Megan Clouse Photography

I've Moved!

2009-08-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

As the great George Jefferson once sang:

Well we're movin on up,
To the east side.
To a deluxe apartment in the sky.
Movin on up,
To the east side.
We finally got a piece of the pie.

Ok, so I'm not technically "moving", but my blog did and I want to make sure you have my new address, because I'd like to keep you as a fan!

a) Go to my new blog.
b) Click on the right-hand subscription link (or the RSS if you prefer that method)
c) And then sit back and wait for those beautiful blog posts to roll in! (Ok, you don't have to wait, but it will be a nice little email present waiting for you every now and then.)

I'll see you over there!
Megan

Family Time

2009-08-16T17:51:00.001-07:00

When my cousin Amber realized she was in need of some new profile photographs for work and pleasure, she gave me a call and we turned it into fun family time with a little bit of everything; photo shoot, shopping and dinner!

Just hours before we were to meet up, she called me with a shaky tear-soaked voice, telling me she had wrecked her bicycle on the way home from work and wasn't sure about keeping our date. I was on standby. An hour later, after the Ibuprofen started working, she was willing to give it a go; even though she could barely move her injured shoulder.

This is my favorite photo of her! This angle offered the best light, yet she had a bit of road-rash on her shoulder, so thanks to the magic of Photoshop I got the setup that I wanted, and she doesn't have a visible reminder of her bike incident.

Outfit change and more photos on her adorable 1930's front stoop. This is technically an out-take, but I love her big smile and it makes me smile every time.

Here is Amber with her mom, my wonderful Aunt Colene.

I'm crazy for sunset photos because the light is absolutely magical! Not only is it the most flattering light, it always seems to bring an embedded calm in my subjects. And if you miss the sunset, the sunrise is always a back up for amazing photos; that is if you can get up that early.

While all of the photographic attention was on Amber, my Aunt announced that her place of work needed a profile photo too, so I had her jump in and I got some beautiful images of her as well.

Old Fashioned Fun

2009-08-08T22:57:00.000-07:00

For over 20 years I've slowed my steps and craned my neck to glance at the old time photo booth at the fair, always thinking it would be kind of fun, but for some reason never walking inside and signing up. Well, last week I finally did and it was the best $40 money could buy!

As a photographer, I understand how important a photo is; actually it's the moment that is important, and the photo becomes the fond reminder and I wanted this moment to be remembered forever.

Here are 3 generations. Me, my 88 year old Grandma, and my Mom who will kindly appreciate me leaving out her age. Before we even took a glimpse at the costume choices, I had it all planned out in my head. I was the outlaw, notorious and mean. That's about as mean as I can make my face! And my Grandma is the old time madam at the hotel, and my Mom, once a saloon gal, turned into a vengeful gunslinger, although you can't tell by her big smile.

So next time the county fair comes rolling through your town, I highly recommend stepping into costume and having a little fun!

My Macro World

2009-08-07T13:13:00.001-07:00

My long awaited Macro lens arrived today and I'm now seeing the world through a whole new amazing perspective! This lens is going to be a fabulous addition to my camera family and I can't wait to capture all of those beautiful details; sparkling diamonds, orchid petals, whips of frosting on a cupcake, baby's toes... oh it's endless fun for me!

Here are a few images I snapped around my house.

Fishy Sweet Tooth

2009-07-28T11:14:00.001-07:00

My sweet tooth has been drastically contained for some time now, however I couldn't resist creating this fun sushi platter made entirely out of candy for a friend's party tonight. Sushi is one of her favorite meals no matter what time of day, and I knew that other friends were bringing the real deal to the potluck, so I thought I'd contribute with a centerpiece of sort. It's all divinely edible, yet I have a feeling we're all going to admire them from afar.

It was equally fun shopping for the treats; marshmallows (rice), candy slices (fish), black and red raspberry jellies (roe), swedish fish, etc.

And no sushi is complete without soy sauce and wasabi; aka pancake syrup and mushed together taffy.

p.s. I got so carried away that I forgot to give big kudos to two people that helped make these turn out so cute: My sister who was ultra creative, and Heidi the owner of Tiddle E. Winks. Thanks!

Carneros Inn

2009-07-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

A few of us gals got together last night to partake in the Bocce, Beer, BBQ event at Carneros Inn. The Inn chooses a handful of Thursdays each summer for this event, and it's completely fabulous. It's an experience that exemplifies the best of wine country living and I very much look forward to returning to photograph a wedding or two!

It's likely that you'll find me and Mike there next week!

{The Farm Restaurant & Lounge}

{The simply adorable weather vane}

{The girls}

{We finished off the eve (and drinks) in front of the fire}

Thanks Kate!

2009-07-13T10:56:00.000-07:00

Some very nice feedback that Kate just posted on Pictage.com...

"In my opinion, picking a wedding photographer is the most difficult decision in the wedding planning process. This is the person or persons that you are, in a sense, putting in charge of your memories. The photos they take and the moments they capture are most likely going to be how you remember your special day. In other words, you've really gotta trust who you pick.

My wife and I met with some amazing photographers, whose work we thought was stupendous, but in the end we realized that we didn't want the perfect picture, we wanted more. We wanted a photographer that was going to capture us, in the moment, as beautifully real to the moment as possible. We're not the type of couple that has many photos of ourselves around the house and those we do have aren't posed. We like candids, we like moments, and we absolutely loved our photographer, Megan Clouse.

From the second we sat down with Megan she struck us as much more than your typical wedding photographer. She had amazing prints for us to look at and plenty of variety in style of shots, but the thing that jumped out at us was the emotion in her work. Even though we'd never met the people we were looking at, we could feel their joy, their laughter, their embarrassment ... we could feel everything.

Her photos weren't what I call the "insert bride here" type, where you can imagine any bride looking pretty in the photo you're looking at, each was truly a moment, even the posed shots. So, if you're looking for more than just great wedding photos, if you're looking for great memories, give Megan a call. She'll make it impossible to forget your special day and you'll have an amazing time working with her along the way. "

Kate & Nicole at Sebastiani Winery

2009-07-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

Love is love. It's simple, it's complicated, it's real.

Kate and Nicole were legally married exactly a year ago at San Francisco's City Hall, yet they wanted the full experience surrounded by all of their friends and family, and so the wedding planning ensued. A year's worth of details culminated into a beautiful, heartfelt celebration piled high with fun!

Not only was I their photographer, I was whole-heartily embraced by their guests and was treated like a member of the family. The entire day was very special, and I hope to keep them as friends for a very long time.

{Nicole}

{Kate}

{Their fathers officiated, their mothers walked them down the isle}

{These were hanging on either side of the isle}

Seaglow Candles

2009-02-16T15:08:00.000-08:00

I've been working on a fun product shoot and I thought you'd enjoy peeking at the finished shots and to see the amusing not-so-glamorous behind the scenes. Keep in mind, when you see beautiful models looking perfect, many times they have clamps and duct tape in the back keeping the front of their clothing looking impeccable. This shoot was similar in concept.

And be sure to check out these beautiful candles at www.seaglowcandles.com! They are handmade with loving hands right here in Sonoma County and each candle is beautifully unique!

{The shot}

{The behind the scenes shots were setup in my kitchen which had the best diffused light. Boxes were stacked to get the flowers at just the right height and what you can't see are the snapped flowers stems which had to be sacrificed so they were angled just right.}

{Mike was walking by and I said,
"Here, please hold this candle like this."}

FabSugar

2009-02-14T08:24:00.001-08:00

What a nice little surprise to see my couple Stefanie & Craig mentioned on fabsugar.com! And a bit of photo credit is always fun too!

