Ryan Greenleaf Photography Blog

Tony and Christine: Engagement Photography, Sacramento, CA --with behind the scenes VIDEO!

2012-01-16T13:19:00.001-08:00

A little peek into Tony and Christine's engagement session featuring behind the scenes footage as well as the actual photos from their shoot.

An Engagement Session with Ryan Greenleaf Photography from Ryan Greenleaf on Vimeo.

Thank You Cards

2011-12-28T12:30:00.000-08:00

Need to say thank you? These 5x7 folded cards are a perfect way to say thanks. Inside is a blank canvas for your personal message.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

If you are past client and would like to order a custom thank you card with your image, feel free to email ryan@ryangreenleaf.com or call 530-220-2112!

Here are some examples...

Marianna and Mike: Engagement Photography, Folsom, CA

2011-10-13T10:30:00.000-07:00

I instantly fell in love with Marianna and Mike as soon as we met. Mike proposed earlier this year when they travelled to Europe for a friends wedding. We talked about our travels to Europe and found out that we JUST missed each other by about a week when we visited London. The wedding they went to was in Portugal which I am dying to visit...It's probably the Portuguese in me.

Mike is a fire fighter at one of the Davis fire departments, and Marianna is originally from Peru! They now live in Folsom which is also where they decided to take their photos. At the engagement session Marianna told me that it is not common (at all) to have bridesmaids in a traditional Peruvian wedding. She also told me that she was very nervous and doesn't really like having her photo taken. Um, for real? Because Marianna, you looked flawless!

Here are a few of my favorites from their engagement session...

A little fun on the bridge...

A little story behind this photo...this is Mike's favorite spot in Folsom. They keep his own mug there and keep a record of every beer he gets. Pretty neat! The atmosphere is great too.

Marianna and Mike, you were such a treat to photograph, to hang out with, to laugh with...Thank you for putting up with my crazy ideas. I cannot wait to be there on your wedding day.

-Ryan

Jamie and Chad's Wedding @ The Historic Yolanda Ranch, Woodland, Ca

2011-10-05T15:51:00.000-07:00

I couldn't wait to be at Jamie and Chad's wedding. Ever since I've been in touch with Jamie about her wedding I was so excited for the fall theme and all the details that were to come along with it. My love for the fall season, halloween, and decorating fueled my excitement also. Everything turned out wonderful and the attention to detail was amazing! Here are a few detail shots:

I absolutely love the hand made signs for this wedding theme. There were several put up throughout the ceremony and reception site. So cute and doesn't cost effective too!

They served fresh lemonade while the guests were arriving...

Here are Chad and the guys looking very dapper...

A couple of Chad...

Loved how this turned out...

Here's Jamie...

Looking gorgeous...

With all of her ladies...

We went inside once the guests started to arrive for a couple more shots...

These two were adorable...

Chad trying to hold it together for Jamie

Jamie looking flawless walking down the aisle...

The Kiss...

I loved the seating arrangements. So very fall. :)

These edible leaves were the perfect touch to this cake!

The entire bridal party...

A few of just Jamie and Chad...

I couldn't wait for it to start getting dark. Chad and Jamie's dad put up all of the lights over the tables and dance floor...a perfect touch!

After the toasts, it was time to start mingling and get the party started!

An ariel view of the dance floor...

Jamie and Chad: Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your day! Much love and appreciation,

DJ: Music and More Entertainment

Catering: Buckhorn Steakhouse

Sarah and Dan's Wedding, Taber Ranch, Capay, CA

2011-09-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago, I had the privilege of photographing Melissa and Colby's Wedding. Melissa is Sarah's older sister. When Sarah got engaged to Dan, I got a lovely note from Sarah asking if I would be her wedding photographer. I agreed, of course! I love keeping weddings in the family! Sarah is one of the sweetest, most laid back girls I know and Dan is a great guy who I can tell makes Sarah very happy. They have a baby girl named Rylee who is just now starting to walk! She already knew how to fly at their engagement session though. :)

Here are a few photos from Sarah and Dan's wedding out at Taber Ranch in Capay, Ca.

Lovely details inside the barn..

A bright and colorful ceremony...

Murieta Maternity Session: Krystal

2011-08-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I flew down to Ontario, CA and was greeted by the fabulous Krystal and her hubby Dan. You may remember them from last year when I photographed their wedding. Now in addition to their 2 dogs, they are ready to grow their family by 1. Eagerly awaiting for her November 15 due date, Krystal and Dan (and me too!) are excited to meet their baby girl, Danika.

We scoped out a few locations around the Murieta area for the session after a delicious lunch at The Mill. Here are a few of my favorites from the day!

James: Sacramento Senior Portraits

2011-08-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed working with James because he had a clear idea in his head about what he wanted for his Senior pictures. He was recommended to me by one of my old classmates, Aimee, who teaches a film photography class at Elk Grove High School. You remember what film is, right?! Since he has a love for photography of his own, we were able to bounce ideas back and forth pretty easily. I also felt like I should be teaching him and letting him know how I was setting up the shot. We had a great time and here are a few of my favorites from the shoot.

Happy Hour @ Paragary's Bar and Oven, Sacramento, CA

2011-07-11T12:15:00.001-07:00

A couple weeks ago I had the privilege of photographing Paragary's back patio for their new happy hour pre-party promo. If you have never been and are in the Sacramento area I definitely recommend it. They've got some pretty amazing dishes and who doesn't like a little happy hour thrown in the mix as well?

Paragary's Bar and Oven is located at 28th and N street in Midtown, Sacramento right across the street from Ink.

Here is one of the promo posters...

A few other shots...

I was also fortunate to try a few of the drinks too :-)

Sarah and Dan: Engagement Photography, Woodland, CA

2011-07-08T00:36:00.001-07:00

Sarah and Dan are getting married at Tabor Ranch in Capay Valley soon and for their engagement session they wanted to incorporate that sort of ranch feel into their photos. They already had a spot in mind on a friend of the family's property. It was a nice ranch complete with a pond, a vineyard, and a nice little deck over the water. They also brought along their cute baby girl, Rylee, to incorporate some family photos into their engagement session. We chose THE hottest day this year to photograph. All of us were pretty sweaty after the session but we still had a lot of fun. Can't wait for your wedding!

Here are a few of my favorites from the set...

Rylee fell asleep for just a few min when we first arrived so we took advantage of the time alone...

But she quickly woke up. Here she is with mama...

Then Dad...

All together...

Another installment to the flying baby collection. Rylee is cracking up!

Those eyes...

Love love love this one...

Now for a few shots of Sarah and Dan...

Day After Session: Tony + Christine. Park Winters, Winters, CA

2011-07-06T08:23:00.000-07:00

A day after session is when a couple picks a day after their wedding to get dressed up in their wedding attire one more time. Some brides get scared about doing this because they want to preserve their wedding dress and/or they don't want to ruin it. It's totally up to the couple on how far they are willing to go. The way I see it, before a bride gets her dress cleaned and put away in storage, why not work that dress out one more time?? Couples get to celebrate again and have fun taking photos without the time constraints of their wedding day.

When Tony and Christine opted to do a day after session I just about jumped out of my chair in joy. No joke. I love it when couples opt for a day after sesh. Plus, their wedding was a blast and I love love love working with them.

There is a new boutique resort opening in Winters, CA called Park Winters and John, co-owner, was welcoming enough to let us do the photo shoot there. The boutique is scheduled to open later this year and it's going to be amazing. You think I'm lying? I got to see the plans for the place and they're going to have a pool, cabanas, spa, catering, insulated barn for winter events, steam room, gorgeous views of the country, and more. The perfect place for a nice little getaway. Sign me up! Christine even said that when her sister gets married she's going to have her check this place out.

