Napa Portrait and Wedding Photographer » Children’s portrait photographer

Real smiles, loads of sunshine and fun in the beautiful Napa Valley

admin — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:44:33 +0000

Hello and Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a grand Holiday season filled with love, fun, family and friends, and oh yeah, too much food! I have zero complaints and nothing but big smiles when I look over these past several months. The only thing I see that I don’t have is, you guessed it, no blog posts! Well, that seems to be the way I roll at times. I just don’t come up for air. Did you miss me? Well, I missed you and thought I would begin the 2011 with a bright sunshiney post from the end of summer that I never got ’round to showing off. And wow, if you live here in California, there was no shortage of sunshine well into the Fall. How lucky are we? What that means is, more beautiful light in the posts from me ahead. Can you see my big smile? Hear my laugh that follows? If you’ve not met me in person (and you know you want to!), that’s how my smile works. I don’t just smile, there’s always a laugh. What can I say? I’m just mostly a happy person and inherited a ridiculous sense of humor from my mom. I sometimes laugh at the way I see the world, like a Pixar film at times, ha, ha.

Anywho, for anyone in need of some sunshine, smiles and just feasting your eyes on a little person who absolutely, unequivocally knows how to have not just a good time, but a GRAND time. Well then, this post is for you. When I know I’m going to be photographing my friend Lilla, I know I need to have my running shoes on, knee pads ready for the ‘army crawl’, really whatever it takes, because this girl moves very, very fast! I LOVE photographing Lilla! She just makes me so happy. And, she’s the luckiest little thing. She has this great property to run all over, gardens with more flowers, fruits and vegetables, goats, chickens, horses, dogs and cats, as well as her sweet mom. Can’t wait until next time!

Have fun,

Kathi

Fun on-location Family Portraits in the Napa Valley

admin — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 22:59:39 +0000

I believe my very favorite request that I get from people contacting me for family photographs, is on-location photography, in and around their own home. And, the only other thing better than that, is when they preface that request with a statement about what’s important to them and how they go about their day at home. This is what they want to capture. Whether that means everyone is looking at the camera or not. Splendid! Lets do it!

This beautiful family was gifted a session with me as a result of an auction/fundraiser at the amazing Castello di Amorosa, here in Napa, for what is now, my oldest son’s former school (sigh….., I miss them) Stone Bridge School. We spent some time talking about what the family typically does on a weekend day, thus the tea party, as hosted by the very cute little girl with the blonde curls. The very same cutie loves to search the backyard for acorns and play. Their son gardens, loves legos (lucky guy, check out all those LEGOS!), tetherball and goofing around. The parents are both very easy-going, warm and friendly, and I think it’s apparent that they love their children and family life.

As always, I want to thank this family and all of my faithful clients for allowing me into your lives and for all the fun we have capturing moments that you cherish.

Kathi

Lifestyle Family Photographer | Shooting a Shooter | Napa Family Photographer

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 06:35:01 +0000

My favorite thing to do is photograph people just living life, documenting the little things in their daily lives. Turns out for most people, these little things are loaded with meaning. Think of my job as sort of a visual journal, a way to go back and look at an image and remember what was going on that day. Really, telling a story, the story of you. Someone said to me recently that they felt that my photographs felt true and full of life. The images they saw made them want to be there, where ever that was. It almost made me cry. I just about floated away from that meeting. How nice. It’s what I hope for whenever I pick up my camera and set out to photograph my sessions, that I will tell a story. That I will be that fly on the wall, unobtrusive and watching the story unfold and tell it in a way that will be remembered always.

That leads me to this session with someone who knows what I’m talking about. Please meet my friend, Jennifer Chaney, photographer extraordinaire from the East Bay. Jennifer invited me in to capture some very sweet and meaningful moments in her life. She has such a sweet family! There’s ‘the crazies’, I mean the kids, the handsome husband and a gigantic dog (who managed to not be in any of these shots, whoops!). It was fast paced and so much fun.

