Tag archive for : Portraits

Modesto Family Portraits

Modesto Family Portraits

I don’t think anything quite transforms a house into a home like having portraits of your family hanging on it’s walls.  Beautiful family portraits bring a smile to your face when you enter a room, it’s one of the many reasons I take so much time creating the perfect portrait for each of the family’s I have the chance to work with.  Juleana and her sons, Jared, Justin and Jack came out with me to one of my favorite foothill spots for their family session a couple weeks ago.  Jared came in for his senior portraits a couple weeks before and this family session was a great opportunity to create accent images of his brothers along with a main portrait for their home.  The Rice’s are so great to work with, fun, easy going and photogenic (that’s always a plus)!

One storm had just moved through the area and another was on it’s way in as we prepared for the session.  As luck would have it we timed things perfectly and we’re rewarded by some amazing clouds and a perfect sunset.  Here are a few of the images from their session, enjoy!

Would you like beautiful family portraits for your home or office?  How about holiday cards?  Then you’ve come to the right place.  Give me a call today 209.541.1815 or send an email to schedule your family consultation. Modesto Family Portraits.

Wedding Photography and Engagement Portraits. Senior Pictures, Family Portraits, Newborn Portraits, Children. Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale.The art of Your story!

 

Filled Under : Fall , Family , Knights Ferry , Outdoor

2016 Seniors Models! Modesto Senior Photographer

Senior Portrait Models Modesto Senior Photographer

I’m starting our senior rep program for the class of 2016 and things start NOW. The Senior Rep/Model Program is a fun and exciting way for high school seniors to earn discounts toward their senior portraits and free photo shoots while helping us show off our latest styles and most recent senior photos!  Edward Mendes Photography is the Modesto areas premiere portrait studio and we want to make sure your senior portraits are awesome. If you know someone that will be graduating in 2016 and think they would make a great senior model send them my way.  Senior reps act as a spokesperson for Edward Mendes Photography.  Our senior model program is a VERY exclusive group.  Only 10 seniors are selected each year.  Interested in applying?  Read below for all the details.

Modesto Senior Portraits 2016

What you receive

  • Complimentary Deluxe portrait session, featuring both indoor and outdoor images at a local location of your choice.
  • Digital version of your images for use on social networks such as Instagram, Facebook and Google+.
  • Referral cards featuring images from your session to give to friends.
  • Have your images featured on the Edward Mendes Photography Website, Blog, Instagram, Facebook Pages and more…Get Famous!
  • Print credit of $20 towards your print order for each person that books their session with us because of you.
  • An opportunity to nominate Reps for 2017!
  • More!

What’s Required?

  • Be a full time student graduating from high school in 2016.
  • Be outgoing, energetic, and enjoy being photographed.
  • Have your senior portraits done exclusively with Edward Mendes Photography.
  • Get the OK from your parents.

If you think the above perfectly describes you then talk to your parents about the program and contact the studio today, 209.541.1815!   Our senior model program is a very exclusive group as we use at most 10 models TOTAL (not per school)  so becoming a model early can be key as modeling sessions start in the early spring of 2016.   Give me a call today to schedule your own session or become a model for Edward Mendes Photography, 209-541-1815. Modesto Senior Photographer

Visit www.edwardmendes.com for everything you need to know about what we do.

Wedding Photography and Engagement Portraits. Senior Pictures, Family Portraits, Newborn Portraits, Children. Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale.
The art of Your story!

Filled Under : Class of 2016 , Hints & Tips , Portraits , Seniors

Crystal Briseno – CSU Sacramento 2014 – Graduation Portraits

Graduation Portraits by Edward MendesWhile I photograph a lot of graduation portraits for high school seniors, we don’t tend to do that many for college seniors, why is that?  Crystal will be graduating from CSU Sacramento (my alma mater) in May and thought the occasion should be marked by getting some awesome graduation portraits made.  A Good idea in my book!

I had been in nearby Knights Ferry about a week before Crystal gave me a call photographing the beautiful wildflowers (we had a stellar bloom this year) and thought a couple meadows I “discovered” would make the perfect setting for Crystal’s graduation portraits.  Hillsides covered in poppies and wild lupine are always good for portraits, right?

If you’d like to see one of my new fine art images I made in the same area during the peak of the wildflowers, here you go.

We had a great time exploring a couple new areas and created some stunning images.  There are some great options here for wall portraits, particularly the images featuring some of the area’s stunning landscapes.  Here’s a few from our session.

