AGB Photographics

Baby Portraits { Adorable Katy }

2011-11-29T06:49:00.000-08:00

A few images from the second session in my Watch Me Grow series for Katy!

What a posh little baby!

I love these images of the reality of hand in mouth at this age!

Brazilian Room Wedding

2011-02-21T14:50:00.000-08:00

A slideshow of an album design from a wedding at the Brazilian Room in Tilden Park.
A gorgeous day, a gorgeous bride, a fantastic venue and a fun couple!

Thanks Candice and Tyson - you guys were so great to photograph!

Dolores Park Wedding and Foster City Recreation Wedding

2011-02-14T12:11:00.000-08:00

Wishing Daniel and Yvonne a very Happy Valentines Anniversary!

Ceremony: Dolores Park Church
Photographs: Dolores Park
Reception: Foster City Recreation, Lagoon Room

East Bay Business Portrait Photography

2011-02-12T21:11:00.000-08:00

A business portrait by AGB Photographics will give you an edge over your competition. My focus is warm, engaging business portraits that are natural and relaxed.

This was a great session with Linda, who is a health advocate and having a photo which represents her professionalism and approachability was key.

Gilroy Gardens Wedding

2011-01-13T15:10:00.001-08:00

This was one of the most fun and unique weddings I photographed in 2010! Katie and Jeremy tied the knot at the Gilroy Gardens theme park. The day began with photographs of Katie getting ready at a private house inside the park.

Katie and Jeremy were one of the best dressed couples of 2010. Katie's outfit was complete with a beautiful handmade headpiece with feathers and white silk flowers. She chose to style her hair braided and pulled to the back in a low ponytail.

The ceremony was held at the top of a waterfall at the park while the guests were seated below at the pond at the base of the waterfall. The reception was held under a big tent in a gorgeous meadow in a private section of the park.

After the reception Katie, Jeremy and myself were escorted around the theme park for fun portraits while enjoying the rides at the park.

{ Jennifer + Coulson } A Stern Grove Wedding

2010-10-21T10:01:00.000-07:00

Jennifer and Coulson's wedding day couldnt have been more lovely! They chose the wonderful venue gem, Stern Grove, in the heart of San Francisco as where they would tie the knot. Wed under a grove of redwood trees and a reception in a quaint white and yellow house, who could have asked for a more special day!

Florals were provided by the fabulous Michelle Liu of Inspiration Floral Design and were as stunning as usual with little gems and baubles lovingly handcrafted into the bouquet!

Thanks, Jennifer and Coulson for a fabulous gift of being your photographer on a very special day!

Solorzano Family Holiday Portrait

2010-01-14T16:45:00.001-08:00

The Solorzano Family

Victor and Raimee first came to AGB Photographics over 7 years ago when they were married. We had been friends prior through our church and then became even closer during and after the wedding. I love being a part of my clients lives from the beginning of their love story and onward to the start of their family! When Raimee was pregnant with Marisol, I was invited to her baby shower. I wanted to give a very special gift to this special couple...so I gave what I believe is the most special gift to a family...the gift of portraiture by their photographer and friend.

I adore this portrait of Marisol with her mommy in the background. Her expression is so sweet and her folded hands add to the portrait.

Dad and son, Gabe. There is a special bond between men and their boys!

Marisol dressed in winter white. A little angel!

My favorite of the family portraits...enjoying a tickle-break during the family portrait studio session. These moments are great to get 2 & 3 year olds engaged in the moment and having fun with mommy & daddy.

San Francisco Theological Seminary, San Anselmo, CA

2010-01-14T15:16:00.000-08:00

A beautiful day at a gorgeous location to celebrate Michelle and Dan's Wedding!
The San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo is a beautiful serene location. They have a nice chapel and the reception site overlooked a beautiful valley just outside the chapel doors!

I was blessed to photograph Michelle's sisters wedding about 6 years ago and blessed to be the family photographer for their youngest daughter! This family is amazing and I look forward to continuing to be the one capturing all their lives. What an honor!

As you may tell, the them of this wedding was fall. My favorite time of year, so I was thrilled to have lots of pumpkin favors and table settings to photograph.

Michelle and Dan - immediately after the ceremony sharing their first moments as man and wife while overlooking a great view of the valley!

Stunning partial silhouette right before the couple entered their reception!

A very fun and hip wedding party! No boring staged photographs for this bunch!

This has to be my favorite "down the aisle" photograph ever! I love the expression of pure happiness on Michelle and Dan's faces! Notice the movement in the photograph too - really shows life and action in this photograph.

Michelle has absolutely gorgeous blue eyes!

Here is some more information about San Francisco Theological Seminary Weddings from their website:
Named one of the “10 Most Unique” Marin County wedding locations by Modern Bridal--Weddings, San Francisco Theological Seminary takes great pride in providing an extraordinary nuptial experience designed to create special memories to last a lifetime. There are several wedding and reception venues from which to choose. We also provide an event host, who will be on site on your wedding day. We will also supply you with a “Preferred Vendors List” of local caterers, florists, photographers and DJs to help you make decisions that suit your needs and budget beyond our venue. Other bonuses include plenty of free parking, on-site housing and wheel-chair accessibility.

Conference Services Dept. - Contact Information

The SFTS Conference Services staff is available Tuesday through Friday from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. to answer your questions about both private and public gatherings. Please feel free to contact us by phone or e-mail to arrange a visit to our historic campus.

Heather Liencres
E-mail: hliencres@sfts.edu
Phone: 415-451-2836
Toll-Free: 800-447-8820 ext.836
Fax: 415-258-6509

Nancy Jenks
E-mail: njenks@sfts.edu
Phone: 415-451-2843
Toll-Free: 800-447-8820 ext.843
Fax: 415-258-6509

Berkeley Rose Garden Family Portrait

2010-01-14T10:37:00.000-08:00

A family portrait session at the lovely
Berkeley Rose Garden

The portrait above is from my ART PRINT collection in which I rework the print into a unique art piece adding flourishes and art border edges along with the standard retouching and color adjustments to make a unique family art portrait.

Berkeley Rose Garden is also available for weddings! Check out the link:
http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=5686

Favorite photos of the Weekend

2009-10-05T14:27:00.001-07:00

Sometimes you just run across the perfect image on the perfect road trip day!

Healdsburg Wedding Photography @ Madrona Manor

2009-09-29T14:25:00.000-07:00

{ LISA + CHARLES }
A Madrona Manor Wedding
Healdsburg, CA

Words cannot describe the beauty of Lisa and Charles' wedding day...but I can show you in a few of the portraits!

The wedding day of Lisa and Charles was absolutely wonderful! The venue, Madrona Manor, was an exceptional location for a wine country wedding. Here is a blurb about the venue from their website at http://www.madronamanor.com

Madrona Manor is a Wine Country Inn and Restaurant specializing in Victorian garden and elegant evening weddings. The estate is nestled into a hilltop overlooking the Dry Creek Valley amidst eight acres of enchanting gardens and wooded areas. Guests to the Manor enjoy the exceptional combination of a grand estate setting, warm gracious service and a romantically historic sense of place.

Contact Info:
Ms. Emily Rowan
Director of Special Events
Tel: (707) 433-1542
ext. 111
Tel: (800) 258-4003

Nestldown Wedding in August!

2009-08-29T09:38:00.000-07:00

A Gorgeous Day - A Wonderful Couple!
Annie & Kevon

Nestldown is a gorgeous place to photograph a wedding - it is especially wonderful for the couple to celebrate their vows, their friends and their love amongst redwood trees! Annie and Kevon's wedding in this Los Gatos gem was absolutely spectacular! Annie was a divine bride and Kevon a stunning groom.

Annie and Kevon entered their reception with a grand train entrance! How adorable for them to ride the train into their reception - plus sneak a few kisses along the way!

Having a little fun with each other - bride attacks groom with the tickle attack!

Thanks Annie and Kevon for a wonderful time at your wedding and the blessing of seeing you both share your vows and begin your life together!

Want to see the full wedding? Sign up within 2 weeks and receive a $10.00 photo gift!
1. Go to: http://www.pictage.com/event.jsp?event_id=697808&branding=yes
2. Register to view the photographs
3. Patiently wait to get your announcement email when the photographs are online!

Julia's Princess Portrait Session

2009-07-07T11:15:00.001-07:00

A Princess Portrait

The collage above is my vision for a creative way to display image from Julia's session. At the end of the session I took the "expression" images with the pink background. This is part of a personal project I am doing with all babies and children. It is my Expression series where I have the kids goofing around with funny expressions. The result makes for a fun series that the kids love of themselves.

The series above was from an outdoor session where Julia dressed in another princess play dress. Mom was chasing her around the park and I love the great expressions of glee!

Taylor's Senior Portrait

2009-07-02T10:55:00.000-07:00

Photographing high school seniors is a real treat for me! Seniors aren't looking for stuffy posed photographs - they want cool, fun portraits that reflect WHO they are, WHAT they like and are in a UNIQUE location.

Taylor's senior session was so much fun that a few hours went by in a blur! Typically I photograph for about an hour but sometimes when I am having a great time and am inspired, I take it way beyond the usual timeframe. This was one of those sessions.

We began at the railroad tracks for some gritty portraits with an edge. Dressed in a simple white t-shirt and jeans, Taylor had a great time hanging out on the tracks.

Next, we headed for a local park to highlight Taylor's sport: football. I also grabbed some shots while Taylor and his dad played a little catch to get some action shots.

Last, we went up to a vista point where Taylor knew there was some griffitti art that kids have worked on and a place they hang out. Taylor changed again into another cool outfit - did you check out the purple shoes! Very fun.

WOW, what a testimonial!

2009-07-02T09:56:00.000-07:00

Narahya wrote:
"She is AMAZING!!! She is friendly and sweet and also professional -- Having nice photos was one of the most important things to me for my wedding (really - i was obsessed about it -- i spend hours and hours pouring over websites, talking / interviewing different photographers, getting rates, etc etc...) A friend/ coworker recommended AGB to me b/c a friend of hers had her as a photographer at her wedding and thought she did a really good job. ...I have to begin by saying that I am not a very photogenic person -- i just don't take great pics -- but somehow when AGB takes my pic - i look great. I LOVED my engagement photo session and I ADORE my wedding photos.... They were just what I wanted.... and i have to tell you -- once I started digging a bit deeper into photographers I realized that what they put on their websites are just their most fantastic pictures from various events --but it doesn't necessarily give you a sense of what one entire wedding shoot will look like -- so I'd recommend, if you can ask those photographers that you are seriously considering, for access to one or two entire wedding pics that they've done, it might give you a better sense of what your photos might really end up looking like (for instance, some photographers who I saw had amazing websites, but then when i looked at the entire photo shoot for a wedding that they had done, the pics looked liked any person could have taken them...) ANYWAY - i don't mean to go on and on -- but i am just so thrilled that I went with AGB -- My wedding was one of the most wonderful days of my life -- AGB asked me for a list of any special groupings of people that i wanted ahead of time, and she was very careful to get all of them -- and more that i hadn't thought of -- she is also easy to talk to - so i had no problem sending her over one place or another when i thought of some groupings of people i wanted that i had forgotten to ask her for -- i also wanted a lot of candid shots and i thought she did a good job with those -- i think she knows how to tell the story of the day -- but mostly i wanted some really special pics of my and my hubby -- i wanted artsy and interesting -- and i feel like she gave me that in SPADES!! "

AGB's thoughts:

I absolutely adore Narahya! She and I have fast become friends through the process of her wedding. Now, months behind we are working on frames, albums, and gifts for family! I will not be happy when all this is behind us and I don't have the opportunity to see her every few weeks. It is every photographers dream to have that one very special couple who are excited about photography and cherish the special moments captured. This is Narahya....she spends hours pouring through her photographs and coming up with ideas for framing around the house and in the office and small gift frames for family and friends! It is so fun to create with her!

Golden Gate School of Professional Photography

2009-05-11T22:16:00.000-07:00

This week is the annual professional photography school I attend. A great school dedicated to teaching, inspiring and growing the professional photographer. I realized today it was in 2003 that I first attended Golden Gate School of Professional Photography. 6 years later and I havent missed a year. I am hooked! For the past 4 years I have served as both an assistant to the school and as well as a trustee. I believe in giving back to my photography association (Professional Photographers of the Greater Bay Area - www.PPGBA.org) and GGS is the association's school.

This year I am concentrating on wedding photography and am studying with Mindy Sonshine, an Oregon based photographer.

Being at the school just gets those creative juices flowing. Below are a few images I shot today while roaming around campus. We are blessed to be at Notre Dame De Namur University in Belmont this year.

High School Senior Portrait

2009-05-06T12:26:00.000-07:00

JOSH'S SENIOR PORTRAIT SESSION

Photographing Josh's high school senior portrait was a real treat! Josh wanted something very simple and easy from his session - so we decided to take the session around his home. The swing was absolutely fantastic! Especially the flip flops that Josh wore - they added to the casual nature of Josh which was perfect for his portrait.

Palm Event Center Wedding

2009-05-01T16:58:00.000-07:00

Deanna & Matt - A Palm Event Center Wedding

Lovely Deanna looked as radiant as ever on her wedding day! The setting to a gorgeous wedding was the magnificent Palm Event Center in Livermore, CA. If you haven't seen this venue, it is worth checking out. They offer a beautiful indoor cellar ceremony location that has ambiance: warm, romantic and cozy. The lighting technicians are spectacular too - you can have your names lit on the floor!

Keep scrolling down to see photographs of their day.

Oh my....this is a sweet moment of the bride with her flower girl!

I couldnt resist stopping off at a field of mustard for this stunning bride shot!

The Marine Corps groom, Matt, and his groomsmen were strikingly handsome in his uniform!

Check it out - for the recessional they had a sword ceremony! Totally fantastic!

Some room shots to give you an idea of the Palm Event Center - a huge space with gorgeous lighting!
The rings are Absolutely irresistible - MUST PHOTOGRAPH THEM!

San Francisco Engagement

2009-04-23T12:13:00.001-07:00

Jessica & Don - A San Francisco Engagement Session

What a lovely day we had roaming around SF for a few key landmark spots. We hit the lovely Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field and Levi Plaza for views of Coit Tower. Jessica and Don are so very sweet together and they sure love to laugh! It is always a thrill to spend a few hours with people who enjoy life and each moment they are in!

I am looking forward to their wedding on May 2nd. Stay posted for photographs from the wedding day!

Dolores Park and Foster City Recreation Center Wedding

2009-02-18T14:30:00.000-08:00

Daniel and Yvonne chose to memorialize Valentine's Day as their wedding day!

February 14th turned out to be quite a spectacular day in the lives of these two wonderful people. Check out a few of my top picks below.

