eyeCatchLight Photography: Santa Cruz & Bay Area Newborn/Family/Wedding/Branding: Blog

Interview with Lauren Furtado - Live Happier Wellness | Santa Cruz & Bay Area Branding Photographer

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 02:19:11 GMT

Tell us a little bit about you and your business. How did it all begin? Does your business relate to a personal story?

Live Happier Wellness is all about offering services and resources that help you create a weekly routine that enhances your health and happiness.
I’m a certified Health Coach which basically mean I’ve been trained in how to walk people through the right system, support and accountability to modify their habits and reach their unique goals. I like to describe a health coach as a mix of a lifestyle and goal achieving 1) project manager, 2) educator and 3) accountability coach.
One of the most important things to me when supporting a client is making sure they are drafting a goal that encompasses how they want to feel versus what they want to have. And to help them develop their own personal route to get there rather than feeling pressured by the many “must do” orders from the wellness industry. My philosophy for developing a wellness routine is leading with fulfillment, joy, connection and stress relief.
My education and previous career is in business and marketing. After almost a decade at a tech company managing various different marketing projects and programs, I started to drown in the stress and lack of fulfillment. I used to love my job, but as I grew personally, I yearned for a different type of fulfillment and connection to life. I began to feel trapped within the walls of my office. I started exploring my own passions in order to relieve stress and feel more fulfilled. I already had a great workout routine that brought me so much needed strength and peace, but I desired more. I started to explore other areas of happiness from both a science and practical perspective. I became obsessed with simple daily strategies that took unpleasant monotonous tasks and turn them into my favorite parts of the day. Like listening to educational podcast while cleaning the kitchen before I went to bed so I could wake up to a less chaotic morning. This journey started with small habit changes, like a more motivating morning routine. Then it grew to big changes like leaving my job, and ultimately developed into my new Live Happier Wellness business.

What is a typical "why" for your clients' change in lifestyle?

A client’s “why” often starts with something more physical, like wanting to have more energy throughout the day. Then the fun part of coaching begins, and we get to find a connection to something deeper that really moves the needle. While it starts with something more basic, like energy, most clients connect with me when they ultimately want a bigger change. In almost all cases, they want to create a happier, more enjoyable lifestyle and have deeper connections to the world around them. Because “having more energy” is only exciting if we have a clear reason for how it will be used.
For example, one client came to me with the goal of creating a healthier routine to have more energy. The need for more energy was to be able to keep up and do more activities with their grandchildren… to be able to enjoy more experiences with those children than they could do in their current state. Time with this client’s family was their true source of happiness. So their “why” was not “to have more energy”. Their “why” was to be physical able to partake in experiences that enable their deepest source of happiness.

What's a typical roadblock that clients encounter in their journey? What are some tools you teach to create changes in one’s routine?

One biggest and most important tools for getting past your routine roadblocks are 1) pinpointing the true resistance to following through with the tasks associated with the goal. For example, maybe you don’t believe the chance is really going to help so you don’t do it. There could be levels of self-sabotage, fear of failing or fear of achieving. Sometimes it’s fear of feeling uncomfortable or giving up pleasure. And 2) pinpoint the deepest reason why this goal is so important to you that you are willing to get uncomfortable and change your routine. In other words, what will achieving this goal do for you?
Another all too common roadblock is simply forgetting to follow through with new tasks! Our days are so busy with a million different checklists, when something is new and hasn’t made those connections in our brain, they are easy to forget. This is why I love anchors as a habit change tool! An anchor is an object or visual element that you place somewhere in your home or office that reminds you of your goals. A carefully chosen anchor will not only remind you of your goals, but also connect to your motivation as well. For example, many people chose photos of themselves that remind them of how they want to feel. It could also be a printout of their favorite affirmation. Another easy tool is calendar blocking. I put everything in my calendar with alerts. Part of my routine is looking at my calendar before I got to bed and when I get up in the morning. But if you are someone who doesn’t look at calendar, you might try setting alarms on your phone or writing good old-fashioned sticky note, until it becomes part of your routine. Another tip is to share your new task/goal with multiple people. Tell someone in a text, bring it up at dinner, etc. The more you think about and talk about this new task/goal, the more your brain connects that it’s something to focus on.

What's a typical roadblock that clients encounter in their journey?

One biggest and most important tools for getting past your routine roadblocks are 1) pinpointing the true resistance to following through with the tasks associated with the goal. For example, maybe you don’t believe the chance is really going to help so you don’t do it. There could be levels of self-sabotage, fear of failing or fear of achieving. Sometimes it’s fear of feeling uncomfortable or giving up pleasure. And 2) pinpoint the deepest reason why this goal is so important to you that you are willing to get uncomfortable and change your routine. In other words, what will achieving this goal do for you?
Another all too common roadblock is simply forgetting to follow through with new tasks! Our days are so busy with a million different checklists, when something is new and hasn’t made those connections in our brain, they are easy to forget. This is why I love anchors as a habit change tool! An anchor is an object or visual element that you place somewhere in your home or office that reminds you of your goals. A carefully chosen anchor will not only remind you of your goals, but also connect to your motivation as well. For example, many people chose photos of themselves that remind them of how they want to feel. It could also be a printout of their favorite affirmation. Another easy tool is calendar blocking. I put everything in my calendar with alerts. Part of my routine is looking at my calendar before I got to bed and when I get up in the morning. But if you are someone who doesn’t look at calendar, you might try setting alarms on your phone or writing good old-fashioned sticky note, until it becomes part of your routine. Another tip is to share your new task/goal with multiple people. Tell someone in a text, bring it up at dinner, etc. The more you think about and talk about this new task/goal, the more your brain connects that it’s something to focus on.

What’s unique about your approach to helping people reach their goals? I bet there's importance in celebrating these changes. How would you celebrate the changes and what do you suggest to your clients?

Working on your routine and lifestyle can feel daunting or even tedious at times. It can also bring up feelings of guilt, shame and frustration. While I believe in the importance of experiencing all your emotions, focusing on your health and wellness should be an enjoyable experience as well, one you look forward to continuing to grow and explore. My goal is to create a fun and rewarding experience for you. We approach everything with curiosity and learning. This allows you to explore and have fun figuring out what makes you feel the healthiest and most fulfilled. We like to connect to all the senses – smell, taste, sound, sight, touch. We try different foods to figure out which ones have the strongest connection to you. We look at what scents make you feel relaxed and which ones uplift you. It’s also very important to have visual aids to remind you of your goals, your motivation and your affirmation. Sometimes this can be a picture that represent how you want to feel or a photo of when you feel the most alive.
Due to my previous business background, I approach my clients’ wellness goals from both a habit coach and project management style. We work on mindset, limiting beliefs and wellness practices, but we also get detailed with your actions to make a strong impact on your goals during our time together.

Do some of your clients enjoy seeing how far they've come with a before and after portrait memory? How can we help you and your business?

When taking before and after photos, it’s very important to be cognizant of the intention behind the photo. I am not a fan of before and after photos that focus on the appearance aspect of weight loss. I think this can be harmful to the client and the people around them if the focus is on the idea of how “good” they look now, basically as a sign of worthiness. While I don’t subscribe to many areas of the weight loss industry (more on that in another chat!), I do understand that weight loss is an important goal for some people to feel healthier and happier.
I do however love celebrating a point in a person’s growth that reminds them of how much they love themselves. I think it’s incredibly important to capture a point in time where you are living your truth and showing yourself the care and focus that you deserve to live your life with happiness and purpose. This a critical moment to capture not only because it’s a milestone, but it serves as a reminder of this feeling for the times to comes when you might be in a low. The ability to have a talented and creative photographer draw out the emotion behind this milestone and intentionality is a true gift (and what I would consider a happiness tool!) to a client.

Is there anything else you'd like to add?

