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First off HAPPY NEW YEAR! I can’t believe it’s already 2011! 2010 was a pretty awesome year. We had such great clients this year. It was a pleasure to photograph the 20 weddings we shot this year. I loved them, and am so very grateful that we got to be a part of so many really special events. Of course, Dustin and I snapped off pictures of each other doing our photo thing again this year. I look a lot more tired in this years pictures I noticed. I blame that on being pregnant for seven months of the year, and then having a newborn for the rest of the year. Luckily though, I have the cutest husband who is a trooper and willing to carry all of my heavy bags. He is also helpful to our couples – he will hold your bouquet, walk your horse, open bottles of wine for your bartender and ever so patiently hold a reflector for me. What a dreamboat!

I honestly don’t think I could do even a part of my job without Dustin. I know I’ve said it before, but honestly Dustin is why SMP works. He is the backbone of this opertation, and does all the crappy stuff so I can do the stuff I love. Dustin, thank you for paying the bills, packing the bags, charging the batteries, making me awesome computers, watching the babies and being my burro. I wouldn’t be able to do this without you, and believe me when I can’t have you on a shoot I miss you more than I can say. I love you Mister.

This has also been a year of shooting with some amazing photographers. I have loved spending time with my friends and shooting some incredible events. I have to say a HUGE thank you to my beloved Bethie B who shot A LOT with me this year in case I spontaneously went into labor. She shot back to back weddings with me the week before Ben was born – just in case. I can’t tell you how much that meant to me and how much I love that woman. Even though Ben’s birth certificate says Benjamin Lee – he will always be Benjamin Elizabeth to me.

I also had the joy of shooting a wedding with the beautiful and talented Kate Harrison of Kate Harrison Photography. Talk about fun! It was a joy to watch her work and be a part of a beautiful wedding with her. Plus, girl knows how to PARTY!

And my beautiful and dear Tammy Swales flew all the way to Cali from New York to help out her gigantically preggo internet friend shoot one our best weddings of the year. We were all mystified by Tammy and her unbreakable calm during one of our biggest (and best!) weddings of 2010. Tammy, we have since used the “Follow the sound of my voice” line several times and thank you for it! I feel like a zen master just thinking of you. Also, thank you too for convincing my husband I needed an iPad… I love that damn thing.

Another highlight of the year was working with my beloved Kate Miller of Kate Miller Events. We had SUCH a fun year working together. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy working with THE most talented planner I’ve ever known. I am so grateful we get more time together next year too! Seriously, I can’t wait!

This year of shooting was an interesting one for me. Being pregnant for more than half of the year was a challenge, but I am just so grateful to my clients who were so patient with me and so understanding. Also, to my friends and family who just poured out generosity on me. Thank you thank you thank you! I love you all!

Thanks again delightful clients for an AWESOME year! We are so grateful to you for making 2010 so amazing. And to our 2011 peeps… we look forward to celebrating with you and yours! See you soon! Please enjoy a slideshow of us doing what we do HERE or below!

Tags: Kate Harrison Photography, Kate Miller Events, sacramento wedding photographer, sacramento wedding photography, Sarah Maren, Sarah Maren Photographers, Sarah Maren Photography, Tammy Swales Photography, True Love Photo

One of my favorite thing about my job is collaborating with REALLY talented people and have some fun shooting something out of the ordinary. I had the chance to do just that a few months ago with the delightful Kate Miller Events and Flourish Designs. We put together a fun shoot with a mid-century modern feel. Butterflies, orange tulips, and green played a big part in the design. I am DEEPLY in love with the centerpiece Shannon put together. It is STUNNING! Also, Kate’s table scape was just perfect. Clear glass bubbles, green place settings, stemless glassware and a chandelier made of hanging glass bubbles made for a beautiful and unique table. Also, I want to be a part of ANY table with a cupcake on it.

Shannon also put together one of the loveliest bouquets ever. I love how unique it was.

Having a beautiful bride sure didn’t hurt either. Megan is SUCH a beauty! It was wonderful photographing her in two beautiful dresses from Bella Donna Bridal Salon. And her hair and makeup was just perfect thanks to Nicole from Deja Du Salon.

Thanks to everyone who made this shoot possible! It was so delightful to shoot and even more delightful to see featured on Elizabeth Anne Designs and Fancy Pants Weddings.

Concept Design – Kate Miller Events
Floral Design – Flourish
Stationary – Luxecuts
Rentals – Classic Party Rentals
Hair and Makeup – Nicole Solarez of Deja Du Salon
Cupcakes - Esther’s Cupcakes
Model – Megan Kundert

Tags: Classic Party Rentals, Concept Shoot, Elizabeth Anne Designs, Fancy Pants Wedding, Flourish, Flourish Designs, Kate Miller Events, Sacramento Concept Shoot, sacramento wedding photographer, sacramento wedding photography, Sarah Maren Photography, Studio Shoot

Oh sweet, wonderful Annie and Troy. If ever there was cause for a gushing blog post, it would be these two really wonderful people! I loved every single thing about their wedding. From start to finish it was just awesome and I am so happy that Dustin and I got to be a part of it. We had so much fun all day! It was non-stop excitement and joy all day. I cried like a baby during their ceremony and was nearly trampled during the dancing at their reception and it was just absolutely perfect! Annie and Troy have A LOT of people who love them A LOT, and seeing and hearing all of that love throughout the day was overwhelming and wonderful. Seriously, we feel so blessed to have been a part of their day. We started things off at The Citizen for some getting ready goodness. How much do we love Annie’s shoes? SO MUCH! After getting ready we headed over to Land Park for some portraits at her parents home and then Vic’s Ice Cream. YUM!

