Gertrude & Mabel Photography

psssst! This blog is under construction...........

2012-01-04T12:50:00.001-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
2012 is going to be a fabulous year & to start it off right, the gals here at Gertrude & Mabel are busy creating a new blog to keep you all in the know. We've got a lot going on and we can't wait to tell you all about it, so....stay tuned for some fabulous news to be unveiled very soon!

yesterdays sweet delivery reminded us of another bit of sweetness...Kim & Jeff's engagement session.... ♥

2011-04-22T12:28:00.000-07:00

need more? yes please! click here ♥ to see the slideshow.....

What a delicious knock on our door today...from Susie Cakes!

2011-04-20T14:59:00.000-07:00

Look what the sweet gals at Susie cakes dropped off for our studio mate Stacy McCain today- thank goodness these ladies like to share because these treats were scrumptious !

Yup, the gals got press!

2011-04-19T12:45:00.000-07:00

Erica & Guillaume's gorgeous wedding at the Ca d'Zan Mansion ....the Florida sunset overlooking Sarasota Bay just took our breath away...

This mansion was built for John & "Mable" Ringling of the Ringling Brothers family.... so appropriate for us Gertrude & Mabel gals !

stationary: Erica Eden (bride)
event plannner: Maria Brady of Choreographed Events
flowers: Tiger Lily Extraordinary Flowers
catering: Michael's on East
dress: Matthew Christopher
photography: Gertrude & Mabel Photography
band: Rhythm Nation

ahhh summer, where have you been? we miss you!

2011-04-13T14:09:00.000-07:00

Just in case you're feeling the "day after" blues... One more Valentine that we LOVE!

2011-02-15T15:32:00.000-08:00

To our pup Tony from his gal pup Ethel on heart day.....

photo by Debra Wilson

Portrait sessions in Los Angeles !!!

2011-02-08T15:01:00.001-08:00

Hey y'all, the gals are heading down to Los Angeles next week to shoot portraits and we have some spaces open. We are scheduling sessions on February 16th and 17th & extending our Winter Portrait Sale for these two days..... give us a holler if you want to join the fun!!

Wish You Were Here!!!

2011-01-29T18:09:00.000-08:00

Rainy day fun in the studio for our Winter Portrait Session Sale Today!!

Get Ready for Valentine's Day! Winter Portrait Session Sale this Saturday!

2011-01-24T13:31:00.000-08:00

Bring your kids, your pets, your girlfriend or your bff! We just don't want you to miss out! Spaces are filling up fast so book your slot soon! Great gift idea for Valetine's Day... (wink wink).

Happy New Year to all of you and your families!!

2010-12-29T14:36:00.000-08:00

We LOVE it when our clients make adorable holiday cards from our portrait sessions!

photography by Gertrude & Mabel Photography

3 Cheers to the winning family of our holiday fundraiser portrait shoot!!

2010-12-16T16:36:00.000-08:00

Thank you Sara & Justin for bidding on our photo package at Acupuncture Kitchen's holiday fundraiser with Laurel Fertility Care to benefit The Homeless Prenatal Program.

*click here to find out more and donate to this San Francisco organization*

The "Toast of the Town"!! Premier issue of 7x7 Weddings...

2010-12-15T16:01:00.000-08:00

http://www.gertrudeandmabelhc.blogspot.com/

It's like opening presents early around here for us gals! The premier issue of 7x7 Weddings features one of our most favorite classic San Francisco weddings of 2010. Bride and groom, Cassandra & Connor, inspire us with family tradition, style and grandma's convertible Benz. Oh you've got to pick up a copy of this tangible little resource book and see for yourself ! Thanks so much 7x7 Magazine! And a special nod of gratitude to our dear friend, featured bride and business-neighbor from Living Room Events, Cassandra, for choosing us to shoot your amazing wedding day!

Event Planner and Catering: Living Room Events
Flower Design: Waterlily Pond
Ceremony: Old Saint Mary's Cathedral
Reception location: Presidio Film Center

"Mothers Know Best" and Look Good Doin' It!

2010-10-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

Here we are, rounding the corner into the fall & winter of wedding season and LOVING that Brides magazine is showing some more Gertrude & Mabel photographs!

See our work in every "Bride's Local" magazine across the country where two of our fabulous Mothers of the Bride are featured with their daughters. The article reassures every bride's mom: there is something to wear for every style and price. Check out the "looks" from the super stylish ladies, Caitlin's mom, Kay, and Judy's mom, Katherine. Both weddings just happened to be glamorous productions by the talented Laurie Arons.