Are you graduating or know someone who is and are looking for more than your typical boring senior pictures?  Then you’ve come to the right place.  Give me a call today 209.541.1815 or send an email to schedule your senior consultation.

Wedding Photography and Engagement Portraits. Senior Pictures, Family Portraits, Newborn Portraits, Children. Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale.
The art of Your story!

Filled Under : Class of 2014 , CSU Sacramento , Knights Ferry , Locations , Portraits , Seniors

Black Friday Portrait Sale

Hugh Black Friday Portrait Sale! Only at Edward Mendes Photography. ModePhotography. Modesto, Turlock, Sacramento, Oakdale, Riverbank

The sale of the year!!! It’s not often we offer a huge Black Friday portrait sale like this, in fact we’ve never offered a Black Friday portrait sale but I figure this year is as good as any to jump into the game and I though, why not do it BIG!  Until Monday, December 2nd 2013 at midnight you can get a full session of your choice (family, senior, baby…whatever) for only $25 (that’s a $75 savings right there)!   But that’s not all!  You’ll also receive 20% off your print package!  Your face is melting right now, right?  Like I said this is kind of a big deal (pun intended!)

I book a very limited number of sessions to ensure you receive the best experience possible which means I have very few openings.  If you’d like to take advantage of this incredible Black Friday portrait sale and have amazing portraits of your loved ones jump on this fast, it won’t take long to book up.  Call by Monday, December 2nd 2013 to book your session!

Of course a print order is required, but I’m sure you figured that one out already, I have bills to pay after all.

Looking for portraits or a wedding photographer? Give me a call today to schedule your family portrait session and celebrate the season in style, 209.541.1815 or edward@edwardmendes.com.

Wedding Photography and Engagement Portraits. Senior Pictures, Family Portraits, Newborn Portraits, Children. Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale.
The art of Your story!

Filled Under : Portraits , Special Offers

Fall Portraits with Stella

Fall Portraits Children - Modesto, Turlock, Ceres, Oakdale, Riverbank, Central Valley, California

This little bundle of giggles is Stella,  adorable right?  I know.   If you ever find yourself in a cute contest with a 6 month old (I’m not sure why you would) you better hope it’s not this one because you’re going to lose.  Fall leaves are covering the yard here at the studio and Stella is finally sitting up by herself so it was the perfect time for some awesome fall portraits.  Fall portraits are always a lot of fun with kids because they love to play in the leaves and and the warm shades of red and yellow really pop making portraits eye catching.  Plus, with the cooler weather we get to break out the cozy sweaters, scarfs, caps and all the other stuff that add texture and interest to portraits.  Fall portraits are some of my favorites!  We also did a few images in the studio a few weeks earlier and I’ve included a couple of those here for your enjoyment as well.  Enjoy!

 

Looking for fall portraits or portraits in general? Give me a call today to schedule your family portrait session and celebrate the season in style, 209.541.1815 or edward@edwardmendes.com.

Wedding Photography and Engagement Portraits. Senior Pictures, Family Portraits, Newborn Portraits, Children. Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale.
The art of Your story!

Filled Under : Children and Newborn , Fall , Portraits

Happily Ever After – Erica and Candido

Modesto Wedding Photography by Edward Mendes

I met Erica a couple years ago when I took her senior portraits and was thrilled to be able to create the images of her wedding day as well.  Erica and Candido are a wonderful couple; you can see the joy they bring to one another when they’re together and that’s a wonderful thing.  The wedding took place at the lovely Rancho Canada Country Club in beautiful Carmel Valley and while the ceremony didn’t exactly play out the way it was originally planned (a bit of weather caused a change in direction) Kim and Christina at Cordially Invited Planners did a fabulous job of rolling with the punches and creating a wonderful event.  With Erica and Candido nothing could dampen the sprite of the day.

We had a blast hanging out with all of Erica and Candido’s friends and family, they’re a truly wonderful group and creating the stunning images of their day was a pleasure.  Candido is back severing our country so I hope he has the opportunity to see these images too.  Here’s a preview of some the images from the wedding of Erica and Candido Cruz.  Enjoy!

Check out Erica and Candido’s Slideshow too

Happily Ever After…Erica + Candido – Edward Mendes Photography from Edward Mendes on Vimeo.

Are you or someone you know getting married soon?  Give me a call, (209) 541-1815 or email me.  I’d love to meet with you for a consultation and have the opportunity to capture the memories of your wedding day.