Here are some of my favorites from the day starting off at the back patio...

Then we went off to the grassy area...Christine looked radiant as always...

Showing off a little of their personalities...

Check out this house...this place is going to be amazing!

Reflection in the fountain...

The place is still under construction but I fell in love with this old barn...

In love this this shot...

There is a huge sunflower field right behind the house we had to check out...

mega. fierce.

Many thanks to Park Winters for letting us use their space. And to Tony + Christine for being you. Have a great European honeymoon...Bon Voyage!

Show and Tell 3.6: July 4th and Mom's Birthday

2011-07-04T19:08:00.000-07:00

She is loving. She is kind. She gives me advice whenever I need it. Sometimes I call her at work when she is busy and I ask her, 'Is this a good time?' She mostly always says yes. And I love that. She is a role model. She is a hard worker and whenever she is around she lights up the room.

She is my wonderful mother and today is her birthday. The fireworks are for you mom! ;)

ps we need new pics.

San Jose Newborn Baby Portraits: Emme

2011-07-01T11:31:00.000-07:00

A little over a month ago, I made my way down to San Jose to photograph Megan while she was pregnant with Emme. {View that session HERE} Now, Emme is out and about and has so much love surrounding her. She was 2 weeks old when these photos were taken.

Here we have Emme's Great Grandma, Grandma, and Mom. 4 generations!

Here she is getting a little shut eye...

Mom's kisses...

She's ready for wedding royalty with that hat! :)

Mom and Dad's wedding rings...

The whole family...(minus izzy)

Can you see the heart? <3

Congrats Ian + Megan on your newest addition.

Much love,

Show and Tell 3.5

2011-06-27T09:48:00.000-07:00

This is Sara unpacking her stuff into her empty metal bin at our London hostel. Before this trip, I had never stayed in or seen a hostel so I had no idea what to expect. And I definitely didn't want to see the movie "Hostel" before staying here either...No. Thank. You. They are good for a few things...having a bed to sleep in and a place to shower...all for a relatively cheap price. I was definitely happy to get back to my bed in Paris after this trip though.

Be sure to bring your ipod if you are going to stay at one because you never know who you will be sharing a room with. When we were in Cork at our hostel we had an old Irish man in our room and I'm pretty sure the building next to us could hear his snoring.

Happy Monday!

Lake Natoma Inn Wedding: Tony + Christine, Folsom, CA

2011-06-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

It is opening night of the show you have been waiting your entire life for. All of your friends and family will be there to watch. Hair? Check. Make-up? Check. Costumes? Check. The dress rehearsal you practiced the night before outside has to be moved inside due to rainy weather. No matter, the show must go on. The steps may be similar but this was no ordinary show, this was to be one of the happiest days of your life....your wedding.

Tony and Christine have been involved in many shows and stage productions both together and seperatly. The first time I encountered them they were doing a show together at the Sacramento State Theatre/Dance department. (Which was amazing to watch!) It is a huge part of their lives and will continue to be for years and years to come.

They were hitched on June 4 of this year and their wedding was such a treat to be at. Not only did Christine looked stunningly beautiful and Tony looking very dapper all suited up but they BROUGHT it on the dance floor at their reception. The guests loved it and I'm pretty sure everyone, including myself, had a blast. Here's a little glimpse into their wedding day...

Since it was raining, Christine kept her rain boots nearby just in case...

The reception site...

For table numbering, Tony did a time exposure on his camera and used a blue light to "draw" the number....very creative! That's also how he proposed :-)

Christine being led down the aisle by her father...

Mr. and Mrs. :-)

They do the dip flawlessly...

workin' it...

For their first dance, they started it off romantic and slow...

Then they broke it down into a choreographed number...

Bringin' it...

A cupcake cake for the guests to enjoy...

After the toasts Tony gave Christine a surprise dance number which was a big highlight of the night...

Father daughter...

Mom and son...

After the bouquet and garter, Christine made a quick change into a traditional vietnamese dress for the rest of the evening...

The biggest knife I've ever seen for the cake cutting :-)

Tony and Christine thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your celebration. Much love and appreciation,

Casual Portraits: Debbi, Sacramento, CA

2011-06-20T12:29:00.000-07:00

After tossing around ideas for locations, Debbi and I decided that it would be fitting to shoot at her home in Curtis Park. For what she was looking for, updated photos for her business, headshots, general photos, etc, her home turned out to be a great spot. Debbi was in town only for a short few days for a graduation and then had to head back down to So Cal so the timing of everything worked out perfectly. Elly Kubota was there to make sure Debbi's hair and make-up was in tip top shape!

Here were a few of my favorites...

Show and Tell 3.4

2011-06-13T09:33:00.000-07:00

It was a cloudy and breezy day in Paris when my cousin and I made our way down the Champs-Élysées towards our next sight-seeing destination. The Arc de Triomphe is one of the most famous monuments in Paris and is a lot bigger in person than from what I've seen in photos. Even this photo below doesn't do the Arc justice. It stands in the center of a round-a-bout of cars and the only way to get it to it (safely) is underground. It's a stunning piece of architecture, took years to build, and has a ton of history attached to it.

Read about what wiki has to say about it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_de_Triomphe

Happy Monday!

Children's Portraits: Alysia, 2 years, Davis, CA

2011-06-10T13:48:00.000-07:00

Another perk to being a photographer: Being able to watch the youngest of your clients grow. For instance, this next session I am about to share with you.

Her name is Alysia. I have been photographing her since she was 3 months old and I can't believe she's now turning 2!! She's talking, running around, and is even getting a little sass in her attitude. Hey, it's the 2's right?!

I had a fun and casual session with Alysia. We played, she showed me her stuffed animals and she had a blast just running around. I'm sure mama didn't have to work to hard to get her to sleep after that day! Here are some of my favorites:

To see more photos of Alysia through the years, feel free to click HERE.

Katie + Zack: Vizcaya Wedding, Sacramento, CA

2011-06-07T10:56:00.000-07:00

Looking for love in the workplace may be frowned upon in a lot of cases, but there are a lot of successful love stories that come from meeting someone special at work. Take this couple for example:

Zack first laid eyes on Katie while they were both working at the Old Spaghetti Factory. He was a busser and she was a server/cocktail waitress. Zack remembers seeing Katie at work for the first time and said he was stopped dead in his tracks by the sight of her. He tried everything in his power to try to grab/attract her attention towards him.

So he tried to win Katie over by asking if she needed help at work. (but only if she looked busy, of course). He continued to do little things at work for her until he finally gathered up enough courage to ask her out. And eventually their friendship blossomed into love. A perfect example of a love story found in the workplace.

Katie and Zack were married at the Vizcaya Pavilion in Sacramento, CA. It was an absolute perfect day for an even more perfect wedding. I LOVE that Katie put her love for bows and involved that into her special day...

A few getting ready...

This girl was having the best time playing with all the make-up...she cracked me up!

Showing a little sass after putting on the garder...

Ready to go...

Katie and Zack opted to do a first look. Here is Zack awaiting the tap from Katie.

Zack right before the ceremony...

This was a touching moment...

The Kiss..

Mr. and Mrs!

The fun Bridal Party...

Katie, you're gorgeous. No wonder Zack stopped dead in his tracks when he saw you.

workin' it...

The reception details were exquisite!

The happy couple for their first dance...

Ring shot!

And finally...

Much love and appreciation to you both,

Ryan

And big thanks to Kim of KimJMartin Photography for helping' a brotha out!

