanted Many Traditional Engagement Shots As A Couple, It Was Important To Them To Include Son Cody In On The Fun Of The Day. At 5000 Ft In Elevation, Jonesville Is Solidly A Mountain Community. This Shot Was In November, Right Before The First Snow Of The Season…and It Was So Cold. But Jyla, Aj, And Even Cody Were Such Champs About It And Smiled The Whole Way Through The Chilly Session.it Is Always So Wonderful To Get To Know Clients And Shoot In Locations That Are Special To Them. I Am So Thankful To Jyla And Aj For Introducing Jonesville To Me. It Is Now One Of My Favorite Places!see Their Photos By Clicking View Gallery Below.
Ari + Stephanie's Table Mountain Engagement Session
Ari And Stephanie Are The Types Of People You Immediately Want To Be Friends With. This Cool Couple Brought A Little Edginess And A Lot Of Laughter To Their Engagement Shoot. Ari And Stephanie Chose To Do A Sunset Session With A Hint Of Southwestern Influence At The North Table Mountain Ecological Reserve In Oroville, California.the Rugged Terrain Of North Table Mountain In July Offered Some Unique Photo Opportunities For This Adventurous Pair. We Started The Session With A Long Hike To Capture Some Shots Of Ari And Stephanie Among The Dried Grasses And Rolling Basalt (lava Rock) Hills. We Then Stumbled Upon Some Beautiful Vernal Pools. These Seasonal Pools Are Created When Rainwater Becomes Trapped By The Underlying Basalt And Typically Have Evaporated By This Point In The Summer. We Took Advantage Of These Dramatic Reflecting Pools And Captured Some Stunning Shots Of Ari And Stephanie. we Headed Back Towards The Trail Where Ari And Stephanie Did A Quick Wardrobe Change. Stephanie Works For The Chico Founded International Clothing Retailer Lulus—which Means Their Outfits Were Absolutely On Point. Ari And Stephanie Remained So Joyful Through All Our Spelunking And Despite A Surprising Amount Of Grasshoppers Jumping All Around Us. These Two Told Me Before Their Shoot That They Are Super Awkward Taking Photos But As You Can See They Were Anything But. We Found A Field Of Tall Dried Wildflowers That Accented Ari And Stephanie’s Free-spirited Vibe Perfectly.ari And Stephanie’s Session Lasted Long Enough After Sunset That We Got To Enjoy The Blue Hour. This Period Of Twilight Just Before Dusk Leaves Enough Natural Light To Capture Crystal Clear Subject Shots While The Sky Shifts To Deeper Hues Of Blue And Purple. The Low Hanging Full Moon Was A Beautiful Guest In Many Of Our Final Shots.ari And Stephanie Ended The Session By Popping A Bottle Of Champagne. A Previous Client Let Me In On A Trick To Get The Perfect Celebratory Spray– You Hold Your Thumb Over The Top Of The Open Champagne Bottle, Give It A Shake, Then Move Your Thumb Slightly, Like You Would A Garden Hose, To Let Out Just A Little Bit Of Champagne… Ari Pulled The Stunt Off Wonderfully And Created A Superb Spray Of Bubbles. I Was Able To Capture A Great Series Of Photos And Turn Those Shots Into A Fun Gif. It Was A Terrific End To Ari And Stephanie’s Uniquely Bohemian And Perfectly Romantic Engagement Session.click View Gallery Below To See Some Of My Faves From Their Session!
