edfotography

StL Botanical Gardens

2009-07-21T09:48:00.000-07:00

It's been forever since I posted on here, but I promise I am still getting out with my camera to photograph stuff other than weddings! Here are a few favorites from the St. Louis Botanical Gardens this spring. I was supposed to go visit a friend in Illinois but since there was a tornado coming through I stopped by trip in St Louis and went to the gardens with my dad!

Dale Chihuly is amazing.

bird watching

2009-05-20T22:56:00.000-07:00

My father and I have always been pretty similar. We both have slightly larger stacks of paper laying around than is really necessary, we are both graced wonderful spouses that feed us amazingly well and we both like blue grass music a whole lot. But I told Jake a few years ago that when I started watching birds, things will have gone too far and to let me know that I had turned fully into JTF. Well, the time has come and I think I'm just fine with being like Dad in this way too.

Last week I spent some time in MO and most mornings Mom, Dad and I had coffee together in the sun room and waited for their bird friends to stop by. Thanks to the new 70-200/2.8 lens we got some fun shots. I put off posting these because I kept thinking I would have time to edit them but I realized tonight that it just isn't going to happen so here are my best straight-out-of-camera Missouri bird shots. Enjoy!

spring in Missouri

2009-04-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

I'm looking forward to my many Missouri trips this coming year. Here are a few of my shots from my trip back last weekend for Kathryn's wedding. All from mom and dad's yard! Gotta love those dogwoods.

LDS Temple

2009-04-13T16:40:00.000-07:00

I shot a wedding this weekend at the LDS Temple in Oakland and boy do they have some flowers!! I got there almost 2 hours early so I had time to take a few shots of flowers before the wedding business began. What a treat!

silhouettes

2009-04-10T21:46:00.000-07:00

Kind of a cool shot from the de Young Museum this weekend!

sunrise

2009-04-09T01:53:00.000-07:00

Sometimes having cats that wake you up too early pays off :)

Tahoe Weekend

2009-04-01T22:08:00.000-07:00

We had a great weekend up in Tahoe with some friends. It's such a treat to have snowy mountains 2 hours away when it is 70 degrees at your house!

And I have a pretty good looking traveling partner!

colors

2009-03-26T22:54:00.000-07:00

I know this shot is similar to others I have posted but I just love these trees at sunset.

SF with the fam

2009-03-25T22:46:00.000-07:00

More touring with the fam! We had a great day in SF. A little bay cruise, clam chowder and Ghiradelli chocolate!

old town sacramento

2009-03-24T22:09:00.000-07:00

Jake's family is in town so we've been doing some sightseeing. Today was old town Sacramento! Just the point-and-shoot today but it will do!

It was 70 degrees today.

2009-03-19T04:35:00.000-07:00

What more can you ask for than a beautiful spring day?

yawns

2009-03-18T00:28:00.000-07:00

nice sky

2009-03-16T20:09:00.000-07:00

more spring

2009-03-15T17:36:00.000-07:00

I totally forgot that I was going to post more of these. This tree isn't in bloom anymore so it's nice to have pictures of it!

Spring is here!

2009-02-26T22:14:00.000-08:00

It was beautiful today and I had to get out for a bit with the camera. I am obsessed with this tree. You'll probably see more of it in a few days!

birthday card

2009-02-21T21:07:00.000-08:00

Have you ever received a birthday card that had a cat which looked EXACTLY like your own cat? Probably not. Thanks, Matt & Tia!

A february walk

2009-02-07T20:43:00.000-08:00

Here are some finds from my walk this afternoon. January and February have been spectacular out west. No wonder this state has way too many people in it. For a break from wedding photographs, check out erikajacksonphotography.com for my first-ever pregnancy shoot. It was such a great learning experience and I get to visit them again in the spring for pics of their new baby boy. Hope you are all well.

eerie palms

2009-01-12T22:29:00.000-08:00

mid-january update

2009-01-11T15:45:00.000-08:00

Our weather has been super strange this winter - tons of fog that lasts all day but we've had a break recently that was super beautiful!!

New Year's Eve 2008

2008-12-31T17:22:00.000-08:00

Happy last day of 2008!!! It has been a fine, fine year and I'm eagerly looking forward to the coming year. The wedding photography business is really starting to take off and I couldn't be more excited. I just launched my website which you can check out here: www.erikajacksonphotography.com. You may have already seen the blog but it is here: www.erikajacksonphotography.blogspot.com

While I am keeping super busy with weddings I still want to maintain this site for my non-wedding related work, so stay tuned! I'll try to update every week or two! Have a great 2009!

A strangely foggy day

2008-11-22T13:29:00.000-08:00

Back in action

2008-11-19T10:47:00.000-08:00

Some new pics from this weekend in Napa with our friends Kayla and Chris!