Show and Tell 3.3

2011-06-06T06:30:00.000-07:00

The Pont des Arts is a pedestrian bridge in Paris filled with pad-locks of love. Love padlocks are a custom by which couples/newlyweds/sweethearts affix padlocks to a public structure, in this case a bridge, to symbolize their love. Quite the interesting sight to see! And also a cool way to symbolize your love.

On a nice evening in Paris, this bridge also fills up with people. When my cousin Sara and I walked across at night, we saw people smoking hookah, drinking wine, singing, and playing music. Oh Paris, how I miss you.

San Jose Maternity Session: Megan

2011-05-25T17:28:00.000-07:00

Right before I left for Europe, I made my way down to San Jose to photograph Megan and Ian's maternity session. Megan is a cousin of mine and this was the first time I had seen her since she got pregnant. She looks absolutely radiant pregnant and I know we are all excited to meet her baby girl in just a few weeks.

Some of my favorites from the session...

Beautiful!

One of my favorites...

Show and Tell 3.2

2011-05-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

A sea of people gather to get a glimpse/photo of the Mona Lisa inside The Louvre in Paris, France.

Happy Monday!

Eurotrip Pt. 1

2011-05-19T16:23:00.000-07:00

Note: To help me remember my recent trip to Europe, so that I may look back at these photos one day and relive the experience, I've decided to blog about my visit. This post has nothing to do with weddings, engagements, portraits, etc. It's purely personal.

Day 1:

SFO->YYZ->CDG. That's airport code for San Francisco, to Toronto, to Paris (Charles de Gaulle). It was a long flight with very little sleep. (about 20 min). Thankfully, movies, editing, and reading, and music kept me busy during most of the flight. I was happy to land in Paris.

As I waited for Sara (my cousin) to pick me up, I stood at the airport and did some people watching. People coming, people going. This magazine rack caught my eye as well. Although I couldn't understand half of what the magazines were talking about because my French is horrible, I snapped a photo of the rack....

After meeting up with my cousin, we made our way back to her flat and I had my first experience riding the Metro. It was quite warm down in the tunnel...

After a nap and a little bit of exploring, it was time for dinner. Sara lives in the heart of Paris and right around the corner from her flat is a very popular street called "Rue du Montorgueil." There are bakeries, butchers, fruit stands, and tons of restaurants.

We ate at a place on Rue du Montorgueil called "Terroirs d'Uzes." I can't remember what I ordered but I was glad to be having my first (of a few) glasses of wine! Cheers!

Day 2:

My time in Paris was short. Mainly because we had to get ready to leave for Ireland the following morning. I was excited to hear that we were flying Ryan Air. Why? Because it has my name in big bold letters on the side of the plane! I wasn't excited to find out that their nick name was Ryan scAir. Apparently the flights are rough and people applaud once they land. Our flight wasn't too rough, but people did applaud once we landed in Dublin.

After settling into our Hostel, we were all hungry. All of us being Sara, myself, Nora, Shauneen, Adam, Evan, and Cristalle.

Lunch time. Yum. :-)

Mona Lisa, the restaurant we ate at, had clever signs posted all around. I thought this one was pretty funny. (sorry about the quality, taken with iphone)

First glimpse of Dublin walking down the main street...O'Connell street.

And the photo taking begins...

To be sure you know which way to look for cars, they painted it on the ground for you.

Trinity college is the main college in Dublin so we decided to check it out. Here we are walking into the main courtyard...

There were many bikes. Reminded me of Davis, CA. :-)

I thought this gate made a cool contrast to the building behind it.

Making sure people got their news...

Churches in Ireland are quite different from ones in the States. The architecture is amazing.

This is still part of the church pictured above...

A side street...

The Temple Bar area is a popular destination for tourists. It's also a hot spot for nightlife in Dublin as well. We couldn't believe how many people were out on a Tuesday night!

I often found myself looking at the reflections in Shauneen's glasses.

The Spire of Dublin...

No shortage of "creative" graffiti in Dublin...

Funny how the only opening in this fence has the only sign of growth above it.

Quite the bridge...

Dinner and Guinness was had at the Long Stone Pub...

Early morning in Dublin with no people around. Probably one of my favorite photos from the city.

My cousin Sara and I

More of Europe coming soon...

Headshots: Chad Ryan

2011-05-18T12:35:00.000-07:00

Chad contacted me and told me he was interested in getting a few casual photos for his business. We had fun walking around and chatting about what he does. You can check out his site at www.ChadRyan.com!

Here are a few favorites from the session:

Show and Tell 3.1

2011-05-10T10:37:00.000-07:00

As my European adventure comes to a close, I'm sitting in my cousins apartment enjoying the cool breeze going through the window, listening to some lovely music, and reminiscing about what we did these past few weeks...oh, and procrastinating on packing up all my clothes that have gathered in the corner. I've experienced many new places, new people, and a new appreciation for life.

I can't wait to post more photos. In the meantime I'm going to share 2 photos from my trip to the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland.

My dad has similar photo like this of him which makes me appreciate it even more. When I'm back I'll have to do a comparison. Thanks Sara for the shot.

Silvana is Preggo!

2011-05-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

Whether he knows it or not, baby Xander is about to be born into a family with 2 great parents, a nice big loving dog, and a whole-lotta love. Silvana is one of the sweetest people I've ever met and Ethan is going to make a great dad...and will probably pass along his love for the San Francisco Giants to Xander as well.

We had a really fun outdoor session filled with laughter, chatting about the little guy, and about life in general, and we even stopped to eat some In-N-Out along the way. Hey, preggo girl has got to eat for 2, right? You won't see me complaining...especially for an In-N-Out burger.

Here are a few of my favorites from the day...

Happy Monday!

Show and Tell 3.0

2011-05-02T07:38:00.000-07:00

I believe this photo I shot said "Love Guinness" or "Love to Love Guinness" on a window looking outside at the Guinness factory.

I am in Paris at the moment attempting to start packing for our trip to London tomorrow. I cannot believe how fast this trip is going by. Everyday has been filled with something to do and it seems like only yesterday we were just getting on a plane to head to Ireland. I have a little more than a week left in Europe and I just try to keep reminding myself to "LOVE" and enjoy every minute of it. If I have learned anything in these past couple of weeks, it's to live with passion and try to find love in everything you do...even if you hate it.

More photos from Europe coming soon...

Happy Monday!

Jamie + Chad: Capay Valley Engagement Session

2011-04-26T00:22:00.000-07:00

He is a country boy, she is a city girl at heart. Together the make a great match.

I met Jamie and Chad out at their house in the country. Literally. I took many country roads to arrive at my destination. I was greeted by their 2 friendly dogs, a happy Chad who asked me if the shirt he was wearing was fine, and the lovely Jamie who was doing some finishing touches on her outfit.

When we talked about location, they both already had a spot in mind. Chad has a buddy whose family owns quite a bit of land in the Capay Valley area. Turns out, it was a perfect spot to shoot! Quiet, amazing views, and wonderful landscape. We packed into Chad's 3 seater Ford pickup and took off! Not before we made a pit stop at the local store to grab some water and lotto tickets for us...no luck. But hey, gotta play to win right?!

Here are some of my favorites from the day...

Jamie, you are beautiful! You're going to make a stunning bride.

A quiet moment overlooking Capay Valley...

Jamie and Chad you were such a pleasure to work with...even if we did a little bit of off roaring. I could not stop laughing. Clients like you make me love what I do.

