It was a beautiful morning at Capitola Beach, we practically had the ocean to ourselves for this precious maternity photography session with Casandra, Roland and their pup “Hercules.” The Captila wharf/pier is an excellent location for portraits, and I almost always start sessions there. The wooden columns make for interesting dynamic elements to the compositions, and the color of the water looks alternatively green and blue from this vantage point. Casandra is expecting her first Baby, and wanted to capture this special time in her life. We had a great time finding good spots and experimenting with poses throughout the shoot. I can’t wait to meet the little one in a few months! Congrats guys 🙂 More pics at www.GoodEyePhotography.com.
Want to get some photos taken while super-pregnant?
Santa Cruz / Bay Area Maternity Photographer Chris Schmauch will capture the earliest moments of your family!
Call (831) 216-6210 for serious inquiries only.
If you haven’t already, feel free to review our portfolio site, browse past maternity photography sessions, check our romantic engagement sessions, follow our business on Facebook (like us while you’re at it!), or read our awesome Yelp reviews.
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Anyone who’s ever planned a wedding knows it can be simply shocking how expensive everything is. Even the smallest weddings can easily cost $15,000 – the food, venue, and of course professional services such as my own quickly add up, forcing people to ask “Is this really worth it?” To most, the answer is a resounding “Yes” – but to a growing number of couples, an intimate elopement ceremony is the perfect way to seal the deal. The thing is, you don’t have to sacrifice quality photography just because you’re eloping. In fact, I get to spend WAY more time with couples who elope than I do during a typical 10-12 hour wedding! I get them all to myself for 2-3 hours instead of having to share them with 150 well-wishing family and friends. I’m not selfish, but I do love capturing photos worth printing big and hanging prominently in the house.
Kelly and Nat are one such couple for whom elopement was the perfect solution, and they sought me out to capture every moment. I met them and their officiant at the trailhead to what’s known as “Wedding Rock” – a prominent group of boulders nestled at the edge of a bluff overlooking the ocean and residential hilly areas of Southern Carmel. Ken Robins was their amazing officiant; with two decades of experience, anyone looking to tie the know in the Monterey/Carmel area should check out his website www.CarmelWeddingCeremonies.com. The fog cleared and the wind died down before we arrived, and it all came back after we left. The sun even peeked through after there ceremony, it was just so perfect. After the ceremony and photos on the bluff, we walked down to the beach to explore interesting places to take more photos. Kelly and Nat were all smiles, and I could tell were having a great time. I was honored to be their photographer-of-choice for such an intimate, special time in their lives. There’s a bunch more photos and even some video clips of the ceremony at www.GoodEyePhotography.com. Enjoy my faves below.
Planning a romantic elopement in the Monterey / Carmel area?
Bay Area Destination Wedding Photographer Chris Schmauch wants to capture the moment! (831) 216-6210
If you haven’t already, feel free to review our portfolio site, browse past weddings, check our romantic engagement sessions, follow our business on Facebook (like us while you’re at it!), or read our awesome Yelp reviews.
Tags: beach, carmel elopement photos, carmel wedding photographers, carmel wedding photography, elopement, elopement photography, intimate, kelly, kelly and nat, nat, ocean, romantic, wedding rock, wedding rock photos
Jamie and Matt are getting married at Ranch Soquel in a few months, but were smart to take advantage of my engagement photography service, recognizing it as not only a good chance to get to know me better, but as valuable practice for taking photos together. I truly believe that a 1-2 hour shoot in a low-key, low-pressure setting will prepare a couple for their wedding day, making the 15 minutes we have together on the big day so much more productive. They chose Lagunas Beach, which is one of Matt’s surfing spots, located between 4-mile and Panther beaches off highway 1 North of Santa Cruz. This was my first time at this particular beach, so I’m excited to add it to my growing repertoire of locations to visit. I don’t know if Lagunas is an “official” title, but the locals refer to it as such because Lagunas Rd. loops away from and back to Hwy. 1 within 1/4 mile or so, hence the multiple “Lagunas.” Parking is at the second Laguna Rd. if you’re traveling North on 1. Enjoy this selection of my favorites from the session below.
Want your engagement photos taken at a Santa Cruz beach?
San Francisco / Bay Area Wedding Photographer Chris Schmauch would love to shoot your engagement session!
Call (831) 216-6210 for serious inquiries only.
If you haven’t already, feel free to review our portfolio site, browse past weddings, check our romantic engagement sessions, follow our business on Facebook (like us while you’re at it!), or read our awesome Yelp reviews.
