Month: May 2008

  • The perfect Wedding Gift for today?

     

  • Wet Wedding at David Girard Vineyards!



    Tim and Kelly are married!
    We arrived at David Girard Vineyards on Saturday around 2:00 pm with the wildest weather. As the afternoon progressed and we realized their gorgeous ceremony setting was going to have to be moved into the reception tent we knew this was going to be a minute by minute decision day. It poured for the couple of hours while they changed gears and set the tent up for a wedding as well as the reception site. We couldnt even hear ourselves talk as the rain pounded the tent walls and roof. When Kelly and the bridesmaids arrived and were ready for their shots the rain let up slightly so I could get them out on the balcony, all my shots I had envisioned had to be changed. The day was anything if not a day of letting go and accepting whatever the weather dictated. Kelly was the best trooper bride ever! She went with the flow even tho her dream ceremony spot was covered in water. Of course the rain stopped just before the ceremony! lol…but it was still rather cold so when it came time to do the formals the grass was soaking and the girls were chilled. When it came time to take Tim and Kelly out for their private moments at the vineyard by their original ceremony site, barrel room and around the lake, the sun was beginning to break through, it was rather lovely. Here is just one of those shots, of course as Mark makes his way through all the images we will show you the slideshsow!
     
    Arent they the gorgeous?!
     
     

  • Amanda & Ben’s Engagement session at Empire Mine State Park

    Press F11 for a full view
    Length: 3 min 25 sec

    Ben and Amanda will be married this fall at the beautiful Capitol Rose Garden by the State Capitol. Their reception will be at the always stunning Firehouse Restaurant in Old Sacramento!
    We took them out for their engagement session at The Empire Mine. We LOVE this place as it has lots of places to shoot and they are all spectacular.

    We always fall in love with our couples when we do their engagement sessions. We really get to know them and they get to know us! What a great couple and what troopers! - we had 45 minutes before the place closed up tight so we had to hustle.  We love to see couples in love. We really enjoyed our day out with them!

    Now we are looking forward to their wedding!

     
    Enjoy!

     

     


  • Ted Kennedy and why am I so thankful and blessed…

    Why I am so thankful and blessed

    But first, I have to get in a shameless plug for Jayden…this is what he looks like when he is watching his favorite tv channel. Then when he gets tired of that he goes to Grandma’s library and cleans the shelves for her. He is just too funny. I just love natural window light.

    Most of you have heard Ted Kennedy has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. For those who know us personally you know how close this hits to home. 13 years ago at the age of 36, I was diagnosed with the same type of brain tumor – a malignant glioblastoma.
    Click here for the full story of my illness and healing

    The L.A. times ran a story with details on this type of tumor.
    (Click here for the story.)
    According to the doctors quoted in that article, two years after diagnosis, only  8% of patients are still alive.When I was diagnosed we were told I only had 3-6 months to live. Actually they told me that twice since another new one started growing after we got the first one.

    So here I sit 144 months still alive and kicking! Since that 3-6 month sentence passed over me, I’ve been here for  the following:


    Celebrated my 25th anniversary
    Watched my son Brian and daughter Lindsay graduate High School
    Lindsay graduate college with an AA
    My daughter Kelly getting married
    Have a grandson
    Turn 50
    Starting a family business where I get to work side by side with my wife and children

    There are numerous other small everyday blessings that are too many to recount here – these are just some of the big milestones that doctors said I wouldn’t be here to see.

    So I am truly blessed and thankful to be alive! What are you thankful for today?

  • Matt & Michelle’s wedding at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Sacramento California

    Here is a quick pic of Matt & Michelle after their wedding. They were married this last weekend at the beautiful Westminster Presbyterian Church in downtown Sacramento. What a lovely couple they are, you cannot tell by this but it was triple digits and the humidity was the worst I have ever seen in Sacramento but they were absolutely wonderful…I just wish that they could have had a cooler day…but they are married now and they had a beautiful wedding and that is what counts! 

     


    you can see their engagement slideshow here

     

  • My son is not a teenager anymore….

     

    Brian turned 20 today!!!

    (Is it truly possible that he was born twenty years ago today?)

    We are on our way out to a wedding today but please do wish him a Happy Birthday and be sure to check out his first solo shoot (from us) in the post below this one..

    Pray for us it is supposed to be 102 today…..ugh!!!

    Enjoy whatever and wherever you are!

     

    H A P P Y  B I R T H D A Y  B R I A N!!   

    Love MOM (what, Dad get’s no mention? Good thing I know how to edit these…)

     

  • Brian goes solo on a job!



    Brian was asked to do a senior shoot last month of a friend he went to school with…he did such a wonderful job I just gotta put this up and brag on him!! His friend Taylor who also shot some of these gets kudos too!
    Enjoy!

  • Kyle & Kristi’s Wedding Album from Pioneer Church in Auburn, California

    Kristi & Kyle’s Wedding Album

    When we shot Kara and Brian Raymond’s wedding last year we met Kristi and Kyle. Kyle is Kara’s brother and we just love their whole family so when we were asked to be Kyle and Kristi’s photographers we were excited. It is always fun to see familiar people at those weddings where we are referred by previous couples. Kristy and Kyle were married at the historic Pioneer Church in Auburn, California with a smashing reception at Semas Ranch.

    The album is now off to Italy to be beautifully printed and bound!
    Have a wonderful life you guys!

    Click here to view the slideshow from their wedding.

  • Romantic Post Wedding Session….


    For best viewing, press your F11 key and turn your speakers on!
    (Slideshow runs 4:34)

    Remember Dane and Stephanie’s Wedding last November? Now that things have settled down somewhat for them they scheduled in this little romantic “post wedding” shoot to get back into their wedding clothes and have a nice relaxed session with us. Steph had this place in mind that she wanted to take us. I love it when our couples find these great places!! Dane and Steph, you guys were fun and kicked back , that is the best combo cause it fits right in with our personalities…
     
    Enjoy!

  • Mark turns 50 today.

     

     

    Mark turns 50 today so give him some bloglove!

    Mark@Quarry-1

    Mark@Quarry-2

    photos by Brian Lydell

    Mark was Brian’s stand in for an upcoming senior shoot that Brian was scouting locations for.
    If Mark had only known I was going to use these for his birthday post he might have smiled but thats okay he must’ve been going for the dark and mysterious look ….hahaha