My mission: As any small business owner knows, especially those at home managing small children, there are hard days when it feels impossible to keep going. But what drives me forward in the tough times is this: I believe we are here in this life to connect, grow, enjoy and leave the planet better than how we arrived. My job is to help people create routines that allow for more of those four critical actions to take place, ultimately creating a happier week. Research shows that when people are happier, they are more likely to give back to the community around them. This is the motivation that fuels me every day.

Guest post: 6 Moments You’ll Wish You Hired a Professional Photographer | Santa Cruz Photographer

Fri, 23 Jul 2021 21:51:18 GMT

6 Moments You’ll Wish You Hired a Professional Photographer

By Erin Reynolds

Photo by eyeCatchLight Photography

With cameras on smartphones improving every day, it’s easier than ever to capture beautiful moments of friends, family, pets, and milestones. Not only can they be of amazing quality, but they can also be convenient. So with this easy access to great cameras, why hire a professional photographer? What is the value?

Professional photographers have state-of-the-art equipment, know the best staging techniques, can edit your images, and most importantly, help make sure everyone is in the photo! Here are some moments in life when we might think a smartphone camera would do, but perhaps we should think again.

Selling Your Home

The right photos hold the key to a home that sells for the right price—and at the right time. Many home buyers are doing more of their house-hunting online these days, which means professionally taken photos and 360 tours could make all the difference. If you want to really turn heads, hire eyeCatchLight Photography to photograph your home and create a virtual tour.

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Wedding
Your wedding day will fly by in a flash—many couples say they don’t even get time to eat. Having a professional there to document the moments, big and small, will help you experience your day in more depth. Things you missed, exchanges between friends, and a time when you looked your absolute best—these are all things you can remember for the rest of your life in high-quality detail thanks to a professional wedding photographer.

Before and After

Professionally-taken before and after photos can more adequately convey a major transformation, like surgery, weight loss, or a home remodel. Hiring a professional to track your health progress can be a big motivator for many people, which is why a medical photographer can be a good call—they really bring to light even the smallest details. When it comes to showcasing home improvements, professional real estate photos can engage sellers more deeply when you are ready to put your home on the market.

Professional Headshot

Whether you are a CEO or just starting out in your career, a professional headshot for LinkedIn, your personal website, and other online platforms is a very beneficial career boost. Putting your best, professional face forward is the first impression potential employers and clients get from you. This is especially helpful for people who want to advance in leadership roles or start consulting on their own.

Pregnancy and New Baby

Documenting one of the most unique times in your life—your pregnancy and the birth of a new baby—can help you relive some of the precious, once-in-a-lifetime memories. Choosing a professional to take these photos will give you confidence that the images will be done right. In several years’ time, your children will appreciate how high-quality professional images last so much longer. They can share this special moment with their children and even grandchildren.

Family

There will be many reasons to celebrate your family over the years and plenty of opportunities to document special times and moments. That’s why family photos of everyday life can also be really special, too. Professional images of you and your family going about your daily routine— who you are together in those everyday moments— show a side of familial love that can get eclipsed during boisterous and chaotic holidays.

While there are times when a smartphone camera will do, as you can see there are plenty of good reasons to go with a pro. When the moments matter, make it count by hiring a professional to make memories last. You might even be surprised at how beautiful and authentic images can be when taken by an objective observer.

Call us at (831) 600-8729 to inquire! We're always here for you. We will create beautiful custom made portrait art for your home with your photographs in it!

Also check out my business partners and their special offers!

Thank you for reading my blog! Contact me here for any questions or to ask about the portrait experience! I am always here for you - especially now. We're in this together, even as the virus prevails.

eyeCatchLight | Santa Cruz, Aptos, Capitola, Soquel, Felton, Los Gatos, Mountain View, Los Altos, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Scotts Valley, Monterey, Pescadero, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara Newborn, Family, Branding, Headshots, and Wedding Photography

What to wear for your photoshoot? | Santa Cruz & Bay Area Newborn/Family/Branding Portraits

Fri, 19 Mar 2021 22:01:34 GMT

One of the most commonly asked questions among my clients is "what should I wear?"! Not to worry, we got you covered! Here are my TOP wardrobe tips for your upcoming session. Try to check these off and bring more than you think you'll need. We'll pare down when you get here.

Ladies

1. For a slimmer look, form fitting is definitely best! Look for figure-hugging clothes. Avoid blousy or boxy tops as they will make you look bigger on camera.

2. Think textures. Textures like lace, ruffles, and ruching add visual interest without overwhelming. Look for textured tops in solid colors. Avoid patterns as they may detract from your face.

3. Bring a variety of colors-- something light (ivory, white, pastel), something dark (black, charcoal gray, navy), something with a pop of color (something that brings out your eyes is best.)

4. Look for layers. Add a form-fitting jacket or slim fit knit cardigan to cover and slim arms.

5. Consider longer sleeves. 3/4 length and long sleeves are universally flattering and slimming. Sleeveless is great on toned arms or pair with layers (see above) to slim arms. Avoid cap sleeves.

6. Bring coordinating bottoms. Bring pants or skirts that match your favorite tops; that way if your knee or hip is in the frame, you'll be stylishly covered.

7. Look for flattering necklines. Scoop, cowl neck, or v-neck are great options. Avoid high neck tops as they may make your neck look cut off in pictures.

8. Select jewelry that speaks to your style. Subtle? or bold? You choose.

9. Come with clean, manicured nails. Hands come into the frame a lot with portraits. Neutral colors, simple buff, or French manicure are recommended.

10. Bring appropriate undergarments. For example, strapless bras so your straps don't show, seamless panties and shapewear in appropriate colors.

Gents

1. For a slimmer look, opt for slim-fit shirts and jackets.

2. Keep patterns to a minimum. Print ties and pin stripes are ok.

3. Look for layers. Add a form-fitting jacket or V-neck sweater to vary your look.

4. Bring a variety of colors. Something light. Something dark. A pop of color to bring out your eyes.

5. Long sleeves are always preferred over short sleeves for a clean, polished look. Prefer casual? Rolled sleeves do the trick!

6. A collared shirt and suit is a must for stylish professionals.

7. Bring coordinating bottoms. Many shots are 3/4 in length.

8. Bring coordinating shoes and socks. Footwear may come into frame with seated poses.

9. Prepare your favorite accessories. Watches, cufflinks, glasses, and pocket squares should be clean and presentable.

10. Come with clean, manicured nails. Hands come into frame a lot, so make sure yours are camera ready.

Call us at (831) 600-8729 to inquire! We're always here for you. We will create beautiful custom made portrait art for your home with your photographs in it!

Also check out my business partners and their special offers!

Want more than the stiff studio headshot? | Santa Cruz & Bay Area Branding Photography

Thu, 24 Dec 2020 01:56:04 GMT

You wouldn't believe how many calls I get that start with a request for "not the typical daunting, intimidating, yet dreary formal headshot". Clients usually continue on with something like "we should probably do one of those though, you know, so I have it for when I need it".

What if I told you that you can have a stunning headshot that is not of the lackluster, yet terrifying kind? I am doing my very best to create a different, fun-filled, and personalized experience for you. Here are some of the ingredients along with Riya's story, who came for her branding portraits. She is starting a new Zumba business and a new marriage officiating venture, all in the same year! Congrats Riya!!

Complementary hair and makeup services

This year I have introduced the amazing work of Michele Falk to our studio. She has been a really successful hair artist at the Juut salon in Downtown Palo Alto for about 20 years or so!! She has been my own hair stylist for about 8 of those years. She brings makeup, but also lets you bring your own, and really emphasizes a natural look so you feel at your best instead of unnaturally styled.

Moreover, I have invested in a very cool environmentally friendly power station that can run Michele's hair dryer! This means that you can get your hair done right on a cliff. Sound good anyone? Yes? Yes!!!

