Albany Newborn Photography: Baby Cate

     A few months ago, we took maternity photos with Lex + Grant at the beach. And then around Thanksgiving, the most adorable baby girl was born, Catherine Leigh. We went to go visit the new family of three in their beautiful home in Albany and of course, took photos of their most precious baby girl! We held her in our arms, and could feel our hearts melting as our eyes connected. Welcome to the world, sweet baby Cate!

What a doll! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Newborn Photography in Albany.

Mama love! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Newborn Photography in Albany.

Big yawn! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Newborn Photography in Albany.

Cate has such big beautiful eyes! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Newborn Photography in Albany.

Tiny baby hands! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Newborn Photography in Albany.

Pro hand munching! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Newborn Photography in Albany.

Such a happy family! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Newborn Photography in Albany.

       So -- when can we babysit!?

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Larkspur Theater Wedding: Eileen + Jed

       Now deep in winter, it's the perfect time to remember the sunny autumn we had in Northern California. The season was full of weddings, since so many brides know that the weather is always a dream, making their wedding look like they come out of the movies. Speaking of the cinema, we wanted to share photographs from one of the recent weddings we documented this September at the Lark Theater, in Larkspur. It was wonderfully creative and fabulous, with true moments of Hollywood glamour. Guests were given Playbill programs inspired by the movie, Vertigo, and took their seats in the darkened theater to watch a surprise wedding trailer, starring the heartthrobs, Eileen + Jed. Jed played the country bumpkin from Marin and Eileen wowed the audience as a sophisticated city slicker from San Francisco. They stared across the Golden Gate Bridge pining for each other.  As all good movies have a happy ending, so does this romance, and when the trailer ended, and the lights went up, we all watched the gorgeous bride walk down the theater aisle and into the arms of her groom. 

Beautiful polka dot green wedding shoes. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Larkspur, Marin.

The bride, Eileen, getting her makeup done. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Larkspur, Marin.

The gents got custom bow ties from the groom. Now they just have to figure out how to tie them. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Larkspur, Marin.

An impeccably groomed groom. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Larkspur, Marin.

The bride arrives at the theater with her entourage of ladies in teal. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Larkspur, Marin.

The groom and his gents walk to the theater. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Larkspur, Marin.

A playbill wedding program. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Larkspur, Marin.

The guests arrive at the Lark Theater, where the ceremony was held. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Larkspur, Marin.

The ceremony starts in the Lark Theater, with a surprise movie trailer. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Larkspur, Marin.

The wedding party lined the Lark Theater stage for the main feature, the wedding ceremony. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Larkspur, Marin.

They are married! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Larkspur, Marin.

This wedding party is ready to party! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Larkspur, Marin.

Sealed with a kiss. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography at Larkspur, Marin.

       We will post a second set of images soon, with photos from the reception and their super fun dance party!

xoxo,

Ariel + Sam

Monday: Finding Focus

       When it comes to desserts, I was a bit of a late bloomer.  It wasn't until my mid-twenties that, along with my wisdom teeth, my first sweet tooth appeared.  It's not like I didn't have plenty of opportunities to cut my teeth on confections when I was young.  My mom was a baker and would bring home leftovers wrapped tightly in cellophane almost every day.  Yet, I would leave the treats for my dad, who would grab a cookie and a tall glass of milk, and relax on the couch after dinner.  My mom didn't much like sweets herself, which I attribute to her Taiwanese upbringing.  The islanders seemed to have little concept of dessert, unless you count the the fresh tropical fruit they put out on dishes, with a cup full of toothpicks, as treats for guests.  The closest thing to dessert that I remember my mom cooking for herself was boiled peanut soup, a semi-sweet and savory brown mush, which I never could develop a taste for, despite my persistent efforts.

       It wasn't until I met Ariel that I learned to love sweets.  I was already well-acquainted with the three dour flavors of bitter, salty, and sour; however, it was Ariel who brought sweetness to my life.

Butch's exquisite cupcakes. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Personal Photography, San Francisco.

      Just before we started dating, Ariel and her two roommates had formed a pact that they would work together, trading daily shifts, to ensure that their kitchen counter constantly brimmed with fresh baked goodies.  Guided by the wafting aroma of cinnamon buns and blueberry scones, my nose led me out of the dark cave where my former ascetic self had retreated for a savory hermitage, and I triumphantly surfaced to the joyful experience of sweets.

       In a short span of time, my relationship with cookies and cakes dramatically altered, and not only were they tasty, but I developed a peculiar emotional connection to them.  I found that by eating them, I could access varied sugared memories spent with my sweetheart: a decadent meal we ate together in the warm belly of a castle in southern France, a weekend movie binge making caramel popcorn, or a breakfast in Spain consisting of churros con chocolate.

Vintage Santa. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Personal Photography, San Francisco.

       Yesterday we hosted a cookie exchange in our home, and, with ovens blazing for three years counting, we can safely call it a holiday tradition.  Ariel and I improvised a recipe after receiving a surprise gift shipment of the winter's harvest from our friends at Bobeda Farm, making persimmon and walnut cookies, seasoned with cloves and cinnamon.  Our friends arrived with a dizzying assortment of goodies to share, collected from enough recipes to fuel a season's worth of shows on the Food Network, and included: macaroons, Irish shortbread,  chocolate rum, and even snowflake-topped cupcakes.  Every bare surface of our apartment rapidly overflowed with homemade delicacies, reminding me of Stone Soup, where small contributions make a grand feast; Hansel and Gretel where lines get blurred between what is edible and what is house; and The Sorcerer's Apprentice where a good idea turns into too much of a good thing (in our case, a flood of goodies that we were pleading for people to take home with them).

