If you haven’t heard of the Silicon Valley Moms Blog you’ve been missing out! A couple of years ago I was a contributor to this great mommy resource and I still stop in to read the thoughts of some great mothers in Silicon Valley. This month I had the pleasure of working with a group of the writers and their families to give them a glimpse of the joy I capture for so many families in the Bay Area. Here are some of the happy images from their sessions! How cool are these?
Is there anything more classic than a kid and a dandelion? I don’t think so! This little man is one of my favorite little clients (he’s the kiddo from the red balloon images) and I just can’t get enough of his cuteness. Ready . . . set . . . blow!!
Anna Mayer is a professional child and baby photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area. She conducts photo sessions in Los Gatos, San Jose, Willow Glen, Atherton, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Campbell, Saratoga, Silicon Valley and other bay area cities. Her design studio is located in Los Gatos, California. Her unmistakable, fun and happy style reflects the joys and delights of family life.
One of my favorite places in our house is this certain corner of my couch. I don’t sit there to watch TV or to enjoy a fire in the fireplace. In fact, you can’t even see those things from there. I sit there and gaze at the wall where a large gallery of photos looks back at me; photos of my children, my family, our life. Some of them are happy, some are serious, some are just plain silly. All of them are a beautiful tribute to our life together and the four little lives I am watching unfold before me. Sometimes when I am enjoying the view I smile to myself. I smile because I know that I have had a hand in creating hundreds of beautiful memories just like this for countless families in Silicon Valley and beyond.
I so love my job! I truly believe that what I do is important. I don’t just record an image that shows what a child looks like at two or five or nine. Instead, I seek to record his spirit, her energy, and the love they share with siblings and parents. Capturing that spirit is at the heart of every encounter I have. Ooooh, I get goose-bumps just thinking about it. What a privilege it is to be a special part of the lives of so many families!
If you want to see a whole lotta’ cool galleries that my clients have shared, visit the Images by Anna Facebook page.
My life: Well, ’tis the season of chaos and late-nights. As a portrait photographer, I find myself doing about 50% of my year’s work in just two and a half months. It can be exhausting!! But somehow we always come through for our clients and we always get it all done, with time to spare. I may have a sore tush and a hand that is begging for me to step away from the mouse, but it will all be done, none-the-less!!
Your images: This lovely little family belongs to my wonderful assistant, Rachel. This was a sort of “farewell” session for her, as she has moved on to other pursuits and is heading back to school. I miss the companionship of working with her but enjoy our coffee dates when I come to San Jose for shoots. Now, if I could just get her to visit Milwuakee in January, that would be fun!!
Okay, I just gotta’ say, I LOVE being a kid & family photographer. I love it! I won’t kid you when I say that there are times when I am tired, or overwhelmed, or that I don’t miss miss miss my family when I am in California shooting. But there are so many moments when my heart just swells with happiness; seeing my favorite clients year after year as they grow and change and come to be my friends, doing something new and fresh with an adventurous client and then opening the file when I get back in my office and my heart skipping a beat with the thrill of it, hearing my clients tell me just how precious their images are to them as the years go by, having a client who loves my work so much that she saves for several years so she can hire me AND have every image she loves on display in her home, and just knowing that what I do brings happiness into so many lives. Can you TELL, I love my job???
This shot is one of those that was born of a great idea, fun fun fun clients who let me “do my thing” and this image is one of those that gives my heart a flutter when I open it on my computer and see that my vision is a reality. Doncha’ just love it? Mind you, Dad and I just about tossed our cookies, ha ha! But it was worth it.
Sometimes I wish my house was quieter when I am trying to write an email or a blog post (for reference, right now, Lydia is next to me at my desk, coloring a picture and singing her thoughts into an impromptu and never-ending song). Sometimes I wish that I didn’t have to replace an expensive print because some small person drove a hot-wheels over it before we could package it. Sometimes I wish that the sound of sibling squabbles, the Wii, and a million home-work questions didn’t waft up the stairs to my office all afternoon. Sometimes I wish that my kids didn’t have to tell me EVERY detail of their day, in my ear, while I edit photos. Some days, when the clock tells me its time to ride my bike down to the elementary school to pick up my daughter, I wish I had a few more minutes to finish what I am doing. But everyday I am glad that our crazy lifestyle is what it is.
I am thankful that I get to hear those beautiful songs about life, sung to me by my rapidly growing preschooler. I am thankful that I am the one who helps my kids do their homework, resolve their conflicts or learn of their latest Wii accomplishments. Everyday I am thankful that my kids want to tell me about their day, and that they can. And every time I ride along Milwaukee River Parkway with my daughter peddling hard in front of me, my heart swells a little with happiness and contentment.
This self-employed, work-from-home-life is a recipe for complete chaos; especially when you have four kids, your youngest doesn’t go to daycare and you are a complete softy when it comes to moms-at-work interruptions. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
* Yesterday, Brian and I slipped out into the back yard to attempt to hold a strategy meeting at the picnic table. Within 20 seconds, this was what our “meeting” looked like! I had to run for the camera, because this moment is a perfect example of our everyday reality; and what a good one it is!!
Sometimes, when I sit down at my computer and peek at the images I captured at a session, I see an image that makes my heart skip a beat. This is one of those images. I just love what this image communicates. Of course, I love this family, too, which probably helps. I have enjoyed getting to know them and watching their family grow. What a cool job I have, doncha’ think? 
Ok, the grand opening was actually a couple months ago already (wow, time flies) but I haven’t shared my images from our wonderful event and the beautiful new digs our company has. Stop by sometime when you are out and about and say “hi!”. This location is really perfect and all of the clients who have come in to pick up their orders or to view thier session images have felt right at home. Check out our images and stop by soon. We are in Los Gatos, on Los Gatos Blvd., above Trader Joe’s.
Back by popular demand, our Christmas in July promotion. We all love to do holiday photos. They make perfect gifts, cards, and make Christmas shopping a snap. But most of us think of holiday photos somewhere around November. Unfortunately, that’s too late to get in with Anna and get the best. So to help you out, we are encouraging you all to book your holiday sessions early and get a jump on your holiday shopping (not to mention getting fabulous images to have forever) now!
**Cannot be combined with any other offers.
I can’t say it enough, I love my MissAlayneous. She is just a good person, inside and out. She loves people, wants to make others happy and she brings a smile to my face everyday. I was so pleased to grab this shot. I was playing with Lydia and Isaiah on the front lawn after a walk and Layna got home from art class. She started playing with Bug, swinging her around, got dizzy and laid down. She just looked so beautiful to me, so grown up!! Love you, Layna!!