In Riya's case we had Michele do a beautiful blow dry followed by some slight waves. It looked fantastic, let me tell you! Riya had Michele use mostly her personal makeup and looked stunning!

Wardrobe and styling consultation

When we begin our journey together, we will meet for a consultation. This is when I show you all the art that you can choose from, but more importantly, it is also when I can help you decide what will look best in your photos. Hint: solid colors are usually a good choice. If you have more than one person in your session, similar tones such as blue tones work well together. Plaid patterns, stripes, and similar look very nice in a nature setting, and depending on the particular garment also in the studio. I'd probably advise against busy prints, in particular flower prints, as they tend to compete with the background. With any of these recommendations the most important thing though is that you feel comfortable in your clothes. This will really influence how you feel and look in your photos!

In Riya's case we settled on a formal black top combined with a black skirt for her formal officiant photo. We also chose her Zumba outfits and settled on a teal-black top with black tights! She looked so cool!!

A relaxed atmosphere to calm potential discomfort

Several of my clients have told me recently that they were super worried about having their photo taken. Jennifer, an awesome real estate interior designer who had a lot of camera anxiety, was so relieved that she had her branding photos taken for the first time in so many years that she sent her mom a piece of wall art and her boyfriend an entire album, even though this was a branding session! Ali came for a simple headshot and told me that she was relieved and how it felt a lot easier than she had imagined. Andrea decided to take me on a hike to help with the anxiety. Fret not, the trails are my specialty as an ultrarunner - we formed such a beautiful relationship on that hike.

In summary, I'll do anything to make you feel at ease. This could simply be to take photos outside when we sense discomfort, or some reassurance that everything will look great. Or it could be a whole personalized session like in Andrea's case, where we take the time to go out of our ways to create that relaxed environment.

In Riya's case, the to her most comfortable spot was her backyard! It was stunning too! I loved it there. I think we got some nicely relaxed images of her.

Full service to help you all the way until the final intended look of your headshot

My promise to you with my services is to help you every step of the way. We're all so busy (ask me about that!!) that it's really important to me to give you something that is ready for use. I can help you with your vision - tell me about the negative space you'd like in your photos the book cover you'd like designed, the business cards, heck, I even help you build your website! Or, if you're the kind who likes to do this themselves, fret not, I will stand back! ;-)

See some examples below for finalized products - a book cover image, a magazine cover photograph, a business website for Boucherie Atlantique, a LinkedIn profile headshot, a color coherent collection of team headshots, and more.

Last but not least: a creative, colorful, and INCLUSIVE photographer

I think my work has a style that is known for different things: for one, I like to create colorful, interesting branding photos. I also like to incorporate the majestic power of nature wherever I can. I hate to be fenced in as a person, so I love seeking out fun and new ideas that are outside the box. If you're a professional who likes to stand out among the crowd, having a "different" and appealing image set to use can be a game changer. Imagine your cool looking, adventurous headshot on your book cover! Or a billboard! The newspaper! People will see you and notice you without even needing to add a word of text. This is what I am here for.

As a lady that has emerged from a rubble of abuse and bullying, I also strive very much to be inclusive. The LGBTQ community is particularly important to me, and I want you to know that you are safe in my studio.

In Riya's case I enjoyed incorporating some of the beautiful landscaping in her backyard. We also photographed her in her colorful Zumba outfit. Below are also the photos of Andrea on our hike, and of Jennifer in her element on a tree, with flowers in her hands.

Call us at (831) 600-8729 to inquire! We're always here for you. We will create beautiful custom made portrait art for your home with your photographs in it!

Also check out my business partners and their special offers!

Want to get married under a Christmas tree? | Santa Cruz & Bay Area Wedding Photographer

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 19:21:33 GMT

Have you ever considered a wedding on Christmas Eve? Well, Diann and Chikara made it possible to experience just that - see for yourself!

They tied the knot on Christmas Eve, in the early morning hours. We created this portrait before sunrise to capture their special moment in front of the majestically lit Christmas tree by the MacLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park. How unique!

The cute Christmas "love train" was very appropriate for their story - shown in the page below that we created for their elopement album!!

After these intimate sunrise portraits we went to Sutro Heights for their unique ceremony with an amazing view of Ocean Beach and the vast horizon full of the magic the future was holding for both of them.

Chikara is known in our community as an amazing athlete! Many people wonder about his dietary approach to performing so well. His secret? Donuts! Diann is an amazing culinary artist and loves to bake all kinds of wonderful treats for her clients! What would be better for them than to exchange donut rings instead of their jewelry counterparts. This made for a really joyful and funny ceremony - truly something I had never photographed before!! The wedding album page below shows some of the fun and memories!!

After the ceremony we took some more time to create beautiful wedding portraits of the two in Sutro park, most importantly, incorporating their personal touch to the day: running shoes, donuts, and a lot of love.

Given Diann's wonderful baking skills combined with the unique wedding day creativity, the wedding cake was just as fun as the rest of the day.

We also designed a wedding album and a metal wall art gallery for both of them with these beautiful portraits. The wall art collection is shown in the image below. I was sad to announce that it didn't come with this gorgeous bathroom - but Diann and Chikara have an entire lifetime together to work on creating their perfect one together!!

Thank you for letting me portray your big day, Diann and Chikara! It was beyond special to be part of your intimate wedding as the photographer! A Christmas gift of unique value, for all of us!

eyeCatchLight wishes you a wonderful future, hand in hand, looking ahead as one.

If you are reading this and are interested in seeing more wedding and engagement photography, then this video might be for you!

Wedding Photography By Eyecatchlight

Call us at (831) 600-8729 to inquire! We're always here for you. We will create beautiful custom made portrait art for your home with your wedding photographs in it!

Also check out my business partners and their special offers!

eyeCatchLight | Santa Cruz, Aptos, Capitola, Soquel, Mountain View, Los Altos, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Scotts Valley, Monterey, Pescadero, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara Newborn, Family, Branding, Headshots, and Wedding Photography

Are you uncomfortable with photography? | Santa Cruz Newborn, Family, Branding Photographer

Sun, 08 Nov 2020 23:47:38 GMT

There comes a time in the life of a photographer that feels like a whole new world is opening up to give way to a new way of capturing who people truly are.

Albums beautifully display custom newborn, family, and wedding portraits and can be selected from a number of different sizes and cover materials (Italian leather, suede, linen, photographic cover, metal, wood, acrylic) and can exhibit either classic felt (matte) or metallic paper with linen texture. Albums are created with photographic prints that are mounted onto board pages. A spray coating is added to provide protection against fingerprints and UV exposure. Store albums in a temperature-controlled and humidity-controlled environment.
This special branding session with Jennifer a little over a week ago was a true inspiration for me. It meant so much. Like myself, Jennifer has gone through a lot in life. For her it meant among other things that she has had a very hard time having her portraits taken. Of the 500 images her last photographer sent her, she only liked three.

I really wanted her to see her beautiful self and put my best effort forward to make this experience as special as possible for her. We got the eyeCatchLight hair stylist Michaela Falk to help with hair and makeup, exactly the way that felt natural to Jennifer, and conquered difficult moments in front of the camera with grace and flow and, above all, a lot of nature.

Jennifer's feedback on Google and Yelp:

I recently decided it was time to rebrand my business, and with that meant new photos. I typically can't handle family photos, or even casual pictures with my friends. My anxiety was at an all time high with my recent BDD relapse and stresses in life. But, I thought to myself, if I was working with a counselor, what would they suggest I do? They would challenge me to take steps towards facing my fears. I decided it was time to schedule a photo session with my new friend Simone at Eye Catch Light Photography. I warned her about my extreme photo anxiety (I left out the real details until photo day). I typically see myself as extremely deformed and overweight. As I opened up to her about what was really causing my anxiety, she did not judge me. She did not squirm or get uncomfortable. She provided a safe space for me to take these small steps towards tackling this debilitating monster that lives inside of my head. Simone talked me through the tough moments, held space as I cried, and patiently waited while I had to take (many) breaks to calm down. Her kind beautiful soul, and 11 years of photography experience (trust me- she had to pull out all of her knowledge to get me through this) created a therapeutic photography session for me. This is just one of many steps I have vowed to take for myself, and I am grateful that such a wonderful person was there to hold a safe space as I begin to work through it. I can not express enough gratitude for Simone being there for me.

