Mary McHenry Photography » Oakland hills

Skylar at 1.2

Mary — Thu, 27 May 2010 05:21:08 +0000

The canon 50mm 1.2 was a “lens present” to myself. About once a year, I hold my breath, cover my eyes, and click “buy” at B&H. Slowly I am building a collection of lenses that I will be buried with.

I was looking for some other photos and came across these -I think this was the afternoon I got the lens and took Sky out to the back to try it out. They were all shot at 1.2 -which is so lovely AND so tricky. (As with anything that is worth the work.)

Home again…

Mary — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 07:31:08 +0000

I went to WPPI las weeken, this big wedding & portrait photographers conference in Vegas. It was a wonderful trip -I met a number of new friends and got closer to ones I have. I learned so much about where I am and the areas I want to grow as a photographer… There are many new ideas jumping around my head and I have that excited feeling that makes me wish there were more of me to get it all done.

Anyhow, Vegas can be kind of gross, -no offense, but there were days when I didn’t even make it outside! That recycled smoke-air leaves something to be desired. I was so so happy to come back to the beautiful bloom of Spring here in Oakland. The first afternoon home I went on a walk behind our house with the kids. The light was dripping with color and this lens just ate it up. (24 1.4)

Will, eating celery. While I was gone, Drew says he only fed the kids if they asked for food. I tried it, and it works beautifully. When they are hungry, they’ll eat anything -even celery. He also dressed them for school before he put them to bed at night.

Showing Will her “ouch”:

Hearing a woodpecker:

She got really freaked out by the woodpecker, so Will gives her a kiss…

..and then she’s off again.

Mini Sessions – Lake Temescal Park

Mary — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:12:24 +0000

I wanted to share some of the shoots that didn’t make it up in the fall -it is such a busy time, so many of them didn’t get posted.

So here is the first in a series of mini-shoots done at Lake Temescal…. Three charming little girls:

Oakland Hills at dusk

Mary — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:32:56 +0000

Thank you Joscelyn for a lovely afternoon! Your children are a-dor-able. I love the look of the clothes and all the special touches you brought. Enjoy!

Nico’s Shoot

Mary — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:07:16 +0000

I am still in Maine on vacation, but have a few shoots to process while I am here. I am working off a laptop with questionable color accuracy (I love the idea of laptops but honestly feel like pulling my eyes out after editing photos on them for 20 minutes. Weird, I know.).

Anyhow, I wanted to give Nico’s mom a glimpse of our shoot. We met up around 6pm and strolled around some great spots in the Oakland Hills that I have found while on hikes with my family. I love photographing Nico -you may have seen her here before from the Emma and Avery shoots. She is such a doll with that incredible porcelain skin and she has the sweetest personality. I also love the bond that she shares with her mom -there is something so special when it is just a mom and her daughter. (There is a great dad too -but he couldn’t make it this time. Nico’s grandmother did come and acted as a great assistant -thank you!)

It was a beautiful time of day and I just love the slightly ruffled up “princess in tromping around golden hills” kind of look. Thank you for a great evening!

Spring in California

Mary — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:32:01 +0000

It is ridiculously nice out these days! I went on a location scout yesterday in the Oakland hills, looking for some new areas for portrait shoots. Here are a few photos that show off the green that is everywhere you look. We need to appreciate it because sadly, it will be gone soon thanks to the drought.

Ok, buzz kill. Go back to enjoying the groovy flowers.