Can't wait for your fall themed wedding! :-)

Show and Tell 2.9

2011-04-25T10:08:00.001-07:00

This week's image was shot on the main street, O'Connel Street, in Dublin Ireland. Dublin is a great city! My cousin Sara and I saw the Guiness factory, the Jameson Whisky distillery, and did a lot of walking around. We took an all day bus tour to visit the Cliff's of Moher and other small towns throughout Ireland. And I took more pictures. Then we made our way down to Cork, Ireland for our last few days in Ireland. And I took more pictures. Besides the cliffs, it was probably one of my favorite spots!

I am back in Paris now downloading all of the photos I took and relaxing after a crazy weekend/week. I saw many sights in Ireland and I can't wait to share some of them.

Happy Monday!

Show and Tell 2.8

2011-04-18T05:00:00.000-07:00

Today is a very exciting and nerve-racking day. My destination? Paris, France.

I always get a little nervous before I fly. Not the bad nerves...like if you were awaiting results from your doctor. It is the good, exciting nerves when you know you are about to embark on a wonderful adventure to places you have never seen before.

Over the next couple of weeks I will be traveling around a few countries in Europe with my cousin Sara who lives in Paris. She is in grad school and thankfully will be on Spring Break during most of my stay. We will be tackling Paris, London, and a few cities in Ireland.

The photo that I am about to share with you is a photo I shot from 3 years ago in a town called Antibes off the coast of the Mediterranean sea. It is located in the south of France where I had steak hache fries (mmm my favorite), took many photos, and probably drank too much wine.

Tony + Christine Engagement: Sacramento, CA

2011-04-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

The first encounter I had with Tony and Christine was while I was working for the Sacramento State newspaper: The Hornet. I was assigned to photograph rehearsals of a show that they were working on which required very precise choreography, strength, and flexibility. I consider myself to have good rhythm and dance OK but Tony and Christine blew me away when I watched their routine.

Now, just about a year later, Tony and Christine have decided to tie the knot! They are both in their last semester of their undergrad college years (congrats!!) and are still very much involved in dance. The day of the shoot, Tony told me he had just flew in from Vegas that morning because he was choreographing a show. During the shoot, he even showed me a few dance moves. :-)

Christine is gorgeous. Tony's got the moves. These two have mad love for each other and it definitely shows. I had a great time photographing them and I can't wait for their wedding! Here are a few of my favorites from their engagement session.

We stumbled across this old Beamer to kick off the shoot...

Love Love LOVE this one...

Reflection...

I can almost literally hear them laughing in these next 3...

Being dancers, Tony could dip Christine flawlessly.

I had them walk down the middle of the street a ways, they stopped to kiss...

...and then threw in a dance move! Ah-Mazing.

Much love and appreciation to you both,

-R.G.

6 Month Old Peyton & Family

2011-04-12T07:30:00.000-07:00

I saw Peyton just a few weeks after she was born and now here she is 6 months later! Gosh, how time flies. She's got beautiful blue eyes just like her Mama and a smile like her Dad. (At least that's what I see more of). She was such a bundle of joy to photograph and I can't wait to watch her grow!

The piece of wood she is sitting on was holding up the wedding cake at her Mom and Dad's wedding.

Say What?

Such a content smile..

Couldn't help but laugh a little at this one...

Farm Cutie..

A few shots with mom and dad...

Another installment to my flying baby collection! Nice work Jeremy.

And finally, a peaceful moment.

:-)

Show and Tell 2.7

2011-04-11T09:19:00.001-07:00

Yes, this bride climbed onto the pier. IN HER DRESS.

This was not her wedding day, this was a day after shoot. If you are not familiar with day after shoots they are shoots where the bride and groom get dressed up in their wedding attire and take more photos! No worries about the wedding day, just fun photos. Like this one! Rose and Nathan were also there photographing this beautiful bride. :)

Happy Monday!

Peyton Preview

2011-04-11T09:16:00.000-07:00

More of this cute baby girl Peyton and her family coming soon...

Show and Tell 2.6

2011-03-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

Before this photo was taken, I had never experienced anything like what you see above except when I've been flying at 30,000 feet. You know, when you are flying above the clouds and all you can see is a layer of "white."

On the morning of this photo, the weather was overcast and cold. Once we hiked our way up out of the fog, all we could see was white for miles. What you would have seen (if the fog was not there) was the city of Vacaville, more foothills, and a busy highway 80. Instead, you saw a dirt path leading into endless fog.

Truly serene.

Myles & Family

2011-03-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

It was a little over a year ago when Myles came into this world and I was lucky enough to follow him with my camera from his very first moments. If you would like to see the birth story of Myles, click HERE. He is now standing on his own, says a few words, and from what I understand just recently started saying "Mama." Oh Jen, I bet you are so proud :)

For their session we decided on the Marina in San Francisco. Jen and Chris (mom and dad) used to live around this area and spent a lot of their time here. They had their engagement photos done around this spot and since Myles just turned 1 and they are coming up on their anniversary, it seemed like the perfect spot!

It was Myles' first interaction with sand. Before he realized what the heck it was he was standing on, we got a few good shots of him...

Dad and Son.

Myles!

Such a happy baby.

If the clients are willing, I think I may start a baby flying-trend. I love Jen's reaction to Myles being up in the air. :)

A close -up of his tiny toes.

They told me Myles loves to sit on Daddy's shoulders.

This little guy was a big help in getting Myles' attention. With all the real dogs walking on the beach there were a lot of distractions for him. I accidentally caught Jen throwing me the tiny stuffed animal but thought it would be a neat addition to the story.

Flashback to their engagement photos 10 years ago on the same beach!

A perfect representation of how Myles felt about his first encounter with sand.

End. :)

Show and Tell 2.5

2011-03-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

The image above was shot at f8 @ 1/200 with a flash to fill the subject.

It was taken for an ongoing project of mine and I absolutely loved the result! My friend Christopher is a PHEnomenal make-up artist and was a perfect subject for this project. Click *HERE* to check out more of his work! I'll leave you with a closer, yet creepy, image to gather a little more detail of the make-up:

Happy Monday!

Katie + Zack: Engagement

2011-03-15T11:34:00.001-07:00

I met Zack and Katie at the place where they met: The Old Spaghetti Factory. It was a few months after I started working there when I found out that Zack had proposed to Katie. When they asked me to attend their wedding not only was I stoked about physically being there, but that I was going to be their photographer as well. :)

Katie is: Beautiful, Stylish, and Sweet.

Zack is: Hard Working, Handsome, and Loving.

There are so many more adjectives I could list here to describe Katie and Zack but I will let the photos do the describing. Their engagement session was filled with fun, love, laughter, props, and even a little graffiti!

Below are some of my favorites...

Can't wait for 5-20-11! :)

Show and Tell 2.4

2011-03-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

Lucky for me I caught this all on camera...

...Not so lucky for this little guy thinking he was going to ride through this little puddle that ended up being much deeper than anticipated.

Happy Monday!

Brittney + Andrew: Engaged!

2011-03-10T08:55:00.000-08:00

I met Brittney during my days at Sac State in the photo department. I think it was Nigel Poor's Photo 141? I act like it was so long ago but it's really only been a year since I've graduated. Brittney, as well as many others, played a big role during my time there. She offered knowledge, asked questions, had wonderful ideas for her projects, and was an all around good person to share classes with.

I was absolutely thrilled she asked me to photograph her engagement to Andrew. And after 6 years of being together I was even more thrilled that they decided to tie the knot! We started at a nearby park by their house so we could include their very lovable chocolate lab, Chronus.

After we finished up at the park we took Chronus back home and then headed to Old Town Roseville. I have never been but it turned out to be a really cool spot and is also one of Brittney's favorite places to photograph.

Blurred in the background of this photo is a train yard where Brittney's uncle used to work. She told me when she was little, she and her mom used to sit at this spot and watch her uncle work.