Share it with your mom!

Oh My Hat!

2010-08-16T15:37:00.000-07:00

Have you seen Kitty Andrews Millinery?

Gorgeous! We just fell in love ... What a delight it was to photograph these stunning works of art ...so so cute on Petra!

Thank you, Kitty ...

*click on the photos to see them bigger!
hats by: Kitty Andrews Fine Millinery
model: Petra Duffoo

Pink Elephants!

2010-07-22T15:33:00.000-07:00

It's a girl!!

What a bundle of great news! The arrival of brand spankin' new press on Style Me Pretty with oodles of our images from the cutest baby shower on earth, plus a new baby girl for the mom to be!
That's right folks, step right up and click here * to see for yourself

When Viola, from Chewing the Cud, announced that she was expecting & that a Three-Ring Circus-themed shower was in the making, we knew we had to be there to photograph it. What could possibly be more cute (and trust us, it was reallyreallyreally cute!) than baby pink elephants?!

Here's a "Big Top" congratulations to Viola and her husband, Phillip!!

And a huge, heartfelt thanks to the talented gals who created this spectacular event:

Viola Suntano: Chewing the Cud

Stacy McCain: Stacy McCain Events

Priska and Lisa at: Atelier Joya

Lily Yeung: Wildflower Linens

and the guys at Got Light

OH MARTHA!! WHAT SWEET SUMMER PRESS YOU HAVE....

2010-07-01T15:54:00.000-07:00

Yup! The gals are back in Martha Stewart Weddings and what a sweet summer issue it is!

You just gotta take a look inside and see our 'Real Wedding' couple, Claire and Ben, prove that all you ever need is right there in your own backyard.

Clark Gabel's Hunting Lodge?...check.
Cool & Classy Creative couple living & married in said lodge?...check.
Amazing DIY inspirations?...check.
The best way to show-off your very own personality? .....Pooling together the talents and help of close friends and family. Now THAT'S the way to top off a blind date:)

Martha Stewart - thank you so much....

& a huge thanks to the talented and lovely vendors who made it all happen in Beverly Hills:

Breezy Decor - lighting and decorating

Valerie Confections - the cake

Akasha - catering

Unscene Inc. - event planning

Want to see more photos from this wedding? Click here * to see our previous post!

Vintage Chic Wedding on Classic Bride Blog!

2010-06-22T17:35:00.000-07:00

What could Gertrude & Mabel love more than photographing an adorably vintage chic wedding at the Ferry Building? Not a whole heck of a lot:)

Take a look on Classic Bride Blog! Don't miss Part One & Part Two

Event Planner: Jubilee Lau
Caterer: Paula Le Duc Fine Catering
Floral Designer: Nancy Liu Chin Designs
Day-of Paper Goods Designer: Chewing the Cud
Videographer: Weddings on Film

Hello June Brides Magazine!

2010-06-02T13:16:00.000-07:00

What better way for us gals to jump, feet first, into wedding season than getting our photos in this month's Brides Magazine! Full of mindful bits and pieces of advice, the article gives guidance to those creating their wedding at 20, 30 and 40-years old.

Planned with youthful energy in mind - from photo booth glitz, a mariachi welcome band, a 23 person bridal party, dance lessons for the 250 guests & a fantastic departure on a vintage, tandem bicycle....We captured 20-something couple, Julie and Nathan, and their oh-so-San Francisco celebration at the Ferry Building. It was such a fun wedding for us and, no doubt, a great selection for the article.

*(ooh & don't forget to take a peek at Julie & Nathan's super cool engagement shoot, especially if you're into their tandem bike )

Excellent job done by some of our most favorite vendors:

Event Planner: Jubilee Lau
Caterer: Paula Le Duc Fine Catering
Floral Designer: Nancy Liu Chin Designs
Day-of Paper Goods Designer: Chewing the Cud
Videographer: Weddings on Film

We love the Podolls!

2010-04-09T15:33:00.000-07:00

We loved shooting their wedding & we love shooting their clothing line! Josh and Lauren are the talented couple behind The Podoll's and once again we were privileged to photograph their newest Fall 2010 Lookbook. Every season they wow us with their amazing designs....

Take a look here....(oh and click on the photo to see it bigger and better:)

clothing: Josh Podoll

model: Kylie

hair & makeup : Raul Anthony, represented by Ford Models

photography: Gertrude & Mabel

A bit of Gertie & Mabel Press...Brides Magazine March Issue!

