6.25.2010

Nikki & Paul - Engagement Shoot

As a wedding photographer, there's nothing better than shooting a couple that's on the same wavelength you are.  It relaxes everyone, the laughs keeps coming, and you can really capture who your couple is and the absolute joy and love they're experiencing.  And that's exactly what we got at Nikki and Paul's engagement shoot - the real Nikki and Paul!

We started off the day at Point Lobos State Reserve, on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean, then headed down the road to the Carmel River State Beach for some champagne on the sand.  Point Lobos holds a special place in my own heart because that's where Josh proposed to me, and it was great to visit again.


After a short walk through the pine forest and along the cliffs of Point Lobos, we headed on over for some champagne on the beach.


The ring Paul gave to Nikki has been passed down through generations, and was truly gorgeous!

6.17.2010

Lori and Mario - A Few More

A few more favorites from Lori and Mario's engagement shoot that didn't make the first post...


Coming up next week - a beach engagement from Monterey!

6.10.2010

Lori & Mario - Engagement Shoot

They met while working at the Elephant Bar, mostly agree that their first date was at P.F. Changs, and firmly believe that the third time's a charm.  Lori and Mario are one of the most adorable couples I've met yet.  For their engagement session this week, they brought out the big guns.  A full wardrobe, including some fan-tab-u-lous shoes, a gorgeous rose garden, and not one, but four classic cars!  I can't wait to see what their wedding next month will bring, but I'm sure it will be absolutely stunning, and I'm so glad to be a part of it!


Lori, I have just one word for you here:  RAWR.

You are a very lucky man, Mario.

A quick wardrobe change, and on to car number three, the Chevelle!

Channeling the Blues Brothers....

These last two shots make me smile every time.  You know it's true love when even a mock proposal brings this much joy!

6.02.2010

Lucy and Emma - Pet Portraits

Lucy and Emma are my parents' dogs.  Lucy follows my mom around, and, when she's not following Lucy, Emma hangs out with my dad.  They both completely ignore my parents when my little sister visits from college.  Somehow, they just know Andrea is a dog person, and they parade around after her like the Fourth of July.  While visiting my folks for the holiday weekend, I took a few minutes to get some quick portraits of the barking duo.


Happy Wednesday, folks!

5.26.2010

Spring Bouquet

It's been one of those mornings.  We just traded up our old kayaks for some sleeker, faster versions, and were stoked to take them out this morning for a paddle.  Of course, the moment we went to put the boats on the car rack, it started raining.  Again.  For those of you not in the Bay Area, we have had one of the weirdest weather patterns lately.  Rain, rain, and more rain during a time of the year when we're typically getting pretty dry.  Mother Nature's been taking care of the California drought in spades this year, to the point that I'm looking forward to traveling to Michigan soon not only to see family, but also to see the sun!

To brighten up all of our days, here's some sunny yellow (and pink) flowers.  Happy Wednesday, folks!

5.20.2010

Spring Bouquet - Sneak Peak

I fully admit I've been lax on the blogging lately.  It's been a very busy several weeks applying for art shows, but I'm proud to say that I've been accepted as a vendor for California Artists, so be on the look out for new show listings in the Events column soon!

In the meantime, here's a sneak peak from my spring flowers shoot earlier this week!


More to come soon!

5.04.2010

Oldies but goodies

One of my ongoing projects is reorganizing and cataloging my old photos.  I'm proud to say that I'm now working my way backward through 2007.  To that end, I just found some forgotten photos from our 2007 Thanksgiving trip up the Mendocino coast.  We discovered a few things on that trip.  First, we learned that just because we decided not to make a Thanksgiving dinner didn't mean that everyone else wasn't going to.  Slightly problematic when your accommodations happen to be the back of a pickup truck and every business in the town closes at noon.  Then, we learned that cold weather and foggy conditions make for some very damp and frigid hiking, camping, sleeping, eating and everything else you might do when camped in the back of a pickup truck without heat.

It may sound like a drag, but we still had a ton of fun on that trip.  We did a lot of hiking on the beautiful coast, saw the vast majority of Mendocino by foot, and spent some quality time with the coastal Redwoods. 

Last but not least, here's a photo of Van Damme Beach, where we spent our first night out, at sunset.  Be sure to check out the Twisted Rock Photography website for a new California Coast album!

4.29.2010

Blackhawk Museum Roundup

Here are a few more shots from the Blackhawk Museum.  Sometimes, I just can't help myself!

Be sure to stop by our booth at First and M Streets in Livermore this weekend if you're in town for the Livermore Wine Country Festival!


Who doesn't love a good pink car?

Happy Friday folks!  Hope to see you over the weekend!

