Sara Goetz Photography Blog » photographer

Holiday Studio Sessions 12.3.2011!

admin — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:53:39 +0000

‘Tis the season for family pictures!

Bring the family and get in on these fun studio sessions before they fill up!

Only 5 spots are open, so email Jenny to get yours!

Don’t mess with a boy and his Tonka Tow Truck | Concord Clayton Family Photographer

admin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 06:28:26 +0000

For me a picture isn’t good because it’s technically perfect, although good exposure is important. To me, a picture is worth looking at because it allows you to hold onto something that you don’t really want to let go of. I love taking pictures of my kids because I feel like it is the only way I have of extending their childhood. To me, photographing children is not just about photographing their likeness, it’s about photographing their world as they see it. It’s not just taking pictures of children – it’s taking pictures of childhood.

So right now, photographing Luke & his childhood means photographing him with a truck.

So here’s Luke with his Tonka Tow Truck. I love these pictures. I love that he is wearing his monster pajama shirt and his “Car’s” undies (as we call them around here!) I love that he hardly notices I have the camera out because he loves this tow truck SO much. I love his chunky legs and his huge hands. I love that in one image I can see everything Luke was at 2 1/2 years old. These pictures make me happy

Luke, thanks for being 2 and a half forever on my blog

McMenamins Wedding Photography | Yoko & Joji in Portland, Oregon

admin — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 19:49:51 +0000

Meet Yoko.

She really is that sweet and wonderful. And sincere. And sweet. Did I say sweet already? She makes me happy to be a wedding photographer.

Yoko got married in Portland, Oregon to Joji. You’ll meet him in a minute. Here’s Yoko getting in her fantastic wedding gown:

(Yoko – I want arms like yours )

Here’s Joji. And yes. He’s as jovial and authentic and reflective as he looks.

They are both from Japan but met here in the states (Portland, Oregon to be precise) when they traveled here to learn English as exchange students. Here’s a picture of the first time they saw each other on their wedding day. An aside: brides and grooms to be…the FIRST LOOK is the best way to get the best portraits on your wedding day and be relaxed during your ceremony! Look how happy they are!!!

Alright, I know what you are going to say, “It’s Oregon for crying out loud!” But it rained ALL morning on their wedding day. Even in Portland that’s just sad! We had elaborate (and I mean detalied, elaborate, well thought through) plans to go with family and friends to a park and down to the waterfront to take some really fabulous outdoor pictures of the group. We were even going to walk through a farmer’s market. But none of that happened.

But – we still had fun and got some great portraits in the lobby of the amazing Paramount Hotel in downtown Portland where the wedding party got ready. Chris and I love to improvise and get the shot – no matter what the conditions are!

The Paramount Hotel – Portland

808 SW Taylor Street
Portland, OR 97205
(503) 223-9900

After spending some time in the Paramount Hotel lobby, we all traveled to McMenamins at Edgefield, the ceremony and reception site. Yoko and Joji planned a really incredible affair at an venue called McMenamins. They are well known in Oregon for taking over old venues and transforming them into cool new ones. Chris and I were already in love with Portland. But when we arrived at McMenamins Edgefield, we thought we might never go home. The venue was amazing – full of character and lush landscaping (the rain helps with that ). There were so many places to take pictures! But we started inside of a small house that Yoko and Joji rented for their family and friends to stay. Here’s Yoko taking one last look before the wedding started.

McMenamins Edgefield, Oregon

2126 S.W. Halsey St.
Troutdale, Oregon 97060

All of the women waited downstairs in the kitchen before walking down the isle in a tent that was set up outside on the lawn. Doesn’t she look SO happy and excited to get married?!?!

Here’s Joji getting every last detail ready for his wedding.

I love this image of Yoko’s dad looking at her before they walk down the isle together. He looks so proud of his little girl.

And here they are together, soaking in this wonderful moment.

I love so many things about being a wedding photographer, but here’s something I didn’t expect to experience when I started on this journey. I never thought I would see such a range of tradition and culture. But I HAVE. And I love it. At Yoko and Joji’s wedding Joji’s father performed a tea ceremony. It was beautiful. The setting provided by McMenamins, the tone by Yoko and Joji, and the lighting by mother nature – it all made the tea ceremony a very special part of Yoko and Joji’s wedding.

