As many of you probably already know I left Mike alone in the beginning of October to go visit my family back in Russia. The main reason for this trip was that I was just dying to see my baby niece.

Having lived in St. Petersburg for most of my life, I knew perfectly well that the weather is going to be nasty in October. Living in sunny California now I forgot what that nasty and cold really means. It was freezing! My warmest coat wasn’t even close to being enough and I ended up wearing a few sweaters, one on top of another. I didn’t care any more about being the least bit fashionable, I just cared for my warmth :)

My family and I would spent long hours every day walking with the stroller in the nearby parks. This time I didn’t desire to go sight seeing to downtown or to go out, I was just truly enjoying every minute spent with my family. The rain was drizzling often, but nevertheless the fall colors of the trees were just amazing! I loved the already forgotten scents of autumn - the fallen leaves on the damp ground, mushrooms, berries and wilted flowers. It also felt a bit surreal to be walking with Dasha’s stroller at the same park where 20 years ago we were walking with my sister’s stroller. It seems that it was just yesterday! Time flies so incredibly quickly…

I feel that during this trip I really didn’t stop taking photos for a second and the camera was always right next to me. During the long walks I would crawl on the ground trying to capture everything I saw around me, the trees and fallen leafs. When we would come home after the walk my attention would shift to baby Dasha. I fell in love with her from first sight and in these two weeks she probably became the most photographed two months old baby ever! I’ll write more about Dasha in my next blog post when her pictures are going to be ready.

My sis:

… and mom having fun in the park:

The whole family on a walk:

My niece Dasha & I:

Stay tuned for more photos!
Natasha

The first weekend of October found us at yet another beautiful wedding set in wine country. This one was held at the Fountaingrove Golf Club in Sonoma, a venue that is absolutely lush and inviting. We met Kim and Eric almost a year ago now and we’ve been looking forward to their wedding ever since.

This couple let us know about their idea for fall-themed colors and these details really added to the day. It’s easy for anyone to see how much they love each other and it was a privilege to capture these moments.

The weather had cleared up from the rains of the day before and the outdoor ceremony had both laughter and tears. The children, which also walked down the isle, added much amusement to the procession.

We were having so much fun with the bridal party!

This day’s reception included exceptional dining, great music, and a really warm vibe. We were thrilled to be here!

You can view Kim and Eric’s engagement photos here.

Congratulations to you guys!

Mike

We were both excited and nervous at the same time to be photographing Lisa and Andy’s wedding because Lisa is a professional photographer as well! We loved the Old Whaling Station in Monterey where the wedding was held. The historic house is surrounded by a beautiful courtyard garden with roses and overhanging pear and apple trees. The garden was full of gorgeous thought-out details and was just perfect for this intimate wedding.

During the ceremony the guests were asked to stand up and say wishes in their native language. It was amazing: you could hear so many different languages from German to Hebrew, Ukrainian, Japanese and even English! :)

After the night took hold the festivities continued, illuminated by the light of the candles and lanterns in the trees. There was much dancing, laughing, and happiness to end this perfect night.

Thanks for having us there and congratulations to you both :)

Click here to see their engagement photos.

Natasha and Mike

A couple of weekends ago we shot an awesome wedding at The Bridges Golf Club in San Ramon. Natasha and I were looking forward to working at this venue for some time as we have another wedding there next year.

Anjie and Amit are a very sweet couple who’ve known each other for over 10 years now and it was our honor to photograph this event. Many of the guests wore traditional Indian dresses and the excitement of the day could be felt from the time we first arrived. Natasha and I separated to capture the preparations as Anjie and Amit decided to not see each other prior to the ceremony.

Here we were having fun with a spontaneous jump by Amit and the guys:

The day was full of amazing details including red roses and petals which were just everywhere from the bride’s bouquet to the ceremony isle:

Vows were exchanged during an emotion-filled outdoor ceremony right before sunset. As difficult as it was to be shooting directly into the sun, it was impossible to not notice the beauty of the moment.

The reception was also held at The Bridges and included many toasts as well as a surprise coordinated dance by the entire bridal party. This really got the dancing started and it was impossible to keep people away after it.

Congratulations to our friends, Anjie and Amit! We’re very happy for you :)

Click here to see their engagement photos.

Mike