Rhonda Giedt Photography

Our Blog Has Moved!

2011-02-26T15:14:00.001-08:00

We have updated the Rhonda Giedt Photography blog and website. Please update your bookmarks to be: http://www.photosbyrhonda.com/blog!

All new post will be on the link above. See you there!

Shameless FB Plug

2011-01-31T06:00:00.000-08:00

There are some things that I am lost without...my hubby, my four-legged kids, my iPhone, and Facebook. Yep, I need serious help.

One of the reasons I love Facebook is that I get to hear about everything that is going on with my friends, family, and clients'. Learning about new places to eat, things to do in my downtime, and seeing the awesome pics you guys take is so cool to me!

So if you are reading my blog on a regular basis and haven't yet signed up for the Rhonda Giedt Photography Facebook page, please do so I can hear all that you have to say!

The Insanity Workout

2011-01-30T06:00:00.000-08:00

I am not one for New Year's Resolutions so I didn't set any. However, I do like setting goals and working towards something throughout the year. So with my brides inspiring me, Spring being just around the corner, and wanting an excuse to buy all the clothes I saw in the Boden catalog I started The Insanity Workout by Shaun T.

BTW, I thought the name Insanity Workout was just a marketing ploy....believe it's not! It actually hurts to type this post to you.

Why am I telling all of you this? Because I have started and stopped this program several times and I need to know that I am being held to getting back in shape by all of you! (Even though between you and me, I prefer being snuggled on the couch with Logan puppy and hubby!) So wish me luck!

Boden Catalog

2011-01-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

I received the new Boden Catalog and now can't wait for Spring! I love the new styles, colors, and color combos that are hitting the stores. Be sure to check them out at www.bodenusa.com.

NEW Product Offering: Wooden Block Prints

2011-01-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

We are offering a wonderful, awesome, new product called Wooden Block Prints. These photographs are printed on wood and are modern, classy, and sleek! Ask to see a sample during your next photography session with us!

We know that you are going to love them just as much as we do!!!!

Henry 1 Year

2011-01-27T06:00:00.000-08:00

When Henry came in for his 1 year photography session he brought Mom and Dad with him. That I totally expected. What I did not expect was how much he was going to make me laugh throughout the entire session!

Having photographed Henry each month for his first year, we have developed a photography bond and for the most part I know what to expect. (Yes Moms you can start laughing now.) No one told me that as soon as you have a little munchkin figured out that they change.

The session started out perfect...as usual.

And then the laughing began....

We are not sure what he was doing. But between each photograph he did this and then popped back up with a big grin on his face. We were all laughing uncontrollably which probably fueled the repeat cuteness.

I can't wait to share with you his next session...so check back soon and see just how much he has grown in 3 months!

San Antonio

2011-01-26T06:00:00.000-08:00

Being in San Antonio for Imaging USA was amazing. Not only was it great to meet 10,500 other professional photographers from around the world but the city provided great photography subjects! Here are some of my favorite shots from the around the city.

Engagement Session: Jane and Junior

2011-01-25T06:00:00.000-08:00

Jane and Junior love the buzz and architecture of downtown San Jose and I tend to agree! We traveled around downtown capturing the excitement of San Jose at Christmas time, beating the cold weather, and laughing lots.

This hotel is amazing with the great windows, lights down the sidewalk, and entryway.

We were finishing up right when the sun was setting and provided us with perfect ambiance for our engagement session.

Best wishes to Jane and Junior on their upcoming wedding and new life together!

10 Ideas for Reception Table Names

2011-01-24T06:00:00.001-08:00

Numbers are always a great way to give your reception tables names. However, if you want to put a new spin on things, try one of these 10 ideas.

1. Places you have traveled together.
2. Classical composers
3. Places where you will visit on your honeymoon

4. Gemstones
5. 80's Bands
6. National Parks
7. Broadway Musicals
8.Tiki-bar drinks
9. Seashells
10. Wine varietals

Such An Honor!

2011-01-23T09:52:00.001-08:00

We are honored that one our of photos has been selected to be used in an American Cancer Society DetermiNation ad in NorCal Running magazine!

It is such a joy and honor to work with DetermiNation and are looking forward to their upcoming race in Oakland on March 26th and 27th! Check out NorCal Running magazine's website to find out more about the race in Oakland. We can't wait to see you there!

Conference Material Overload

2011-01-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

I had a wonderful time in San Antonio, especially at Imaging USA 2011! I met wonderful vendors, new friends, and learned more than my little head could take. However, I found it very interesting the amount of material that I collected on the exhibit floor. Just for fun I decided to spread it out on the bed and see just how much was collected....take a look because I think it's quite impressive.

RIP Boots

2011-01-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

After eleven years, being rebuilt eight times by three different repair places, and being the perfect boot to go with every outfit, I must say goodbye to you my favorite pair of boots.

It was a wonderful journey filled with many miles of love, laughter, and eventually the several holes that tore at the "heart seams of your sole." You were one of the first to welcome me to the beginning of my new life in San Francisco. You were the boots I wore on my first date with Robert, who is now my husband. And you were the boots I chose to wear when we picked up Logan and Mele and brought them to their new home.

I have tried several times to find a replacement for you, but there is not one pair that have come close....even though I kept those too because I didn't want you to be lonely in the closet when I had to wear other shoes.

So with many tears filling my eyes and the hole in my heart growing as big as the one in the left one of you, I bid you farewell and hope that you enjoyed your time with me as much as I did with you.

Smile

2011-01-19T06:00:00.000-08:00

As a photographer I of course love when people smile. However, have you noticed that most people do not smile unless they are greeting someone they know, see a puppy, or notice a cute little munchkin?

So I challenge you to smile all day today whenever you see someone whether you know them or not. Dale Carnegie said it best....

"Your smile is a messenger of your good will. Your smile brightens the lives of all who see it. To someone who has seen a dozen people frown, scowl, or turn their faces away, your smile is like the sun breaking through the clouds."

Try it and spread a little cheer around and you might make a cold Winter's day feel a little more like Spring.

How to Get Compliments Everyday

2011-01-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

If you want to get compliments everyday, head over to Peggy Li Creations and pick up anything! Every time I wear one of her pieces I am flooded with compliments. Her pieces are so unique and fun that you can't help but love everything!

Here is my latest obsession that I probably won't take off for a year!

Engagement Session: Louriel and Michael

2011-01-17T06:00:00.000-08:00

The Legion of Honor was the setting for Louriel and Michael's engagement session. What they didn't tell me is that they ordered up a perfectly sunny day topped off with the white puffy clouds. The day was absolutely amazing and made even better by how sweet and funny they both were!

Thanks for the wonderful time at one of my favorite museums in the city and next time I need perfect weather, I know who to call!

Top 10 Favorite Wedding Sites

2011-01-16T06:00:00.000-08:00

With the web being piled with so many sites, blogs, and such it's sometimes hard to find wedding sites that "speak to you". I LOVE reading, browsing, and finding new wedding sites all the time, so here are some of my favorites.

1. The Bride's Cafe
I start my day with The Bride's Cafe everyday because it always makes me smile. Janie pulls this blog together in such a smart, modern way and I look forward to the posts as well as her Tweets.