A Brand New Year

2009-01-05T07:02:00.000-08:00

Briana & Balys know how to start the new year off right... by pledging their love to each other in front of the friends and family!

In addition to January nuptials, their other circumstances were very special. Because they are both active military, their family members rallied together and helped coordinate many if not most of the wedding details, including hiring me, so the first time I met them was on their wedding day. And I heard we were lucky they even arrived for their own wedding because apparently it was a bit of a feat to get their shore leave approval for the wedding. How's that for exciting?! So they celebrated into the night and then as the true heroes that they are, they went back to their separate bases the very next day and they won't see each other for another 7 weeks!

But with all that said, the day was peaceful and beautiful as if there wasn't a care in the world; the way it should be.

Finally a Guest

2008-12-31T21:22:00.000-08:00

As the saying goes... always a bridesmaid, never a bride. Well my saying is... always a photographer, never a guest.

I'm very happy to report that as of last night I actually attended a wedding as a friend not as the photographer; but I do have to confess a regression. It's just in my blood, I can't help myself, will you forgive me? With the permission of the bride a month before, I tucked my camera in my purse and quickly took some snaps while the official photographer wasn't looking.

It was a wonderfully romantic Tuesday evening wedding and I reveled in every decadent moment! So much so, that at one point a friend spied a magical dancing moment and since I was enjoying my guest-status to its fullest, I handed off my camera and she actually caught the moment like a pro.

Happy wedding to Mark & Allyson and Happy New Year to all of you lovebirds!

Kyle's Cars

2008-11-24T15:47:00.000-08:00

Kyle turned 16 earlier this year and he's now basking in his small taste of freedom with 2 vehicles of choice!

For the last couple of months, he's been diligently working on this '64 Impala which has been parked in the family barn since 1989 (or something crazy like that). And while his Impala was being resurrected, his very generous Grandpa Bob gave him a '72 Ford to drive because it was doing nothing; just quietly parked under an oak tree on the back property. Gotta love family that keeps everything!

The Impala before;
a lot of dust, but in near perfect condition.

The Impala now.

The Ford.

The Stedman Family

2008-10-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

Reconnecting with an old friend is always exciting and Melissa is one of those long lost friends. Over the years we both moved to different states and as time went on we slowly lost track of each other until recently she looked me up and I'm so glad! I photographed her boys years ago, actually before I was an "official" photographer, so it was fun to see them budding into young men. She has a wonderful family and we had a very nice time together; hopefully this time our paths will stay together.

Florian & Beverly

2008-09-29T18:01:00.001-07:00

Florian and Beverly's marriage celebration was a beautiful, heartfelt International affair! Just to name a few countries represented in the little town of Kenwood... the couple lives in Zurich Switzerland, her father's side of the family is from Ghana Africa, family from Germany, and many more that I lost track of.
During the toast, her father asked everyone to say cheers in a language other than English and there were at least 9 shout outs - it was amazing.

The Kenwood Depot is a very charming location loaded with history!

Two cousins wearing stunning traditional African dresses.

Florian & Beverly

They were excited to take photos by the redwoods;
a tree that is not in Switzerland or Africa.

They participated in a dove release and it was quite sweet.

Stefani & Darren's Wedding

2008-09-24T10:48:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Stefani and Darren! What a fun and beautiful day...

There's no such thing as too much hairspray.

Wine Country Flowers beautiful handiwork.

Some laughs before the ceremony.

This image sums up their personalities; they were always having a lot of fun!

Their grand choreographed dance was a big hit!

A guest posing in front of the gorgeous Packard which was waiting to whisk away S & D.

The band was off the charts fun; so much so that even the staff was dancing!

The band went from fun to nearly a full blown rock concert at the end.
This image sums up the excitement.

Then Darren jumped up on stage and belted out some AC/DC!

And then sadly the party had to end...
They left under a whirl of bubbles and a beautiful starry sky.

Party at EDK

2008-09-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

I just love the idea of a long, drawn-out wedding celebration, and that is exactly what Stefani and Darren have planned for this weekend. Last night kicked off the festivities with a lavish rehearsal dinner at the very sheik El Dorado Kitchen (EDK for us locals), and today (the BIG DAY) will be at the lovely Cline Cellars....

Darren & Stefani

A Note from the Hamills

2008-09-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

A very nice note that I just received...

...the note continues on the backside with more "nicies". Thanks Alexis & Harrison! (And such cleverly personalized stationery)

Ahoy Matey!

2008-09-03T17:27:00.000-07:00

Mike and I spent a relaxing Labor Day weekend on the Sacramento Delta aboard my dad's boat and Mike commandeered the boat nearly the entire journey; way to go!

Here he is waving at a passing boat. It's a bit difficult to tell from this perspective, but the fly bridge is quite high above the water.

A Snapshot

2008-09-03T14:51:00.000-07:00

As a professional photographer, this comment is a bit surprising (even to me), but some of the most treasured images turn out to be quick snapshots taken by a friend, underexposed, printed at Costco, stuffed into a coat pocket where it got creased and bent, compounded by a poor scan full of dust and smudges; all of these imperfections makes this image classically beautiful and I just adore it!

Sir Peter's Party

2008-08-11T14:19:00.000-07:00

It is not every day that I'm invited to photograph a dinner party for hosts with the titles of Sir and Lady, and just as equally as exciting, I had an up close glimpse into an extraordinary piece of 18th Century history.
These fun moments began on Saturday when I was invited to photograph a private dinner party at the Peter Michael Winery which is tucked into the Calistoga hills. The guests began their evening by sipping perfectly chilled wine while taking in the beauty of the private lake and then we were caravaned up the mountain to one of the most spectacular dinner sites to be held!

This amazing perch sits just below the Mt. St. Helena summit.

A moment of fun with the shadows.

If the immense views and fine wines were not enough, the guests (and I) enjoyed a beautiful private performance by a very talented violinist; Elizabeth Pitcairn. Her talent alone is remarkable, however having it paired with the Red Violin was truly a treat. Take special note of the armed security guard behind her! I thought it was a bit odd to see security at such a private venue, but when she began discussing her violin and it's infinite history, well then it all started to come together. I wish I had the audio to share with you because the story of how she acquired her violin at the age of 16 was an amazing story! Here is a little glimpse of information that I pulled from the Internet:

The film (The Red Violin) was inspired by one of Stradivarius's violins, the Red Mendelssohn (1720), which is currently played by Elizabeth Pitcairn, whose grandfather purchased it for her 16th birthday for $1.7 million at auction at Christie's London. It is called "The Red Mendelssohn" because of a unique red stripe on its top right side, but how the stripe came about is unknown.

A Lakeside Wedding

2008-07-29T11:50:00.000-07:00

One of the most beautiful regions in California is the northern "gold country"; warm weather, soft breezes, acres of fir trees, sheer abundant nature at her best! This was the setting for Allie & Beto's very heartfelt wedding last weekend. There was so much love and it was a great joy to be their photographer!

Ahh Shucks...

2008-07-21T19:02:00.000-07:00

Two very nice comments recently posted online. And my note back to Michele and Alexis; the pleasure was all mine!!