Charlie Hong Kong is a tiny little restaurant on the corner of Soquel and Seabright Avenues in Santa Cruz. The kitchen is, of course, small. But constantly cleaned as the staff expertly prepares the Asian fare in an efficient manner, no matter how long the line gets. I’m doing my best to stay out of everyone’s way, and they graciously accommodate my frequent requests for slight adjustments to their posture, or to pause their movement for just. a. sec. Between shooting the prepared dishes in the main dining area and coming back to the kitchen to capture more of the candid action, I was definitely getting a workout. The photos below are some of my favorites – they’re not staged (or minimally so), and capture a little of the magic that goes on after you give your salmon teriyaki rice bowl order to the smiling girl at the register. Enjoy, and feel free to check out all the food prep photos at www.GoodEyePhotography.com.
Also, check out the final food photos as well as the restaurant location/details photos.
Looking for an on-location food photographer in the Bay Area?
San Francisco / Bay Area Commercial Food Photographer Chris Schmauch makes food look really yummy!
Call (831) 216-6210 for serious inquiries only.
If you haven’t already, feel free to review our portfolio site, browse past food & restaurant sessions, follow our business on Facebook (like us while you’re at it!), or read our awesome Yelp reviews.
Tags: action food photography, bay area food photographers, bay area food photography, bay area restaurant photographers, bay area restaurant photography, charlie hong kong, CHK, fast food, food photos, food prep, kitchen action, organic, santa cruz food photography
I paraphrase Charlie Hong Kong’s owner when she first told me about her restaurant: “This is fast food/takeout, but with local, organic ingredients. We aren’t a fancy restaurant, but our food is good. I haven’t been able to consistently capture that with any photographers.”
OK, no pressure, right? It’s true that fancy restaurants with their refined decor, classy dishware and artistic food presentation makes my job as a food photographer that much easier. But my focus has always been the food, and really that’s all that matters. If I can capture food in a way that makes the viewer want to reach out and eat it up, then it really doesn’t matter if we’re talking about a Michelin-Rated restaurant or a food truck. While I was a little concerned about my ability to fulfill the owner’s expectations, I was familiar with their product, and confident I could make it look as tasty as it is in person. The food is Southeast Asian in the most general terms, and the ingredients are sourced locally. The prices are reasonable, and the quality is superb. Bowls or plates with rice/noodles, meat and stir-fried veggies are the core components to most of the dishes offered for eat-in or take-out at Charlie Hong Kong’s. I recommend the teriyaki salmon, so tasty! Here’s a few of my favorite food photos from our shoot, check out all the food photos at www.GoodEyePhotography.com.
Also, check out the behind-the-scenes kitchen/food prep photos as well as the restaurant location/details photos.
Looking for an on-location food photographer in the Bay Area?
San Francisco / Bay Area Commercial Food Photographer Chris Schmauch makes food look really yummy!
Call (831) 216-6210 for serious inquiries only.
If you haven’t already, feel free to review our portfolio site, browse past food & restaurant sessions, follow our business on Facebook (like us while you’re at it!), or read our awesome Yelp reviews.
Tags: action food photography, bay area food photographers, bay area food photography, bay area restaurant photographers, bay area restaurant photography, charlie hong kong, CHK, fast food, food photos, food prep, ingredients, kitchen action, organic, produce, santa cruz food photography
I had an ambitious morning shoot with Charlie Hong Kong, shooting food, kitchen action, and the content of this post – the location and details. There’s some really neat muralist design/artwork on the walls, and the location itself is iconic for the Santa Cruz area. The poster board is a favorite resource for locals to peruse while waiting for their favorite bowls to be created. Here’s a few details I feel capture the spirit of Charlie Hong Kong’s presence (view all the photos at www.GoodEyePhotography.com). It’s true lively nature is revealed by its customers, though, which will have to wait for another shoot. Until then…
Looking for an on-location food photographer in the Bay Area?
San Francisco / Bay Area Commercial Food Photographer Chris Schmauch makes food look really yummy!
Call (831) 216-6210 for serious inquiries only.
If you haven’t already, feel free to review our portfolio site, browse past food & restaurant sessions, follow our business on Facebook (like us while you’re at it!), or read our awesome Yelp reviews.
