Sep 12
Nothing Can Stop Me!

Posted by Anna : Let me just come clean right now before you see me with a boot cast on my left leg...I broke a bone in my foot. Of course you want to know how I did it. I was carrying a box down some stairs. I wasn't really paying attention and I missed the last step and fell immediately to the concrete. All I remember hearing was "Oh My God Annnnnaaaa" from Jessica. I didn't want to admit it was broken and went several days before having xrays.

So I'm wearing a boot cast for 4 - 6 weeks. I'm allowed to put some weight on it but I have crutches for when it's really hurting. Since I've been through natural child birth twice (yes, that means no drugs, no epidural, even with an 11lb baby), I have a very high pain threshold and haven't used the crutches since day 2.

I feel really lame about this whole thing. It was totally preventable and it shouldn't have happened.

But here's the kicker...we have three weddings this weekend. I'm lead on the Ramirez wedding and there's no way that I'm going to miss this wedding! Rhyan and Danielle are so awesome and I'm really looking forward to creating awesome photographs for them. This silly broken foot won't stop me!

LESSON: Pay more attention when coming down stairs!

Brokenfoot
Sep 12

i LOVE it!

Posted by: Gina

This is one of our high school seniors - her name is Lauren. Jessica did her hair, makeup and photoshoot and I ABSOLUTELY LOVE this image!!

Sep 10
CONGRATULATIONS DERICK AND SHEILA!!

Posted by: Gina

We couldn't be more excited to congratulate Derick and Sheila on their engagement! We met Derick as a client at the studio, and they have both become friends of everyone here at ultra-spective. They dropped by last week to let us know they are engaged - even though Sheila didn't bring the rock to show us! (Ok, it's being sized... we'll forgive her.) We were elated to hear the news! They are the sweetest people, and the cutest couple!

We look forward to hearing about all the details of your special day at the ranch and couldn't be happier that you guys are engaged! CONGRATS... and YAY!!!

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Sep 08

The stuff that fairy tales are made of

Posted by: Gina

I've heard COUNTLESS times about how this image...

... is the stuff that fairy tales are made of.

Jessica won an award on this image from Northern California Professional Photographers (NCPP) and since, it's been hanging on the wall in our studio. People continuously comment on how it looks like it is out of a storybook, or that is a fairy tale. Or that it couldn't have happened at a "real wedding". Dublin Ranch Golf Course provided a great setting for this - yes, at a real wedding.

Our clients in the image, Page and Juan, came in yesterday for their album preview and saw the image on the wall. I caught Page pointing it out to Juan, and Juan told us all about how he looked amazing in the photograph, in true Juan fashion. But I think they both enjoyed seeing it on the wall and knowing that they were a part of this piece of amazing art that Jessica was able to make with them.

So thank you Page and Juan - for trusting us to capture lifelong memories on your wedding day and creating amazing award winning images with ultra-spective!

Sep 05

September Specials!! :: Families and High School Seniors

Book a family portrait session in September and receive a free 16x20 wall print that you can enjoy for years and generations to come! You session fee allows you this free print - a $190 value. If you're thinking about portraits for the holidays, now is a great time to be sure you can get albums and great framed products for gifts! September is booking quickly, so don't wait to call us!

Also, if you didn't like your senior portraits taken over the summer, take advantage of our September Senior Special - A creative senior portrait session for only $95! This session is valued at $250 and can accommodate multiple locations and outfit changes. Come get creative and show who you really are in your senior portraits at ultra-spective!

Sep 03
Can't wait for this wedding!

Posted by: Jessica

I am so excited to photograph Rhianna and David's wedding in October at the Nine's in Brentwood, CA. It was such a great time photographing their engagement session in their neighborhood in Brentwood.

They met playing cat and mouse on the freeway, so we did a spin on how they met for their engagement session. We put a 1950s feel into the session and they came up with an awesome car and motorcycle for the session. David was a little nervous to start, and I was assigned the task of getting him to smile for at least one of the photos. Mission was accomplished, and David even said at the preview session that he never had so much fun being photographed. It felt good that I could make it fun and easy for him.

I included a few images from the shoot as well as a few spreads from the awesome custom guest book that Gina designed for them. She really captured the entire story I was trying to tell with their session.

Thank you Rhianna and David for allowing me the opportunity to create pieces of art for your engagement session. I really look forward to creating more lifetime memories on your wedding day!

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Aug 30
AAAAAAAAA-mazing senior portraits!

Posted by: Gina

Jessica blew me away with these portraits of Angela...

We've done so many great senior portrait sessions this summer! If you know anyone who hasn't had their senior portraits or was unhappy with their session, send them over for our September senior special! Only $95 session fee for senior sessions in September. That's over $150 off the session!!!

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Aug 26
Lia, our new(-ish) intern

Posted by: Gina

If you haven't already met our newest ultra-spective family member, I would like to introduce you to her.

Lia began interning with us at the beginning of this summer. Her first day at work, she assisted Anna at a wedding. What pressure for a first day at work! But this was only the beginning of learning that Lia learns really quickly and adjusts so naturally to anything that needs to be done. She's not only smart and insanely creative, but she is witty and honest and a complete joy to be around and work with.