2010-03-15T15:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a little recent press from Brides Magazine givin' the guys a few "tux or no tux" tips... This photograph is from one of our favorite weddings in Alexander Valley... Liza & Joe.

The wedding took place outdoors near the vineyards at Joe's fathers home- absolutely gorgeous and a perfect backdrop for a "no-tux" kind of day...

What an Adorable Engagement Shoot!!

2010-03-09T15:10:00.000-08:00

Do you want to see what our talented " other duo " has been up to lately?

Click *here to see a fun & super cute portrait session by Carol & Heather!!

New Country Living Weddings Book!

2010-03-02T16:22:00.000-08:00

Hearst books has just published a new wedding book stylized after Country Living Magazine called "Ideas & Inspirations for Celebrating in Style" & it's full of 29 of our photographs!! We're super excited and honored. Written by Marie Proeller Hueston, this is a beautiful hardcover coffee table book full of creative ideas for a country inspired wedding. Here are a few pages for you to take a look at:

Thanks to all of the talented designers, florists, and creative couples that provided the romantic country details that fill these photographs!!

The Knot Best of Weddings 2010 Pick!

2010-02-13T18:12:00.000-08:00

We are excited to announce that we have been rated by local brides and voted "The Knot Best of Weddings 2010 Pick". Thank you to all of the brides that voted for us - we greatly appreciate the recognition!

Pinups for Pitbulls!

2010-02-09T16:22:00.000-08:00

When our friends at Bad Rap, a local pitbull rescue organization, asked us to do a photo shoot for the upcoming "Pinups for Pitbulls" calendar there was no hesitation. The competition is fierce to get into their yearly juried calendar selection... so you really have to bring your "A" game with photography, set design, and creativity (oh yeah...and dog training!). They provide an old pinup illustration that you're asked to recreate... but... the twist, add some pitbulls to the set. Muggy & Lola provided their dog skills; Ana Poe of Paco Collars provided the pinup element; Donyale Hoye of Bad Rap provided the dogs and the dog "handling"; Brynn Doering, hair and makeup; Pamela Campbell, props and wardrobe styling.

Here it is the big "October" winner!

In celebration of the calendars success come to Bullylicious, a Bay-Area Benefit for Bully Breeds, on February 20th at Autobody Fine Art in Alameda. You can meet Muggy & Lola in person!

Can't think of a better place for a rehearsal dinner.... (*click on photos to see to see how cute it was!)

2010-02-08T18:04:00.000-08:00

So, yes, it's been forever since we posted anything.... our only excuse is that we've been so busy and the blog usually gets put off until we're somewhat caught up on other things. I know that's bad blogging but at least we're getting to it now.... This is something I've been wanting to share since we photographed it in August in Boston. Lara and Jon's rehearsal dinner was at this really cool old diner... like a real old-school diner (not a new-school California diner), Deluxe Town Diner. They eat there every weekend and were lucky enough to have their dinner there. Pancakes, bacon, mac n' cheese, anyone?

Curve Magazine!

2009-10-27T17:00:00.000-07:00

Jen & Frances' amazing wedding in Calistoga is featured this month in Curve Magazine. Frances is the founder and publisher of Curve. The super cute couple kept it small with just family in attendance. They plan on having a "big blowout" with extended family and friends when gay marriage becomes legal again in California (which better be soon!) Many thanks to Gertrude & Mabel's talented "other duo", Heather & Carol, who took such beautiful photographs! And of course some of the talented team that helped create the day:

Coordination: Kathryn Kenna Caterer: Paula LeDuc Florist: Jun Pinon Design

Video: Thomas Hughes

Martha, Martha, Martha!

2009-08-20T15:39:00.000-07:00

We were fortunate to have two weddings featured in the current Martha Stewart Weddings! Our super fun and beautiful Austin, Texas wedding of Alexis & Rey. And Jennifer & JC's amazing Beaulieu Gardens fete. To see and learn more about the amazing talent that created these events - scroll down a bit to our Aug. 18th posting of Snippet & Ink and Good on Paper as well as our Oct. 23rd '08 posting.