Megan was wonderful to work with. Her pictures came out beautifully. I am very picky about photographs and looked for a long time for a photographer who could really capture our day and the feelings of our guests. I am very happy about picking Megan for this important job. I very highly recommend her for people looking for a photographer who will unobtrusively and efficiently shoot your event. We love our photos and we did not spend much time away from our guests to get them. - Alexis Hamill

Megan was the absolute best photographer to work with! Not only is she professional, quick, has a great 'fly-on-the-wall' style and takes AMAZING pictures - but she is extremly personable. She was the only person to call me the day before my wedding to tell me not to worry about the huge downpour we were having. She promised the weather would be perfect on the big day! That alone made working with her so worth it! If you are looking for a wonderful photographer who will capture all the important moments of your event - look no further - Megan Clouse is your photographer! - Michele and Evan

A Little Summer Getaway

2008-07-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

There's some truth in Dorothy's famous chant, "There's no place like home...", because we all get home sick now and then, but right now all I can say is "There's no place like vacation, there's no place like vacation." Mike and I just returned from vacation bliss at Mammoth Lakes and I sure would like to be back there right now! Lounging, hiking, sipping fruity cocktails...it was the life!
This was our first trip to the area and we really enjoyed ourselves; especially our little home away from home at The Westin Resort.
Here's a glimpse into our weekend, complete with stock photography from the web. Where are my photos you ask... well, about 2 hours into the drive I realized, "Ughh, I forgot my camera bag!" And so the story goes with no photos.

Thursday
We arrived just in time for their late night Happy Hour.

Friday
We walked into town for breakfast, watched the local 4th of July parade and did a little shopping at The Village.
We then spent a good part of the day soaking up the sun by the pool. Once our base tan was established, we dressed up and enjoyed a hearty pasta dinner, then squeezed back into our suits for a soak in the hot tub underneath the stars.

Saturday
Enjoyed a big breakfast, which I recall Mike saying, "That was the best French toast I've ever had!" How could it not be... it was about 3 inches thick, with toasted almonds, fresh raspberries and whip cream!!
To burn off some of those calories, we journeyed up the mountain, parked the truck and hopped on our mountain bikes and did a short tour around one of the lakes.
We then put away the bikes and hiked up about a mile and a half to another lake. Everything was stunning! Even with warm temperatures and plenty of sun, there were a few big patches of snow still on the ground, so I quickly made a snow ball and tossed it at Mike; explaining that it must have fallen from the tree.
Than later it was more pool time with plenty of Mojitos and Pina Coladas.
The evening rounded out with more time at The Village (which was just across the street from the resort) live music and perfect seats for a cute little fireworks show put on for the tourists and townies.

Sunday
We packed up in the morning and hit the road; this time we drove back through Yosemite which was a first for both of us! Everything about the region is so beautiful, it's no wonder Ansel Adams was so inspired!
And we were extremely lucky to see our very first glimpse of a bear in the wild. I faithfully watched out the window as Mike drove, and as if I were in a dream, there he was, a little bear (teenager size) walking on a fallen tree right next to the road ! At first I thought I dreamt it, but I quickly squeeled, "I just saw a bear!!! Turn around, turn around!" It was very exciting for both of us and a perfect ending to a fantastic weekend.

The Westin at Mammoth Lakes

The Village.
A new take on an outdoor mall with shops, restaurants and condos above.

What my bear looked like.

Vintage Purse

2008-06-30T13:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a bit of a treat for me since I didn't have any plans for the day, so I unboxed my sewing machine and dug through my big batch of fabric and vintage tablecloths and made myself a cute little summer purse, complete with vintage buttons and a contrasting interior. The vintage tablecloth that I used on the exterior came from this fantastic vintage warehouse in Sebastopol that has piles and piles and racks and racks of good stuff from all over the world.

This purse was a bit of a chore to complete since I was working without a pattern, so now that I have the sequence down a bit, I hope to make more (in half the time); perhaps for Christmas gifts!

Griffin's Bar Mitzvah Celebration

2008-06-22T09:22:00.000-07:00

Griffin was surrounded by an abundant gathering of friends and family on a perfect warm afternoon last weekend. The day was full of songs, games and lots of smiles!

Griffin

Bruce, Vicki and Griffin

Hula Hoop Contest

Oh... I used to love tether ball as a kid!

The limbo champ!

Me saying goodbye in the cute porch mirror.

A Redneck, Hippie, Yuppie Kind of Summer

2008-06-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

Last night, as Mike and I drove home from the San Rafael farmers market, I gave some thought to who I have become. (It's really not as heavy as it sounds)

While I was intently studying my freshly applied henna tattoos, I looked up as we drove past Infineon Raceway and I confessed that I really wanted to go to the Sunday Nascar races. There's something about cheap beer and loud fast cars that gets me screaming with the other 100,000+ fans.

So, this got me thinking...Now that I am passing through my mid-thirties, I've really grown to like who I am; a crazy mix of Hippie (henna), Redneck (nascar and beer) and Yuppie (addicted to anthropologie and bmw's).

I hope your summer is filled with big laughs, everyday adventures and little reminders of what makes you so wonderfully unique!

Happy Anniversary to Kathy & Andrew

2008-06-11T17:55:00.000-07:00

Wow, how time flies!! Kathy and Andrew drove up from SoCal for a little wine country anniversary and they brought along their newest addition to the family. He's a BIG bouncing boy named Blue! Happy one year anniversary and congratulations on your "first born".

Alexis & Harrison

2008-06-11T08:47:00.000-07:00

Alexis and Harrison were all smiles last Saturday, and not just regular smiles, but big, giddy, twinkling eyes kind of smiles - they were adorable! Their wedding took place at the lovely Sebastiani Winery here in Sonoma and the day was perfect. They were an absolute joy to get to know and I really enjoyed photographing every moment. The clocked whizzed through the hours and before I knew it, the evening was over and they were being whisked away in their fabulous vintage car!

The flowers were stunning!

Harrison calmly waiting before the ceremony.

The rings.

What is that purple curly thing..it is so whimsical!

The men.

One last father daughter moment.

Her bridesmaids were stunning in red!

Woo-hoo!

So cute!

Cheers!

Our romantic sunset session...
I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

Paul the DJ was very good and fun to work with. This shot came about when he announced to the guests, "This is the last song, so everyone on the dance floor! The photographer is going to climb the stairs to take a group photo and I want everyone to give a big group hug and smile at the photographer."
I was standing off to the side as he was talking and I was thinking to myself, "I am??" I gave the DJ a smile and followed his cue - it was a fun shot!

Alexis and Harrison in the stunning convertible Caddy!

Michelle & Evan

2008-06-01T07:44:00.000-07:00

A little bit of the east coast came to Sonoma last Sunday to celebrate Michelle and Evan's big beautiful Viansa wedding! The rainy weather the day before had Michelle scrambling with back-up plans, but I reassured her that the rains would blow away and it would be beautiful, and it was. As always, I wish I could sit with you and go through the entire wedding album, sharing all the stories that go with the images...but here are just a few of my favorites. Congratulations Evan and Michelle! You two were so lovely, and it was a pleasure to get to know you and I wish you all the best!!

Before Michelle emerged from her adorable little getting-ready-room that was in the wine cave I asked her if she was ok to walk the winery property which was still teeming with tourists. I had found a perfect little spot for our portraits but it meant some attention, and she handled it with such grace. This moment was absolutely precious; as she walked up the steps, a large group of Japanese tourists applauded as she walked by - it was a very cute moment! And as I was taking our formal photos, even more tourists quietly walked up behind me and snapped pictures of her; she was a very beautiful bride!

Michelle and her mom having a very cute moment.

Here Evan and Michelle partake in a Jewish custom; he walked up to her to see her for the first time and he took a peek under the veil to make sure he was getting the correct bride. It was very fun!

In the midst of photographing her bouquet, I glanced up and saw her beaming smiles to her arriving friends, so I quietly expanded the shot without her noticing and I think it is so beautiful!

