Alyssa Ballisty Photography

we've moved...come with me!

2010-10-22T08:00:00.000-07:00

When my portfolio website was created, it was done without a blog...primarily because at the time, I wasn't blogging. However, as time progressed, so did my blogging. I felt this was as good time to move on from blogger and have my blog and portfolio reside in one place.

So, my brand new blog can be found at alyssaballisty.com - check it out! If you're currently subscribed to this blog, you'll need to update your subscription, which can be done here. If you aren't currently subscribed, you can find the subscription button on my new blog in the top right corner or go here.

micaela & kevin | sacramento engagement photographer

2010-09-27T08:00:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love Apple Hill - so I was pretty excited when an old school mate, Micaela, asked if I'd shoot their engagement session in Apple Hill. I don't care what time of the season it is, Apple Hill always provides a gorgeous backdrop. What's better than this you ask? Oh, Micaela & Kevin are also tying the knot in Apple Hill next month!

We didn't need much more than a mini-bucket of apples & a blanket...

Well, maybe a couple of bikes...

Congrats you two, I can't wait to see you say "I do" in a couple of weeks!

aaaand we're back!

2010-09-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

To sum it up: our European vacation was beyond AMAZING!

For those who weren't aware, Eddie & I took a wonderful 3 week vacation exploring Spain, Italy & France. