Category Archives: Photography

Kiera’s ChristmasBirthday Party

18 Dec 2012

A couple of random iPhone snaps to remember the awesomeness of the night.


Oh YOU KNOW there were some amazing Christmas cookies…


Awww. (Behind Chief you can see the photobooth backdrop)


Surprise Guest! UJ!
Whaaat!? Such a fun surprise!
And we got Aunt Pam on the phone, and it was some great Gott family love.

You might want to know,
There are much better photos over here at (the
NEW & IMPROVED) Natural Light Photography Website!

We put the kids down in Kiera & Cole’s bed so we could stay longer…

Fun times. Happy Holidays, and the best year ever (twentynine!) and a new
apartment layout, and festive jammies, Cherry M&Ms?!, ancient rap reggae, best friends, family, and a new NLP website…

dare I say?
Epic

Xmas Card Runner Up, And Wishes

19 Nov 2012


(click for larger)

Now that I have my real card photo all wrapped up, I can share this runner-up happily.
I like this shot. For minimal effort, the results were fine. I couldn’t get a good close up.

Also, I sort of made a mistake in telling them I wanted to try for a Christmas Card.
So of course, my outfit-obsessed daughter pulls out her biggest, fanciest red velvet gown.
(Do you remember it from last year? I’m happy it still fits. I do love it, just maybe not for a casual walk in the park). She insisted with tears, so I acquiesced.

I’m very excited to place the order on our real holiday card soon!

***

Tonight I was talking to the kids at dinner about Santa.
Oscar still remembers The Visit, but is starting to have some questions on the whole big picture.
I steered the conversation to safety: “So what do you think he’ll bring you?”

Oscar: I’m getting Coal this year!
Me: Pshaw. (of all the kids… yeah right.)
Oscar: No, really!
Me: Kids don’t actually get coal. If they’ve been bad, and are in danger of geting coal, they always clean up their act for the month of December. If you turn it around then Santa forgives.
Oscar: {happy with that}
Oscar: Oh, and I want a remote control Helicopter.

Lucy: I want a Dress!
Me: Really? What about some fun toys? Santa has good ones.
Lucy: No, I want a pretty dress.
Me: Okay. What does it look like? Is it fancy?
Lucy: Um, yes. It’s really, really, Really fancy. And it’s purple.
Me: What? You have a purple dress. Kiera just gave you a purple dress.
Lucy: Oh yeah… I want a Pink One from Santa!
Me: (whew. close one.) What else do you you think you might want for Christmas?
Lucy: Treats!
Me: Treats, like to eat?
Lucy: Yes! Treats! Treats! Treats!
Me: what kind of treats? Cake? Cookies? ..Candy?
Lucy: Donuts.

The Apple Juice Tea Party

11 Nov 2012


(all photography by Cole & Kiera of Natural Light Photography)

Lucy turned Three and we had a “tea party” birthday party for her.
She got nervous ahead of time that she would actually be made to drink tea.
So we changed the name, and all was right in the universe.

Thank you, Kiera, for Bringing It with the little tea pots and monogrammed teacups!
It wouldn’t be a party without your cookies!
The tea bags with jimmies?! #cuteoverload

And thank you Cole (& Kiera too) for taking photos!
Kristi taught me a long time ago that you simply cant take pics at your own party.
It so nice to have a pro… :) Thanks, Bro.

Last, and most of all, thanks, Mark, for the tables and chairs from Laurel Hill!!
I’m sure there’s more, but let’s just get to the photos already.

(NEW – TRY THIS ON YOUR MOBILE DEVICE!)

LINK TO PHOTOS:

https://oscarandlucy.com/wp-content/slideshows/2012/lucy-is-3/

Lucy had a really fun time with her girlfriends.
She was sad that Dominic didn’t join us. But she totally got that it was a girl party. She received amazingly cute and wonderful gifts, and I would blog about them, but that’s tacky. :)
Lucy did have a small ‘diva dip’ during the dancing, but otherwise she help up pretty well for having 8 guests!

Did anyone notice, in the photos, the wooden desk being used as a sideboard to hold cookies and scones? Opi and Omi completely re-furbished that desk for me! I originally received the desk as a gift from Harriet. It was a writing desk, and the top was slanted at an angle. Because of the slope, I never really used it, but it was so cute that I couldn’t part with it. One day I asked Mark’s parents if the top could be removed and replaced with a new (flat) top. They actually did one better: They used the original top, and repaired the whole thing in the process! It’s amazing – a labor of love. Thanks Omi & Opi!!

Sources: Yes, the scones were from Arizmendi. The little sweets were from Trader Joe’s. The homemade cupcakes were from a box, but the cute sugar flowers make all the difference. Also the straws, cupcake liners and plastic roses. Lucy’s dress (and later t-shirt) are J.Crew. The ‘Tea Table’ table cloths: Thank you Bobbie for lending me the cross stitch table cloth! It was *Just* the right thing! Super authentic. Underneath is just some sale yardage from Serena & Lily. We also made great use of Bobbie’s plate stackers. The toy tea set was a gift from Kristi (fisher price). Lucy loves it! The gold spoons and a couple other items were from a Kamei, restaurant supply store on Clement. The China service for 8 was borrowed from a very trusting friend. Thanks Belinda! The favors hats were cheap, so I embellished them with flowers from Forever21. Lucy’s beautiful white hat was from Blissful Bonnets. Really Nice, and it got here quick. Anything else I missed? ;)

Thanks for coming everybody! Happy Birthday Lucy! Enjoy being Three!

Instagram – Better Late Than Never

01 Aug 2012

I found the party :)

I gave the Instagram App a try this weekend, over a short So. Cal Road Trip.
It was fun! The trip AND the app.

It’s all photo based, and you only follow who you want to. It’s so easy I think I’ll be sticking with it. (I Hope I don’t blog less because of it!)

For those of you who want to “follow me” I’m @hunnyvale
And for those of you with no iPhone, here’s a sampling of what I posted:

Yes, the filters are cheap tricks. I feel like I’ve joined the Dark Side! You don’t have to use them. (We have a name for them: ‘Stupid Tone’) I thought I’d slum it In the name of fully trying it all out. Maybe It’s a guilty pleasure – like watching crap tv. I dunno. We’ll see.

P.S.
I like this blog, and her earlier post is pretty much the same idea.
http://www.nyctaughtme.com/2012/05/instagram-last-one-to-party.html?showComment=1343772893538#c6517726284934193514

Madie and Alex are Hitched!

04 Jul 2012

UPDATE:
The Slideshow: https://oscarandlucy.com/wp-content/slideshows/2012/madie-and-alex/

This isn’t “the” kiss but wow… Hot! Also, I put some photos up on Natural Light Photography’s facebook page. Only a couple, though, so the slideshow will make full impact. :) I am so excited to plow through the stacks of files! I haven’t even seen them all yet..! Most photos are by Cole. Let it be known that this was his first 12 hour wedding! Chief and Kristi are also contributors. I need to check, but I think Kristi may have snapped this click? She was using Cole’s 200mm telephoto lens, which we nicknamed “the Hubble”.

It was a classic day by the bay: morning mist, fresh bright sun with encroaching fog through the Golden Gate. Blustery winds kept our homemade flags whipping loudly. There are some fun photos of Madie with her veil dancing above her head – coming soon. Alex was dashing, and his wedding vows packed some serious heat. Madie’s vows were equally beautiful. All the family and friends were smiling and so happy. Lucy slept in her stroller as Oscar took the dance floor by force. It was an amazing wedding. The slideshow will be coming soon (if I’m not too much of a slacker…)
Congrats Madie and Alex – I ♥ U!!