Podoll Collection

2009-08-18T18:02:00.000-07:00

Once again, we were lucky to get a chance to work with our past wedding clients Lauren & Josh Podoll who are the talent behind the Podoll Collection. (See our photos on the Josh Podoll site.) We loved this winter shoot that we did for their Fall 2009 Collection. Wood Choppers, Big Foot and Paul Bunyan.... oh my! Here are some highlights, but stay tuned to see our most recent shoot for their yet-to-be-revealed Spring 2010 line!

model: Robin Ayers (Ford Models) Make-up: Maria Nguyen (Look Agency)

Snippet & Ink and Oh So Beautiful Paper

2009-08-18T14:38:00.001-07:00

Jennifer & JC's Beaulieu Gardens wedding was featured recently on the blogs Snippet & Ink and Oh So Beautiful Paper. The invitations were created by Lisa Wong Jackson of Good On Paper who did such a great job incorporating the sunflower motif and cooking herbs into the designs. The different elements of the day reflected themes of Southern France and cooking (favorites of the bride and groom).

The fabulous flowers were by Nancy Liu Chin who managed to keep the flowers alive and looking beautiful in 103 degree temperatures! The amazing design of the day was by Gloria Wong; the impeccable planning was directed by the oh-so-talented Jubilee Lau; and the delectable food by none other than Paula LeDuc. Quite an amazing team of creative talent!

San Francisco Brides

2009-08-18T13:53:00.001-07:00

We have two weddings featured in the Fall/Winter San Francisco Brides Magazine. Caitlin & Mark's amazing City Hall wedding. And Liza & Joe's fabulous Healdsburg festivities. Both beautiful events... glamorous, clever, and great fun! For more photos and details about the talented designers and planners behind the City Hall event, scroll down to our October 28th '08 posting.

New Press: Hot Off The Stands!!

2009-06-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

We're excited to have Mia & Rich's Kauai wedding featured in this months Brides Magazine! See more photos from the wedding on our blog posting from August 8, 2008. Kauai was breathtaking and thanks to Mia & Rich we were able to photograph in such an amazing location. We can't wait to go back!

See our wedding in the Bridal Guide!

2009-06-23T11:22:00.000-07:00

Julie & Marc's wedding at the beautiful BR Cohn Winery is featured in the summer issue of the Bridal Guide. We loved working with Rosemary Events on this wedding who did an amazing job with the planning and details. There was an elegant country feel to Julie & Marc's day.... rustic wood tables, lavender, flip flops, parasols, and a really fun group of people!

the kids come to the studio

2009-06-18T10:15:00.000-07:00

The boys, Enzo and Tony, visited us at the studio. Aren't they cute - we love them! And yes... they're both Italian.

rock n' roll bride

2009-06-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

We're excited that the cool blog Rock n' Roll Bride featured one of our favorite weddings today. The rockstar couple, Susan & Scheffer, held their festivities on a private property outside of the town of Mariposa (on the way to Yosemite)... All diy and all fun - we loved this wedding! Susan is a lead singer in the group The Gun and Doll Show - check them out at the Great American Music Hall, July 11th.

kitchenette... yum

2009-06-05T12:21:00.000-07:00

Our good friends Kim & Douglas from LRE catering have the hottest thing going on in SF... voted "best lunch to go" in 7x7 magazine's Best Of SF issue - check out Kitchenette.... delicious lunches at the loading dock in our building. Here's a shot we took for 7x7.

Brides - Northern California

2009-03-16T14:46:00.001-07:00

Calling all Northern California brides! You should really take a look at this new issue of Brides of No. Cal, there is a really cute wedding in there... and yes, you're absolutely right, those do happen to be some of our pictures. Aside from being a super sweet couple there were some really cute and creative details to Kathryn and Justin's wedding. It took place at the Mountain Terrace in Woodside across the street from Alice's restaurant (if there are any motorcycle gals out there, you know the spot!) The gorgeous flowers are by Amy Burke, the simply unique and adorable cake was by Flours and all of the paper designs (including the candy bar wrappers printed with an image from a book about 1950's advertising - voila, Gertrude & Mabel's era!) were all DIY style by the bride and her sister in-law. So cool...

A little Valentines day blog from Snippet & Ink!!

2009-02-15T20:30:00.001-08:00

We were so happy to hear that Kathryn at the truly inspirational blog, Snippet & Ink, was posting our photographs from one of our favorite weddings in Tennessee.... on Valentines day!! The photos posted are from the amazing rehearsal dinner the night before at the Olde Barn in Bristol (which actually straddles Tennessee and Virginia , so it's in two states at once:) You should really check it out, the details are amazing - the bride and groom, Sharon and Francis, planned an incredible evening complete with a true Southern bbq, homemade ice cream, strawberry shortcake, a pinata, and finished the evening off with a huge bonfire for the guests to roast marshmallows for the delicious smores! Oh.. and there was also a real stuffed black bear- we're not sure if that was intentional, but it sure made for some funny pictures with the guests.... Take a peak, you'll get inspired!