2. Once Wed
I first got hooked on this blog by the fresh style and new perspective. But the DIY section, wedding ideas, and most importantly their used wedding dresses keep me coming back every day!

3. With This Ring
This blog is so much fun to visit, browse and read everyday. They have a section designated for the Do It Yourself brides and tons of ideas for inspiration in planning every aspect of your wedding.

4. Brides
Yes, this is part of the magazine Brides and is a "big time" site. However, they have so many amazing tips, ideas, and an amazing Twitter presence that you can search quickly for anything you may think of and find several examples of how to make your wedding your own.

5. The Knot
The Knot planning schedule helped me when I planned my wedding several years ago. I love them so much that I started following The Nest once I got married and maybe one day will follow The Bump.

6. A Practical Wedding
Ideas, Inspiration, and Girl Next Door wedding examples make this site completely approachable and fun.

7. Style Unveiled - San Francisco
This site has sections for cities all across the country that you can grab hints, tips, and style from. However, if you want the local scoop head to the San Francisco section and get lost in the vast amount of amazing info they have.

8. Earth Friendly Weddings
Being Earth friendly sometimes doesn't come naturally, especially when planning a wedding, however this site makes it easy to be Earth friendly and stylish all at the same time.

9. Perfect Bound
Their tagline says it all, "A Wedding Blog for the Stylish Bride". Lots of ideas, accessories, and even runway ideas and suggestions to help take your wedding to the next level.

10. Inspired By This
This site has so many ideas and inspirational type boards that can spur your creativity with your own wedding.

Professional Photographers of America

2011-01-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

It is an honor to be part of Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and here are my top 5 reasons why.

1. Continuing Education
As with any profession, you need to keep on top of your game and learn the latest techniques, tips, and technology. PPA helps me do that so I can provide the best to my clients.

2. Photo Critiques
One of the best ways to make sure I am pushing myself is to get critiques by certified photographers. Every chance I get to get feedback from the best in the industry I do so my clients know they are always getting fresh ideas from me.

3. Charity Involvement
PPA encourages their members to give back through charities. I have been honored to work with some of the best in the area such as DetermiNation, part of the American Cancer Society and with Pumps, Pours, and Purses to name a couple.

4. Amazing Photographers
Getting to know some of the brightest, best, and most amazing people who have been photographing for years in the Bay Area is awesome. I cherish my friendships with them and their continued support.

5. New Ideas
Sometimes the brain gets stuck on doing the same thing over and over. PPA helps keep ideas fresh, relevant, and cutting edge.

Henry 11 Months

2011-01-14T06:00:00.000-08:00

Henry is growing up so quickly that before you know it he will be driving and everyone will be saying where did the time go? But for now, here is the cutey at 11 months!

Since Henry was ready to go, go, go, we pulled out the suitcase and let him have at it.

Of course, it's always fun to check out just how much can fit inside the suitcase too.

And pack it all up again before taking off.

Even though he was ready to get going, this time Henry brought along his Grandma who jumped into the photo fun as well and kept him still just long enough!

As always it was a blast hanging out with Henry, his Mom, and this time Grandma too!

Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken Breast Recipe

2011-01-13T06:00:00.000-08:00

Life get busy with work, everyday to-do's, and a number of other things. So when you are looking for something for dinner that is quick, tasty, and not take-out....here is a great recipe from Martha Stewart's Everyday Food!

Prosciutto-Wrapped Chicken Breast with Roasted Green Beans

Ingredients:

4 ounces green beans, stem ends removed
2 teaspoons olive oil
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 boneless, skinless chicken breast half
3 thin slices prosciutto
Lemon wedge, for serving

Directions:

Heat broiler of toaster oven (or oven). On toaster-oven pan (or a small rimmed baking sheet), toss green beans with 1 teaspoon oil. Season with salt and pepper, and push to one side of pan.
Season chicken with salt and pepper; wrap with prosciutto. Place chicken, seam side down, on other side of pan; rub with remaining teaspoon oil.
Broil until chicken is opaque throughout, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve chicken and green beans with a lemon wedge.

10 Food Station Ideas

2011-01-12T06:00:00.000-08:00

If you want to spice up your food offering at your wedding, here are 10 ideas:

1. Ravioli
2. Mac & Cheese
3. Trio of Bites with dipping sauce

4. Sliders
5. Ceviche
6. Pies

7. Dumplings
8. Smoked Salmon
9. Cookies with a little ice cream

10. Cupcakes in a variety of flavors

Top 3 Reasons My Chamber Membership Benefits You

2011-01-11T06:00:00.000-08:00

Last year I decided to join the San Mateo Area Chamber of Commerce (SMCC) and here are the top 3 reasons why my chamber membership benefits you!

1. The people!
The people are absolutely wonderful and have so many products and services that you can use. Every time I meet someone at SMCC I learn as much about their offerings as I can so when my clients need something I know exactly who to refer them to.

2. Business Referral Network
The purpose of the group is for small businesses to generate business for each other. But what I have found is it's an added perk for my clients because if they need anything from and accountant to a lawyer to a travel agent I will be able to help them out!

3. The mixers
Networking is not always fun but the SMCC does make it so by picking great locations around the San Mateo area. The caterers are always amazing and I get to see new venues or business that may be awesome for my clients to know about.

Therefore the next time you are needing something done around the house, need your taxes done, or one of the many other things that come up in day to day life...drop me a line and I'll set you up with someone to make your life easier!

Engagement Photographs: Lauren and David

2011-01-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

Lauren and David are big Giant's fans so doing their engagement photos outside of AT&T Park made perfect sense. It also happened to be the day before the Giant's won the World Series so there was extra excitement in the air.

David is a medic in the military and just got back from his latest tour. And Lauren is about to graduate as nurse. They are planning their wedding for this fall and are super cute together!

When he's not saving the world, David loves golfing and visiting his grandparents who happen to live right up the street from us! Who knew it was such a small world (and that Robert may have found another golfing buddy)!

We wish Lauren and David all the best and can't wait until they tie the knot!

Happy Birthday to My BFF!

2011-01-09T06:00:00.001-08:00

My best friend Trisha's birthday is today! We have been best friends since we were 5 years old and she is the closest person I will ever have to a sister. Not only that, I completely admire her and always have. She always has great hair, looks amazing, works a full time job, had four boys ranging in age from 3-11, a hubby that just became a military officer, and is getting her MBA.

So it is the least that I can do to wish her a very, very Happy Birthday!

Have a Safe and Happy New Years!

2010-12-31T03:00:00.000-08:00

From our family to yours, we wish you a safe, sandy, and Happy New Years!

Maria and Stephen Wedding Photographs

2010-12-30T03:00:00.000-08:00

Maria and Stephen were married at Costanoa in Pescadero that has breathtaking views! The fall colors of the wedding with the amazing setting and super fun wedding guests made this wedding a blast!

The bridal bouquet was stunning!

The flower girl couldn't quite walk yet, but those eyes will melt anyone's heart.

The bride's dress was a mermaid style that was absolutely stunning!

Since the flower girl couldn't walk...she was a wagon baby!

This was such a clever idea of pouring different colored sand into a vase to keep!

The couple had a cupcake tower that all the guests enjoyed!

Congratulations to Maria and Stephen! We wish you all the best in your new life together!!

