Blog - Page 2 of 50 - Fifth and Chestnut

Surprise, We’re Having Twins!

December 20, 2017 In Get to Know Us No Comment

Well, it’s about time that I update my blog with some personal news! Although…incredibly late. I am 32 weeks pregnant with TWINS. You may have noticed me mention my twins a few times in my recent posts, but I never made an official announcement on the blog. So here it is! This is me, my hubby and my then-2-year-old showing off our twin ultrasound when I was about 14 weeks along.

It’s hard to believe that, at the time, I didn’t know my babies’ genders. Now, we almost have our nursery ready and we are picking names. Time flies!

Needless to say, we are extremely excited to meet our babies at the end of January. It’s going to be a wild ride!

Tahoe Maternity Portraits and Family by Reno Maternity Photographer

December 20, 2017 In Family Maternity No Comment

I’m so happy that this mama asked me to create her Tahoe Maternity Portraits at Sand Harbor! She and her family wanted a rustic look to the photos, and even though Sand Harbor is a beautiful beach, it also has a great nature walk with a rustic feel.

Rustic and Fun Tahoe Maternity Portraits at Sand Harbor

This family chose a perfect warm summer day in Lake Tahoe for their Tahoe maternity portraits. I had so much fun wandering around the nature walk with this soon-to-be family of five. The boys were so much fun to photograph together as well. I LOVED their adorable cowboy boots and cowboy hats.

The light was so beautiful that we photographed until the sun went down completely! I am thrilled to share my favorites from their Tahoe maternity and family session with you today, and I’m so excited to meet their new baby soon for newborn portraits!

Fall Firefighter Themed Newborn Photos by Reno Newborn Photographer

December 20, 2017 In Newborn No Comment

These fall firefighter themed newborn photos are just so precious, I can’t stand it!! This baby boy was SUCH a good baby for us at the studio. Even through several set changes, he was a complete trooper! It was also exciting to do some warmer/darker tones with this little guy. Yay, fall babies!

In the Studio: Fall Firefighter Themed Newborn Photos

His parents are firefighters, so of course we had to do some shots with a helmet and their boots. *NOTE: pictures of him in the helmet are either composites (2 or more images combined together and heavily photoshopped) or pictures in which I photoshopped the arms out that were holding the helmet up. Do NOT attempt to take this style of photo without training & knowledge about baby safety and image compositing.*

His parents also wanted to incorporate aviation themes into the session as well, as you’ll see with their family portraits.

Big shout out to my studio mate, Elizabeth, for helping me with this shoot. I was 27 weeks along with my twins at this shoot, and my tummy was sooooo in the way. It was also very difficult for me to squat and hunch over this little guy for several hours. Her expertise and the extra set of hands was extremely helpful!

Congrats to this family on their new addition. Wishing you all a joyous holiday season together!

PS: Fall plaid blanket by the amazing Lavender Gray Designs

: LOVE this fall plaid blanket by Lavender Gray Designs

Rustic Country Galena Creek Fish Hatchery Wedding by Reno Wedding Photographer

December 11, 2017 In Weddings No Comment

Keri and Hunter’s country Galena Creek Fish Hatchery wedding was such an amazing family-centered celebration. So many details of their day were handled with the help of wonderful friends and gracious family members.

Keri & Hunter Join Lives Together at Country Galena Creek Fish Hatchery Wedding

You’ll see in the photos below that Keri & Hunter have a beautiful family already, but it was so heartwarming watching their daughter and Keri’s son come down the aisle as part of their wedding ceremony.

So many parts of their day were touching and special. I LOVED working with these two and the amazing tribe surrounding them. A wedding is no small feat to pull together, but Keri & Hunter did it and made it feel like a real down-home gathering.

Their wedding was bittersweet for me, as it was the last of my 2017 season. But I am so thrilled that I could close my season out with such a loving and laid back couple!

Cheers to always & forever, Keri & Hunter! I’m excited to see your family again soon and capture the moments of your kids getting older!