Two of her friends had some exciting news to share as well! They had just gotten engaged a few hours earlier on a hike. Oh...I am such a sap for romance!!

The chair dance!

One of my most favorite moments of their wedding was at sunset. It was just the two of them in the most magical light, they were glowing with happiness and we walked around the gorgeous property taking in all of the beauty.

The ceremony courtyard at sunset.

The evening reception, which looks so peaceful, is actually crazy fun and loud inside with a 6 piece band belting out the music! They were amazing!

The evening ended just before midnight with everyone gathered in the courtyard for some good old fashioned sparklers. A perfect ending!

Stefanie & Craig

2008-05-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

Here are just a few of my favorite images from Stefanie and Craig's blissful and happy Sunday wedding! They were an absolute joy to work with; their vows were so heartfelt we all were crying; the evening was filled with so much love and joy, and it was an honor to have a small part in such a special union!
I wish I could share the entire album with you because there are so many wonderful images, but... their Pictage link (to the right) will be up soon if you really want to dive in and see everything.
Congrats Stefanie and Craig!!

Jayne

2008-05-02T14:32:00.000-07:00

Some serene professional photos of a local holistic practitioner, Jayne Brogan. We started with a few photos in side which turned out lovely, but then we moved to this little garden that is just off the treatment rooms and it was a perfectly calm and charming setting and the photos pick up on that wonderful energy.

Trailer Trash!

2008-04-27T11:06:00.000-07:00

On a perfectly gorgeous Friday, a few friends of mine gathered for a little afternoon hooky, putting aside any responsibilities! The theme was supposed to be Trailer Trash, but it was too painful to purchase boxed wine and cheap beer so we indulged with fine wine and yummy cheese instead.

More 4 Legged Fun

2008-04-27T11:01:00.001-07:00

Here's another fun batch of photos of Jill and her "children".

Four Legged Fun

2008-04-15T12:05:00.000-07:00

Jill, an animal intuit, brought out her entire brood of four legged family members for her portrait session and we had a fun time! I love the challenge of photographing animals because they are so unpredictable, spontaneous and quirky.

Karen's Birthday

2008-04-15T08:22:00.000-07:00

A long ago work associate just celebrated a monumental birthday (we won't tell which one) with her family and she did it in grand style in a stunning Napa Valley estate. I was invited to capture the family portraits and here are some of the highlights.

The BIG 60!

2008-03-17T08:43:00.000-07:00

My dad celebrated his 60th birthday over the weekend with a small group of family and friends and I captured some pretty little moments. I also wrangled Mike into taking some pics of me and my sister Amanda and he was lovingly patient as we critiqued each digital image and continued to ask for "just one more". Photographers are very vain. =)

The Fehrnstrom Family

2008-03-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

I met up with some friends last weekend for a nice little family portrait session. We started at their lovely Sonoma home, then over to Bartholomew Park (which is one of my favorite places) than our final stop was at the picnic grounds of Sebastiani Vineyards where the mustard grass was abundant!

Tour of California

2008-02-20T19:33:00.000-08:00

The 3rd annual Tour of California cycling race, which is really gaining international popularity, went whizzing through our town yesterday and Mike and were right there cheering them on!

This was an awesome stage; they rode from Santa Rosa to downtown Sacramento which included several mountain passes, rain and a total distance of 115 miles. Can you say "tired"!

For any of you Tour de France fans, this race is a smaller version, yet just as exciting with the same big names that you'll see in this years European tour.

Mike and I parked ourselves on the side of Trinity Road and we were all smiles and shouts as the riders gritted their way up the steep mountain pass.

And we almost had a moment of fame on International tv! When we were watching the cycling highlights last night, the camera panned right where we were standing, but our faces were obstructed by the wall of riders. Oh well. Maybe next year!

Here are some of the exciting images.

Lots of police escorts.

Here is the breakaway rider who had an outstanding lead.

And here is the Peloton, which is the pack. The Peloton is truly a force! Because they are all drafting, they can exceed much greater speeds than solo riders and they literally swallow up any solo breakaways. The above breakaway rider was eventually caught by the Peloton which is a shame because he kept his solo lead for about 100 miles, but lost his ground in the last 10 miles.

The rider in the middle of the pack with the blue sleeves is Levi Leipheimer who is the favorite! He is a Santa Rosa resident, he won last years Tour of California AND he took 3rd in last years Tour de France!!

Here we are after the riders passed.

Country Girl Portrait

2008-02-20T18:06:00.000-08:00

Wow, this is a very belated Happy New Year!

Anyway, I recently photographed a very beautiful gal, Kate, who needed some professional "head shots" for her up and coming holistic business. She had this fantastic vintage couch on her 'ol country porch and I loved the contrast of the two. Here are a few of my favorites...

Alexis, the bride to be

2007-12-27T16:42:00.000-08:00

Alexis is a bride who I'm really looking forward to working with in June because she is so cute and smiley and her wine-country wedding will be held at Sebastiani Winery which is such a pretty location!
She booked me for her wedding awhile back but we had not met in person until a couple of weeks ago.
Here are some cute photos I took of her and her parents.

'O Christmas Tree

2007-12-13T12:18:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite annual traditions is to journey up to our old mountain top neighborhood in Ashland and search for our Christmas tree.

This year we had deluxe accommodations at our friends/neighbors Ken & Kimberly who just finished a stunning guest room slash rec. room. It was so plush with our own tv, fireplace, patio and bathroom we thought we might never leave.

We had such fun with them, walking through the charming shops, eating at my favorite restaurant Kat Wok, hot tubbing in 20 degree temps with snow all around and more.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from our trip.

Ken & Kimberly's dog Luna.
Who is (please don't tell my dog Kirby), the BEST dog!
She has this incredibly funny smile which is actually a barred-teeth-snarl which at first is alarming, but once you realize it is her happy-look it is hysterical.

A pretty little Nature moment outside the house.

Mike and Ken on the prowl for the perfect tree. This location is about 20 minutes from our old house and is just a few steps away from the Pacific Crest Trail. It is really a special place!

We found our "perfect" Noble Fir nestled in closely to a few other trees. This is actually important because, by us cutting it down we were able to help the other trees continue to grow and thrive.

Ken found his "Charlie Brown" tree. It just needs some extra tinsel.

Christmas Card Outtake

2007-11-19T07:09:00.002-08:00

It is that time of year...

The humiliating, dreadful torture of dressing teenage boys in nice clothes and making them smile in front of a camera. And then when I announced that this year I wanted Kirby the dog to be in the photo, the groans stretched all the way to my husband.

Now to be fair, they were actually very good sports and the majority of the groaning was exhausted earlier in the day when I announced we had to go shopping for "nice" clothes. As we walked the outlets, Mike and I quickly realized we could only ask so much of the boys, because Kyle adamantly protested that he was not shopping in a store called Banana Republic. He refused to step inside the store, so we compromised and found some very nice shirts at Pacific Sun.

So the message I'm trying to convey to all those families who are also getting spiffed up for their photos, if moans and groans come from your brood, just smile and say something heavy with guilt, like "I give all year and this is all I ask for." (that is a good one and works every time!)

I picked this favorite little spot just a couple of blocks from our house. We loaded up the camera and tripod and used the self-timer. The photos turned out great, but I don't want to spoil the Christmas card surprise, so I'm only sharing one of the outtakes.

Family Evening

2007-11-18T11:03:00.001-08:00

With my uncle in town for a visit, it was a perfect opportunity for a little family gathering with all of his siblings. Here is my grandma with her four kids; Colene, Gary, my mom Joyce and Roy.