Maria and Stephen Engagement Photographs

2010-12-29T03:00:00.000-08:00

Maria and Stephen are one of the sweetest couples I have met. During the engagement session I learned that Stephen was a super Apple guy who worked at their headquarters...such a great job! Hopefully my obsession with my iPhone didn't scare him too much.

And Maria told us about her work with local theater that sounds so cool! When we did the engagement session I found out that she was doing Alice in Wonderland but it was different than anything I had heard of...the production was in a wooded area and the audience walked from set to set with the actors. So cool!

Here are some of their photos from their engagement session.

Check back tomorrow to see photos from their wedding!

Thoughts of Warmer Places

2010-12-28T11:27:00.001-08:00

The weather in the Bay Area is pretty sweet most of the year and being from the mid-west, you would think I would never get cold. But I adapted very quickly to the Bay Area and if it dips below 70 degrees, I bust out the sweaters.

So with the winter storms back East and my thin skin, my thoughts go to one of my favorite places on Earth...Hawaii. Here are a few pics from our latest Hawaii trip.

Enjoy and stay warm!

Family Photos and Holiday Cheer

2010-12-27T14:57:00.000-08:00

When Donna brought her hubby and kids over for their holiday family portrait session, I knew we were going to have fun as soon as the kids jumped on my wooden rocking horse prop. Not only does the rocking horse make for a good photography prop but it turns out it makes a good ice breaker for kids too! And I don't blame them because if I was a little shorter, I'd jump on it too.

After a ride on the rocking horse, the kids were ready for anything and were chatting away telling me all kinds of stories. I have to say, sometimes I think kids totally have it made! The life of cartoons, coloring, and finger painting is really underrated.

And of course we didn't want to leave Mom and Dad out of the all the fun.

Donna and her family are so sweet and I can't wait to take photos of them in the spring and hear more about the fabulous life of her little ones. :-)

Happy Holidays!

Holiday Decorations

2010-12-26T15:16:00.000-08:00

Ask anyone...especially my husband...and you'll know that Christmas is my favorite time of year. I love decorating, baking, and enjoying all the festivities. However, the day after Christmas is great too because you can buy decorations for the next year at a fraction of the price.

Some of my favorite places to shop for discounted items are:

Target - they have this little deer that lights up and is so adorable!

Crate and Barrel - get speciality plates and decorations. Last year I got a really cute front door pad with a snowman on it! Logan likes it so much that he sniffs it every time he goes outside. :-)

And of course, DSW.com because I...I mean you...can never have too many boots!

Enjoy your extended holiday shopping season! I know I will!

31 Reasons Why Having a December Birthday DOESN'T Suck

2010-12-22T12:04:00.000-08:00

I try to think of the world as the glass is half full kind of view point. So when I saw the list from TheFrisky.com on 31 reasons having a December birthday sucks I decided to try and flip it around on why it would rock. Now granted, I don’t have a December birthday, but I have plenty of friends and family members with them so here it goes.

TheFrisky.com List

1. Black Friday and Cyber Monday spending means no budget for your birthday present.

2. Everyone is still recovering from all the Thanksgiving family drama.

3. End of year reviews are stressful enough without having to worry about the birthday party you have to go to afterward.

4. Holiday parties, holiday parties, and more holiday parties. When the &#@$ am I supposed to schedule my karaoke birthday bash?

5. Your best friend was too busy making figgy pudding to remember that you wanted a yellow birthday cake with buttercream frosting and purple roses. Is it really that much to ask?

6. No, you don’t want a combo Hanukkah/b-day party. That’s lame.

7. Your birthday present is dependent upon everyone else’s Christmas bonus ... and we’re in a recession.

8. Serving leftover latkes, turkey, or gingerbread at your birthday dinner is an insult.

9. Two words: combo gift. Do not want it. I want two separate presents like the rest of the human race.

10. The known world is out of town.

11. Winter break means no birthday cupcakes in class.

12. Your office is closed that week, so it means your boss can’t take you out for a free lunch on the company.

13. You can’t take the day off on your birthday because you already have the day off.

14. It’s snowing and the roads are too dangerous for guests to make it to your party. Or if they do arrive, they track mud into into your house.

15. Your birthday dress must be worn with a down jacket and snow boots. Not sexy.

16. Your crush is on vacation all month. So forget that.

17. Happy birthday! You’re going to get a TSA screening.

18. Your birthday gift does not belong under the tree or in a stocking.

19. Happy birthday! You’re stranded at the airport due to poor weather conditions.

20. Christmas carolers at your door are not the same as having friends sing you “Happy Birthday.”

21. Christ is more important than you.

22. No one wants to hear about your birthday plans when they are worrying about alcoholic Aunt Ida coming to Christmas dinner.

23. Birthday dinner? Forget it. Everyone already gained their allotted 10 pounds.

24. Last-minute shopping really means no budget for your birthday gift.

25. The gift table at your birthday party is full of re-gifts.

26. Family time takes precedence over party time.

27. ‘Tis the season, just not the right one for birthday cheer.

28. You still can’t schedule your birthday because everyone has New Year’s plans.

29. The end of the year is more important than your birthday.

30. People everywhere are toasting, drinking champagne, partying—only it has nothing to do with you.

31. As everyone is watching the ball drop, your heart drops. The month is over. The year is over. And your birthday sucked again.

My List

1. Black Friday and Cyber Monday means more gifts because of the discounts.

2. Since Thanksgiving drama is expected, add in your own about your December birthday and start planting the seeds for more gifts.

3. Play up the birthday card during reviews and how December birthday are horrible to get a better review and maybe even a bonus.

4. Every holiday party you go to, make them sign happy birthday to you and open an expensive bottle of wine to toast you. It’s like 5 bday parties instead of one.

5. No one makes figgy pudding and if your best friend does…make it on her birthday and I guarantee she won’t forget the next year.

6. Throw a birthday party at the coolest, newest club so that everyone will be sure to make it for the much needed break from the holiday stress.

7. We are in a recession, but that’s what point #1 is all about.

8. See point #6 and the leftovers won’t be an issue.

9. Be specific on the combo gifts you want, such as a matching purse and shoes from Jimmy Choo.

10. Get out of town to a warmer climate and celebrate your birthday on a beach with little umbrella drinks.

11. Who needs to gain weight from the dry birthday cupcakes in class…go to Sprinkles and indulge yourself!

12. Have your boss throw you a birthday lunch the day before your company week off and ask for the rest of the day off for you and your co-workers as your birthday gift.

13. Since you already have your birthday off due to the holiday break, take a mid-birthday day off 6 months from now.

14. Snowball fights at your birthday party keeps the unwanted guests away and makes you feel young again.

15. Buy a tropical slinky dress to wear during your birthday trip to Australia. After all, you have the extend holiday break.

16. There are plenty of crushes around for the holidays visiting family and wanting an excuse to break away from them for a while…there you go.

17. Make sure you get in the line with the cute TSA agent.

18. You may be stranded at the airport, but so are some cuties so start looking around.

19. Designate a place in the living room for your birthday gifts to go and decorate it as a Tiffany’s display counter. It will be pretty and drop a big hint at the same time.