Tags: architectural photography, bay area restaurant photographers, bay area restaurant photography, charlie hong kong, CHK, fast food, food photos, food prep, kitchen action, organic, restaurant interiors
Peggy decided to get her staff group photo taken by a professional this year, and knew of me because I photographed her friend’s wedding last year. The goal for the shoot was to get one big shot of all the staff – about 30 individuals. I knew that would only take a couple minutes to accomplish, so I suggested we take individual portraits and any other small groups that made sense. We managed to accomplish all this in 30 minutes! We weren’t rushing or anything, but I knew the individual thing wasn’t expected, so I wanted the process to be as painless as possible. Did I succeed? Here’s some of the photos…
Looking for business portrait / headshot photographer in Saratoga, California? San Francisco / Bay Area Portrait Photographer Chris Schmauch captures great, natural portraits of people – and is super quick, so there’s minimal interruption to your workflow! Call (831) 216-6210 or fill out this nifty contact form (for serious inquiries only).
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Tags: bay area business headshot, bay area portrait photographers, bay area portrait photography, business, business headshots, business portraits, group photos, head shots, headshot photos, headshots, peggy, peggy wynne borman, Portraits, preston wynne, professional, saratoga portrait photographers, saratoga portrait photography, staff, staff photos
Tags: album, Design, Eagle, eagle ridge golf club, eagle ridge wedding photography, eagle ridge wedding photos, eagle ridge weddings, gilroy, gilroy wedding photographers, gilroy wedding photography, Golf, paul, photography, Ridge, verona, verona and paul, wedding, wedding album, wedding album design, wedding photography, wedgewood wedding and banquet center
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Tags: 6182, bay area wedding photographers, bay area wedding photography, circle of redwoods, d700, felton, felton guild, felton guild wedding photos, felton guild weddings, felton wedding photographers, felton wedding photography, Guild, kevin, married, photography, redwood grove, redwoods, stephanie, stephanie and kevin, wedding, wedding photography
As awesome as it is to have a new baby in the house, there’s something to be said for the almost-year that precedes the little person’s arrival. The woman’s body is an amazing vessel, and it always blows my mind that it just knows how to change to accommodate the new human growing within. I like to capture this time in a couple’s life near the end of the pregnancy, but before she feels uncomfortably cumbersome or uncomfortable. As you know, I love shooting on-location in outdoor environments. This is no in-studio/backdrop maternity session. Those goosebumps on Katie’s arms? Real. It was in the low 50s and windy, people – how amazing is Katie to hike down the steep embankment to the beach, almost get drenched by enormous waves, brave the stinging sand from the gusts of chilled wind – all while looking serene and at peace? It wasn’t easy, but Katie and Tyler managed to give me about 45 minutes of good shooting time. I can only hope they love a couple of these photos enough to hang them on the walls. Will their child ever appreciate the efforts made to capture this time before his or her arrival? Doubtful. But Katie and Tyler will remember it – probably representing the last time in their life that the house was clean, quiet, and chaos-free. Good luck guys!!
Got a bun in the oven that needs some photographin’?
Santa Cruz / Bay Area Maternity Photographer Chris Schmauch will capture the earliest moments of your family!
Call (831) 216-6210 for serious inquiries only.
If you haven’t already, feel free to review our portfolio site, browse past maternity photography sessions, check our romantic engagement sessions, follow our business on Facebook (like us while you’re at it!), or read our awesome Yelp reviews.
Tags: bay area maternity photographers, bay area maternity photography, katie, katie and tyler, maternity photos, panther beach, pregnancy, pregnant, santa cruz maternity photographers, santa cruz maternity photography, tyler
I met with Kylie and Mike last October about their upcoming wedding at Kohl Mansion, and was excited when they told me I was their first choice as wedding photographer. I’d just shot there for the first time a couple weeks before, and I really fell in love with the historical estate. Fast forward to March, and I met up with Kylie and her bridesmaids at Hotel Sofitel where the wedding chaos was in full force. I busied myself capturing the usual details as well as the candid moments that were happening at this mellow point in the day. Then I was off to Kohl Mansion to meet Mike and the boys, and see how the venue was coming together. It always amazes me to see a good team create such beautiful ambience in such a short time. Before they knew it, Mike and Kylie were in the Green room, reciting the vows they had written to each other. Their relationship with each other and with God is humbling, to say the least. The support and love from family and friends alike infused the whole evening with a comfortable contentment and joy that was unique to this day. Below are my favorite photos from Kylie and Mike’s wedding, feel free to leave a comment, or if you’re feeling brave, browse all 800+ photos at www.GoodEyePhotography.com.
Getting married at Kohl Mansion in Burlingame, California?
Bay Area Destination Wedding Photographer Chris Schmauch wants to shoot your big day! (831) 216-6210
If you haven’t already, feel free to review our portfolio site, browse past weddings, check our romantic engagement sessions, follow our business on Facebook (like us while you’re at it!), or read our awesome Yelp reviews.
