The PhotoBlog...
Christine and Steve had a beautiful wedding in Nevada City last weekend. We were blessed with a beautiful day, but man it was HOT! Despite the heat, everyone had a great time and they had a great reception out on their beautiful ranch in Brown’s Valley. Here are a few images from their day.
I’m getting ready to shoot Christine and Steve’s wedding today in Nevada City. Their getting married at a beautiful church in Nevada City, then we’re driving out to their AMAZING ranch in Brown’s Valley for the wedding reception. I can’t wait – thier ranch was like a photographers paradise, and their wedding is sure to be beautiful! Here’s a few images from their engagement session a few weeks ago. They were super fun to photograph once I got Steve in his element of being on the tractor and out on the ranch! Stay tuned for some previews from the wedding.
Last weekend I headed out to Auburn to shoot Kaysie and Richards engagement session. They were so much fun!! I’ve been catching up with my life the past week since my little one is off in Yosemite. I realize that it’s so easy for me to dive into work and put forget about play. I’ve seriously spent 90% of my “vacation” time behind the computer or camera - I guess it’s a good thing I love my job. This weekend I’ll be taking off to spend with my girl and best friend. Can’t wait!!
Here’s a few pictures from Kaysie and Richards Engagement Session in Auburn. enjoy!
Melanie Jaramillo for Essence Photography. Beautiful wedding photography in Nevada City, Tahoe, California and beyond!
A couple of weeks ago I had the pleasure of shooting Sara & Andre’s wedding at Miller’s Pond in Nevada City and their reception at the Miner’s Foundry. This was the first time I worked at Miller’s Pond which is such a beautiful wedding venue. I had so much fun with Sara and Andre- their wedding was a blast, and everything was SO beautiful! Here’s a preview of the images for you, more to come on Friday….
Melanie Jaramillo for Essence Wedding Photography.
Beautiful Wedding Photography in Nevada City, California, and beyond!
wow, I feel like I’m finally catching up on my blogging… I’ve even got my new twitter widget set up in my blog, yippy. How one finds time to update all their social networks is beyond me, but hey, I’m trying. Right before spring break I had a chance to photograph Marianne Regan’s beautiful dancers over at the Moving Ground Dance Studio at St. Josephs. I also got them in action at the Starz Show down at the Center for the Arts in Grass Valley. As a modern dancer myself, it makes me so happy to see young girls moving with such organic grace, they are amazing! Here’s a few pictures for you.
Melanie Jaramillo for Essence Photography, Capturing beautiful weddings in Nevada City, Tahoe, San Diego and Beyond!
Test drive your lashes!
I love false lashes for photos, they can really make your eyes “pop” and many Brides like to wear them on their Wedding Day. Yet if you’re not used to wearing lashes on a regular basis, they can be difficult to apply, heavy, irritable and uncomfortable. Your wedding day is not the time to find this out. So if you plan on wearing falsies on your wedding day, be sure to test them out about a month before your ceremony. I recommend doing it this far in advance because 1) you’ll have plenty of little things to do as the ceremony gets closer and 2) this will give you time to try out different lashes if needed.
To test them out: Apply the lashes and wear them all day (at least 8 hours). This will give you an idea of what they’ll feel like on your wedding day. When you’ve selected the correct lash, and they’re properly applied you should not notice them or feel “fake”. If you got through the day without fidgeting with them, you’re set! However, If you find them irritating, heavy, or uncomfortable, you may need to try a different length, brand, or type of lash. Bridgette down at Oberon Cosmetics showed me some great lashes called “Itsy Bitsy Lashes”. They’re small corner lashes which will give you the Audry Hepburn look without the weight of a full lash. Another style I love are the individual lashes which give you the length and fullness with a very natural look and feel.
Whatever style you decide to go with, remember that your lashes should enhance your eyes, not overpower them. And above all, you need to feel comfortable and of course be able to see clearly (very, very important!). So go ahead and test out a few different styles until you find the one that’s perfect for you!
Melanie Jaramillo for Essence Photography… Capturing Beautiful Weddings in Nevada City, San Diego, Bay Area and Beyond!
Spring is in the air and this time of year is so magical in Nevada City! Wedding season is getting in full swing and I have lots of great new stuff in store for my 2009 brides. I’ve been working on switching over to some amazing new wedding albums and I know my brides are going to LOVE them…. more to come. Nows the perfect time to set up a photo session for spring family pictures or senior portraits! Going on location to shoot family photos gives you so much more depth to your photos than getting cookie cutter images from a regular portrait studio. If you’d like to schedule a photo session, just shoot me an email to set it up. Heres a few shots from a photoshoot last week with one of the cutest babies ever!