20. Make the Christmas carolers sign Happy Birthday to you the way they do at that Mexican restaurant you always go to.

21. Well, yes he is but you can wear a tiara on your birthday.

22. Send Aunt Ida on a cruise. Your family will be happy and you can angle for more presents.

23. Birthday ice cream instead of dinner. Eat it all day long and no one will have room for Christmas dinner.

24. Last minute shopping means more deals for more presents for you.

25. Put up a sign on your birthday table stating that the only re-gifts allowed must be in a little blue box and come from the little blue box store.

26. Throwing a wild birthday party sends the family ties out the door quicker.

27. ‘Tis the season with two birthday balloons for each mistletoe.

28. Turn your New Year’s Eve birthday party the place to be each year so no one thinks to go somewhere else.

29. The end of the year starts the planning for next year’s birthday bash.

30. People everywhere are toasting, drinking champagne, partying – so make custom glasses to drink out of with your birthday face on them.

31. Once that ball drops, start planning a bigger and better bash for the next year.

The Wednesday Blues

2010-11-10T12:10:00.000-08:00

Sometimes the middle of the week seems to drag and you think you will never get to the weekend. But I always find that if I can laugh I'll get through it no problem. And lucky for me I'm never short of funny situations thanks to our dog Logan.

Logan's thought bubble, "I see you with the camera but you wouldn't dare think of clicking the..."

Yes I know the finger is pointing to someone, but they were mysteriously cropped out of the photo.....must be a glitch in the software. ;-)

Logan thought bubble, "Please don't make me get off the nice comfy pillow. Please!"

And no the thought bubble begging did not work and Logan was "tucked in" on his pad.

Hopefully these little Logan tidbits will help you make it through your Wednesday Blues.

Arielle - Newborn Photography

2010-11-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

I love photographing newborns because they are just so small and adorable! I love the tiny fingers and toes and the cute little expressions. Arielle was no exception! Plus her Mom was so great in bringing a tons of cute props for the session...I was in heaven! Here are a few of the images from the newborn photography session of Arielle.

Arielle's name was handmade by her Mom who is way more crafty than I ever could be!

And the little butterfly wings were just darling!

And of course Arielle loved posing....

She is even ready to do her own Chanel ad.

I can't wait to see what the 3 month photography session brings but I know Arielle will be ready for her close up!

Holiday Cards

2010-10-25T17:59:00.000-07:00

The Holidays are fast approaching. There is a list of things to do so long that you wish you had your own little personal elf to help out. Well, I've never been an elf but I love being able to help make lives easier so let us handle your holiday cards this year! Each of our cards are customized and you have the choice of regular folded holiday cards or flat ones. So give us a call and mark holiday cards off your to do list!

Pumps, Pours and Purses Event

2010-10-11T12:10:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed the recent Pumps, Pours, and Purses event held at the Burlingame Women's Club. The event donated all profits to the Shelter Network. Attendees brought slightly used purses and shoes and other attendees could bid on them. There were a ton of great shoes and purses to choose from. And guest also got to enjoy fabulous music, food, wine, and even a fashion show.

Check out the slide show to see some photos from the event!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdWvZxthSAo

Henry 10 Months

2010-10-04T07:57:00.000-07:00

If you follow this blog regularly, you know that I truly enjoy photographing Henry each month. Here are some photos from his 10 Month photo session where we went outside in an effort to keep Henry in one place. His Mom said that he didn't like crawling on grass....so we thought it would be great to put him on a blanket outside and that way he couldn't go to far.

The "jean" diaper was so awesome!

Oh...that's the edge of the blanket...gotcha ya!

Or not...

Well at least one thing stays as it should....he love his Mom!

Henry I love chasing you around and listening to you giggle! I can't wait for our next photo session!

Watch out world, here comes Shayla!

2010-09-30T06:50:00.000-07:00

Shayla is one of the sweetest kids I have ever met. If I ever have a daughter, I hope she grows up to be as adorable as her. (Even though I think that my hubby would become the most overprotective Dad ever.) ;-)

I was doing some modeling headshots for Shayla to give her an new and updated look and the shed the "little girl" image without turning into the next Britney. We had such a blast during the shoot and found out that she would love to be an actress or model but is also very interested in photography. And after spending some time with her I truly believe that the sky is the limit for her! Here are some of the images from the session.

I can't wait to hang out with Shayla again and hear more stories of her going on auditions, being a total quick change artists with clothing, and hearing about her favorite singer Taylor Swift!

Our Latest Portrait Slide Show

2010-09-10T15:28:00.000-07:00

As anyone that has a website knows, sometimes it's hard to keep your website up to date with the latest photo sessions you have done. We are no different. We are in the works of updating our website but until then, please enjoy our latest portrait slide show on YouTube!

You can view it here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etQoYUHxAKQ!

Kate and Matt's Wedding

2010-09-08T07:58:00.000-07:00

Kate and Matt had one of the most personalized weddings we have ever photographed. Everything had a meaning and a story behind it. And a lot of the details were created by the bride and her Mom.

Kate puts the finishing touches on while her Mom watches.

The Groom, Matt, is assisted by his sister-in-law.

And of course his Mom made sure his boutonniere was perfect.

Kate's best friend was her Maid of Honor and looked stunning in this J. Crew dress. I love how bright and summery she looked and how well the style went with Kate's dress.

The bride and groom decided to see each other before the wedding ceremony and Matt's face the first time he saw Kate was so sweet!

And of course Kate was just as happy and swooning over Matt.

Watching the guest arrive before the ceremony while they were hidden away in the cottage at Holbrook Palmer Park.

The outdoor ceremony was absolutely amazing.

The Mother of the Groom sang a song during the ceremony that Matt wrote. Matt's such a talented musician and all of the music for the ceremony and the reception was done by Matt and his band.

After the ceremony we took full advantage of the park to take photos.

As the sun set the reception started up in full force.

The centerpieces were made from herbs in Kate's family garden and put together by Kate and her Mom.

During the Father of the Bride's toast, he explained that the tie he was wearing was made by Kate when she was 5 years old. And he only wears it on special occasions.

Instead of a traditional wedding cake, Kate and Matt had various flavors of pie.

And a stunning centerpiece.

Followed up by little romantic cookies.

One of my favorite things ever was the coffee and wine bar. The mochas were AMAZING!

And the coffee helped keep everyone on their toes while they played ping pong, boche ball, and dice.

And kids young and old loved the bubble favors.

A few guest even got a couple "extra" bubbles for the road...

Kate and Matt made sure that their guests, as well as the two of them, had an amazing time at the wedding. We definitely did...so much so that our cheeks were hurting at the end of the night from smiling so much at all the wonderful people we got to meet.

We wish both of you a long and happy life together!!!!

Jenny and Ben's Wedding Part 3

2010-09-02T12:20:00.000-07:00

The setting for Jenny and Ben's ceremony was Freedom Hall & Gardens. It has a beautiful bridge, small pond, and a lovely outdoor setting for the ceremony. And the staff there is so amazing, they make the entire day go so smoothly!

After the ceremony, Jenny and Ben took a moment for themselves and we captured some great shots!

The bridge and water is so picture perfect!

The reception inside was set up so beautifully and was the perfect setting to get the dancing going.

Their cake was awesome with the polka dots and bows. Not the baseball shaped cake originally talked about but amazing nevertheless.

There is always more than one way to go after the garter....

