Sept Wedding

Photographed a beautiful backyard wedding last night, the décor was over the top amazing!!

My last planned wedding for the year, so happy they let me be a part of their evening. I wish these 2 the very best, they are perfect for each other.

How I took it - Redding CA photography

Can't wait!!!!, I'm attending a few events for people that I care deeply about & I'm just pretty darn excited about that right now. I love Jon so much for helping me get to where I need to be, I love him more than he could ever imagine (......but somehow I think he has just a little idea by now, wink wink!). Hope everybody has a great night & fulfilling weekend, I know I going to.

Here are a few resident finches tearing up the gay feathers to get to the seed. I LOVE these plants even more now, definitely getting more for next year, the finch love them.

NOTE: I didn't have the ideal conditions to get this shot but it was well worth what I came out with. The plant is on our front porch, I didn't want to spook the finches so I couldn't open the door all the way, it was about 11am so the sun was reflecting brightly on the entrance flooring & into my face & lens. I used my Canon 24-70 2.8 lens, set at 70mm & I still cropped the photo.

My Manual camera settings were aperture f-4, ss 1/400 & ISO 125. The wind was blowing, which made the plant bob & weave, so I increased the aperture for that movement, I kept my ISO low which left the shutter speed at 1/400, not enough to freeze the wings but pretty close. I didn't expose for the entire photo, I was worried about the bird, not the background & those finches are fast, this was such a lucky shot. It may not be the right way but it's how I took it. Enjoy!

In the moment - J & D

I love how some people simply relax so easily in front of the camera, it makes it easier to capture "In the moment" photos like these, they're the best.

Ahhhhh, I miss my Chipmunk Cheeks

...especially after spending the morning with this handsome little guy & wishing I had photos of me & my kids together like these. I used to call Richie, my now almost 23 yr old son, Chipmunk Cheeks & this little guy had the same cheeks I remember Richie having (and never grew out of, hehe).
I'm sincerely honored this mom & dad allowed me to capture these quick moments in their life. I miss having babies, not like I'm going to go out & do anything about it but it sure does help me to decide what I want to do in the future with my photography.

I've been making some much needed decisions in my business lately & my heart feels unusually settled with them. I hope to be announcing the news soon. Thank you, to this beautiful family for spending some time with me. Have a great day!!

Sunrise Lavender Fields - Redding, CA

 Click on a photo to view them larger.

Welcome to Sunrise Lavender Fields in Redding, CA. I had the pleasure of visiting here when the Grosso lavender was fresh in bloom (it's only in bloom for 3 weeks before it's time to harvest). This visit was in mid June, right after it's one & only bloom this year.

These fields have been planted within the last couple of years and Dan & Sue constantly add more to the property, including a newly planted Labyrinth (filled with Buena Vista lavender), that's going to be incredibly gorgeous as the years go by. I hope to be taking photos of the Labyrinth during it's next bloom in August. Buena Vista blooms twice a year & completely depends on the weather, but usually it's in early Spring (end of May) & end of Summer (beginning of August).

Every bodies dreams have to start somewhere & this is just the beginning of something amazing for Dan & Sue, I can feel it. This Fall, they're planting multiple kinds of lavender in the fields to give everybody a variety to what's out there in the lavender world.

Couldn't you see this as your wedding venue, the aroma would be worth every step you took there. I could see a private, intimate, sunset (or sunrise) ceremony right in the middle of the lavender.

I can see romantic engagement photos here as well.

Can you imagine how beautiful this place is going to be in a year or two, the plants will be huge & I'll need a ladder to get a downward shot over them in no time, lol. Thank you to Sue & Dan for allowing me to capture this time at their fields, for all this information so I sound smarter (lol) & for the lemon lavender jello. It's subtle but bold at the same time, it's hard to describe, you'll have to try it for yourself. All of these photos are the Grosso (edible) lavender.

 Next year I want to try some lavender lemonade.

Click on the link below to view (and "LIKE") their fb page.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Sunrise-Lavender-Fields/131069753655575



Had to share a few more.....

I LOVE this mommy & me treasure! Isn't mommy beautiful!

This family was so much fun, the kiddos were super cute & everybody did a great job.

P.S. This private back yard was simple & gorgeous at the same time,

I love taking photos in your favorite place.

Ideas are a brewin' - Redding CA Photographer

I got my sensor cleaned at Crown Camera this last week. I can see the difference in the clarity of the images so I kinda got a little carried away sitting on my front porch the other morning on an overcast day. Click on the picture & you'll see the same surprise I did. Kinda scared me a little since I was concentrating on the bee & didn't notice it until I edited the pics. That bee was almost a meal.

The photo above is a bee critter that scares me more than the sneaky spider in 1st image.

