Reynolds Family - Family Photo Session at Lake Tahoe

It's always a mix of complete excitement and a bit of nerves when friends ask you to capture their family photos for them. You want them to come out amazing, because they are not only clients, but people you know and love. Not that I don't want all of my clients to have great images from our session, but the pressure is just a little bit bigger when you might actually see the people again afterwards.

When my friend Amy contacted me about doing some snowy family photos I was super excited. Amy and her husband Z are fellow Truckee kids and we were roomies in college. There are some very good memories of dancing around the kitchen while making dinner, late nights and great live music.

It has been over ten years since I have seen these two and the first time meeting their sweet girl. What a fun way to reunite. Thank you to Amy and Z for braving the icy temps, we couldn't have asked for a prettier day out there on Lake Tahoe.

Laura and Jim - A Lake Tahoe Engagement

November in the high desert can be finicky, one minute its blues skies and hot. The next thing you know you need a parka and a pair of wool socks to keep warm. When I first met with Laura and Jim I asked them what the ideal place would be for engagement photos. I mentioned something about doing some urban shots, maybe at a coffee shop here in Reno. You know, so we could all stay warm and comfy. Nope, they were totally game for braving the possible cold and heading to Lake Tahoe.

 

Plans were made and calendars were marked. Before I left to drive over Mount Rose, I looked up at the amazing blue sky and the warm sun on my face and had to text Laura, "It's going to be gorgeous up there today. I can't wait!" The day was better then I could have imagined. Blue on top of blue with the right amount of wispy clouds and golden light.

I had such a fun afternoon taking their photos and LAUGHING the entire time. At one point Jim looked at Laura and said, "Yep, still smiling". Nothing wrong with that. Especially when you are next to the girl of your dreams...

Laura and Jim, thank you for choosing me to capture this very special time. I can't wait for the wedding this coming August. Congratulations!

A Tahoe Wedding - on Film

The past two months have been filled with magical moments, love, tears and oh so much joy and promise. I have gotten to witness and capture five amazing wedding days. Each unique and special in their own way. I have had the honor of shooting with some fantastic local talent and I can't thank Jessi LeMay, Chris Werner and Corey Fox enough for trusting in my work.

On Saturday, the 28th of September, I joined up again with Corey Fox and Johnny B of Corey Fox Photography & Johnny B Films to capture a lovely wedding at Lake Tahoe.

I loaded up my new DSLR along side my Polaroid Land Camera as I prepared for the day. Shooting with the Mark ii is pretty amazing, but to be honest, I could hardly wait to snap with a few frames of film, too.

Little did I know that I was going take one of my all time film photos to date. Isn't Alex gorgeous?!

A huge congratulations to the newlyweds! 

Tahoe

I didn't make an official "Bucket List" for the summer, though I have a good one brewing for the autumn and winter, but that's another post. 

If I would have put one together for the season, it would have most definitely included a visit to Lake Tahoe.

It wouldn't be summer without a visit to the beautiful Lake Tahoe.

And yesterday, we would have been able to cross that item off the list.

It was hot, hot, hot in Reno so we took a drive up to the lake yesterday.

Tahoe was busy, but still wonderful. 

What a beautiful way to spend our weekend.... What did you do this weekend??

The water wasn't the coldest I had been in this year (June Lake won that gold metal), but it was completely and wonderfully refreshing. Although, if you aren't used to alpine lakes, you might argue with me about the temps!

We all swam and jumped off rocks, soaking up the high Sierra sun.

Tahoe- keepin' it blue

Photo taken by my favorite man, my husband.

On Saturday morning, my husband got to fly to South Lake to have breakfast. His co-worker has his pilots license. Just for fun, they took a little jaunt to the Lake.

This shot blew my mind when he uploaded it today.

Oh Tahoe, you are amazing.

over the weekend...

The sky threatened and mirrored my emotions on Friday. It was a difficult day, filled with sticking up for myself and asking why my work doesn't feel I am qualified for a position I know I am qualified to do. I am on hold for another week until they can sort out what to do with me. It was emotionally draining and unlike the clouds, I burst as soon as I walked out of the negotiation doors...

On the bright side of Friday, I got to pick Daddy-O up from the airport. He was out of town last week for work, down in San Diego (or as O was calling it, Sandy-Eggo) for a software user conference.  It was a tricky week for him to be away, but he had a good trip, was able to post my resume at the conference he went to and I got a bite from a company (here in town!) that wants to interview me (please cross your fingers for me!). This is good news...

I was so glad he was home, so was he (the kids were pretty stoked too, Fifi wouldn't let me hold her the entire evening on Friday, it was adorable).