       What inspires me this week is cookies, and all the sweetness that has entered my life, from Ariel, my friends, and my family.  Long after our friends have left our home for the night, the warmth of their bodies still fills our rooms with comforting heat.  And the plateful of cookies that remains tempts me to skip my normal savory (no sugar) oatmeal breakfast routine and dip a few of the sweet, buttery, pale disks into a large mug of hot coffee, as perfectly as the pale moon quenches itself over a dark, steaming lake.   Yes, sugar makes me dream.

Cookies! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Personal Photography, San Francisco.

       Thanks to all our friends for contributing their unique recipe of sweetness to our lives.

Happy Holidays,

Sam (and Ariel)

Kauai Birds

       While there are only two mammals native to Hawaii, the Hawaiian monk seal (click for a photo) and the Hawaiian hoary bat, the islands are full of birds.  The Hawaiian moorhen and nene enjoy browsing the daily menu of grub in the muck of the lush taro fields, farmer-made wetlands for enterprising wildlife.  But one need not pull on rubber boots to find birds.  Only listen for the annoying scream of chainsaws, constant on an island with falling coconuts for safety hazards, and you'll see egrets near.  The geckos are scared from their coconut tree perch, and must run the gauntlet through a crowd of egrets that gather to snatch them up.  Or, if you are a particularly lazy bird-watcher, just go to the beach.  It's not uncommon to stretch out under the sun with a book, and then turn over to find that you are sharing your beach blanket with a feral chicken.  The chickens were introduced by Polynesian settlers before more European fowl were brought onto the island, and now have free rein over the island.

       Our favorite spottings on our trip to Kauai were probably the wedge-tailed shearwaters (see our pics of the adorable chicks below).  Shearwaters are monogamous birds, and dig burrows in the ground for nests.  Mom and Dad share the workload by taking turns incubating the eggs.  The hatchlings are curious, sweet, and brave: because their parents fly off before they have fully fledged, they must learn to fly on their own.  When shearwaters first take wing, they often do so at night, following the light of the moon out to sea.  Unfortunately, bright city lights often confuse the seabirds and they sometimes fall inland, and once on the ground, cannot take off.  Many fire stations have aid stations where fallen birds can be delivered.  It's easy to admire these little birds' courageous spirit, as they venture off into the wide world, all alone, but with plenty of heart.

Rooster on the beach with Ariel. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Travel Photography Kauai, Hawaii.

©Bowerbird Photography 2012; Travel Photography Kauai, Hawaii.

Hawaiian Moorhens © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Travel Photography Kauai, Hawaii.

© Bowerbird Photography 2012; Travel Photography Kauai, Hawaii.

© Bowerbird Photography 2012; Travel Photography Kauai, Hawaii.

© Bowerbird Photography 2012; Travel Photography Kauai, Hawaii.

© Bowerbird Photography 2012; Travel Photography Kauai, Hawaii.

© Bowerbird Photography 2012; Travel Photography Kauai, Hawaii.

Egret © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Travel Photography Kauai, Hawaii.

Great frigatebird in flight. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Travel Photography Kauai, Hawaii.

Wedge-tailed shearwater. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Travel Photography Kauai, Hawaii.

© Bowerbird Photography 2012; Travel Photography Kauai, Hawaii.

Wedge-tailed shearwater chick. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Travel Photography Kauai, Hawaii.

Nene © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Travel Photography Kauai, Hawaii.

Nene. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Travel Photography Kauai, Hawaii.

       Got a good bird story? We'd love to hear it -- please leave a comment :)

       Have a lovely weekend everyone!

xoxo,

Sam + Ariel

Dublin Wedding: Roselle + Andrew

      It only took a few days after Roselle and Andrew first met for them to realize they were going to spend the rest of their lives together.  However long you have to wait, your perfect soul mate is out there, and when you find him or her, it just feels right.  And so begins the "Happily Ever After" fairy tale.  Getting to know Roselle and Andrew, and hearing about the paths they took before they found each other, makes you believe in this kind of beautiful destiny.

       An excerpt of dialogue from their storybook romance went something like this:

       "Yeah, I'm all that and a bag of chips."  Andrew joked.

       "No you're not, you're wholesome like a bag of apples."  Roselle countered, and thereon nicknamed him "Fuji Apple."  

       Andrew is from Louisiana, and courteous with good southern manners, politely asked if she was sensitive about her height, and when she said "no," he made a request.

       "In that case, can I call you "My little one?"  

       Roselle sarcastically retorted, "Am I yours?"  

       Andrew simply said, "I hope so."

      Last weekend, Andrew and Roselle were married in a beautiful church ceremony in Dublin.  Their love is the type that's meant to be: kind, courageous, and joyful.  We feel privileged to have gotten to know Andrew and Roselle and document their special day.  One can't help but feel inspired by their love.

Roselle gets prepared for her wedding day, transforming like a butterfly into a gorgeous bride.  © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

Andrew makes sure every detail for his bride is perfect. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

The wedding rings. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

Roselle's mom ties the lace back of her beautiful wedding dress. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

Andrew wears a special mother of pearl tie clasp in honor of his grandmother. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

The bride stops for a moment of prayer before the wedding ceremony. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

During the exchange of the rings, Andrew gets choked up in this heartfelt ceremony.© Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

Lighting the unity candle. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

The bride and groom share a moment together and smile with joy.  They're married! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

The beautiful bride. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

Roselle -- you are stunning! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

Love it! © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

First dance with bubbles -- such a sweet idea. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

The bouquet toss. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

Totally dreamy. © Bowerbird Photography 2012; Wedding Photography in Dublin, CA.

       Congratulations Roselle and Andrew!  May you live happily ever after.

xoxo,

Sam + Ariel