babies and bellies

Now that I'm a mother I understand what intense emotion is involved with being pregnant to labor to being a new mom. Nothing is more beautiful and terrifying at the same time when they shove you out the hospital door with a tiny baby in your arms and you think, "Oh my God they let us leave here with this baby? What do we do now?!"

The process up to that point of being pregnant seemed like a cakewalk - even all the nights of having to get up to pee or random cramps or a tiny human kicking you repeatedly from the inside. 

Doing maternity photography is a little tricky - I know this because twice I have had it done myself and you want to be this beautiful vessel of human life with a glowing aura and all the while you feel like a whale and the glowing aura is sweat glistening like a piece of cheese in the hot sun. 

My mission as a photographer is to present the picture of life and hopefully the photos I have done before have made my mommies not feel the sweaty cheese and instead see the beauty that they encompass. 

My first photo shoot was with my friend Rachael who just bared it all literally and said shoot whatever you want. It's fun with these type of shoots because they have total confidence and it makes the pictures turn out so wonderful. 

This one is my absolute favorite. She just made pregnancy look so sexy and voluptuous. 

These photos I took after her daughter Emma (Whom I absolutely adore and is the carbon copy of her mother - a free beautiful spirit) turned one. 

I was so honored when Rachael asked me to do the photography for her second pregnancy, they were expecting a boy Julian, who is such a sweet soul. 

 Thank you Manuele family for letting me be such a wonderful spectator in your lives. Love you guys!!

body and movement

My sister Anaya is not only a fire dancer - but she is also a costume designer - an amazing one at that. 

A while ago she was working on a film project with Santa Barbara notable choreographer Robin Bisio and they needed a setting for the film. I told them to come up to the ranch and we had a blast driving all over  and shooting the ever amazing and graceful Lande Lo. 

The dress we labeled The Poppy because it was during the bloom of the poppy flowers and it was a perfect representation of the poppy colored lichen that was growing on some of the boulders in the background. 

Lande was incredible dancing on terrain that was uneven and had pebbles and sticks and other sharp things she could easily injure herself on. She was a brave woman to risk her feet especially since she is a professional dancer. She made it look so easy, but I can't remember the last time I could lift my leg over my head, at least since I stupidly gave up ballet over a decade ago. The splits are a distant memory for me! 

Here are some of the incredible images I got that day. 

It was an incredible day and we had so much fun! I hope to work with Robin and her talented crew again sometime!

If you want to read Robin's notes on the day check out her blog!

wedding reflections

I remember clearly when my friend Marcel told me he was getting married and his beautiful bride Hanna asked me if I could be their photographer. I was still attending college and it was my first wedding! I can't even tell you how nervous and terrified I was on their wedding day hoping my camera (film at the time) didn't freeze up or the film got exposed. 

It was a gorgeous day in October and Hanna looked so incredible in a dress she made herself. Their ceremony was so intimate and full of love.

These two were so adorable holding hands as they walked before Hanna. 

I've never seen Marcel look as happy as this moment watching his bride.

I am so happy to say they are still good friends of mine and they have three beautiful children. I hope their love gets even stronger and I know them for a very long time. 

Marcel is also a talented photographer and I was so honored to have him do our second pregnancy photos for our daughter Sloane. I will definitely be using him for a second shooter for future weddings :)

Marcel Alain Photography

a little bit of fire…

A little bit of ballet, a little bit of modern dance and a little bit of fire, is what my sister Anaya is made of. I cannot begin to describe how talented she is at dancing with things that are on fire. 

I would probably never attempt this as my hair would most likely singe off immediately and I'd have to shave my head or my eyebrows off, but my sister Anaya is absolutely awesome. 

I remember the first time she showcased her talents at our parents house in Solvang. I think my dad was a big stress ball of nerves and had the hose in his hands. He never needed to use it as she was mesmerizing. 

One of my fire eater photos was featured on BBC back in 2005! Click here

Thanks for looking and if you need a photographer contact me giorgibranding@gmail.com!