We took some time to explore McMenamins together with the amazing videographers, Scott and Amanda from Ambient Sky. These two blew us away with the way they captured and represented Yoko and Joji’s wedding…please check them out if you are interested in a videographer (and they will gladly travel!) They even created a 3-4 minute same day edit that Yoko and Joji played at the reception!!! Anyway, take a look at some of these portraits – we had such a great time exploring McMenamins.

I could go on and on but I’m going to leave you with this last image. It makes me happy.

Yoko and Joji, thanks for inviting us to McMenamins at Edgefield & Portland Oregon to be a part of your wonderful day. It was our honor.

We’d love to travel back to McMenamins, Portland, Oregon (or anywhere, for that matter!) to shoot your wedding. If you’re interested in learning more about our wedding collections, give us a call or email us. Thanks for reading!

Sara

Bay Area Engagement Photographer | Kendra and Nathaniel’s Guest Book

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 21:47:54 +0000

One thing that I’ve really loved creating for clients is professional designed albums that showcase the images from their engagement session. I wanted to share with you Kendra and Nathaniel’s guest book album that features images from their engagement session at Lime Ridge Open Space. It’s really important to me that images from an engagement session – or family session – or ANY KIND OF session are enjoyed and showcased! Chris and I put lots of love and sweat into creating strong, simple, striking images for our clients – and while we are happy to provide the option for purchasing the digital files, it’s SO important to us that the files get off of the computer and are transformed into something that can be enjoyed away from the screen. We love making albums from engagement sessions because these albums can also be used as a guest book on the wedding day!

I love albums in particular because it provides the perfect medium for showcasing images in different ways. For example, some images are simply stunning and striking when showcased BIG and all by themselves. But some strong images tell the story best when showcased in a sequence – when you can see similar images next to each other on the page. And sometimes one image stands out when it is supported by small images off to the side.

Here are some examples:

Eichlers and Watermelon I Concord Clayton Child Photographer

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:47:15 +0000

Guess what is going on my wall???

A canvas “cluster” (or grouping of various sizes) of these images. Once again, they just make me happy. I’m a HUGE fan of displaying HUGE images in your house of your family. That’s why I put up those huge pictures of our kids in our living room…yes, they’re larger than life, but they’re ART! Nothing makes me happier.

I’ve been wanting to update my picture of the kids for a while now…and when thinking about what I wanted it really came down to this: I wanted a picture that captured everything about summertime and being a kid in the context of the things that Chris and I love. And because our Eichler is still in need of some major landscaping…I asked our neighbors one block over (Thanks Hunter and Casie!!!) if I could use their house as a backdrop for my summer time picture of the kids. I’m really happy with it – and – as you all now know – that’s the only objective

Want a picture of your children in front of your house (or anywhere else)? Give me a ring!

Thanks for reading,

Sara

My Kids | Concord Clayton Family Photographer

admin — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 05:15:37 +0000

As a photographer – do know what I think about pictures? They should make you happy. Life doesn’t always make you happy, the people you love don’t always make you happy, your circumstances don’t always make you happy…but the pictures on your walls should make you happy. In fact, taking pictures, walking by pictures, seeing them come up on your screen saver, sending them to loved ones in the mail…everything about pictures should make you happy. That’s why I became a photographer!

Here are some photographs of my kids I took a few weeks ago on a trail in Clayton. I’ve actually done lots of portrait sessions here – I think it’s beautiful! I really love the Concord, Clayton – East Bay area. I love taking pictures of kids (of all ages) in the middle of this amazing place! Sometimes I can’t believe I live in an area where such natural beauty is so close. Yeah, yeah, San Diego has the beach. But they can keep it . I love this trail in Clayton. I love Lime Ridge Open Space, I love the Eichlers (I’ll be posting some of the kids in front of those soon!!!) in my community…I just love taking pictures here!!! It makes me happy

Did they make you as happy as they make me?

I’d love to photograph your family here! Please be in touch with me if you want some pictures that make you happy.

Here are a few links to some sessions we’ve done here before:

Post 1 by Sara

Post 2 by Chris

Thanks for reading!

Sara