Meg Sexton Photography » napa

Winter light | East Bay photographer

Meg Sexton — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:42:09 +0000

It seems that January has gotten the best of me. The post Christmas lull has made me a lazy blogger it would seem. So, forgive the fact that these are from November. I just couldn’t pass up posting them. As much as I love chasing the summer sun, I get a big thrill out of finding the elusive light in the winter.

I’ve known Aviva for about 6 years now. (Maybe longer?) And I just think she’s a doll. I was beyond excited when she contacted me about a mini session, and it wasn’t for nothing. She and Aaron spent the entire session cracking me up. And maybe rolling around on the grass. That seems to be a pretty standard request from me these days!

Thank you Aviva for being so much fun. And for helping me form a true an lasting obsession with Madewell.

The image on the right is an all time favorite. Isn’t she cute?

To book a session with Meg, please email meg@megsextonphotograpy.com

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2011 Favorites | Day 6 | Destination wedding photographer

Meg Sexton — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:43:10 +0000

I’m so excited to include Carey in my week of favorites this year. Her wedding to Eric was an absolute joy to be a part of. I’ve known Carey since right after college, when we were living in tiny city apartments, navigating our first real jobs and just trying to figure out life. Since then, she’s only become a better person. These images are extra wonderful to me because they showcase her style. I love the veil. I adore the lace dress. And that expression? That’s a Carey staple.

You are gorgeous, Carey.

Tomorrows the final post in the series for 2011! I can’t believe it. Stay tuned for something just a bit different.

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2011 Favorites | Day 4| Wine Country wedding photographer

Meg Sexton — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:22:51 +0000

Lauren and Dmitriy are a part of this list for a variety of reasons. First, this photo just makes me smile every time I see it. I love the strands of lights in the background. I love the curve of Lauren’s neck. And I love that it was a spontaneous moment. Second, they are two of the most wonderful, kind people I’ve ever met. And their marriage just seems like plain fun.

It was a toss up for me on these two as well. I love seeing such genuine joy on my clients faces. And Lauren was probably the most joyful bride I had this year. Plus, isn’t she gorgeous?

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Carey + Eric | Destination wedding photographer

Meg Sexton — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 04:22:38 +0000

I simply adore Carey. First, she’s hilarious. Second, she’s genuine. And third, she’s just plain wonderful. I was beyond excited to be able to go all the way across the country for their destination wedding in Northeast Harbor, Maine. Not only was I thrilled to be a part of their wedding day, I’d never been to that part of the east coast before! But seeing Carey and Eric get married was magical. They are really and truly meant for each other. Their humor was catching, their love was palpitate, and their enjoyment of early nineties music made for quite possibly the best reception dancing I’ve ever seen.

Thank you Carey, for inviting me to be a part of your truly amazing wedding day. Your were are a fantastic client, but an even better friend.

Carey and Eric | August 6, 2011

Venue: Asticou Inn, Northeast Harbor, ME

Florist: Cottage Flowers
Hair and Makeup: Bella Salon
Shoes: Juicy Couture

As an added bonus to this trip, I finally had an opportunity to shoot with the talented Megan Moore. This is one of her images of the harbor behind the Asticou Inn.

Too inquire about a wedding with Meg, please email meg@megsextonphotography.com

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Ask Meg Mondays | Bay Area Photographer

Meg Sexton — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 17:06:21 +0000

I’m so thankful to all of you who read the blog. Really and truly if I could give you all big huge hugs, I would. (And if you’re not a hugging kind of person, than you get a cookie.) Without you, I’d have nothing to talk about, and I really do enjoy all my talking.

There is so much information floating around out there in blog land. In an effort to be more helpful and pay it forward, I’m taking my Q&A sessions public! Back in May, I asked for questions on my facebook page. I got some great question there and through email. Here are a few:

Alison asked: What is your favorite piece of equipment?

This is easy. Hands down, my favorite, and most used, piece of equipment is my 50mm f/1.2L lens. I love how versatile this lens is. I love how little distortion I get while shooting portraits but it still allows me to get nice and close to my clients. And of course, when I chose to shoot wide open, I get incredible, breathtaking, buttery bokah. And that makes me weak in the knees.

Both of these images were shot with the 50mm. See that bokah in the right image?

Settings:
ISO 200
f/1.2
1/1000 sec

Now, I know the price tag prohibits a lot of you from picking up this gem of a lens, but Canon offers a GREAT alternative in both the 50mm f/1.4 for about $375 and the completely affordable “nifty fifty” 50mm f/1.8 for only a little over $100. I promise neither of these will disappoint!

Laura asked: What software do you suggest for Post Processing?

Hands down, I recommend Adobe Lightroom. I use it to sort my photos, cull my favorites (for both personal and client shoots), and do all of my initial edits. It’s relatively inexpensive, very user friendly and a great way to get started in post production. If you find that you still want some of the functionality of photoshop, there is very easy integration between the two programs.

For those of you just getting started with post processing, Scott Kelby has some really great, easy to get through instructional books.

Julie asked: Do you offer Mentoring?

I do! I have online and in person mentoring opportunities available for any photographer outside of my area. Prices start at $125 per hour. Feel free to email me for details and package pricing.