I love the shot above...the first moment Yvonne's mother saw her as a bride!

Here is a detail of the exquisite veil

Wow, what a remarkable portrait - perfect for a soft vintage filter

Yvonne was a site to behold in her stunning gown and gorgeous veil.

Daniel looked so handsome hanging out waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Dolores Park Church in the Mission District, San Francisco.
Awesome balcony fisheye view.

Taking a walk to Dolores Park. Check out the expression on Yvonne's daughter's face on the right! She adores her mom!

Yvonne sassed it up by wearing fun red pumps!

A quick portrait in between rainfalls at Foster City Recreation Center

The rings....woweee!

My favorite moment of the day - Yvonne and Daniel invited Yvonne's daughter to join them during the first dance. Beautiful moment of love between all three - the new family!

Daniel sporting the money dance loot!

Congratulations Daniel and Yvonne!

Family and Guests:
Sign up & pre-register now to view all the photos from the day and
Get a $10 Photo Gift from AGB!

Go to: www.pictage.com/594348

AGB is THE Brides Choice Award WINNER!

2009-02-05T09:15:00.003-08:00

WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, just announced that AGB Photographics has won the 2009 Bride’s Choice Awards™!

In its inaugural year, the Bride’s Choice Awards recognizes and honors vendors from the WeddingWire Network that demonstrate excellent quality of service, responsiveness, professionalism, value of cost and flexibility. This year’s recipients represent the top three percent of WeddingWire’s vendor community, which includes over 100,000 wedding vendors from across the US. That means AGB Photographics is one of the very best Wedding Photographers in California.

Unlike other awards in which winners are selected by the company, the Bride’s Choice Awards are determined exclusively by recent newlyweds through surveys and reviews.

“We are excited to launch this annual award program to honor high-performing vendors based solely on the experiences of our WeddingWire community,” according to Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “This year’s recipients have set the bar high, exhibiting excellent service and expertise in the wedding industry.”

AGB Photographics would like to thank our past clients for speaking on our behalf and helping us win the 2009 Bride’s Choice Award!

Testimonials

2009-01-22T10:49:00.000-08:00

Over the past few months I have received some absolutely beautiful testimonials and comments from clients. I thought I would share them with you:

Marty Schwebel has endorsed your work as Photographer and Owner at AGB Photographics.

Marty has been an officiant (ceremony pastor) at over 10 weddings I have photographed over the past 7 years! I love working with him and enjoy the warmth he brings to ceremonies.

"Angela is a fantastic photographer, not just because her work is high quality and is artistically sophisticated, but also because she is a joy to work with on every level. Her ability to negotiate through stressful situations is incredible. Her ability to work with people is one of her greatest assets."

Raida and David said:

"Thank you for the beautiful work. Your photos were a hit to both our families and friends. You have such great talent and I really think that we were blessed to have you capture our big day."

Janis and Lee said:

"We're back and just wanted to touch base with you. Again, thank you so, so much for your patience and extra hard work on our wedding day, we're so grateful! We really appreciate you guys staying later, that was so great of you both! Anyway, I wanted to let you know that we really, truly LOVE the pictures. Actually, I know I want so many, it's going to be hard narrowing it down."

From: candice

To: AGB

Sent: Friday, October 31

Subject: The album

This is the most beautiful thing in the world!!!! I looooooooooooooooooooove the album, so much. Thank you for making our eyes and skin look flawless and I can't believe how crystal clear the pictures are. I can't wait to show Tyson, I of course couldn't wait.

Also, thank you for giving me the engagement pictures as well. I did buy about seven of them from the website but I did have others I really wanted. I can't wait to show everyone the album during the holidays this year!

I'm hopefully coming back to CA soon, so if I have more events or babies I'll think of your first!

Love, Candice

From Narahya and Shane:

"Hey Angela:
I have been meaning to email you to tell you how fantastic a day it was for me!
THANK YOU again and again for your great attitude,support, ingenuity (and,of course,your incredible photography!!)
I LOVE the teaser photos and can NOT wait to see the rest!
YOU ARE THE BEST!!

It has been such a wonderful experience working with you Angela!
I look forward to more in the future (both near in putting together the photos and far :)
Happy New Years!
Many thanks again,
Narahya"

From Debbie re: her 50th wedding anniversary event:

"We have just returned from our Alaskan cruise and would like to take this opportunity to thank-you so very much for everything you did to make our anniversary so memorable. Your patience and manner in which you handled every detail was beyond professional.

What a great job! You deserve a gold medal. We went through the photographs last night and released the event—so it’s out to our guest.

If you ever need a reference know you can count on me."

Scenic North Tahoe

2009-01-09T16:20:00.000-08:00

A gorgeous art print of North Lake Tahoe.

Lake Tahoe Wedding

2008-12-30T14:20:00.000-08:00

A Snowy Winter Wedding!

Ahh...December 27th was a gorgeous, sunny crisp day. A perfect day for Narahya and Shane to have their winter Tahoe wedding!

We started the day at a rental cabin house that was spectacular. This house was amazing with full wall windows, beamed 10 foot high ceilings and skylights throughout. How could I go wrong with this setting for wonderful photographs?

Shane's family flew in from Ireland to celebrate Christmas in Tahoe and to await the ceremony day.

The ceremony was in North Lake Tahoe at Gar Woods Grill and Pier Restaurant. An absolutely lovely restaurant on the lake with a fantastic pier for photographs, wall to wall windows to enjoy the sunset view over the lake.

The ceremony was a small intimate affair - just perfect for a winter cozy wedding! Lights twinkled in the tree and there was a special warmth around the room as families merged together to usher out the 2008 year and welcome in a new season to Narahya and Shane!

Congratulations you both! It was a thrill to work with you and thank you Narahya for being such a trooper to endure the 30 degree weather in that beautiful gown of yours. I have loved getting to know you and becoming friends!

I love the photo below of Narahya and her mom as they shared a special moment together.

Shane and Narahya have a private moment together before the day gets going. What an awesome house they found to rent! Incredible staircase.

Yep, it was cold. Narahya had fun traipsing about in her fluffy coat and boots!

On Gar Woods pier. What an amazing view of the lake!

The two photos below are my favorites. I just love the real expressions they are sharing together as they played on the pier and kept each other warm.

In closing, the photo below is another of my favorites.
For the family and friends of Shane and Narahya:

RECEIVE A $10 CERTIFICATE

TOWARD ANY PHOTOGRAPH OF YOUR CHOICE FROM THE WEDDING!

1. Log in to www.pictage.com/588753

2. You will need to register your email address with Pictage and create a personal password before viewing the event.

3. Enjoy sharing Narahya & Shane's Wedding portraits. Photos are available for purchase as well.

4. Looking for a unique gift idea? How about a gift certificate for the couple to use for photographs and products from their wedding day? Beautiful custom Gift Certificates available for the couple! email or call Angela at AGB Photographics.

If you have questions, please email Angela at angela@agbphotographics.com or call 415.504.7791

MORE HOLIDAY CARDS!

2008-12-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

The card below is from a family portrait session. I was blessed to photograph the couple's wedding about 4 years ago and now to be their family photographer as well! This was the Gundy's first professional family portrait. We had a great time with each other and I found a gem of a photo spot with awesome rustic fences and gorgeous vista views of rolling hills.

The card I designed for them was a horizontal card which opens from the side instead of the typical bottom flipping up. I enjoy making cards that are a bit different in design. Come on...we gotta impress all our friends and one-up-them this year!