Here is my favorite photo of me and my grandma together.

Ruth & Her Family

2007-10-28T15:08:00.000-07:00

In September I participated in a local Women in Business Showcase, and Ruth was the lucky recipient of a free portrait session that I donated.

Ruth booked her Saturday session with me and we had the great fortune to have some of the best weather, paired with some of the most stunning and vibrant fall colors!

We did our lovely photo shoot at the General Vallejo State Park and the entire bunch was so fun and so easy to work with!

Jenny and Vince

2007-10-23T21:27:00.000-07:00

I had the great pleasure to photograph Jenny and Vince's Sonoma wedding last Saturday and I'm so excited to share a few of my favorite pics with you!
Jenny is astonishingly beautiful, and the two together just radiated love and happiness - it was a wonderful day!

The finishing touches.

The Mother Bouquets.

(All of the girls dresses were hanging in the room)
"Jenny, which dress are you wearing?"
Jenny answered her, pointing to the big beautiful white dress and the little girl looked up at Jenny's dress with awe - you can see it in her eyes! The story makes me well up with tears every time because she is so darn cute! =)

Jenny.

St. Francis Church.

I was so in love with this photo after I took it, I actually walked around and showed it to Jenny and a few guests. She is stunning!

Vince & Jenny.

Stunning Sonoma Night.

Their first dance.

A Moment of Fame

2007-10-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

After I posted my little rant about the "postal penny" I took a chance and sent my link to the prolific marketing guru, book author, and well-read blogger, Seth Godin. Just as I suspected, he too found the absurdity in my situation and it was his daily topic!!
I have no idea how many eyeballs cruise through his daily blog but it is a solid guess that it is over 500,000 pairs!

The Postal Penny

2007-10-11T18:14:00.001-07:00

I'm sorry to muddy-up my beautiful blog images with a bit of social commentary, but I feel that this silliness must be shared.

Can you imagine all of the effort it took for my little package to be declined, stamped, sorted and returned by my postal carrier, all for a penny and we haven't even begun to count the time it took me to write my blog commentary, take the photo, repackage my letter with new postage and deliver it to the post office.

This is definitely a prime example of bureaucracy and inefficiency all wrapped up in one uptight postal service package!

Blooper Shot

2007-10-11T16:58:00.000-07:00

Usually once per wedding, I accidentally bump my shutter button and capture some strange shot, and it is always amusing to find it when I'm editing my photos. At Krista & Kevin's I was standing at the ceremony and I bumped the button while my camera was hanging around my neck and I captured this kind of artsy shot of my shoes. It made me smile (and think of you Jessamyn) so I thought I'd share it.

Krista & Kevin's Mountain Top Ceremony

2007-10-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday afternoon I had the great pleasure to photograph a sweet elopement ceremony at the breathtaking Emery Estate in Sonoma. Krista & Kevin and 3 of their close friends came all the way from Minnesota for this very special day.

The weather threatened rain, but Mother Nature and God (I sent up lots of prayers for no rain) were kind enough to hold off until we were done with photos; and let me just say the photos were absolutely spectacular at the top of this mountain!

Congratulations Krista & Kevin!

A Very Nice Note

2007-10-08T19:10:00.000-07:00

I put so much heart and joy into my photography and it is always such a pleasure to hear such kind words. Here is the text from an email I received today:

Hi Megan!!

OH MY GOSH THE PICTURES ARE SO BEAUTIFUL!!! Honestly, they are
amazing, and we can't thank you enough! So many of our guests have
told us how impressed they were with you that day - how you were so
unobtrusive and stealthy but captured great moments - and we couldn't agree more! ....

Dave and I and my parents just can't thank you enough for the
wonderful job you did capturing our wedding day. The pictures are
breathtaking, artistic, and really portray the joy and happiness of
the day!

We'll be in touch of course! Thank you again! And congrats on your
own anniversary (per your blog)!

Best,
Erika & Dave

Numero Ocho!

2007-10-03T19:39:00.000-07:00

It was just 8 short years ago that Mike and I said "I do" in our cute little church on the hill, and to celebrate our anniversary, we took a quiet sunset-moment on the church steps.

And the secret to our happy marriage, is we really like each other...we're best friends!

October 2, 1999

Salt Point

2007-10-03T19:10:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday morning, we hitched up the trailer, threw in a few belongings, loaded up the sheepdog and headed up the coast to one of the most beautiful sites on the entire California coast; Salt Point. The campsites are cute and woodsy and there's a wonderful winding one mile path that took us to these stunning bluffs and rocky beach.

Kirby the sheepdog in doggy heaven; no lead - just roaming free and sniffing to her hearts delight. She has the biggest smile on her face!

Our Campsite

This amazing spot with built-in seats, perfect for watching the sun set.

Gotta love my camera's self-timer!

Another view from the bluffs.

We hiked down to the beach, and it was just as spectacular looking back up.

I'm on THE list!

2007-09-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

Since this is my blog and I can do as I please, I thought I'd do another shameless plug for myself. I just received another lovely email from Coastal Living magazine! I went from a "might" to a "on the list"! I'm quite excited to work with them and I'll keep you posted on any fun projects.

Just wanted to let you know I received your package and showed your photos to our art director. She thought your detail and people shots were impressive and wants to keep you in mind for any upcoming West Coast lifestyle or travel stories. I’m not sure how familiar you are with Coastal, but since we’re a seasonal book, we plan a year in advance (our photographers are actually turning in stories for late 2008 right now). Since our art director gave the ok, I will be passing your folder around to the travel and lifestyle editor shortly because they will actually assign the stories. But we've added you to the freelance list—and we’re always shooting in California. Hopefully, we’ll be in touch soon!

Erika & Dave's Wedding Day

2007-09-24T19:49:00.000-07:00

Erika & Dave were just married a couple of days ago and the photos are so beautiful I just couldn't wait to share a few of them with you. The day was so beautiful, heartfelt and fun and it was such a joy to be a part of their day! More to come in about a week...

Erika and her little bridal friends.

A soft and quiet unstaged moment as the florists were setting up the church.

The best man did a coffee run before the ceremony and when the barista heard about the wedding, she marked Dave's with a special note, and it was on house.

Erika & Dave decided to see each other before the ceremony, so we staged a private moment for just the two of them. Here is Dave, the moment before he turned around to see her for the first time.

Husband and Wife! The guests celebrated in their joy by throwing rose petals.

Matilda's After Pics!!!

2007-09-20T15:28:00.000-07:00

It's been weeks of fixing, spiffing, painting, scrubbing and sewing to turn this once grubby and neglected hunters trailer into a warm, welcoming, getaway and we're near the end of the interior remodel! One hundred kudos goes to Mike, who put in an immense amount of time into this project and tolerated all of my minutely detailed requests. (Thank you Sweetie!)

We repainted, replaced counter tops, upholstery, light fixtures, shelves, hinges, knobs, hooks and Mike even milled custom trim, ledges...the list is very long. Basically it was stripped, sans the great original details and all replaced with new shiny parts.

Here is the cute pantry with vintage style luggage labels decorating the inside of the door.

The Kitchen with new a laminate countertop, new painted decorative tin backsplash (thank you Tinman), new lights, new hardware and lots of scrubbing.

The dinette with new laminate counter, all new foam and upholstery and curtains. Notice the original gas lamp above. We made a small attempt to use it, but it got a little sketchy, so we decided to stick with the 12v and 110 power for now.

