Jeff and Melanie...Engaged

With their November wedding just around the corner, I had the absolute pleasure of getting to know Jeff and Melanie during their recent engagement session which began in the Bass Lake area.

The engagement session is a special time, as it is a special opportunity to get to know the couple while teaching and encouraging them to relax and get "in to" each other comfortably with a camera pointed at them!

Well, I knew this young couple would be fun, but I was in for a surprise, they were a blast they had me laughing so hard it was difficult to focus my camera!

The day finalized with a special session down by the San Joaquin River, as you can see. (They met at a Halloween costume party - just in case you are wondering "what's up" with the outfits!)

Melanie - Jeff - you guys Rock!



Whoops, almost forgot this one!

A Sweet and Fun wedding

Mike and I had the pleasure of being the wedding photographers for Alisha and her man on August 16th in rural Exeter. The bridesmaids entered on a tractor drawn wagon and Alisha made a stunning entrance in a horse drawn carriage - just like a princess. Bright sunflowers and smiles were plentiful as the couple took their vows on this bright sunny day - with Sierra mountains as a glorious backdrop.

Small for such a short, sweet time....

Just a short time ago Dominique visited us for her maternity session. And then along came baby, and what a sweet and cooperative little man he was. Mom, Dad and baby were together for his newborn session (four weeks old).

I can't quite explain why, but these infant sessions excite and energize me - maybe because I have the opportunity to participate in the celebration of new life and the dawn of "family" in the true sense.

Blessings!

Meet Gracie - a sweet Fairy Princess

With the opening of our studio in the Riverpark area - we are excited about doing some creative fantasy sessions with children. I met Gracie at her aunt Sunny's wedding earlier this year - and she visited our studio last week for a Fantasy session - butterfly wings and fairy dust included! Gracie was very cooperative and followed our prompting - after which we allowed her do some poses "her way".

I love on location portrait sessions so much, I gave little thought or consideration to studio work. In fact I think I probably said "I would never do that!". Well, never say never! I am loving it - and we get to stay cool and have fun indoors instead of sweltering in the heat outdoors.

Our first newsletter will be going out next week and we will be announcing information about our September and October sessions (Fairy Fantasy and Tool Time). We are also hosting a Halloween fundraiser. More information on that later.

If you would like to be added to our newsletter mailing list, please send an email to info@gardengatephoto.com.

Bella Turns One!

I first met Bella while she resided in mommy's tummy for the maternity session...but our real meeting was at her birth. Mom Tracy was brave and kind enough to allow me and my camera into the birthing room for Bella's birth. Over the past year I have enjoyed watching her personality develop during our sessions at three months, six months, nine months at just last month for her twelve month milestone. This wee one is a charmer with the biggest blue eyes and dimples. She has a fun side and a serious side - and she reflects everything in between with the blink of an eye. Soon I will be designing a coffee table album reflecting Bella's First Year. If this is something you are interested in...please send an email to me at kathy@gardengatephoto.com.

"Childhood is a journey...not a destination"

Wedding - Melissa and Cody

This beautiful bride is Melissa (Felix) Wilson. She was married to handsome Cody in Fresno, CA on June 6, 2008.

Prior to the ceremony the bridal party had fun in the sun at Woodward Park where they allowed me plenty of time to get the normal "formal" work out of the way, and then some great fun work. Janeen assisted by photographing the guys getting ready - tool belts, fedoras and all!
(Melissa did don a fedora during the reception to accomodate me for just a moment!)

As a wedding photographer and album designer, it is important to me to have plenty of time to capture all of the photographs I need/want for the couple. To do this, doing the bride and groom prior to the ceremony is a great asset. But - what about that special moment when the groom first sees his bride? We planned the "moment" in the cool shade under a redwood tree. I know Cody was not disappointed!

The ceremony was at People's Church Chapel with reception at Four Points Sheraton.

Melissa and Cody live in the Sacramento area.

Engaged - Calli Grover and Paul Erickson

If the wedding is as much fun as their engagement session, I believe I will be laughing all day!

Calli and Paul love to ride their bikes, so we did a little riding around Fig Garden for fun and then treked to downtown Fresno for an urban setting.

I only had to prompt Paul to kiss Calli once, and he took it from there!

Their wedding is set for August.

Jasmine and Glen - Wawona (Yosemite) Wedding

On May 23, 2008 Jasmine Dunning and Glen Ryerson were married at beautiful Wawona Lodge in Yosemite National Park. This gentle couple were joined by family and friends from across the U.S. for an intimate wedding. The weather was a little cool and sprinkled off and on so last minute wedding plans resulted in the ceremony being held on the veranda, overlooking the golf course. The quiet love this couple has for one another made the spectacular scenery pale by comparison. Jasmine and Glen...thank you for allowing me to be your photographer!

Engaged - Ella and Clark

Ella and Clark will be married October 18, 2008 (which happens to be my wedding anniversary - great date!) in Hanford.

I always look forward to the engagement session because it is the best opportunity for us to become friends and for them to practice relaxing with a camera pointed at them for hours on end!

Ella and Clark chose a most wonderful location (Jackstone Barn) for their session - we had a barn, a windmill, a pond, bridge, trees, fencing and more to provide interest and mood. Oh yes, we found an old fashioned swing too!

See you soon!