Card Front

Inside Spread of Card text:
May the spirit of Christmas bring you
PEACE,
The gladness of Christmas give you
HOPE,
The warmth of Christmas grant you
LOVE.

Back of card

Holiday Cards!

2008-12-09T11:32:00.000-08:00

I am embarrassed....I cant believe I haven't posted any entries to my blog since Halloween! YIKES!
So sorry for those of you who have been awaiting more tidbits from AGB.

I have been keeping quite busy during this holiday season with weddings, engagement sessions, family portrait sessions and even a graduation photo session. I promise over the next week or two I will post images from all these. There are some really great images for you.

But, today I am thrilled to announce my new line of custom designed greeting cards for this year! Those lucky clients who partook in my October Family Portrait Month promotion were lucky to see the new cards and get some of their own to send out for this season.

HOWEVER, my lab is so on top of it that I can STILL create cards for you. It's not too late! I have been getting the cards back in a matter of days from them. Whoo-hoo to all those hard working lab people who make AGB look GOOD! : )

Anyhow, below is a card I designed for Narahya and Shane from their engagement session. The session was super fabulous at the beach and I will share more images in a later post. But for now, here is what I designed for their holiday cards.

FRONT OF CARD

INSIDE OF CARD
(test says: Celebrate the miracle of the moment you live in!)

BACK OF CARD

Pumpkin Day at Arata Farms

2008-10-31T17:34:00.001-07:00

Happy Halloween!

Yesterday I had the best time with my god-children, Maria and Alejo, and my wonderful friend Gina (the mom)! We went to Arata Farm which is THE BEST pumpkin patch out in Half Moon Bay. If you havent explored this wonderful gem....you have two weeks left before they close! They have a great hay maze to explore, a train ride, a petting zoo, pony rides and of course, fun corn stalks to walk through as you pick your pumpkins.

This is by far the best place to go with your family - the kids will love it!

Side note: Kimmie, you and Josh were greatly missed!

Below, Maria was leading us through the corn stalks on an adventure!

Alejo says: "See my pumpkin!"
Maria is SOOO adorable, isnt she?
Hmmm...Home Alone in the pumpkin patch? Alejo is so funny~

These siblings have so much fun together!

San Francisco Beach Engagement Session

2008-10-31T15:16:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of photographing Kim and Shawn's engagement session. The weather was typical SF with fog, fog, fog....but we had such a great time together anyway! The waves were high and fun was in the air! A few quick movements by these guys kept them dry (relatively) and they sure had a laugh trying to avoid the wave that snuck up on all of us.

Anyhow, here are some shots for you to enjoy.

Echoes Through Time: a time-travel fantasy by Charlotte A Banchi

2008-10-03T16:16:00.000-07:00

Cover designed by AGB Photographics

JUST RELEASED!

Now available AT AMAZON.COM, BN.COM: "Echoes Through Time"

The newest time travel fantasy by Charlotte A Banchi

Click Here to read more!

Dr. Jeremiah Dakota believes magic, ghosts, and evil spirits are fairy tales. Raised in a white family, he's had difficulty accepting his Hopi heritage. He is more comfortable in the scientific world of medicine. After treating a dying "witch," an owl blocks his path. He considers it to be obstacle in the road. However, his Hopi grandfather insists the owl is the Spirit of the dead witch and that Jeremiah's soul is in danger. He wants Jeremiah to participate in a cleansing ceremony in the Anasazi ruins of Chaco Canyon; a place of legendary mystical attributes and powerful ley line energy. Jeremiah initially declines, but witnessing the impossible-a human shape-shifting into an owl-weakens his resolve and he reluctantly agrees. For Jeremiah, this journey to Chaco Canyon is much longer and much farther away than expected. During the ceremony he time-travels to A.D. 1054 and draws the attention of a Witch-Spirit who has vowed to take revenge on the people of Wind House. But to carry out his vengeful scheme he must first take possession of Jeremiah's body. To save his soul, Jeremiah must overcome his skepticism and learn how to use the secret Power living within him.

Sbragia Family Vineyards Wedding

2008-10-03T15:48:00.000-07:00

HAVE CAMERA WILL TRAVEL!

I am a sucker for weddings and I will travel for them. This lovely wedding was in Geyserville. I know, not too far away but still - it took me a few hours to drive there.

Location: Sbragia Family Vineyards, Geyserville, CA

GORGEOUS day and absolutely wonderful couple! Tyneille and Kyle were a hoot to photograph and even willing to walk through the vineyards in 3 inch heels (Tyneille, that is)! What sports and they had a great time while on their romantic walk....in fact, so did I!

Here are a few portraits I am in love with!

Quite a group was this wedding party! There were a few genuine couples in the group so I was able to get some more intense dipping photographs. FYI, I wouldn't dream of asking non-couples to do this!

BIRD'S EYE VIEW OF SBRAGIA VINE SMOOCH

Ralston Hall, Belmont Wedding

2008-10-03T15:15:00.000-07:00

Are you still looking for an amazing venue for your wedding? Consider Ralston Hall Mansion in Belmont which is part of Notre Dame de Namur University. Amazing place!! Such grandeur and character.

I have photographed here several times now but this wedding in late September was THE BEST! A Persian ceremony and boy can they party. The dancing was so much fun! The festivities went all night long without a break. And I couldnt stop photographing because of all the fun and amazing emotional energy I was getting!

Take a look at the HUGE wedding party below! It was fun to organize these photographs into something other than a straight line! Those can be so boring.

Ahhh...the sweet twilight time

WOW, so the couple hired a bellydancer to come perform for their guests as a special treat. Sandra is a professional arabic bellydancer out of the SF Bay area. After performing several songs she then took the bride and groom individually onto the dance floor and danced with them. THEN, Sandra took the bridal party and then the groomsmen. Absolutely fun to see all these first timers giving bellydancing a go!

Where to find Sandra: www.raks-sharki.com
Call Sandra to schedule YOUR special performance: 415.305.0316

I just love this photograph of the bride right before she tossed the bouquet - her expression is just too cute!

Brazilian Room Wedding!

2008-08-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

Candice and Tyson - May 2008

OK, so I am terribly behind in my postings so I am just now getting to posting images from this busy wedding season.

If you recall, I posted images from Candice and Tyson's engagement session awhile ago. Well, here are some of the great images we captured at their Brazilian Room wedding in Tilden Park, Berkeley. Oh, and yes, I KNOW I "cut off the bodies" in the above photograph - it's ART! In all seriousness, I just love the detail of the bouquet, the hands and how cool the groom is standing!

Let's start with a quick portrait captured in the dressing room...
FABULOUS in b/w!

Totally sweet interactions of Candice and her little flower girl!

My favorite spot at the Brazilian Room is the rustic picket fence. Perfect place to pose a groom. They are always comfortable when they can lean on something.

When photographing the brides entrance, I love to get the 'behind-the-scenes' perspective...especially with the awesome windows and silhouette look at the Brazilian Room.

Down the aisle in fish-eye perspective! See how Tyson is captured handshaking a friend!

I was really into fish-eye at this wedding! Nifty for a wedding party unique photo....NO MORE STRAIGHT LINE poses! Hah!

This is one of the best wedding cake toppers I have seen in a LONG time! Totally fun and sexy!

so sweet - for all you brides, dont be afraid of sitting down on the grass in your dress...makes for a romantic portrait, dont you think?