Wedding Flowers
I’ve heard many a Bride feel overwhelmed with the idea of selecting wedding flowers. I think there may be a misconception that you have to know exactly what type of flowers you want before you meet with your floral designer. Personally, I’d be dumbfounded when it comes to this, because I know zero about flowers (except that I really, really like receiving them)
Keep in mind that your floral designer is there to help you create the ambiance and feel you want for your wedding. So just selecting the type of flower or color you want isn’t enough; there’s also texture, scale, and style. Rachel Eakins, owner of Art in Bloom says the first thing she tries to do when meeting with a client is to define the Brides style. What’s the “feel” of the wedding? Spring, fall, winter, summer, vintage, rustic, classic? All of these weddings have a very specific energy and the role of your floral designer is to create the mood of the wedding through flowers.
Any photos you can bring along that catch your eye or can help the floral designer get a feel for your style will be helpful. This includes snapping a photo of your dress if you have it already. The dress tells the floral designer a lot about your style and what textures creations will most likely appeal to you. It’s very helpful to put together a folder with swatches of material, photos, magazine clippings, pieces of ribbon, or textures that you like and bring it to your consultation.
Rachel says the biggest mistake Brides make is trying to put a cost on each item and selecting a florist on that information alone. Remember, your florist is not just selling you stems of flowers, they’re creating custom pieces of art for you and creating a large part of the ambiance for your ceremony and reception. Any vendor that you contact or decide to work with should have a professional approach and respect for you. Don’t be intimidated when it comes to meeting with your florist, this is the time when things really start to take shape and the details of your wedding begin coming together in a way you can visualize.
-Melanie Jaramillo for Essence Wedding Photography
Special thanks to Rachel Eakins owner of Art in Bloom for her help with this tip!
Cameras during your ceremony…. Paparazzi are only good on the red carpet!
It seems like lately everyone is walking around with a camera of some sort…. a disposable, a pocket digital, and if all else fails there’s always the cell phone camera.
This can be a real bummer when you’re walking down the isle, and instead of being greeted by your beloved family and friends, you’re shocked by dozens of flashes. If you’re not a superstar and used to being flashed during nerve-racking moments, this can really throw you off-center.
A recent Bride of mine mentioned that walking down the isle was the most nerve racking moment of her life, and to be met by what seemed to be the paparazzi- dozens of flashes , rather than the faces of her family, made her very uncomfortable.
To avoid this, ask your guests to refrain from photography during your ceremony (especially as you walk down the isle). Ensure them there will be plenty of time for pictures throughout the night, and that you have a photographer who will surely get great shots for them.
At my daughters school, they don’t allow photography during events. Of course, as a photographer I really resisted this at first. But then I noticed how present I was during her school events when I left my camera at home. I wasn’t thinking about “getting the shot” and my daughter wasn’t pressured to “look good”. Rather we have learned to be present and just enjoy the moment. It has been SO rewarding!
I really encourage you to ask your family and friends to be witnesses to your marriage. This means being fully present and focusing on “YOU”, not on “getting the picture”. Just think how wonderful it will be to walk down the isle and look into the eyes of your family… to see the excitement in their eyes as they have come to support YOU, rather than seeing their cameras.
-Melanie Jaramillo for Essence Wedding Photography in Nevada City
Last weekend I started off the wedding season with Samantha and Arlan’s wedding at The Miner’s Foundry in Nevada City. I had so much fun getting to know Samantha and Arlan during their Engagement Session at Empire Mine a few months ago… They were super fun to photograph and so easy going throughout their day. I really feel blessed to meet so many amazing families through my work. Thank you so much to Samantha’s Parents for all your kindness!! Here’s a few images for you:
Melanie Jaramillo for Essence Wedding Photography in Nevada City
Look for our new promo material around town. 
Just in time for Valentine’s Day…. Essence Photography is now offering Pin-Up Parties! These are great parties where 5-10 of your closest friends have fun, drink wine, and receive an individual boudoir photo shoot. All the photo sessions are done by a professional female photographer and artist (that’s me). I specialize in bringing out the sexy in every woman size 6 or size 16 it makes no difference.
Give me a call or email me if you’re interested in hosting a pin-up party in your home. The first hostess receives a free gift and photo session! There are some location requirements, so we can chat and see if your home would be an ideal location for a party.
Sexy Boudoir photographs make the perfect valentines gift for your sweetheart. Pictures can be arranged into a beautiful custom photo album to give to your fiance as gift on your wedding day, or any special occasion. Boudoir photography can also make a beautiful piece of art to hang in your bedroom, or frame beside your bed.
The point is that every woman deserves to have some beautiful sexy pictures of herself! Call me today to get yours! 530-274-2408 or EssencePhoto@att.net
Melanie Jaramillo for Essence Photography
- Nevada City and California Destination Weddings Premier Photographer -
This time of year, mornings are like a fairy-land in Nevada City. The world is frozen and quiet. The frost glimmers as Madyline and I drive through the amazing trees to her forest-school. I’m in heaven.
Here’s a picture of the frost on my window and the garden post…. it’s so intricate and detailed.
