Nevada City Commercial Stonehouse Portraits | Sandy

One thing I love about living in Grass Valley is the other amazing wedding vendors in the area. Our NCWeds group is filled with so many creative professionals who get together at least every other month at a venue to network and catch up on each other's lives. One way I connect is with a portrait shoot to get updated portraits for their website + marketing materials. So when Sandy called to schedule a session for her birthday, I was excited to help out!

After getting her hair and makeup done, Sandy and I met at Stonehouse, one of my favorite Nevada City venues. With a short break in the rain, we were able to get exactly what we wanted!

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Nevada City Commercial | Sarah

My favorite thing about portrait shoots is spending time with a person and getting to know them in order to make sure what I capture portrays who that person really is. A perk is that by the time we're done, I have a new friend! Sarah was no exception. She's a beautiful mother of three who lives with her husband in the country and is starting a business to help other women follow their dreams. I can't wait to see the website Phyllis is designing for her!

Simply love this one!

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Grass Valley Commercial | Holy Cow Couture

The constant stream of water coming down from the sky did nothing to hinder the excitement in the studio. Clothes hanging from backdrops, a table covered with jewelry, and the coolest assortment of boots just added to the crowded busyness. Holy Cow Couture was hosting a model shoot to launch the Racing Red spring collection, and the designer, Brittney Coomler, invited me to come along and shoot a little! With Michele as the main photographer, I got to focus more on the details and atmosphere. Austin from Cowboy Fresh was also there to show off his creative western wear. If you can't tell by the pictures, we had a lot of fun!

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Grass Valley Just Because | Robin

I have a theory. While we can spend hours working out, buying every beauty product available, and spending all our free time perfecting the outside, the inner beauty of a person will always shine brighter.

A grandmother of nine, mother of four, wife of 35 years, and home-based business entrepreneur, Robin Longacre is one of the most active people I know. Her heart for helping others led her to purchase my services in an auction that went to benefit our local Child Evangelism Fellowship chapter. The focus of our session was to chronicle her journey to better health. The progress she's made in so little time is amazing! And yet while Robin's outer beauty cannot be discounted, it's her inner beauty that endears her to all those that know her.

Tea in a pretty cup with dark chocolate makes any day better!


The love of her life: Steve.


Yes, two of Robin's adorable grandchildren are Shaylin and Chloe Lydia!


Favorite!


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Grass Valley Wedding Vendor | Illuminated Invitations

I walked around the room, chatting with old friends and making new ones. When I got to Leah of Illuminated Invitations' booth, I fell in love with her work. At the end of the table sat one of the neatest save the date cards. To create it, she had her clients go home and take a bunch of pictures and send them to her. She then took those pictures, lined them up vertically to made them look like an authentic photobooth strip, and fixed on to the main card with a ribbon. So ingenious!

It was fun to be able to spend a little time getting to know Leah and taking some updated pictures for her business. Leah, I can't wait to photograph more of your work at a wedding!

I just couldn't resist little Sam and his cute smile!








These last two sets show designs Leah has created for her clients based on their preferences. They can choose the one they like best or take their favorite aspects of each design and create a new card!




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Grass Valley Studio | Northern California's Wedding Vendors 2

My favorite thing so far about these shoots is getting to know the people better. It's one thing to make a little small talk every couple of months at a meeting and another thing to spend time in real conversation--even if it still had a lot to do with weddings... I think at least half the morning was spent talking, laughing, and eating yummy scones. Thanks girls for making the event a success! I look forward to working with you again in the future!

We shot more than faces this time as Mary brought along some of her beautifully fragrant products.

Michele, of Turning Leaf Photography, graciously allowed us to meet in her studio!

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Nevada City Stonehouse | Northern California's Wedding Vendors 1

I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day or more wonderful people to spend it with. It was the first official Grass Valley/Nevada City photo shoot with the subjects being some of our area's wedding vendors. Rachel, Carola, and Phyllis were so easy to shoot! I so enjoyed getting to hang out with them outside of our usual get togethers and just chat it up! Thanks girls for trusting me to capture a little of you! I hope you love your pictures as much as I do!

We started out with some more typical head shots...

...but quickly moved into more of a real, lifestyle, you pictures!

Makeup and Hair artist Carola May

Studio 9 Design's graphic designer Phyllis

Rachel of Art in Bloom

Favorite of the day!

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Nevada City Commercial | Cole Designs

When Nicole told me that she loved my style, trusted me, and to just do my thing, I felt like giggling and doing a happy dance! By saying that, she became my perfect client and gave me the freedom to create! I was so honored to do this shoot because Nicole is an amazing artist herself. Cole Designs' jewelry is so innovative and beautiful at the same time. I loved each and every piece and could easily imagine wearing a different one every day! Don't these look like they belong at Anthropologie?

Nicole designed the hairpieces as well as the necklaces and earrings!


My fabulous crew built this snowman for the set. Probably the chicest snowman in all of Nevada City!




One of my favorites from the day.






Dev, our model, was such a trooper! She must have felt like an icicle by now, but still continued to look professional and poised, even when I asked her to walk into the stream!


Another favorite! Nicole, the heart and soul behind Cole Designs.


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