Go Rockets!

Miles has a passion. He's 4 almost 5. I didn't know it was possible to have a passion so young but it's true. Miles. Loves. Soccer!

From before he could walk he's been trying to kick a ball. We used to walk around the house, his little hands holding our fingers and he would use his feet with what little coordination he had to kick the ball. Any ball. They've been one of, if not the toy of choice, his whole life.

This year was the first year he played on an actual team. He was beyond excited to get a uniform and to be a part of a designated group of "soccer players". His practice was at 8:30 AM on Saturday mornings. Yes, 8:30 AM on SATURDAYS!! The games were right after at 9 and even though I really didn't like having to get up and out so early, it was a great way to start the day.

At the last game I brought my camera and took some stills and video. This is the U6 league so the teams were composed of boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 5, preschool and kindergarten. I don't know how the teams are divided or grouped but Miles wound up on a super small team of only 6 boys. I think most other teams had at least 8-10 kids if not more. The benefit of that was they all pretty much had to play their entire game with a quick rotation out here and there. That makes for tired boys, which anyone who has boys knows is a good thing!

I thought I would post a few of the images and a link to the video. I don't expect most people will want to watch. Four and a half minutes of seeing other peoples children run around on a soccer field probably isn't the most entertaining. I do know a few people who will tune in though. Nana, Papa and the rest of the family will probably take a look. I did put the movie to a great song called "Surfing On A Rocket" by Air. So maybe that will entice you...

Hope everyone is having a great week. We're half way to the weekend!

And here is a link to the video if you feel like watching.....Go Rockets U6 2011

The Jennings-Hoffmans

Sometimes people come into your life and you have no idea of the impact they will have. Such is the case with Eric and Ericka.

I met them both when I was in a, shall we say, a transitional period of my life. I was ending one chapter and beginning another. My father had died a few years before, I had just ended a marriage that formed out of the loss of my father and was rediscovering who I was, as an individual in the world.

I had pink and purple hair. I was Starfire. The three of us all came together in what to me felt like a vortex. It was an intense time of freedom for all of us. I met Matt right at the crux of it all and when Eric, Ericka and I were driving one Sunday afternoon, the day after my first date with Matt, we were in a car accident that would change our lives...for the better.

I guess that's a deeper post that I can get into some other time because I don't want to lose focus on what I have to offer today. Photographs of Eric, Ericka and their two beautiful girls. They are truly some of my closest friends and I was honored when they hired me to photograph them. Eric's parents were in town so it was a great opportunity to capture a moment it time. Time for all of them to be together. Time to document who they are today.

I have to say there's pressure when photographing strangers or people that you casually know but there is definitely pressure when photographing friends. I think for me it stems from not wanting to let anyone down. When I can step out of the way, and let myself relax and be guided to follow what I consider "The Holy Spirit" I'm o.k. Then, I can trust and know that everything is going to be alright.

The girls are fun, beautiful and spunky like their parents. Eric and Ericka are in love and wonderful and real. His parents were true sports throughout our adventure together and I'm excited to share my favorites.

And just to show how black and white can change the whole look of a photograph....

The Jennings-Hoffman's : Sneak Peek

I've been having so much fun taking pictures these last few weeks. It's amazing how doing something that I love just lights me up from the inside out.

I photographed some close friends at Cavallo Point and almost never left the giant field that is the central point of the property. I kept saying we were going to go for a walk and then we just kept shooting in the field.

I thought I would share one of my favorites in the field as the "sneak peek". A family portrait doesn't always have to be everyone front and center looking at the camera. This shot is a great reminder to me of just that.

More to come in a day or so......

Friday Inspiration - I Believe I Can Fly

Today is Veteran's Day. I am grateful and want to share my appreciation for  all of the men and women who have fought for my freedom and the freedom of the world. In honor of this freedom I wanted to share some inspiration in a way that expresses freedom like I've never known or ever will.

I've often heard the phase, "living on the edge". I don't think I've understood it's true meaning until now. If you watch the video below and please, if you do, hit it to full screen because it can handle it and it's the only way to see it, you might have a little more insight into the phrase as well.

