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The Race for Education: Powered by NapaFit |Benefiting The Napa Valley Education Foundation

admin — Fri, 06 May 2011 19:24:00 +0000

On April 23rd, I had the honor of photographing the inaugral 5/10k Run & Walk along the Napa River Trail to support the Napa Valley Education Foundation (NVEF). Powered by Ines Donnelly-Bargenquast of NapaFit, of course. Runners, walkers, strollers, people of all ages were invited to participate in this fun-filled event that began at the Napa Valley College campus and ended in downtown Napa at the 2011 Earth Day Celebration. This event came together with the hard work and dedication of so many wonderful volunteers and sponsors. It was truly a coming together of community at its finest. Please visit the event Facebook page here to see the many wonderful sponsors.

As a mom of two teen boys in our school district, I can tell you that there are no words to express my gratitude for everyone involved with this event. My husband and I been always been involved with schools that require parent participation and volunteer hours. We have done everything from simple classroom participation; helping the teachers with anything they need, to science presentations (my husband is a sweet geek), we’ve helped build playgrounds (funded by the awesome Kiwanis Club!) and beautiful gardens, participate and start artist’s programs for the children, the list goes on. We are just two out of many, many people who do this every day. And I will say, we’re still needed. More than ever, in fact. The schools need our support, the kids need our support. Everyone wins when we participate. I’m sure you’re all familiar with the staggering and heartbreaking cuts that we keep getting hit with in education. Now is the time, the race for eduction doesn’t stop here. Please keep supporting our educators and schools. And to all of you that I saw on race day, THANK YOU!

And now, here’s little slideshow featuring some of the images from that incredibly fun day. Please head over to Kathi Cook Photography’s facebook page hereto see over 200 images from the day. And, if you like them, ‘like’ me as well, I always appreciate new fans. Here it is, have fun and keep moving! Well, one more plug here, goRiver School, go Napa! Hey, I am a proud mom right? Yes!

The Bui Brothers Rock! | Napa Portrait Photographer | Bay Area Photographer |

admin — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:28:43 +0000

Hey all, happy Monday! I wanted to make a quick post before heading out for the day to photograph some really cute kids. Last week I got to meet Vu and Lan Bui aka The Bui Brothers, from Southern California. I heard them speak one evening, then got to hang out with them at a workshop the next day. Wow, what a great couple of days I had. These guys are just plain fun to be with and are so knowledgeable. They don’t hold back and show you/tell you everything you want to know. As a photographer, if you ever get a chance to attend one of their workshops or hear them speak, jump on it! And, of course if you’re going to WPPI (Kathi raises her hand, yippee!) in a couple of weeks, you’ll see them there as well. Anyhow, gotta get out there and shoot today, so here’s just a few fast images of one of our fantastic models that day.

Cheers!

| NapaFit-Bikini Bootcamp goes to San Francisco! | Napa Photographer…. finds her energy! |

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:18:13 +0000

Wow! Welcome to my world on a beautiful Saturday morning in San Francisco with a group of energetic, dynamic, and way fun women! Meet NapaFit-Bikini Bootcamp, and be prepared to get your butt kicked, with a capital B. I am one of many women who participate in this great adventure called ‘find your energy’, ‘find your body’ with NapaFit. We are all inspired and driven by one Ines Bargenquast (Donnelly). This was a workout ‘field trip’ to San Francisco, where we insanely agreed to run the infamous Lyon Street Stairs (over and over and over, again —- insert a lot of sweat!) and the beautiful Golden Gate Bridge. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I had never been to the Lyon Street Stairs before. I know, what kind of California girl am I? So, it was not with a tourist’s eye, exactly, that I enjoyed this venue for the first time; though I was equally as stunned as any out-of-towner at the vista that is the ‘admission’, if you will, to this amazing neighborhood wonder. However, I was one of many that day, who enjoyed a beautiful view of our lovely city and a workout that was really vigorous, extremely hard, and worth every minute of it! I can’t think of a better reason to get up and start the day than this. Those steps kicked our butts (to the tune of Ines barking orders at us — in a loving way, of course), but I wouldn’t change a thing.

Thank you, Ines, and ladies of the S.F. workout field trip. I had a great time, and an amazing workout with all of you on this gorgeous San Francisco day. And, as always, your comments are very welcome here on the blog.

This is the view that met us at the top of the stairs. See what I mean?

So, we had been at this for awhile when I snapped this photo. I hate to say ‘snapped’, as a professional photographer, but this was my workout too, and Ines was not about to let me get away with ‘I just happened to bring my camera along today’. Though I taunted her with a few comments prior to our departure that morning about ‘a group shot’ and ‘as a photographer, I must document at least some of this!’ She’s not so tough as to turn down a few shots in between breaths from me. We were literally on our way down the first set of stairs for a group shot just below the heart sculpture that is obscured by the morning light. That pretty brick building to the right is the home of former Mayor of San Francisco and Senator Diane Feinstein. Google it for a great view of the terrace/gardens.

Yep, there we are, our fearless leader, Ines, dead-on in the middle there with that ever-so-lovely banister pointing right at her. Well, I’m not in there — you all know how that goes, right?

OK, enough about me, on to the bridge!

And, we’re working it! That handsome man below would be Mr. Bargenquast. I have the distinct honor in the coming months of photographing this happy man and his wife, Ines, in a maternity session. I know, you can’t even tell that Ines is expecting! The only thing that could be better than this is that I also get to photograph their newborn! You’re going to have to check back here after the New Year folks.

A lot of water out there.

Can you believe we’re smiling?! Even those two below in the lower right with Ines pushing them onward!

Takes your breath away, doesn’t it?

I think they’ve caught their breath now.

Yes we did!

Pretty girls all in a row. And, don’t forget to stretch!

Here’s our group ‘tourists’ shot, I love it! What are you waiting for? Call NapaFit now!