Kudos to all the fabulous peeps that made this wedding spectacular and the ambiance fantastic:

Cake: True Confections 510.665.9836

Florals: Megan Haney Designs 925.962.1119

Venue: Brazilian Room in Tilden Park, Berkeley 510-841-1244

St Francis Yacht Club Wedding

2008-08-04T16:45:00.000-07:00

Saturday was gorgeous in San Francisco! Although it was gusty winds, it was a beautiful setting at the St Francis Yacht Club for a wedding!

Let's look at some of the photographs taken during the day...

The photograph above is my favorite from the day! I just love how the dress was flowing as the couple walked! Thank you, wind!

Great expressions above as they enjoyed a little private time on the pier!

A really cool groom with groomsmen photograph...guys are just so COOL and MACHO!

The lovely reception room at the St Francis Yacht Club.

Hope you enjoyed seeing some great images from the wedding. Thanks guys for a great day and a BIG congratulations to the both of you!

Foster City Wedding Day!

2008-07-09T11:39:00.000-07:00

June 22nd was a special day for Raida and David - IT WAS THEIR WEDDING DAY!

The setting: Foster City Recreation Center, married outside with the water in the background on a gorgeous sunny day.

But, first things first....let's start with the preparations of the bride

Oh, the shoes are ALWAYS important to the bride!

Wow, Raida looked stunning. This is a great shot over the shoulder and shows off her lovely back!

AHHHH...AGB's famous silhouette!

Flowers created by Patty Lee , www.8events.com

I just love the expressions on their faces. They were definitely enjoying each other!

A detail captured during the first dance.

YUMM! This spectacular sage green cake was delicious! The stunning detail work is pure art by The Cakery

Above is one of my favorites! I created a sepia toned infrared image for dramatic effect. The pier and pilings were perfect for the brown "old effect" tone.

The wonderful people who created ambiance and the LOOK of the day:
Coordinator & Flowers: Patty Lee, 8events
Makeup and Hair: WowPretty (Jira)
Cake: The Cakery
The Venue: Foster City Recreation Center

Testarossa Vineyards Wedding

2008-05-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday I had the pleasure of photographing alongside Joel Carrico for a gorgeous wedding at Testarossa Vineyards in Los Gatos. It was a sweltering day outside but the lovely backdrop made up for the intense heat. We had plenty of time to spend with the bride as a guest shuttle was over 40 minutes late in dropping off many of the couple's guests! Of coure, the bride was getting a little frustrated in the delay but eventually we began the ceremony.

I came up with the concept below to utilize a plain wall inside the winery cooling cellar. Some may wonder why this wall - well, I saw drama with the stark "window" and the spotlight gave such intense drama that I just had to place the groom there for a pensive stance.

OK, who just doesn't love a wonderful brick rustic wall and a mirror and a BIG LOVELY wedding dress!

The photograph below was a quick take as the bride was (finally) heading up the stairs to her waiting groom. She was very ready to get married!
If you haven't been to Testarossa, check out the ceremony site! It is a wonderful backdrop for a ceremony.

LOVE the spontaneity and fun of this image as the groom was doing something interesting to her...everybody was cracking up!

Below was taken as the bride and groom were just about to get announced to the guests at cocktail hour. Nice archway, huh?

Yes, so we used the archway for a bunch of their portraits. This is probably my favorite portrait for the day. The natural expressions make it TOP NOTCH!

HMMM....would it be AGB if I DIDNT do a silhouette?? Gotta love them...

Lake Merritt, Oakland

2008-05-01T09:05:00.000-07:00

Photographing in Oakland is a beautiful experience! Rosa and Phillip planned their engagement session for gorgeous Lake Merritt! Take a look at some of the images we captured....

Photographing through the columns is an interesting angle and creates a candid feel - like paparazzi capturing the couple unaware!

The location is fantastic with lights strung up along the walkway for a boardwalk look and to bring out some interest at twilight.

The image above is probably my favorite from the session. I was having some fun post-production with coloring. This reminds me of my old days of split toning my black and white photographs in the darkroom. AHHH...nastalgia!

Album Cover - GORGEOUS SHEER COVER

2008-04-17T20:08:00.000-07:00

Hi All,

I wanted to share with you all one of my cool cover options for albums. The SHEER IMAGE cover is great as it is a plexi glass front with frosted see through cover. The first page of the album is featured. This is a great contemporary cover for the Magazine Album!

The featured album is a recent album freshly back from binding for one of my wedding couples. I hate to see this album leave the studio as it was fresh work featuring the venues:
Yank Sing Restaurant, SF
Rincon Center, SF
Grand Hyatt, San Francisco

Candice & Tyson - ENGAGED!

2008-04-16T09:16:00.000-07:00

OH, what a gorgeous day it was at the beach --- well, in actuality, it was super gusty winds and a little chilly but we all made the best of it and had a GREAT time! Candice and Tyson were not going to let the wind get in their way and we got some great shots to show from it!

I LOVE the photograph below for the expressions on their faces. I am all about EXPRESSIONS! I say it at every shoot - I want to see who YOU guys are...show me your personality and show me the two of you and the fun you are as a couple.

Candice was stunning against this wall. I couldnt resist taking her portrait. Dont you think her eyes are stunning?!

Ahh...a little sexyness always gets my attention....and a graffitti wall too! : )

Who says beach shots always have to be ON THE BEACH?! Isnt this playful and fun?

I was so excited shooting this moment below of such a sweet embrace. I KNEW this was going to be the winner of the day for me!

Thanks guys for a spectacular sunset at the beach and I am looking forward to sharing more great moments at your wedding! | AGB |

Giving Back to Serve Others

2008-04-15T18:25:00.001-07:00

A few Saturdays ago I had the blessing of giving back using my photography skills and experience to a group of women. The project began with Rhee Bevere, a beloved wedding photographer buddy of mine, who was chatting with a woman about how they could help raise self-esteem of battered women.

From that conversation a project was formed! A few skilled women photographers were selected and invited to take part in this FIRST charity event for a non-profit who helps women and their children get back on their feet after running from violent relationships. Due to the sensitivity of this non-profit, I will not disclose the name as to protect the women who have found safe refuge and a new start there!

In fact, we were instructed to not show any images as well from the event so as to protect the whereabouts of the women and children. But let me tell you about the experience....

My colleague and good friend, Kim Sayre, and I arrived at the safe house early in the morning. There were wonderful makeup artists and hairstylists from Professional Makeup Artistry working their talents and artistry on the women. The women and children were completely pampered with hairstyles and full make-up for their photo shoots! I personally met Maria Chang from the company and was enthralled with her professionalism and talent.

From there the 4 photographers all teamed up in pairs to give these women and children a full-fledged photo session! It was so much fun and quite rewarding to watch shy women blossom in front of the camera and to see little girls and boys giggle and play together while being photographed. I personally had the best day of photography in a while - mainly because I was photographing from the heart and giving back to those in need.

Below is a photograph of the photographer chicks who gave from their hearts.

above photo left to right: Chyna Darner, Kim Sayre, Shannon Montez, and myself, AGB

Above is a photograph I snatched while waiting for my next family. I am a sucker for blossoms!

Spectacular Florist !

2008-04-03T09:29:00.000-07:00

I had the wonderful pleasure of working with floral designer and artist, Michelle Liu, from Inspiration Floral Design at TWO of my weddings ! Michelle is a true artist and has complete control over her craft. Her signature style is adding beading and jewels into her bouquets - very classy and elegant.