Saturday we played around the house, took a ride on the train down at the local park and hung out in the back yard all evening. Fifi discovered the little tike car and played on, in and around it for a really long time that afternoon. We ate GIANT s'mores after a yummy grilled dinner, GIANT I tell you. The marshmallows Daddy brought home from the store were like 4 in 1. crazy, sticky, good.

 We headed up to the lake (Tahoe) for the afternoon on Sunday. It was gorgeous, but we hit the wrong time with the kids' nap schedule and there were some trashy people cussing and swearing and chain smoking on the beach next to us that sort of ruined it for me.

We took a walk out on a small pier and let the pretty just soak in to our minds. I love that people are swimming and playing in a lake while there is still up on the mountains above.

We are so lucky to live so close to this place. I think maybe this week I will go back and jump in for a swim...

oh, and look who is practicing standing up! I know this isn't a great photo, but I caught her testing out her legs while we sat on the beach. It's pretty exciting...

5 of 52

The Lake Tahoe addition.
I am a little late with my week 5 selfie. The past week was a doozy with work related crazy and an entire day on the couch due to vertigo- the room was spinning in at least three different directions the other morning and it was all I could do to talk and let Daddy-O know I thought I was going to be okay.
The weekend rounded things out however, and we hung with visiting and local family

Watching the World Cup, USA match. We must not have cheered loudly enough ;(

                   photo by cousin lauren, thanks Lo!

Watching the "kids" play in the back yard water park.


~~
On Sunday we headed to Tahoe. That lake is amazing. I could kick myself for not insisting on getting up there more often. I think three years have passed since we put our feet in the sand and crystal blue water. A true shame since we are so close!

I got in an hour or so after I snapped the shot above- nothing like the thrill of a full body, late June, dunk- takes your breathe away in the best sort of way. Growing up around this lake, you know you just have to do it and that you will feel a million times better once you are under water- the cold is something that cleans the soul and reminds you that you are truly alive.
We finally got O to go into the water, it took a long time in the sand

and then a little paddle boat ride to warm him up to the idea.

As long as Daddy was nearby he was okay.
Exhausted and refreshed, I am looking forward to the week and the long weekend ahead (the 4th is my favorite holiday).

Corner View: The Great Outdoors, Reno

Santa Cruz, CA just a 6 hr drive west from Reno

Reno has so much to offer when it comes to the outdoors. Where do I even begin?
How about my backyard, actually more like my front yard. Just north of our house is a really great regional park. There is the best dog park in town with acres of off leash running for the doggers.

Zucco living it up this summer
There is the arboretum for the tree lovers, the adventure park and playground for the kiddos, the duck pond where you can supposedly fish and the walking path that loops the whole shebang.
In my Mother's Day post you saw all the hub-ub around the Truckee River. Another fantastic natural resource that is in the heart of the city. A little bit further from home we the world famous Lake Tahoe.

One of the prettiest places I know.

"Chimney Beach" Lake Tahoe
There is skiing (downhill or Nordic) or snowboarding at any one of the resorts near Tahoe.

Snowshoeing near Markleeville, CA.
As well as camping, hiking, rock climbing, and biking to boot.

Sand Mountian, just outside of Fallon, NV. Photo courtesy of Daddy-O
We are really blessed to be in a hub of sorts here in Reno- 40 minutes will get you to the snow, the lake, the desert, the middle of nowhere.

Daddy-O, Cloe Girl and Gramps, Black Rock Desert, NV
I love this place.

For more Corner Views, head on over to Jan'es "Spain Daily" for a complete list of links!

The 5ht in the 5th

hiking to Lake Aloha, originally uploaded by NessieNoodle.

I was tagged by Pancake and Camerashy to play along in the "5th photo in the 5th folder". Since I haven't posted a blog entry in a few days I thought it would make for good fodder :)

here it is-
The photo was taken way back in 2005- This is the Daddy-o and our friend James. We are hiking our way up to Lake Aloha near Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake.
This is one of our favorite hikes...Part of it is the PCT and I love the idea that I am getting to hike pieces and parts of that big long trail!

I think on this trip James lost his sleeping bag along the way, let's just say that it was a cold, cold night! (don't worry, we all pitched in and made sure he had something to snuggle in and at least keep a little warm) I also think he was wearing new boots and ended up with some of the gnarliest blisters of all time. Although, that might have been a previous trip... can't remember since we have done it a few times. Despite the hic-ups along the way , the views from up here make it all worth it though.

beautiful!

~~~
In other news. We went tree hunting on Sunday. I brought my camera but spaced on putting the memory card back into the camera, so no photos were had. too bad since it was really quite a pretty day and we had O in his 'snow suit' for the first time- straight outta Christmas Story I tell ya- it was pretty funny. We haven't gotten around to actually decorating the tree yet however... so once that is happening I will get some pictures.

would you?

stormy

~Chimney Beach, Lake Tahoe