So a few weeks later we got together for what was to be a long fun day! We started the shoot in Mountain View with coffee at the Dana Street Roasting Company where Paul and Anna first met. We had a gloriously warm day so sat outside at a table on the sidewalk and chatted, sipped and of course photographed. Coffee, kissing and cuddling – what a great way to start a Sunday!

Our day continued with a visit to the couple’s favorite vineyard, Burrell School Winery in the Los Gatos Mountains for a little wine tasting (OK, so we also bought a few bottles!) What a great spot right on our doorstep – fabulous wine, amazing views and a lovely relaxed atmosphere.

From here we travelled to the wedding venue – Mullin’s Bar and Grill at the Half Moon Bay Golf Links so we could have a look at the location and get some sunset pictures. After our guided tour of the site on a golf buggy (can’t wait to see Anna driving this in her wedding dress on the big day!!!), we managed to get some dramatic shots as the very dark clouds overhead threatened…

And to end a perfect day… dinner at Half Moon Bay’s charming and intimate Pasta Moon. Not a typical engagement shoot – but excellent fun!

Particularly like the shot where the sun is just catching the angel looking down on them…

After a quick change we chased the sun to Half Moon Bay for sunset – alas, it was cold, windy and gray, but we managed to capture some more romantic moments between them.

Looking forward to being at the beach wedding later this year!

Slideshow from this shoot can be found on YouTube!

They first met, and were friends, years ago at school and until recently had lost contact. Their celebration day brought family and many friends together for the first time and saw old school friends reunited.

We wish you a wonderful and happy life together John and Sheila!

Little Jordyn loved being in front of the camera -

- she looked so cute with her angel wings and bell, introducing Sheila and John to their guests.

Back in February we attended a three-day workshop with Bambi Cantrell at her studio in Benicia. The third day had a major contribution from Jim Garner.

Our motivations for attending the workshop were twofold: soak like sponges from these wonderful educators, and specifically learn first hand how Bambi poses her couples and groups. (She is a master after all!) We hear so often now how posing is a dirty word, but a professional photographer should be able to create the best images from any given situation – whether reportage, gently directed, or full-out posed.

Bambi supplied models for two days, and gave us great insight into her use of light and posing, then assigned us to shoot with the models. The following mornings we would take our ‘out of camera’ images in for critique. I love being critiqued – it’s the best education. Nicest comments from the critiques were “you should do this professionally!” and “I wish I had taken that!”. Seriously, the critiques were great and extremely constructive.
As a side note, we were also advised to go see the print competition judging at WPPI for the same reason, and fresh back from WPPI, I can highly recommend the viewing for improving your photographic eye. This skit should convince you..!

The additional time with Jim Garner was valuable and entertaining. Again, there were gems of advice, and we spent the whole time scribbling notes on technique and album design – Maria’s strength already – but understanding how an award-winning pro shoots with vision, plans and designs is wonderful education. The work and slideshows he showed were moving and inspiring.
I have to say that the workshop exceeded our expectations and I would highly recommend professional photographers attend a workshop with Bambi and Jim – it’s fun and immensely educational.. We came away with pages and pages of scribbling and many ideas for new shoots. Thank you both!

Here’s the same pic, straight out of camera, with no photoshop finishing:

This post is really to say thank you to the many people who have helped us on our journey. We’ve made some great new friends, met beautiful models, wonderful couples, and friendly fellow photographers in the Bay Area.

2010 is already looking exciting, with fashion projects and several weddings booked so far!
We’re also looking forward to seminars with real inspirations to us – Yervant, Jerry Ghionis and Bambi Cantrell! Yes, a mix of styles – but we’re looking to learn, absorb and continue to develop our own hybrid style of course… Simply can’t wait!

We’ve become affiliates of lynda.com, and can’t speak highly enough of this on-line training resource. With digital, the photographer really has to be the printer as well, so Photoshop skills are paramount. With this in mind, I’ve been reminiscing lately about some early fashion work I did back in the UK (I need an RZ67 again!). This was printed by Terry Cryer, who was simply the best B&W printer of his time. Check out his work and bio – quite a life!

We wish you all the very best for 2010!