Drew B Photograhy

We made it home safe and sound! Brayden was pretty good in the car. We had a rough night in the hotel the first night, but he did really well the second night. It was a good, yet very short, first vaca for Brayden.

I was so excited to meet Katie and Brad for their engagement session in the city. I met them at Rita and Scott’s wedding in Puerto Vallarta last October. Chuck and I were seated next to them at the rehearsal dinner and Brad told me that they had recently gotten engaged (in Paris!). I had a lot of fun chatting with them at dinner so I was really happy when their planner contacted me a couple of months later. It also turns out that Katie is sorority sisters with Nikki, whose wedding I shot last month, and Brigid, whose wedding I shot last September. Such a small world!

It’s always fun to shoot somewhere different. I was happy when Katie and Brad decided to have me come up to San Francisco to shoot their engagement pictures. It was a bit cold, but Katie was brave in her cute dresses and it totally paid off. As I was editing the pictures I realized that Katie’s dresses matched perfectly at every location we shot at!

Katie and Brad are getting married in August in Santa Rosa. Katie’s having her dress custom made and they are having an 80’s cover band play at their reception! So rad! I’m really excited to come back up for their wedding. It’s going to be so much fun!

Katie and Brad, it was so great to get to hang out with you two again! I hope you had an awesome time in Tahoe! Below are some of my favorites and a slide show. See you in August!

Both Brad and Katie are from the East Bay so they’ve traveled the Bay Bridge a lot!

Doesn’t Katie’s dress match perfectly?

The front door to their house. I love all the old homes with such ornate details in San Francisco!

My favorite shot of the day!

I could have shot at the Presidio all day!

Hi Friends,

It’s 5:25 am and we’re getting ready to head up to San Francisco.  I’m shooting two radtastic engagement sessions and we thought this might be a good first trip for Brayden.  Yes, we’re driving all the way to San Francisco with a 3 month old.  Are we crazy?  Maybe.  I’ll let you know in 6 - 8 hours.  Or, if you’re really interested, you can get the up to the minute scoop on my twitter

Have an awesome Memorial Day weekend!

DrewB

Alison was a bridesmaid in a wedding I shot last April and I was so excited when she contacted me about shooting her own wedding! Alison and Wayde met at Cal State Chico. Because Alison fell so in love with Wayde she stayed up at Chico while it took him a freakishly (her words, not mine!) long time to graduate.  She even took a not so great job and postponed the rest of her schooling to be with him. That’s love

These two were so comfortable in front of the camera. They just laughed at each other the whole time. I don’t even think they knew I was there! You can just tell how in love they are, which always makes my job a lot easier. They are just too cute!

Alison and Wayde are getting married this October at the Fullerton Arboretum. I’m excited because it’s a gorgeous venue, but also because it’s really close to my house I think it’s the closest wedding I’ve ever shot.

Thanks Alison and Wayde for hanging out in a parking structure, sitting in bushes, and laying in an alley with me. It was fun! I can’t wait for your wedding! Below are some of my favorites and here is your slide show!

I already knew I loved Natalie and Scott. They have been a joy to work with from day 1. It is usually the bride that I get to know the best because they are my contact and, let’s face it, it’s the bride’s day. Most grooms don’t love getting their pictures taken. I know that. And that’s why I try to make it easy and a little fun for them. So, when it was 100 degrees this past weekend, I figured Scott wasn’t going to be too happy about having to get back in his suit to take their day after pictures. However, I was totally wrong. The guy didn’t complain once! He was fun and came up with great ideas and poses. He was even giving Natalie a little direction (not like she needs it. The girl is a natural in front of the camera!). At the end of the shoot I told Scott how impressed I was and he said, “You know Drew, marriage is all about compromise”. He’s so right! Scott knew that shooting this day after session meant a lot to Natalie and he just wanted to be with is bride. I love these two! I’m sad my shoots with them are done, but hopefully we will be doing maternity and baby pictures in the future (but, not too soon because Natalie has to finish her masters first!).

Oh, and if this little story didn’t convince you of their awesomeness then this picture will. Don’t kill me for posting this, Natalie!

This picture just cracks me up! I told you. The girl has mad modeling skills

Here are my favorites from the session!

PS Happy Anniversary to my Mom and Dad! I love you!