Brittney just being Brittney :)

After the session we made our way back to their house. Andrew brews home-made beer and gave me a bottle of his home-made IPA. Yum! Congrats to you both...looking forward to the big day.

Show and Tell 2.3

2011-03-07T14:04:00.000-08:00

Like a real-life show and tell I'm going show off Baylee. She's my black lab who has been through a lot in her time. She's 10 years old now (and showing quite a bit of gray) so I wanted to dedicate this weeks show and tell to her.

Baylee in a nutshell:

- She is the runt of the litter.

- Pure bred.

- Is OBSESSED with tennis balls/any other types of balls. This can get a little annoying after awhile.

- Was hit by a car at 5 months old and has lived with no hip socket and a metal rod in her rear-right leg since the hit and run.

- Has entered in a frisbee-dog contest.

- Enjoys sleeping under our trailer when it's hot outside.

- Does tricks like shake, lay-down, speak, and sit.

- Has an inside bed and an outside bed.

- Enjoys treats.

Happy Monday!

Saturday Hike

2011-03-03T11:48:00.000-08:00

This post has nothing to do with weddings, portraits, or any other type of photography....just FUN. I often remind myself that this is why I love doing what I do...because I always have fun behind the camera. Whether it be shooting a wedding or someones portrait I'm photographing, I'll never get tired of doing what I love to do.

Last Saturday I made my way down to Dixon to watch my nephew's basketball game. It's funny to watch all those kids play because I was once that small and in their situation. Like most of the kids I watched, I probably always dribbled the basketball to the right-hand side of the court because that is what I was most comfortable with. I also remember being fond of shooting from outside rather than going in for a lay-up....haha good times. No need to hear anymore of my 10-year old basketball skills.

After the game my brother and sister-in-law dropped the kids off with my parents and made their way down to Bodega Bay for an anniversary weekend getaway....Happy Anniversary! My parents invited me to go with them and the boys on a small hike at Lagoon Valley. It was a cold, yet beautiful day outside so I brought my camera along to get some FUN shots and maybe a memory or two to look back on. Here are a few favorites from the hike:

A shadow shot is always necessary.

G-Pa, Owen, and Baylee (that black speck)

We kept an eye out for poison oak..notice the red around the edges.

Lagoon Valley.

I guess someone proposed to a girl named "KT" at the top of this tower! How neat.

A break at the top and drawing in dirt was a favorable activity for the boys.

Baylee, 10 years old and still going strong.

Lots of locks were keeping the gate locked.

Oh look, someone else thinks life is good too!

I told Jacob to jump....then G-Pa wanted his turn.

This was a steep decline.

But the boys didn't mind.

I love me some green!

And also some food at Fosters Freeze! Yum. While we were eating, my dad told me that Fosters Freeze was the first place he went to eat when he moved to Vacaville. I won't disclose the date though. ;)

The End!

Headshots

2011-03-02T13:44:00.001-08:00

Last week we updated Seth's headshots. Above are a few of my favorites!

Show and Tell 2.2

2011-02-28T10:09:00.000-08:00

While Rose and I made our way out onto the pier to get a few more shots of Jessica and Eric, this skateboarder just happened to be heading in the opposite direction. Right after I snapped this photo he threw down his skateboard and rode away.

1.2.3.4.5.6

2011-02-26T13:08:00.000-08:00

This week in iphone photos...

1. A lovely view of our State Capitol in Sacramento after leaving the gym.

2. My nephew plays on a team for Dixon Youth Basketball (DYB), so I took a photo at his game with my new instagram app. It cracks me up watching 10 year olds play b-ball. And to think I used to be one of them...

3. This photo I shouldn't post in case my GM sees, but on a slow night this week at the restaurant, we all made different smily faces out of post-it notes then posted it on the bulletin board. Coming up with different faces was a lot harder than I thought without using eyebrows. It humored us at the time.

4. ...Because I always have a photo of the sky. :)

5. My new favorite protein drink. Refreshing drink after the gym + takes care of my protein needs! Time to make some muscles.

6. Top unit on the left hand side set fire on I street in Midtown Sac. No particular reason I took this photo but the action of it all made me want to take a photo. Eventhough I was driving. Next week I'll try and not have a photo while I drive.

Rachel + Evan

2011-02-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

Rachel and Evan had a very intimate and informal gathering of close family and friends at her Aunt's house to celebrate their recent marriage. They eloped on Valentine's Day in San Diego, where Evan is stationed, and couldn't be more excited about getting hitched. It was an honor to spend this special occasion with them.

Here are some details from the day...

Red Velvet Cake and Chocolate Truffle Cake provided by Ettore's Bakery. My mouth is watering all over again...

A few photos of the newly hitched couple...

And then there was dancing...

and the traditional cake cutting...

Congratulations you two! Best wishes for what's in store for the future.

Mini Photo Booth: Big Hat Birthday Brunch

2011-02-22T08:25:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share some photos from a birthday party a few weeks ago...

Jon's birthday was a success and the "big hat" or "hat" themed brunch made it even more fun. Callista (pictured below) and I threw this "mini" photo booth together to document the whole theme. And before I use any more "quotations," please enjoy everyone's creative caps.

The birthday boy and Callista...

And finally, a group shot.

Show and Tell 2.1

2011-02-21T07:13:00.000-08:00

I call this one "Grandma Gone Wild"

Why? Because this is my 80 year old grandma riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Disneyland and I don't know many 80 year old grandma's that would be this wild. Holding on tight to my Dad's arm, she was screaming at the top of her lungs and having the time of her life. I've always been a fan of documenting roller coaster rides so for this one, I turned around in my seat and snapped about 5 or so frames of the two of them. This one came out to be my favorite. :)

1/640 @ f3.5

Focal Length: 18mm

ISO 800

$20...

2011-02-19T10:11:00.000-08:00

...is what I almost lost this week. And boy would I have been bumbed about that. That is at the top of this list for this week's iphone photos of the week.

Sacramento had some extremely odd weather going on this week. It was sunny, then cloudy, then rainy, then windy. It's like mother nature could not make up her mind.

1. This day happened to be a very windy and rainy one. I slipped this $20 into the pocket of my zip-up hoodie before heading to the grocery store and once I got there, it wasn't in my pocket anymore. So I scramble around the car looking for it hoping maybe it slipped out of my pocket while I was driving. Nothing. It must have slipped out of my pocket before I got into the car. So I head back to the house and while the rain and wind did not help, I was still eager to search for that $20. Soaking wet and almost ready to give up, a neighbor comes out of his house and says.."looking for something?" He had picked up the sopping wet $20. After I thanked him and thanked him for his honesty, I slapped the $20 on my window and took a photo. Good grief.

2. A photo of the odd weather I mentioned earlier. The sun rays in the distance were really neat looking.

3. This week I got a hat. Thank you Donny. I normally don't wear hats because I have such a big head but I really like this Diesel one. So I took a photo. Ha.

4. More pretty clouds. These are perfect for picture taking.

5. A shadow shot @ the Crocker Art Museum. :)

6. Vox Musica is a Sacramento-based women's vocal ensemble who performed at the Crocker Thursday night. A world premier piece at the concert complimented an exhibit that is featured at the Crocker- The Memoirs of Gottfried Helnwein. It was a great show!

Brittany is Preggo!

2011-02-18T06:42:00.000-08:00

I met Brittany while working at the restaurant and she instantly was one of my favorites. When I found out that she was pregnant I was thrilled for her! After all, my family had its newest edition just over a year ago and they come with such joy, innocence, and happiness. And messy diapers.

