October 21, 2008
Zoe and Jesse*
Zoe, Jesse, Live Oak Park, Berkeley, CA, Canon Rebel Xti
One of the things I love most about doing portrait sessions is the way I get to fall in love with the people I'm photographing. How often do you get to look, really look at people you don't know? It is such a gift to see someone, to watch them unfold before you, to see beauty that perhaps you didn't notice at first, but appears in luminous little sparks as you witness them move and giggle and get shy and stand strong.
Maternity sessions are a particular favorite for me. It is such a ripe, sacred time and it is such an honor to be part of their ritual and their celebration. When I'm really lucky (which is often) I witness an incredible love and connection between two people. My lens goes a little foggy from being moved by their joy, their romantic connection, their profound safety in being near one another. While photographing Zoe and Jesse, I was struck by this over and over again. Every once in a while I would direct them to put their heads together, and without fail I would see this incredible sweetness. "Something amazing happens when you put your heads together!" I shouted to them across the green grass. If I remember correctly, they nodded yes, yes... we know.
Zoe, Jesse, Berkeley, CA, Canon Rebel Xti
Zoe, Jesse, Berkeley, CA, Canon Rebel Xti
Zoe, Jesse, Berkeley, CA, Canon Rebel Xti
Zoe, Jesse, Marina, Berkeley, CA, Canon Rebel Xti
Belly and a bald head, Live Oak Park, Berkeley, CA, Canon Rebel Xti
ultrasound, two heads, Canon Rebel Xti
You should also know that Jesse is a knitter (a boy who knits!) and made that incredible green sweater that Zoe is wearing. You can find his blog here. Also, there are two babies in that big belly! They are expecting twins. Congratulations Zoe and Jesse! and thank you for the honor of letting me photograph you.
Posted on October 21, 2008 09:36 AMI adore the photo of Zoe's belly and the tree... What I love best is the guy sitting on the bench, watching!!
Posted by: Jessica Griffin at November 20, 2008 05:56 AMBeautiful pictures! Congratulations to Jesse and Zoe!!
Posted by: Lesley at October 24, 2008 09:29 AMBeautiful, beautiful images that they will treasure forever. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Jen at October 24, 2008 05:51 AMAndrea, from one photographer to another, you are in the zone. I am ecstatic that these were posted on my birthday.... and, I could look at them all day. I do feel I know these folks. Subtle, deep, powerful.
Posted by: Sharon at October 23, 2008 08:47 PMAndrea , these photos remind me of Jan Van Eyck's painting : "Arnolfini wedding Portrait". Very beautiful!
Posted by: marilee pittman at October 23, 2008 03:54 PMYou never cease to amaze me with your pictures!
My favorite today is the belly peaking around the tree; but it's the man in the back that really makes the picture for me. He has a sort of amused look on his face with a little smile playing on his lips. A look I'm sure you can remember seeing many times when you were pregnant and a look you now give pregnant mamas. A sincere, "isn't what you are going through and creating amazing? And guess what, it only gets better!"
Posted by: Tracey at October 22, 2008 09:02 AMthe belly and bald head one is AMAZING!
Posted by: chrissy at October 22, 2008 08:55 AMI wish you could come to NY and do our portraits! I'm 7 months with our first and whenever I think of who I would want to take our photos, it's you, but you live too far away. :( If you happen to come in the next 2 months, tell me!
Kristy
Posted by: Kristy at October 22, 2008 08:20 AMWow.
Posted by: Sarah at October 22, 2008 06:11 AMwhat a happy couple.
i love seeing all your new
images.
a beautifully written post. i have been knitting one of his hat patterns for every guy I know...i have had a great big blog crush on him...they are so magically sweet together
Posted by: marcy Watchman at October 21, 2008 08:51 PMa beautifully written post. i have been knitting one of his hat patterns for every guy I know...i have had a great big blog crush on him...they are so magically sweet together
Posted by: marcy Watchman at October 21, 2008 08:51 PMLove, love, love the tree photo. Very nice!
~Liz
www.AGiveawayADay.blogspot.com
I love the tree/belly photo
Posted by: Jen at October 21, 2008 06:42 PMThese photos are lovely. I wish I lived closer to you so I could have you shoot my belly. My twin boys are due to come out early, a couple weeks before this lovely couple's.
You have a way with the people you photograph. Their eyes tell it all. It's the way they look right into the camera with trust and sparkle.
Thank you for sharing all your beauty with us.
Posted by: Lisa at October 21, 2008 06:30 PMWhat a wonderful photoshoot, what an amazing couple, what radiant beauty! Thank you! My husband and I looked through the photos for three times.
Posted by: ollka at October 21, 2008 02:11 PMI love the baby bump peeking around that tree!
Posted by: Colleen at October 21, 2008 01:52 PMamazing. i find it pregnancy so fascinating...but even more so knowing that someone is growing not just one but two babies in their own body! it's miraculous!
Posted by: celisa at October 21, 2008 01:45 PMa, i love what you wrote. all of that resonates with me so deeply. you so eloquently described how i feel when i am given the honor of photographing people as well. i think i need to print out this post...
xoxo
Posted by: Jen Downer at October 21, 2008 12:40 PMGorgeous couple and I love that he knits. My husband sews.
Posted by: leaca at October 21, 2008 12:06 PMHow amazing. I love this post, Andrea. The way you talk about seeing your subjects and that you point out the special thing that happens when they put their heads together. I'd never thought about that "thing" before.
And how moving that she wears the sweater he made for her? Forget it!
May every blessing possible be extended to them and their little babes always.
Best of luck.
Posted by: Shelley Noble at October 21, 2008 12:02 PMThey sounds like a great couple. Such amazing photos. You really have a special way of capturing people.
Posted by: kristine at October 21, 2008 11:29 AMThose are great! I really like the belly peeking/peaking around the tree :)
Posted by: steph at October 21, 2008 11:13 AMi loved your photos on flickr this morning and a boy who knits...he's so fun! i love the sweaters he knits for his girl, i've now bookmarked his blog.
thank you for sharing your clients with us. xo
Posted by: kristen at October 21, 2008 10:38 AM