The couch/double bed with a new back ledge for storing lamps, shoes and stuff with a little decorative whimsy added. Both of us have a matching striped box in either corner which holds our clothing and of course they are labeled with our names. (All in unison..."Ah, isn't that cute".)

More of the kitchen/couch with our beautiful vintage-style chrome lights and what you can barely see is our fantastic bamboo cutting board which nests into the sink thanks again to Mike and his crafty ways. It adds extra counter space when making sandwiches.

And one last thank you goes to Corrine at Calico Corners who was instrumental in helping me pick out my coordinated fabrics for the couch, dinette and curtains. She was a doll to work with and I really respected her patience with me, especially since it was all such an odd request.

Matilda's Before Pics!

2007-09-20T14:45:00.000-07:00

Before photos of the trailer.

Note the original upholstery underneath the slipcovers!
It was actually kind of cute, but very tattered and all of it got tossed.

The oven, stove and sink were in great shape and just needed a good scrubbing.

Mike was beginning his patch, sand, demo work.

I'll Happily Take "Might"

2007-09-17T08:12:00.000-07:00

Breaking into the world of print takes more than talent, it takes a big dose of diligence as well, and I'm happy to report that I "might" be a future Coastal Living West Coast Freelance Photographer! Not only is it exciting to be an occasional freelancer, it is icing on the cake to freelance for my favorite magazine!
Here is the editor's reply to my recent submission; Audrey & Chuck's Sea Ranch Wedding:

Hi Megan,

I just wanted to let you know that everyone at Coastal loved the wedding photos—especially the cute pig! However, we don’t focus a lot on weddings—although there is water. Would you be willing to send a copy of your portfolio or even a few photos that we could keep—since you’re located in Sonoma, we might be interested in using you as one of our freelance photographers on the West coast!

Some Kind Words...

2007-08-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

Recently I was chatting about photos with my bride Sunny (November 2006) and she added these nice comments in her email.

I just wanted to say again what an amazing job you did. I would recommend you to anyone who wants beautiful photographs taken by a consummate professional. I swear we never even knew you were there most of the time! You were able to capture some wonderful candid shots which was my priority all along.

1971 Flashback

2007-08-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

Squeeze into your bell bottoms and load your 8-track with BTO or Neil Young, because we're getting ready for a 1971 flashback!

Some background: I have been scouring the state of California for months, searching for a little travel trailer that I can fix up, and take for an occasional mini getaway. Something that I can have all packed up and ready for a quick overnighter with the hubby, or a girls getaway with my sister or a friend.

So, I finally found her last weekend! She's a 1971 Scotsman trailer and nearly all original with funky avocado green appliances and matching linoleum. She needs some cleaning up and some small fixes and when we're done she is going to be so beautiful!!!

I'm going a bit hog-wild on some aspects and I'm having a blast! For instance I worked with a Calico Corners decorator yesterday and we picked out all of the new coordinating upholstery and window coverings. And then I made a stop at two of my most favorite stores; Anthropologie for vintage kitchen towels (see photo) and The Container Store which actually had vintage replica/70's floral sandwich bags (see photo)! I bought all of them!

The new table and counter top laminate is being ordered this week, interior painting will begin this weekend and she should be ready for the road in a couple of weeks.

And just like a boat has to have a female name for good luck, so does this trailer. She's a Scotsman, so I researched and found a royal Scottish name...Matilda!

Cute House Guest

2007-08-21T08:33:00.001-07:00

We've had a very cute house guest for a couple days and her name is Glitter. She's a 5 month Old English Sheepdog who belongs to my mom and she's been terrorizing our (tad grumpy) 9 year Old English Sheepdog, who will be very happy to see her go back home.

Camping in the Redwoods

2007-08-19T18:14:00.001-07:00

Mike and I crammed about a 1,000 pounds worth of camping supplies into his 4x4 truck and we hit the road for a little getaway with our friends Scott, Saundra and Madi. Lots of lounging, sunning and eating - it was perfect! Here we are all packed up and ready to head back to civilization.

Sea Ranch Wedding with a Pig!?

2007-08-19T17:30:00.000-07:00

Well hello there! It's been a couple of busy weeks for me, and I'm happy to be back!

Last weekend I made the stunning journey to the Sea Ranch Lodge for Audrey and Chuck's wedding, which was complete with all guests wearing white, bouquets of sunflowers, lots of sunshine and even a little pig named Henry that was the "ring boarer".
The Sea Ranch Lodge is an amazing location and it was a great treat to photograph! The reception was at this old barn on the bluffs over looking the Pacific Ocean, the golden grasses were blowing in the wind, and if it couldn't get any better the guests carried vibrantly colored wind socks as we walked along the path to the cliff-side ceremony site.

And as the sun set, all of the guests made the short drive to a very fun, non-traditional reception site called Bones Roadhouse; a very lively and funky biker inspired BBQ restaurant, complete with an amazing live band (Tom and The Cats) playing in the back patio.

It was quite an experience through and through and I definitely look forward to returning!

p.s. I almost forgot! Check out this hilarious audio link. Apparently two of the guests are hip radio DJ's from Vegas - here's their take on the day.

Birthday Bash Photos

2007-08-01T09:59:00.000-07:00

Here is part 2... the photos... of the big birthday bash we enjoyed last month.

Me and Mike.
Mike, Me, Michael and Laurie arriving.

Chateau St. Jean

Nancy, John and Robin.

Brad on Stage.
Me and Mike Dancing.

{Photo credit to Deborah Coleman.}

Me and My Home Girls

2007-07-18T12:14:00.000-07:00

My 3 nieces flew down from Seattle and I was lucky enough to have them for a few days. They are absolutely adorable and fun and I already miss them!

Melissa, the very theatrical, soon-to-be Broadway star.

Hannah, the very cute and sassy blonde of the batch who always has a joke.

Sarah, the sweetie-pie who has a beautiful singing voice.

We had a picnic at Armstrong Woods in Guerneville - one of my favorite hidden gems!

The Ultimate Birthday Bash!

2007-07-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

There are moments in our lives that are so special, they become permanently stored in the "one of the best days of my life" vault. Well, I now have another to add to the memory vault....John Lasseter's 50.5 Surprise Birthday Bash.

I'll try to keep my gushing to a minimum, but I'm warning you, my restraint might slip every now and then. And I'm not one to name drop because it is so uncouth, but I think this calls for a free one-day pass to act star struck. So here goes...

Mike and I attended John Lasseter's lavish 50.5 birthday party at Chateau St. Jean on Saturday evening; just the 2 of us and the other 598 of Lasseter's closest friends, family and business acquaintances. First of all, John Lasseter is the genius behind the animated greats; Toy Story, Monsters Inc, Cars, etc. He is a very fun loving man who's signature style is Hawaiian print shirts.

The story behind the 50.5...
His original 50th bash had to be postponed, but then his wife had a brilliant idea that he would never expect a surprise party at the half way mark, and as a January baby, he always dreamed of a summer celebration, so in turn the Jan. cancellation turned into a bigger blessing for him.

So we arrive at the winery and we're instantly bathed in luxury; orchid leas from Hawaii, fancy cocktails in tiki cups, a professional photographer to take our photo (what a treat to be at the other end). We walk around the grounds, chat with friends, sip cocktails, chat with Billy and Janice Crystal, spot Tim Allen sitting at a table, Jon Favreau with his gorgeous wife, John Ratzenberger over in the shade, George Lucas casually walks by, Kimberly Williams is smiling and laughing, the list just goes on.

So then we're ushered into the main garden to drink and schmooze more.

