Pet Session at Ocean Beach and GGP

This past Sunday I spent a few hours with a sweet pooch named Monkey. He was a shelter dog lovingly adopted by shelter volunteer and mommy of two cats, Pam. He's a brown and white mix between a pit bull and a Staffordshire bull terrier with brown patches around his big brown eyes.



Pam used to live right by Ocean Beach so it was a very logical place for us to meet to photograph Monkey (even though he doesn't care much for the water).





He's just a sweetheart with little ears that flap in the wind. And he was so funny – Monkey would dart off, then coming running back over to us and swoop right past the camera as I would crouch down to get him.



He's a really curious dog and he'll go over to shyly investigate other dogs or kids but he always makes sure to stay close to mom.




We went into Golden Gate Park near the Dutch windmills to capture him against a green backdrop and to give him another environment to explore.



And I loved all of his cute little puppy parts. Check out his furrowed brow – those wrinkles are so cute!



I had a great time with Pam and Monkey. Thanks so much, you two!

The average dog has one request to all humankind. Love me.
Helen Exley

p.s. Pam introduced me to Virtual Pet Adoptions, a website connecting people with animal shelters and rescue organizations in the Bay Area for a very thorough offering of pets that would love to be given a great home.



p.p.s. If anyone knows of a shelter or rescue organization needing great photographs (completely without charge) of their shelter pets for websites and marketing purposes, please connect me with them!

According to Match.com*, "members with photos get up to 15 times more attention than those without one" and I can only imagine it applies to cat and dog profiles as well.


*I also photograph people for online dating sites and I definitely can't knock Match.com. I found my honey on there 3 years ago, we moved across the country together, and we're still going strong. And the picture thing is so true. When looking through all those profiles, the pictureless ones aren't worth the time and a great picture can get you the attention you deserve.

Catholic Wedding in Napa with Lisa Leigh

I am still experimenting on my blog with different image treatments and this was the perfect event to test them out – let me know what you think!

A week or so ago, I shot Elizabeth and Dave's beautiful wedding with Lisa Leigh Photography up in wine country.

We started at this great little house they had rented out right around the corner from St. Helena Catholic Church. This place must have come straight from the pages of Country Living because it was just adorable.

There were so many pictures I loved from this wedding, so I've tried to keep it as brief as possible but really, the dresses, the venue, the bride, the cake… Everything was beautiful!

Here is Elizabeth in the getting ready stages. All of the delicate details were just perfect and she had the most beautiful skin and great big, bright eyes. Despite the spectacular event, Elizabeth is no prima donna. She was incredibly down to earth and very laid back.







The bridesmaids wore pink with fuchsia and pink tones in their flowers while Elizabeth's bouquet was all whites and creams with gardenias making it smell just heavenly. Her dress is Reem Acra's aptly titled "Beautiful". It was a stunning flowy empire-waisted sheath dress with delicate beading and stitching all over.



St. Helena Catholic Church seemed just the right size. And it had a balcony, which I always love when shooting weddings. It best part was the priest who presided over the ceremony. There was a last minute switch and the couple had a Jamaican priest doing his fourth wedding. His accent was great and made the whole affair very light and fun.







After the ceremony, the bridal party went back to the house to relax until the reception. Elizabeth had a second dress since the delivery of the first kept being pushed back close to the wedding date. This dress was a fun Oscar de la Renta with floral embroidery that was mimicked on their wedding cake.



We arrived at the stunning Calistoga Ranch resort. While the reception area was being prepared, the guests had a cocktail hour on the grass next to the private lake. We took pictures of Elizabeth and Dave on the grounds and in their suite which featured a very cool outdoor shower that they wanted to feature in their photos.





The reception was held in the resort's wine cave and it looked extraordinary.







I snuck a few shots of the couple before they made their grand entrance to go right into their first dance. Being the low key couple that they are, they shoes their first song that day, the very classy "At Last" by Etta James.



I must say that my absolute favorite pictures came from the vineyard, which we wrangled our way into right after sunset.









And my favorite picture of the entire day…



Thanks, Elizabeth and Dave. Your wedding day was beautiful and I feel so fortunate to have met both of you. Congratulations!