Melanie Jaramillo for Essence Photography – Beautiful Wedding Photography serving Nevada City, the Bay Area, San Diego and beyond!
Ask for Vendor Referrals & Hire a Dream Team
Planning a wedding can be very exciting. Yet at the same time, it can be quite stressful getting all the details in order. Most likely, this is the first time you will be hiring a whole team of professionals to work on a common event. From Wedding Planner, Caterer, Wedding Cake Artist, Florist, Photographer, DJ, Venue, Wedding Invitation Printer/ Designer, and Hairstylist… just to name a few. It can be exhausting interviewing and picking the perfect professional for each job, yet it need not be.
Rather than scrolling through the phone book and blindly calling vendors, ask the other professionals in the area for referrals of who they like to work with (or who they would hire for their own wedding). Most of us have what we’d call a “Dream Team” of professionals to work with. Which means that we know when all these professionals are working together, the wedding day runs flawlessly and everything is perfect. As a professional wedding photographer in Nevada City who’s been doing weddings for several years, I’ve seen first hand how vendors can make or break an event. True wedding professionals will be more than happy to refer you to a reliable, honest vendor because in the end – having a great team to work with makes all of our jobs easier! We can relax knowing that everything will go according to plan and the couple will be happy!
Nevada City is an awesome destination wedding location and we have all the professionals you need to create your perfect wedding. Ask around! One of the great things about our small town feel is that you can get some honest feedback and referrals from local vendors who have been doing weddings in the area for years.
Melanie Jaramillo for Essence Wedding Photography
I had a great time mingling with brides and vendors today at the Miner’s Foundry Wedding Fair in Nevada City! Thanks to all the Brides who stopped by to say hi, and sign up for the drawing! My daughter scrambled the cards up and picked out the winner…… Patti B.
Congratulations, you win the free photo session and 8×10 prints!
Be sure to keep an eye on the blog for my “Real Life Wedding Tips” column, with tons of useful information on making your wedding day perfect and stress free! If you have any questions about Wedding Photography or want to set up a free consult, I’d love to meet with you. Just drop me an email or give me a ring.
Be Well!
Melanie Jaramillo for Essence Photography
I’m up working tonight, getting things ready for the Bridal Show & Wedding Fair tomorrow at the Miner’s Foundry. Be sure to stop by and say hi if you’re in town. There will be TONS of great vendors and of course….door prizes (my favorite).
I’m so glad it started raining again! Today Madyline and I set out on a long walk on the independence trail… we stomped in puddles,watched newts, had a wet picnic… it was great! Now that she’s feeling better we’ve been soaking up the beauty outside, rain or shine. The other day my partner (who’s lived here forever) took us out to some cool spots for a picnic. The sky was so brilliantly blue and surreal. Here’s a few pictures for you….
Melanie Jaramillo for Essence Wedding Photography
I’m gearing up for the Nevada County Wedding Fair and Bridal Show at the Miner’s Foundry this Sunday (1/25/09) from 10-4. It’s a wonderful and intimate wedding fair with tons of great local vendors. Be sure to stop by my booth and say hi! I’ll be raffling off a great prize, and will also be offering an amazing one day only special! Please feel free to give me a ring or email if you have any questions. If you’re planning a wedding in Nevada City or Grass Valley, this fair is great!
(530) 274-2408
See you there!
Melanie for Essence Wedding Photography
A little note from my personal life (and the reason my my email responses are taking so long right now)…. My daughter has been very ill since after Christmas. She had an adverse reaction to immunizations and we ended up at the ER. The past week and a half has been a huge blur, hence the lack of posts and delays getting back to everyone. I anticipate being back to work full time on Monday…. prayers and patience are warmly welcomed. I’m wishing everyone a new year full of blessings!
Melanie
Don’t deal with money on your big day.
Although most vendors require payments to be made prior to your wedding, some will have a policy that payment is not due until the actual wedding day. Trust me…. the last thing you want to be worried about on your wedding day is chasing around vendors with your checkbook! It’s just not the place to be dealing with money (well aside from that great money dance where family and friends are throwing 20’s and $100’s your way).
I recommend getting all your payments mailed out at least 2 weeks before the wedding, even for the vendors who don’t need to be paid until the actual day (simply post-date these checks). Getting the $$$ out of the way will clear up a big chunk of time and energy during the week prior to your wedding. There will be plenty of details and fun things to focus on that last week, and money doesn’t need to be one of them.
Melanie Jaramillo for Essence Wedding Photography
ahhh… this is my absolute favorite time of year! It seems as good as my years are, I’m always happy to be moving forward and leaving the past behind. Right now I’m spending time reflecting on the past year, and setting my vision for the next year…. my vision is so BIG for this next chapter of my life and I feel like a giddy little girl when I think of all the things I’m creating.
Anyway, we’ve been out soaking up the beauty around Nevada County lately and I wanted to share some pictures I’ve snapped over the past couple of weeks.
Melanie Jaramillo for Essence Photography