Today Jennifer returned to view and select her portraits. She warned me that she'd only like a handful of photos if any. That she'd have a super hard time.

Instead, while we looked through them, Jennifer chose "yes" more and more often, which then turned into "super yes" for 26 photos. Of all the photos she chose ~80%, and even ordered an album and a nice piece of wooden wall art.

This meant the world to me. First, I share many of the struggles Jennifer went through, and it feels powerful to part ways with a similar past.

But more importantly, I did not realize that I might not fully believe in myself either. I didn't think that I could create art that truly makes someone happy. When photographer colleagues talk about creating that connection that results in images that come from the soul, I think to myself, deep inside, that I'm not the type that can create that sort of emotion in another.

And yet, in some way just that happened. All you have to do is be yourself, and others will peacefully start to find themselves. It's really pretty simple: open your heart to others, and most things will fall into place. Jennifer went on to purchase a beautiful album for her partner (see video above), as well as a piece of metal wall art for her mom. She hadn't given either any photos of herself in decades.

I hope to open my heart to many of you as future clients, because this day made me so happy, and I want to give this kind of experience to all of you.

Call us at (831) 600-8729 to inquire! We're always here for you. We will create beautiful custom made portrait art for your home with your newborn and family photographs in it!

Also check out my business partners and their special offers!

Hair and Makeup Services now included! | Santa Cruz & Bay Area Branding & Family Photographer

Sat, 17 Oct 2020 16:14:46 GMT

I'm super excited to announce that hair and makeup services are now a standard staple included in your professional photography session anywhere in Santa Cruz or in the Bay Area, be it for branding, a little newborn with you in some of the photos, a family portrait session, or even a small and intimate wedding where you don't have your own makeup and hair artist already booked! Add a little glamour to your photoshoot!

Let's face it, if you're a mum and go through the effort to convince everyone of a family photoshoot, you deserve to look just as beautiful as your awesome kids!! And your branding, book covers, and real estate headshots will be all the more professional with these added services.

One of our artists is the enormously talented Michele Falk who has made a name for herself in over 20 years at the renowned Juut SalonSpa in downtown Palo Alto!

This can simply mean to straighten the frizzy hair and freshen up your makeup, or it can involve a nice updo that'll even look good for the date with your favorite person after the session!

Depending on where you live and where we take the photos, this can take place in the studio, at your home, or on location!

Our session fee includes these services now! For a limited time the new session fee will come with a $300 credit towards wall art or an album!

Call us at (831) 600-8729 to inquire! We're always here for you. We will create beautiful custom made portrait art for your home with your newborn and family photographs in it!

Also check out my business partners and their special offers!

How to prepare for a newborn portrait session | Santa Cruz Newborn and Maternity Photography

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 21:34:12 GMT

Today I'd like to tell you what you need to do in order to get the gorgeous photos of your newborn baby and its wonderful story at exploring life that you see online and that you've dreamed of! Newborn photography sessions happen between 5 and 14 days after birth, because that is when your baby sleeps the most! This happy slumber is what we need to create the cute poses in buckets, baskets, wooden log beds, and other places. I can't wait to have you in my studio!

Newborn baby boy in green round basketThis little newborn baby boy had a full head of hair! We photographed him in a beautiful green basket.

Mountain View, Los Altos, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Scotts Valley, Monterey, Pescadero, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Los Gatos, South San Francisco, Campbell Headshot Photographer.

Wagon with newborn baby and bearLuciano posed in his new little wagon together with his teddy bear.

Mountain View, Los Altos, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Scotts Valley, Monterey, Pescadero, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Los Gatos, South San Francisco, Campbell Headshot Photographer. This preparation guide will help your session go more smoothly. If you’re unable to follow any of the guidelines, please don’t worry! I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure that I’m able to capture those timeless images you’re envisioning. If that means patiently rocking your little one for 30 minutes or taking several feeding or cuddling breaks, that’s ok!

Envision Your Newborn Photography On Your Walls - Santa Cruz Newborn PhotographerWe have unique software that allows us to demonstrate how the images from your portrait session will look on your very own walls. We can scale the designs to an accurate size, create collages, add framing, and more! We can truly create the perfect fit for your home so that you can feel confident in your selections. There’s just one easy thing you have to do: Photograph your walls and send us the images prior to your ordering appointment.Mountain View, Los Altos, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Scotts Valley, Monterey, Pescadero, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Los Gatos, South San Francisco, Campbell Headshot Photographer.

Before the session

Please give your baby a bath the day prior to the session.
If you are breast-feeding, try to avoid eating anything spicy or gas inducing (i.e. pizza, spicy sauces, garlic, broccoli, thai/indian food, high fat etc.) that might upset baby’s tummy for 24 hours preceding your scheduled session. It’s best to stick to a relatively bland diet the 24 hours before your session.
***DO NOT CIRCUMCISE your baby boy right before your session. I might be wrapping him tightly and moving him between different poses which can be painful with a raw circumcision.

Newborn Baby Girl In Flower Basket - Mountain View Newborn PhotographerTonight I got to meet little Harley Rose again! She has grown so much since we took her portraits! Her mum Desiree and grandparents Heather and Dean decided on an album for her and a beautiful acrylic wall art piece of the portrait below! I can't wait to deliver their custom art for them to enjoy for many years to come! Harley Rose also received her little pink onesie rewarding her for having crushed her newborn session - but more on that later! Mountain View, Los Altos, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Scotts Valley, Monterey, Pescadero, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Aptos, Capitola, Soquel, Watsonville, MontereyMountain View, Los Altos, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Scotts Valley, Monterey, Pescadero, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Los Gatos, South San Francisco, Campbell Headshot Photographer.

Day of the session

Please do your best to keep your baby AWAKE for 2 hours before your session. This is VERY important. I know this is hard, so all I ask is that you try your best. Some tricks to keep your baby awake are giving the baby a bath, getting baby naked, tickling baby’s feet, and lightly wetting baby’s feet. We will get amazing images if your baby sleeps through the session.
Please BRING A BOTTLE of formula or breast milk ready for the session, along with a pacifier should we need it. This is especially important with twins and maintaining the flow of the session. I understand that many mothers are trying to avoid a pacifier during this critical time of learning to breastfeed. But I hope you’ll consider that pacifiers are so useful in soothing fussy babies back to sleep during the 3 hours we’re together. If you are not comfortable with the use of a pacifier, please let me know. We are absolutely on board with whatever you choose!
You will be feeding your baby a FULL feeding 15-30 minutes before our session, so please schedule your baby’s day accordingly.
Dress baby in loose fitting clothes to avoid any lines on skin. A onesie that opens in the front is best, as this avoids having to lift anything tight over baby’s head.

Envision Your Portraits On Your Very Own WallsWe have unique software that allows us to demonstrate how the images from your portrait session will look on your very own walls. We can scale the designs to an accurate size, create collages, add framing, and more! We can truly create the perfect fit for your home so that you can feel confident in your selections. There’s just one easy thing you have to do: Photograph your walls and send us the images prior to your ordering appointment.Mountain View, Los Altos, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Scotts Valley, Monterey, Pescadero, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Los Gatos, South San Francisco, Campbell Headshot Photographer.