Without getting all technical on you (that's honestly not likely to ever going to happen, lol) it has a trunk like thing, that got inserted into the pollen areas of the flower. It's body reminded me of a mosquito or mean fly but the trunk could be more like an elephants trunk, I just didn't see it flex. I kinda figured it was a bee though, as long as it's pollenating my beautiful blooms, that's all I care about.

The photo above has the teeniest bee I've ever seen & this next specimen below, I call, the Elvis bee, his tooshie was stripped like old time prison clothes & shakin' all over the place, it made me think of his song, "Jail House Rock".

Thankya, Thankya very much!

The super colorful flowers above are the Arizona Sun Blanket Flower. so happy, colorful & full of pollen, no wonder the bees like it. I didn't even notice how many variaties of bees we had in our front yard, until I started taking pictures of them. These photos show about 8 different kinds.

That's not a bee in the photo above, (Duh, I know you know), that's just a jumping spider checking me out. I think he was upset cause I was invading his personal space but I wasn't scared. I can take him. (Sometimes I wonder if anybody ever really reads blogs anymore, haha. If you actually read these, I'm so sorry, lol).

I planted this bleeding heart from a bulb not long ago & I can't believe I got to see it bloom this year, I was sure I'd planted it too late in the Spring. Well, I love little surprises & this was just a day full of them. It really makes me realize how glad I am to not be a small bug enjoying a flower right about now. Hope everybody has a great day.

I've got some creative portrait ideas sparking, it's time to see them come through. I just need the right people, like you, to help me.

Anna & Chris - Gaia Hotel Dinner Wedding

 Anna & Chris shared an intimate ceremony, followed by a dinner party at the Gaia Hotel in Anderson. Such a cute couple & what a stunning bride, Anna just beamed with happiness.

Right after the ceremony, Anna asks outloud, "Where's my husband..... (followed with a little happy scream to her friends & family, for saying husband for the first time after 6 years)." You could hear every bit of joy in her voice.

Sometimes ceremonies are more intimate than others, it doesn't mean they're "small" in any way cause they can be sure big on love.

CONGRATULATIONS ANNA & CHRIS!!!!!

Cheers to many years ahead!

Miss. M & her Military Man

Taking advantage of the few moments of tenderness, he leaves in a few days.

Vicki & Jeff - Redding Photography

I took some photos of my sister Vicki & her man Jeff at Matson Vineyards (a local winery) the other day. There's not too many leaves on the grape vines this time of year & I wish I was able to stay later for better lighting but these turned out nice. There is a beautiful white rose bush climbing up a tree (it's huge, in the back section of the property), that would be a really good place to take a photo, roses draped in the background but the sun was hitting it in an unflattering direct way so I didn't get the best shot, I will eventually share it.

I hope to be posting more photos soon (or check out my fb page), I just wanted to get a few favorites up for now. If you know my sister, getting her in front of a camera is very difficult, I'm glad she went along with it (wink, wink) & they didn't think I was too weird when I jumped in his truck to get the reflection shot through the rear view mirror. It's my favorite!!

Visit my page on facebook

Come visit my page on facebook & see what I've been up to & what I've already done http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kimberly-Kester-Photography/113161385442478

HOT, HOT, HOT!!!!! Shannon & TC

These were the funnest photos I have done, to date, I am so happy to get every year with these 2, I hope to have many, many more. Happy Anniversary TC & Shannon, LOVE Aunt Kim.

Looking forward to August

I know it's only January but I'm so looking forward to August for the wedding of my niece Mary & John. I'm going to Oregon to shoot it, can't wait to see her wonderful smile & my other niece Amanda (Marys sister) is going to help photograph it with me. I'm one happy Aunt right now. Here is one of my favorite photos of Mary & John together from a couple of years ago, I don't get to see them enough to get updated photos but I'm ok with that, it makes me value each visit that much more & during my visit for their wedding, she is letting me do whatever I want, she's game for all my ideas & as a photographer, I couldn't ask for more. Maybe except for making it to another nieces wedding in Sept. Yep, I love family weddings.

Stacia & Mitch engagement Part Deux - TBS Ranch

How flipping gorgeous is this couple?! We did a split session, some photos at Old Shasta (previous post from Nov 2010) & these at the wedding site.

I think the photo below is one of my favorites from the day, they look so comfortable & happy in each others arms.

This was my first time shooting at TBS Ranch & the first time shooting in the middle of a hot summer day. Stacia & Mitch did great, especially with the afternoon heat. We searched for shade but there wasn't much close to where we wanted to photograph but we made it work, I think the photos turned out pretty good considering & it always helps having beautiful people in front of the camera. Can't wait for their wedding next month, it will be #2 with Marissa. It's gonna be great!!