As I said earlier today, I was done editing the photos from the Stone Wedding and was going to get them ready to post.  Well, as you can see they are ready to post.  I was able to find some time, in between cleaning around the house, to get them sized and ready for the web.  Before I begin though, there are a few quick things I would like to point out.  There is now a 2010 folder in the photography section where these updates have been posted in the "NEW" folder.  However, these images are from 2009 so the are archived under "Weddings" in 2009.  I don't think it will confuse to many people, but I figured it wouldn't hurt to point it out.

Chelsea and Dustin Stone were Married on December 19, 2009.  I was more than honored to be a part of the wedding capturing the moments from the day.  When I got back I found a few photos that were just calling to have some textures added to them.  They ended up being most of my favorites of the ones I touched up.

The music box.

This was my favorite moment from the wedding.  After Chelsea promised to do her part in protecting Dustin from Zombies in her vows to him, Dustin came back and promised to protect her from Zombies also.  Two people who are willing to protect each other from the impending Zombie attack and write about it in their vows without the other knowing they did, are truly meant for each other.

I always tell the couple that if they have any ideas for any photo let me know.  You only get to have this day once so have fun with it and enjoy the day.  This was their idea, however I loved the photo and so happy I was able to take it.

A great laugh right?  Well anyways, check out all the other photos when you have a chance as there are some wonderful moments that, I think, really managed to capture the love they share for each other.

Christmas is such a wonderful time.  We let Faith set out some cookies and milk for Santa Clause, but Faith decided that Santa would much rather have some Bunny Milk (Chocolate Milk).  She had a great time getting everything together and was very thrilled the next morning to come out and see all the Christmas Gifts that Santa Brought for her.  Christmas with kids is just a wonderful time.

For a while now I thought that if I put my camera out in the living room and set it up to take photos every minute for the whole night that I could possibly get a photo of Santa in the act.  So I got the camera set up and had it take photos every minute for the whole night.  I checked the camera the next morning and well... He sure is fast.  Here are two photos taken at 11:03pm and 11:04pm when Faith was asleep.

That's right... Santa got everything in place in less than a minute.  He sure is good.

Have a Merry Christmas!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Wow, 2009 sure did come and go quick now didn't it?  It seems like just yesterday I was out taking photos of the Butterflies in Avila (which reminds me that they are back and I should go again). I have some new years resolutions that I hope to be able to keep.  The big one is to be a better Christian and to learn to be a great Husband and Father after Laura and I get married in March.  I've always been pretty good about it, but there is always room for more improvement, and I hope that being even more positive into the new year will make me that much better of a person and influence to others.  I also plan on using my camera more.  That may sound weird sure, but in 2009 I was able to work with a lot of new clients and some very wonderful people that I'm excited to work with more this year.  With all that new photo work I began to start leaving my camera behind on trips because I had so many other photos to work on.  I didn't want to take random photos of clouds and flowers because I felt that those where just more photos to work on.  My fear of my hobby turning into a job started to become true.  However, I think I will be able to manage my time better and get in a lot of fun photos that aren't the children, engagement, and wedding photos that I love to take.  I love working with people and being able to share in their memories and catch those magical moments one frame at a time.  I've watched children grow up this past year, been to some amazing Weddings, and overall had a wonderful time.  So lets hope that I'm able to do that and more this year.  More children, More Engagements, More Portraits, More Weddings, and More Love.  All that and post more photos this year than I did last year, and with a honeymoon in Paris... I think that's going to be very possible.  Oh yeah, you read right... this year I'm taking Laura for a week long get away to Paris in April, and I can't wait to come back with hundreds of photos from the city of lights.  I already have some unique ideas ready.

Well with a new year it's time to say goodbye to the photos from last year... so I'm going to post some of my favorite images from the year, if you would like to check out all the photos you are more than welcome to in the photography section.  2009 had a lot of great images and I know you don't have time to look through all of them, but here are some.  I also have some favorites from the Stone Wedding that I shot on the 19th... but I'm still working on those.  So check back soon as I would like to have those done pretty quickly here.  There are some really great shots in there I can't wait to share.

So here is to the best of 2009...

Butterflies like to spend their winter in a little spot in Avila... this is only a small part of the bunch.