Britt is having a baby boy and they've decided on the name Beckham. When her mom approached me about doing maternity photos for her I couldn't resist. Brittany looks absolutely radiant pregnant and I can't wait to meet the little guy. Here are few of my favorites from the sesh.

Tyler

2011-02-15T12:58:00.000-08:00

Meet: Tyler.

He is a 10 year old boy full of life and recently just started taking piano lessons...

The funny thing? When I asked him to play me something from his lesson book, I noticed it was the same book that I had when I was first starting piano...which was awesome. I remember this song being one of my favorites from the book...

He showed me his neat room, including a creative mural spelling his name.

Then we went outside for some fun activities and more photo ops...including jumping.

Playing catch.

Some close-up's...

And more jumping.

He was also very fond of his Black Lab, Jack.

And although Tyler's dad Robb didn't want to be in any of the photos, Tyler and I finally talked him into it.

Show and Tell 2.0

2011-02-14T11:31:00.000-08:00

This week (Feb 18 to be exact) marks the very special 1 year anniversary of a boy who came into this world via surrogacy. I was extremely fortunate enough to witness and photograph the entire process. So for this week's show and tell, I am featuring a photo from his birth.

This photograph was taken minutes after Courtney (surrogate) gave birth. In these minutes, the hospital room was overwhelmed with joyful emotions. Tears, hugs, smiles, and all around happiness...All because of this very special baby. Along with this moment of Chris (dad) seeing his son for the first time, the moment that still gets me flustered whenever I think of it is when Jen (mom) hugged Courtney and thanked her for the most special gift a person could ever give. Trust me, it was so touching even P. Diddy would have shed a tear.

I've been lucky enough to watch Myles grow during his first year and I cannot wait to see him and share his 1 year photos. To see his whole birth story in photos click here. To see Myles at 6 months, click here.

Camera Settings: f5.6 @ 1/80 ISO 250

Since hospital rooms aren't the best lighting situations, I had a flash set up to bounce light off the ceiling.

Happy Valentine's Monday!

"Live Your Best Life"

2011-02-12T17:17:00.000-08:00

This week was full of fun, stress, and hard work. And the latest motto has been- "Live your best life" which is not always an easy thing to do. This week in iPhone photos:

1. Superbowl Party! Sorry Steeler fans...

2. Every Monday I watch Delaney. For lunch, we had one of her favorites, Mac-n-Cheese.

3. On Tuesday I helped Rose with a shoot for Milgard windows. Glass is one of the toughest products to photograph!

4. My friend was going to a disco-themed party and I helped make the shoes. I thought they were pretty rad.

5. My last goodbye to my downtown Sacramento apartment. Officially out of there and excited for a new start.

6. It was perfect light on downtown Sacramento so I had to snap a photo.

Show and Tell 1.9

2011-02-07T11:20:00.001-08:00

This was a fun and interesting shoot...

Many attempts to capture the milk in the midst of the splash were had before this shot was achieved. A lot of the Oreo's had seen better days as well. The topic was to shoot food and/or drink for this assignment and this is what I had in mind.

Oreo's + Milk = deliciousness. right?! Well, for me it is.

We tried dropping Oreo's in the glass but the splash wasn't quite right...the Oreo was not heavy enough. So, we tried a battery, a 9V to be exact, and it turned out to be the perfect weight to create the big splash I wanted. Overall, I was satisfied with the results.

Camera settings:

ISO: 125

f 7.1 @ 1/250

focal length: 240mm

iLife. myPhoto.

2011-02-04T01:53:00.000-08:00

How many photos do you have in your phone? For an average person I would have to guess anywhere from 100-500. A Non-average person, such as myself, will probably have thousands. Soooo where does all of the memory go? Mine goes to photos. I've gotten to the point where I couldn't take any more pictures because my phone would tell me I ran out of memory. No joke. And then the next step? Start to delete useless- "oh check out that awesome sunset!!" *Grab phone and take 10 photos* kind. No, seriously, I need and love my options to choose from. It's like I have a rare form of picture taking ADD but in a way, all of the photos I have in my phone are a direct reflection on my life for the past 2 years.

This is what last week looked like:

1. Mondays with Delaney is always a treat. She scored points with me by climbing into the box and being all cute-like.

2. This week I say goodbye to Downtown Sacramento living and moved elsewhere. I may be back...who knows. I hate moving.

3. Teaching CC, who works for Paragary Restaurant Group, some camera basics and techniques on how to work her new camera. Definitely check out one of their restaurants if you haven't. Nom. Nom. Nom.

4. The sun was setting and the traffic was brewing down J street. Lighting was perfect.

5. My nephew celebrated his 10th birthday!

6. Although I wish riding dirtbikes happened this week, this photo is one of the only ones I have of my dad and I in my phone. Side note: more photo ops with pops. It was also his birthday this week too. Happy Birthday Dad!

OK, This post has gotten entirely too long. The End.

Astro

2011-02-01T15:15:00.000-08:00

Dear Internet world,

I'd like to introduce you to my new friend.

Meet: Astro.

He's a 5 month old King Cavalier and if full of energy and love.

When taking photos of dogs, offering them treats always helps the process of getting them to sit still.

His cute and short puppy snout. Whiskers too.

This is his good side.

Talk about puppy dog eyes...

Getting kinda sleepy??

One final image...

Thanks to the Wilson family for helping me out. You guys have a wonderful addition to your family :)

Show and Tell 1.8

2011-01-31T07:30:00.001-08:00

This is the I street bridge in Sacramento, CA. I took various shots of Sacramento on Friday night and this turned out to be one of my favorites. I would have preferred the fog to be more dense than what it is here but sometimes you gotta be at the right place at the right time. If I had been at this spot an hour earlier, the fog would have been a little thicker. Don't be surprised if you see me out shooting the next foggy night we have. :)

ISO 600 f9 @ 6 seconds.

Happy Monday!

Delaney: 1 Year

2011-01-26T19:22:00.000-08:00

The past year has been quite the whirlwind for the Hennagin family. Courtney and Dave gained another daughter and Audrey gained a new baby sister. It seems like only yesterday Delaney was born and yet many poopy diapers later, here we are for her first birthday. Instead of just posting her 1 year images, I decided to take you back over the past year to progressively show how she's grown.

Here she is in the womb of her mommy...who looks beautiful btw...more photos from that session can be seen HERE.

Here she is just hours old...to see more photos from the day of her birth click HERE.

Hangin' out with Daddy 1 month after being born...see more 1 month photos of Delaney HERE.

6 Months old and getting more hair...see more 6 month photos HERE and HERE.

Finally, at a few days away from turning 1, she has started to walk but can only last a few steps. She says words like "hot" and "hi" and "dslfkhsdlgh" and "vbbdscxv." (you know, baby talk). Here are a few of my favorites from the sesh...

Happy 1st Birthday Delaney!

Delaney: 1 Year Preview

2011-01-25T11:06:00.000-08:00

Delaney is turning 1 and she has quite the variety of facial expressions...her newest one being the angry brows. (pictured left) Check back tomorrow for the full blog post. :)

Show and Tell 1.7

2011-01-24T11:38:00.001-08:00

Taken up at the Marin headlands, here is a view of San Francisco you may have not seen before.

Happy Monday!

Six Flags Magic Mountain: The Viper

2011-01-18T17:12:00.000-08:00

This has got to be one of the loopiest roller coaster I have ever been on. Naturally, I recorded the whole thing. I was lucky enough that I didn't drop my phone.

Warning: by watching this you may get dizzy. Oh, and sorry in advance for the screams.

.

Show and Tell 1.6

2011-01-11T11:45:00.000-08:00

Taken while walking down the very narrow streets of St. Paul, France, this cat found a perfect spot in the window to discreetly people watch.