Wedding Photography and Engagement Portraits. Senior Pictures, Family Portraits, Newborn Portraits, Children. Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale.
The art of Your story!

Filled Under : Carmel , Locations , Weddings

Special Offer – Just in time for the Holidays!

Special Offer - Complimentary DVD Slideshow

This ones a major Haul!!! Call by November 16th to schedule a portrait session and enjoy a complimentary copy of your fine art preview slideshow (normally $150) for free*.  Our fine art preview slideshows are beautifully designed DVD slideshows featuring the images from your portrait session set to music.  Our slideshows also come with a custom designed DVD case and printed disk.  The slideshows are optimized for high def televisions and monitors and make a beautiful digital display in your home or to share with friends and family.

*To take advantage of this special offer a minimum print purchase, equaled to a portrait print package, is required, but hey, you were going to do that anyway.  Call today to schedule your portrait session, 209-541-1815 or email edward@edwardmendes.com.

Wedding Photography and Engagement Portraits. Senior Pictures, Family Portraits, Newborn Portraits, Children. Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale.
The art of Your story!

Filled Under : Special Offers

Family Portraits for the Holidays

Family Portraits - Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale, Ceres, RIverbank, Ripon, Central Valley, California

I know it’s hard to believe but Christmas is only seven weeks away!  If you haven’t already scheduled your family portrait session for this year, now is the time.  As you know I’m all about creating the best portraits you’ve ever had and that means only creating your family portraits during the absolute best light possible.  The soft, warm light that I use to create the images of your loved ones is only available during the last few minutes of the day when the sun is low on the horizon.  Because of this  I only book one session a day in order to give you the best experience possible and make sure your session is noting less than amazing.  Long story short, I book up fast.

Wait, one more thing…as you also know I do a lot more than “just” create amazing portraits that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.  I also offer beautiful, custom designed cards, brag books, albums and more, perfect for Christmas gifts or just to stay in touch with those you love.

Give me a call today to schedule your family portrait session and celebrate the season in style, 209.541.1815 or edward@edwardmendes.com.

Wedding Photography and Engagement Portraits. Senior Pictures, Family Portraits, Newborn Portraits, Children. Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale.
The art of Your story!

Filled Under : Family , Portraits

A few tips for great Senior Portraits

Senior Pictures by Edward Mendes, Modesto, Ceres, Hughson, Turlock, Ripon, Waterford, Riverbank, California, Oakdale

Summer is coming to an end, or at least summer vacation is for most of the incoming class of 2014 and that can only mean one thing.  It’s time to have your senior portraits made!  Awesome, right?  Senior portraits have come a long way over the years, gone are the big hair and prom dress formal pictures your mom and dad had in the 80’s.  You know what I’m talking about, the studio picture with your mom’s reflection in a mirror or maybe your dad leaning against a huge white 1991 prop on a plain white background that looks like it was taken at Sears.  What was that about?

Today’s seniors (You) don’t want the same old cookie cutter yearbook style pictures everyone else has.  You want something different, pictures that are original and reflect your personality and style.  You want awesome senior pictures!  With that in mind here are a few tips to make sure you have the best senior portraits possible, tips for great senior portraits if you will.

Do a little window shopping.

I think it’s important that you look at a lot of images from a number of different photographers.  Remember that choosing a photographer for your senior portraits isn’t like shopping for a chainsaw where you can find the exact same chainsaw at different stores for different prices.  Photography is an art form and photographers are artists and each one of us creates a much different product.  Be sure to find a photographer with a style you really like and look at as many sample images as possible.

The photographer’s website is a perfect place to start but don’t forget to check out their  blog, Facebook, Google Plus and Pintrest pages too as these are usually updated more often and can give you an idea of the images the he/she is making from session-to-session.   Think of blogs and social media pages as a small underground club where your favorite band tries out their newest stuff where as a website is a greatest hits album.

Schedule a consultation.

After you’ve found a photographer with a strong portfolio of killer images that matches the style you’d like to have for your session you should ask for a consultation.  Consultations are an important part of the portrait process and something I do with each of my senior clients.  Consultations are important for a number of reasons as it gives you a chance to see actual large print samples and some of the other great products we offer in addition to giving you all the information you need regarding awesome shooting locations, clothing, pricing, referral programs and more.

