When I met her mother, Gea, I was 23 and Gea was still in High School. I felt and instant repour with Gea and her mother Betsy. I became friends of the family; I became Gea’s mother agent. Gea modeled for city model management for years. I came to know and love Betsy and got to know Gea’s grandmother Joanie and got to hear the story of Gea’s great-grandmother Cookie. I visited their wonderful old home in old town San Jose. I always thought if I were to write an Epic novel this line of women would make a phenomenal slice of an American story. There is a very special story inside the generations of women that live and have lived in that house in San Jose.

One morning Gea called me at home to inform me that she had had a prophetic dream about me and her.  She said,” Kimmie, I had a dream about us last night. I dreamt we were both pregnant with girls”. Me, just having had given birth not 9 months previous, was like NOT!!! Some months later we both gave birth to girls. This is her girl!

My dear friend Edgar pulled the dress from a designer friend of his Mark Zunino, who if I could afford it, designs would fill my closet. He is a genius. We shot it in Edgar’s Twin Peaks apartment. 

10 feet tall and stunning

Her red shoes

waiting on a ride

Soft

Growing up

Her First Test

Edgar's wall

There she is

At the Saramonte shopping mall in 1970 there was a toy store, I can’t remember the name, it was situated in the Southern Wing of the mall on the western wall. The first time I saw them I must have been 6. There was a wall full of dolls. Collector’s editions as I know it today. Then all I desired was to hold one. To dress her put jewelry on her. I love the ball gowns all indicative of the confederate south. It’s no coincidence why I love, Gone with the Wind, Hello Dolly, My Fair Lady and many more. I am mad about beautiful clothes. Costumes if you will.  I spent many hours of my early childhood standing in front of that glass staring at those dolls. The one I wanted was a doll in a huge wedding ball gown. There were many reasons I didn’t have a doll collection, the first being I didn’t know how to take care of it. Somehow I have satisfied my need to play dress up with myself, my daughters and the brave girls that model for me for the sake of making a pretty picture. I have wondered for sometime my attraction to the fashionably feminine and beautiful. I am not gay; sometimes I wish I were, husbands are hard. I remember my mom telling me once the males of all species were more beautiful than the females, that was at an age when I was apt to believe anything she said. I knew that her statement was false. That was just impossible. I wanted to remind her of the fat bald smelly 50 year old man we walked past. I was also most grateful to my creator for making me a girl. I recall feeling like my creator got my costume just right, I felt so lucky to be a girl.

I caught a picture while I was gone. I didn’t plan it. It was a moment. Mia seeing for the first time what was inside her grandmother’s class case. Then it all came together. My attraction is a simple as hers. PRETTY. I like pretty things, among other things.

Her First Look

Let me in

 I also have a knack for making people feel prettier than they have ever felt. A letter from a recent shoot.

Hey Kim! Just wanted to say thanks for EVERYTHING. I absolutely love my pictures. I’ve never seen myself in that kind of picture before..its weird. But you made me feel so pretty and confident. The pictures are perfect- love the processing! It was fun chatting with you bout your life as a model..I gotta hand it to you..you’re a strong woman. Gosh I have a new respect for models..they go through a lot. But anyways, thanks for taking the time out of your crazy schedule, not to mention being a mom of five kids, and make my senior pics an amazing experience. Oh and thanks for the make up tips. Well, hopefully I’ll see you sometime soon!
          Kelsey

And now, some of the pictures I took of  the amazing beautiful young woman that were gracious enough to let me photograph them.

Sarah and Grace

All there

A FriesianRush Ranch

Last Light

Top of the Bay

I have finished editing Ethan and Lauren’s Lake Almanor wedding. They had it outside on October 24th and the weather held beautifully for them. Lauren’s family is from Carmel and her dad is a fine art photographer. I loved her style and they way she is with her husband. They also have Ridgebacks, like we do and Ethan is a cop as Ian is.  It was a gorgeous day and the hit of the wedding for me, besides the stunning bride was the little man in his coattails and it was his 3rd birthday. Everywhere I turned he had me laughing. The cake was D E V I N E. I wanted another peice everytime I would see the photo of it.

They used

Gambonis Peninsula Grill  for catering which is one of the area Basins best!

Cakes Unleashed out of Greenville …she can compete on a global level…she’s that good.

Lauren and her family did everything else.

The Rings

A dress a coat

A Guest

A big day, A little boy and his dad

A girl and hers

A time and a place

A kiss with a promise

Some help

A moment to reflect

The Sky

Im outa here

A preview of yesterdays wedding. Lauren and Ethan.

Sunset Alone

Kyle making her laugh

The Lake

The Landscape

Her Flowers

More on Crystal and Sam’s wedding from The Centerville Estates outside of Chico California.

Almost Ready

It's time

A moment alone

A wedding guest

A happy wedding guest

together

Their Wedding Party

A kiss

This is just a tiny sneak peak at the wedding I shot this weekend at Lake Almanor. Song and I had never met she booked me like most of my brides do based on the work and a conversation. I just adore this girl. I was so excited to see her dress shoes and veil. She has more personal style in her small frame than most super models do. It was F R E E Z I N G  the weather had turned but it made for a great back drop.

Song

The Shoes

Through the looking glass

Song

Headed for shelter

The wind in her hair

On the Lake

In the Aspens

Mt. Lassen

A rest

A walk

A blur

Sam and Crystal were married last weekend at the Centerville Estates. Here is a first look and their wedding and a list of their vendors

Venue-Centerville Estates

Catering- Bacio

Cake- Mims

DJ- Class Act

Flowers- Chico Florist

Photographer-Kim James

It was 105 degrees and mid day. Ian and I wanted to dive in the creek. The water was still abundant, really clean and inviting. Centerville Estates boasts  gorgeous creekside gardens and the main grounds down by the creek are really well cared for.  It was a different kind of  landscape with the high cliff wall and the sun bouncing off of it. Sam and Crystal have been dating for 7 years . I really enjoyed getting to know them and their families. They created a very beautiful day for themselves. It was a pleasure for Ian and I to photograph them on their wedding day.

The Bride

The Bride

The Setting

The Creeks Edge

Married

Helping

A moment

Walking

A Dance

A Kiss

A Fight

My work was picked up and featured today on  http://www.californiaweddingwave.com/  it was a  wedding I shot for John and Molly at  The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena  http://www.ciachef.edu/california/

On the Dock

I love this image I think it’s sweet. One of my favorites from the Sam and Crystal shoot. I am headed to the Centerville Estates tomorrow to photograph their wedding and Bacio is catering I can’t wait to see what they will do they are such an amazing company.

Tomorrow marks 19 years of marriage although we have been together for 22. We are off to have a day alone and get a break together.

_________________________________________________________

I  am shooting Sam and Crystals wedding in Chico at the end of the month. We did a little Engagement session in Chico the other day. This is what we came up with. I loved the location and will shoot there again.

In the Oaks