The Car fire that happened right outside the station that I was able to get to before police and fire responded.  No one was hurt except the car.

Sean getting his hair cut for the first time in over 8 years... and I'll say it.  He looks good.  I will never forget Paul not recognizing him when he first saw him with a shaved head.  Great stuff.

Jennifer and Jake getting Married, such a great time with so many friends.

The Comeau Wedding was way too much fun.  It was seriously the most relaxed wedding I've ever been to.

The guys at Element asked if I could get some photos of them getting slimed for a big event they had over the summer.  Of course I couldn't say no.  There were a lot of good photos, but the one bellow where Aaron tried to slime all three of them but only hit Shaun was a crack up.

Then there is always the trip to the Lake.  We all come home beat up and sore, but we always go back for more.

To me this shot reminds me of the end of a 50's movie or something.

We didn't plan on the plane being there, but it worked out nicely.

I've always wanted to get a photo of a couple standing in the water, and they were more than happy to get wet for some really cool photos.

This was a last minute photo we took, and I just like the way the shot turned out, couldn't have planned it better if I tried.

My friend (again) David Albert asked me to shoot some engagement photos, and I'm so stoked to shoot their Wedding in June.

The image came out so soft, and just looks amazing in Black and White.

Well, these really aren't all my favorites.  There are way too many and I don't want to take up too much of the page posting all of them.  But again if you wish you can look through the whole 2009 folder.  Take care and God bless, have a wonderfull 2010!!!

Sunday was baptized early this month on the 13th.  Now that the holidays are slowly coming to an end, I've been able to find some time to work on the photos and get them ready for you.  It was a nice baptism and a great time.  The church doesn't have the best natural light coming in to take photos without the use of a flash, but needless to say I got some good photos.  Here are some and to see the rest you know where to go.

So I hope you enjoy the photos and take care of yourself on the this blue moon new years eve.  Take care and check back tomorrow as I post my favorite photos of 2009.  Happy New Year!

So I have my first Christmas present for you.  PHOTOS!!!!  My buddy Pauldo wanted to get some family photos done for Christmas presents... and so of course he called me, and of course we went out with him and his cousins and rocked some photos.

We went to my favorite beach up the coast and got some fun photos.  I was also able to shoot some photos of Paul's girlfriend, Erin, with her sister Caitlin.  Some really fun photos to look through.  So here are some of the photos and if you want to see them all just click on over to the photography page.  I'm sure you'll find your way.

Awwww... Sisterly love...

So you have yourselves a very merry Christmas and please check back tomorrow/Saturday for a fun Christmas update.  I really hope to get to it in the morning... but it is Christmas so I may be busy with the little one.  Take care of yourselves and remember that Jesus loves you, he was born and died for you.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Christmas doesn't really arrive at your home until you have a tree and presents wrapped and sitting under it.  Well yesterday we finally got our tree and started getting ready for Christmas.  Sure it's a bit late, but we've been busy and better late than never.  Tonight we get to decorate the tree and get the house full of the Christmas cheer.  I'm excited and starting to wish I had more time earlier to get it all done so I could enjoy it longer.  But it's ok.  I'm hoping to do a post Christmas day with two really fun photos on there, so I hope you're able to check back Christmas day or the day after to see some fun photos.

That is all for now, a short update I know.  I'm getting my office put together in the new place tonight, and then I get to start working on some wedding images to post.  So that will be fun too.  Have a Merry Christmas and check back soon.

It's weird how fast 2009 is coming to an end.  I was moving files around getting ready for this update and realized that in less than a month I'll stop adding to the 2009 folder and be creating a new folder for next year.  A folder with new trips, new weddings (including my own), new kids, and new memories.  It's so weird looking at life and time through a photo album.  But this is the way I look at things, and in all honesty I hope you enjoy looking at my life, and maybe going back to some of the older albums and seeing some of my memories that are stored there.

But enough of that and onto the new photos.  I'm starting with Faith because those are the photos that were taken first, not because she's my daughter and my favorite (even though she is... but you understand why).

Faith at the Beach

We were at the beach and so Laura decided to teach faith how to poke the sea life and play with star fish.  She had fun running around the beach, climbing the rocks, and exploring the cold ocean.  These are some of my favorite photos from that early afternoon a couple weekends back.