During the session

Please keep your space warm during the session so that your baby remains comfortable. It is even better to have a small space heater to keep your little one warm. Please dress in layers so that you can remain comfortable during the session.
Newborn sessions generally take 2-3 hours. If a toddler is involved, a session may take up to 4 hours.
I recommend having no more than yourself, your spouse/partner, children and one guest if necessary. Too many extra people in the room make for somewhat challenging creative conditions and can be distracting both for the baby and the portrait flow.

In-home Santa Cruz Newborn PhotographyCustom portrait photography is so much more than getting your picture taken!

It is an experience personalized to capture your most natural story and to create your heirloom customized art to own - for generations to come!

#newbornphotography #portraitartist #paloalto #mountainview #losaltos #portrait #photographer #newbornMountain View, Los Altos, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Scotts Valley, Monterey, Pescadero, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, Half Moon Bay, Pacifica, Los Gatos, South San Francisco, Campbell Headshot Photographer.
Call us at (831) 600-8729 to inquire! We're always here for you. Newborn sessions are scheduled between 5 and 14 days after birth. To make sure you're on our on-call list, pre-book and adjust when the time comes! We will create beautiful custom made portrait art for your home with your newborn and family photographs in it!

Also check out my business partners and their special offers!

Extended family portraits in Emeryville | San Francisco Bay Area Family Photographer

Fri, 17 Jul 2020 00:47:22 GMT

Verena's extended family portrait session will always have a special place in my heart. It was the first session I did after photography was allowed again with the coronavirus. Verena is originally Austrian (like me!!) and her parents had been in town for months since the birth of little Sandor, unable to return. Because of the coronavirus they were unable to take newborn portraits, but we worked on a family and baby session instead!

Baby Sandor on his wooden log bed - Santa Cruz Family PhotographerVerena's portrait session will always have a special place in my heart. It was the first session I did after photography was allowed again with the coronavirus. Verena is originally Austrian 🇦🇹 (like me!!) and her parents had been in town for months since the birth of little Sandor, unable to return. They weren't sure if they'd ever be able to come again and unite as a family, so we created these very meaningful memories out in Emeryville. These included two albums for both Verena and her parents, as well as three pieces of acrylic wall art. This meant so much to me. ❤️ Today Verena received her products! Right now I mail products with UPS, and viewing/ordering appointments are held over Zoom to make everything as safe as possible for everyone involved. I'm so glad we were able to make this happen despite the circumstances. Thank you Verena, Barney, and Sandor!!

http://www.eyecatchlight.com/family

Verena's parents weren't sure if they'd ever be able to come again and unite as a family, so we created these very meaningful memories out in Emeryville.

Extended family portrait with baby Sandor - Santa Cruz Family PhotographerVerena's portrait session will always have a special place in my heart. It was the first session I did after photography was allowed again with the coronavirus. Verena is originally Austrian 🇦🇹 (like me!!) and her parents had been in town for months since the birth of little Sandor, unable to return. They weren't sure if they'd ever be able to come again and unite as a family, so we created these very meaningful memories out in Emeryville. These included two albums for both Verena and her parents, as well as three pieces of acrylic wall art. This meant so much to me. ❤️ Today Verena received her products! Right now I mail products with UPS, and viewing/ordering appointments are held over Zoom to make everything as safe as possible for everyone involved. I'm so glad we were able to make this happen despite the circumstances. Thank you Verena, Barney, and Sandor!!

http://www.eyecatchlight.com/family

Extended Family Portrait with baby boy Sandor - Santa Cruz Family PhotographerVerena's portrait session will always have a special place in my heart. It was the first session I did after photography was allowed again with the coronavirus. Verena is originally Austrian 🇦🇹 (like me!!) and her parents had been in town for months since the birth of little Sandor, unable to return. They weren't sure if they'd ever be able to come again and unite as a family, so we created these very meaningful memories out in Emeryville. These included two albums for both Verena and her parents, as well as three pieces of acrylic wall art. This meant so much to me. ❤️ Today Verena received her products! Right now I mail products with UPS, and viewing/ordering appointments are held over Zoom to make everything as safe as possible for everyone involved. I'm so glad we were able to make this happen despite the circumstances. Thank you Verena, Barney, and Sandor!!

http://www.eyecatchlight.com/family

These included two albums for both Verena and her parents, as well as three pieces of acrylic wall art. This meant so much to me. ❤️ Today Verena received her products! Thank you Verena, Barney, and Sandor!!

Baby Sandor with Mum and Dad - Santa Cruz Family PhotographerVerena's portrait session will always have a special place in my heart. It was the first session I did after photography was allowed again with the coronavirus. Verena is originally Austrian 🇦🇹 (like me!!) and her parents had been in town for months since the birth of little Sandor, unable to return. They weren't sure if they'd ever be able to come again and unite as a family, so we created these very meaningful memories out in Emeryville. These included two albums for both Verena and her parents, as well as three pieces of acrylic wall art. This meant so much to me. ❤️ Today Verena received her products! Right now I mail products with UPS, and viewing/ordering appointments are held over Zoom to make everything as safe as possible for everyone involved. I'm so glad we were able to make this happen despite the circumstances. Thank you Verena, Barney, and Sandor!!

http://www.eyecatchlight.com/family Baby Sandor with his grandparents - Santa Cruz Family PhotographerVerena's portrait session will always have a special place in my heart. It was the first session I did after photography was allowed again with the coronavirus. Verena is originally Austrian 🇦🇹 (like me!!) and her parents had been in town for months since the birth of little Sandor, unable to return. They weren't sure if they'd ever be able to come again and unite as a family, so we created these very meaningful memories out in Emeryville. These included two albums for both Verena and her parents, as well as three pieces of acrylic wall art. This meant so much to me. ❤️ Today Verena received her products! Right now I mail products with UPS, and viewing/ordering appointments are held over Zoom to make everything as safe as possible for everyone involved. I'm so glad we were able to make this happen despite the circumstances. Thank you Verena, Barney, and Sandor!!

http://www.eyecatchlight.com/family Baby Sandor with his dad - Santa Cruz Family PhotographerVerena's portrait session will always have a special place in my heart. It was the first session I did after photography was allowed again with the coronavirus. Verena is originally Austrian 🇦🇹 (like me!!) and her parents had been in town for months since the birth of little Sandor, unable to return. They weren't sure if they'd ever be able to come again and unite as a family, so we created these very meaningful memories out in Emeryville. These included two albums for both Verena and her parents, as well as three pieces of acrylic wall art. This meant so much to me. ❤️ Today Verena received her products! Right now I mail products with UPS, and viewing/ordering appointments are held over Zoom to make everything as safe as possible for everyone involved. I'm so glad we were able to make this happen despite the circumstances. Thank you Verena, Barney, and Sandor!!

http://www.eyecatchlight.com/family

Below find some of the beautiful album pages and wall art we created for Verena and her family!