Thanks for the fun and the laughs Jen, can’t wait ’til next time.

In Your Eyes | Napa Children’s Photographer | Napa Black and White Photographer

admin — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 05:13:39 +0000

I’m a photographer, I love people, I photograph people. I’m also known as a children’s photographer and I love that association. I tend to chatter a lot, and I’m trying not to here. I want this to be brief and about the art. The art of children, the art of photography, the art of really seeing someone. Seeing them whether you’re with them for a number of hours, minutes, days. Do you see them? I was with this lovely little person last week photographing her expectant mother, and we’ll get to that in a few weeks when I’ve had time to look it over, edit, etc. But tonight, I just wanted to share this beautiful little person, this moment caught right here. We were just goofing off when I took this image and it was a total distraction tactic on my part to get her to cooperate with what we were about to do next with her momma. It was brief and it was beautiful. You know what they say, life is what happens when you’re making plans. As someone who has been photographing for a long time now, I know what I’m doing, I know that what I cherish most in shooting is the moments in between moments. The in between places is where’s it’s at for me. Ask anybody who’s worked with me, that’s where the magic is and that’s where I go.

Get lost in the magic that is this precious child. She’s in her moment. They’re fleeting and we’d better hang on or we’ll miss them. Miss them as photographers, but most importantly as parents and people who appreciate the magic that is the child. And, I mean no matter the age. Hang on guys, enjoy it all.

‘In your eyes
the light the heat
in your eyes
I am complete
in your eyes
I see the doorway to a thousand churches
in your eyes
the resolution of all the fruitless searches
in your eyes
I see the light and the heat
in your eyes
oh, I want to be that complete
I want to touch the light
the heat I see in your eyes’

Peter Gabriel

A Girls and Her Critters | Napa Children’s Photographer | Lifestyle Photographer

admin — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 03:14:05 +0000

I’d like to introduce you to a very fun family that I have been photographing for quite some time now. Meet Laleh, she’s fantastic! The first time I photographed Laleh, she was only 6 months old. I’ve been fortunate enough (thank you) to watch her grow and photograph her for oh, about 7 years now. Her parents are two very creative people and I find myself taking in everything I can when I’m in their home, or on their property. It’s such a visual feast. Well, anyhow, this particular session was about documenting Laleh and her chickens, very cute. I was first introduced to her caterpillar though. You can see, this little guy does tricks, yes, that’s the caterpillar walking the tightrope while Laleh looks on. And, is typical for me, I even climbed up into a tree with Laleh. It’s not that I do that at every session, but, where they go, I go, not a problem at all, more fun that way.

Many thanks to her lovely parents, Bill and Toyoko. I continue to feel extremely lucky that I get to take part in your lives this way.

Kathi

The Finale, as promised | Napa Children’s Photographer | Napa Lifestyle Photographer

admin — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 07:15:20 +0000

And, I do deliver. Here’s the finale, as promised, of some of my favorite girls. You may think I’m showing a lot, and I am, but believe me, this is but the tip of the iceberg with this session. The awesome images were too numerous to count, thanks to my unbelievable subjects. Truly beautiful people, in every way.

It’s late, so here you go and enjoy.

One of my Favorite Sessions | Napa Family Photographer | Napa Valley Photographer

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:44:53 +0000

I don’t even know where to begin with this post. I’m still trying to catch up from the holiday season on blogging and showing off some of the fabulous sessions I had. This session seemed like the perfect place to start. It was a crisp, sunny, magical lighting kind of day in November when I got together with these gorgeous girls. Not only are they beautiful, sweet and fun, but they like to play around with clothing too! It doesn’t get much better than that. Well, actually, it does, because two out of the three are dancers as well. Fantastic! I would also like to plug the dance studio they attend because it’s such a great place, Napa Regional Dance Company. Along time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I danced with the Executive Director, Wanda Martin McGill. Wanda is an exceptional talent and you can also catch her at Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill. Now I realize this is a very long post, but let me explain. Brianna and I ended up with more time together that day because the other two girls had to get to their afternoon dance class. So, Brianna and I kind of had our own private shoot. I didn’t mind in the least! Makes sense to start with Brianna, yes?

