Give me all the wild, wiggly kids! My approach to family photo sessions | Napa Family Photographer

I get it. You have invested in a family photo shoot. You’ve put time into coordinating everyone’s outfits. This has been on the calendar for weeks. You arrive and your kids are all over the place, no one is listening, the little one instantly falls in the dirt the moment you step out of the car. It may seem chaotic to you, but this is my jam. Here are 5 tips to think about your family photos in a different way, that can make ALL the difference…

1. Start introducing the session a few days before. Remind your kids that “we are meeting up with my friend Margy on Saturday to play in the vineyard! She is bringing her camera to take some photos of us playing together!” This approach goes much further than asking for good behavior at the session. I want your kids to be excited to go play vs. seeing it as a chore or undesirable task.

2. Have a snack before, bring snacks for during, and make plans for a snack or fun trip afterwards. There is always one child that needs a little break during photos, and a quick snack is a great way for them to reset. A plan for an ice cream outing post-photos, or a promise to make popcorn at home after as a family afterwards helps keeps them focused during the session, and gives them something go look forward to.

3. Wait until you arrive at the session location to put final clothing on for little ones. Leave the house in a play shirt, and when you arrive, pop on their photo shoot shirt as you’re getting out of the car.

4. You think your kids are misbehaving—I call it spirited ;) I encourage kids to run, play and be silly. Yes, I will do my best to get a shot of everyone looking at the camera, but that is not my goal. My goal is to get images that show your family being yourself. I will never say “SMILE!!”…and you won’t need to either. I will ask your kids if they like french fries, or mac and cheese. You would be surprised how much genuine joy appears on your child’s face when they are just having simple conversation. This also helps avoid the dreaded strained and pained “toddler smile” . Lol.

5. No matter how stressed you feel, take a deep breath and go with the flow. I will direct and run the session. I promise that parental energy during a session makes all the difference. See it as an opportunity to play with your kids, and everyone will shine.

**I have been photographing this family for years now, and they ALWAYS come to play. It never goes according to “plan”, but honestly, what does? Their galleries are some of my favorites, because there is so much life and love within them.

Photographing Children with Special Needs | Napa Family Photographer

Having a child with special needs can present fears or concerns when you want to have family photos taken. I’m here to tell you that there is no reason to have that stop you! Yes, the session will be approached slightly differently, but it’s a simple shift, and can make all the difference! Same goes for photographers who have a client with special needs. Here are five things I do differently during our session if you have a child with special needs:

1. I can create a “Hi! I’m Margy!” video for you to share with your child before the session, so they can see me and become familiar with me before we do photos. I understand sometimes new people, new routines and new places can be a hard transition, so any bit of familiarity before can help!

2. As a parent, make a list of a few things that you know help bring your child joy. Is that spinning, twirling, running or being thrown in the air? A bubble machine? Write them down beforehand so if the child is feeling unsure, we have a toolbox of things to help them shine!

3. If the child feels more comfortable in a parents arms the entire time—that is completely ok!! Wherever they feel safe is where they should be. If there is a wheelchair or limited mobility, we will center the session around them, and bring everyone close together and connected.

4. No one has to look at the camera. My goal is to capture your child in whatever they are interested in. I don’t need eye contact or verbal interaction to get wonderful images of your child. I go with the flow, and will never make the child do anything they aren’t comfortable doing.

5. Let’s help each other out! I am happy to jump on a phone call or video chat to make sure we are setting each other up for success.

Gary Morisoli - Farmer Project | Napa Vineyard Photography

Gary was born in St. Helena and was raised mostly by his grandfather Plinio and grandmother Clementine Morisoli. His first job was working as a paper delivery boy for the Napa Register and mowing lawns for neighbors. Gary quickly was brought up as a farmer by helping and watching his grandfather work on the family Ranch on Niebaum Lane in Rutherford.