4.28.2010

The Smiley Face Project - VW Bus

A while back, American Express ran a commercial where each scene was a photo of everyday items formed into a smiley face of sorts.  Josh and I thought this was pretty neat, so I've embarked on The Smiley Face Project.  It's an ongoing thing, and I'll post photos as I take them.  First up, the VW Bus!

4.27.2010

Yellow Cars

I used to drive the end-all of yuppies car-- a bright yellow Ford Escape.  Yes, yellow.  I like bright colors, and, well, I have a tendency to lose my car in parking lots and especially garages.  It usually results in me starting at the bottom of the garage, and simply walking up the floors until I find it.

In any event, I have a tendency to get a little attached to my cars, and the Bananamobile was no different.  So, when the time came to trade it in, it was a little bittersweet.  I drove home in a brand-spanking new Jeep Wrangler, which I LOVE, but felt more than a little bad when the salesperson told me that my beloved Escape would likely be scrapped for parts.  Poor Banana.

Then, down in Monterey on my wedding day, as I walked over to the hair salon, I glanced to my right and saw to my complete disbelief my Bananamobile right there in the parking lot!  It hadn't been scrapped for parts after all!  I like to think it was there to wish me a happy marriage, but that's just me.  Here's another yellow car that happily wasn't scrapped for parts.

4.26.2010

Upcoming Event - Livermore Wine Country Festival

Come on out and see Twisted Rock Photography at the Livermore Wine Country Festival for a weekend of good wine and food, family fun and fine art!  Our little gallery booth will be in the intersection of First and M Streets, and we'll be featuring a wide variety of works on various media, from flowers and architecture to animals, classic cars and landscapes.  We'll have canvas gallery wraps, metal prints and framed metallic prints ready to hang, as well as loose matted prints and greeting cards.  Josh will also have his debut showing with Sunset Fanfare!

What: Twisted Rock Photography at the Livermore Wine Country Festival
Where: First and M Streets, Livermore, CA
When: Saturday, May 1, 10am-6pm and Sunday, May 2, 10am-5pm

Hope to see you there!

4.25.2010

Blackhawk Museum

It's been a very busy two months at my place.  While kicking off wedding season with shows, meetings, and some truly fun and fabulous couples, we've also been putting together a new booth for Twisted Rock Photography, and building up new inventory for the Livermore Wine Country Festival (more on that soon!).  I'm told most people like to take the entire winter to do this.  We somehow decided to go with two months.  As such, the UPS man and I are really getting to know each other, our living room has been transformed into a veritable art gallery, and I'm just now getting around to blogging the rest of the photos from our Easter visit to the Blackhawk Museum.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

My favorite era for the automobile is the 1930s through 1960s.  I love a big, curvy land yacht, especially in an outrageously bright color.  The lines and contours flow effortlessly, and nothing can beat the variety and style of the hood ornaments.  I know it sounds totally un-environmental, but I love those cars.  Here's my plea to the auto industry: We've come a long way since the 50s, so let's build really good-looking cars again, but with more efficient engines and today's technologies.  Bring back some of that classic styling!

In any event, the Blackhawk Museum has a great collection, and, as Josh said, I must've had a really good time shooting, because after 15 minutes, I was still only 5 feet into the gallery.  On to some photos!


My dad used to have an 80s-issue Oldsmobile with a linear speedometer.  Granted, it was digital, but still not nearly as stylish as this one.  And, hello, mint green!

I spent a ton of time with this Plymouth Fury.  I love the Fury logo, and the fins, but with the eight bazillion spotlights above, finding an angle that worked took some finagling.

Happy Monday, folks!

4.18.2010

Pleasanton Wedding Faire and More Upcoming Events!

Thanks to all the brides and grooms, and their supportive families and friends for coming out to the Pleasanton Wedding Faire today!  We had a great time talking with all of you, and for those of you who hopped into our photo booth, the photos came out adorably!  Look in your email soon for the final products.

If you're in the area, be sure to come see our fine art work at the Livermore Wine Country Festival on May 1st and 2nd.  We'll be in the intersection of First and M Street-- look for Twisted Rock Photography.  We hope to see you there!

4.15.2010

Upcoming Events - Wedding Faires

If you or someone you know is getting married, come on over to Pleasanton on Sunday and see us at the Brocade Wedding Faire!  Sign up for our raffle for a free wedding photography package, and hop into our photo booth for free portraits!  The fun and excitement starts at 10am at the Pleasanton Marriott and continues till 4pm.

Hope to see you there!


4.06.2010

Blackhawk Museum - Preview

Here's a sneak peak from our visit to the Blackhawk Museum in Danville....


Happy Tuesday!