Happy Fall Families! 

Mira Amiras has written a gorgeous story that is both a soon-to-be-published book and soon-to-be-released film called The Day Before Creation. Here's one of the photos we made in the studio recently. 

Rachel Sarah's new book, Girl Warriors: How 25 Young Activists are Saving the Earth, is getting great reviews and could not be more timely.

The first three of Char Rygh's new series for children, Shrimp N' Lobster, is at the press now! You can preorder here. 

Meredith Essalat's recently released The Overly Honest Teacher is helping parents of school-aged children navigate the educational journey.

Katherine Whitney's anthology, My Shadow is My Skin, was released just as the pandemic hit. Her book is a wonderful collection of engaging, important voices. 

Meredith Stout's memoir, Out of My Shoes, is a gripping personal narrative as well as a historical look at sexism and racism in America. 

And, yes, our Vice President is also an author and I was lucky enough to photograph her at a rally in Oakland, California. 

Local backdrops work well...

...in the same location:

Once in a while we get to shoot somewhere very special:

And we can make great portraits in the studio:

In the studio or on location, it's headshot and portrait time anytime!

Young people getting ready for their quinceañera entrance:

Members of a wedding party getting ready for their entrance:

The bride getting her hair and makeup done:

Inside the cabin in the woods there was one lightbulb hanging from the ceiling and my flash would not fire. I kept clicking anyway and got this image that I enjoyed turning into a painting-like scene:

And this engagement portrait was taken inside a tunnel below a walkway near a lake: 

I hope we can get together in groups again soon! You can see more Events and Ceremonies photos here. 

I had a blast on this recent high school senior photoshoot in a great location with three unique backgrounds. When scouting for locations, I look for interesting rock walls, stairs, ivy-covered walls, wood or cement benches, urban gray buildings--and the surrounding light at different times of day. I enjoy scouting, and I LOVE trying out each spot with my clients. 

and some of the photos I took when I was their age (4th grade) like this one: 

and then photos I take now as a professional photographer like this one:

I let them know that photographers take all sorts of photos, like travel:

and journalistic:

We also photograph weddings:

and models:

and portraits of actors and artists:

studio work: 

and families!

Then I taught them about light and sent them off with an assignment to photograph an object in different kinds of light. They shared their photos, they asked great questions, and one girl said she wants to be a professional photographer when she grows up. It was a lot of fun, and I'm so glad to encourage girls to follow their dreams!

Charlotte Rygh is an artist and the author of the children's book series Shrimp 'n Lobster, which premiers in San Francisco in 2021. Check out her website here. 

More family photos here.

Here are a few images from a backyard photoshoot...

Do you want trees, wild grasses, water and beach in your gallery? I know the perfect location! Here are a few photos from a recent park photoshoot. You can see more in my Lifestyle Family Portfolio.

I love working with authors, partly because I'm an author, too, and I know what it's like to emerge from the writing cave and promote a book. As a photographer, I love capturing an author's unique spirit in portraits that will connect with potential readers. 

Meredith is the author of this forthcoming book.

Katherine is an editor of this anthology.

Chris isn't an author (yet), but I love his headshot!

Rachel's work is HERE.

Meredith's memoir is forthcoming...

So is Will's book about mediation...

I'm an author, too! Here's the link to my book.

From this spot we also had fun with some walking shots, which always get my clients laughing and relaxed.

Next we crossed the street and made portraits using a large bush for a natural leafy background...

...and then used the wall of the old Stilwell Hall for our white backdrop.

In less than an hour, with two outfit changes on a chilly winter morning, we got a ton of images for her to market her brand and her upcoming book!

I'm offering pet portraits in the studio and on location. I have been photographing dogs at play for many years, and now I'm enjoying photographing them with their owners, too. We can make gorgeous portraits in the studio or we can meet at a picturesque beach or at a bayside park or on a trail in a redwood grove in the hills. We can be serious and playful. I'm also photographing clients with their horses, and I'll be adding cat portraits soon. Let me know when we can get together and play with your babies! Check out more pet photos in my portfolio here.

These are canvas wraps:

Pretty cool, huh?

Here's what modern photo albums look like. They're books: paperback or hardcover (including linen, faux leather, acrylic, wood covers)!

And we can always frame our precious keepsakes in so many beautiful ways. I'm working with Stoll Framing on Solano to help my clients get heirloom framing, or you can order framed prints directly from your private gallery on my website.

Here's a flashback to one of my author photos, which I used promoting my memoir, Blood Strangers, in 2010. Photographer: Meredith Stout

High school and college graduates are celebrating years of hard work and the completion of a huge milestone. They are excited to make photos and we have a great time at our photoshoots. I love this part of my job!

Here are a few images from a recent Cap & Gown photoshoot on the University of California Berkeley campus.

Lobos Ice Cream

Hack the Future at the Lafayette library brought in scores of kids who spent the day (2/23/19) coding, soldering, and experiencing virtual reality. I provided photos for the group and had a great time getting shots of the kids working and playing. This is an annual event and the first time it was held in Lafayette.

On another note, I'll be at Kid Dynamo clothing store in Berkeley on Sunday, March 24, doing kids' mini sessions. We'll have a lot of fun making formal and casual portraits of kids in time for Mother's and Father's (and Grandparent's) Days and Easter. A great chance to get a beautiful new photo of your kids! More information here.

I had a great time photographing for Berkeleyside.com at my first POTUS campaign launch in Oakland, California on January 27, 2019. The crowd filled the Frank Ogawa Plaza downtown and several streets were cordoned off and packed with people, reminding me of Times Square on New Year's Eve. Huge Jumbotrons televised the speakers and performers so people who did not get a spot inside the park could see the event. With my press pass around my neck, I was able to snag a spot right behind the VIP section where the press was corralled: national broadcast television and reporters from national media typed and clicked during the event.

So many young people came out to watch Senator Kamala Harris announce her candidacy for president.

The crowd was estimated at around twenty thousand. Frank Ogawa Plaza was packed and the crowd filled many city streets in downtown Oakland.

Next step for me: White House Photographer!

I started photographing at the Oakland Museum of California where Sista Boom was warming up the crowd heading to the lake. I made my way to the spot where groups were assembling to lead the march and found bands and drummers and disabled rights groups and feminist clubs. Women dressed as Supreme Court justices. Families. Teachers. Girl Scouts. Nurses. Adult children of immigrants. One man held a sign reading, "Real Men Do Not Fear Equality." Another man wore a tee shirt with "This is What a Feminist Looks Like."

It was joyous and hopeful, this march for rights and positive change for America. I left feeling inspired and glad I could document a corner of our world.

  (More photos from the day here.)

Waiting for the snowParents in North Berkeley help their children wait for the snow makers to finish.

Then, on Sunday, I checked out a snow day in Berkeley. (It doesn't typically snow in Berkeley, so I wanted to see how this event played out.) The kids were held back by their parents until the snow makers had finished, and then everyone got to walk onto the snow--some for the first time! Here are a few pix from Snow Day.

Snow Day in the Gourmet Ghetto of North BerkeleyWaiting to play on the snow.

The snow makers at workThe kids wait for the snow makers to make their playground in Berkeley.

It's a snowball!Berkeley kids get to make snowballs at Snow Day in the Gourmet Ghetto.

Snow in Berkeley?A toddler giving a snowball a good look at Snow Day in the Gourmet Ghetto in Berkeley.