We're the Featured Vendor on Brooklyn Bride....

2009-02-05T12:13:00.000-08:00

This week we're the featured vendor on the great blog Brooklyn Bride! We love their unique finds and creative wedding ideas...plus their readers are uber-cool! For those of you planning a wedding outside the Bay Area see our special on their blog valid through Valentine's Day.

LRE's Tasting Event at our Studio

2009-02-04T18:35:00.000-08:00

The group at LRE Catering held an exclusive tasting event at our studio last week. It was a smashing affair attended by clients, event planners and some hand picked vendors who showed their wares. Delicious appetizers by LRE; beautiful flowers by Waterlily Pond; the creative video samples of Bliss Video Productions; fabulous linens from Classic Party Rentals; and swinging sounds by dj Greg Talbot. Thank you to everyone for making it such a fun night!

"Choosing Hope Over Fear....Yes We Did!" Happy Inauguration Day!

2009-01-20T17:33:00.000-08:00

that's my pitbull, Tony for those of you that haven't met him yet..showing his support:)

Happy New Year!! Time for some new press!!

2009-01-15T13:30:00.000-08:00

Well, its finally 2009 and we've returned from our short yet relaxing break. We're back in the studio and Judy & I are excited to welcome the new year with some fresh new press! Check it out, it's on stands and online now.... Oh, and while you're at it, go online and check out the fabulous Splendora : The Authority on Fashion. This is a great site for all things fashion and weddings too - and, coincidentally, the bride in our photos, Jennifer Wong is the Senior Account Executive at Splendora. Yes, this might have something to do with why this wedding was so fantastic - and the fact that Jennifer & Drew are such a terrific couple :)

Some details: flowers by Branch Out Floral and Event Design, event planning by Libby Siino Weddings, and cupcakes by Little Laura's Sweets.

Peay Vineyards

2008-12-22T17:19:00.000-08:00

In the fall we did a marketing shoot for Peay Vineyards up on the Sonoma Coast in Annapolis. We had photographed Ami & Andy's wedding at the vineyards a couple of years ago. Their property is amazing and their wine is incredible! Here's a sampling of images from the shoot - they wanted it to have a family feel so clients would know how much of a family effort it takes for each bottle of wine.

m.o.l. knits collection

2008-11-18T15:24:00.001-08:00

Spring 2009

guess what? local san francisco company, margaret o'leary has a new line: m.o.l knits & we had the lucky opportunity to shoot their spring 2009 collection! A slightly more hip, urban line that was a perfect fit for our model caitlin.. Here's a sample from their "look book" that we shot recently. caitlin goetz (from look modeling agency) was both the model and the hair & makeup..created and styled by the super talented monique ramos, creative director of margaret o'leary and head knitwear designer Tiila Abitt.. Just another opportunity for us to take advantage of our new studio's natural light- wow, were glad we moved!

*click on the photos to enlarge

Margaret O'Leary Collection

2008-11-18T11:05:00.001-08:00

Spring 2009

Here's the latest "look book" that we photographed to showcase the new Spring Specialty Knit Collection for local designer, Margaret O'leary. We loved working with such an amazing team- Monique Ramos, creative director, styled the shoot with talented model, Zoe Brock (Look Modeling Agency)

New Press!! On Stands Now!!

2008-11-17T16:56:00.000-08:00

We love that our photograph is included in the current Modern Bride Magazine: Real Bride, Real Beauty. This is a shot that we took of Gabriel getting ready at the super cool St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco. Gabby is a perfect choice for this article- she's naturally gorgeous ( enhanced by Nam Vo's flawless makeup) & she courageously decided to do her own hair which looked amazing.. Her goal was to combine a natural look with classic red lipstick...always a favorite for Gertrude & Mabel:) & a perfect fit for a black tie Grace Cathedral wedding...

Caitlin & Mark's Wedding

2008-10-28T18:26:00.000-07:00

Here's a little snippet of photos from our latest local wedding - it was such a gorgeous black tie affair at City Hall that we thought you might want to see a bit of it... The stunning floral design was by one of our favorite florists, Kathleen Deery, delicious food by Paula LeDuc and another amazing day by Laurie Arons Special Events. And how beautiful is Caitlin's dress? She looked fantastic with flawless hair and make-up by Jim Avila & Darlene Carlson. Caitlin and Mark are such a sweet couple - we are so happy for them and loved being a part of their day!

