One long week!

This last Monday feels like a really long time ago. It has been one of those weeks that has had so many things happen that it could have made up the better part of a month instead of a week. Roger installed our new studio software system, which to most sounds really very easy...except for ...it's not. We took (and when I say we I mean Roger) all our client information and transferred it onto a completely new data base! The system is called Studio Plus and I am pretty sure it is a godsend. Also I am super stoked to announce that our new business cards are on their way...no more weird cards that say "Phantel Elder" in old cursivey font. I am going to flier Sacramento with these new cards they are so lovely! I mowed my lawn and raked it, started the transformation of the guest room at our house into the office, and got a 50 out of 50 on this pretty tricky assignment in my salesmanship class. All of this plus a bajillion more little things equalling a long week. Somewhere in the beginning part of the week, last Monday to be exact, I had the pleasure of photographing the Ocko family. Happy Friday Vivian, Luka and Jayce, can't wait to see you next week when you view the rest!
~Chantel

Halloween Party

Some people inherit the ability to sing well, or height, or mathematical abilities from their ancestors. I inherited the ability to party. My Mother and my Grandmothers on both sides know how to party... dare I say it...like rock stars. We are entertainers. We can throw amazing parties that people will stay at in to the wee hours of the night. I have never had the unfortunate occurrence of a party being a dud. It never crosses my mind that it could happen because our natural party throwing abilities are instinctual. Attention to detail, fabulous food, knowledge of all genres of music and how to work a crowd is in my genes. I could probably start a party planning company with my mom and make millions! Let's add that to the list of things I should do before I die...

A couple of weeks ago I received an email from Manpreet Bains owner and genius behind Pulp Papery. She was throwing a Surprise 35th Birthday, Halloween Costume Party for her husband on October 30th and needed a photographer. LOVE IT! After we chatted and discovered that we both have ties to the Yuba Sutter area and that she had been referred by a mutual friend: Cara Crowley lifestyle designer, she decided to book me for the occasion. I was pinch myself excited because

1) I LOVE parties
2) Oddly enough I have never been to a surprise party - where it was really a surprise
3) I love costumes and anything Halloween related

I showed up at Old Soul Cafe, early on the 30th, to meet Cara who was in charge of making sure all the decorations were set up. The decorations were awesome, the food fantastic, and everyone was in good spirits as we waited for the guest of honor to show up. Around 7:30 Manpreet and her husband Clint walked through the door to the Austin Powers theme song dressed as Austin Powers and Felicity Shagwell. Clint was totally surprised! My guess is Manpreet has some party genes in her too! Below are a few from the evening.

Miss Cara doin' her thang

They had a fortune teller and she was awesome!

Madame Jacqueline 916.284.5552 for an appointment

The guest of honor: Austin Powers and Felicity Shagwell

Drinks all around!

This party girl even had her photo taken by someone at the party, yup I was a pirate!

Thanks for including me at your Surprise Halloween Party Manpreet and Clint!

Jolly Roger's Private Treasure Trove

After what seems like all day, I finally got the Halloween photos of all the studio kidos up and online for all the parents to see. Every year we offer free Halloween session with a free 5x7 photo to all of our awesome clients. The last couple of years we have done them in the studio and I decided this year would be different. My Mom, the most enthusiastic Halloween person in the world just happened to have a giant treasure chest, perfect for a treasure trove setting. Who else would have a mother who has one of those laying around...randomly. If you have a mother like that then tell me, we could probably be friends and so could our Mom's.

Roger and I decided that we could turn his backyard into "Jolly Roger's Private Treasure Trove!" I was mostly excited to make Roger dress like a pirate. Below are a few of the set up, and a few of my favorite kids costumes, I think I might steal a couple of the little kids costume ideas for future years. They are just too good!

Arrggg...It be Jolly Roger and Lassie Chantel... using pirate lingo while typing just confirmed that I am a serious dork.

If you think you have the happiest baby ever I think you should meet this little guy...he was born smiling.

This was my favorite shot of the day. I like the way the crown is perfectly around his face...

This was my favorite costume of the day! This little girl was Flo the Progressive Auto Insurance lady and her brother was the Geico money bundle. Hilarious!

Sacramento SPCA Annual Gala

For the past three years or so Roger and I have photographed the Sacramento SPCA Gala Event that supports the SPCA of Sacramento. We love dogs and wine and friends and all things photography so it kind of is a no-brainer for us to attend with our camera to enjoy the festivities. The theme this year was the "1960's" with far out lighting and decorations and everyone or most everyone was dressed up for the ocassion (Roger and I didn't realize that everyone would be decked out, we were some of the few ungroovy).

Everyone was in good spirits this year and I think attendance was higher than in past years...Eat that bad economy! The silent auction tables were packed with donated items and the live auction had some seriously rad temptations such as a 1964 Vespa and lunch with Betty White and 7 other close personal friends. I was so tempted to hold up my little number for that one, if you know me, you know that I am a serious Golden Girls fan!

Usually we shoot candids of the vendors and people having a good time at the event, but this year, Anna Zablah, the SPCA event Coordinator, thought it might be a great idea to have a photo booth fundraiser for all the people dressed up too. Roger and I don't have the capabilities to print on sight so we referred the photo set up to Doug Austin another local photographer here in Sacramento. It worked out perfectly! Check out our Team photo that Doug took:

This event is one of those warm and fuzzy things that we attend because we love helping where we can when it comes to dogs and cats. The Sacramento SPCA is an awesome place to volunteer and the gala is a great way to contribute a few bucks and have a fantastic evening. Below are a few photos from the evening...