Wedding Vendors:
Venue: Galena Creek Fish Hatchery
Officiant: Suzy Whipple Sheldon
DJ: Erik & Courtney Swendseid
Desserts: Barb Newbrough
Rentals: All Occasion Party Rentals
Wedding Gown: Alfred Angelo
Groomswear: Stafford & JC Penney
Second Photographer: Talia Ybarra Neckels
Photo Assistant: Isaac Hoops

Fall Family Portraits at Caughlin Ranch for Family of Three | Reno Family Photographer

December 9, 2017 In Family No Comment

These fall family portraits at Caughlin Ranch for the Stahl and Mosley family just totally warm my heart as we start to deal with chilly weather here in Northern Nevada!

Fall Family Portraits at Caughlin Ranch and Northwest Reno

I LOVE the Caughlin Ranch ponds at all times of the year. However, it is especially gorgeous in the fall. I’m so glad that this family chose this location for their fall family portraits!

I had a great time with this family of three as we walked around the ponds and creeks, searching for the best backgrounds. After our time at the ponds, we ventured down the road to another park. It was absolutely popping with fall color.

Below is just a small selection of my favorites from their fall family portraits. Enjoy!

Fall Galena Creek Portraits of Hale Family by Reno Family Photographer

December 9, 2017 In Family No Comment

I was SO excited to see the Hale family for their fall Galena Creek portraits this year! I met them two years ago for portraits of them with their son Rocco. Now they have another son, Maverick, and they are a perfect family of four!

Updated Fall Galena Creek Portraits for a family of four!

Rocco is still the super sweet and curious boy I met two years ago, but he’s such a big kid now! He is funny and silly, but also gives the best serious expressions. And Maverick is just as sweet and adorable – with his locks of red!

I love the combination of fall color we got alongside the always beautiful evergreen backgrounds. What I love even more is how fun this family is together. I adore the posed portraits AND the candid ones. It was so good to see them again and create these timeless keepsakes for them!

Enjoy my favorites from their fall session below!

: Oh man, I just LOVE this sweet portrait of Rocco!

: Look at Maverick’s adorable expression here!! So sweet!

Spunky & Bright Fall Wedding at the Grove by Reno Wedding Photographer

December 4, 2017 In Weddings No Comment

This beautiful and bright fall wedding at The Grove in Reno was one of my last weddings of the 2017 season. It was also one of the most gorgeous fall days, ever.

Holly and Mike truly had a spectacular day full of so much love and laughter. And the thought they poured into their wedding definitely shows. There were so many sweet unique aspects to this wedding. You’ll see in the photos below how their wedding was so beautifully orchestrated!

Perfection during a bright fall wedding at The Grove

The Grove in the fall is absolutely amazing. I don’t think Holly and Mike could have chosen a more perfect day to say “I do.”

It was so special with the lovely fall foliage surrounding them, along with the crispness in the fall air.

I LOVED shooting this wedding and working with Holly and Mike from our original conversations, through their engagement and now their wedding.

Enjoy my favorites from their incredible day below!

Reno Wedding Vendors for this Bright Fall Wedding at The Grove:

Venue & Caterer: The Grove
Officiant: Carol Criddle
Hair & Makeup: La Di Da Beauty
DJ: Thunder and Lightning Mobile DJ
Florist: Serendipity Floral and Garden
Cake: Dee’s Bakery
Wedding Dress: Alfred Angelo
Groomswear: Men’s Wearhouse
Invitations: Basic Invite
Second Photographer: Kevin Sawyer
Photo Assistant: Colin Nicolai

Caughlin Ranch Family Portraits in Fall by Reno Family Photographer

November 28, 2017 In Uncategorized No Comment

I’m so excited to share my favorites from this sweet foursome’s Caughlin Ranch family portraits! When Neda booked me for her family’s portraits, we immediately started talking about the ponds at Caughlin Ranch for our location. It’s one of my favorite spots – diverse and beautiful in every season! It also brings back wonderful memories for Neda of growing up in Reno. Win win!

Fall Caughlin Ranch Family Portraits in Reno

We played in the leaves at Caughlin Ranch and explored the area – trying to keep little Eli out of the creek, haha! It was a gorgeous day – perfect for a stroll around the ponds!

