I recently watched the movie The Cove and it wasn’t easy.  I’ve always loved dolphins since I grew up watching Flipper.  My mom after a while though wouldn’t let me watch anymore because I would always end up crying!  Well, this movie is well done and utterly important and it’s crucial that change happens and soon.  I’ve grown up with animals and not known a day without them since a child.  Whether dogs, cats, cows, horses, birds they are just a cause that is important to me.  Dolphins too.

I have to admit I did do the swim with the dolphins before I knew any of this was happening.  It was the most amazing experience and while I will never forget it I do regret it.  I felt so at peace with these creatures and I know they felt my feelings, admiration and love.  For most of the “swim” there were 3 dolphins that chose to stay with me and 2 that were with the 12 others.  It was amazing, incredible and one of the most inspiring moments of my life.  I know these creatures need to live and breathe and commune in the world with us. Looking into their eyes is a memory I’ll never forget.

Please, please take a moment if you care to The Cove site.  Spread the word!  The sad irony here is that many Japanese don’t know the dolphin kills even take place and sadly dolphins are laden with mercury and their flesh is eaten by their own children and disguised as expensive fish.  Mercury poisoning is preventable and an utterly horrible existence to suffer.  Please take action and share on Twitter, Facebook, your blog and anywhere you can.  Thank you!

I recently had the absolute pleasure of photographing little Angel this week.  He’s a total charmer!  He’s a patient at UCSF unfortunately but they are taking great care of him.  His older brother and mom visit him every day and the nurses just love and pamper him like crazy.  He has the most amazing temperament being confined in a hospital.  I’ve been working with Moment by Moment for years and so highly recommend them and the idea of giving families a chance to photograph their kids in sometimes very difficult situations.  I wish all the best to this wonderful family.  Please visit www.momentbymoment.org and your support is greatly appreciated.

Just got this email today and have to say it made my day!  It means so much when people are happy with how I work and what I produce for them.  Thanks guys! I’m really looking forward to the big day ahead!

Thanks so much for shooting our civil ceremony.  We love the pictures a lot, and I was impressed at what you caught among the parental pictures.  They turned out better than I could have imagined given the challenges.  My dad was smiling in every picture — and those were genuine smiles. Over that weekend, my dad told me how much he really likes you, and he’s man of few words.  He felt very comfortable.  My mom was also very complimentary, and she’s not one to give compliments.

Nirmala

I love my photo albums. I know the ways of the big heavy album have been taken over by scrolling on your computer screen but you miss out on that tactile experience this way and it just doesn’t have the same feel.  No matter what I print up my photos from my travels, family functions or whatever it may be.  I recently came into photos as a young girl at my grandma and grandpa’s farm in Saginaw, Michigan.  The farm is still actually there and my dad lives there now.  Looking at these images really bring back memories.  The older images of my grandparents are just so dear.    Your history is forever recorded in your photographs.

• Take the time and effort to keep them safe in archival albums or boxes.
• Keep the organized and ready to pass on to your loved ones.  Write names and dates on the back so there is no confusion later.
• If you have film images you can get the negatives or photographs themselves scanned for safe keeping.  Make sure that the images are appropriate sizes if you want to print them later.  A square image should be scanned square and printed square.  A good lab can do this for you.

So I’m sharing a little bit of my history and maybe even give some of you a little better sense of the big City girl I am today!

Lily did a great doing her first head shots.  She’s applying at NYU Tisch (been there myself!) and in LA.  Best of luck Lily I’ll look for your name in lights!

It was a girl for this couple and just days after these photos were taken!  Pregnancy portraits can be fun and awkward all at the same time but Priscilla really hung in there and made it happen. Congrats on Makayla! If you think you want to do pregnancy photos I have some recommendations:

1. Don’t wait too long!  I find the best time is in the 8th month.  You are obviously pregnant but it isn’t too uncomfortable yet.
2. Feel sexy!  You are beautiful and while it is a new stage in life you are beautiful and it is great to do some sexy shots too.  See Karen’s photos from my post last month!
3. One of my favorite things is to where your husbands clothes. Maybe his shirt, boxers etc.  It’s a way of integrating him into the image even if it is just your belly.

Charlotte was radiant and her groom dashing in velvet on New Year’s Eve for their wedding at San Francisco’s City Hall.  Both from Prague but living they decided to celebrate on the last day of the year.  City Hall was busy actually!  San Francisco’s City Hall really is the most stunning of places.  The architecture is just amazing and even if your wedding is 4 minutes long it’s definitely memorable.  Just a few snaps from the day and congrats to you Martin and Charlotte!

Chester stole the show this morning to be sure.  I love photographing pets of any kind.   This lively pup was hard to follow so what to do?  Three things:

• Let him do his thing of course!  It was us following Chester’s lead to be sure.  But this keeps him happy and gives great opportunity
• Treats!  Crucial for the obvious reasons!
• Work fast!  The attention span of most pets is pretty limited.  You can tire them out for a more portrait shot after getting the action shots when they are excited and playing.

Arista Winery is such an amazing place.  The fall, being my favorite time, is especially beautiful here.  The vines, the trees, bushes and rolling hills are just fabulous!  So this was an amazing day to be sure.   The colors were fabulous and this simple, elegant affair was a definite success.  The flowers were by Dragonfly Florals and the catering was by Park Avenue Catering.  See for yourself!

What a beautiful country.  I always love traveling just at the beginning of the winter season.  The light is ten times more dramatic, far less tourists to contend with and the mood is always kind of more festive with the oncoming of the December holidays.  Last year I walked the streets of Auschwitz almost alone, saw the festivities of the holidays in town squares like Berlin and Vienna and Warsaw. It’s just more amazing than the blue sky and green grass of summer in my opinion.  So this year was a great follow up.  The skies poured on us often but left such amazing scenes to photograph.  You just don’t get that in summer.  So please enjoy my somewhat touristy photos and more artistic visions that happened during my time in Ireland.