Oh, yeah when you smile, you smile
Oh, and then the spell was cast
And here we are in heaven
For you are mine
At last

Etta James, At Last

I Heart San Francisco

Sometimes I get bummed about living in San Francisco. The parking is atrocious; I drive a stick shift and live on a hill and I can't even count how many times I've stalled out. The cable car runs right outside my window til 1am every night. And I live in an apartment the size of a shoebox (and that's being generous).

But… I really do love this city. I live near the top of the hill and the view from my rooftop is amazing – I can see all around – Alcatraz, the Bay Bridge, SOMA… And how cool is it to say that the cable car goes right past my house!? And my apartment is small but it has hardwood floors, bay windows, really cool old-timey elevators, and that view… I look out my window to the east and see the Transamerica building and Grace Cathedral to the west. I can see Coit Tower and a sliver of the bay to the North.

And sometimes the city surprises me like it did last week with one of the most stunning sunsets I've ever seen. As I was busily working away, I see these cotton candy pinks and purples out of the corner of my eye. I turned and saw the most spectacular colors and since I'm a photographer, I couldn't let these moments go without some digital proof…

to the east


And then I had to go to my roof and get the whole scene! Too bad my tripod was in the trunk of my car (blocks away).



to the west (The Mark Hopkins on the left, Grace Cathedral and the Fairmont on the right)


Over the bay (Angel Island, Alcatraz, Coit Tower)


The Fairmont


The view to the south towards SOMA


The city itself is incredible too. I've never lived anywhere like it. (And I've lived in Missoula, MT, Raleigh, NC, Greensboro, NC, Main Line, PA, Springfield, VA, Tucson, AZ, Coppell, TX…)

Where else but San Francisco will you see an annual 12K race featuring fabulously costumed and utterly naked hordes of people. Of course I'm talking about Bay to Breakers. I have been the past two years and it's such a fun scene to watch and be a part of.





Rich and I walked the last few hours of it from Ocean Beach to the end of the party so that we could go against the race and see more of the spectacle. Not surprisingly, the end of the "race" tends to get a bit sloppy as the crowds stop marching forward and just continue drinking in the streets of the panhandle. A really crazy scene compared to what I saw last year as I walked with the crowd from very early in the race.

There are those who go all out with elaborate, creative, and just plain fun costumes…





And there are those who are there mostly for the partying and drinking…



And then there are those who are there for both…



It's simply a scene unlike any other.



We got to the end where the police were slowly moving people along so that the street cleaners could tackle the solo cups and trash left behind.



So thank you, San Francisco, for being such an amazing place for a photographer such as myself. There's more to see every day.

“There may not be a Heaven, but there is a San Francisco” Ashleigh Brilliant

Engagement Session at China Beach and Lower Pac Heights

Allow me to introduce… Megan and Gardiner… [ applause ]

These two are just cute as a button and we had so much fun the other week shooting their engagement session. We met up in their neighborhood, which is literally right up the street from where I live (granted, California St. is very long, but still). I had scoped it out the day before and found some fabulous spots just around the corner.



I’ve said it before, but San Francisco has some of the best backgrounds. You can have whatever you want here and I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by so many beautiful options.



Just check out some doorways and interesting elements we found along the way. I love the architecture here and Megan and Gardiner made everything click.




I mean, hello, can you get any more beautiful?!



They were playful and made such great models.





After wandering around for about an hour we headed off to China Beach. I had checked it out the day before but had honestly never been there before that. I’ve done so many sessions at Baker Beach but this was a first for it’s smaller and more private little sister.



This location was especially necessary because this was the spot for their first date and where Gardiner proposed to Megan. This picnic table was the place that started it all.



We took a stroll along the beach and played in the waves and, despite the wind, it was a beautiful day. And I absolutely love Megan – not only is she absolutely sweet as can be, but she’s just my height so I totally get it when you need to stand on your toes to kiss.





I can’t wait to shoot their wedding at Viansa winery in September. They are going to be sooo much fun.



Thanks, guys! See you in just a few months!

Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own. ~Robert Heinlein

Lindsay Docherty for Lisa Leigh Photography

Change is Good.