And to top a perfect wedding day, a breathtaking sunset.

We wish both of you the best and a long and happy marriage together!

Jenny and Ben's Wedding Part 2

2010-09-01T12:05:00.000-07:00

One of the many things that made Jenny and Ben's wedding so great is their bridal party. Their bridesmaids and groomsmen were so much fun to be around!

The bridesmaids came up with great ideas for fun shots, which I love!

And not to forget Jenny's love of Giant's baseball, they "batter-ed" up!

Their flowers were just amazing!
'
Jenny's maid of honor was so helpful in assisting throughout the wedding!

They guys were not about to be outdone though and came up with some....ummm....creative ideas of their own.

There was the toast....

The GQ shot....

Talk about a fun bunch...we had an absolute blast!!!!!! And then my favorite was when the girls challenged the guys!

Come back tomorrow to see photos from the ceremony, reception, and of course the bride and groom alone!!!

Jenny and Ben's Wedding Part 1

2010-08-31T11:49:00.000-07:00

Jenny and Ben had one of our most favorite engagement session locations ever at AT&T Park. So we expected great things from their wedding day and boy did they deliver! It was so amazing that we are breaking the blog into three different postings so you can enjoy it as much as we did!

The day started with a traditional Chinese tea ceremony in San Francisco.

And then we headed down to Santa Clara for the wedding. The bridal party got ready at a near by hotel and had a blast doing so.

Jenny had the traditional red Chinese dress for the tea ceremony but also had two more dresses waiting for the wedding and the reception. Her fabulous hair and make up was done by Princess Berdiago.

The flowers were absolutely amazing from Heavenly Blossoms.

A little removal of an unwanted...accessory. :-)

The Groom and the ring bearers were living it up too waiting for the wedding to start.

After the fun, Ben got ready and headed to the courtyard for some photos with the bridal party!

Check back tomorrow for Part 2 of Jenny and Ben's Wedding to see the group photos!

Headhshots for Dr. Ginger

2010-07-26T11:21:00.000-07:00

Dr. Ginger Mills, of Back in Health, has an amazing personality and energy about her, which is probably why she is a great chiropractor. She wanted headshots that showed her personality and also her office where she practices.

Thanks Dr. Ginger for a really fun photography session and if I throw my back out, you'll be the first one I call! ;-)

Henry 9 Months

2010-07-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

Henry, as everyone knows is my munchkin boyfriend, and up until this point has been pretty much stayed in one spot when I photographed him. And as most people know, it doesn't stay like that for very long. At Henry's 9 month photography session, he zoomed and zoomed around the studio like Superman...only crawling...but just as fast. And his favorite destination...me.

Which is great for photos until he gets a little too close. So to help wrangle the little speedster, Mom stepped in.

And then we even tried distractions.....hoping it would keep him in one place.

But we soon were overpowered by the cuteness and decided....lets give him some wheels.

Henry loved the horn....but couldn't quite figure out how to honk it.

And of course all of that riding around caused a "flat tire" that had to be fixed. He did such a great job fixing the tire.

But then it was time to go home.

And just in case I thought maybe he will stay crawling forever....I got a glimpse of what is to come.

I will to need to start running track to keep up with Henry once he starts walking. But after all, that what I love...chasing babies and brides. :-)

Relax and Enjoy

2010-07-02T07:48:00.000-07:00

Our life here at Rhonda Giedt Photography is a little busy. My clients have often asked "how do you not run out of energy?" My secret is photography. It energizes me and makes me jump out of bed in the morning (well most mornings because I'm really not a morning person).

However, I also have another little secret. I have three little helpers who force me to relax, take a quick break, and just enjoy life. And they are Logan, Mele, and Emily....our pets.

They love to climb on top of me or next to me and take a quick nap. And I'm such a sucker that I don't want to move them because they look so cute! But thanks to my iPhone I can grab these adorable little pictures while they relax and enjoy time with me.

To give you an introduction to each, Emily is 16 years old and has been with me since college. She is a little misunderstood...as in she doesn't seem to like anyone but me and kind of tolerates my hubby.

Mele just turned 4 years old and is the most loving, sweet, dream of a kitten anyone can ask for. Both Emily and Mele are rescue cats and our tortuous shell cats, which I love.

And last but certainly not least is Logan our 95 pound chocolate lab. Logan is 3 1/2 years old and thinks he is a lap dog. He loves kids, people, other animals, getting a bath, well....pretty much anything.

So in the spirit of celebrating our Independence Day, all of the men and women who serve to continue to protect our country, and my three little helpers...take some time this 4th of July to relax, unwind, and just enjoy this great country we live in!

Bridesmaid Dress Trend

2010-06-30T08:00:00.000-07:00

It is always hard to pick bridesmaid dresses for your wedding . One of the ongoing trends is to have the bridesmaids pick out the type of dress they feel comfortable in and have them all be the same color and length.

Carolyn had her bridesmaids do this for her wedding and it looked fabulous!

The necklace, color of the dress, and the bouquets pulled the entire look together. Even the bridal shoes were slightly different but the same color.

Each bridesmaid got to show a little of her personality and everyone looked amazing! So when you are shopping for your bridesmaid dresses for your own wedding, think about this great trend!

Big Kid Time

2010-06-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

Ian is 2 years old and is a big boy...or at least that's what he was trying to tell everyone at the playground. He wanted to slide, climb, and jump on everything all by himself.

He went for the big kids swing first...

...but settled on his favorite "little kid" swing in the end. I think the smile says it all!

But if there was any trouble or Ian needed a helping hand, Dad and Mom were right there.

And Ian even took a little time out of his busy play schedule to pose with Mom and Dad.

If Ian's smiles were any indication of how much fun he was having,that was only the half of it. He ran around and seemed like he could jump, run, and play all day long while having the greatest time doing it! Possibly a little lesson for the rest of us "big kids" to learn too.

Cool iPhone Apps

2010-06-25T13:44:00.000-07:00

I know that there are a thousand really cool iPhone Apps out there. But with the new iPhone just releasing, I thought I would share the ones I love and use all the time. Feel free to let me know what your favorite apps are as well!

IMDB: I use this app ALL the time. I can never remember who was in what or who that actor is in the show that I'm watching. I LOVE IT!

To Do's: this little app keeps me on track and lets me write down everything I need to do at anytime...even at 4am when an idea pops in my head.
Photoshop.com Mobile: Edit your photos that you take on your iPhone and upload them right away to FB or others after you have enhanced them!
Guilt Group: I love to shop and this app sends me designer clothes that are on sale so I can shop right from my phone....don't tell my hubby. ;-)
Sun Alert: This app tells you when to put more sunscreen on and when to get out of the sun. Great for when I'm laying around watching the clouds roll by...wait...that never happens...anyway it's great whether you're at a party or wherever to remind you about the sun.
Martha Stewart Everyday Food: Ok I'm a little embarrassed about this app because I'm not a Martha fan. BUT, her recipes are great. It's awesome when I'm in the store and forget all the items for the recipe.
Fido Factor: Because we bring out puppy (our 95 pound puppy mind you) everywhere we can, this is a great app! I love that it tells you about restaurants, parks, and other places your little four legged kid is allowed!

So there are just a few of my favorites...let me know if you have other great ones too!