In addition to her mastery of floral design, Michelle has a sparkling personality and loves to work with her clients to create an ambiance that YOU desire at all her events . I am certain you will be more than pleased to get to know this gem of a lady and entrust your wedding or event into her quite capable hands!

Click on the images to see a larger version and get a closer look at Michelle's work!

Michelle Liu, Floral Designer
1.888.969.3569
inspirationfloral@gmail.com
www.inspirationfloraldesign.com

Raida & David (& family) - ENGAGED!

2008-03-31T15:14:00.001-07:00

Easter weekend was a special time for Raida and David! David is currently living out of state with his two daughters. He flew in for the weekend to spend some quality time with his bride-to-be, Raida! Raida also has two daughters of her own. Both wanted to involve their daughters in their engagement session as well as their upcoming wedding. This was so special for me to capture the soon-to-be new family together in their first family portrait!

Most of you all know I LOVE LOVE LOVE the interaction shots! The photograph below is probably my favorite of the family portraits. It is so candid and shows a wonderful family dynamic.

They chose GREAT clothing for the session - all spring dresses!

Thanks guys for a great day together! I am looking forward to your wedding in June and seeing the girls again! {AGB}

2008-03-29T17:01:00.000-07:00

Engagement season is here! This is my favorite time of year to get to know my soon-to-be brides and grooms while spending some fun time together photographing them. I had a wonderful time with Candice and Bryan at the Berkeley Marina.

Having some fun on the swings!

The photograph below was one of those Halleluiah chorus moments! I was looking for a sultry look from Candice and she gave me the perfect look! It is a goal of mine from every session to try something new and unique out! I am so glad this couple were up to it. Amazing image, isnt it?

The image below is quickly becoming another one of my signature shots. The other signature shot are my silhouettes. (look in the past blog entries to see those). This one is just SO SEXY....

Thanks guys for a great day and for giving me a bit of yourselves to share!

How did you do that?

2008-02-13T14:30:00.000-08:00

So, I promised that retouching examples would be a regular posting. Here is another example of what can be done with retouching.

The couple chose to have some wedding portraits taken at the Broadway Pier in San Francisco. This location is well known for being windy but it is a spectacular place to photograph along the water! So, I told the couple not to worry, I can retouch out the stray hairs. This way, instead of slowing down the session and stopping to fix hairs, I was able to continue on capturing the spontaneous moments!

A FANTASTIC TIME TRAVEL BOOK!

2008-02-10T21:30:00.000-08:00

I thought I would take some time to promote my very favorite author! Charlotte A. Banchi is a gifted author and her passion for storytelling is inspiring. Not only is she a wonderful author, but I have the honor of being related to her - she is my mother!

Charlotte A. Banchi has found her niche in the time travel genre of books. Her most recent novel is Our Place in Time which can be found at Amazon.com. Look for her other published novels: The Whole Enchilada and Beyond This Time.

---Coming Soon! A NEW Novel !---
(stay tuned for details)

Photographing the Parents!

2008-02-07T15:25:00.001-08:00

A little while ago my parents commissioned me to photograph them for their 39th Wedding Anniversary! What a thrilling experience! We chose a studio session for the portrait and primarily black and white to enhance skin tones and for a timeless look.

I had a ball with my mom and dad...making them laugh, seeing them snuggle with each other, and some silly photographs as well. It wouldn't be the Banchi family without some sillyness!

The photograph below is my FAVORITE image from the session! I just love the intimate interaction between my folks. The genuine smile on my dad's face is worth a 1,000 words!

OK, so the photo below needs explanation to understand the craziness of it. My dad is a computer geek to the core! He loves his 4 computers....yes, I did say 4!! One just wont do. So, we were finished taking the beautiful portraits and I thought, we should do something silly like you would see a parent holding their child. So, my dad grabbed his Dell laptop and we did a series of him adoring his baby - his laptop! Hope it makes you laugh like I laugh when I see it!

Retouching Wonders!

2008-01-18T15:34:00.000-08:00

Hi Guys! Sorry I've been out of touch so long. It's been a busy start to the year with many many album designs and a wedding! So, I am working on a wonderful album for this absolutely stunning bride. As you may know, all my album designs include retouching of the photographs. If you dont know what is involved with retouching, take a look at the sample below.

In this photograph I enhanced her skin, smoothening it out and creating a flawless tone. I also enhanced her eyes so that when viewing the image, you will be directed right to the source...her connection with the viewer and her expression in her eyes. The eyes are the windows to the soul, afterall!

As with all my retouching, I strive to suddly enhance, not change the persons appearance drastically. Stay tuned for more retouching examples on the blog. I plan on adding bunches of these before/after's so you can get a look at what professional photography is all about!

AGB

CLICK ON IMAGE TO VIEW LARGER AND SEE THE WONDERS OF RETOUCHING!!!

Century House and Gardens, Fremont

2007-11-02T13:39:00.001-07:00

I just got a wonderful comment from a bride I photographed in late October:

"Oh my gosh!!! Angela the pictures are soo soo soo amazing! Thank you so much!!! Wow you paid attention to little details and some of the pictures I had no idea when u took them. Thanks again!"

Let me share with you the day and some photographs.....

Patricia and Oise started the day with their first glance, a special private moment to see each other as bride and groom before the day gets away from them.

I snagged my specialty silhouette shot before we took off to go to a local park for portraits.

Look at the pure joy on Patricia's face!

Now, on to the ceremony! Wedding ceremony was at Holy Spirit Church in Fremont, CA

Just across the street from the church was the reception. And I mean, literally, right across the street! Century House & Gardens

At the end of the evening, the couple changed into traditional Nigerian attire to finish out their reception in colorful style! AMAZING colors

Business Portraits

2007-11-01T14:01:00.000-07:00

Here's a comment I received from Viva in regards to her business portrait session:

"Thank you, thank you, thank you so much Angela for completely rewriting my grade school memories of the dreaded stiff posed portraits! For someone who considers herself a portrait-sita-phobe, this was hands-down one of my most enjoyable experiences ever, thanks to your gift of putting nerves at ease and your apparent quest for excellence in your craft!....I even had fun, didn't expect that!"

Viva Chan is an agent for New York Life Insurance. Her services include:

Individual Life Insurance
Financial Business Planning
Personal Financial Planning
Retirement planning
Long term care
College funding

To inquire about how Viva may help you: 650.513.5639 email: vchan@ft.newyorklife.com

Hotel Valencia on Santana Row, San Jose

2007-10-29T13:04:00.000-07:00

Shanna & Shawn's wedding day was a gorgeous affair at the Hotel Valencia on Santana Row in San Jose!

The area was fantastic for portraits - especially for a fun couple who enjoyed walking around the area and getting lots of attention from shoppers, restaurant-goers and bar-hoppers!

We started the day off with a fun photo - Shanna in her sexy little bride shirt! I must get these for all my brides!

OK, you all must know I am a NUT for silhouettes!

This is my newest favorite image EVER! Homage goes to some brilliant Australian photographers for the inspiration. I was so lucky the Hotel Valencia has some really cool lighting to pull this off in the hallway, no less!

And they all wore FLIP-FLOPS!

The courtyard ceremony at Hotel Valencia, San Jose

Here's the coolest elevator area you ever saw - awesome mirror!

Right across the street was this nifty wall. Now, isnt this better than a traditional photograph?

My associate Joel took this fisheye of the couple in the grass island - we had to dodge a few cars but it was worth it. Check out Joel's website!

This was perfect the "SR" is not just for Santana Row but also serves as the couples initials!

