Candice and Freddy's Engagement - Carmel CA

Me and my husband Scott drove up to Monterey for a weekend to do photos with Candice and Freddy. Their wedding is going to be next year in Carmel and they wanted to do beach and Forest photos. I met Candace at a wedding we did photographed last year for her friend. She was a bridesmaid and the reason she stood out so much for me is she asked my husband Scott to hold her eyelashes. :) We met at Point Lobos national park and did photos overlooking the rocks. We wanted to do photos on a beach so we went to Carmel River Beach, It is listed as one of the most dangerous beaches in California, but it was beautiful! The sand was actually tiny little pebbles, I guess that is where they get the name pebble beach which was a few miles down the way. We then went to The Carmel Mission, it was so beautiful and old. I could not believe how many beautiful places there where to take photos. Candace and Freddy where so much fun to take photos of, we are so excited to do their wedding, it is going to be a blast!!!

What's new, old, and why we have been so crazy lately!

Lots have things have happened since our last blog and not all good. First I want to apologise to all my existing clients. Our work flow has be halted for two weeks so far because of a bad thing that has happened to us.   As you may or may not know we where moving into a new studio with another photographer (we will not say her name because we believe if you don't have nothing nice to say then don't say nothing at all) 

Well we started moving in, had a key, and even did a shoot there and she decided that she did not want us to move in after all. The worst part is the way we found out that she did not want us in there was she changed the locks and had the stuff we had moved in sitting inside by the front door. Well because of this we lost our lease on our current studio and where out on the street. I was absolutely devastated by this, I worked so hard to get where I am and spent a lot of money on tenant improvements for our other studio. We would not have left this place if it was not for her word that we could move in. I cannot believe that someone that has been in the industry so long could have such low morals and integrity. With that said we are in the search for a new studio. We did find a place we feel that will be a great place to shoot it is at 21st and P in the heart of midtown. We are very excited to be a part of it, it has a brick wall, stressed wood wall, and is hugh with lots of potential. We are still however looking for an office in the area, so if anyone knows anyone with about 200 square feet or more for a reasonable amount of rent, send them our way. 

Besides that.... What's new!

On another note, you will notice some exciting changes happening. I am bringing on a partner Lindsey Banks, and what you see are our new logos. We will be called Banks Yorston Studios . You will also notice that we will soon have a new portrait website.  It should be up and running within the week. We will post a blog when that is up. 

We are also starting to work with two local Modeling and Acting Agents in getting deals for Models and Actors by offering a special on modeling and Acting portfolios.  After doing a lot of research we now offer packages for inspiring actors and models. There are a lot of not so honest agents and companies that charge as much as $695 just for a 4 look shoot, that does not even include anything. You can find that information once we launch our new portrait website.

AFWPI Calendars!!

Well fun things are happening in the Association of Wedding Professionals world. They are doing 3 calendars Gals of AFWPI, Guys of AFWPI, and Couples of AFWPI. I was picked to be one of the gals of and me and my husband Scott where picked to be one of the Couples. We are trying to figure out what kind of shoot we want to do for that. I will also be photographing Mike Regan and Laurie Smazel for their spreads... Fun stuff!!

What's to come in upcoming blogs!

Because of our hiccup I have been slacking on our blog, I will soon be posting Kristin & Chad's Wedding at Wilson's Vinyard and Rene and J.P. at Sogno Winery. 

I also will be posting some cute photos that I took of baby Kingston at the new studio.

I am excited to be going to Monterey Sunday to do an engagement shoot for Candace and Freddy. Next week I will be going to Napa to do an engagement session during a grape stomping festival!!! Cool Stuff!!

Also, Casey and Larissa's wedding is this weekend so look for their photos to come. 

We thank all of our amazing clients for being so supportive and understanding through a VERY difficult time. We promise we will make it up to you with amazing customer service once we get settled in our new place. If you need anything please reach out to us, we love to hear a friendly voice. Let us know what you think of our new logos!!! 

Here is our NEW logo for our Boudoir/Glamour Division

Here is the new logo, we are so excited there are so many new and exciting things happening.
OUR NEW STUDIO
It is official, we are moving to a much larger studio. We will start moving the studio hopefully next week. It is located in Gold River off of Coloma. It is not only much larger but it has a great viewing room, large shooting area, and a very large office area to work in.
SEXY GIRL PHOTOGRAPHY IS BORN Our new logo is officially launching our new division. Jodi Yorston and Lindsey Banks are going to together into our partnership to launch this new company. We have some amazing contracts being worked out right now and don't be surprised if you start seeing our logo around town! We will tell you more once we are underway and running with this promotions company.
HALLOWEEN PHOTO SHOOT We are telling you now, we are booking our schedule for our halloween special. Bring in your ghosts or goblins for $25 and it includes a free 5x7. We are only doing it for two days, October 10th and 11th. Spaces are limited so book your session now.