Also, if you haven't yet seen it, check the new Erika Jackson Photography site! http://erikajacksonphotography.blogspot.com/

{Married}: US!!!

2008-10-12T15:43:00.000-07:00

Our wedding was ridiculously perfect.

From beginning to end, we enjoyed every single minute. We were extremely lucky to have so many of our close friends and family come to Columbia to share this weekend with us. As we drove to our hotel after leaving the wedding we couldn't stop talking about how perfect everything was. I attached a few pictures below, but more can be found on our amazing photographers' website of the friday before the wedding, my lunch with my girls, Jake's lunch, hair time, the wedding, and the day-after shoot.

I'm in the process of designing a new "Erika Jackson" blog - so stay tuned. I have two weddings to post that I've shot since my own!

{Married}: Mandy & Jeff

2008-09-25T10:00:00.000-07:00

When this is the setting for your wedding, can it be anything but wonderful?
Mandy & Jeff had a beautiful wedding in Redding and it was a treat to be a part of it. I assisted Scott Fischbein with the day and we had a great time hanging out with Mandy and her family before the ceremony, navigating family photos in the dark and watching the couple celebrate. Check out some of my favorites below!

Getting ready with Mandy and her girls was so fun.
Mandy was super relaxed and it was fun to get to know her and her sister a little before all the fun began.

I loved this dress - the lace was so classic but the pleats in the bottom and the top were a great modern touch.

Mandy and her dad relaxing before heading off to the ceremony.

Jeff helps his new father-in-law get his flower just right.

I LOVE watching the groom as the bride walks down the aisle.

Titanium :)

Thanks Mandy & Jeff for letting us share in your special day!!

stars

2008-08-29T13:41:00.000-07:00

The patio at our new place has a straight shot at the north star, which is perfect for shooting star trails shots!! Unfortunately the apartment complex has a few too many lights on for the stars to really stand out, but you can definitely see that they are rotating around the north star a little bit! I'm going to keep working on it (maybe staying up really late so people go to bed and turn off their lights!) so I'll post more if they get better!

{Married}: Emily & Chris

2008-08-17T20:57:00.000-07:00

I had another great opportunity to shoot with Scott Fischbein this weekend at an amazing wedding. The redwoods towered over Emily and Chris as they vowed to be each other's partner for the rest of their lives. Their wedding was followed by serious fun. Check out some of my favorites of their fantastic wedding day!!

Emily's bouquet was stunning.

Because why shouldn't you freeze flowers from your bouquet with liquid nitrogen and then shatter them?

Emily explained that she was on her way to change her clothes but her team really needed her, so she just played in her wedding dress.

Congratulations, Chris & Emily!!

{Married}: Emily & Chris

2008-08-16T22:26:00.000-07:00

This picture makes me smile so I wanted to share it early.

By the way, this wedding was awesome. Why? Because it included liquid nitrogen, kickball, and croquet. Details to come.

{Engaged} : Marissa & Walley

2008-08-13T23:34:00.000-07:00

I'm doing some second shooting for a great Sacramento area photographer, Scott Fischbein, and got to meet this cool couple through him. Check out his blog for some great shots from hanging out with Marissa and Walley. I got to learn a ton about lighting, ask a ridiculous number of questions and discover a great place to take cool shots - Old Sacramento! Thanks to Scott for having me and Marissa and Walley for being such great models!

Hanan & Aliotsy are married!!

2008-07-28T00:51:00.000-07:00

This weekend I had the great pleasure of helping Susan Jones photograph Hanan & Aliotsy's wedding. I learned a ton about wedding photography and met some wonderful people. Getting to tag along is such a great experience - thanks to Susan for having me and Hanan & Aliotsy for letting me be a part of their day! Here are a few shots of their day!

Their first look - before the wedding ceremony started. What a cool moment!

The flowers were AMAZING.

They have friends all over the world, so the wedding was webcast.
This means that people from all over the world call you during your reception to congratulate you!

What a fantastic exit!!

Some fine details...

July update

2008-07-11T22:46:00.000-07:00

It's been way too long since I threw some pictures up here. I just arrived back in CA from a few days in Michigan. The weather was perfect, the flowers were beautiful and I had a fun few days away. It had to have been a good trip to make up for getting stuck in the airport and not getting home until 3 am (6 am for me since I was on eastern time!). Unfortunately I am back to the thick smoke and extremely hot temperatures. The first picture was from a few weeks ago with the first round of smoke but it is about what the sun looked like tonight, too. Below are a few shots from the botanical gardens on the U. of Michigan campus, some 4th of July festivities and a trip to visit Holly and Chris in SF.

Don't forget to keep scrolling...there are three sections to this post!

