Patricia Mark Photography Blog

Napa Pet Photographer – Whiskers Tails & Ferals Gallery Show

Patricia Mark — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 03:29:40 +0000

When asked to participate in the adoption event for Whiskers, Tails & Ferals, this Napa Pet Photographer did not have to think twice! Are you kidding me? Photography and Pets! I was on board! It was a pleasure to have a part in helping to find these wonderful animals their “forever homes”. The Gallery Show can be see in Yountville at the Yountville Community Center and will be on display until September 30, 2013. Below are just a few of my favorites; please stop by and take a look…maybe you will see someone that would be a perfect addition to your family. As they say, “you can’t change the whole world for every animal but you can change the whole world for that one animal.” Think adoption.

While working on this project, my cat was pacing and making her presence known with LOUD kitty noises. I noticed she was going out of her way to look up at the computer where I was sitting, so I got up from my chair to see what all the fuss was about. She made her way over to my chair and jumped up next to the computer screen, coming face-to-face with “Black Kitty” on the screen. I think she thought that was a REAL cat and wanted to get up close and personal. What do you think?

Napa Photographer – Cat attends elopement at Churchill Manor

Patricia Mark — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 04:54:52 +0000

For years we have been photographing Churchill Manor’s resident cat, Eddie, in all of his adorableness. He is an outdoor kitty and likes it that way! I have never even seen him step one toe inside the Inn; he likes his freedom to roam the grounds or bask in a patch of sun and basically do whatever cats enjoy. What a life he has! All the food he wants and free room and board at the best Bed and Breakfast in Napa Valley. He is a celebrity of sorts but seems unimpressed that everyone knows him. On this particular day, he respectfully strolled out during a marriage ceremony to quietly quench his thirst at the fountain, which I have never seen him do before. Thank you, Eddie, for being you and amusing me!

Churchill Manor’s cat, Eddie, at elopement.

Napa Photographer out and about

Patricia Mark — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 05:19:45 +0000

There is not a day that goes by that I don’t photograph something. Be it at a job, or just with my cell phone for personal use, as is the case with these photos.

The past week has been pretty crazy weather wise in Napa, very hot, lightning and cold all within a few days of each other! A couple of days ago, we combined business with pleasure when we went to Sonoma to check out an upcoming venue for a wedding. As it was over cast and cool, it was great weather for a “car ride” for Justin and a walk around the square in Sonoma. I loved this wrought iron and it was a perfect location to incorporate a portrait of Justin.

Exploring Sonoma

Always remember, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Sonoma Tunnel

A patch of blue sky was peeking out of the fluffy, cotton-candy like clouds on our way home.

On our way home from Sonoma

The end to a perfect day…cookies from Panera. They were so good, we didn’t even make it out of the parking lot before we took a bite.

Panera cookies

Napa Photographer – Surprise Proposal in Napa Valley!

Patricia Mark — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 05:02:26 +0000

Thinking of “popping the question”? While there are a variety of ways to do this, and it is all personal preference, Matthew obtained permission to propose to Neha in the vineyards at Kelly Fleming Wines in Calistoga. Matthew and I had numerous email and telephone conversations well in advance of the day to plan out how things would go. I love being involved in these types of photography sessions. It is very exciting planning and actually seeing everything unfold right before your eyes (and camera)! He even managed to pick out the perfect ring size too. A lot of thought certainly went into four simple words…will you marry me? Enjoy the scene as it unfolded (Mark and I were hiding out of sight and Neha never noticed). Afterwards, we enjoyed photographing them on the grounds of the winery as well as other scenic places in Napa Valley while they were a glow with the recent happenings of the day and thinking of their future together.

Napa Photographer – Cake

Patricia Mark — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 18:41:38 +0000

What a wonderful and thoughtful surprise we had when our neighbor, Melanie Curren, brought this beautiful and delicious cake last evening to our home! She is the owner of Napa Cakery. The outside is covered with white buttercream roses and the inside is four-tiered chocolate with strawberries. She is quite talented and loves to create Themed Cakes as well as Wedding Cakes. If you are looking for something special and tasty, I recommend you contact her. We rarely have the opportunity to taste the cake at weddings and elopements that we photograph, so this was a real treat! Thanks so much Melanie!

Napa Photographer – Phone Camera Art

Patricia Mark — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 05:19:54 +0000

The Napa Valley had a long awaited rain last night. Everything seems so bright and new, like a freshly painted canvas. Below, my “Phone Camera Art” collection grows and was inspired by the rain and the iceland poppy in my garden.

Napa Valley Portraits – Heidi and Gene

Patricia Mark — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 17:58:33 +0000

We met up with Heidi and Gene in Yountville after their private ceremony for some Napa-Style portraits. The Napa Valley weather has been like Spring in February…with warm temperatures and blossoms everywhere. The photos below are a mixture of some of my favorites from Bardessono, Domaine Chandon, fields of mustard flowering, the vineyards in winter and V Market Place in Yountville. I’ve lived in Napa so long that I still think of V MarketPlace as Vintage 1870. : ) Enjoy!

Napa Photographer – Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center

Patricia Mark — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 05:11:40 +0000

Portraits of Roberto Gonzalez and The Michael Parsons Jazz Trio at the Napa Valley College Performing Arts Center. Performance contained hits by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. Roberto Gonzalez , singer, Michael Parsons on piano, Adam Guy on bass, and Ulf Bjorkbom on drums.

Sonoma Photographer – CornerStone – Melissa & Jamie

Patricia Mark — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:54:04 +0000

Here the story of Melissa and Jamie continues . . .The day after their wedding at Milliken Creek in Napa, Melissa and Jamie met us at CornerStone in Sonoma for some fun “Day After” photos. See the post of their wedding day here: Melissa & Jamie Get Married!

Napa Photographer – Phone Camera Art

Patricia Mark — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 05:07:36 +0000

I have recently been having a renewed fascination with plants…all kinds, both indoors and out. If you have come to this blog and are looking for wedding photographs, elopements, portraits and events, fear not. Just scroll past this post and you will see hundreds of them in Napa, Sonoma and beyond! Occasionally, I like to feature something different, which reflects who I am as a person and because I simply love taking photos of many different things. This brings me to the point of this post. I have been taking photos for my own personal use with my phone lately and having fun turning them into what I will call “Phone Camera Art”. The process has been purely for my own creative entertainment and enjoyment. Here are a few examples of what I have been up to. The Jade plant below is a piece that I found on the ground a few days ago. It fell off of an old plant of mine that is probably close to 25+ years old. I cut the end off with a knife and will wait about two weeks for the end to dry before I plant it in a potting mix. I hear jade plants are fairly easy to propagate. I hope so…I really like the unique curve at the top of the plant as well as in the stem.