Roan's Birthday Party

2010-06-21T12:43:00.000-07:00

Being a Bay Area photographer allows you to photograph great people and amazing places. However, I am always truly honored when someone asks me to celebrate a milestone by photographing an event that they are having.

I got this such honor when I was the photographer for Roan's 1 year old birthday party. Now Roan may not remember this party when he is older. But luckily he will have photos from the day to see that his friends and family members had a blast!

Let's start off with the cake. Roan had the most awesome birthday cake for the party...

...make that TWO awesome birthday cakes!

And they were yummy!

And even though Roan was a little small to go into the Jump Jump, it didn't stop everyone else from having a great time in it.

Plus, being the birthday boy means you get lots of kisses and get to be the center of attention!

And before everyone headed off for a train ride around Lemos Farms, there was plenty of food to go around.

And it wouldn't be an awesome first birthday party without a pinata and a giant balloon!

Have a great year Roan! And I can't wait to see you next year!!!

California Wine Country

2010-06-18T07:39:00.000-07:00

Every year we head up to Wine Country with friends to taste and buy some great wines. And as some people say....we have a wine buying problem. We buy faster than we drink. Luckily we have friends that are more than willing to help us even out the buying to drinking ratio. :-)

This year we went up to the Russian River Valley and had an absolute treat! The winemaker at Unti, one of our favorites, gave us a private tour and barrel tasting of upcoming releases. I really tried to get one of those barrels on the back of the car but it didn't work.

Sebastian, the wine maker, gives us a tour of the grape vines. Showing us how they thin out each vine by hand and how they move the leaves to shade the grape clusters if there is too much sun.

Aren't the little clusters cute!

And just to give you a reference of just how big those barrels are....

If you are up in wine country, be sure to stop by Unti. They have amazing wines and the nicest staff you could ever meet!!!

Henry 8 Months Old

2010-06-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

If you have followed my blog, you know that I think Henry is the cutest little thing under 4 feet tall! I love his little giggles and big ole smile! It is such a joy to photograph him and hang out with his Mom, Amanda.

These photos from Henry's 8 month old photo session just shows how happy a little munchkin he is! Amanda is also great at getting him to laugh uncontrollably...

...And he wears his I heart Mommy shirt so proudly!!!a

Plus it's never to early to learn to stay in shape by doing push ups.

Or to be fascinated by the camera lights.

And don't even think of taking his little ball away....because he'll put those little hands right back in his mouth.

And to melt your heart one last time...here is Henry's sweet little smile.

Kate and Matt's Engagement Session

2010-06-14T07:59:00.001-07:00

Kate and Matt are getting married next month and I'm so excited! They are a couple who have plans to make their wedding uniquely theirs and I love that. I don't want to spoil the surprise but I'll give you a sneak peak into just how cute they are together from photos from their engagement session.

Being a wedding photographer, I love it when my clients have ideas that are soooo them! (And I have to admit, most of my brides are and that's why I love them!) Kate and Matt do a lot of hiking, especially in Edgewood Park. It is a beautiful park with some very nice trails so if you get the chance to go...do.

Kate and Matt were major troopers...climbing up on this fallen tree and being great sports!

There are so many beautiful spots, trees, flowers, and trails to see and explore in Edgewood Park. I particularly love this one!!!

Minx Nails

2010-06-11T08:26:00.000-07:00

I have always loved getting my nails done. And especially doing outrageous colors on my toenails. And now that Summer is here and we have been stuck inside all winter my toenails are as crazy as ever.

I heard about this new application called Minx Nails. It's basically plastic with cool patterns on it that they wrap around your nail. It stays on for at least two months and it is durable. I've done photography sessions at the beach with no shoes on and they have completely held up. Regular nail polish doesn't even do that!

Check out all the cool patterns they have at Minx Nails. And if you're in the Bay Area, Valentino's in Burlingame has trained manicurist to apply them.

Playing in the Sand

2010-06-09T07:42:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know, my husband loves to play golf. And I have even started to play around with learning it too. So when Mick, my golf instructor, asked if I could take some photos of him giving a group lesson I was all for it.

The lesson was in the sand and due to the this being a photography session instead of a "real lesson" I recruited my husband and a couple of friends to stand in as students.

Now Mick is a great golf instructor. I told him to start as if this was a real lesson and ignore me. He began teaching the group about the technique needed to get a golf ball out of the sand and then demonstrated it before working with each student individually.

Each student got personalized instructions based on how they swing their club and their skill level.

And in the end...it turned out to be a real lesson for the three of them. And my husband Robert, has even been able to get out of the sand traps since them. Complete success!

Mick truly is a great golf instructor. If you want to learn call to make an appointment with him at Mariners Point Golf Course.

James and Sophia Engagment Photos

2010-06-07T07:34:00.000-07:00

When I spoke with James and Sophia about where they wanted their engagement photography session, they knew immediately. They wanted anywhere on the coast. And who could blame them? The coast of Northern California is beautiful, breathtaking, and sometimes a little cold. After having amazing weather on Saturday, the coast decided to be not so gracious on Sunday during our engagement photography session.

But James and Sophia were great troopers and decided to brave the cold weather anyway. Sophia even started out in this adorable dress and you would never know that it was absolutely bone chilling! She's a natural model!!!

After a wardrobe change...we continued photographing them. They are so cute and so in love, you can't help but be giddy around them.

Thankfully that wave did not get them wet...it barely missed! One of the things that I love doing with my brides is to collaborate on ideas. Sophia had this great one and it's how we ended the day!

Best Wishes James and Sophia!

Cooking Party at the Mountain Winery

2010-05-15T18:43:00.000-07:00

I received a phone call from a caterer I had met asking..."Are you free to photograph a cooking party?" Now being a total Food Network Junkie, I was intrigued and happy that I was free on the date of the party.

I had never been to a cooking party before and was definitely wondering what would happen....and would I get some of the food? The party was at the Mountain Winery and was being catered by Cuisine Style by Pamela Keith.

The clients from Barracuda Networks arrives with excitement and a little apprehension about the cooking party. The clients were broken into teams and told that their secret ingredient was Pizza Dough! Everyone was going to grill their own pizzas and be judged just like on Iron Chef. Each team would get to choose their own toppings from a huge selection of fresh ingredients.

Then each team would roll out their dough and grill one side before topping it and finish cooking it on the grill.

Teams then showed off their final pizzas for the judging.

And posed for photos with their creations.

And the winning team is.....

And if winning wasn't enough, each person got a bag of cookies to take home compliments of Cuisine Style by Pamela Keith.

If you get a chance to have anything from Cuisine Style by Pamela Keith, jump right in and don't hold back. I was lucky enough to get a pizza for myself and I have to say it was one of the best pizzas I have ever had!

Kickin' it with the kids

2010-05-08T19:24:00.000-07:00

With Mother's Day right around the corner...tomorrow in case some of you forgot...I thought I would highlight a great gift that was given to a Mom (and Grandma)!

As a present to their Mom, her two sons got their families together for pictures with Grandma. It was a great session and tons of fun.

The twins were just adorable...

...but their brother made sure that we all were having a great laugh too!

Don't worry...we got the "behaving" picture too.

And not to be out done by their cousins...the girls were perfect angels.

Mostly....

