An Engagement Session all over San Francisco

Last Friday Cole proposed to Caroline atop Mt. Tam and I got to be there to capture it. It was so beautifully set up.

On Saturday, Cole, Caroline, and I traveled all over San Francisco for a full-day engagement session hitting up some of San Francisco's most beautiful spots. And while Friday was almost sweltering, Saturday's weather was absolutely perfect. Not too warm, not too cold, bright blue sky with fluffy white clouds. Oh, it couldn't have been better!

Here are some of the highlights of our day…

We started around Union Square and despite being called "scoundrels" (them) and "wench" (me) by one of the locals, it was a good start to the day.



Onwards to Golden Gate Park's DeYoung Museum and Botanical Garden.



And we eventually found our way to Stow Lake, though I certainly took them on the scenic route. I introduced them to San Francisco's It's Its too!


We went to Fisherman's Wharf for some famous bread bowl and clam chowder at Boudin's and then strolled over to Pier 39 to check out the sea lions and the bay.



We then went back to Nob Hill to their hotel, the Fairmont, for a change of clothes and some shots around the hotel and Grace Cathedral.


I took them to one of my favorite little spots in the city – a little grove of trees that lets in the most amazing light during golden hour.


We ended our day at Baker Beach around sunset.




Phew! It was such a wonderful day and I can't wait to hear all about their wedding in Texas this winter.

Caroline and Cole, thank you so much for letting me be a part of your trip out to San Francisco!

No city invites the heart to come to life as San Francisco does.
~William Saroyan

p.s. To see more of Caroline & Cole's day, click here to check out their wedding guest book!

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.

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

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

Joanna & John's Reception in the Ferry Building

Say you walked into an event and were told that there were going to be Mongolian contortionists, fortune tellers, and go-go dancers. Would you believe it? That's kind of the way I felt Saturday night when I arrived at San Francisco's famed Ferry Building and went over the shot list with the event coordinator, Maxine. This was in addition to the virtual golf station and candy bar. I must say I was a little incredulous. I was half-expecting a TV camera to come out and see how long I'd let the list continue.

But no. It was all very real and breathtaking.

The event was a celebration of the marriage of Joanna and John, which had occurred a few days prior in a personal ceremony that included their four children. This was the grand reception for friends and family. In their words, those with them were the people who were not only important in the past, but people with whom they wanted to spend the rest of their lives.

Let me tell you, Maxine Andrew, the creative goddess behind Instead of You!, knows how to throw a party. The night was so well choreographed and so stunning that words can't even describe it. Eye candy in every direction from the never-ending rows of white Phalaenopsis orchids on the dinner tables to the string sextet to the signature cocktails to the trumpeter announcing the beginning of the four course meal to the dainty stems of speckled yellow orchids everywhere else. She created a masterpiece.

In an effort to be more concise (this is a photographer's blog after all!), I'll leave you to look over some of the images from the night…































I wasn't exaggerating, was I?

Joanna and John, thank you for a beautiful evening. I hope the rest of your lives are filled with just as much magic.

Lindsay Docherty for Lisa Leigh Photography

"For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul." -Judy Garland

Senior Ambassador Shoot at Chrissy Field

Allow me to introduce my newest Senior Ambassador, Gabby. This petite high school senior comes from Granada High School in Livermore. We had originally planned to shoot at Baker Beach, where I had shot Felicia, but the horrible oil spill made practically every beach inaccessible (besides, people in big yellow HAZMAT suits just don't look good in the background of pictures).

We met up and headed over to Fort Point first to make use of the moody, grungy feel of the old military fort. I don't often get to shoot here but I really love it when I do. Fort Point is a four story brick donut of a structure with wonderful archways and hallways and cave-like areas and spiral stone stairways and, and, and… It's just such a neat place – I could have stayed there all day.

We didn't even go into any of the rooms, we just made use of the architecture and tones. The brick textures went perfectly with Gabby's freshman year formal gown.

The shimmery blue material got a few looks from the tourists but she looked radiant nonetheless.

There were some great nooks and crannies and little windows everywhere that let in beautiful strips of light. Gabby, who acts both in the community and professionally, was a complete natural. I don't think there is a single light out there that wouldn't look flattering on her!

After a quick change in the car (she's talented, I tell ya!) we drove around to the easternmost part of Chrissy Field and played in the golden hour light there. I was really nervous about the day since it had been miserable and rainy the entire day before the shoot but the skies opened up and gave us a truly gorgeous day (albeit a bit muddy).

We wandered around the old run-down buildings that played some role in Chrissy Field's old job as an airfield and the birth of airmail. I love, love, love old cracked paint and rusty, grimey things.

I was pretty happy to come upon this old telephone booth and Gabby was totally up for posing with it – spiderwebs and all.

We ended the session with the last few minutes of daylight by the Golden Gate Bridge. It was getting chilly and I had put her through enough but I had a great time and Gabby was a fabulous model.

Keep an eye out for her folks, I have a feeling you'll be seeing her face on more than my blog in the future!

Thanks for a great time, Gabby! You were awesome!

"Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess."
-Edna Woolman Chase

p.s. If you'd like to be my next Senior Ambassador, check out this post and shoot me an email at lmdocherty@gmail.com. It's lots of fun and will get you a free session plus free photo goodies.

Two Dog Session in Golden Gate Park

Lori called me to take me up on my offer for Old Pet Month with her two beautiful Bernese Mountain Dogs. As a Christmas present for her husband, she snuck them out of the house over to San Francisco's Golden Gate Park where the pooches and I had a great time in the foggy and lush park.

Allow me to introduce two of the sweetest pups you could ever meet: Einstein and Cheri.
Einstein is 8 years old, which is pretty good for a Bernese Mountain Dog (considered a veteran in BMD circles). Sadly, he was recently diagnosed with lung cancer and couldn't quite keep up with Cheri but wasn't about to let her steal all the attention. He's a big softie with big puppy-dog eyes, huge paws, and lots of curly fur. Certainly a noble dog.

Cheri, on the other hand, was an enormous puppy. Already three years old, she acted like she was hardly over 6 months. She seemed to constantly have a big grin on her face and she was all about running circles around Lori and me, literally! Having that much space was a real treat for Cheri and she even got some other interaction with a scruffy terrier that showed up.

I've got a thing for doggie eyes and noses. They are just too sweet and their eyes are so expressive. So here's a little collection of Einie and Cheri's little parts. And, just like people, the same breed of dog can have so many small differences in two animals.

Einstein and Cheri are very sweet together. She, of course, will eat his food but they take turns at the water bowl and Cheri is even willing to give Einstein a little sugar.

Two very sweet Berners and one very loving Mommy. It's going to be a great holiday gift. Portraits are so incredibly heartfelt and much more personal than anything you could ever buy in a store. Thank you Lori, Einstein, and Cheri - I had a great time!

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

p.s. Home at Last is a fabulous organization that rescues dogs and cats from certain euthanasia, provides them with housing, medical care and socialization, and eventually placement in permanent homes. They are holding an auction on November 30th at 6pm at The Albatross Pub in Berkeley. A Lindsay Docherty Photography session and prints are up for auction. Will give more details soon.

Wedding with Lisa Leigh at the City Club of San Francisco

I have kind of gotten behind in my posting but I wanted to share this beautiful wedding between Jenica and Heath that I shot with the talented Lisa of Lisa Leigh Photography.

My day started with the groom and his groomsmen at Barber Lounge in San Francisco. I don't know how they came across it but it was simply perfect and oh-so-trendy. It's on the third floor in an old building in SOMA and has these great old windows across the front of the reception area. It stretches back with lots of space filled with hair stylists, masseuses, and, of course, barbers. If you get a chance, I highly recommend checking this place out. It's just so unlike the other salons I've visited. As if this place weren't cool enough, they have a resident "Scent Expert" with the laid back Louie the dog. Heath gave all of his groomsmen classy cufflinks with their last name's initial on them.

From there we met up with the ladies for a quick jaunt around town to take in some San Francisco classics. We drove to the Union Square area and found an empty cable car that was just perfect for the wedding party poses. Dodging traffic, we took some great shots there and then moved on to the little oasis in the city, Levi's Plaza. Our last stop was right around the corner from our final destination. The group moved on to Equinox gym located in the old Pacific Stock Exchange building. This building has elements that just make photographers melt. There are a dozen or so steps leading up to huge Greek columns out front. We went through the groups again but the groomsmen were feeling a bit peckish so off they went to the closest McDonald's. The group (including the bride) dove in and devoured the fries before we even got to the wedding venue - The City Club of San Francisco.

A half Jewish, half Christian wedding, Jenica and Heath recited their vows to one another under the chuppah and broke the glass to a celebratory group yelling "Mazel Tov".

I managed to get a shot of the two of them kissing as they walked down the aisle as husband and wife.

Everyone gathered upstairs for dinner and toasts. The room was spectacular. Bright orange and yellow tulips, orangey-red roses, bright red and orange peppers and a splash of green limes brought everything together as the centerpieces. It was certainly an unusual combination but it looked fabulous. Rather than wedding favors, Jenica and Heath gave fortune donated money to charity and gave guests little fortune cookies with the fortune, "Live Well. Laugh Often. Love Much." I was really excited to sneak back downstairs during dinner to get to the cake table. Or I should say, cupcake table. There were four or five decadent kinds of cupcakes awaiting the guests after dinner. It was a very cool display. The location where they had exchanged vows earlier had been tuned into a sleek reception area with a dance floor, cake table, sofa and lounge area by the fireplace, and assorted chairs and tables for guests that needed to give their feet a break.

And let me tell you, I'm sure their feet were sore at the end of the night. The guests were getting down and having a great time. Jenica and Heath started out the dancing with their first song, Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are", which had some of the bridal party swaying and singing along. It was a fun time and had almost everyone out on the dancefloor. I have to say though, Heath's sister Paige took the cake with some hilariously fun dancing with her boyfriend - especially when Sir Mix-a-lot's "Baby Got Back" came on. Too funny!

It was a beautiful wedding and Jenica and Heath were great together. Thanks, guys!

I said I love you and that's forever
And this I promise from the heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.
- Billy Joel "Just the Way You Are"