After getting married to Melody in 1980 (one of my favorite people!), they moved to Rutherford full time and Gary began managing up to 300 acres of western Rutherford benchland. Some of the ranches Gary cared for include Hewitt, Hornberger, Bosché, Sycamore, Avenali, Godward and Cohn. In his own vineyard, he sold grapes to some classic wineries in Napa Valley like Whitehall Lane, Elyse, V. Sattui, Grgich, Seqouia Grove, Etude, Beaulieu Vineyards and Amici. Some of the single vineyard wines produced from his vineyard have been acclaimed as some of the best wines out of Napa Valley.

Gary uses a classic, tried and true approach to growing grapes. His implementation of vintage tractors, french plows and a variety of old discs and cultivators keep the ground well worked and weed free without the use of herbicides. Most all of the tractors he utilizes are from the 1940s to the 1970s and are well maintained and in his own words “simple to work on” so they are kept in action. Gary will always be found either on a tractor or scouting the vineyards from his blue bicycle ensuring everything is well in order.

In 2018 Gary & Melody’s son Chris returned from 12 years of active duty in the Army as a METEVAC pilot. He is working on the ranch, and since Chris has returned, the first vintage under the label of Morisoli Vineyard has been harvested! It will be the first time the family has created wine for sale and not just for their own consumption ;)

Thank you to Melody & Chris for all your help on this!

What's Happening in the Vineyard - Budbreak

After the vines are pruned, the buds on the vines begin to swell, and eventually burst open, tiny leaves unfolding into the world, clusters of a new vintage. These new buds must be protected fiercely—mainly from frost. In the spring, temperatures can dip down below freezing, (mostly overnight and in the early morning hours) and must be watched carefully. If frost reaches this new growth, the entire crop can be wiped out. There are two main ways now that these buds are protected from being destroyed by frost season.

Wind Machines: Wind machines mix warmer hair from above with cold air from below. Mixing these inversion layers result in a more moderate temperature to protect the tissues of the buds from frost damage. It also helps ventilate the growing area of the vineyard, and helps prevent pools of cold air from forming on or around the plant surfaces.

Spinklers: When water is sprayed in freezing temperatures, it freezes around the plant material and green tissues—and releases heat in this process, protecting the buds. A constant and large amount of water is needed for this method (sprinklers), to create a freezing coating around the vine buds and shoots to release enough heat and raise the temperature to protect them.

**Before frost alarms and weather stations, farmers stayed up all night, lighting smudge pots and monitoring the temperature. Smudge pots are oil burning devices placed in and around the vineyard creating warmth and smoke to raise the temperature around the new growth. They are no longer used, but you can still see them scattered throughout the valley, typically next to endposts, or on the edges of vineyards. Even though there are devices that help predict freezing temperatures and automations that make this all easier than the past, this time of year is still incredibly stressful protecting the vines. A cup of coffee and some patience goes a long way in the spring ;)

Obsessed: Nine Favorite Things

1. Backpack…I got this at Target and I love it. It looks way more expensive than it is and it has tons of space and pockets. I have been using it to carry everything for my photo shoots and it is working perfectly!

2. What I’m reading…Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. So good—an unexpected twist at the end!! I bought this in the airport and read most of this on the plane, and actually finished it when I got home! Success!

3. Mother Denim—are they expensive? Yes. Do I reach for them almost everyday not want to peel them off as soon as I get home? Also yes. I also get random women asking me what brand they are in the grocery store parking lot or in line for coffee.

4. What I make every time I get invited to someone’s house…Marinated Feta & Olives. If you don’t know about What’s Gaby Cooking, go check her website out now. She’s the best and I love t every recipe I make from her site. Chef’s Kiss.

5. Air Fort—I had a friend put this up on her Instagram story the other day and I went and bought it for my nephew for his birthday. Both nephews love it. (Plus, it keeps them from tearing apart the couch, where dog hair and crumbs have gone to die.) It folds back up into a small drawstring bag, so it doesn’t take up a bunch of space. All you have to do is attach a box fan to it! I can see it being a big hit in the summertime.

