Fresh Look

I gave the bloggy a little dusting and fluffed up the blankies for you. What do you think of the new look? It only took a few minutes but it looks much fresher and cleaner around here, don't you think?

It's too soon, way, way too soon for me to get back on the horse, but I am standing in the pasture, and I am feeding the horsie some grass... fluffing the blog blankies.

Thank you for your sympathies and kindnesses and support... I have the best clients anyone could have. It's hard for me to reach out right now, but thank you.

Emily

Billy, Holly n' Baby Franklin

Baby Franklin's got some BIG feet. He's a durn purdy yeller dawg, eh?



His Mommy and Daddy are making an honest puppy of him and getting married in October in Burlingame. They're pretty purdy too, eh?

Brian & Sara: Dry Creek Ranch

Just a little preview for Sara & Brian before they jet off to Jamaica for their honeymoon tonight I think. This venue totally reminds me of Rengstorff House in Mountain View except it was way better and without bugs and probably way more affordable. You bay Area people need to hop in your cars and head out this way because we've got the beautiful historic houses and open fields out here too!

Brian and Sara were so beautiful and happy...



Office remains closed for now, I appreciate your sympathies and kindness. It has been a very rough few weeks. I also came home from the wedding last night to find that Marlin, the little red betta fish that my sweetheart and I had picked out as a pet for my cat Toulouse had died during the day. He was only a year old. That he was something we picked out together, and that now he is gone now too made it all the more painful. =(

On Love & Loss

Let me not into the marriage of true minds

admit impediments.

Love is not love

that alters when alteration finds

or bends with the remover to remove.

O, no! It is an ever-fixed mark

and looks on tempest and is never shaken.

(Shakespere).

Devan and Margarita (left) married on Saturday and while I was with the girls before the ceremony, someone commented to Margarita about how she had thought M would never get married.

Everyone laughed and Margarita said how lucky she was to have found Devan.

It struck me. And I thought about it most of the day.

Too often we forget the value of the people around us. Too often we forget to tell them how we feel about them, how we appreciate them. A few weeks ago, I lost the most important, special, beloved person in my life and although I can say with certainty that I never held back the depth of my love for that person, and told them so every day they were in my life, I still think it is something we should all remind ourselves to do. I honestly never thought I would spend one day of my future without that person in it. I had no doubts or worries or concerns. When you think of the important people in your life, you probably don't either. I don’t think any of us do.

We are all so lucky and blessed to have that person sitting beside us. Whether that be a partner, a child, a parent or friend, we are so lucky to not be alone. When we feel alone, although “we are in that together as well” (Kathy Bates, PS I Love You), it is also accurate that to truly be alone is to suffer.

To feel your hand in mine is joy. The warmth and comfort of your body standing beside me is strength and reassurance.

The loss of that touch is agony. The absence of comfort is fear.

We spend our whole lives up until these moments searching for our best friend, our lover, our soul mate. And when we find that person, we never think that we could ever lose that person. It is unfathomable. You made promises to each other to be with each other forever; until the end. You held each others hands and looked into each others eyes and declared your love for each other. A love that knows no bounds and would never end.

Is it even possible to fully recover from the loss of a love like that? Probably not. But it's probably possible to find a new normal. Not what you were before, but... something.

Of course we all have regrets. Things we wished we had done or said, or even things we wish we hadn’t done or said… but once we have made those choices, they can’t be undone. It is so difficult to forgive. Especially when the people who have hurt us aren't here anymore. But, all we can do is be grateful for what we had, and what we have now, or are left with, even if they are only memories of a happier time, and what a gift those blessed days were... Even if mistakes were made, to know love, to love and be loved, really loved, is to really live, and relief can be found in that truth. That is something to cling to, even in times of despair. If nothing else, I know I was truly loved.

Someone I don’t even know and had never met sent me a bouquet of flowers and a card saying I was loved. I am so grateful that those people are in my life to keep me here and looking forward, even if it is only for a moment.

(And of course the pharmacist who dispenses enough medication to me to tranq a horse…)

The office is still officially closed, already scheduled events, weddings and shoots will continue as arranged, slowly working my way through inquiries, all other matters will be put on hold until I am able to be back full time.

Sacramento City Shelter is adopting adult cats out for free through August 31^st and kittens are 2 for 1. Hug someone today. And if you don’t have someone to hug… adopt someone.

Thank you again for your patience.

CLOSED: Out of the Office (UPDATED)

I will be taking some time off to handle a personal tragedy. I will return any messages and inquires when I am able to.

**UPDATED: To clarify, you are welcome to email in inquiries, requests for quotes, check in and the like. Please just be aware that it will take some time for me to get back to you. All of my booked dates are listed under the availability tab. If your date is not listed, I will be available for you and be able to take you on as a client once I am feeling better. I just need to take some personal time right now to take care of myself.

All scheduled shoots, weddings and other events will continue as planned.


Thank you for your understanding.

Emily

The Secret Wedding (San Francisco Wedding Photographer)

A rooftop, close family and friends, and Mom & Dad overseeing the ceremony by Skype and you have one of my favorite weddings of the year- and the one most like what I want for myself...

I can't even tell you this couple's names; so secret was this wedding that it can't even be leaked on the internet! These two will be having a fabulously HUGE wedding back in India at the end of the year with hundreds of people in attendance. But we gotta keep this one on the DL my peeps. :)



















Mom and Dad saying congratulations!!!














I didn't know which one I liked better!