Welcome to Austin, Texas!

2008-10-23T13:31:00.001-07:00

Hey y'all..here's a sneak peek of Alexis and Rey's Texas wedding! We were so excited to work with the Kelly family again (see her sister Kristin & new baby Vivian in posts below) and to meet the Andrade family - what a fun wedding! It was 90 degrees cool and gorgeous at the Barr Mansion ...complete with a mariachi band, margarita's, wandering wild armadillo's, and check out the oh-so-cool invitations designed by the groom.

Nancy & George's Wedding Continues in Manhattan:Part 1!!

2008-10-03T12:35:00.000-07:00

Well, now we realize how challenging it is to keep up with the blogging when we're traveling all the time..(no complaints though, we LOVE to shoot destination events:) .. it just makes us sssllloooww bloggers!

SO, here it is... Nancy & George's second 1/2 of their wedding festivities in Manhattan.. (see blog below for part 2 and don't miss the actual wedding in Mexico too)

Nancy & George's Wedding Continues in Manhattan: Part 2!!

2008-10-02T16:15:00.000-07:00

Well, try to imagine it's still June right now and we just shot the second 1/2 of Nancy and George's wedding festivities in New York City, ok? It was truly spectacular! Since the actual wedding took place in Mexico, (see earlier post) with a small intimate group of friends and family- they wanted to have another celebration once they got home to Manhattan. They gathered around 400 of their closest friends and wow, what a party! It took place at an industrial location, Skylight Studios in Tribeca with incredible design by Bronson Van Wyck from Van Wyck & Van Wyck. There were hundreds of butterflies hanging from the ceiling, deer horns shaped into chandeliers, amazing ice sculpted bar with king crab legs, and one of the largest disco balls (luckily because the guests went wild on the dance floor when Super Diamond performed at midnight!) Every detail was so impressive and beautiful- the space was completely transformed!

Kyan's First Photo Shoot!

2008-10-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

Well, summer's over, but we still had a chance to fit in one last outdoor portrait shoot...We took advantage of the beautiful weather and headed over to Shakespeare Gardens in Golden Gate Park to photograph our past wedding clients, Alexis & Jeremy with their son Kyan. Its fun to get out of the studio when the kids are at this age - they can run around and have fun, we can get some natural shots of them playing, and everyone has a good time!

Vote for Gertrude & Mabel - Best of the Bay!

2008-08-26T12:00:00.000-07:00

We've been nominated for Best Wedding Photographer in the Bay Area! Please take a second to vote for us - we would be honored to have your vote. Click here (or on the image) and you'll have to fill out a short little form in order to vote. Thank you for taking the time!

Nancy & George's Cuixmala Wedding - Part II

2008-08-08T19:53:00.001-07:00

In May we traveled to an incredible resort, Cuixmala, in Mexico to photograph Nancy and George's week of wedding festivities. The resort is ultra exclusive and was rented out entirely for the wedding guests. It was truly amazing! We were fortunate enough to work with Marianne Weiman-Nelson, of Special Occasions Events , in LA. We had such a great time working with Marianne and her staff!

Nancy used one of the casitas private pools for a ladies luncheon and swimming afternoon before the wedding. The ceremony was held later that day on the beach as the sun was setting. The bride and groom were surprised with a private fireworks show after cutting the cake... an ultra cool "Day of the Dead" cake, no less. It was a beautiful week - congratulations to Nancy and George! Stay tuned for some images from their party that we photographed in New York a few weeks later....

Nancy & George's Cuixmala Wedding - Part I

2008-08-08T19:37:00.000-07:00

These shots are from Cuixmala's private beach and from the rehearsal dinner held by the oceanfront pool. The bride & groom had the talented staff of Special Occasions to help with the beautiful design and planning of the day.

Mia & Rich's Kauai Wedding - Part II

2008-08-08T18:38:00.001-07:00

We traveled to Kauai in April to photograph an amazing destination wedding in Hanalei Bay... (which quickly became our new favorite Hawaiian vacation land!) Mia & Rich spend many vacations on Kauai and wanted to share it's beauty with all of their friends and family. They did that and more....