There's an exciting change on the horizon for Lindsay Docherty Photography. I'm practically squeaking with excitement but I won't tell just yet. Stay tuned...

O, swear not by the moon, the fickle moon, the inconstant moon, that monthly changes in her circle orb, Lest that thy love prove likewise variable. William Shakespeare

Engagement Sessions at Tilden Park with Julie Cheshire

I spent part of Friday with Julie of Julie Cheshire Photography at Tilden Park in Berkeley. I have no idea how big the place is but it seems like there are new paths at every turn.

I was there with Julie in March for some engagement pictures of Anjuli and Mark. Anjuli was adorable in her cute cotton dress but I felt so bad for her because it was sooo chilly that morning. She took it like a champ (I would have been a big baby).



And since textures are the hot new thing in photography…









Aren't they a cute couple? They were so sweet and I have no doubt that their wedding will be beautiful.

And here are Amelia and Ted! We spent a few hours with them on Friday and had such a fun time. Amelia is a little goofy and they were both making faces the whole time. It was a much warmer day and the weather was just perfect for the session.





This is their serious and lovey side, but just you wait…



We found some really cool trees that we just had to use. The bark was completely smooth and all those spindly branches made for a really neat look.



After getting kicked out of the gardens, we drove to a grove of eucalyptus trees and the smell was just intoxicating. The light coming through those huge trees was spectacular and I was kicking myself for not bringing my wide angle lens.



I kind of like this old 70s, vintage-y look, what do you think?





We then found some grass and brought out the props. Amelia and Ted met in a history class they shared in college. Amelia says that Mark is the reason she passed. These are books from that very class and it seemed so necessary to make them a part of the engagement session.



And, last but not least, Amelia and Ted showing off their totally fun side in their college sweatshirts. Go bulldogs!



Too fun! Such a great couple! Their wedding isn't until 2009 but I'm really looking forward to seeing them again.

I'm definitely going to get myself back to Tilden Park to explore all those nooks and crannies. Next time I'll bget there before closing!

Love - a wildly misunderstood although highly desirable malfunction of the heart which weakens the brain, causes eyes to sparkle, cheeks to glow, blood pressure to rise and the lips to pucker. ~Author Unknown

Jack Attack meetup

Emma and I went to a Jack Russell Terrier meetup today and had so much fun. There are pug and boxer and chihuahua and all sorts of other dog meetups so I'm surprised it took this long to get one together.

Today was their second get-together. They're held at Mountain Lake Park in San Francisco at 4pm every other Saturday. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make most of them due to a busy wedding season, but you can bet Emma and I will be there on my free days. If you have a Jack, or really any kind of dog, you should definitely show up next time. The people are so friendly and welcoming and so are the pooches (especially Bacon!).

Here are some of the sweet pups we met…

Sweet little Daisy was the first JRT there.



Freckles, Brulee, and Brownie had also shown up after a long walk.

Freckles is a people-dog and a recent adoptee. She's a bit timid but not afraid to come around if you have a snack or two. And just check out her eyes!





Brulee is one of the sweetest dogs ever. He was just so personable and soft and adorable. He is apparently quite the cuddler too.



Poor Brownie had to deal with Emma. Emma is quite annoying at the park – soon after she shows up she'll find a dog that will run and she'll chase. Once the dog stops, she'll bark incessantly at him til he gets up and goes again. The problem is that she just won't keep quiet. Sooo annoying, but Brownie took it well and made sure to keep her in her place.



Bacon, an old man of a dog, was particularly friendly and I'll leave it at that.



Chooley/Chew-li/Chuli was the spunky JRT whose owners organized the whole shindig. She was well trained and had quite an affinity for sticks.





This scruffy Jack mix (I think her name was Safari) was just a happy little thing with a long un-JRT like tail.



And cute little latecomer Spike was trembling a bit from all the newness and dogs but was really adorable. Just look at that face!





No offense to the others, but long haired jacks are definitely cuter. I mean, look at my dirty little thing. Totally filthy with a mouth like a sailor but the most lovable pooch in the whole wide world.



Thanks, guys! Emma certainly got her exercise - after falling asleep on the ride home she'll probably remain sacked out til the next one. Can't wait!

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.”
Josh Billings