6. Lola Pinot Noir— I would drink this every night. It’s so delicious. The Lola Russian River Pinot is the best, but the California Pinot is also pretty dang good as well. They also have the cutest little brick cottage tasting room in Calistoga!

7. Leggings—I learned about these from the blogger Kathleen Barnes, and they did not disappoint. I have multiple pairs, and give them away as gifts. They are super inexpensive and are so comfy. They don’t suddenly become see-through when you squat, and have pockets the side for your phone. They are incredibly soft and I reach for them over my bougie leggings.

8. Madewell sneakers—I am loving this retro sneaker trend, so I had to get myself a pair. These are also so comfortable and I can wear them all day and my feet don’t ache! Win-win.

9. Chili Gods Hot Pepper Sauce. The best hot sauce. They also have a green one, and a few other flavors. My friend told me about these and we always have them in our fridge with a backup in the pantry. Perfect amount of hot. They are also from Sonoma, so extra plus that they’re local!

What's Happening in the Vineyard - Pruning | Napa Vineyard Photography

During the winter months, grapevines are resting in dormancy. It prepares them for the new growing season - start of a new vintage.

Pruning is the act of trimming growth from the previous year’s canes. Usually about 90% of the wood is removed, to balance the buds. that will help to maintain health and future production of the grapevine over time. When a vineyard is pruned depends on the site itself, and is always differnt. Factors such as well as grape variety, rootstock are taken into account, and the pruning is modified to these variables.  Fruit quality and production quantity all begins with how a grapevine is pruned. The number of shoots or positions on a vine are decided during pruning—controlling the cluster size, count and the overall quality potential of the grape being grown.

With grapevines, there are two main ways to prune:

1. Spur Pruning: This is done on vines that have one or two bilateral arms (a permanent cordon) trained along a trellis system. These are the classic "T” shaped vines that come to mind when thinking about a dormant grapevine.

2. Cane Pruning: These vines consist of a vine trunk, head and multiple canes from the previous years that are left behind when pruning. Those canes are laid down and tied to the training wire.

At the end of the growing season, those canes are removed, and new canes will replace them for the next vintage.

Salvador Preciado - Farmer Project | Napa Vineyard Photography

Salvador immigrated from El Grullo Jalisco, Mexico in the early 1970s. He began his journey in the vineyards working for Emmolo Nursery where he gained his grafting knowledge. He was able to start his own freelance grafting business in the mid ‘70s. In the 1980’s, phylloxera infested many of the vines in Northern California, threatening its entire wine industry. For over ten years, Salvador and his crew played a crucial role in grafting over infected vines with resistant rootstock, preventing the collapse of the local grape production in Napa and Sonoma valleys. His incredible skills have taken him throughout the worlds most prominent wine regions, traveling to work in France, Spain, Italy and South America.
Salvador has raised his family in St. Helena, and over 40 years later is still grafting and consulting for some of the top wineries in the area. Not only is he a master and pioneer grafter, but he is a highly respected man in his community and the wine industry as a whole.

Spring Family Photos > Fall Family Photos? | Napa Family Photography

A couple months ago my friend and talented photographer Justine DiFede and I were talking and she said she thought it was funny how everyone always wanted family photos in the fall when everything was dying. She thought spring photos would be so much better. So true!! That got me thinking…Don’t get me wrong, fall family photos are always a favorite. The rich, deep colors of fall can seem unparalleled, and its perfect timing to send out an updated photo of the fam for holiday cards, but I really think people should consider switching to spring family photos.

This year in California, spring seems to have sprung a month early, and I have done some family shoots in the last couple weeks and I am obsessed with them! The green grass is vibrant, flowers are blooming. The sun feels so good, so everyone is happy to be outside.