Rustic Romance Dining Room with Baby Sandor Wall ArtOur vast selection of wall art is a superb way to display your newborn, family, or wedding photography includes fine art canvases, fine art wooden wall images, acrylic wall art, luxe vivid metal wall art printed on glossy white, photographic prints mounted as a standout, as well as customized frames. We also provide collections that combine different wall art sizes. Wall art is generally coated with protective lacquer, depending on the type. Sizes offered vary and can go up to 40x60 inches. Extended Family Photography Heirloom Album Baby on Wooden Log BedAlbums beautifully display custom newborn, family, and wedding portraits and can be selected from a number of different sizes and cover materials (Italian leather, suede, linen, photographic cover, metal, wood, acrylic) and can exhibit either classic felt (matte) or metallic paper with linen texture. Albums are created with photographic prints that are mounted onto board pages. A spray coating is added to provide protection against fingerprints and UV exposure. Store albums in a temperature-controlled and humidity-controlled environment. Extended Family Photography Heirloom Album Dad with BabyAlbums beautifully display custom newborn, family, and wedding portraits and can be selected from a number of different sizes and cover materials (Italian leather, suede, linen, photographic cover, metal, wood, acrylic) and can exhibit either classic felt (matte) or metallic paper with linen texture. Albums are created with photographic prints that are mounted onto board pages. A spray coating is added to provide protection against fingerprints and UV exposure. Store albums in a temperature-controlled and humidity-controlled environment. And last but not least, this is me with my mobile COVID-19 studio, serving you while you all have so much time at home and while portraits are easy to schedule and plan for! Right now I mail products with UPS, and viewing/ordering appointments are held over video to make everything as safe as possible for everyone involved. I'm so glad we were able to make this happen despite the circumstances.
The Covid-19 mobile photography studio - Santa Cruz Family PhotographerThe Covid-19 mobile studio! :-)
http://www.eyecatchlight.com

eyeCatchLight | Mountain View, Los Altos, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Carlos, Saratoga, Monte Sereno, Scotts Valley, Monterey, Pescadero, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara Portrait and Wedding Photography

Real Estate 360 Virtual Tour Photography in San Carlos | eyeCatchLight Photography

Mon, 22 Jun 2020 23:59:19 GMT

eyeCatchLight's latest real estate virtual tour was caputured this Sunday at 1455 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Carlos!

This listing was a beautiful chic farmhouse style property, and I had so much fun creating these photos as I loved the decor so much. Believe it or not, there were even goats on the property! The owners are moving to Placerville, where their animals have more space!

The MLS property listing is already online thanks to the wonderful work of my business partner, Judy Litteer at Better Homes and Gardens Realtors.

I had the honor to create both the still photographs and the 360 virtual tour, along with an additional walkthrough virtual video tour!

Here are some of the photos - click here for the full gallery of this beautiful real estate sale.

The virtual tour can be seen below. I love making these! As an engineer the technical aspect and processing of these panoramas really speaks to me!

Every home has a unique story and eyeCatchLight tells each of them through high end visual marketing. We understand luxury real estate in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

One of the vital pieces to the groundbreaking marketing strategy of realtors is our 360 Real Estate Virtual Tours. Most real estate clients don't have the luxury of touring a home in person if they are moving from out of state, so it's important to provide an interactive experience for the potential buyer that made them feel as if they were actually touring the house in person; something above and beyond Real Estate Photography. .
We offer the 360 Virtual Tours for their homes in Mountain View, San Jose, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Half Moon Bay, Woodside, Capitola, Aptos, Soquel, and more.

The realtor even has the ability to record a guided video tour using the 360 Tour and can use the tool to virtually meet over video with interested parties.

Spring Limited Edition Sessions | Mountain View Family Photographer

Thu, 08 Mar 2018 02:01:44 GMT

Would you like to own a beautifully customized family portrait but don't feel up for a full-length portrait session?

Would you like to get to know our new wooden product line?

Come on in for our spring limited edition sessions! We offer 5 spots - first come first serve!

This offer includes a 30-minute portrait session in midst a beautiful parkin Mountain View! As a gift with your purchase we include a

beautiful 6x6 wooden keepsake

of the image of your choice!

And here's the special: if you love more than just one image, we offer our high-quality customized heirloom product line from our regular portrait sessions - choose from wall art, albums, and more!

Fill the form to inquire and we will get in touch to find a slot for you on April 15!

A special and unique session for your little family!

Big City Moms Baby Shower | eyeCatchLight Bay Area Maternity and Newborn Photographer

Wed, 07 Mar 2018 02:37:15 GMT

It's been a little quiet on the blog - my sincere apologies!

But don't fret - behind the scenes a lot has been going on. For one, last month I was a Bronze Sponsor for the Big City Moms Baby Shower San Francisco! I also served as an event photographer besides manning our booth at the event, so that was definitely a fun-filled day!

My biggest thanks goes to Verity from Boss Bikkie cookies who was a sponsor and amazing booth-president while I was around portraying the event! Thank you Verity!

We reached out to many amazing mums-to-be and extended a $200 credit coupon for use with a maternity or newborn session (or both)! We prepared little gift and goodie bags with cookies, coupons, cards, and more!

We're so overwhelmed by the positive response - I am still calling many of the attendees to activate their offer, and it's been great to get such beautiful feedback from the community on my photography.

Thank you so much Big City Moms and all the attendees - YOU - for making this event possible! See a few photos below!

Little Alexia Flower Girl | Palo Alto Baby Photographer

Tue, 06 Jun 2017 18:16:22 GMT

It's been a little while that little Alexia posed in front of my camera for her very first professionally created portraits! And what a natural she was at just that - smiles all the way!

Her parents had chosen the incredible Elizabeth F Gamble Garden in Palo Alto for the portraits of their beautiful daughter. And so we went, a team of caring parents and the photographer, carefully placing little Alexia on a dreamy little cushion in midst a sea of flowers.

Together we created a story of life and love and beauty for Alexia's new family. And what an experience - six month old Alexia wasn't like any other - she couldn't stop laughing! I think she's a true lover of life, happily giggling to the "vaca loca" cartoon her beautiful mommy put on to entertain her! It made me realize so many things that we as adults often forget - being in the moment! To us adults, what stood out was that the day was overcast and that we missed the presence of the sun. Not to Alexia - she loved the flowers and laughed and smiled and wiggled her little hands, no matter the day or weather or other perceived obstacles toward happiness!

More importantly though, she didn't just smile for herself - she passed her joy on to all of us and made us spend a morning of sunshine and laughter when actually there was no sun in the sky. See for yourself in the cute little video below how much happiness she created for all of us!

I believe this is what makes life so special - not the smiles you create for yourself. Happiness and gratification does not come from enjoying and savoring beauty and joy alone - it comes from sharing it with others. Little Alexia is aware of this beautiful foundation of life so early on in life. When we adults sometimes forget these things, we can look at our little ones and newcomers for wisdom and skills of love and life - as it is all right there, within the depths of a tiny little heart but a vast and beautiful soul of a beautiful child. <3

Happy smiling and sharing, dear little Alexia!

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View my Family Photography here! Book your own consultation or session with us here!

Hi, I'm Simone,
I'm your new photographer!

I capture moments of raw life and beauty in a new form of storytelling!

I believe what sets me apart as a photographer is a passion to transform a bare photoshoot into a relaxed moment full of happiness and memories - the opportunity to spend personal quality time that is captured visually by an artistic professional! You deserve this unique treat!

Let's write your story together!

The vast bonds of nature and humanity... | San Francisco Bay Area Wedding Photography

Wed, 05 Apr 2017 04:08:20 GMT

On of my recent projects involved a very special wedding project. We took beautiful portraits of Brittany, our lovely bride, on majestic Ocean Beach in San Francisco. This was a special place - a place where the wild waves mingled with her hair, and where the wind blew her dreams all the way to her from out on the horizon. And while we thought we were only the team of stylists and photographers, our dreams were drawn and blown across the sky along with hers, in an amazingly stunning red tinted scene of Californian sunset.

What speaks to me most about photography is the theme of love - in the form of a vast and powerful connection with our surroundings. This connection either appears in a bond with other people or with the vast extent of nature to which my subjects are linked in invisible, yet strongly visual ways. Inevitably, each time I am also connected and drawn in - and this is precisely why my passion for this amazing form of art will never die.

The theme of love appeared in this astoundingly special session through the simple fact that Brittany was a bride and connected to her future and current family in such beautiful ways! But much more importantly, I felt a very powerful bond throughout our large team of stylists, make-up artists, photographers, videographers, florists, and more, a connection that slowly but steadily grew as the afternoon went on towards its grand finale of a majestic sunset. We, on that day on the beach, worked together as a community and with love and personal passion - to make Brittany look fantastic, and to capture her special moments in the very best way! See for yourself what a beautiful setting our stylists were able to create!