Tags: bay area wedding photographers, bay area wedding photography, burlingame wedding photographers, burlingame wedding photography, kohl mansion wedding photos, kohl mansion wedding pictures, kylie, kylie and michael, michael, mike, wedding photography
Kelsey and Michael live in Chicago, where it’s very cold and wintery right now. So of course they decided to tie the knot in nice ol’ California – more specifically, Yountville. Now, I’m a California native, and I had to look Yountville up on a map. Turns out it’s this adorable little town in the Sonoma/Napa wine country region – a little north of those cities. The Hotel where all the wedding business was going down is called North Block Hotel, home to the amaaaaaazing Redd Wood restaurant. The decor of this place is… barnyard chique? I don’t even know how to describe it, but I feel compelled to shake the designer’s hand with an astute “Well done, sir” added for good measure. The only thing that outshines the ambience is the food itself, so it’s no surprise that this foodie-couple chose this particular location. And of course you know the wine is delicious, given the proximity to wine country.
It’s always a little nerve racking to meet a couple for the first time on their wedding day. I’d spoken with Michael over the phone, but that was the extent of our interaction up to this point. I’m sure the anxiety runs both ways, but I was relieved to discover that they are a sweet couple, well bonded and totally in love. Michael brings his two boys to this new family, and I could tell these kids were extremely fond of Kelsey, and she of them. The 100 or so friends and guests that came to witness the ceremony and share in the celebration were a joy to photograph and interact with.
My best wishes and congratulations to you both, I hope my photos bring years of happiness and good memories of your special day. Below are my personal favorites, enjoy these photos and feel free to comment below. Check out all 800+ photos at www.GoodEyePhotography.com.
Vendors and Shout-Outs // Floral Design: Courtney Blaskower of Meddle Studio & Kelsey Leonard Boschmann / Catering & Dessert: Redd Wood / Flower Girl’s Dress: Courtney Blaskower (Mom) / DJ: Jason Samayoa / Officiant: Kevin Mclemore – Epiphany UCC, Chicago
Getting married in Yountville, California?
Bay Area Destination Wedding Photographer Chris Schmauch wants to shoot your big day! (831) 216-6210
If you haven’t already, feel free to review our portfolio site, browse past weddings, check our romantic engagement sessions, follow our business on Facebook (like us while you’re at it!), or read our awesome Yelp reviews.
I did some editorial photography earlier this year for the local glossy magazine South Bay Accent. They needed a consistent look for the restaurant dishes that were being featured in the multi-page editorial spread. I’ve worked with them before, so they knew I was the right guy for the job. I shot most of the food photos you see below (the cover, the fish, and the right side of the last spread are by other photographers).
The artful Decadence Caviar Staircase from Katsu Los Gatos is a $1,200 culinary treat featuring Russian Sevruga, Imperial Osetra, Kaluga Sturgeon, Golden Osetra caviars, Japanese Wagyu shabu shabu, and Pacific spiny lobster sashimi topped with 24-karat gold leaf.
Live Maine scallops nestle on a bed of barley risotto at The Sea.
Scott’s Seafood in San Jose pairs succulent Australian lobster tail with grilled asparagus.
Lemongrass and garlic sea bass is accompanied by a cold mango and cilantro glass noodle salad at Tamarine in Palo Alto.
Old Port Lobster Shack serves up Maine lobster rolls with sides of french fries, cole slaw, Hellman’s mayonnaise and drawn butter.
Blackened, wild, line-caught King salmon filets star in Zona Rosa’s tacos de salmon, with corn tomato relish, jalapeño, crispy bacon, shiitake mushrooms, cilantro aioli.
Looking for an on-location food photographer in the Bay Area?
San Francisco / Bay Area Commercial Food Photographer Chris Schmauch makes food look really yummy!
Call (831) 216-6210 for serious inquiries only.
If you haven’t already, feel free to review our portfolio site, browse past food & restaurant sessions, follow our business on Facebook (like us while you’re at it!), or read our awesome Yelp reviews.
Tags: aptos family photographers, aptos family photography, bay area family photographers, bay area family photography, brothers, carie, children photography, family photos at the park, family portraits, grandparents, hidden beach, seth, Wyatt
Great family portraits are awesome to hang on the wall. But sometimes, there’s just too many good ones to choose from – or more likely, simply not enough wall-space available for prints. In those cases, I recommend my clients invest in custom-designed albums that tell the story of their fun photo shoot with GoodEye Photography + Design.