2008-07-11T22:43:00.000-07:00

2008-07-11T22:42:00.000-07:00

Mimi & Valerie's Day

2008-07-01T22:03:00.000-07:00

I met Mimi & Valerie on Monday and was honored to help them celebrate their marriage. We had a great time in the rose park with the family, the ceremony was great and their friends gathered to help celebrate that evening. Thanks to Mimi & Valerie for letting me in on your day! Congratulations!!

2008-07-01T21:11:00.000-07:00

Mike & Erin are married!!!

2008-06-25T23:14:00.000-07:00

Saturday I had the great pleasure of attending, setting cupcakes up at, and taking some shots at the wedding of some of our favorite people. The day was perfect - the storms cleared, the weather was beautiful and it was great to see lots of old friends. Congratulations, Erin and Mike. We wish you a lifetime of happiness.

Mike & Erin have this great house with walls that are perfect backdrops!!

Erin was a seriously beautiful bride.

...and she took her shoe choice very seriously.

keep reading...

2008-06-25T23:13:00.000-07:00

This kid was my favorite. Every time I passed by he looked up at me and yelled "CHEESE!!" I caught this one serious moment and thought he looked pretty cool.

...there's more!

2008-06-25T23:12:00.000-07:00

Like I said, Megan and I were in charge of setting up the cupcake display and this was one serious job. You may think the maid of honor has an important job, or the officiant, or the best man (Jake!) but no - in fact Megan and I were charged with the most important role - setting up Erin's cupcakes. It turned out just as she hoped and we were thrilled to fulfill her wishes!! Somehow I didn't end up with a picture of the display!

Congrats again, Erin & Mike. We hope you are enjoying Jamaica!!!

Mike and Erin Day 1

2008-06-21T08:09:00.000-07:00

This weekend Jake and I are in StL celebrating our good friends' wedding. Mike has been our friend since college and we're delighted to add Erin to the club. Thursday was the beginning of the activities - a St. Louis Cards baseball game followed by some delicious pizza, a groovy patio bar and some serious board games. We love these people and are happy to be at home with them.

Who can pass up a wall like this with an about-to-be-married couple?

Nothing beats pre-game bbq.

Cards lost but half of the group was rooting for the Royals, so we didn't leave too dejected.
(Plus Rick Ankiel hit a home run for me. What more can I ask for?)

2008-06-20T13:00:00.001-07:00

2008-06-20T12:59:00.000-07:00

Nalley & Chuck's Big Day!

2008-06-16T03:12:00.000-07:00

Saturday I had the opportunity to second shoot for a wedding in the Sierra Nevada foothills. The setting was gorgeous, the friends and family were happy to be together and the bride and groom were obviously delighted to have it finally be their day. Thanks to Susan for letting me tag along!

2008-06-16T02:59:00.000-07:00

Fun in MO

2008-06-04T22:09:00.000-07:00

My second weekend in MO was filled with events for my friends Kristen & Adam's wedding. I had a great time getting to know Kristen's college friends, seeing old friends I haven't seen in way too long, and getting to be with Kristen and Adam, whom I adore. Congrats to you two - hope Napa is treating you well!

What is a trip to MO in the spring without seriously examining their stock of flowers?

A trip to MO isn't complete without an evening at the winery watching the sunset over Missouri river!

Columbia is filled with hot air balloons. I loved this one.

Quinnlan

2008-06-04T22:02:00.000-07:00

One of the VERY best parts of my Missouri trip was hanging out with my adorable nephew, Quinn.
He is talking non-stop, he knows everyone's names, he's got a belly laugh to die for and he is just plain adorable.
Here are a few of my sweet little nephew.

2008-06-04T22:00:00.000-07:00

Home also means spending time with my parents, brother, and sister-in-law (Quinn's mom and dad).
We had a beautiful stroll through Shelter Gardnes at sunset.

They were just too beautiful...

2008-06-04T21:35:00.000-07:00

...So I had to post a couple more. Congrats again, Elissa & Vincent. I can't wait to visit you in Switzerland!

2008-06-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

Elissa & Vincent

2008-05-29T08:47:00.000-07:00

Saturday I had the great honor of attending AND photographing my good friend Elissa's wedding. It was such a treat, especially considering that I get to see her so rarely since she lives in Switzerland. The ceremony was beautiful and it was great to see her family and Vincent's family finally have a chance to meet. Thank you Elissa for letting me capture your day!! I love you two!

5/13 - 5/20

2008-05-19T20:02:00.000-07:00

5/5 - 5/12

2008-05-12T00:44:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure that this weekly style is up my alley. I got really antsy all week waiting to post. I'll try it for one more week but we may revert back to the good old days :)

4/28 - 5/4

2008-05-05T00:39:00.000-07:00

So I finished the year long photo-a-day blog (it still exists - see links on the right) and thought I should shake it up a bit. Mostly to accomodate the demanding schedule of a graduate student, I decided to post weekly. Some weeks there may only be one, some there may be ten, but it will give me a little more flexibility. Thanks for checking in!