We have such tight relationships here at ultra-spective that I wondered (and worried) at first about how she would fit in here. But Lia is a natural fit at ultra-spective - it feels as if she has been here forever.

Here's a few photos of her - she doesn't normally dress like this... this was 50's day at work! If you stop by the studio, be sure to meet her if she is here!

Welcome Lia... I couldn't be happier to have you at ultra-spective. And as a friend.

Lia
Aug 22

The Photographer/Client Relationship

Posted by Anna: Now, I'm not one to brag too much (okay well sometimes I do), but I was just thinking the other day about all of the friends I have. I was thinking about how fortunate I am to know so many super nice people from all walks of life and I realized that many of the friendships I've made over the past few years are the result of the client/photographer relationship. The client/photographer relationship is such a unique relationship because I encourage my clients to relax and I try to get to know who they are so that I can create unique portraits that genuinely represent them. This unveils the true spirit of a person and it always warms my heart to really get to know people....so this is how the natural friendship is then formed. Sometimes this even happens before the photosession through consultations and meetings to prepare for weddings.

For example, a client whose daughter's wedding is coming up in October at the new Casa Real Event Center in Pleasanton gave gifts to my boys (a cool stuffed camera for Theo and a kid friend engraved photoalbum for Enzo). These were the most thoughtful and unique gifts for a photographer mom. And then there was the couple I met for the first time last night for a wedding consultation. They were the cutest couple ever because of the way they laughed together, looked at each other, and talked about their future together. We immediately became friends such that I felt like I've known them forever. I can't wait to photograph their wedding next year. And then there are the friends that have come into the studio for their maternity and baby portraits and we would talk about our experiences in motherhood, as well as struggles and achievements. I certainly couldn't have made it without their advice and support.

Then I think about all of the new people I will meet in the coming years, I get excited and I understand why I am a photographer. I love people...meeting people, getting to know different kinds of people and helping people protect their memories for the next generation.

So I do look forward to meeting you (or seeing you again)...and I'm almost guaranteed to show you the latest portraits of my boys because they are the CUTEST kids ever! (okay, so here I am bragging again!)

Take good care of yourself and your family!

Aug 16
BEEEEEEE-U-TIFUL wedding!!

Posted by: Gina

As usual, I didn't attend Jared and Sarah's wedding in Santa Cruz, CA. I was here in the studio designing away. But when I saw their wedding images, I was BLOWN AWAY. Enjoy some images from their amazing day!

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Aug 15
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Aug 08
Senior Sessions

Posted by: Gina

Jessica has been doing some AMAZING work with our high school seniors for our Artbook Project. I have been so impressed with the way she consults with them about who they are and what they want to do with their futures and creates such artistic images with them. Take a peek at just a few she has done lately.

August is the last month to take advantage of these free senior sessions for our Artbook. If you're interested, get in touch with us soon! Contact us at 925.449.9879 or info@ultra-spective.com

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Jul 29
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA!!!!!

posted by: Gina

Today, Anna turns... old. Ok, I wont tell.

Actually, Anna is very young for all she has accomplished in her life. I've known her for a long time, although we have a hard time computing the exact amount, since we met thru friends of cousins of friends and whatnot. Anyway, Anna grew up, went to college, was (and continues to be) an engineer, but ditched that job to start an amazing company called ultra-spective. She married a wonderful man and gave birth to two of the cutest babies on the planet. All this, and so much more in just __ years. =).

Anna is our leader... our ship would sink without her. She's created something beautiful in this company, and should be celebrated today.

Happy Birthday Anna. I love you. =).

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Jul 25

Anyone need to update their family portrait??? I'd guess yes... since I do!

Posted by: Gina

It's a great time to take advantage of our August family portrait special... We are GIVING AWAY family portrait sessions! Our free August sessions WILL fill up, so be sure to call us to book soon if you're interested!

I'll be celebrating my mom's 60th birthday this weekend... I'm so blessed to have such a great mother and it makes me think it's time for me to update our family portrait too!

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

Jul 20

a lesson in LOVE

Posted by Anna: I just have to share my experience at Stephanie and Peter's wedding yesterday. We met Stephanie at her parent's house where she was getting ready. My first observation was that everyone was very organized and calm. It was a pleasure photographing her getting dressed etc. However, what really hit me happened when Stephanie walked down the stairs in her gown and her father saw her for the first time. He was choked up and there was an extremely proud yet heartfelt look on his face. What I began to notice, and this continued to occur throughout the day, was that the utmost focus was on love and relationships. It was so PURE and simple. I was so touched by this overwhelming emotion that it motivated me even more to capture these relationships and the love between their family and friends. I am so grateful to be a wedding photographer and I feel privileged to have the responsibility of preserving these moments for them. At the end of the evening, I went home, kissed and hugged my mom (who was caring for my boys while I was at the wedding) and went to bed grateful for my family and friends. I'll be sure to post some of their photographs soon...

Remember you don't have to wait for a special occasion to show someone how much you love them. None of us have any guarantees in life so be sure to show PURE love everyday. So to those of you who are taking the time to read this...I wish you much happiness and love in your life : )