But being outside at such as great location as Gamble Garden Center in Palo Alto kept the smiles coming.

So if you get a chance, head over to the park and enjoy the scenery...and the people watching.

How cute is my smile?

2010-04-28T20:25:00.000-07:00

Henry has the cutest smile and loves to show it off! During his 6 month portrait photography session, he made sure to not to disappoint!

I love this look....a pictures is worth a thousand words, especially when you can't understand the words a 6 month old is saying. :-)

Henry is stylin' in his awesome hat!

Just can't resist those little feet!!!!

Thank You for Supporting a Great Charity

2010-04-12T19:48:00.000-07:00

I wanted to thank everyone for supporting the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep charity. The family that I made the photo of and was entered into the competition is now a finalist!

Winners are announced on March 26th, so keep your fingers crossed. And again, thank you to all who voted to help support such a great cause!

Last Chance to Help a Great Cause!!!

2010-04-07T21:09:00.000-07:00

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep is a wonderful organization that helps families who have lost a newborn. By voting for North America's Cutest Family, you can help out a great charity and all donations are fully tax deductible.

Voting ends tomorrow at 11:59pm Mountain Standard Time. Only the top family from each city gets to go to the finals, so please vote for the family represented by Rhonda Giedt Photography!

Online Dating Profile Pictures

2010-04-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

Online dating profile pictures are important to catching the eye to potential suitors. But no one wants a stuffy head shot or a photo that doesn't represent their personality. Enter Chrissy. When Chrissy hired me to do her dating profile pictures but like most people she hates getting her picture taken.

So we sat down and made a plan. She likes wine, cooking, throwing dinner parties, and hanging out with great friends. She travels all over the world and is so awesome to talk to that I almost forgot to take photos!

With this plan we decided to head to Kepler's Book Store to pick up some magazine on cooking and grab a glass of lemonade and scone the neighborhood cafe.

Chrissy wanted the photos to be professional but still casual. While chatting with her doing the session in Menlo Park, she mentioned that she loves going to the beach and a thought popped in my mind...

...Let's go to the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay! They have great wine, a killer view, and amazing service. Unfortunately it was extremely windy and freezing cold! So we headed inside to the restaurant and grabbed a glass of wine.

And before heading back we enjoyed the nice warm fire place and then headed back over the hill just in time for Chrissy to make her dinner party.

Chrissy, it was so awesome hanging out with you! We will have to do it again, especially when it's warmer on the coast.

Vote and Help a Great Charity!!

2010-03-25T21:36:00.000-07:00

Hello all! If you follow my blog you know that I am participating in the International Charity Model Search. All proceeds from the voting goes to the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation which assists families who are about to loose or have lost a newborn child.

Please vote for the family I have submitted to help support a great cause! To vote just search by my last name and click on the family's photo to vote. Go vote today!!!

Jenny and Ben Engagement Photographs

2010-03-22T19:40:00.000-07:00

Jenny is a HUGE San Francisco Giant's fan. She loves going to the games and kicking it in her season ticket seats right behind where Barry Bond's use to play outfield. With so many games to go to in the baseball season, Jenny posted an ad online to see if she could find someone to attend the games with....and Ben answered!

For their engagement photographs, Jenny had a clear idea of what she wanted. She wanted to have her photos taken at AT&T Park, where the Giants play. I was so excited about the location and love how Jenny and Ben brought ideas and their own unique spin to the photography session.

One of the ideas that I loved was the baseball with the engagement ring photo that Jenny thought up! She even supplied the baseball and I totally love how it came out.

Ben was great throughout the session. He likes baseball and going to the games too. Jenny wanted a baseball shaped wedding cake, but for a nice compromise they decided to do the engagement photographs at the ballpark and have a traditional wedding cake.

J.T. Snow is one of Jenny's favorite players (after all isn't he everyone's favorite player)? And she stopped to pose with his plaque on the sidewalk across from the ballpark.

After taking shots outside the ballpark, we got to head inside to take some photos in Jenny's season ticket seats. Great seats! I'm going to have to wrangle a trip to a ballgame from them. ;-)

Finally to wrap up we took some photos in front of the main gate. It was a great day, perfectly sunny, and a day that I will remember due to the great company of Jenny and Ben!

Nominee for Best Wedding Photographer

2010-03-20T21:36:00.001-07:00

We are proud to announce that Rhonda Giedt Photography has been nominated for Best Wedding Photographer by Bay List! Voting starts in a couple of weeks, so get your clicking finger ready to vote. We'll be sending a reminder when the voting starts.

3 Pain-Free Reasons to get a Family Portrait

2010-02-06T10:13:00.000-08:00

There are 3 Pain-Free Reasons to get a Family Portrait taken right now.

1. You could win a new car!
By participating in the International Charity Model Search to find North America's Cutest Family, you could win a new car.

2. You're helping out a good cause!
The Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep charity helps families during a very difficult time in their life. You can find out more about the charity here http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/.

3. Gift giving ideas for the year!
With Mother's Day, Father's Day, and those birthdays of the Grandparents coming up, you can get a jump on your gift giving by giving what everyone loves....a family portrait!

5 Reasons to take Engagement Photographs

2010-02-03T19:42:00.000-08:00

Planning your wedding involves many details, lots of appointments with wedding vendors, and a ton of decisions to be made and the last thing you feel that you have is extra time. Therefore you may ask yourself, do I really need to have Engagement Photographs when I have fifty thousand things to do?

The answer is yes and here are 5 Reasons to take Engagement Photographs!

1. You'll get to know your wedding photographer better.
Doing an engagement session gives your and your wedding photographer an opportunity to get to know each other better. You will get to see how your wedding photographer works, directs, and poses you. You will also be able to give feedback on poses that you like and don't like and to bring up any additional questions you may have before the wedding. In addition, the photographer will get to know you and your finance's personalities more and be able to reflect that in your wedding photographs.

2. You'll get use to having a camera in your face.
Unless you are a celebrity, you are not use to having someone around taking photos constantly and having a flash go off every now and then. The more comfortable you are around the camera and your photographer, the more nature your wedding photographs will come out.

3. You'll be able to personalize your wedding.
Using engagement photos for Save-The-Date cards, wedding favors, or wedding decoration accents gives your wedding a more personal touch. Frame photos can sit near the table where guest can pick up their seating assignments or as an entry way welcome to your guests.

If it's hot out, you can use the photos to make a unique fan that guests will ooohhh and ahhhh over.

Or you can use it as part of your favors, such as making a CD with your favorite songs as a couple to hand out to guests.

4. Make your guest book be memorable.
Engagement photographs can be used in photo guest books. Or a framed photo with an extra large boarder can be used signed by guests and later hang in your home as decoration.

5. Announcing your engagement.
In years past, formal engagement announcements were always put in the newspaper. Now a days, announcements go out on social networking sites, email, and several other electronic methods. And as they say, a photo says a thousand words, so make your announcement even more special with an engagement photo.

Model Search to find North America's Cutest Family

2010-02-01T10:08:00.000-08:00

Rhonda Giedt Photography is participating in the International Charity Model Search to select North America’s Cutest Family and to raise funds for the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation. (NILMDTS.org)

Are your loved ones North America’s Cutest Family? We’ll give you the opportunity to prove it! Many exciting prizes will be awarded, and the grand prize winner receives a new car!