To view all photos from the event click here

I am always really impressed by how these people pull off such an awesome event.

This year we are also excited to be the photographers for the Sacramento SPCA Santa Paws Fundraiser! This event will be held on November 7th and 8th.

Roger happily shooting people, while I shoot him....haha

Swindler No More

While in class last Thursday my phone started to vibrate, I looked down and had received a text message from one of my dearest guy friends, Jeremy. Normally he sends me really unnecessary picture texts of something grotesque on Mondays. I guess it is his way of saying "Happy Monday!" But it wasn't Monday morning... it was Thursday so I looked at the message and it was a picture with a gorgeous sparkly ring with the words "I'm really going for it!" underneath. I was so excited I grabbed my stuff mid-lecture and pretended to have an emergency so I could go call him.

Jeremy and I met for the first time somewhere around the time I was 16. He was older then I was and he was exactly what a girl should never bring home to her parents. He was feisty, tattooed, quick witted with no good purpose, and loved old cars that went fast. Coming from a Dad that could rival Elvis in looks and moves, Jeremy knew what he had inhereted. He swindled cars and blew off the ladies with ease.

When I was around 19 Jeremy ended up being room mates with my at the time boyfriend. As time went on, as did parties, tattoos, cars on both of our accounts (although him more than I), and relationships, Jeremy and I developed a really great friendship. I would pester him to let me photograph him at junk yards and the river with his cars...I followed him around with my camera...I am pretty sure that his vanity didn't mind. We counseled each other on how to handle the opposite sex, and called each other for events that required a date when we were single. He became one of my most favorite friends...slowly he morphed into this guy that would be perfect for a girl to take home to their parents.

I heard about Corey 9 months ago, Jeremy called on a day other than a Monday with the announcement that he had met someone awesome and I knew it was different this time. Her name was Corey, and she was gorgeous and he was head over for her...immediately.

Jeremy I am so super stoked for you and I can't wait to meet Corey! In excitement for your engagement I took a drive down memory lane and thought I would post some of my old favorites...Congrats! I am so excited to pester you for photos of you with your bride :)

Yellow, the new Red

I have heard that red is the color of love. Fiery and hot, the color of beating hearts and floral choices on Valentine's Day, red is the knee jerk reaction when it comes to symbolic color choices.

Typically I don't shoot weddings alone. Roger and I are a package deal, a duo team, a collaborative effort with weddings. The idea of photographing them alone is usually accompanied by anxiety and a teensy bit of overwhelming fear. What if I mess up? What if I ruin the photos and my technically savvy counterpart isn't there with his cape to save the day? Every so often an opportunity arises when I get a request to do weddings alone and last Monday was such a day.My friend, Mandy, called saying her sister's wedding photographer had canceled at the last minute and would I, could I, this coming Saturday, be the photographer. I love Mandy said yes after checking my calender, then a bit of fear and solo responsibility set in. Roger had jobs scheduled for himself already and I would have to man it alone.

On Friday evening Roger and I went through the technical list of gear, we checked, double checked, charged and loaded. I was ready for Saturday morning as anxious as a bride. Roger wished me luck and told me I would do a fantastic job... because he had confidence in me and that is what friends do. After 7 years of working with one person, Roger understands my insecurities and nervous nature when it comes to jobs. It is probably as routine for him as it is me.

Saturday morning I arrived to photograph Andrea and Blake, a very young couple completely in love. They had a private ceremony with the two of them and then emerged from the temple to greet their excited friends and family, Andrea gripping yellow roses and Blake dazzled and never taking his eyes off his bride. Friendship was the theme that day, time-tested and true, compassionate, and loyal Andrea had chosen a happy yellow color as her theme. Yellow like the sun that poured on the two of them in perfect weather, Yellow like friendship wise beyond their years, and yellow like the ambiance that glowed during their reception with all their friends and family. Here are a few from the day and thanks Roger, my friend that always has faith in me!

Love this

I love this one... I love the simplicity and mood

You can't stage a kiss like that...

They had a fantastic koi fish pond at the reception... okay Greg I think I am convinced to put one in our back yard now.

Thanks Andrea and Blake for including me in your day! Everything was gorgeous!

~Chantel

Meet Tania, Miss Voochen if your classy

As described in my last blog, I love the stylists! Tania Voochen is my latest crush when it comes to ladies with scissors. I met Tania through my friend and excellent personal masseuse Jill Schwocho, of Massage Rocks! At one of Jill's famous roof-top parties or lets say mixers for the sake of sounding professional... Tania and I met and decided we must collaborate. I scheduled an appointment with Tania to cut, color and style my hair for my very own branding shoot and I fell in love with her ability to give me the beachy-tossled look I love. During my haircut we decided that I should photograph Tania around her salon for a little branding photography. So last Monday I met her at Byuti Salon where she works, and photographed her in all her rad-ness.

How do they do it? Stylists are so put together without effort it seems , I love working with them because they are so artistic and collaborative and they don't take themselves too seriously, Tania was no exception! She is hilarious and laid back.. oh and did I mention she is kind of a bad ass too? Love her! Thanks Tania...p.s. I am loving the fall color you gave me ;)

This makes me want to buy lip gloss...

Anyone that knows me, knows that this is no doubt my favorite one taken...or at least top 5. I love laughing shots.