Happy National Coffee Day ...

Happy National Coffee Day!

Naturally, I will be celebrating with a capp in hand and to celebrate I will be kicking off a new series 

 Coeur de La Coffee Chronicles. 

For those of you that have read my blog from the beginning know I would consistently write about restaurants, places, bakeries, or food establishments that I loved. Well, this is my way of getting back to that. Not only do I love coffee, drink coffee, make coffee (yes, I am an occasional barista) but I also know a decent amount about coffee. So my friends, these chronicles have been a long time coming ... a long time of research (ha my way of rationalizing my frequent sips).  The conversations that I have had with other baristas and coffee lovers encouraged and inspired me to write more and so ... here we go.

First up ... Andytown Coffee Roasters in San Francisco



I found this little slice of heaven two days before we were leaving for Ireland. It was serendipitous in that Andytown (where the shop gets its name) is in fact a suburb in Northern Ireland. And, thus far, Andytown's scones are the only scones I will waste my daily calories on ... they are worth it.  I love the shop because it is quaint, approachable, and really just different.

 

Sometimes with coffee and good coffee you get a type of snobbery but Andytown is the furthest thing from that. The owners are willing to chat, care about their espresso, and created an environment conducive for enjoying coffee. The shop is small and simple ... and I love that. Let me also not forget to state that they are pros at steaming almond milk ... I mean look at the below photo.



So from my cup to yours ... Happy Coffee sipping.

Andytown Coffee Roasters
Location: San Francisco in the Sunset
Decor: simple and sweet
Espresso: sweet and perfection
Baristas: friendly, helpful, and authentic
Pastries: the best, homemade, and are all tastes of Ireland
Ceramics: a friend of the owners makes their cups ... and they are aesthetically pleasing and cute.
Tip: don't bring a computer to sit and do work instead bring a friend and have a good ole conversation

Family Photos with Coeur de La Photography

It's that time of year when I get emails requesting FAMILY photos. The holidays are right around the corner and family photos are always a fun way to round out the year. I love family photos when they are candid, fun, and comfortable. These photos are some of my all time favorites from a family shoot in Maui.



I do not have a set of poses or props that I use for every family I photograph. When I photograph families I approach each family differently and uniquely. Why you might ask? Your FAMILY is not like everyone else. Your family is exactly that .. your family. Your photos need to represent that ... plain an simple.

So, when it comes to your family photos this year go out on a limb and let your kids be kids. I love when children laugh and play in photos.

When families let me capture them for who they are and not how they think they should look like in photos ... it makes me jump for joy.



 If you are a family looking for a photographer that can bring out your inner goof, you like adventure, and want your family to have fun while being photographed ... then email me. Ok ... ready set go! :)

A Stow Lake Engagement Session

This weekend I will be celebrating my cousin's wedding and I just so happen to be a bridesmaid. It was such an honor when she asked me to photograph her engagement photos and I immediately knew where I wanted to photograph them. We spent the morning at Stow Lake in San Francisco and every bit of the morning was romantic. 

It was quite the experience for Coeur de La Photography to photograph from a row boat ... a definite first and hopefully not the last. The photos are some of my favorites.



Photographing family for me is my favorite way of showing my love.  Congratulations Ashley and Chris.  Don't forget to laugh and enjoy the little things!!

Coeur de La Photography Weddings 2014

Coeur de La Weddings

Photographing weddings is something I take rather seriously. Serious in the sense that I am a hopeless romantic, love the teeniest of details, and could spend hour upon hour thinking about wedding photography. So, for quite some time now I wanted to photograph a styled wedding shoot that would capture my wedding photography in a nutshell ... a love letter to my craft. Sarah and Simon are two friends of mine that helped me bring my woodsy forest "wedding" to life.

The way I approach wedding photography is simple and sweet. Getting to know each couple throughout their wedding process is by far my favorite part about wedding photography. This allows me to photograph each couple in a fun, unique, and creative way. I do not have a set of go to poses as I approach each and every couple differently. Your wedding day will be just that ... yours.

Wedding photos need to be more than a good photo ... they need to stand up to time ... and exactly how do they do this? Photos have to convey feelings, emotions, and tell stories. Ultimately, I am not a just a wedding photographer ... I am a storyteller and your storyteller for one of the most cherished, sweet, and intimate days of your life.

I love photographing the little moments in between pauses, laughs, and kisses.

I encourage couples to be themselves and the more creative, original, and authentic they can be the better!



Sarah and Simon were so sweet to photograph. I love when couples know how to laugh and just get each other. Afterwards, we sipped champagne and indulged in a sea salted maple cake made by the talented Tara of Fox and Fawn Bakehouse. The cake was to die for and both Sara and Simon were eager to take it home (a definite perk). By far, the morning was exactly how I imagined it .... and I feel the photos are a tangible love letter to couples I have photographed and the couples I will photograph in the future.

*cake courtesy of Fox and Fawn Bakehouse *Coeur de La Photography for styling, flowers and photography