Napa Portrait and Wedding Photographer

It’s the last day of school, the sun finally came out here in Northern California, let Summer begin, yahoo!  In short, it’s a beautiful day in many ways.  Both of my boys are on my mind today.  One, finishing up his first year of high school, and wow, that was an adjustment for this mom, but it was all good.  Really, really.  No worries you other moms of incoming freshman, they’re way more ready than we sometimes give them credit for.  We probably all realize that it’s more like, are we ready?  Sure, it’s new territory for all us; but they’ve been prepped by their awesome teachers, support from old and new friends, and most of all, the foundation we have done our best to give them as parents.  It’s been a very good year. My youngest son, well, he’s moving into his last year of Middle School.  And, that’s mostly who this post is about.  He actually asked me to blog these pictures today, wow!  Now-a-days, they don’t let you post hardly any pictures of them.  They’ve got their own online thing going!

This young man found a passion this past year and it’s called Longboarding.  Honestly, I didn’t know the difference between skateboarding and longboarding, but now I do!  It all started earlier in the year when our neighbor of many years decided to give my son a vintage longboard.  A totally cool Sector 9!  It’s more like a surf board!  Anyhow, it was all over from there, in a good way.  I have a whole new point of view on skateboarding, longboarding and that whole culture.  In short, I love it!  On the whole, these kids are not a bunch of unmotivated, up to no good, irritating kids some adults might think they are.  For us, it’s been such a positive experience.  My son has found a whole new group of super nice friends he gets together with.  They spend hours outdoors finding new roads, hills and really fun places to ride their boards, learn new tricks, turns and maneuvering these high-tech planks with great skill.  They make videos, they learn new woodworking skills and team together to try their hand at making boards themselves.  And, they’re very good at it!  This last part, I didn’t expect at all.  His grades went up!  Through finding this passion, came a new drive and focus.  Not just for the sport, but refining his scholastic skills as well.  Wow, pretty cool.  We saw improvement all the around.  There was less ‘sassiness’ and just an overall evening out and maturity across the board.  We also discovered this amazing store in our neighboring town of Sonoma, Sonoma Old School.  This place is so much fun!  Rob, the owner, couldn’t be nicer.  He’s really got some  special recipe going there.  You just feel good when you walk in the door.  My son has even asked if when he’s old enough to get a work permit if he can ride his bike there to work!  Uh, that’s a very long bike ride dude!

So, congratulations on a really good year, my sons.  And Evan, good job dude!

Let’s start where it all began, the Sector 9.  Thanks, Jeffrey, you rock.

There was a very cool Gravity board before this one, but oh my gosh, when the Evo came to town!  Landyachtz, well, they are awesome, don’t you know?  Our first of many purchases at Sonoma Old School.

And then, just the other day, we went over and got some new trucks, wheels and bearings.  OK, even I can see that those bearings are amazing!   Those wheels look like they’re on fire with the light shining through them when he’s on a hill.  And oh man, they are SO smooth.  Construction stage here.  The Evo gets new product.  Uh, after my young man ‘wears’ his wheels first.

Now we’re ready to roll, after this close up of the new product.

The maiden voyage.

Just in case you’re wondering what Rob, of Sonoma Old School looks like.  One of his employees made this custom board for him.  Yeah, he’s that cool.  And, check out his awesome rewards policy below for good grades.  Rob, we so appreciate you and Sonoma Old School.  Thanks so much!

And just like that, they’re all grown up.  Claudia was no ordinary senior/teen for me to photograph.  I have been photographing Claudia and her younger sister, Clara, since they were in 2nd and 5th grades.  I have such a library of images of these girls year, after year.  I love them both.  I love their parents.  I love that they keep coming back each year and honor me, with the gift of photographing (and hanging out with) their beautiful girls.  This is all about Claudia, as she’s making her grand exit from High School, but I had to put a single image of her equally beautiful sister, Clara, at the end of the post, well, just because I had to.   Also, Claudia is not a girl who feels like ‘it’s all about me’.  She really didn’t even want a Senior Session all to herself.  This is from our annual photo session, but knowing that it was her senior year, we did a little extra with just Claudia.

Claudia and her sister are so sweet, talented and really, really fun.  Last year when I photographed the girls, we almost had to call off the shoot because we were laughing so much, I almost couldn’t gain my composure to continue.  Clara started with the giggles, then Claudia, then me.  It was hilarious!  I was tearing up and could barely see.

It’s been so amazing to watch Claudia grow up, follow her interests and talents in various areas, such as; dance and early childhood.  She is amazing with children.  I was so bummed recently that I had a conflict with one of her dance performances and wasn’t able to go.  But I was delighted to be invited.

As I was putting this post together, I came across this email message from her aunt:  “I simply wanted to let you know how very much your fine work is appreciated. I am in awe, year after year, over what you are able to capture on film, and am thrilled to have collected such wonderful documentation of my beautiful nieces as they blossom over time. Sincerely, THANK YOU for your extrordinary gift!!” Wow, that felt really good.  Did you catch the film part?  Yes, I’m a film and darkroom shooter/printer.  Though now a days I do both film and digital.  Love them both.  But really, the gift here is Claudia, Clara and their mom.  Hey Becky, that’s you!  Thank you, you sweet ladies down the road.  I don’t want this to ever end!  I’m going to go cry now, but they’re happy tears.

Claudia, I wish you all the best and fully expect you to come back up North each year to finish out Clara’s remaining sessions with me!

Love to you all, K.

And now, the sweet and equally beautiful, Clara