A Different Type of Engagement Session: Love and Butts

Even though we are primarily Southern and Central Coast Photographers, we will travel anywhere.  We love travel and exploration, they are both such important factors in our life and creative process. Destination photography is one of my guilty pleasures so when Riki and Hayden asked me to come up to Sacramento for a little Norther California adventure, who could resist?

I love what I do, and I am blessed that I have a lot of clients who are willing to try new things and experiment with their posing.  People who are willing to break out of the fold and be brave inspire me to no end.  People who are daring and are full of life, are what make life dope.  Riki and Hayden are such an adventurous couple and they wanted to me to take some photos of them while they were out hiking, an activity that they both love to do together. Okay, seems simple enough.  And then midway through they wanted to get Naked and take awesome photos. What!? That’s so awesome, let’s do this!

We went on a trail near Sacramento, with a beautiful river and big bridge. It is called the Mountain Quarriers Railroad bridge.  I highly recommend this area for any type of adventurous couple’s session, it isn’t that hard to get down to, but still a fun little hike.  The areas around Sacramento allow for some of the most scenic natural scenery of California.  The nakedness was not planned, Riki just said, “Hey let’s get naked!” And I was like? What!? Yes? Nude photography as an engagement session? Okay, that’ something I’ve never done before, let’s make this happen.  We came up with the idea of using these images as their holiday card, where the front of it is their buts, and when you turn it over it is themselves fully clothed.  Tehehehe. I know we’re so clever.

I really enjoy how these pictures turned out and how it really shows what kind of couple these two are.  It’s rare when I am pleased as I am the worst critic to my own work.

Below are the pictures I hope you enjoy them.
-Victoria

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We Love Stylized Bridal Shoots: And Why You May Love ’em Too!

I have had a lot of questions about what is the difference between a stylized bridal session versus a day of sessions?  I think it comes down to something as simple is this: a stylized bridal session is before or after the wedding, where the bride and the photographer go out to amazing locations and we get to accomplish a style or look we want to accomplish.
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I use we a lot because stylized shoots are best when I get to collaborate thoroughly with the people I am photographing, get a sense of their style and vision, and we can work together to make what we want happen.  I love stylized sessions that happen before the wedding because the bride and I get to really connect on an artistic level and this then translates to how we work together day of the wedding.  The bride doesn’t have the stress that a wedding day ultimately has, even the chillest dopest brides I’ve shot, still have stress that day.

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Another bonus? We get to go to really cool locations that we wouldn’t have the availability to do day of the wedding.  We get to experiment, laugh, and get beautiful images.

This is a stylized bridal shoot I did with Riki (who I photograph often because she is my “muse”).  She wanted to do a boho/vintage theme in the woods that felt like a fairytale.  So I took her to Mt. Pinos in Frazier Park, Kern County, California, and we got some amazing shots.  I love shooting at Mt. Pinos, and as a photographer in Kern County, I feel like it is one of most underutilized gems.  It offers beautiful high dessert terrain under pine trees.  If shot right, it looked like she was snow white.
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Look how beautiful the light is on the top of Mt Pinos.  Kern County you surprise me, always, as a photographer.  The pine trees, the fallen pine leaves, and that light illuminating her like an angel.  I’m in LOVE.
Because we aren’t on a strict timeline, we get to experiment with aesthetic and poses.  Find locations within locations, we get to create and experiment together.

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How do you know if a stylized bridal shoot is right for you?

If you have an artistic spirit and want to collaborate with a photographer to get beautiful one of a kind images as you in your wedding gown.

If you don’t want to deal with individual shots day of your wedding and just want to focus on your family, friends, couple shoot, and enjoying the day.

If you love bridal fashion spreads and think and want some of your own.  Everyone is beautiful and I love capturing your uniqueness.

If you’re an adventurous soul and want to try something new, in a cool location with some cool chicks!

If you love the outdoors as much as we do.
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Thanks for listening.