Early Spring - Flowers and Birds, Petaluma, California

A few weeks ago, after photographing Lennon and Jessie, I headed over to hang out with my mom and watch the birds in their front yard. This was mid February, and very overcast and chilly. Blossoms were just peeking through the earth and beginning to open up on plants, and I had fun photographing the bright spots of color against the cool, wintry surroundings.

Here's winter holly next to early spring blossoms:



And another Holly, the dog - tracking who knows what:



I love that my parents add random, interesting details throughout their garden, and it's definitely inspired my vision of what I'd like to see in our own (new) garden:









Though I don't think it's fair for Devon and I to lure birds to our yard with treats like seed and (yuck) suet - it's okay for my parents because they don't have a fat cat waiting to stalk the birds! Although, Gracie's not a great hunter, and typically only catches flies to let them go a second later.



I'm not a big winter fan - but maybe once it's almost over, I can appreciate the more subtle colors and beauty.








Okay, now... I didn't have my long lens with me, so these bird shots aren't the most up close ones you'll ever see. (Also, it was freezing and I got bored of trying to wait for the birds to come back with me outside - guess I'm not a very good bird watcher!) But there are some fabulous birds in these shots, so spy what you can:









The quail! I love quail - California's state bird - and my parents are fortunate to have a huge quail family (is it a brood?) running around their yard all of the time. I think it's a bit early yet to see the tiny, baby quail puffballs chasing their parents (though there were definitely some quail "teenagers" to see). When they come across the line, they are careful, paranoid, determined to get to the seed and get (more than) their fair share. The daddy quails lead the way with their bobbly lure/ feather thing, followed by the more plain females and their children. Then, at any kind of sound or disturbance, they all dash back off to their hidden nests like a shot, with a unique chirpy little quail sound. It is so fun to watch! I am a nerd!





How many birds do you see in this shot? I think I count 11, but it's tough to tell - their plumage blends in so well with the wintertime foliage.



This hummingbird is still for a rare moment, but it's actually not THAT rare - because, again, he is a little pig, and comes back for his sugar water over and over again. He's actually kind of pushy and scary, and will attack another bird if they get in the way of his snack. I guess leave it up to my parents - willful overfeeders of wildlife - to make a hummingbird lazy?!



Anyway, we had fun watching in the garden, and I'm excited to see who has been born and come out of hiding now that it's officially spring, and the weather is lovely! I also want to give a shout out to my mom, whose birthday is today (along with the birth of Springtime - what a nice day to be born!). Happy Birthday, mom/ Joelle! : )

Alyssa and Brian, Film Shots and Canvas, Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery

When I photographed Alyssa and Brian's engagement session, we also shot a few frames of film, and I just got the results back! The black and whites were taken on my vintage 4x5" view camera, and the color shots with my 120 Yashica. So fun!







These are film processes that can added to any portrait or wedding package, and they really add a unique and wonderful sensibility to any shoot. I do love, and sometimes miss, shooting with film, but generally the pros don't outweigh the cons, so digital works best for me. Occasionally, though, I love to bust out some rolls of Fuji color negative film, and Ilford HP5 black and white, and play around.

I also had a Photo Canvas sample made with one of my favorite shots from their shoot. This is a new product for me, what do you think?

Erica and Chris on Style Me Pretty

Another great wedding from last fall is up on Style Me Pretty's Little Black Book blog! I'm thrilled about this, not only because the wedding was gorgeous and in one of my absolutely favorite venues of 2008, but because Eddye of SMP wrote some of the nicest things I've ever seen about my work:

"Jessamyn’s clients encompass the whole spectrum of lovers … worldwide. In her photos , you won’t just see the love between two people. You will see the realness of the day … the respect, the awe, the wonder, the sheer joy … an amazing sense of real life. An unpretentious sincerity that represents the whole of the occasion. Not just images of dear friends and beloved family, but the innate sense of peace surrounding them all. Maybe it’s Jessamyn. Maybe it’s her gift to them for this one, very special day in their lives."

Oh! I am grinning and blushing all at once :)



The post also links to the other 3 weddings I've had up on Style Me Pretty, and calls Alex and Rich's wedding one of their all-time favorite posts!

I don't know where I would be without the wonderful ladies of SMP and their support, but I DO know that I would miss out on looking at their beautiful posts every single morning (um, I have to... it's for work!).

Here's the second part of the post on the SMP blog.

I have another great engagement shoot coming up on the blog soon!

Alyssa and Brian's Engagement Session, Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery

Today's featured shoot is extra special to me, as it's my sister-in-law (Devon's sister, Alyssa) and her fiance (Brian)'s engagement session. I am so happy for these two! Besides being family, they are some of our closest friends, and I just love them so. Plus, they're cute as heck, with shades of goth/ horror film/ steampunk/ Victorian times... etc. The wedding is going to be so rad!

We had talked about doing the shoot in a variety of places, but when it came time to do it, everyone was tired, it was supposed to rain, and the easiest idea ended up being the loveliest: a beautiful, old cemetery close to their house. The light was gorgeous - that late winter, late afternoon light trickling through 100 year old oak trees - and the cemetery is filled with green plant life and cracked and faded tombstones, railings, etc. I used to walk through it when we lived closer, but had never done a shoot there, so this was perfect. I love graveyards!



Cute glasses portrait:



I love these!





Alyssa is so pretty and photogenic.



And, oh, there was so much smooching going on! I didn't even have to ask them to kiss for the camera, they were all over it. One of the (many) things I love about my husband and his family, is that they are not afraid to show how much they love you! These guys are huggers... and it has definitely rubbed off on me in great ways :)



This shot makes me laugh:

















Brian is a photographer himself - mostly crime scene-inspired horror shoots - and Alyssa collaborates with him as makeup artist, prop mistress, stylist, etc. I think Brian prefers to be behind the camera, but he did a great job and was very patient with me. He even helped carry my gear, and I got these shots of him that I just love:





A few more location-specific crypt shots that make me think of a dramatic old movie:



Scary!



And, romantic:



There is something about an umbrella that I just love. I think it has to do with the home-family-protection metaphor. Funny, because I hardly ever remember to use one when it's raining!







I love this shot because it reminds me of photos of Alyssa as a little girl... caught off guard and lost in her own world, but still very cute. And when I look at photos of her as a little girl, I think of what a little girl might look like if Devon and I ever have one. And I get all mushy and lovey inside! :)





Thank you thank you for being so fun and adorable!