I felt myself catch my breath. I felt myself swell with fear and excitement and anxiousness. I felt myself a little more alive.

I can only imagine that is what these people feel when they're pushing the limit. And man are they pushing the limit.

and if you're left wanting more, you can watch the 40 minute documentary which was released today on the adventure blog....sebmontaz.com.

Sit back, take a deep breath and enjoy the ride....

During The Down Time

When I'm photographing a family, on location and out and about, down time isn't something that happens. I usually have to create some by going to my camera bag and fiddling around a bit so that I can allow the family to just be with each other for a bit. I like the moments that are created during that time and I get some of my favorite photographs because of it.

After doing some research about photographing a newborn I learned that there would be down time. Time for the baby to eat, to change the diaper etc. Knowing this made the process easier and allowed me to spend a little time focusing on the rest of the family.

Because I set the "studio" up in our great room the kids had access to all of our toys. Both children gravitated to the musical instruments and picked up both the ukulele and the guitar. I thought I would share a few of those images to show what our "down time" was like.

10 Days Old

There's nothing quite like looking at a newborn baby. They're so squishy and they make little squirmy moves and sounds. They don't do anything and yet they do something because when I'm around a newborn baby all I can do is stare at them. Their little toes and fingers, the swirl on the top of their head. The little snorting sounds they make as they adjust themselves. They're mesmerizing.

Not enough to make me want to have another one though. Let's not get too caught up in the wonder!

But really, I find myself thinking about the miracle of life when I look at a newborn, isn't that just what you're supposed to do? And a couple of days ago I had the joy of photographing one of these fresh, squishy newborn babies. His name is Joseph and in the photo's he's 10 days old.

I've photographed newborns before but I wanted to capture him in a classic way, so I did a bit of research before the shoot. I reached out to my cousin Jenna for some advice because she photographs newborns and does an amazing job. She pointed me toward another photographer which led me to another and it was inspiring and overwhelming and made my head spin just a bit.

But, what I learned was that patience is the biggest key to the experience of photographing a newborn. Without that, you're lost in a sea of frustration. Being prepared for the accidental mess due to being without a diaper, having the room nice and warm and maybe even going as far as to play womb sounds throughout the session. I did all of these things in preparation but nothing can really prepare you for the actual experience.

I had the beautiful cream colored blanket draped over the bean bag, the backdrop all set. Julie brought Joseph over, took off his clothes and placed him on the blanket, ready to go, and....he pooped. 30 seconds into the shoot. What can you do but rinse and blow dry the blanket while they take a feeding break and get set back up. I think that just made everything easier for me. We had the worst out of the way in the beginning. I felt like we couldn't go anywhere but up from there!

I definitely have a new found respect for newborn photographers. For the people who specialize in only photographing newborns. The ones that have been doing it for a long time, who have the babies safety in mind above all else, they have a gift, a true talent.

I do love the images from this shoot. Knowing that I captured this amazing moment in time. It goes so quickly, that "just out of the womb" look. It only lasts for a few days. They start growing and changing and before you can even blink because you're so exhausted and in a daze from all that just occurred it's over, gone.

Joseph, you have a beautiful family who are in love with you and will help guide your way. Welcome to this crazy world.

The Chiu Family

Last week I photographed the Chiu family. We went to an area just past the Presidio Yacht Club and it was a perfect afternoon. The skies were clear and we had a beautiful view of San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.

They have two boys that are the same ages as my boys and two of our boys share the same name. Their youngest and my oldest are both named Mason. Miles goes to school with "the other Mason" and you can imagine how confusing it may get on play dates!

I asked the boys to bring along some of their favorite things and I'm so glad they did. Mason can be seen most days in his rain boots. Rain or shine! On some of those really hot days he still wears those boots and that just had to be documented. Zachary brought along his Pokemon Cards and I asked him to pull out his favorites. I think it looks like he's making them levitate. The fact that they say "energy" makes it even better.

I enjoyed getting to know the family better through my lens. It was a fun time of being together and taking photographs of who they are, separately and together.