• Everyone isn’t all stressed out with all the holiday travel, present buying, wrapping and sending. You aren’t meal planning to have the entire family over to your house.

• The last thing you feel like doing is getting everyone dressed and out the door to family photos!

• My schedule isn’t packed to the brim so you have more choices for dates and times.

• Everything in the air is fresh, new, and flowering.

• It isn’t fire season.

• It isn’t harvest.

• Need I say more? Click below if you’re ready to learn more!

The more I think about it, spring family photos really should really be the new fall family photos. Just sayin’.

***Side note: This beautiful family was supposed to do fall photos, but long story short, it got pushed to February, and I am not sad about it. I think it all worked out for the best. Look at how stunning they are!!

What to Wear to your Family Session | Napa Family Photography

One thing most clients struggle with is choosing outfits for the whole family! I have put together five tips to hopefully take the stress out of dressing your fam for your session!

FIVE TIPS TO DRESSING THE ENTIRE FAMILY FOR A PHOTOSHOOT

1. MOM—PICK WHAT YOU’RE WEARING FIRST! Choose something you love and feel beautiful and comfortable in! Then build the rest of the family outfits around what you’re wearing!

2. SMART FOOTWEAR! Hey, I’m all about the cute heels, but keep in mind that we may be in a vineyard or on uneven ground, or it could have rained the day before (hello mud!)…either way, just be conscious about what footwear you choose—for yourself and your kids! I often have the kids run and play during the session! Of course, you are always welcome to bring two pairs of shoes to mix it up.

3. STICK TO NEUTRALS! Neutrals blend together well—if someone is wearing a ultra bright color and everyone else is in neutral tones, they stick out and the eye is drawn to them in every photograph! You certainly don’t have to match…but my best advice is to blend :)

4. NO LOGOS! Logos or any writing on your clothing is distracting and takes away from the connection and love that is being shared in your photographs!

5. CHOOSE AHEAD OF TIME! Do the outfit picking a week or two ahead of time! The last thing you want is to realize someones shoes don’t fit, or a shirt is “too itchy”! Set yourself up for success and decide on everyones outfits with plenty of time to spare.

Frank Leeds - Farmer Project | Napa Vineyard Photographer

In 1926, Frank’s grandparents, Apolonio and Emily Chavez acquired the Helios Ranch in Rutherford (including the Ink House) and added Petite Syrah and Zinfandel to the existing vineyard. During prohibition, vines were replaced with walnut trees, only to be returned to grapes from the 1930’s through the 1950’s. In 1984, Frank’s uncle passed away, leaving Frank and his siblings to take over the property.
For the next six years, Frank maintained his job as an aircraft mechanic, and learned everything he could about dry and organic farming from his venerable Uncle Roy (Chavez). The family ranch has never had irrigation, the grapes rely only on annual rainfall for the crops moisture needs. The soil is cultivated specifically to store winter rains to sustain them throughout the growing season. Many in the industry look to Frank and the Leeds family for organic farming guidance, as he is a pioneer in the field. He has been instrumental in the development of programs focused on sustainability, organic farming, and proactive pest management.
Today, Frank and his eldest daughter, Lauren, manage the family ranch together as well as other properties. They follow the same farming practices as the generations before them. Frank is currently the VP and director of Vineyard Operations at Frog’s Leap Winery, where he has been for 30 years. He is active in many organizations including Napa Valley Grapegrowers and the Rutherford Dust Society.

ESB Mastermind Program | Photography Business Mentoring

I just got home from an incredible weekend in Seattle for the ESB Mastermind retreat. For the past six months, I have been learning, growing and working with a group of women from all over the world to build up my brand, business and overall quality of life. Elena S. Blair put together a diverse and dynamic group, and last weekend I got to meet everyone in person. It would be impossible to write out everything I gained from this mastermind, but I thought I would put together a list of takeaways and advice I had from the program and the experience.