Helena and Matthew's Wedding August 8, 2008

We met up with Helena & Matthew at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Helena arrived in a white limo with her bridal party. Her make-up and hair resembled Audrey Hepburn. She got dressed and we went into the garden. It was so beautiful with a koy pond. We spent some time taking photos of Helena and her girls, enjoying the great weather and beautiful grounds. We finished up with the girls and got them inside for the arrival of the guys. There where a ton of guys and we while we where waiting on one of the guys I got some photos of Matthew and the guys that where there. When all the guys got there we got some fun photos in front of the church and in the gardens. Once we where done with a majority of the photos we went inside to prepare for the ceremony. The ceremony was in a beautiful church with the most amazing alter I have every seen. The church was a little dark and challenging since we could not use flash per their request. The ceremony and Mass was a little bit over an hour. Helena and Matthew and their parents had a receiving line (the fastest I have every seen before) After the receiving line we got quick photos of the bridal party and immediate family. Helena and Matthew where greeted by their friends and family as they exited the church to bubbles. We then headed to the reception site The Croation American Cultural Center, a interesting task because we had to go from South Sac to Auburn Blvd right in the middle of rush hour traffic. We arrived without incident to the reception site with plenty of time to take family and couple photos. It was awesome, we had so much time to take photos that we actually did not have to rush around!!! After some fun photos we went inside for dinner. Dinner as always we amazing. Once dinner was over the toasts started and then cake cutting (no smashing!!!) and then into their first dance. Matthew is not a dancer and it appeared that the two got dance lessons (great job Matthew!) They then danced with their parents and then went into group dancing. WOW was a crowd! Everyone got down to the music young and old. After a little more dancing there was the bouquet and garter toss. After more dancing half of the crowd was outside enjoying the nice beautiful evening the rest boogied down inside. After a night of dancing Helena and Matthew made an exit to their Lincoln Town Car where they headed off to their hotel.

Nicole and Curtis' Wedding

Nicole and Curtis met up with us at the Holy Trinity Church in El Dorado Hills. Curtis was the first to arrive with his guys. We put their boutonnieres on and took them to the back of the church. We had a lot of fun taking their photos, which included having them jump and just be themselves. Once we where done with the guys, we went inside to await Nicole's arrival. She got ready in a large room with her girls. Because of time restraints we did some photos in the room and went into the church to await the ceremony. The ceremony was a lot of fun for a catholic ceremony, the priest was very entertaining including the congregation in with the ceremony. After the ceremony we did some photos on the alter with family and bridal party and where off to the reception.
We have shot many times at Sogno Winery and where excited to work there again. A little apprehensive since we heard that the owner was running the show but where pleasantly surprised that everything went very smoothly. It also probably helped that Nicole's father ran events much larger than this for a living.
Upon arrival we rounded up the bridal party to do photos. Because the sprinklers where on we where limited where we could do photos. We found a nice area where it was not too wet and got underway. Nicole's father was amazing by holding up our deflector shade to get the perfect lighting. (Thank YOU for that!!!) We got the photos done in a reasonable amount of time and went into the reception. We where excited because the caterer was Pasquale T's out of Auburn and my favorite food in Italian food. We ate the delicious food on the deck while visiting with Nicole's Aunt and Uncle. Once the food was done we quickly went into the toast. Curtis' dad (also his best man) started off the speeches. Then Nicole and Curtis where surprised by Nicole's sister and her Dad playing a song for them that Nicole's sister wrote for them. It was then Nicole's dad's turn to talk. I noticed that there where some kids creating a little havoc so I called over one of the little girls that was dancing. She assisted me with some of the photos then decided she did not want to leave my side. :) While I was shooting the rest of the toasts she stood by my side holding on to my leg, I am sure to much delight of her parents. I have to say that is was the funniest thing I had happen to me to date and I have had some doozies. :)
Once the toast was done then we went to the cake cutting, of course Nicole and Curtis where nice and did not smash cake in each others face. While their guests where enjoying the wonderful cake I stole Nicole and Curtis for some sunset photos in the vineyard. We got some amazing photos including my new favorite where it looks as if the bride is holding the groom by the back of his shirt. Once we where done with that we came back in and went into the dances. Nicole and Curtis danced together and then Nicole and her dad danced together. I doubt there was a dry eye in the house. It was a very touching father daughter dance where at the end they called over Curtis with tears in their eyes and had a group hug. It was then Curtis' turn to dance with his mother. An amazing woman she got my heart the way she looked at him and it tugged at my heart strings because I pictured my son's wedding day where I would be in this position. Once the 'formal' dancing was done they went into group dancing and they partied down.