Model Search Special:
$50 entrance fee includes a 30-minute model session and one image submitted to the national gallery.

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Each vote is $1 (no limit on the amount of votes you can cast), and all proceeds from votes benefit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org).

Grand prize international winner will be determined from the 52 city finalists. The winners will be selected from the finalist gallery by photography and modeling industry experts. The winning family also receives a session with the renowned portrait artist Sandy Puc’ and international recognition.

Call 415-336-3834 now to enter your family in this exciting contest.

*Contest open to residents of the US and Canada. For more information, visit http://sandypucmodels.com/.

Rockin' Out

2010-01-31T10:00:00.000-08:00

Henry is growing up so fast and discovering new things everyday. It is so much fun to share in and document his growth for his parents. As usual Henry was ready to get his picture taken as soon as he showed up.

Showing his rockin' personality, he was one cool customer as he got ready for his guitar solo.

But the excitement just couldn't be contained...and the giggles followed quickly.

Now contemplating his next poses....

...and getting in some last minute hand in the mouth time....

...we decided that smiles and giggles were always a good way to go.

Now a rock star cannot be held to just a couple of poses. If we were going to do this kid photography thing right, we needed to take some tummy shots. Plus, the blanket tasted really, really good!

So now that the photography session is over, I can just kick back and relax waiting for a binki and maybe a diaper change.

Check back for upcoming tour dates for my 5 months photos! Coming soon!

Wedding Photography: Kari and Julian's Wedding Reception

2010-01-25T16:25:00.000-08:00

Kari and Julian were married at one of the most beautiful spots in San Francisco, City Hall. You may remember the photos from their wedding, but if not you can re-visit them here: http://photosbyrhonda.blogspot.com/2009/11/julian-and-karis-wedding.html.

Kari and Julian has a unique plan to their wedding events. They were married at San Francisco City Hall and after the wedding we took photos of them around the city on a gorgeous day. Then they were off for an intimate dinner with their family and a lovely night in the city. You're asking...what about the reception?

Well that's the unique part...they decided to have their wedding reception a month after they got married. They invited their friends and family members to celebrate with them at the Thirsty Bear in San Francisco.

Kari and Julian love visiting breweries and tasting different types of beer, so the Thirsty Bear and their private upstairs area made for a perfect setting that was uniquely them.

In addition to mingling, chatting with friends and family members, the Thirsty Bear had games to challenge both the young and young at heart.

And the food was absolutely amazing! From the appetizers to dinner no one went hungry and most went back for seconds!

And the focus of dinner? The Paella! Not only was it mouth watering but it was huge!

After dinner, the bride and groom and their guests were treated to a tour of the brewery.

And were able to taste the grains and smell the beer in the barrels.

Don't forget about the traditional toast and of course the wedding cake. The couple and their parents gave touching toasts to their guests before cutting the cake.

The cake highlighted fall with rich colors and yummy fillings.

Even though the temptation was there for the cake exchange...

everyone behaved....

The guests and family members, as well as myself, had a great time and we wish Kari and Julian all the best!

Henry 3 Months

2010-01-19T16:34:00.000-08:00

It is so great when I get to document the growth of a cutie like Henry! Each month he has learned something new or discovered how to do something and I just get the biggest kick out of it. For Henry's 3 month photography session, he had learned to smile! He was just full of smiles when he came into the studio and they lasted for a while.

I even got some bubbles out of him....

And the greatest look of....hmmm, what can I do now to just melt their hearts?

And don't forget that hands are very, very tasty!

I can't wait to see Henry for his four month photos! Wonder what will be discovered next?

Top Wedding Trends for 2010

2010-01-08T10:52:00.000-08:00

As a wedding photographer I am slightly amused by the Top 10 Wedding Trends of 2010 lists that have been popping up on the web lately. There are a ton of them out there and each day my Google Alerts tell me about more trends that newly engaged couples should consider. Therefore, I thought I would compile a list of the common...and no so common trends being posted on the web.

Trend #1
This is my trend to you, if you are planning your wedding feel free to take inspiration from upcoming trends, but always be true to yourself. If you make your wedding personal to you and your fiance, then you will always look back on the wedding photos and memories fondly and never say..."Wow! What was I thinking!"

Most Popular Trends
Eco-Friendly Favors: These can range from seeds that people can plant in their yard to tea leaves to anything bamboo created.

Backyard Weddings: Cozy settings of backyards with personal DIY touches and close friends and family members.

Mismatched Bridesmaid Dresses: The bride picks the color and the bridesmaids pick the style and shoes.

Groom Cakes: For anyone who is addicted to the Food Network as I am, you have seen the amazing cakes that they make and grooms are hopping on board for personal and unique cakes just for them!

Wedding Photo Booths at the Reception: This can be handled one of two ways. One, you can rent a photo booth for the reception. Two, you can talk with your wedding photographer and set up a photo booth area for the second photographer to take fun pictures of your guests!

Buttercream Frosting: My mouth is just watering thinking of that! Instead of fondant, buttercream! If you haven't tasted buttercream frosting and filling get yourself to a cake store and do some tastings in the name of your engagement!!! (It was one of my favorite parts of being engaged!)

Color: Adding vibrant colors into the wedding and reception.

HD Videos: Get your weddings on Blu-Ray now.

Strapless Wedding Gowns: Enough said.

Other Trends
Bird Cage Veils: These veils are inspired from old Hollywood and give a spin on a traditional veil.

Feathers: On the veil, feathers can add a unique touch...think Sex and the City the Movie.

Videos at the Reception: Videos of photos from the couples childhood, engagement, and trips they have taken set to music.

Mix of DJ and a Band: To get the best of both worlds couples are mixing these two together to keep their guest dancing all night.

Photo Engagement Guest Books: Couples are using their engagement photos to create memorable guest books.

Landscape Centerpieces: Add drama and impact with centerpieces that can later be planted in your backyard.

The Color Red: Add punch to your reception and ceremony by incorporating red into bridesmaid dresses, table linens, cake, and centerpieces.

Now there are several other trends floating around out there that would take all year to compile, but these are the most popular and some that have even shown up on a couple of lists. If you have more trends or want to share your own, feel free to post in the comment section!

Getting Fancy in a Red Tutu

2009-12-21T16:52:00.000-08:00

Shilio was as cute as a ballerina in a red tutu could be and became the dancing queen when the music began! Her Mom and Dad got some great family portraits for their Christmas gifts but also thought ahead to bring the cutest little tute and set of pearls ever! Shilio was a complete doll and so wonderful to work with!

Family Fun

2009-12-12T13:03:00.000-08:00

I always try to have fun when I am photographing. However, it helps a bunch if you have a family that is also full of fun and are willing to try out some crazy poses!

Of course, with any fun, you have to start with the basics. A family that is happy and smiling!

Kids with their personality shinning through.

Parents often put their kids first, but they deserve to be center stage too.

Now sometimes to get the family all looking and smiling all at the same time I bribe them with candy. This is what happens when someone finds the candy jar and gets their own candy. ;-)

And then after that the kids were all ready to pose to get more candy...even if it was just a "normal" pose.

All in all this was a great time and I'm happy that the family had as much fun as I did. Plus there will always be candy here if they want it!