Adventurous Destination Engagement Session At Convict Lake
Tyler And Kacie Knew Early On That They Wanted To Capture Their Engagement Photos Somewhere That Held A Special Meaning To Them And Showcased Their Adventurous Spirits. Convict Lake, Which Is Nestled In The Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain Range About 25 Minutes Southeast Of Mammoth Mountain, Quickly Became The Location That Tyler And Kacie Set Their Hearts On.destination Engagement Shoots Create A Unique Type Of Magic For Me As A Photographer. Not Only Does It Give Me The Opportunity To Experience Places That I Have Never Been Before, But It Adds Another Layer Of Sentimentality To The Shoot. Tyler Grew Up Vacationing With His Family At Convict Lake And His Excitement To Return There To Commemorate His Engagement To Kacie Was Apparent And Inspiring. when We Arrived At The Lake, It Was Immediately Clear Why Tyler’s Family Chose To Spend Their Summers There. Convict Lake Is A Glacial Lake Known For Its Turquoise-blue Water As Well As The Dramatic Mountains That Surround It. We Started The Session By Setting Out On A 3-mile Hiking Trail That Goes Around The Lake; With Tyler And Kacie’s Pup Lambo, An Adorable And Energetic Shepherd-lab Mix, In Tow. on The Far Side Of The Lake, The Majesty Of The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range’s Ecosystem Took Hold Of Me. A Grove Of Aspen Trees Edged The Lake And All The Flora And Fauna Created A Magical Feel To This Slightly Secluded Stretch Of Shoreline. The Glass-clear Water Fed From The Surrounding Peak’s Melting Snowpack Looked Cool And Refreshing. The Weather Was A Perfect 75 Degrees And There Was A Freshening Breeze From A Light Summer Storm Rolling In. having Such A Perfect Backdrop And Beautiful Couple Such As Tyler And Kacie Can Make My Job Easy. I Was Glad To Have The Setting In Subjects Down Pat Because Shooting During The Covid-19 Pandemic Created Unique Challenges. I Wore A Face Mask For The Entirety Of The Shoot With Tyler And Kacie. It’s A Funny Thing To Tell Someone To Smile Or Laugh When They Can’t See You Doing It Yourself; You Really Have To Cue With Your Body Language And Vocal Expressions Instead. This New Way Of Working Has Made Me A Much More Animated Photographer, Which Of Course, Had All Of Us Laughing. after Shooting On The Far Side Of The Lake We Hopped Back On The Trail And Returned To The Marina. Tyler And Kacie Share A Love For Beer—sierra Nevada Beer To Be Exact—and Decided To End The Shoot With A Celebratory Toast To A Successful Session And Cheers To Their Future Together.convict Lake Is Truly A Gem Among The Numerous Lakes In The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. It Was Well Worth The Trek To Capture Tyler And Kacie’s Engagement Photos At Such A Breathtaking And Sentimental Location. I Fully Intend To Return To Convict Lake Myself To Soak Up More Of Its Beauty And Camp Along Its Shores.see Some Of My Favorite Images From Their Adventure Session By Clicking View Gallery Below!
Table Mt. Engagement Session With Cassy + Daren
Table Mountain In Oroville Is Always A Little Bit Of A Drive From My Home Base But So Worth It. The Wide-open Skies And Rolling Rocky Fields Go On As Far As The Eye Can See With A Sprinkling Of Old Valley Oak Trees. The Super Bloom In April Draws Large Numbers Of Visitors For Its Wildflowers. However The Rest Of The Year, It’s Lightly Traveled And The Perfect Spot For A Romantic And Adventurous Engagement Session! Enjoy!see Some Of My Favorites From Their Unique Session By Clicking View Gallery Below!
Smokin' Hot Engagement Session With Black Smoke Bombs
This Session Right Here Was So Much Fun. Originally We Were Nervous About The Weather Report, The Rain Was Coming In But There Was A Break In The Storm So Chrysten And Philip Wanted To Go For It! And Oh I’m So Glad They Did. Their Black Outfits On Black Clouds And Black Smoke Bombs Made For So Much Moody Drama! I Still Have Chills.tips On Smoke Bombs:- You Want Zero Wind. We Had A Light Breeze (maybe More Than A Breeze, Hence The Storm Clouds) So You Might Be Able To See The Smoke Moved Away Quicker Than We Would Have Liked. But Hey – It’s Mother Nature. Still, We Achieved The Effect We Wanted And The Intense Clouds Made Up For It.- They Get Hot. But Not Too Hot To Hold, Just Keep Your Hand Close To The Base Once You Crack It Open From The Top.- Clothes Can Stain. They Avoided Any Issues Wearing Black On Black, But It’s Good To Keep In Mind If You’re Thinking Of Wearing White Or Lighter Colors.- They Go Quickly. You Have About 60-90 Seconds With The Smoke Bomb So Make Sure You Have Some Good Moving Poses And Roll With It.- Get A Permit Or Let Your Park Ranger Know. These Babies Attract A Lot Of Attention, No Matter What Color They Are. People Will Watch, Be Curious Or Nervous – So Be Prepared And Courteous.- Have 3-4. You Don’t Have To Use Them All But At Least You Have A Backup If You Need A Do-over.- Shutter Speed. Keep Her High! Your Speed Needs To Be Anywhere From 1/800 – 1/2500 To Catch All The Swirling Goodness.- Use The Bombs At The End Of The Shoot. This Is For A Few Reasons. One You Will Feel Most Confident And In The Groove By The End Of The Session. Two, If It Gets On Your Clothes, It No Biggie Because You Already Got Tons Of Gorgeous Photos By Having The Bombs Last In Your Session!okay, Ready To See My Faves From This Fun Session? Click View Gallery Below To Scroll Through!