Meet Sophie.

Isabella.

They’re great together.

Sweet little country girls! | Napa Children’s Photographer | Napa Family Photographer

admin — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:35:59 +0000

Meet my sweet little country girlfriends! And, be prepared for the longest post in history! I really love all my sessions, but these girls were just so much fun, so playful, the scenery so delicious, and I have been so busy (thank you everyone!) lately, that I haven’t been able to post many sessions. So, I thought I would lavish you with a delightful day of play in a gorgeous setting.

These cute little people have a great life. They live in one of the most beautiful areas in Napa Valley, not that they ‘get this’, or care. What they ‘get’ is, life is an adventure! They share this fun farm with their older brother (we’ll meet him another time, it’s all about the girls right now), their wonderful parents, and a whole lot of critters. We started off with some chalk art up near the house, took off from there with the cutest puppy on the planet (yes, even cuter than mine, don’t tell my dog!), combed the green pastures, sassed some goats, went creek stomping, out for hot chocolate and back again to enjoy our lollipops from the local sweet shop. I think maybe they napped, but me, I went on to photograph kids doing an art project at my sons school. But that’s another story…. For now, enjoy this story as it unfolds, you know you want to be there too!

Oh, I almost forgot to thank their sweet mommy, who let me just run with the kids and do things my way. Thank you! I had an incredible play date with you all, thanks so much!

PS Some of you might recognize one of these images as my ‘facebook’ profile image. It makes everybody so happy!

Love this little guy!

Just getting started.

A relatively calm moment.

Moments

more moments

They each have their own interests, although I think I have the puppy’s attention.

Doesn’t this remind you of that old Coppertone Ad?

Little C strikes a pose!

Sweet P.

Life is good on a ranch!

Some of the local color.

More sweet P. moments.

Come on Kathi, catch up!

Little bits of C. in her element.

OK, now we’re getting down to business in the sweet shop!

Sugar doesn’t effect kids?

Oh no it doesn’t!

Who cares anyway?!

Not her.

Em, the calm after the storm.

I’m at peace just looking at this.

And, they had me in pieces, ha, ha! Thanks girls, you know how to have a good time!

Good Feelings=Good Fun | Napa-Sonoma Photographer | Napa Children’s Photographer

admin — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 23:56:25 +0000

This was a good time! I had the opportunity to be a part of a really fun project, that I’ll just call ‘Good Feelings’. I love it when someone sees something going on in life that makes them think of my photography, my style. That’s how this little session came to be. Recently, a good friend of mine was hanging out with her very good friend. As it happens, they were watching their daughters jump rope together — as in with one rope, in unison. That would be the two cuties you see below. As these friends were watching this sweet sight, one said to the other ‘that looks like a Kathi Cook photograph’. And so, an idea was born. You see, my friends friend (are you keeping up with this?) would be going into the hospital very soon for some ongoing treatment. That’s when I was approached to capture what they had seen together as a surprise gift for our mutual friend upon her next hospital stay. We didn’t actually know when and where we would make this happen, however, I was invited to tag along to this fun little diner where, as it turns out, we not only had a blast together, but we got the shots you see below (and many more) and our big surprise came to be. The first image you see below is the one that was delivered to this dynamic mom/wife/daughter/friend in the hospital, from the two little girls and her (and my) scheming friend. It was very gratifying to hear about the reception this piece received when presented to our beautiful friend.

At the risk of sounding trite, it’s times like these that make me feel great about what I do. Thank you for including me in something so wonderful.

Check out the look on their faces in that first image to the left, cracks me up!

Jumping rope is fun yes, but hard work, popsicles are a must!

Love that ‘golden hour’ light!

Visiting some of the locals on the property.

On site goodies and one happy face!