On a (very) hot summer day in July, in my very own hometown of Bakersfield, CA, I had the genuine pleasure to check out one of the last concerts for The Bakersfield Museum of Art's "Art After Dark" summer series featuring local band, ALMNC.
Read MoreHello, from the ends of the earth....
“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist.”
It's been a little while since last we updated but there is a good reason: We have been busy! This is honestly just a very quick post to share some of the mischief which has been managed, so to speak. A few of these are just some shots that are personal favorites. We love live events and portraits.
Some interesting things are in the works, stay tuned.
Say hello to Jonah. Click me.
Love, Mystery, and Jonah Matranga
Sometimes you just need to hit the road with friends you love and enjoy this thing we call "Life".
Read MoreThe Velvet Teen - "All is Illusory" Tour
Welcome back to the fold, boys... Sometimes I get to head out onto the open road and photograph some really cool stuff.
Read MoreGet outside
Sometimes I forget how good it feels to recharge and enjoy the process! Take a peek inside to enjoy the little things.
Read MoreSpring and Love are in the air!
"Love is a gift of one’s inner most soul to another so both can be whole." - Buddha
When we are fortunate enough to shoot a wedding, I always pray for couples like this one. Eddie and Jamie are some of the most laid back people I have had the pleasure to meet. They went for a simple, no fuss wedding and nailed it.
I absolutely adore the wedding parties who want to have fun and truly revel in the celebration of life, love, and all things party.
We are all programmed to believe that when we are in love that everything is easy and it'll all seemingly fit together perfectly. Love doesn't just 'happen'. It builds over time in my experience. It's hard work to be an active, positive partner. We (hopefully) change and adapt as people and have to work at staying connected to the person who holds our figurative heart.
We are trained to live in a fantasy that when love is real, everything is simple & there are no complications. Love is so much more complex than that.
When two people love each other deeply, you can see the honesty by looking at their faces. Love is not easy. It takes work, sacrifice, and a willingness to open your heart to another person. It is also looking at your goals in the same direction, even when not at the same pace. Love is a journey.
Thank you for letting S&M Photography document this amazing day. I wish Eddie & Jamie many happy decades, filled with laughter and joy, even when the times are hard.
All hands in. The 49ers build up for the season.
Braving California Winter for Teamwork
“I know when I have kids, when I’m older, I’m going to encourage them to play sports because I think it teaches you a lot. It teaches you discipline, teamwork, and that there’s really no ‘I’ in team.”
This winter, I braved the foggy California cold to photograph a season of football for the 49ers in the All Out Flag Football league in Bakersfield, CA. (Sorry east coast folks, foggy is as brutal as our winters tend to get.) This is a partnership with the NFL Play 60 initiative and it encourages boys & girls to play flag football. I have to say that this was a wonderful experience and all of the kids seemed to have so much fun getting out there. I witnessed so much good sportsmanship that it brought back a little hope for the future of our world.
All of these children had such great attitudes and a real love for football. I really love to catch the subtle moments of children whenever they forget that people are watching them. Sometimes you capture sweet moments, at others you find complete comedy. I'm looking forward to documenting the next season! If you have a young one who wants to play football, I highly suggest that you check this league out.
Winter Weddings
“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it. If you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and don’t throw it away.” -Stephen Hawking
Wishing Sarah and Claighton many happy decades!
Read MoreLet them eat cake too!
When minions attack!
I'm such a fan of (semi) candid photography where I can capture the true essence of the subjects. This weekend, we made time to do some family portraits & I believe the results were worth all the effort!
Vin at 6 months & trying to sell you a paper.
Even photographers can become overwhelmed & neglect to take photos. The most beautiful thing, however, is taking thirty minutes to get stunning results like this. It seems like only yesterday I was taking my eldest minion home from hospital and yet here we are, thirteen years later! (Please note her boss status as evident in this photo.)
This man is my absolute rock & encouraging partner. Without him, I'm not certain I would've started taking photos professionally. Clients: You can thank him!
Together, we make the perfect nerdy team!
"Think and wonder, wonder and think." - Dr. Seuss
Life is beautiful and here's proof.
"I love your feet
because they have
wandered over
the earth and through
the wind and water
until they brought
you to me."
-Pablo Neruda
From the very early days of 'seeing each other' to the next level of love. Happy to be part of your journey!
Sometimes you just know when your friend has met their true love. Be as skeptical as you'd like but with certain couples, it is as clear as day. From the first time Tino introduced Victoria to us, I knew he had met his one and only. Last night, I was honored to attend their wedding & share in that wonderful evening.
It brought such joy to my heart not only to see old friends but also to see photos of their extended family. We were given the special privilege of taking their engagement photos earlier in the year. I cannot begin to describe how giddy I was to know how much they were/are enjoyed.
This is exactly why I have passion for what we do & this is why we do it.
Health, wealth, happiness, & love for the rest of your days.
I'm so happy for you, my friends. Your vows came straight from your caring hearts & struck deep into all of your guests. May you have many happy decades and joy forever, knowing you will never have to search another castle for your princess.
DEFINITE LEVEL UP.
Don't have time to take pictures? (Yes you do, and here's why you must.)
"I hope you will have a wonderful year, that you'll dream dangerously and outrageously, that you'll make something that didn't exist before you made it, that you will be loved and that you will be liked, and that you will have people to love and to like in return. And, most importantly (because I think there should be more kindness and more wisdom in the world right now), that you will, when you need to be, be wise, and that you will always be kind." - Neil Gaiman
If you ever get the chance to meet me, you'll often hear me say that life is all about making memories & we have to capture them into something tangible. Then life gets in the way...
Yes, it's true that life doesn't stop until we are gone. I recently lost a friend that went to high school with me at the unbelievably young age of 32. You read that right, thirty-two years on this planet. While Death & me are old friends, it doesn't make me want to acknowledge its presence on such a frequent basis. What did his passing teach me?
Stay kind and grab onto those little moments. We strive to record those for you so that you can actually ENJOY them. We not only photograph weddings, shows, & kids; We also document wakes, celebrations (anniversaries, parties, etc.), pets, & products.
I've always been an outside of the box kind of person & enjoy doing different shoots. Let us be a part of your world, even for the not-so-great ones.
Trust me, you can make a little time for photos to treasure your lifetime and beyond.
Redadare: Live at Sandrini's!
Technically underground in downtown Bakersfield late one night, I was treated to some rockin' local music from Redadare. I can tell you one thing: These fellas sure know how to put on a show!
Therese (and all of her sweetness) loving on the jams at Sandrini's in Bakersfield, CA.
Not only did these boys rock my literal socks off, they also knew how to engage the crowd. Can't you feel the love in this photograph?
Mikee Lee of Redadare.
We're currently working on a new series to highlight local artists, writers, & actors. Who would you like for me to shoot next? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
Sometimes I'm reluctant to figure out my tech!
It's taken me forever to figure out how to add additional images to the blog! Now that I have, you should be seeing fairly concsistent updating from me.
Todd Fink of The Faint, courtesy of HOB Vegas.
Love is in the air...
“Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, often hot & fierce - but only still light & flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature & our love becomes coals: Deep burning & unquenchable.” - Bruce Lee
One of the things we treasure capturing are moments like this.... The joining of two souls in unconditional love. We will slowly be adding more content within the next few weeks. Please be patient with us & perhaps Stephanie will shower you with one million woolongs. (Long live Cowboy Bebop!)
Life is all about the memories that you make.
True and unconditional love is such a miraculous thing.
Here at S&M Photography (or BoxXxy Studios for those more conservative clients), we like to capture every detail of your special day, in the most imaginative way possible.