My beloved Shannon from Flourish did the wedding flowers and holy moly I loved them! Great job, as always, Shannon! And can I just say Annie had THE BEST bridesmaids ever! They were all so much fun! It was a blast hanging out with them.

Of course whilst I was hanging with the ladies, Dustin was hanging out with the fellas. Troy LOVES music, so they hopped in the limo and headed over to R5 to rock some fun groomsmen portraits. (I still think ice cream is more fun then records… but that it’s probably just the 9 month pregnant lady talking.)

Then it was off to B’nai Isreal for some ceremony. Annie and Troy saw each other prior to the marriage ceremony for a first look and to sign their Ketubah. The look on Troy’s face when he saw Annie was priceless! It just made me adore Troy even more!

Then it was time to get these two married! One of my favorite things about Jewish weddings is that both parents walk the bride and groom down the aisle. It makes me happy.

After family portraits it was back to the Citizen to celebrate Annie and Troy and for some pictures of the entire wedding party and the bride and groom!

Once again Kate Miller of Kate Miller Events knocked this wedding out of the park! I swear if I could shoot every wedding she plans I would! Everything in the terrace room looked AMAZING! And hello purple artichokes in the centerpieces! Let’s be friends for life!

And then it was party time! Annie and Troy had a ROCKING reception with an ice cream bar instead of a cake (AWESOME!) and the live band Poprocks! Add into that my very first hora, and people… it was magic! All of my dreams came true! Annie and Troy you are dream makers!

And one more ring shot before I go…

Annie and Troy! Thank you for such an amazing day! We loved everything about your wedding! Congratulations to two of the most in love people we have ever met. You two really are meant to be, and we loved witnessing the start of your family. Check out their SLIDESHOW HERE or below for LOTS more pictures from their lovely day.

Wedding Designer: Kate Miller Events
Ceremony Location: B’nai Israel
Reception Location & Catering: The Citizen Hotel
Flowers: Flourish
Ceremony Musicians: Mersonacta String Quartet
Band: Pop Rocks
Event Lighting: Extreme Productions
Rentals: Classic Party Rentals
Videographer: Xsight
Bride’s Hair: Michelle Roloff
Bride’s Makeup: Amy Branum

Tags: Annie and Troy, B'nai Israel, B'nai Israel Wedding, B'nai Israel Wedding Photos, Citizen Hotel, Citizen Hotel Wedding, Citizen Hotel Wedding Photographer, Citizen Hotel Wedding Photos, Flourish, Kate Miller Events, Sacramento Califonia, sacramento wedding photographer, sacramento wedding photography, Sarah Maren Photography, The Citizen Hotel, The Citizen Hotel Sacramento

Beautiful Lisa and Steven! Oh my gosh, their wedding was absolutely breathtaking! Dustin and I headed up to Yosemite last weekend to be a part of their big day, and it was flat out incredible. We started things off with the bride and groom having their first look and then traveling around the park for portraits. It was so awesome to have them all to ourselves for a couple of hours before the hustle of the wedding day really began. And really, shooting such a beautiful couple in such a beautiful place hardly felt like work at all.

Then it was ceremony time! And seriously, what a fantastic backdrop for a wedding! There was just beauty everywhere we turned.

But the beauty didn’t stop with just our lovely couple and our amazing surroundings. Kate Miller Events was on the job, and OH MY! Once again Kate knocked it out of the park with a whole lot of pretty. Working with her is always dreamy, and of course, this wedding was no exception. The details were just to die for.

A big giant thank you to Lisa and Steven for inviting Dustin and I to be a part of your wedding adventure! Everything was absolutly perfect! Check out their SLIDESHOW HERE or below for more of one of the prettiest weddings we’ve ever shot!

Wedding and Reception Venue: The Ahwahnee – Yosemite, California
Wedding Planner and Designer: Kate Miller Events
Table Numbers and Escort Cards: Luxecuts
Calligraphy: Calligraphy Girl
Catering: The Ahwahnee
DJ and Lighting: Exquisite Entertainment
Florist: Natalie Glasso Designs
Hair and Makeup: Un Hur of Article Salon and Spa

Tags: Kate Miller Events, Lisa and Steven, Luxecuts, sacramento wedding photographer, sacramento wedding photography, Sarah Maren, Sarah Maren Photographer, Sarah Maren Photography, The Ahwahnee Wedding, The Ahwahnee Wedding Photos, The Ahwahnee Yosemite, Yosemite Wedding Photographer, Yosemite Wedding Photography