Before the wedding day Rich, an avid surfer, spent much time with his groomsmen surfing the great Hawaiian waves. We were big fans of the vintage yellow VW bus that one of his local friends owns and brought along to the wedding - wish that was a rental car! As a special surprise to the guests, Mia rode in to the ceremony on an outrigger canoe paddled by some (shirtless) groomsmen. After dinner we even had a minute to venture across the street to Hanalei Bay for some beautiful sunset photos. The mountains, the beach, and the light were absolutely amazing. We're ready to go back anytime! Thank you Mia & Rich.

Mia & Rich's Kauai Wedding - Part I

2008-08-08T15:33:00.001-07:00

Here's a peek at the beautiful luau rehearsal dinner that was held a couple of days before the wedding - complete with cruiser bikes, hula lessons, and tiki drinks!

Bride & Bloom Magazine

2008-07-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

Check out the Summer 2008 issue of Bride & Bloom Magazine. It features our photographs from Jennifer & Scott's wedding that we did last year in Ojai with Mindy Weiss. We love working with Mindy, she is one of the top wedding and event coordinators in the country! The Mindy Weiss team has the ability to impress everyone with their incredible style and eye for design. We've been fortunate enough to get to work with them to photograph their amazing creations.

Yeah for California!

2008-06-24T13:31:00.000-07:00

We're proud to live in a state that has set the bar for the rest of the country by finally legalizing same sex marriages! Here are some weddings that we've done in the past.... we hope to have many more happy couples to photograph in the future. And lets all be sure this doesn't get overturned in November - get out and vote!

Davinski, You Rock

2008-06-17T17:35:00.000-07:00

This is the great Davinski and his amazing group of friends. We recently did this shoot for his new album, check him out on myspace. He asked us to take portraits and document his "70's style" party (there were a bunch more 70's style images but probably not appropriate for this site ;) We shot at various locations in SF, thank you to the Stephen Saiz Salon, Amber, and the Transfer Bar.

It must be spring... More Babies!

2008-06-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

We had a lot of fun photographing little Vivian and her mom Kristin last week. Kristin Colombano, from Avantgarde, is the graphic designer that helped us create our branding when Gertrude & Mabel were just starting out.. (ten years ago- wow!) so we all thought it would be extra special to photograph Vivie as she is first starting out!

Baby Time

2008-05-08T12:08:00.000-07:00

Tis the season to photograph babies ....our studio provides the perfect environment for getting great natural light. Here are some snippets from a shoot we just did with a new one month old little girl, Allison. We had actually done pregnancy photos of mom about 6 weeks before so it was really cool to see her big belly and then the amazing baby that emerged.

On our way to Mexico....

2008-04-29T21:15:00.000-07:00

We're so fortunate to get to travel to Mexico this week for a wedding at this absolutely incredible place called Cuixmala. It should be an amazing week of great events. Stay tuned for some photographs when we return.

The Bride's Cafe

2008-04-24T19:05:00.000-07:00

If you love the photograph with the bride and groom kissing on the cool red bike (and you voted for it - see "Vote for Us" below) then check out today's segment on The Bride's Cafe. Ulrica & Craig's wedding is featured in a two part series.

One of our favorite weddings ever (how can it not be when you get to go to Sweden to photograph!) We had the most amazing time in Sweden and couldn't have enjoyed hanging out with (and photographing) Ulrica and Craig more. We were flattered when Ulrica asked us to be her photographers since she has a great photography eye herself (check out her website, Axel and Moa) and as a Wedding Editor for People Magazine she's familiar with a lot of the top photographers in the country. Their wedding was simple, clever, and beautiful - which makes our job very easy!

Thank you too, Janie, for featuring it on The Bride's Cafe, such a great site!

Vote for Us.... deadline on Friday

2008-04-23T18:31:00.001-07:00

One of our favorite photographs has been chosen as a finalist in the Pacific Weddings Magazine contest for the Back Page. Click here to access their blog and be sure to vote for your favorite.... hint hint. The deadline is this Friday the 25th, so please don't delay. This is the photo... Ulrica & Craig in Sweden - titled "Bicycle Built for Two" on their website. Thank you!

Aloha

2008-04-12T14:39:00.000-07:00

The gals are off to Hawaii for a destination wedding on the beautiful island of Kauai. Stay tuned for photos and stories of our adventures. Aloha!

Snippet & Ink

2008-04-10T15:59:00.001-07:00

One of our weddings was featured on the site Snippet & Ink last week for her "Real Wedding Saturday" posting. It was a great wedding that we shot up in Mendocino in September of last year. The bride & groom, Jennifer and John, traveled from New York for their event. We loved the fact that they did a lot of it themselves, or with the help of their friends - little touches like the flower arrangements in the old tea tins, the bright orange and yellow carnations for the escort cards, the advent calender that lead up to the wedding day with kind wishes for Jennifer & John.... it was all very clever.