Well, he was 3 months old this past Monday, but it’s hard to find time to fit in a little photo shoot now that I’m back working. I was really excited because I found this old garage in an alley on a walk last week. The house is going up for auction and will probably be torn down so I wanted to get a shoot in before that happens. I envisioned Brayden in jeans and a tie with no shirt. But, apparently ties are a chocking hazard for babies. Whatever! It would have been cute. I suppose we’ll have to wait until he’s 1 for that.

Okay, onto Brayden. He’s a talking machine! He can say, “Mama, I love you!”, “Daddy, you’re cool!”, and “Hi”. I’m not kidding. He can really say all that. I know. He’s the smartest 3 month old, ever! He’s been squeaking and talking away more and more everyday. He’s graduated to sitting up like a big boy in his stroller and he loves the wind in his hair. Well, not really because his hair has pretty much all fallen out. And I think it’s growing back in brown. He is a really strong boy and he loves to dance, dance, dance! But, his most impressive new talent is that he can fly! I know, impressive, right? He LOVES to fly! He especially loves to fly over to the mirror and see his friend Layden Little who lives in the mirror. That Layden Little sure is cute! Looks a lot like my Brayden!  He’s been a really happy boy for the most part this month and his little personality is really starting to come out.

Here are the many faces of Brayden Bittel at 3 months old!

Okay, there’s no baby yet. But, there will be very soon!

Some of my very loyal blog readers may remember Jill and Brandon from almost two years ago when I took their engagement pictures. Well, now they are having a baby girl and I had the privilege of shooting their maternity pictures! Jill is due at the end of June and she looks amazing! Jill was born to be a mom. She is the best auntie to her nephew and she is great with babies (even my own!). And Brandon is going to make a great daddy! We tried to get him to practice changing Brayden’s diaper, but he just observed. I’m sure he’ll get the hang of changing diapers very soon!

Check back in early July for baby Cameron’s blog debut! I can’t wait! For now, here’s the slide show and some of my favorite pictures!

I had so much fun shooting with Krista and Erik last Friday! Vespas, boats, and ferris wheels! You can’t really get much more fun then that! Krista and Erik met on the Newport Peninsula. They did (and still do for a few more weeks) live across the street from each other. Erik didn’t have cable so he would come watch TV with Krista and her roommate They are getting married in September and it’s sure to be a gorgeous wedding! Even though Krista is a Trojan and a Delta Gamma (what is with all the DG’s? I have 3 DG brides this year!) she is a cool girl and is going to be a stunning bride! Can’t wait! Here’s the slide show!

Erik collects Vespas. Perfect for getting around Newport in the summer!Check out that bling! I LOVE Krista’s ring!Neighbors!

So there’s a cool story about this dock. Erik and Krista wanted to shoot at this cool location that I’d never been to before. Look at how picturesque this dock is!

There was a couple down at their boat and I was scared they were going to yell at us and tell us to leave, but they invited us onto their boat to take a few pictures! How cool is that? Thank you so much Carole for allowing us to shoot on your boat and for sharing a little piece of your paradise with us. You’re so lucky to live there! BTW, Carole is also an amazing artist! Check out her website!

Then we headed down to the Fun Zone

Thanks Krista and Erik! See you in September!

Dear Brayden Bittel,

Thank you for making my first mother’s day amazing! And thank you for making me a mommy. Everyday you amaze me. I never imagined someone’s smile could melt my heart the way your smile does. I never imagined I could be so proud of someone for actually getting their thumb in their mouth. I never imagined that I would actually like changing dirty diapers and that I actually dread the day I stop because it will mean you are growing up and getting big. I never imagined that when I looked into your eyes I could see a future so bright and with endless possibilities.

I love you more than words can describe. Thank you for helping me to see the world in a different way. I am so lucky to have you. I can’t wait to spend a bizillion more mother’s days with you.

Love,

Mommy

Dear Mamaw,

Thank you for being the best Mamaw in the whole wide world! Thank you for watching me on Saturdays so my Mommy can get some rest or work or shower without me screaming. Thank you for not dressing me in cowboy outfits anymore. Thank you for being silly and making me laugh. Thank you for being pretty and not looking like your Mamaw (she was kind of scary looking). Thank you for teaching my Mommy how to be a good Mommy. Thank you for loving me so much.

Happy Mamaws day, Mamaw! I love you very, very much!

Love,

Brayden Bittel