My New Website is Up and Running!

Hello there and thank you for stopping by. As many of you know, my website has been in transition for over a year now, and is finally up at www.lisasmileyphotography.com.  I am so excited to share it with you! From now on, I will be blogging on that site and this one will be deleted in due time.

Thank you for your patience, and please keep checking back in because I will be running some fabulous giveaways for my loyal friends and clients that you do not want to miss!

Have a wonderful and blessed day!
Lisa

Chic Cover Contest | "Natural" - June Issue {Lisa Smiley Photography}

Natural beauty Miss "K" in the weeping willow is my submission for the Chic Critique cover contest for June. I love this theme and how her amazingly stunning blue eyes and natural beauty capture it so well. This magazine has been wonderful for photographers and I always look forward to the next issue. Be sure to check out all the other beautiful submissions! 

Sweet Smiles | Sacramento Family Photographer

 I am so behind on blogging all of the beautiful families and events that I have been capturing! It's a crazy busy season for this photographer, but I am trying my best to get back into the groove and share some the amazing families that I have had the pleasure of getting to know. Here is the darling "B" family. They are simply adorable with all of their sweet smiles and it's clear that they know how to have fun and love on each other.

 I loved the images from this session so much. The tenderness this family has was endearing and inspiring. I'm so blessed to have been able to capture it for them!

Beautiful Miss K {Mira Loma Class of 2014} | Sacramento Senior Photographer

It has been a fabulous summer and I have spent some great times shooting, but also some great times with my kiddos so I haven't been around the blog as much. However, school has begun and I just had to share an image from a recent session with this beautiful senior. We had so much fun and I cannot wait to show her her gallery! Special thanks to the amazing Jill Briggs of Beauty Box Makeup Arts  for helping my client feel beautiful and doing stellar job on her makeup! She looked and felt fabulous!

I just love senior photography! If you want to schedule a session for this year, I have just a couple spots left, so call me soon!

I am also taking the opportunity to enter this image into the Chic Critique Cover Image Contest.  If you haven't visited Chic Critique, definitely check it out - there are some great ideas and beautiful, amazing images all the time!

Appreciated | Sacramento Couples Photographer

A couple weeks ago, I had the privilege of capturing an engagement party for a couple of very amazing people. The groom to be is uber appreciated by both our family and many, many others as an incredible and innovative teacher at my son's school. He has been an inspiration and encouragement to so many kids, and it's so wonderful to see him with his beautiful bride to be. She has just graduated medical school and the two together make a gorgeous, dynamic pair. These are not their official engagement images - their wedding photographer down south is taking care of those - but it was fun to grab them in the backyard for a few shots to capture this special day for them.

 The details of the party were beautiful. The hostess spared no details and made it a beautiful afternoon of high tea for all. Here are just a few images of her talented work.

 Best of everything to you two~ the best is yet to come!

Sam | Jesuit Class of 2013 {Sacramento Senior Photographer}

 I had the pleasure of photographing Sam and his family a couple years ago and it was such a fun time. His family is very close and so much fun with each other. You can check out their session here! I was thrilled to get the call to do his senior images. So here is handsome Sam! He is graduating with a scholarship in Cross Country to TCU. Just the nicest guy, he has made his parents proud.

 Sam is also an avid golfer and plans to spend some of his spare time enjoying his hobby to the fullest. And to answer a question that I'm thinking is on every young female's mind right now. Yup, he is currently single. :)

 As you can probably tell, capturing Sam was easy!  His sweet smile and easy-going personality made him fun to be around and I'm so excited for what is in store for him. Congrats, Sam!

The Wonderful Cast of Listen to your Mother, Sacramento! | Sacramento Headshot Photographer

In case you haven't heard yet, I am blessed to be part of the amazing "Listen to your Mother" cast for the Sacramento show. It's being held this Sunday, Mother's Day, at the Crest Theatre at 7pm.  If you are wondering what it is all about, here is a piece about it from the founder, Ann Imig. It is going to be an amazing night of laughter, smiles and even tears listening to some incredible personal stories of motherhood.

I was also privileged to be able to take the head shots of all but one (well, two if you count me) of the amazing cast members.  Seriously, they just radiate their beauty from the inside out. It was such a fun and crazy time shooting the images, but then I got to know them with our first and second rehearsals, and let me tell you, these are some pretty fabulous people that you will want to hear from. I knew I had captured beauty while shooting, but to hear their stories and get to know them, well, that made their beauty even more magical and real. If you can, you should join us for an awesome evening this Mother's Day!

"Listen to your Mother" a nationwide event in 24 cities and has a combination of local writers, artist and wonderful regular people taking the stage to read their personal stories about all of the shades of motherhood.  Some of the proceeds from the show will also benefit the  non-profit, 916 Ink, which gets kids ages 6-18 writing and telling their own personal stories.  I hope to see you there! Here is where you can buy tickets. Or, feel free to show up at 7 the night of the show! 