Noah is six, and Eli is two, so they sure made me work hard for good expressions! But hey, what kid wouldn’t rather play than pose for portraits? Still, we got some wonderful gems.

Enjoy just a snippet of my favorites from this sweet family’s session!

Sunny Fall Nevada Beach Engagement by Lake Tahoe Wedding Photographer

November 27, 2017 In Engagements No Comment

Kirsten and Mark’s fall Nevada Beach engagement in Lake Tahoe was one of my highlights of this fall! First of all, Kirsten and Mark are an amazing couple (with an awesome doggy). But I am also so excited that they were referred to me by one of my past couples – Mark’s brother, Matt and his wife Claire. It’s always an honor when a past couple recommends me for wedding photography!

Nevada Beach Engagement Portraits

So let’s talk about this incredible engagement session! Nevada Beach was the perfect location for these guys. They wanted to include their newly adopted pup, Zoe, in the photos. As a dog-friendly beach with lots of open space and towering pine trees above the shoreline, you can’t go wrong here!

We walked along the beach and in the camping areas, stopping at beautiful spots to take photos with and without Zoe. Since Mark is a professional golfer, they also brought their custom-engraved golf ball wedding favors to the session. It was the perfect prop for save the date images!

Along with Kirsten and Mark’s awesome vibe, Zoe definitely kept us laughing the whole time, too! I had a ton of fun with this group of 3, and I am beyond thrilled to photograph their wedding in June of 2018 and see their happy faces again!!

: Luckiest dog in the whole world right here? Yes!

Romantic Summer Edgewood Wedding by Lake Tahoe Wedding Photographer

November 22, 2017 In Weddings No Comment

Angie and Kyle chose to get married on the beautiful shore of South Lake Tahoe at Edgewood Tahoe this summer. And their Edgewood wedding was such an amazing day full of love, laughter and happy tears!

Their day started at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino where they prepped with their wedding parties, anticipating the celebration ahead! It was then that I found out from her mom that Angie and her twin sister’s original due date was February 14th. Same as my twin babies! It was a fun little way to start the day for me personally 🙂

At Edgewood, the guys did fun portraits on the beach and pier. The gals were photographed in front of the clubhouse and in a pretty little garden on the side of the golf course. My team and I had so much fun getting to know this wedding party and taking all the fun portraits before the gorgeous ceremony on the beach.

Edgewood Wedding on the Beach at Sunset

As the sun started to set, Angie and Kyle said their “I Do’s” in front of their very best friends and families. It was such a sweet and emotional ceremony. And I loved how the sun created a warm glow surrounding them.

After their beautiful ceremony, Angie and Kyle had a chance to bask in that late afternoon sun as we walked the beach for post-ceremony portraits. And not to toot my own horn, but I got my most epic sunset photo EVER during this time with Angie and Kyle.

Sidenote: It seems like most of my Tahoe weddings have lacked “good” cloudy sunsets that light up the sky. So thanks, Angie & Kyle for making all my sunset photography dreams come true on your wedding day 🙂

Rockin’ Edgewood Reception

When it was time to party…it was REALLY time to party! Angie and Kyle’s grand entrance included their first dance on a cloud (provided by Justincredible DJ), which was SO COOL. And after the toasts, dinner, dances, garter and bouquet tosses, the laughs continued on through the rest of the night as guests danced and enjoyed the photobooth.

It was SUCH a good time and I had an absolute blast photographing this amazing Edgewood wedding with my team. Congrats, Angie & Kyle – you two are an incredible couple and I wish you both and your families all the very best!

Wedding Vendors for this gorgeous Lake Tahoe Wedding:
Venue & Catering: Edgewood Tahoe
Officiant: Sue Carey
Hair & Makeup: Audrey Gravenstein
Dress: Lovely Bride
Groomswear: Michael Kors
DJ: Justincredible DJ
Photobooth: Incredible Party Booth by Justincredible DJ
Florist: Rose Petals
Cake: The Cork and More
2nd Photographer: Talia Neckels
Photo Assistant: Colin Nicolai