To ask a question for the next installment of Ask Meg Mondays, email meg@megsextonphotography.com. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

Kara + Brandon | East Bay Wedding Photographer

Meg Sexton — Tue, 24 May 2011 16:06:11 +0000

I adored working with Kara and Brandon on their wedding day. It didn’t take me long to realized that these two not only love each other, they were truly meant for each other. Being able to capture their love and excitement is just one of the many reasons my job is so wonderful and rewarding.

Thank you Kara for allowing me to be a part of your wedding day.

Kara and Brandon | April 23, 2011

Venue: Wedgewood
Hair: Stephanie McNabb; Primp Salon
Make-up: Tara Salem

The lovely Jen Kloss took this wonderful image.

Another of Jen’s lovely captures. I’m in love with that little red headed boy!

Lauren + Dmitriy | Oakland engagement photographer

Meg Sexton — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 18:08:43 +0000

There are times that I leave a shoot and it takes every ounce of energy I have not to shout out loud or silently, but emphatically, fist pump from excitement. This was one of those sessions. Everything about it, from the love shared between Lauren and Dmitriy, to the incredibly winter sun, have me excited to share with the world.

Lauren and Dmitriy are so incredibly wonderful. They are filled with such a huge amount of love for each other and energy for life that simply being near them made me a happier person. And not only were they up for anything, they came to their shoot with incredible ideas of their own. Those balloons? Lauren’s idea. Bringing their deliciously smoosh faced pup? Also a brilliant Lauren idea. All around, they were a blast. And Lauren, you’re incredibly gorgeous, inside and out.

I have a feeling that their wedding will be filled so much genuine emotion that it will be nothing short of amazing. Plus, they are working with Angela from Lulu Events. And shes amazing herself.

There were so many incredible photos to choose from, but here are a few of my favorites.

Hello model material. Lauren, you really are amazingly gorgeous. For real.

Um, this is smoking hot. Smoking. Hot.

To book a session with Meg, please email meg@megsextonphotography.com

Lindsey and Beau {A wine country wedding}

Meg Sexton — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 03:20:19 +0000

I was lucky enough to be able to 2nd shoot a wedding with the uber talented, and super wonderful Napa Wedding Photographer, Jennifer Kloss. It amazes me when I realize that I’ve been friends with Jen for 6 years. She’s really is an amazing, wonderful person, photographer, mother, friend…. you get the idea. When she asks me to shoot with her, I jump at the chance. It’s so flattering!

And I can’t help but blog a little taste of the last wedding we shot together. Lindsey and Beau were such an amazingly happy couple and seeing their happiness has really stuck with me. I’ll leave the big post to Jen, but here are a few of my favorites.

You are GORGEOUS Lindsey. And your dress was AH-MAZING. Seriously. You and Oscar do very well together.

And Beau, you’re quite a catch yourself.

They had their ceremony on the balcony at Auberge du Soleil in Napa. And as always, it was breath taking. Truly magical.

Thank you Jen, for letting me tag along. And thank you Lindsey and Beau for letting me both of us glimpse into your special day.

Please inquire about rates and availability to meg@megsextonphotography.com

A Family Affair {North bay family photographer}

Meg Sexton — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:17:26 +0000

Ack, I’m so incredibly behind with my blogging. I owe a big, huge, heartfelt thank you to all of my clients who have made my holiday season extra busy, and also extra fun. I’ve enjoyed every single one of you, and I’m just sorry I can’t get all of your pretty faces on the blog at once!

Speaking of tardy sessions, I think Katie’s session was almost a month ago…

I had so much fun shooting this session. Seriously, it was a blast. Katie initially contacted me to shoot her family along with her brother and his family a few months ago. I just had a feeling that it would be fun. First of all, Katie is hilarious. Her sense of humor clearly shows through when she writes and I couldn’t wait to meet her. Let me just say, she didn’t disappoint! Secondly, we have very similar hair cuts. So, she gets extra points for being so cool and trendy. I just think there are some people you just click with. As an added bonus, I got to meet her family and their little boy W. He was a doll and pretty much the polar opposite of little S. I love watching the family dynamics at work.

Thank you both for dragging your families out to come and spend some time with me. And I’m sorry it has taken me so long to get your session on the blog!

How hilarious are these pictures. S is a bulldog and she wasn’t going to take any little boys in her space! And while she may be trying to push W out of the frame, she does it with a smile. I still crack up thinking about it. She’s nothing if not a ham!

Wine Country {Sonoma family photographer}

Meg Sexton — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:06:59 +0000

There are some people in the world that are sickeningly photogenic. They have no bad angles. They have perfect skin. They really just glow. I myself am not one of these rare, perfect, creatures. My goofy self requires lots of retouching! Lucky for me, Joslyn is almost disgustingly photogenic. I’m pretty sure a bad photo of her has never been taken! See, we’re friends on Facebook. I’ve seen photos of her. I knew she was gorgeous. But I really had no idea.

But really, I should have known that anyone who names their child Grayson is one of the coolest people on the planet. I mean, I did. So, I swear it’s cool.

Our day couldn’t have been more fun. And for all of your East Coasters with you perfect fall colors – I have now found a solution! Grapes. Perfectly fall colored vineyards are the new West Coast solution to seasonal colors. I love it. (Although, Domain Carneros is gorgeous any time of year!)

I’m pretty sure J should model.

Thank you D family for spending a Sunday with me. (And trusting me when I asked you to stand new the stinky wood!) I had a blast!