1/200 @ f5 ISO 640

Backpacking: Part 2

2011-01-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

A couple months ago I posted photos from a backpacking trip I went on in the desolation wilderness up in Lake Tahoe. I talked about the drive up, the hike in, and then posted some fun photos of the campsite. You can view the blog post HERE.

After we spent our first night near Susie Lake, we got up in the morning, made a good breakfast (from the eggs that made it all the way in) and got ready for our hike up Jacks Peak. It was a beautiful day for a hike. There was a slight breeze in the air so that if it got too hot the fresh mountain wind would cool you down. And of course, the sights were spectacular.

Towards the start of our hike...I thought this rock looked like a face.

A couple hundred feet up from our campsite. That is Susie Lake.

Shadow pics are always a must.

I did nothing to this picture in post processing. I really enjoyed the natural contrast of the plain rock and the colorful shrubbery.

There were some interesting flowers along the way yo wouldn't normally see in the valley.

Dad and Skip looking up at our destination...

Bristlecone Pine trees are one of my favorite kinds of trees..

So I played around with the photo...

The steep climb. That's Pyramid Peak in the background. We conquered that mountain a few years back.

Dave (red shirt) and Skip (white shirt) almost to the top! That's Susie Lake in the background.

A nice view of Pyramid Peak..

Finally, a group photo at the top!

Here are a couple videos I wanted to share with you all.

This first one is of us coming down the mountain. The rock was so loose that you almost had to slide down...

This next video is of our home for the 3 days we were up there...narration provided by Dave.

Show and Tell 1.5

2011-01-05T12:08:00.000-08:00

No need for a lot of "telling," this was shot from the top of the Sears Tower facing the John Hancock building. I'm sure Chicago doesn't look this warm and sunny now!
f8 @ 1/1000 ISO 125
To see more images from Chicago click here

Alysia

2011-01-04T14:10:00.000-08:00

A couple weeks ago I got the pleasure to hang out with Alysia again after a few months. I've photographed her since she was 3 months old and every time I see her she has more of a personality than the last. She laughs more, gets around faster, and has an increasingly growing vocabulary.

I went over to their house to just hang out, play with her, and photograph her in her environment. It wasn't a very nice day outside so we were limited to the indoors but that didn't stop her from being her!

She's such a sweetie. To see a previous session with Alysia, click HERE.

Here she is at 3 Months-

Here she is today...

She likes being silly...

And loves being tickled by her mommy...

And reading her favorite book...

And who could resist those big brown eyes??

Can't wait to see how much you've grown in a few months! :)

Show and Tell 1.4

2011-01-03T14:04:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I saw the movie True Grit (with Matt Damon and Jeff Bridges) and really enjoyed the drama and funny one-liners from the characters. The western theme of the movie reminded me a lot of this photo above. From the dirt roads, to the ranger station, to the small gold-mining-town of the 1800's all made it feel like this scene was taken out of that movie. It was also taken on the same day "Two-Face" was shot from the graveyard and is a more panoramic view of Bodie State Park.

Show and Tell 1.3

2010-12-30T14:57:00.000-08:00

This path is a path that I will probably only walk once in my entire life. Why? One, It’s a tiny town in France that I will most likely never visit again. And Two, it was a completely unintentional walk. But it left me with a memory that I will never forget.

During my first visit to France, my cousin and I wanted to do a bit of exploring around the area she lived in. We couldn’t travel too far because she had class in the morning, so we made a day trip to Cassis. Our plan was to take a train to the town and eat at a good restaurant by the water. While we followed through with all of our objectives, we came across a little problem.

And this is where the photo comes into play.

The distance from the train station to the restaurant by the water was separated by about 4 miles of these lined trees and a few residential neighborhoods. It rained on and off during our trek to the water and while we felt miserable at the time we shared lots of laughs about it and wouldn’t of had it any other way. Love you cousin and looking forward to more adventures soon. :)

f4.2 at 1/250

Post Christmas Wrap Up

2010-12-29T08:58:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve was filled with seeing family, opening gifts, and my favorite part of it all, food. I will admit that I tore up the green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and ham. No lie. Why does this time of year always make me want to eat non stop?? My body is going to hate me at the gym next week.

Christmas day came early this year. My mom, dad and I were up at 5am to hit the road. Destination: Rogue River, Oregon to visit grandma. Grandma’s house is in a valley surrounded by mountains so naturally, there was no phone service. When I asked if she had internet my parents told me had dial up. DIAL UP??? How was I going to survive? It actually wasn’t all that bad...Actually kind of a nice break. Whenever I had the kick to be on my phone, the game angry birds kept me busy. I didn’t want to jump on the bandwagon at first but now I tell myself, why didn’t I download this game earlier? I’m addicted.

Christmas day dinner was held at my aunt’s house and was filled with more family, friends, music, phone service (hehe), and again food. mmmm. I was extremely happy to find out that turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes, and gravy were on the menu. Again, because it is this time of year, I tore it all up. Fred, a friend of my aunt’s and an awesome violin player, brought his instrument along with him and played some live music for all of us after dinner. We sat around and enjoyed each others company until everyone felt tired, fat, and happy...including myself.
Another reason why I love this time of year is that I get to make New Years resolutions. I admit it’s hard to stick with them and I haven’t stuck to a few I have made in the past but this years will be more realistic. (like going to the gym at least 3x a week rather than 6). I have a few on my mind already and I can’t wait for a fresh start.

I hope that everyone had a great holiday and here’s to a great start in the New Year...From my family, to yours.

The Rosenthal Family

2010-12-18T12:37:00.000-08:00

Jeff, Darla, and Jake are one busy family but took the time out of their busy schedules to invite me over to their home to meet and talk about photos. From the moment I walked into their home I felt welcomed; Not just by them, but by their dogs too. :)

For their session we hit up a big open space so that their dogs wouldn't get distracted easily or feel too cramped. We were not too sure about the weather that day either. Jeff actually called me a few hours before we were scheduled to start because he was worried about the cloud cover. I was worried also but as long as it wasn't raining, we would be fine; cloud cover makes for pretty even lighting. Fortunately for us, the sun ended up coming out and the session was a success.

Here are a few of my fav's...

Katy + Dave: San Diego, CA

2010-12-14T17:16:00.000-08:00

I have always told myself that before I move in with someone that I am in a relationship with, that I need to have a good feeling about the future between us, i.e. most likely be with them for life. My sister did it and so did my brother with their spouses. With Katy and Dave, it worked out the opposite way which I think is kind of cool; They were roommates before they fell in love. I think the best part of that situation was that they got to know each others living habits from the get-go so there were no surprises when they would have decided to live together.

For their San Diego "anytime" session, we wandered through downtown La Jolla and then made our way to the nearby beach. It was a little foggy in the morning but then cleared up to be a gorgeous day. I was not at all sad that I was missing the rain up in Nor Cal. Not one bit. :)

Here are a few of my favorites from their session...

Duncan Family

2010-12-13T15:38:00.000-08:00

Ryan, the Dad to this adorable family, has a new found interest in photography and contacted me several months ago asking if I wanted to share some of my knowledge. So, we strolled around downtown Sacramento for a 1 on 1 lesson in the basics of photography.

This time around, he was in front of the camera for his family photos and I got to meet the rest of the family too! Here are a few of my favorites from the session.

A couple nice family shots..

Meet: Justin.

Mommy & Wyatt

Aunt Coty came along too!

Some of Wyatt

The more I look at the this smile, the more I love it.

Dad about to push Justin on the swing...

