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I had the great pleasure of photographing Melissa and George last week as they get ready to welcome a baby boy into their family. I was able to spend some time with them in their home and see all the preparations they’ve made for their new addition. I was so impressed with the nursery! It is the perfect room for a little boy. They’ve been remodeling their home in Orangevale, and it is so lovely! I loved taking pictures in front of their front door because George made that door! How awesome is that??

I think Melissa had the loveliest belly! Just like me, her belly button didn’t pop out so her belly looked so round and soft. I just loved it!

George and Melissa are so excited to welcome their sweet baby boy and I am so excited for them! They’re going to be great parents.

Isn’t that door so cool? I told George I’m calling him to build me a door someday. Congratulations to George and Melissa as they get ready to welcome their sweet baby boy. I can’t wait to meet him!

Tags: California, family portraits, maternity, Orangevale, professional, Sarah Maren Photography

Monica and John are totally awesome people who I can’t help but completely love! They were married on Saturday, May 26th at Wilson Vineyards in Clarksburg, CA. The venue was beautiful! The vineyards looked so beautiful with the leaves green and gorgeous. I can’t even begin to tell you how much fun we had taking loads of pictures all over the grounds. It was awesome.

The ceremony was amazing. They started things off by walking down the aisle to AMAZING music! Monica and I are music twins. Seriously, when I saw she was walking down the aisle to a song by Rosie Thomas, I felt like I was at my best friends wedding! Then John and Monica exchanged personal vows (which John memorized, hello! How awesome is that?) that had references to “Grey’s Anatomy” and ESPN. They were SO cute! They followed their vows with a sand ceremony and then the BEST first kiss as husband and wife! I loved it.

After the ceremony we headed out to the vineyard for some wedding party and family pictures and then whisked the bride and groom off for some romantic pictures of just the two of them before we delivered them back to the party. There was GREAT food, even GREATER music,and loads of dancing.

When the bride and her dad danced I bawled my eyes out, and loved the look the groom had on his face as he watched his wife out on the dance floor. Then John and Monica took the floor for their first dance as husband and wife. It was beautiful! After dancing and toasting and boquet tossing and garter throwing and more dancing and loads of fun the bride and groom escaped in a Hummer and are now off to Maui for their honeymoon.

I am so grateful to Monica and John and their awesome family and friends for letting us come out and be a part of their big day! Thanks for all the fun guys! We loved your wedding as much as we love you… and that is A LOT!

I’ve put together their slideshow of the fun and amazing pictures we took together on Saturday. I hope it can capture just a fraction of the love and fun that surround Monica and John. They are awesome people and I’m so happy I got to be with them on their wedding day! Congratulations you two!!

Click the image below to start the slide show

Tags: California, Clarksburg, Monica and John, professional, Sarah Maren Photography, slideshow, wedding, Wilson Vineyards

I had the amazing experience of photographing the birth of David Michael on Monday evening. Seriously, I can’t even find words for how completely and totally astounding it was to be there for such an amazing time in the life of my dear friends. David didn’t seem to want to be born and was hanging on by his toenails all day long. Then all the sudden Bethany went from thinking we were going to be up all night to pushing! Because my daughter was born via c-section, and I was knocked out for it I have never experienced a birth before. There are honestly no words to describe how amazing it all was. David was born at 7:55pm weighing in at 7lbs 8oz, and 19 inches long.

Shortly after I left, David was taken to the NICU with respiratory problems. He had been cold, and was doing these little grunt noises pretty constantly. Somehow he got an infection and it turned into pneumonia all in a few short hours. He was taken from Mercy General to Mercy San Juan where he will be for the rest of the week. I just got off the phone with his mom and she tells me he is getting better and things are looking bright. When I got the phone call that this beautiful baby boy with a full head of curly blonde hair had fallen ill, my heart just broke. But I can’t tell you how grateful I am that I got to be a part of his birth, to photograph him as he joined his family. I can’t wait for him to come home and we can do his infant portraits. He is a special little man, and already I feel blessed to know him. He has changed me, he has made me grasp just how important my job is, and how important it is that I use my talent to help those in need.

Our love and prayers go out to David and his family. He has been in my mind and heart all day and night. I am so grateful to his parents for letting me take part in this amazing event in their lives, and for being such faithful and astounding people. You have blessed my life beyond measure.

Tags: birth portraits, California, family portraits, maternity, personal, professional, Sacramento

Holy cow do these ladies know how to party! Lisa and Gretchen had a BEAUTIFUL wedding on Saturday at Stanford Oaks Estates in Durham, CA. We started the day at Lisa’s parents house taking pictures of Lisa and her sisters getting ready. Lisa’s dad has AMAZING cars, and pulled out his ‘57 Chevy Impala. Holy cow that car was stunning! It was such a blast taking pictures of Lisa and her sisters with it. Then we headed over to the venue to photograph Gretchen getting ready. I can’t even tell you how much beautiful everything and everyone was. The flowers were so amazing! And both Lisa and Gretchen looked so elegant. The ceremony was tender and so personal. I was one of the many who had tears in their eyes as Lisa and Gretchen married each other. It was so lovely.

After pictures in the vineyard and around the beautiful grounds, Lisa and Gretchen greeted their guests and got the party started! It was a beautiful night with lots of love all over the place.

click on the image below to start the slide show

Thank you to Lisa and Gretchen and their amazing family and friends for letting us have a total blast at your amazing wedding! We are so happy for you!

Tags: California, Durham, Lisa and Gretchen, professional, Sarah Maren Photography, Stanford Oaks Estates, wedding