Photographer’s Blog

A great family and a great family portrait!: Enchanted Forest, Moss Beach, CA Family Portraits

Sometimes its just fun to be me 🙂 Tina and Anthony have such happy little men in their lives, and how can they not, they are so wonderful to be around themselves. I had so much fun capturing this very short shoot. We had to schedule around little man's bedtime hour, so the thought of any of my sunset shoots were out…. we chose the forest and it turned out awesome!

I had geared myself up for Deegan (3 1/2) and Decklyn (1) running in opposite directions, getting into mischief, and basically making me work… oh the thought of it! Boy did they prove me wrong. They were so happy in life that I hardly had to do anything but capture their smiles… well and it helped that they thought I was funny… and if anyone has ever seen me in action, funny kind of means crazy but you can't help but laugh. It works.

Thank goodness they were easy, because sure enough Decklyn had enough early on but gave me enough to put together some amazing images.

Thank you Lourenco Clan! Here are some images:

Portraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Fitzgerald Marine Reserve / Enchanted Forest / Family PhotographyPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Fitzgerald Marine Reserve / Enchanted Forest / Family PhotographyPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Fitzgerald Marine Reserve / Enchanted Forest / Family PhotographyPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Fitzgerald Marine Reserve / Enchanted Forest / Family PhotographyPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Fitzgerald Marine Reserve / Enchanted Forest / Family PhotographyPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Fitzgerald Marine Reserve / Enchanted Forest / Family Photography

Great new spot! Engagement Session Stowe Lake, San Francisco, CA

I love Stowe Lake in Golden Gate Park! I have the honor of capturing Irina and Todd's wedding this June. I am so excited to capture this for these two. Irina and Todd had such a sexy style and great artistic vision when planning their engagement session, that I can only imagine what their wedding day will be like. Irina really wanted to rent paddle boats on Stowe lake, mainly for their old world style bridges. On top of the great bridges and Row boats, this location even has a great cascading waterfall! It was perfect. But bring along a couple that has such amazing chemistry,the shoot couldn't have been any better! Here are some shots from this great sexy, romantic, and fun session.

Portraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Engagement Photography / Stowe Lake / Golden Gate Park / San Francisco / Paddle BoatPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Engagement Photography / Stowe Lake / Golden Gate Park / San Francisco / Paddle BoatPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Engagement Photography / Stowe Lake / Golden Gate Park / San Francisco / Paddle BoatPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Engagement Photography / Stowe Lake / Golden Gate Park / San Francisco / Paddle BoatPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Engagement Photography / Stowe Lake / Golden Gate Park / San Francisco / Paddle BoatPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Engagement Photography / Stowe Lake / Golden Gate Park / San Francisco / Paddle BoatPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Engagement Photography / Stowe Lake / Golden Gate Park / San Francisco / Paddle Boat

A Fun Engagement Session! Private Residence and San Gregorio Beach

Every now and then I come across a client or couple that I am so thrilled I get to be a part of their lives, even if its just at a glimpse. Lindsay and Jason are getting married October 10th at the Half Moon Bay Golf Links. Lindsay and Jason have such a zest for life, and are just good energy to be around. When they commissioned me to capture their wedding, I was more than thrilled!

Jason, a specialist for golf course greens (I know there is a technical name for this, but I can't think of it), suggested we capture some shots up at a clients house of his located in Portola Valley…. and then finish up at the beach in San Gregorio. I'm always game for new locations, but oh my goodness, what a beautiful place they took me to!

This was, in my opinion, a mansion! From their own hockey rink, soccer field, and putting green, I won't even mention the sunken bed that looks on to movie theater style entertainment room. It was amazing. Oh, and I will never forget the hidden door that leads us to the roof access…. it took us a while to find that:)

This is truly a beautiful couple inside and out, and I am so glad they found each other… and I get to be a part of their special day!

Here are some images from that engagement session:

Portraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Engagement Photography / HMB Golf Links / San Gregorio Beach / Atherton Mansion / Portola ValleyPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Engagement Photography / HMB Golf Links / San Gregorio Beach / Atherton Mansion / Portola ValleyPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Engagement Photography / HMB Golf Links / San Gregorio Beach / Atherton Mansion / Portola ValleyPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Engagement Photography / HMB Golf Links / San Gregorio Beach / Atherton Mansion / Portola ValleyPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Engagement Photography / HMB Golf Links / San Gregorio Beach / Atherton Mansion / Portola ValleyPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Engagement Photography / HMB Golf Links / San Gregorio Beach / Atherton Mansion / Portola Valley

One of my favorite sessions: Beach Portraits, Half Moon Bay Family Portraits

I had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful women by the name of Lovene a few years back, we had a fun photo shoot down by the Ocean Colony Beach…. she has such amazing spirit and strength. Fast forward a few years, and I get a call from her wanting to commission me to capture a dear friends of hers from Oklahoma. Always the best compliment! Not knowing what to expect, we chose the beach. I failed to ask the age of her children (which I always do), and expected them to be younger, so had pack my monkey puppet and beach pail, and headed out to meet this family. Oooops, this is a grown family, and it wasn't going to be that kind of shoot 🙂 Live and learn. Clyde and Colleen, their two boys and their wives were on a visit to the west coast… grandchildren left at home. They got lucky and were blessed with one of our magical fall nights on the beach with a minus tide. There was so much love in this family, it radiated in the images. I always love when I can capture the soul too, and that is exactly what was happening on this night.

And of course, when I get the images back, I succeeded by producing tears of joy. Yeah me. Towards the end of the slideshow, Colleen had mention in passing that Clyde was sad the day of the shoot, not wanting to pry, I let it go as that. As a follow up visit, she then confided in me that she has terminal cancer and this was her big trip out with her family. Clyde was sad that day, because he knew they were capturing something more than just an image.

I am honored to have met this family, even before I knew the fate, but now I feel blessed to have crossed paths with them. May the love they have for each other get them through this difficult transition. Thank you, Lovene, for bringing them into my lives, even if it was just for a moment.

Here are a few images of that day:

Portraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Family Reunion Photography / Low Tide / Half Moon BayPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Family Reunion Photography / Low Tide / Half Moon BayPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Family Reunion Photography / Low Tide / Half Moon BayPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Family Reunion Photography / Low Tide / Half Moon BayPortraits by Shanti / Shanti Duprez / Family Reunion Photography / Low Tide / Half Moon Bay