The photograph below was taken when the dj, Tony, arranged a special gathering of all the guests around the couple. Totally fun!

Tony was AWESOME - very fun, engaging and played fantastic tunes while getting all the guests to dance. Check his website out:
Close-Cut Productions, Perry (Tony) Sparks 510-222-9922

Thanks Shanna and Shawn for a wonderful day and some very fun moments!

Family time in Orange County

2007-09-20T10:26:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't resist taking some photographs of my cute little nephews while visiting family down in Orange County. Of course, I wouldnt be a good Aunt without sharing these with everyone! They are the cutest, in my biased opinion!

Daniel playing at the park

Brian playing around the pool
A mini family portrait session of the Castelluccio's

Pictage Photography Conference

2007-09-14T10:27:00.000-07:00

The Pictage conference was great! I am down in LA still. I love these conferences because it is fun to learn new things, get inspired and hang out with my fellow photographers. We are a bunch of wedding geeks, that is for sure!

I look forward to trying out some new techniques and fulfilling all the inspiration I took in. Totally looking forward to my next wedding on the 8th with Tiffany and Patrick! Their engagement session was posted a few months ago.

While down in LA I am having the opportunity to visit with my folks as well as my sister, brother in law and two adorable nephews. My sister flew in from Seattle so this is a mini family reunion. My dad is also celebrating his retirement! As of 8:00am he is offically retired from being an OB/GYN doctor for 39 years! On to a new phase of life!

OK, gotta go enjoy this awesome weather outside...

Mission Santa Clara Wedding!

2007-08-02T12:15:00.000-07:00

Sarah and Chris had a spectacular wedding day! Sarah was a stunning bride and looked gorgeous in her lace wedding gown.I love this romantic detail vignette of the bouquet & dress!

Strolling down a garden path at Mission Santa Clara

A different view of the ceremony inside the gorgeous Mission Santa Clara!

I am a sucker for silhouettes. Planned this photograph when I saw the doorway. Sarah and Chris were greeted with a bagpiper just outside the door! The couple were escorted to their reception by the bagpiper as well. This was quite an entourage!

Thank you guys for a fun day spent documenting your wedding day and capturing the fun and emotional moments! Congratulations!

Shanna & Shawn - ENGAGED!

2007-07-26T10:13:00.002-07:00

What a fun engagement session this was! Shanna & Shawn are such a dynamic couple. Photographed at the Hotel Valencia in San Jose located on Santana Row, we spent some time in the courtyard and exploring the lobby area. Shanna and Shawn will be getting married in late September at Hotel Valencia. I am looking forward to taking the couple out on Santana Row for some fun street photographs!The photograph below is a really awesome round room in the lobby area. Dark as heck but this is why I just LOVE digital! I put my fisheye lens on and was able to capture the dome ceiling and used only available light so I captured the ambiance of the romantic room.

Sexy shots using the funky mirrored wall opposite the elevator
Thanks for a great session, guys! I cant wait to photograph your wedding!

Dunsmuir House and Garden Wedding

2007-07-24T13:33:00.001-07:00

June 16th - a gorgeous day in Oakland, Ca! This is the day that Alex and Rakia were married!

The location was the grand Dunsmuir House and Gardens in Oakland. What a beautiful place to have a wedding. The historic white mansion is absolutely stunning - especially as a beautiful backdrop for portraits.

Let's start with the photos from Rakia getting dressed...
What gal doesnt love shoes? Rakia was so excited to see me taking a ton of shots of her fabulous heels! I just love the bows.

OH my, when I captured Rakia with windowlight I just KNEW this was going to be an amazing portrait! Stunning lady!

Wow, I saw this window on my way up to Rakia's dressing suite.

I couldnt wait for her to finish dressing!

Dancing down the aisle! One of the best processionals I have photographed in a long time!
Check out the fabulous ceremony location - The South Pond and Gazebo

Guests received a lovely handmade paper keepsake photo album book with a wallet photo on the cover from Rakia & Alex's engagement session!

The photo to the right was a great idea Rakia had for personalized guest comments, advice and notes. Written on lovely watercolor paper and then tied to branches with orange buds.

Every good thing must come to an end. So, I chose to end my time with a killer final shot of the happy couple! Thanks for the wonderful day, Mr and Mrs!

Lauren & Mike - ENGAGED!

2007-07-23T13:38:00.000-07:00

Lauren and Mike's engagement session was so fantastic! I am a huge dog lover and was very excited when Lauren asked if they could have some photographs taken with their two dogs, Macy and Bella. Well, I had ideas, ideas, ideas for this! But, dogs have a mind of their own and both were super excited about running around and exploring the private home grounds where the session was taken. I was able to follow through with a few of my ideas.

The two shots below are my absolute favorites! I love the different angle and perspective.

Look at this super fun shot - they are having so much fun together!

What beautiful grounds we had to photograph on! Love the rustic fence and the leading lines in the photograph below.

4 Weddings, 3 Engagement Sessions and a Portrait Session!

2007-07-23T13:29:00.000-07:00

Whew, really been out of touch with my blogging for the past month and a half! I have photographed 3 engagement sessions, 4 weddings and a studio portrait session during this time. Also occupying my time was my annual school time at Golden Gate School of Professional Photography.

Busy, busy, busy with editing, creating beautiful wedding albums and booking 2008 weddings!

Stay tuned for posts with images from the past month and a half! There are some really great images I am excited to share.

Thanks for your patience everyone!
AGB

Tiffany &Patrick - ENGAGED!

2007-06-08T15:40:00.001-07:00

This was one of the most fun and cool engagement sessions ever! And I do mean COOL! Tiffany & Patrick met me right under the Golden Gate Bridge at Fort Point for their portrait session. Boy, was it windy and CHILLY! But, they were too immersed in each other to really notice.

I love the sexy detail shot of the leg!

Nothing beats a cool nook to nestle in!

Thanks Tiffany and Patrick for sharing a bit of yourselves and your romance! I look forward to your wedding in a few months.

Congratulations to the Mr and Mrs!

2007-06-02T21:49:00.001-07:00

May 27th....a perfect day for Brandy and Keary! Amazing couple...amazing moments.

Married at the beautiful Lake Natoma Inn in Folsom on a gorgeous sunny day, Brandy and Keary celebrated their special day among great friends and family! Thank you both for the blessing to be a part of your day.

Brandy's grandmother HANDMADE her wedding gown! I added a touch of vintage sepia to this image

I love this image of Brandy looking out the window.

The playful side comes out!

A moment of romance....

My specialty...handcolored black and whites!

I couldn't resist an awesome silhouette on the way to the reception!

My second photographer, Nick Lostracco, took a final picture of me and my friends to end the evening!

Family Studio Portrait

2007-05-30T16:31:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day was a special day for the Huey family as they prepared for their first family photo in over 10 years! I was commissioned to photograph the family and to capture the precious family relationships with their ailing mother.

I love the way black and white really brings out the timeless and classic quality of these portraits.

Anniversary Portrait

2007-05-30T13:05:00.000-07:00

I was given the pleasure of photographing a good friend and photographer, Anita Bicskei and her husband Rob for their anniversary photo. Married 3 years now, they radiated love and joy with each other at their session. The session was photographed in the beautiful Berkeley Rose Garden.

Happy Anniversary, Anita and Rob!

I love this shot of Rob - especially his sparkling eyes!

Happy Graduation!

2007-05-22T14:41:00.000-07:00

A big congratulations to Aneliese who will be celebrating her commencement from Ursuline High School this Sunday, May 27th!