Thanks for a great session guys! I had a lot of fun and hope you guys did too. :)

Show and Tell 1.2

2010-12-03T18:27:00.001-08:00

A fun bridal party shot down in Dana Point, CA. Guys are posing in a masculine way while the girls are posing in a more feminine way. I knew I wanted a silhouette from the get-go. To do this I had to get down low on the side of the grassy hill so that the sky would make for a good plain backdrop. These guys rocked it!

To see what sparked my interest in "show and tell," read the post HERE.

Pablo

2010-12-03T10:45:00.000-08:00

When I first met baby Pablo, he had the biggest grin on his face. What baby wouldn't? He's got amazing parents and a fabulous place to live. It was a crisp but cool morning in Berkeley and despite taking breaks to warm up his tiny hands, Pablo was all smiles. :) Here are a few of my favorites from his session...

Big brown eyes...

We also got a few family shots...

The Sullivan Family: 2010

2010-11-29T15:50:00.000-08:00

It was a brisk morning for the Sullivan family this year. Jackets and sweatshirts were off for the photos and on in between. Hey, modeling is a tough job right? ;)

They did a great job and we had a lot of fun together! Here are some of my favorites from the sesh.

Kira + Jason: Vacaville, CA

2010-11-26T13:02:00.000-08:00

Kira and Jason have been together for quite awhile now and thought they should have some photos done. I know Kira from High School--(hello academy!) And we've stayed in touch via facebook ever since. This was my first time meeting Jason and I can tell these two make each other happy. :)

We went out to Lagoon Valley in Vacaville for their session and surprisingly enough, it was my first time shooting there! Given all the times I have been. It's a great place to run if you are the kind of person who enjoys running outdoors. Sometimes I can't stand the treadmill at the gym. Here, you have a great view of the hills and the lake that also make for a near perfect location!

Here are a few of my fav's

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T10:59:00.000-08:00

Today we all stuff our faces and become helpless couch potatoes. I can't wait. Nothing beats cooking up a great Thanksgiving feast, eating it, spending time with the family and watching football. As I prepare, I am going over and over in my head all the things and people I am thankful for.

Family, for always being there for me and for their understanding. I would be no where without them. My friends for making me laugh, having the freedom to be silly, for being there when I need advice, and for keeping it real.

Graduating from college!! I am thankful for all of the amazing people I met during my 4 (ok 5) years there. For the counselor that stuck out from the rest. For the person who said hi on my first day of college, for the professors who were hard on me, (and for the ones who were easy :) for the study groups, for the experience, and for the education.

Getting to experience some place new--Chicago is a great city and I cannot wait to visit again...in the summer. Paris, London, Ireland, and Scotland 2011 here we come!!

I am thankful for my iPhone for giving me meaning every day. What would I do without you? I don't think I can wake up and live a normal life without all the useless black-hole of apps. Thanks for sucking all the life out of me. Back to harvesting my watermelons before Papa Smurf gets mad.

For the internet for allowing me to connect with people so easily and for all of the information it provides. Thank you google. hah.

For art. It doesn't matter if I personally like a piece of art or not. I'm just thankful that people create it. And when I do like it, it sure is nice to look at. Actually, art is worth looking at even if I don't like it.

For life and what the future holds.

I attached this photo because it pretty much sums up what the weather was like this morning:

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Ruger: The Foster Dog Turned Family Member

2010-11-23T17:11:00.000-08:00

Christmas is coming and if you are thinking about getting a cat or dog for someone special this year think about adopting a pet. There are tons of animals looking for welcoming homes like this dog I am about to show you. His name is Ruger and THIS family was originally going to foster the dog until it had a permanent home, but ended up finding him to be a perfect fit for their family. I got to spend time with Ruger and he was a very caring and playful dog.

If you are around the Dixon, CA area check out your local listings at Aggie Animal Clinic. If you are not around that area your local Petco will probably have adoptions or you can check out Pet Finder.

The Tomelloso Family, Dixon, CA

2010-11-23T09:27:00.001-08:00

Could this family get any cuter? I've known Hannah, the mother of these two kids, literally for almost my entire life. I even asked her to be one of my subjects back in high school when I first started photography. I'm laughing to myself just thinking about those photos...haha that would be a fun blog post. She now has 2 adorable kids, a husband that is fit just for her, and it was an absolute pleasure getting to spend time with them. Here are a few of my favorites...

The kids to start out..

Then a couple family shots...and the dog too!

And finally, the couple...

Ryan Greenleaf Photography Blog

Tony and Christine: Engagement Photography, Sacramento, CA --with behind the scenes VIDEO!

Thank You Cards

Marianna and Mike: Engagement Photography, Folsom, CA

Jamie and Chad's Wedding @ The Historic Yolanda Ranch, Woodland, Ca

Sarah and Dan's Wedding, Taber Ranch, Capay, CA

Murieta Maternity Session: Krystal

James: Sacramento Senior Portraits

Happy Hour @ Paragary's Bar and Oven, Sacramento, CA

Sarah and Dan: Engagement Photography, Woodland, CA

Day After Session: Tony + Christine. Park Winters, Winters, CA

Show and Tell 3.6: July 4th and Mom's Birthday

San Jose Newborn Baby Portraits: Emme

Show and Tell 3.5

Lake Natoma Inn Wedding: Tony + Christine, Folsom, CA

Casual Portraits: Debbi, Sacramento, CA

Show and Tell 3.4

Children's Portraits: Alysia, 2 years, Davis, CA

Katie + Zack: Vizcaya Wedding, Sacramento, CA

Show and Tell 3.3

San Jose Maternity Session: Megan

Show and Tell 3.2

Eurotrip Pt. 1

Headshots: Chad Ryan

Show and Tell 3.1

Silvana is Preggo!

Show and Tell 3.0

Jamie + Chad: Capay Valley Engagement Session

Show and Tell 2.9

Show and Tell 2.8

Tony + Christine Engagement: Sacramento, CA

6 Month Old Peyton & Family

Show and Tell 2.7

Peyton Preview

Show and Tell 2.6

Myles & Family

Show and Tell 2.5

Katie + Zack: Engagement

Show and Tell 2.4

Brittney + Andrew: Engaged!

Show and Tell 2.3

Saturday Hike

Headshots

Show and Tell 2.2

1.2.3.4.5.6

Rachel + Evan

Mini Photo Booth: Big Hat Birthday Brunch

Show and Tell 2.1

$20...

Brittany is Preggo!

Tyler

Show and Tell 2.0

"Live Your Best Life"

Show and Tell 1.9

iLife. myPhoto.

Astro

Show and Tell 1.8

Delaney: 1 Year

Delaney: 1 Year Preview

Show and Tell 1.7

Six Flags Magic Mountain: The Viper

Show and Tell 1.6

Backpacking: Part 2

Show and Tell 1.5

No need for a lot of "telling," this was shot from the top of the Sears Tower facing the John Hancock building. I'm sure Chicago doesn't look this warm and sunny now!f8 @ 1/1000 ISO 125To see more images from Chicago click here

Alysia

Show and Tell 1.4

Show and Tell 1.3

Post Christmas Wrap Up

The Rosenthal Family

Katy + Dave: San Diego, CA

Duncan Family

Show and Tell 1.2

Pablo

The Sullivan Family: 2010

Kira + Jason: Vacaville, CA

Happy Thanksgiving

Ruger: The Foster Dog Turned Family Member

The Tomelloso Family, Dixon, CA

No need for a lot of "telling," this was shot from the top of the Sears Tower facing the John Hancock building. I'm sure Chicago doesn't look this warm and sunny now!
f8 @ 1/1000 ISO 125
To see more images from Chicago click here