Once the sun started to set we were ready to catch Brittany's beauty and the hard work of her make-up artist and stylist on camera. She was beautifully styled in her wedding dress and with vintage flowers in her hair. The breeze blew strongly and reminded me of a beautiful wind of change and future direction that Brittany was embarking on. I particularly fell in love with her majestic large bouquet of flowers. As the sun set, Brittany seemed to gaze far, far away, into a land of dreams whose focus lay in the depths of the horizon of the vast ocean. Not without taking us along with her on her mindful journey into a future of love.

The second theme that really spoke to me in this project was the one of nature. I believe this theme can't be emphasized more strongly than in majestic locations like wide open Ocean Beach. As the sun set and the breeze cooled our faces, we were completely immersed in the scene, and Brittany slowly moved from being the main subject in our photos to be a part of the incredible landscape. This is one of my passionate elements in photography - the marriage of nature with humanity, as it was possible in the portraits below.

Even after such a long time, as a photographer I still learn new things about life from each session. This particular one taught me about the vast immersion of all of us as a community in nature. It seemed to me that we all had our own world of dreams that came true that day on the beach. As time went on, we connected more and more with each other and with the vast beach and the sunset. Each of us for one another and nature for each of us made a dream come true - the realization that life was a wonderful sequence of moments and of connection within a community and within a planet of beauty.

Videography by ML Cornwall

Stylists and Collaborators: Zoe Larkin Photography, Simone Conti Photography, Simply 1 Love Styling, ML Cornwall Films, and many others.

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View my Wedding Photography here! Book your own consultation or session with us here!

Hi, I'm Simone,
I'm your new photographer!

I capture moments of raw life and beauty in a new form of storytelling!

Let's write your story together!

Life is a journey - a lesson taught by little Maeve... | Mountain View Newborn Photography

Wed, 01 Mar 2017 21:37:17 GMT

In one of my recent photography sessions I witnessed a very unique arrival of new life! Little Maeve wasn't like any other - she was in a hurry to soak up the beauty of life and decided to arrive in our world a little earlier than many of her other newborn friends. She just couldn't wait!! A lover of life, and impatient in nature myself, I was already incredibly excited to meet her and to create a lasting portrayal of her arrival when I chatted with her mom before our session. But little did I know what was to come next...

When I finally met little Maeve in person, a surprise awaited me! So young still, but already equipped with so much wit, Maeve presented herself as a uniquely smart young girl! Believe it or not - to protect herself from her strenuous expedited journey, Maeve had decided to pack herself up in a tiny little suitcase so she'd be able to join our ranks unharmed and full of joyful smiles!

That day during our photoshoot, Maeve allowed me to photograph her in her little traveling vessel while she continued her happy journey through life. What an honour! To me, the wisdom of the scene I was capturing was unprecedented. Maeve taught me once again, and in a single instant, and with so much clarity, wrapped up peacefully in her little suitcase, that life is a journey. A vast variety of things happen to us every single day, yet, life never stops, and we never stop traveling. We travel from one day to the next, and no moment is the same as the one before. Sometimes we laugh, and sometimes we cry, sometimes we think we have everything figured out and feel full of bliss, and other times it seems like life falls through our fingers like grains of sand that we can't hold onto. But throughout all of these different times one thing always remains the same: life is a journey, a succession of little spans in time strung together in a beautiful series.

I believe Maeve taught me that day with much intensity what it sometimes takes in life. Some situations are beyond our control, and all we can do is pack ourselves up warmly, brace ourselves, and head out into the world. Sometimes we have to head out even if we don't want to - knowing that life is out there and will bring joy and happiness after the strain and effort of the journey ahead. Maeve did just this - on her own, her very first journey, and after much growing and effort and fighting through it all, she found happiness and joy and sunshine waiting at her doorstep. She mastered her first exam in life, traveling to us, with flying colours and came to us unharmed, beautifully protected in her suitcase cocoon, even though she had to go through so much.

Some other times in life though, we need to sit back and let life unfold, like Maeve's parents did. When I met them, they were full of such wonder and love - a kind that is hard to put into words. Maeve's parents couldn't stop smiling and being grateful that Maeve was with them. They were not like any others. Throughout each of their interactions with Maeve their love shone through so very strongly, and even more so the fact that they did not take Maeve for granted and lovingly cared for her in every possible way. Being invited as the photographer to capture these emotions and bonds was the most rewarding experience for me in a long, long time. I am so thankful that life offered me this moment.

This is what happens to me every time I have the honour of capturing a story of humanity through my lens. I witness love and gratitude and care. I not only experience these qualities in people but get the unique opportunity to capture them and transform them into lasting memories. Nothing compares to a beautiful photography session with beautiful souls. Like little Maeve I can't wait to soak up the beauty of life in every moment! Thank you Maeve and thank you to your mom and dad for offering me such a beautiful experience. <3

Happy traveling!

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View my Newborn Photography here! Book your own consultation or session with us here!

Hi, I'm Simone,
I'm your new photographer!

I capture moments of raw life and beauty in a new form of storytelling!

Let's write your story together!

The wisdom of our elders... | San Francisco Bay Area Newborn Photography

Wed, 15 Feb 2017 22:19:26 GMT

I am often asked what draws me towards the art of photography. My answer is very simple - it's the people. One such example is my photoshoot with little newborn Melody a few days ago.

Unexpectedly, upon arrival at Melody's house, not her mom or dad, but instead her grandmother opened the door and welcomed me into their very clean, beautiful, bright, warm, and spacious place. I immediately felt comfortable - although unsure why I felt such an emotion - but I would find out later why!

Throughout our photoshoot, Melody's grandmother was full of incredible wisdom and always knew just how to make her little granddaughter comfortable and peaceful. She knew when to step back and when to help. She cuddled with little Melody, wrapped her tightly, and always had the right soothing technique at hand. She knew how to calm her and heated her little room up to very warm temperatures - and little Melody absolutely loved it and slept right through our session! A photographer's dream come true!

Many newborn photographers will tell the parents to sit away from their baby while they handle the dressing and posing almost entirely by themselves. I feel very differently - to me a newborn is intimately connected to its elders by beautiful strings of love. More than any grown person, a newborn is still so close to her mom's body and the care of other family members in so many ways. As the photographer I strive to capture these ties of love and need - even in those photos that only show the newborn. It does show! In the photoshoots, in which the mum or dad wish to be part of the photo, these ties emerge even more intimately and prominently.

The reason for me to focus on the loving bonds in my work is that I believe what we really seek out with photography and the related memories is not a specific pose or headband our little one was wearing a few days after birth - more often than not instead we would like to remember what emotions we felt back then, and what emotions our little newborn felt. We long to remember the love and tales of new life - and capturing them often resonates so very strongly with us through visual storytelling.

In almost every photo session, it is inevitable to feel my own emotions - I love working with people and that with all my heart! First of all, the awe of seeing new life grow and thrive is a unique experience for me each time I work with a newborn. But beyond the feeling of witnessing a wonderful moment this particular session had me fully immersed in yet another story of life - the one of an incredibly caring and wise grandmother. Even though I was the photographer, obviously one of the key persons in the photo session, I couldn't help but halt and watch the love and wisdom that Melody's grandmother brought into the moment and into the photo session - and to life in general!

My own childhood was one that was strongly shaped by my grandmother's love. I spent a majority of my time with her, and she was an example for me in ways that I couldn't grasp until I grew old enough to start being an example to younger individuals myself. The love of my grandmother was the one of a fierce and strong woman who did not accept when something or someone was trying to bring her down. She had overcome incredible obstacles in life, yet she had never even once given up. As a true Austrian mountain die-hard, she'd say things like "The bad weeds never die, just like me!" - and without realizing it early on, she was the reason why I was never afraid to succeed as a woman - or a human, in general. Because she did succeed, always, without the blink of an eye. But more importantly, at the right moments, my grandmother knew how to complement the strong and fierce work and life ethic with her capacity to send love and comfort to me and the world around her. She knew how to cook my favourite foods, she dried my shoes on the heater in the basement when I had played in the snow for hours, and she knew how to hold me when the tears were rolling after I had done one of my little acts of mischief again, like running in circles around our house guests who were trying to relax in the sun. She knew how to be fiercely loving.