Yes, the last part of my company name implies my background in the magazine industry – graphic design, layout design, and a strong knowledge of color theory are the foundation of my skills as an artist and photographer. It’s fun to get back to my roots when designing an album; telling the story of a shoot through a delicate balance of size, proportion, negative space, and creative cropping offers a unique and distinctive way to present your family’s most cherished moments. Most people think of an album as a book that holds a bunch of 4×6 prints, but I (and my clients) know that it can be so much more than the sum of its parts. I’ll let you be the judge – enjoy these series of two page spreads (the way the album looks when opened) from a recent album I designed for a lovely client and her family from their Capitola Beach family photo session.
Looking for a family photographer in Capitola?
San Francisco / Bay Area Family Portrait Photographer Chris Schmauch makes sure your family feel comfortable and look great!
Call (831) 216-6210 for serious inquiries only.
If you haven’t already, feel free to review our portfolio site, browse past family portrait sessions, check our romantic {and FREE*} engagement sessions, follow our business on Facebook (like us while you’re at it!), or read our awesome Yelp reviews.
Tags: bay area family photographers, bay area family photography, beach family photos, capitola family photographers, capitola family photography, carmella, dog, family photos at the beach, oso, pier, rocco, running dog, sunset, tara, wharf
I was contacted by the publisher of Where to Retire magazine to photograph Pacific Grove Mayor Bill Kampe and his wife Cheryl – possibly for the cover of the publication. I met up with the down-to-earth, friendly couple on Lighthouse Ave. in the heart of downtown Pacific Grove this afternoon. One of the many requirements from the Art Director were “good weather” – blue skies, etc. – that make Pacific Grove look like a desirable place to live. Well it is a desirable place to live, but the coastal weather is not always so agreeable – with stiff breezes and fog or overcast skies being a common forecast. I got into town a little early to scope out where exactly I would compose the couple that would strike the right balance of showing off Pacific Grove’s natural and architectural beauty, but still being a portrait of the Mayor and his wife at a glance. This is actually more challenging than you’d think, but preparation equalizes. Luckily Bill and Cheryl were open to leaving me completely in charge, and were up for a fair amount of walking. We explored the downtown area with its distinctive victorian-style architecture, then walked down Grand Ave. to Jewell park (with its cute gazebo and benches), then finally to Ocean View Blvd., the meandering coastal road that has a great view of Lover’s Point Park. Bill and Cheryl were great companions and good subjects throughout, and luckily the weather more or less cooperated. Here’s a few of my favorites, stay tuned for the May issue of Where to Retire to see the photos printed in this national magazine.
Looking for a local editorial portrait photographer in Monterey/Pacific Grove?
Bay Area Photographer Chris Schmauch makes sure your article is submitted on time!
Call (831) 216-6210 for serious inquiries only.
If you haven’t already, feel free to review our portfolio site, browse past portrait sessions, follow our business on Facebook (like us while you’re at it!), or read our awesome Yelp reviews.
Tags: bay area portrait photographers, bay area portrait photography, bill, bill kampe, cheryl, downtown pacific grove photos, kampe, lovers point, lovers point park, magazine cover, magazine cover photo shoot, mayor, mayor bill kampe, pacific grove, pacific grove mayor, pacific grove portrait photographers, pacific grove portrait photography, photography, photos, portrait photography, running trail, victorian houses, where to retire, where to retire magazine
Victor needed some new business cards, so he thought it was a good time to update his portrait as well. Well dressed in his suit, we met for some semi-casual portraits at Ocean View Park in Santa Cruz. We took a variety of shots – close in to full body – at several locations around the park. Here are some of my favorites from the portrait session:
Looking for a business portrait / headshot photographer in the Santa Cruz, California area? San Francisco / Bay Area Portrait Photographer Chris Schmauch captures great, natural portraits of people – and is super quick, so there’s minimal interruption to your workflow! Call (831) 216-6210 or fill out this nifty contact form (for serious inquiries only).
Recent “Business Portrait” Posts:
Tags: bay area business headshot, bay area portrait photographers, bay area portrait photography, business, business portraits, head shots, headshot photography, headshot photos, headshots, ocean view park, Portraits, professional, santa cruz portrait photographers, santa cruz portrait photography, victor
Jenny is opening her own Pilates studio in Los Gatos, so she had a specific vision for the hero images that would appear on her website homepage when she contacted me. She wanted a clean, white background shot at a low perspective for the photos of herself during different Pilates poses – with and without some basic equipment. As you can see she is quite photogenic and skilled with her craft. I look forward to more comprehensive shoots once her studio is open.
Looking for business portrait / headshot photographer in Santa Cruz, California? San Francisco / Bay Area Portrait Photographer Chris Schmauch captures great, natural portraits of people – and is super quick, so there’s minimal interruption to your workflow! Call (831) 216-6210 or fill out this nifty contact form (for serious inquiries only).
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