Most importantly however the consultation allows us an opportunity to get to know each other a little bit prior to working together.  I feel it’s important to have a good repoire with your photographer,  being around someone you get along with and feel comfortable with makes it much easier to be yourself during your session and this comfort will certainly show in your pictures.  It’s during the consultation that we’ll discuss some of the things you’re interested in, sports you may play or we’ll even chat about your car so I can start to design a senior portrait session to fit you perfectly.

You may notice that many, if not most, photographers don’t do consultations, especially for senior portrait as it’s usually all about how many session can be shot in a day and consultations are viewed as a waste of time.  I think this is a disservice to both you and them.  If they don’t offer a consultation don’t be afraid to ask for one.  If they still don’t want to schedule a consultation even after asking for one it may be a indication that you haven’t found the right photographer for you just yet.

Clothing

Besides picking the photographer to create your senior portraits the clothes you bring to the session will be your most important decision.  I think this is perhaps the most important part of any consultation and one area that I really focus on.  You want to make sure your clothing captures you and who you are but also fits well with the look and feel of the location in which your pictures will be taken.  For instance an off white flowing vintage style dress with boots is great for a session in tall dry grass but doesn’t fit as well on the beach.  Also pay close attention to the colors and patterns your outfits have as the eye is drawn to certain tones and textures, choosing the wrong tone or pattern and guess what the first thing people will notice in your pictures?  It won’t be you, it will be that bright pink shirt or white shoes.   Remember to bring a nice selection of outfits in multiple styles.  I suggest bringing 7-10 outfits of different styles, we may not use them all but at least we’ll have a lot of different “looks” to try.  I always encourage my clients to keep an open line of communication and to ask me about anything they’re unsure of.  If you’re debating what may or may not look good give me a call, I’m always happy to help you look your best and I bet any other photographer is as well.

Accessories and Props

I love accessories of all sorts, belts, hats, jewelry, vintage headbands, whatever fits your style bring it along.  Finding the right accessory for your outfits adds an extra layer of visual interest to your images and goes a long way to separate you from the pack.

The same is true with props or “me” stuff as I sometimes call it.  “Me” stuff can be anything from sports gear, bikes, cars, motorcycles, letterman jackets, trophies and even pets.  Anything that helps to tell the story about you at this unique point in your life is perfect “Me” stuff and helps to make your session uniquely you.

Have Fun!

Most importantly have fun and enjoy your senior portrait session, you never know this may be the start of a modeling career!

 

Are you graduating or know someone who is and are looking for more than your typical boring senior pictures?  Then you’ve come to the right place.  Give me a call today 209.541.1815 or send an email to schedule your senior consultation.

Wedding Photography and Engagement Portraits. Senior Pictures, Family Portraits, Newborn Portraits, Children. Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale.
The art of Your story!

 

Filled Under : Hints & Tips , Portraits , Seniors

Mr. and Mrs. {Almost} Session – Engagement Portraits with Christian and Christine

Modesto Engagement Portrait Session - Christian and Christine Smith

Meet Christian and Christine, one of my newer couples who will be getting married just after the new year.  Both go to school out-of-state so this summer is a busy one as Christine is finishing up as much wedding planning as possible before she has to leave again for school.  Christian is in the middle of a summer internship in Texas and headed to California for the July 4th holiday, a short family vacation and as it turns out their engagement portraits too.  The engagement session is usually my first opportunity to work with my couples but in this instance it was also my first chance to meet Christian as well.

We headed out to one of my favorite “local” spots in the greater Modesto area as the location seemed to fit their wedding theme and Christine’s vision perfectly.  Both Christine and Christian were wonderful to work with and fun to hang out with during their engagement portraits.  They have a very natural and comfortable way about about them in front of the camera, always a big plus.  We had some great light and made good use of it.  The images from the session turned out wonderfully and I’m looking forward to their wedding in January.

Here’s a few more of Christian and Christine’s engagement portraits.

Wedding Photography and Engagement Portraits. Senior Pictures, Family Portraits, Newborn Portraits, Children. Modesto, Turlock, Oakdale.
The art of Your story!

Are you getting married soon and looking for someone to create the memories of your day?  Engagement portraits are fun and more importantly allows you to work with your photographer before your big day.  In addition, all those amazing images we create are ideal for Save the Dates, Invitations, Custom Signing Books, Display prints and more.   Check out some of our awesome images at www.edwardmendes.com or give me a call, (209) 541-1815 or drop me an email to ask questions or schedule your consultation.

Filled Under : Engagement , Engagement , Knights Ferry , Locations , Outdoor , Portraits , Weddings

2