I had the pleasure of photographing her senior portrait session a few months ago with some awesome results. For Aneliese's graduation announcement, we created a unique square folded card which featured a large photo on the front of the card.

Inside, the card opened from the bottom and the collage photo design below was the inside spread. Aneliese was thrilled with the custom designed card!

Congratulations!

A wonderful Balloon Ride Wedding in Napa!

2007-05-09T15:43:00.000-07:00

Hello! I greatly apologize for the long absence from this blog. I have been keeping myself pretty busy with 2 weddings and 3 engagement sessions. I plan on putting images up from each of those within the next few days so keep on coming back!

The wedding shown to the right was shot on April 21st up in gorgeous Napa! It was my first experience with hot air balloons and quite a wonderful adventure. Colette and Michael wanted a very unique wedding ceremony - very private and serene. We started the day at 6:00am on a crisp April morning. I actually started the day at 4:00 since I had to wake up and drive up to Napa first! How fun it was to drive and watch the skies go from black to a hint of blue to full light!

The couple were married inside the balloon before it took off in flight. The family were all gathered around the basket to witness and take part in the ceremony which included a wonderful water ceremony. After the announcement of the couple in marriage the balloon took off for a 40 minute ride over the vineyards of Napa County.

I had fun chasing the balloon in my car and finding great scenics of their balloon in air! The balloon company, Bonaventura, was very helpful. They invited me to hop in the van when the balloon was ready to land in the middle of a private vineyard. How great it was to be there for the couple when they landed and take some great photographs in the vines.

Later, the bridal party and couple and I went for breakfast (AND COFFEE!!) before we took some more portraits at Graystone, the culinary academy where Colette and Michael met! It was a fantastic day and I was blessed to be a part of their wedding day!

Oberst Wedding was B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L !

2007-04-10T15:32:00.000-07:00

March 31st I photographed my first wedding for the 2007 season! Boy, did we get off on a fantastic start! Leanne and Jeff were an amazing couple and they took some absolutely amazing portraits.

The ceremony was at the beautiful St. Luke Lutheran Church in Sunnyvale and the reception was at the Historic Del Monte.

Leanne and Jeff left us about a half an hour after the afternoon reception was over to take some fun street photographs around the Historic Del Monte.

I found this great yellow wall with red tile along the bottom to capture a series of great expressions between Leanne and Jeff. This is going to have to be a new sample for my gallery wall!

Thank you so much for all the wonderful memories and experiences on your wedding day, Mr and Mrs Oberst! Congratulations again!

Gold Ribbon Winner in the Wedding Category!

2007-03-23T11:22:00.000-07:00

Last night was our local photography association's monthly meeting, Professional Photographer's of the Greater Bay Area. I am pleased to announce that my print, Wedding Day View, scored highest in the category and I received a gold ribbon and accolades of being the winner in the wedding category!

I am off to Las Vegas to attend the WPPI convention (Wedding and Portrait Photographer's International) and to see how this print did in the Best Of Weddings contest where I am a finalist!

The local association is Professional Photographers of the Greater Bay Area, for which I have been a member since 2002. It is a local affiliate of the state association, Professional Photographers of America, for which I am also a member.

North Beach Engagement Session

2007-03-13T15:47:00.000-07:00

About a week ago I spent a lovely few hours with Elaine and Avikk in North Beach. We walked around the area photographing and getting to know each other. They wanted an urban look to their engagment photos. North Beach is perfect for that!

After having some coffee together (who can go to North Beach and NOT have coffee??), Elaine and Avikk dressed up in some fancy attire and we did a short portrait session in a very nice bar across from Washington Square Park. The owner was so nice to allow us to take some photographs at his bar. Thank you! It was a perfect ending to a fantastic day together!

Elaine and Avikk will be getting married in April at the lovely Viansa Winery in Sonoma.

Introducing LIFESTYLE Portrait Sessions!

2007-02-28T15:29:00.000-08:00

What is a lifestyle portrait session, you may ask? This is an in-your-home portrait session using natural light, your home as the backdrop, everyday casual attire and capturing your family in everyday moments.

In January I was commissioned to photograph the Patel family in a LIFESTYLE fashion. We started before their son Asher woke up from his late morning nap so I could capture sleeping photographs. Asher woke up quite a happy baby that day. I captured some great expressions as he was in his crib. Parents loved capturing him in his baby room surrounded by his toys!

The rest of the session ranged from the family's living room to the bedroom. A lifestyle session is a more candid and photojournalistic approach. I focus on the family playing together and interacting. The expressions captured tell a lot about this fantastic family!

What does AGB do during the non wedding season?

2007-02-21T12:48:00.000-08:00

January to April is typically pretty slow for the studio. I spend most of this time designing albums from the last season of weddings. I also utilize this time to create new albums and products.

My newest product is the Expressions Guest Signature Book! I have designed this contemporary book starting by inspiration from Stuart Gellis of Capri Album! The thought behind this book is to allow the guests to sign in the solid color areas directly onto the pages! Black pages will use silver pens. I thought it was a cool idea. Thanks Stuart!

I would love to have visitors sign my sample book! Come by the studio sometime and write on some photographs! Add your style and autograph to my sample book!

Alex and Missy are the featured couple in the sample book. I started doing a series during engagement portait sessions called "Expressions Series". From this series I first created my Expressions Collage which is the final image in the book. It features 16 images with all unique and fun expressions from the couple. The Expressions Collage comes 16x16 and larger mounted on sturdy thick board and lacquered for protection. It is great for display during a wedding reception.

Competition FINALIST!

2007-02-15T14:31:00.001-08:00

I thought I would start off my blog with my first competition entry. These images, "Wedding Day View" and "All About You", were entered in the BEST OF WEDDINGS 2006 competition sponsored by Eventpix.com. I am a FINALIST for the above image in the Best Dressed and Best Portrait categories!

"All About You" was entered in the Romance category! I am a finalist for this image as well. The finalist images will be displayed in Las Vegas at the WPPI convention (Wedding and Portrait Photographers International).

Dear Angela Gail Banchi,
Congratulations! Your images, numbers 118 & 119 (Wedding Day View) and number 121 (All About You), have been selected as a finalists in the 2006 Best of Weddings contest.

Additionally, as a finalist, the image is eligible for the Category and Grand Prizes. All Category and Grand Prize winners will be announced during the 2007 WPPI Convention and Trade Show at Paris and Bally's Resort Hotel in Las Vegas. Winners also will be notified shortly after this date via email.
Again, Congratulations!

Regards,

Sandie Hancock
Director of Marketing
Eventpix.com

A New Year...A New BLOG

2007-02-15T13:08:00.000-08:00

OK, so it is mid-February. But I still consider it a new year! I guess every day can be a new start, right?

I hope to make 2007 a year of new starts. My first goal for this year is the creation of a blog. I may be a little late in jumping on this blogging bandwagon but I am on and in for the ride of my life!

Keep checking on in here. I hope this journal of my photography and personal experiences will entertain and inspire you!

A NEW WEBSITE for 2007! (click to view)

My new website design was launched in December 2006. I am absolutely thrilled with the wonderful design. It was designed by Chad Newhouse, a former client of mine whose wedding I photographed in 2004. Chad did a fantastic job at designing my website and offering tips and advice for some neat features. Send me an email if you are interested in web design by Chad Newhouse!

Warmly,
AGB [ aka Angela Gail Banchi ]