I have to back up just a bit. John Lasseter had been tagging along with his good friend Robin Williams all day and John believed he was attending a benefit in which Robin was emceeing. So when John arrived at the winery and vaguely saw 600 guests enjoying themselves on the lawn, it made perfect sense. His wife Nancy even went as far as to make official banners with the fictitious event, so John was absolutely fooled. So John is ushered out with Robin and basically 600 guests sing happy birthday. It was awesome!

There's so much more to share, but I must skip to the grand finale. No party is complete without music and so John and Nancy's favorite musician and good friend was flown in to perform a private concert for the evening... Brad Paisley! It was phenomenal. Brad and his band had a full-on, full-production, stadium-style show just for us! There were about 100 of us on the dance floor having a blast! I boogied next to Tommy Smothers and Bonnie Hunt. Brad would perform a song or two and then stop and ask John, "ok, what do you want to hear next?"

The evening ended with every guest receiving a gift bag filled with a custom made Lasseter-Pixar Hawaiian shirt, private estate wine, Brad Paisley's newest CD, and so much more.

After all of this said, I'm sure you want proof, yet I'm sorry to say I only have one very poor cellphone photo to share at this time. The professional images will take awhile for me to order from the photographer, but as soon as I have them, I'll be sure to share them with you.

It was party that surpassed all other parties and we felt so blessed to be a part of the evening!

Stefanie & Craig

2007-07-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

April 27, 2008 is a date I'm already looking forward to because of Stefanie & Craig. We met a few weeks ago at Sebastiani Vineyards, we quickly chatted about their wedding ideas and before they whisked away to another city for the evening, I coaxed them into a few photo moments.

Viansa Winery

2007-07-11T22:16:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I took a quick jaunt to Viansa Winery to meet Michelle, a very adorable soon-to-be bride. We had a fun time talking about her wedding plans, she gave me a small tour of the property and I was able to snap some pretty little spots that I saw along the way.

Gossip & Gab

2007-07-09T23:06:00.000-07:00

Every couple of months a small group of us photog-gals gather for some good 'ol fashioned gossip and gab. Our gatherings give us a chance to chat about some of our favorite wedding moments, ask questions, share ideas and just have some precious girl time.
This time around it was the oh-so-talented Jessamyn Harris, the jet-setting South of France vacationer Tia Gavin, and the lovely and whimsical Jude Mooney (who is posing for me).
See you next time ladies!

Mechanically Separated Chicken

2007-07-09T20:34:00.000-07:00

With a title such as this, you might think I'm going to talk about some new punk band from England, but no it is actually...are you ready for this... an ingredient mentioned on a package of Slim Jims. Yes, I know it is a processed meat snack, probably lower on the food chain than a hot dog, but are you kidding me!!??

Even my dog Kirby wasn't interested. I had to coax and call her over numerous times just to get this shot. As soon as I got the shot, she walked away again.

Secret Recipe

2007-07-09T20:13:00.000-07:00

I created my own little slice of heaven on Sunday and I thought I'd share my secret recipe:

1 part ----------- Comfy Chaise Lounge
1 part ----------- Thick Cute Cushion
2 parts ---------- Shade and Sun (your preference)
1 part ----------- Cold Beverage
2 parts ---------- Sunglasses & Sunblock
10-30 parts ---- Magazines (must be a good balance of trash and intellect)

Combine ingredients and let stand until the sun begins to set.
Repeat if necessary.
The recipe serves one however the batch can easily be doubled if you have company.

July 4th in Ashland

2007-07-05T17:34:00.001-07:00

Mike and I took a little break from the familiar and drove north to our old town of Ashland Oregon. We stayed at the quaint Palm Motel, which is kind of Pottery Barn/Grandma/Goodwill sheik. I have to say...there's something wonderful about staying in a place that has freshly picked flowers from its own garden throughout our room. And our room was full of good karma...we had a beautiful red door, a cute dwarf pear tree out front which was loaded with fruit and a bubbling fountain outside our window. It was a nice home away from home.

The entrance to the Palm Motel.

We stayed in town for the VERY popular 4th of July parade where thousands begin to claim their turf 24 hours before the parade begins. By nightfall the day before the parade there was not a square inch of grass, concrete or asphalt within a mile that was not claimed - it's really exciting.
And one thing I don't have in a photo, but is truly the highlight of the parade are the two F16's that fly over to start the parade. It is absolutely exhilarating every time! There is no way to put into words the speed and the decibels of these jets - all of which are flying at a very low altitude - it's something everyone should experience.

And no trip would be complete without stopping to say hello to our old house on the hill. For those of you who don't know, Mike and I took a year off around 2000 and built this house. It was a wonderful experience and it was nice to see "her".

And no July would be complete without insane temperatures. I started taking photos at 108 and it kept on creeping up. 114 was the high as we cruised down I5 through Redding at about 6:30pm.

Auberge du Soleil

2007-06-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

I had the great fortune to photograph a very endearing wedding between Eliana & Dan at the stunning Auberge du Soleil property yesterday. The afternoon was rich with two cultures mingling (Argentina & USA), beautiful smiles, heartwarming toasts to the couple, and of course the breathtaking Napa Valley views.

A Nice Note

2007-06-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

A very sweet note from Kathy (06.09.07), who is probably looking at her online wedding photos at this very moment as I type this post!

25-0 !!

2007-06-21T08:34:00.000-07:00

Eric's baseball team had a stellar season - you can't do any better than 25-0!!
And now with that big winning season behind them, they are off to the playoffs. AND if that wasn't enough baseball, Eric is on the Allstar team! So, we'll be getting some more exciting bleacher time soon. Way to go Eric!!

Children's Cancer Community

2007-06-19T23:01:00.000-07:00

The Children's Cancer Community is a close-knit organization which extends hope and support for children with cancer, and tonight Mike, Kyle and I had the great joy in participating in a little kit building project at Howarth Park. The kids learned how to glue, hammer, nail and even finish their own special nick-nack boxes. The kids were so adorable and eager to learn!

And it never fails... I always find one "camera ham" in the group, and this time it was this beautiful little girl who just started posing for me without any direction. She wouldn't speak to me, and she wouldn't smile, but her shyness was so endearing and it made the photos that much more powerful. After each shot I'd show her the image and her eyes would light in amazement and she'd pose for more photos - the magic of digital photography.

Father's Day R & R

2007-06-19T22:19:00.000-07:00

The Clouse Crew spent a wonderfully lazy Father's Day over at our good friends, The Farnsworths. Food, Friends, Family, and all poolside - the perfect ingredients for a great day! I even braved the water with my camera in hand (mind you it's not waterproof!) for some fun canon-ball action shots.

Kathy & Andrew

2007-06-11T18:56:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Kathy & Andrew who just tied the knot!! Their picture perfect day began at a private home in Napa, then off to the adorable Yountville Community Church and then everyone was whisked away to the majestic CIA in St. Helena! My photographer friend Jessamyn and I paired up for this big soiree and we have so many beautiful photos to share - here are a few that I captured...

Yountville Rehearsal

2007-06-09T10:46:00.001-07:00

I peeked into Kathy & Andrew's church rehearsal yesterday for a few surprise photos. She was so cute with her ribbon and bow bouquet! Today is the big day and we're going to have great fun!

Lucky 13

2007-05-30T21:08:00.000-07:00

In honor of our new family tradition, Eric celebrated his 13th birthday with a completely embarrassing birthday cake. Happy #13 Eric!!!

Me and Harry

2007-05-28T09:36:00.000-07:00

Please excuse me but I just have to gush about my date on Saturday night...