INVESTMENT

• Make a commitment to put in the time and effort. No one else is going to change your business for you—SHOW UP. At the time I started the Mastermind, I had a full time job, and lots of irons in the fire. I did my best to be present for all the group coaching calls, and I think it made all the difference. Some moms had their babies on their laps pretty much every meeting — they came honorary members! Other women made sure they had a babysitter on meeting days to hold themselves accountable. Let’s be real, we all have busy lives, but I do think making the commitment to be present and participate made a huge difference! You can say “I don’t have time…” but I believe there is time is a choice and you can have time for everything you want—but you have to make time for it.

  Originally, the investment seemed like a lot of money—in retrospect, we received more than I could have ever imagined. All the information, meetings, speakers, Elena’s time/knowledge/availability, the retreat, the friendships created…I could go on. But let’s just say she could have charged a hell of a lot more for the time and heart she puts into this group. If you’re thinking about joining and are on the fence, do yourself a favor and get on the waitlist and apply anyway!

COMMUNITY

• Yes—the information and group are handed to you once you’re in the Mastermind, but the community is what you make of it. I am proud to say that our group crushed this part. We had “Working Wednesdays” every week at 5:30pm, and a standing Zoom link that anyone sitting at their computer working could jump on and have some company. Photography—especially during busy season—can be so isolating, and I found it motivating and less daunting to get editing and other business done during that time instead of putting it off.

• Of course its a little awkward at first when you’re on video with a bunch of people you really don’t know, but soon enough you know everyone’s kids, pets and husbands by name!

• Everyone is in a different place in the business as well as their life. I found it fascinating that regardless of where people stood in their business or life, each member can help or contribute to yours in some way—even if you don’t know it yet.

• Some friends and family thought I was a little cray for flying off to Washington to meet and stay (we all shared a Airbnb) but I felt completely comfortable with these women I had never actually met in person—and since we all put in the time and effort to bond beforehand, when we got to the retreat we all felt like we had known each other for years! We stayed up late talking, drinking wine and enjoying everyones company.

ELENA AND HER TEAM ARE THE REAL DEAL

• Elena surrounds herself with GOOD, loving people, and brings the same people into her. Mary Vance is her CEO and business queen! Everyone could use a Rachael Ann in their lives to keep everyone together, organized and uploaded to Teachable haha! They all run their own successful businesses while making Elena’s run like a well oiled machine. I couldn’t believe how well we all got along—it was inspiring, fun and I would do it over in a heartbeat!

  …………

Here are some highlights from the retreat weekend…

Image by Mary Vance — Headshot exchange party! We all took turns taking photos of each other. It was so fun to watch everyone work and take a turn in front of the camera.

Foreground: Elena taking shots of the amazing Emily Feinsod. Background: Me fixing the hilarious Samantha McRoy’s hair :)

We were so lucky to get to watch the amazing Chloe Ramirez work her magic with a couple in studio. I loved watching her work and how she runs a session.

Images above by Danielle Douglas, my fellow Mastermind friend!

Image by Danielle Douglas. Elena did a breastfeeding/newborn shooting demo with Rachael Ann and her baby boy.

Venue: Northlight Studio, Seattle, WA

—-COMMUNITY OVER COMPETITION—-

Jose Albino Barrera - Farmer Project | Napa Vineyard Photography

Albino came to Napa from Bocaneo, Michoacán in 1975 with his brother and cousin. These three worked for Charles Krug and lived in the tank house on the Brown Ranch in Carneros (my parents lived in the ranch house). In 1979 he began working for Nissen Vineyard Services, and helped become part of the foundation for the company (which he still remains a member of forty years later). They brought many others from their tiny pueblo, and a good percentage of them still make up the NVS workforce. Albino went through the amnesty program in 1986, and eventually became a United States citizen. In the late 1980s, he learned how to mark and layout vineyards. He has marked upwards of 2,500 acres of vineyard in and around Napa County and still continues to do so today.

