One thing I love about living in Grass Valley is the other amazing wedding vendors in the area. Our NCWeds group is filled with so many creative professionals who get together at least every other month at a venue to network and catch up on each other’s lives. One way I connect is with a portrait shoot to get updated portraits for their website + marketing materials. So when Sandy called to schedule a session for her birthday, I was excited to help out!

After getting her hair and makeup done, Sandy and I met at Stonehouse, one of my favorite Nevada City venues. With a short break in the rain, we were able to get exactly what we wanted!

I pulled up to our meeting spot to see Wyatt sitting on his tailgate with his friend, Burke, laughing and strumming his guitar. I couldn’t help but grin ’cause right then I knew it was going to be a great shoot. Wyatt, you were an awesome “model”! I promise that if we ever do it again, it will be sure to include a pizza or two!

Straw hat on head and guitar in hand, we started at the field at Nevada Union High School, where Wyatt has played football for the past three years.

Moving up to Nevada City, the guys were a little distracted by the thought of food at the Beach Hut Deli, but we managed to get a few cool pictures before they headed off for dinner.

I don’t text myself, but I’ve heard it’s a sure-fire way to get a hold of this guy.

My favorite thing about portrait shoots is spending time with a person and getting to know them in order to make sure what I capture portrays who that person really is. A perk is that by the time we’re done, I have a new friend! Sarah was no exception. She’s a beautiful mother of three who lives with her husband in the country and is starting a business to help other women follow their dreams. I can’t wait to see the website Phyllis is designing for her!

Simply love this one!

If I believed in luck, I would attribute the success our of amazing senior portrait session to the beautiful butterfly we found at the beginning of our shoot. As it is, credit must go to Victoria and her family of stylists! We headed to downtown Sacramento yesterday for a fun evening along K Street and the Capital Park. From cell phone conversations in Spanish, a group of guys filming a movie, and cute squirrels, the distractions were many and close together. But Victoria just laughed, swung the hair out of her eyes, and struck another pose.  Vic, thanks so much for being willing to get out in public and try new things! Your poise and laid back attitude combined with your natural beauty–inside and outside–makes you one special girl!

Yep, this girl is a true 2011 senior complete with a cup of coffee in hand from Sacramento’s best, Temple Coffee.

Victoria did a great job at personalizing her session by bringing along flowers, her favorite cowboy boots, and other items to make sure her pictures were a true reflection of the girl inside!

Capital Park is beautiful this time of year with the flowers starting to bloom and the orange trees loaded with fruit!

This past weekend a girls’ conference was held in Grass Valley, and I was invited to come and help document friendships and mother/daughter relationships. While I couldn’t attend the other two days as I was at a youth conference (post coming!), I so enjoyed being able to spend time catching up with old friends and meeting new people!

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