Just me, a glass of wine, and Harry Connick Jr. crooning in my ear...
oh yea, and there was my husband and 3,000 other fans all stretching their necks to see the famous singer on stage. It was a beautiful Sonoma evening!

Sunset Sunday

2007-05-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

We journeyed down to Menlo Park today to attend Sunset Magazine's Annual Celebration Event. The day consisted of good food, fun shopping booths, a local famous person (Guy Fieri), a tour of an idea house, a great live band with a happy solo dancer, and for the grand finale we ate a home-made-custom-ordered ice cream sandwich!

p.s. I feel compelled to share with you that my husband, who is fairly quiet and subdued, endures torturous embarassment for being married to a photographer. This confession is especially poignant today because I basically demanded that he let me take a photo of him eating the ice cream sandwich with mobs of people walking about. I thought it would be a funny photo. He thought the idea was embarrassing. I won.

Three Cheers for Pizza!

2007-05-17T20:47:00.000-07:00

It's time to dust off the ab-roller hidden in the attic and the dig through the basement for the thigh-master because new trouble just rolled into town.

Papa Murphy's Pizza!

Our good friends have been dreaming and planning this exciting new venture for several years and as their friends we are obligated to support their business, so I'll do my part with a large sausage, mushroom and olive pizza please!
Here are a few moments from yesterday's opening day...

Reno River Festival

2007-05-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

Mike and I hoped into our convertible rental car and cruised up to Reno for a little fun in the sun this weekend. With cold IPA's in our hands and sunscreen slathered all over our bodies we parked ourselves on a big river rock and watched some really exciting kayak competitions at the annual Reno River Festival. The festival drew in thousands of fans and spectators and it was a great fun doing something completely different.

Dumb & Dumber Note

2007-05-07T23:35:00.000-07:00

Warning:
1. If you don't think that Dumb & Dumber is one of the best movies of all time, you probably should stop reading this post.

2. If you have not seen Dumb & Dumber 75 times or more, you will probably not relate.

3. If the note doesn't make you laugh out loud, then it is official, you did not say yes to items #1 and #2.

This is the note left for us on the frig by our fabulous boys!

p.s. they went out for breakfast and also left us the real note telling us where they were.

Wine Country Friends

2007-05-07T20:43:00.000-07:00

No one has to tell me how blessed I am to live in this region...Convertible, friends, sunshine and wine... I don't think I have to say anymore. (Except congratulations to the entire gang on their new, fabulous tasting room grand opening!!)

Kyle's Gee-tar

2007-04-28T17:14:00.000-07:00

The Clouse House just got a little bit louder today with the purchase of Kyle's 15th birthday present - his first electric guitar. And with Eric eyeing the drum sets we're just a couple performers away from forming a band!
And just for laughs, I got a rainbow birthday cake - not the cake you'd picture for a teen boy, but it was funny.

Details Wine Country

2007-04-27T08:31:00.000-07:00

The fabulous ladies behind Details Wine Country !

25 Years of Excellence

2007-04-25T08:30:00.000-07:00

Sunday night was filled with an abundant mass of friends all together to honor our Pastor, Rich Gantenbein, for his 25 years of community servitude. Click here to view the photo slide show of the entire evening.

St. Francis Evening

2007-04-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

This last Saturday, on a cool rainy evening I packed up my camera equipment and made the short drive to the stunning St. Francis Winery to photograph a very sweet wedding celebration between Luanne and Steve. With everyone in their best duds, I had great fun snapping portraits and I even had the great fortune to photograph some very good looking camera-hams!

A Glimpse Into My World

2007-04-16T18:29:00.000-07:00

Today I was inspired to a do a photo montage of items which tell a little bit about who I am. It started with two of my favorite subjects; food and shoes. Here's the slideshow.

A Birthday Surprise

2007-04-06T15:29:00.000-07:00

Tracy, the birthday girl, is heading into new territory today...the 40's...and her good friends didn't want to miss this monumental day! Many brownie-points to her husband Scott and the rest of her family for keeping this little surprise party under wraps, all the way to the last step! Happy Birthday Tracy - you look fabulous!

Ms. Lindsey

2007-03-28T14:00:00.000-07:00

Little Ms. Lindsey joined me for the day while her parents took care of some business. We went for a walk, played in the park, had snacks, played with toys and colored. It was a very busy day!

The Morgan Family

2007-03-22T11:13:00.000-07:00

I spent a lovely Spring day in the Sonoma Plaza photographing The Morgan Family!

She Said Yes

2007-03-07T13:47:00.000-08:00

I had the great fortune to photograph an elaborately planned marriage proposal this past Saturday at a stunning private estate here in Sonoma. The unsuspecting "bride" arrived expecting to enjoy an evening dinner part with a few friends, but instead she was surprised to see a large gathering of her closest friends and family. Before she could barely say her first hello, her hand was taken by the "groom" as he whisked her down the stone path. Just then, a rare Friesian horse brought in from Holland (her engagement gift) trotted in front of her. The horse was sporting a beautiful custom-made blanket with the embroidered words, "Will You Marry Me?" and tied to a ribbon attached to the mane was a dazzling 4 karat diamond ring!
The moment was so romantic, it was difficult to manage my task without tearing up too much.

p.s. She said yes!

Giving Something Back

2007-02-27T07:07:00.000-08:00

The American Child Photographers Guild is an amazing organization which I was recently accepted into. The premise is absolutely wonderful and heartbreaking all in one and I highly encourage lots of tissue near by if you enter the website. [www.acpcg.com]
The organization has a list of volunteer photographers who will photograph a child; a child perhaps who is terminally ill, a newborn who died shortly after birth, etc. The loss is unimaginable, but the photograph represents something so special that the family can hold on to.
I have not been called yet, but I know when I do, it will be an experience that will touch me to my core.

That's Amore!

2007-02-24T07:51:00.001-08:00

My sweet couple Erika & Dave reveled in their European-style engagement celebration surrounded by their closets friends and family! That's Amore!

Queen Mary 2

2007-02-06T09:51:00.000-08:00

The Queen Mary 2 sailed into San Francisco over the weekend and I was so excited at the prospect of seeing this beautiful ship in person, so I planted myself on the Golden Gate bridge yesterday with other hopeful aficionados hoping for an up close glimpse as it continued its journey to Hawaii, Australia and Hong Kong.
This ship is very magnificent with classic style and mammoth in size. The QM2 is 147 feet longer than the Eiffel Tower is tall (984 ft.) and supposedly it only has about a 30 foot clearance from the golden gate bridge and its passing was timed with the low tide!
So Mike and I bundled up and headed into the thick fog watching for a glimpse of the ship for an hour and a half, but I'm sorry to say we left empty handed.
The ship was slated to leave port at 5pm, however a couple factors we had not planned on, was 1) the visibility was incredibly low because of the thick fog, and 2) we believe the ship left port at high tide, but had to linger in the bay for several hours waiting for low tide.
It was an adventure worth trying!

Perfect Match (.com)

2007-01-28T14:23:00.000-08:00

It was such a joy to get to know Erika & Dave a little bit before their September wedding. As we chatted in between photos I learned they met on match.com, which I find so adorable and what is even more astounding is they have more family with the same story! So make a mental note of their faces, because you just might see them on a match.com television commercial!

Palm Desert

2007-01-23T14:31:00.000-08:00

I joined two of my dearest long-time friends for 5 days of fun in Palm Desert and my-oh-my did we have a nice time together! Lots of shopping, lots of eating and lots of hanging out. Our trip was timed with one of the coldest spells the desert probably sees in the winter so instead of coming home with tans, we came home with lots of shopping bags! Here are a few of our memories.