Everything was within walking distance or bike riding distance so the guests could stroll from their rooms down to the cliffs for the ceremony, up the street to a private property for cocktails and dinner, and down the lane by candlelight for swing dancing at the local hall. It was a great weekend! Thank you to Kathryn at Snippet & Ink for featuring our work and for having such a beautiful website with really great ideas.

The Green Wedding Guide

2008-03-25T16:27:00.001-07:00

This was an amazing eco-friendly wedding we shot at the Sonoma Coast Villa in Bodega Bay. The bride and groom, Jessica & Jason, were fortunate to have the talented Joannie Liss Events for the planning and details. The incredible flowers & design were created by Eden Rodriguez of End Design.

Our Website's New "Portrait" Section is Live!

2008-03-20T17:52:00.001-07:00

Here's a sampling of our new "portrait" section on our website. We love to photograph kids, dogs, couples, rockstars, models - anything adventurous.... The cute baby on the left in the adorable blue poncho is our friend Jolie's daughter, Adeline, (Jolie makes the ponchos and other clever things - see them online at www.skippinghippos.com). The sweet little pit bull on the right is Heidi's dog, Tony - you can tell he loves being a model, especially when he has to sit still on a red vinyl poof.....on wheels.

Hot off the Press!

2008-02-06T16:37:00.000-08:00

Podoll Collection

2008-01-27T19:29:00.001-08:00

We love to get the opportunity to work with our past wedding clients again- especially when they spend their first years of marriage creating a gorgeous new fashion line!! Today we photographed the Fall 2008 Podoll Collection for the amazing designers Lauren & Josh Podoll. Lauren was previously the buyer for AB fits Store and Josh is an artist represented by Feature Inc Gallery in New York. These are some of the looks we show here (not all of them)....it was a busy day in the studio! Their clothes are incredible - great colors, fabrics and styling - they're both so talented and creative. Everyone that worked the shoot was super professional and appreciative and so nice that it made the day go really smoothly, it was really a lot of fun! (We were lucky to work with a team from Ford Artists - model, Heather, and hair & makeup, Marco Castro.) We look forward to hearing how successful the Podoll Collection is in the fashion world... and, of course, working with them again. Be sure to check them out!

Happy New Year!

2008-01-11T11:27:00.000-08:00

We thought we would start off 2008 with a blog! There have been a lot of exciting changes going on for us so this is an excellent way to let you all know what we've been up to...we'd love to hear your feedback so please comment if you have a chance. Cheers, Judy & Heidi

This is our new studio.....

2007-12-17T12:41:00.000-08:00

After outgrowing our office space of 3 years we've moved (in the same building) to a beautiful studio with concrete floors, huge walls of windows, and amazing natural light. Now we have space for shooting, working, visiting with clients, displaying our artwork, and, of course..... entertaining!

Jennifer & Scott's Ojai Wedding

2007-12-17T12:31:00.000-08:00

The gals traveled to Ojai in the Fall to photograph Jennifer & Scott's big day.

It was an amazing weekend arranged by planner extraordinaire Mindy Weiss and her crew.

Guests enjoyed a BBQ dinner the night before the wedding at a local ranch.

Complete with all the fixins' - country music, carnival games stocked with prizes, a retro black and white photo booth, and of course a delicious home cooked spread.

The ceremony was held in a secluded courtyard at the Ojai Valley Inn & Spa.

Hundreds of lavender and white roses adorned the wedding canopy.

Scott chose the wedding cake from his favorite LA baker.

Jennifer's brother sang and played guitar for the father daughter dance, putting her dad in tears.

New Studio, New Website & the Cocktail Party!

2007-12-16T12:11:00.000-08:00

We just moved into our new studio and re-launched our website (designed by the amazing Creative B'stro team) - time to have a cocktail party to celebrate! Did you come by? If not, here are a few photos to rehash the evening. A big thanks to Living Room Events for their delicious and beautifully prepared food, Spiral Hand Designs for transforming our space perfectly with their floral creations, and DJ B-Love for the entertainment!

Our great assistant, Janett, designed our invitation using one of the vintage photos from our collection. We love airstreams (and Janett)!

These are some of the cool arrangements that Leah & Rafael from Spiral Hand created for us.... sculptural, pink, green, brown, modern, and clever - everything we wanted and more!