Melody's grandmother reminded me of that female strength and wisdom - the intuitive knowledge of when to be strong and when to send out love and warmth, and how to integrate these complementing qualities into a personality of integrity. She was calm and peaceful but exuded an incredible amount of longstanding wisdom and experience likely coming from many things lived throughout life.

I feel immense respect for people who are older and wiser than us, and I hope we can connect in an abundance of ways that channels their wisdom towards us and younger generations to come after us. One day I would like to be able to offer just that to the world - all the experiences I have collected throughout life, to those who sometimes struggle and don't always know yet that time passes and flows through our souls like a river to heal and reshape our wounds, stories, and more. That day, Melody's grandmother taught me a lesson of wisdom - and I hope to teach it myself one day.

And this is an example of how photography goes for me almost every time I work with clients. The business of taking a client's portrait very quickly develops away from a work assignment into telling the story of people, of their life, their immemorable moments, their connections. It quickly reminds me of my own experiences and connects me in vast ways to our large community of humanity. It reminds me why we are alive, why we need love, and that we all are the same underneath a multitude of circumstantial layers - we are all created and alive by means of love and emotion.

Happy Wednesday! <3

===

View my Newborn Photography here! Book your own consultation or session with us here!

Hi, I'm Simone,
I'm your new photographer!

I capture moments of raw life and beauty in a new form of storytelling!

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Life... and how to learn the art of living... | Los Altos Newborn Photography

Fri, 03 Feb 2017 01:50:25 GMT

Last Friday I had the honour of photographing little Olivia. I was incredibly excited beforehand and knew that this was going to be a very special occasion - but little did I know just how strongly she would influence me.

I think meeting Olivia this past week left me forever changed and transformed - intensely, yet peacefully. And all that by a little girl only nine days of age...

Olivia showed up in her brand new stroller together with her friend the much-larger-than-her elephant. She also had two adult humans with her, two people who had lovingly decided to create new life. Two humans that were just as mesmerized as I was when they and I realized that the creation of life is much, much more than just a life decision - so very much more than just an addition to our own existence.

Instead I think we all realized that it is nothing short of a true miracle.

The moment I met the eyes of this beautiful new little stranger, I realized that I wasn't just experiencing a moment like any other. It was an instant, in which I witnessed a new, so very tiny little heart that was beating its first few beats, with billions more to come. She had only been here for nine days, yet she knew so much about life already. And she knew even more about love.

For one, when I first met her, she was so very peacefully resting. She didn't mind that all the attention was on her, she was peacefully centered within herself and focusing on just one task - to grow, and, to LIVE.

Later, the sun was shining on her and she cued and made little sounds to communicate her pleasure with us. She was happy, enjoying her very special moment in the park in the sun! She didn't know that a minute later we'd try to take away her blanket for a cute photo, making her a tad bit uncomfortable. Not knowing that anything uncomfortable might come up, she didn't fear it and just happily babbled away and wiggled her little hands and toes at us.

Olivia, in that moment in the sun, didn't know either, that life might bring her difficult moments, that maybe one day she'd be sad or have her heart broken, or that she'd be rejected in some form while she'd be building her career. Instead, she investigated the pretty yellow flowers that we had arranged next to her for the photo. Likewise, after helping her out of her uncomfortable moment by lovingly wrapping her up in warming coziness, she quickly forgot about the painful experience and reverted to smiling and wondering. Instead of worrying about the future, Olivia seemed to have the most passionate interest in what was happening in the now, in that very moment, and what these amazingly interesting flowers were made of!

But that is not where my amazement ended. The way Olivia requested and processed love and happiness exuded an unimaginable amount of respect in me. She had all the confidence it took to ask for her much needed and deserved love and care - and love she was given. She marveled at the flowers and was honoured for doing so. She requested warmth and was given just that. She was just Olivia, and she didn't need to be anything other than she wanted to be or already was. She was loved, and she knew she deserved to be. She was loved, and that's all she needed.

We as grown-ups can learn so much from this. We worry. We regret. We fear. Sometimes we feel unworthy of love or surround ourselves with the wrong people.

But Olivia? She didn't worry. Instead, she wondered. Instead, she soaked up life and love in each moment. She directed sadness at moments when she was truly uncomfortable and then quickly returned to wonder about the world, and all the beautiful flowers in it that she had just discovered. She quickly returned to love, and without a doubt she instinctively knew how to give and receive it.

I believe that Olivia is a true example for the art of living in, as well as loving the moment. She has only lived through very few heartbeats, yet she's already a true master at life and love. I believe Olivia taught me that day that we already know how to live - everything we need to succeed at the simplicity yet vast complexity of life is already within us from day one of our existence.

I believe we can be more like her. Today we don't know that tomorrow we might get injured or lose our job or our partner. And it's not necessary to know. Or to fear, or to worry. Because today we know that we have the beauty of the world and its flowers. Today we know we have love, within us, and from others.

I believe we can be more like Olivia. More at peace, in the moment, wondering about the beauty of life and beginning to love every piece of it. We can - because we did, effortlessly - in those first few days of our lives.

If you would like to learn how to live, meet a newborn, and you will remember with a force that will shake you up and open your eyes in very powerful yet peaceful waves like those of the vast and wide ocean.

Life is lived by instinct. Just dive deeply within your own personal world and you will find an invaluable treasure full of love and wonder. One that is uniquely yours, and the only one that can truly guide you at this marvelous gift called life. You already are everything you'll ever need to be. :-)

Happy living and wondering!

===

View my Newborn Photography here! Book your own consultation or session with us here!

Hi, I'm Simone,
I'm your new photographer!

I capture moments of raw life and beauty in a new form of storytelling!

Let's write your story together!

Little Felix!

Mon, 30 Jan 2017 04:05:40 GMT

It is always incredibly special when I receive my clients' cards with the photos I took for them. ❤️ Little Felix's smile made my heart melt and earned a prime spot on our refrigerator - held up by the magnet made at his first birthday party!

These things remind me of why I love photography so much - the ability to build a personal relationship and the trust to capture someone's personality so closely! Thank you Felix! ❤️

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Hi, I'm Simone, I'm your new photographer!

I capture moments of raw life and beauty in a new form of storytelling!

Let's write your story together!

The vast bonds of nature and humanity... | San Francisco Bay Area Wedding Photography

Hi, I'm Simone, I'm your new photographer!

I capture moments of raw life and beauty in a new form of storytelling!

Let's write your story together!

Life is a journey - a lesson taught by little Maeve... | Mountain View Newborn Photography

Hi, I'm Simone, I'm your new photographer!

I capture moments of raw life and beauty in a new form of storytelling!

Let's write your story together!

The wisdom of our elders... | San Francisco Bay Area Newborn Photography

Hi, I'm Simone, I'm your new photographer!

I capture moments of raw life and beauty in a new form of storytelling!

Let's write your story together!

Life... and how to learn the art of living... | Los Altos Newborn Photography

Hi, I'm Simone, I'm your new photographer!

I capture moments of raw life and beauty in a new form of storytelling!

Let's write your story together!

Little Felix!

Hi, I'm Simone, I'm your new photographer!

I capture moments of raw life and beauty in a new form of storytelling!

Let's write your story together!

Hi, I'm Simone,
I'm your new photographer!

Hi, I'm Simone,
I'm your new photographer!

Hi, I'm Simone,
I'm your new photographer!

Hi, I'm Simone,
I'm your new photographer!

Hi, I'm Simone,
I'm your new photographer!

Hi, I'm Simone,
I'm your new photographer!