What is Lifestyle Newborn Photography? | Napa Newborn Photographer

What in the heck is lifestyle newborn photography?? There are so many photography genres these days it can get confusing! I call my style of newborn photography “Lifestyle Newborn Photography” and I wanted to highlight what that means, and what a session with me looks like.

• WHERE— A newborn session with me takes place in hour home. Having photos done in your home is safer and more comfortable for the entire family! You have everything you need for your baby at your fingertips. It also allows me to capture the personality and uniqueness of your family by doing it in your own space.

• WHEN—Whenever your are ready!! While some photographers prefer you schedule your session when the baby is 10 days old or less, I do not require this. The baby does not need to be asleep or awake—my session will be run the same regardless. You can reach out to me and let me know when you are due, and then we can secure a date once the baby has arrived and you and your family are ready for your session.

• WHO—Who can be present for the photoshoot? My newborn sessions are geared towards immediate family (parents and sibilngs!) However, I understand sometimes grandparents or other extended family will be there visiting or to help. I am happy to include them if you wish, but my main focus will be the immediate family.

• WHAT—What can I expect from my in-home newborn session? Your home doesn’t have to be perfect-I mean you do live there! I will poke around your house in search of the best available light and can easily move anything I think will be distracting. I always aim for images of baby alone, baby with each parent, baby and siblings, and whole family together! Wear something you feel comfortable in! I run baby-led sessions, so if the baby needs to eat, they eat. If they need to be changed, we take a break.

• WHY—Why should I have newborn photos done?? Because they’re only this tiny once. And everyone I know who doesn’t have images of their kids as newborns wishes that they did. You think you’ll take enough, but not everyone will be in them—usually mom. Make sure your kids have photos of you in them too! :)

Frank & Annie Emmolo - Farmer Project | Napa Vineyard Photography

Rutherford, California

Frank was raised with his hands in the dirt, helping run his family nursery and ranch wherever he could. His love of tractors is great, meticulously caring for and repairing them. Her worked long hours, nearly every day of the week, and rainy days were spent in the shop repairing equipment. Frosty springs were spent lighting smudge pots and starting wind machines all night long. When his father passed away in 1966, he took over Emmolo Nursery, and grew it to be the largest rootstock nursery in California. During harvest, he loved driving his double gondola to the CoOp (now Hall Winery), Charles Krug, and Oakville Winery (now Napa Wine Co.)

:::

Annie held her own in a man’s farming world, managing the office for Emmolo Nursery. She knows everything about planting, grafting and growing. She helped translate for their employees, put together crews, and drove tractor when she needed to. Annie was the second woman to obtain a license to haul gondolas to the winery. Where their three car garage stands now was originally built as a lath house, a mini nursery, where Annie sold small trees and plants.

:::

Today, these two boast an unbelievable vegetable and flower garden that they tend to daily as soon as the sun comes up. This year they “only planted about 40 tomato plants…” Just about every single one of their children and grandchildren are involved in the wine industry in some way. What an incredible testament to their hard work and roots in this special valley!

Mustard Flower Mini Sessions | Napa Family Photographer

The time is here! One of my favorite seasons in the valley is mustard season. The fields are painted with yellow everywhere you look, bringing life and color to winter.

MUSTARD MINI SESSIONS

TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL MUSTARD MINI SESSION:

• Choose clothing with colors like navy blue, creme, rust or beige. Since we will be in the mustard during these sessions, you want to choose a color that compliments yellow! Avoid logos and large words on your clothing.

• Proper footwear for yourself and especially your kiddos is a must! I have them run and play during these sessions, and there is no guarantee that the ground won’t be soft or muddy. Boots/rain boots or closed toed shoes are highly recommended.

• Please arrive early! Let your kids stretch their legs and get used to the surroundings! I run these sessions back-to-back, and since we do them at golden hour for best light, we need to keep on schedule!