* Missing from the post is Dierdre Fitzpatrick and my headshot was done by my friend and fellow photographer, Mindy Newton.. 

Fun in the Flowers with the "S" Family! | Sacramento Family Photographer

 I cannot tell you how much I adore this beautiful family! Mom is so lovely and has the mindset and determination to capture her family often and I just love that. It is so important to make sure we are getting heirloom images of the ones we love and she is great about scheduling time to do it with me every year. Dad is awesome about it too! I have even heard that he looks forward to it :)

The greatest part for me is that I get to see them often - and watching these boys grow from adorable infants to charming toddlers has been a joy and a treasure for me. Big brother is so excited to see me, and comes with his camera in hand to capture all the details himself!  I love it! Little brother has already grown from the small newborn peeking down on me while I work (on the large canvas in my studio) to the sweetest smiling little tike you have ever seen. I love that they come trusting and ready for a great time when we have our sessions. It just makes my week when I get to see their beautiful smiles!

 Thank you so very much, sweet "S" family, for letting me in to the beauty of your family to help you create heirlooms and treasures to last a lifetime!

WINNER ANNOUNCED! Giveaway and Fun Feature in the new Posh issue of Chic Magazine! | Sacramento Portrait Photographer

Today, the "Posh" issue of Chic Magazine  launched and it's beautiful! I love the Chic Critique forum and all it has to offer professsional photographers.  Their fabulous Chic Magazine has so many beautiful images and informative articles for everyone - it's just a beautiful magazine to look through and enjoy some current fashion and photography trends.

And, in this issue, I am thrilled to be part of the "Street Chic" feature. You can see a fun shot of me in action taken by the uber talented Ligia Bremerman at a recent "trash the dress" session we did as part of an amazing retreat.

I just found out about being featured last night, so that was a fun surprise!

The issue is on sale now, so I hope you check it out! To encourage you a bit, I am giving away one  free digital issue! Simply enter via Rafflecopter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Chic Critique Cover Contest Entry | Sacramento Portrait Photographer

Here is my entry of a beautiful and talented woman for the Chic Critique Cover Contest. A little something different...Be sure to check out all the amazing submissions from many talented photographers!

Sunshine Come Back | Lake Tahoe Family Photographer

 Wow! It has been sooo long since I have blogged! As you can tell, this amazing session was back in the summer in the warm, wonderful weather of Lake Tahoe. I have photographed many members of this gorgeous family for years, and it was great to have the opportunity to get them on their vacation for such a special session.

 You can't get much better for location than Lake Tahoe and we were loving it. The weather was warm, the beach was beautiful, and everyone looked amazing.

 I captured each family separately as well and so loved the love that came forth.

 I also got to spend a bit more time with this sweet San Diego family at the end, and I love how they interact with each other. So sweet.

 Don't they just look like they are planning something!? So, yes, it is a summer session, and yes, I want summer weather and sunshine back. Just looking at these images makes me excited for next year. Until then, I'm keeping cozy and editing away! Have a wonderful day!

A Fall What to Wear Example for You! | Sacramento Family Photographer

My clients often come to me requesting help on what to wear for their sessions and I am happy to help! When they book, they get a fun and informative welcome packet that includes lots of information on preparing for their session. It has information on family and child preparation, location scouting details, and the ever present question: What to wear. It's not easy, I know. But I am here to help and together, we can make up a super stylish session that fits your family perfectly! Here is one example of some pieces you could put together. I love the basics, but I would also add some cute scarves and layers, jewelry and sweaters...there is so much to be said for the details and I am here to help!

And here is a fun one for a woman's session, high school senior or just a fun flirty session. Again, ad some layers and maybe a had or scarf and you are set!

Laughter and Fun | Sacramento Child Photographer

 Oh my goodness. Can you tell this was one of my most fun sessions EVER? I absolutely adored capturing these beautiful siblings!! Dad was being an amazing husband and set this whole photos hoot up while his wife was out of town so he could surprise her. How cool is that!?  The day was rainy and stormy, but we decided to go for it and I'm so glad we did. The kids were so into it and their love for each other is breathtaking. You can just see it in these photos...many of which were initiated by that darling sweet boy you see in the cute tie.

 I love how Dad was so great at bringing just the right clothes to wear, too. We chatted over the phone about texture and layering and I have to say, GREAT JOB, DAD! Very impressed.

 Seriously. Can I do this every single day?

 Definitely one of my favorites from the session :)

 Their tenderness with each other was very touching. I loved being able to capture it!

 Be still my heart. Can't wait to see you guys again! You were sooo much fun!