 She's going to be a model.  I'm sure of it now.

 A proud rock collector.  Like her Great Grandma.

Sunday Malone - Newborn

In these first photos of Sunday she is only 16 days old.  OK, not first photos... but first photos I took of her anyway.  And there are sure to be more down the road.  My good friends Jennifer and Jake had their second child together late in November making Nathan a big brother.  She really is a little cutie pie.  Check out these photos and the rest in the photography section.

Isabella Bumgardner - 5 months

Isabella's mom contacted me about a month ago to do some photos for her.  Unfortantly our dates just never seemed to work out.  Finally we found a Sunday in December to get together to get some family photos together.  The weather however did not get the memo.  With a big storm coming in it was cloudy, cold, and windy.  And all those together are no fun to be outside in.  Especially when you're trying to look your best for a photographer.  I really feel for them... I do.  I was there.

But they pushed through it and got some amazing photos out of it.  Most newborns would have put on a very understandable fit being outside in the cold... but not Isabella.  She just went with it and was such a joy to work with.  Sure she wasn't full of the usual smiles I know she carries around all day, but regardless I was able to find some good moments in that short time we were out playing.  So in the end I got some great photos of Isabella, her big beautiful blue eyes, and her parents for you all to enjoy.

 Her eyes are so blue, and so clear I can see myself in them...

...Seriously...

Enjoy all the photos and I hope to have some more photos up for you by Christmas time.  Till next time enjoy some photos and memories.

There is a good reason to the lack of updates.  Basically we'll put the blame on Super Mario Bros. Wii.  Laura bought the game for us over Thanksgiving and it has been wonderful.  The game is such a blast to play, and the multi player mode is a crack up when a lot of people are involved.  And it is just a blast for Laura and I to go through the game together.  The best part about it is that she is good at the game, so at no point is she slowing me down.  And when it comes to Video games it's all about me.  I'm just kidding of course.  I did finally take a break this week to work on some Christmas photos though and that was good... however I'm not allowed to post them or talk about who it was for until after Christmas.  Though this weekend I have a trip to LA and some more photos to take so there will be a good post sometime next week.

Beyond that life is good.  I'm sad that November went by so fast, and I already miss Thanksgiving.  But then again it's CHRISTMAS!!!  So that means more good times with Friends, Family, and Jesus.  It's a good time of year and I'm thankful for it.  I actually made my first Christmas list in many years.  It was a lot of fun.  Laura gets the easy shopping though... I just give her my credit card and let her do all her Christmas shopping online and have sent to me to wrap for her later.  Go ahead... you're allowed to laugh at that.  She is tough to shop for though.  Trust me.

Sunday was all about photographing children.  Little, tiny, cute, fresh children.  It was a good day and I managed to get some good photos of both of them.  First up is Hunter...

Hunter Arebalo

Hunter's mom got a hold of me through myspace a couple weeks ago and wanted some photos of her son.  She felt that she had waited too long to get some photos of Hunter while he's still a little guy.  I always say that it's best to get photos in the first 15 days because after that kids just grow up way to fast.  With that being said, it's never too late to get some fun photos of a kid.  So we meet at Rice Ranch park and had some fun with the camera.  And with Christmas right around the corner Hunter was more than ready...

This photo really reminds me of Calvin and Hobbes.  There is nothing like a good stuffed friend to play with.

"Hey Bear, look at that cloud.  It looks like a grasshopper with a cape."

Hunter was also a bit sleepy for the shoot.  But sleepy kids make great photos.

Isabella King

That's right.  Matt King has a child.  Matt King has reproduced.  Hanging out as kids skating around town none of us would have thought that Matt would be the first to get married and have a kid.  Amazing how life can be sometimes.  But Isabella really is a lucky girl to have such wonderful parents.  She was a fun kid to take photos of, and we had a lot of fun playing with the camera.  And lucky for her she got Matt's face.  We always thought Matt looked like a little baby girl.  I kid cause I care though... and my congratulations to both of them.

She was all bundled up for most of the shoot because it was a chilly Sunday afternoon.

All the shoots over the weekend were great, and if you missed yesterday's update check down bellow for that.  Enjoy all the photos and have a happy Thanksgiving!!!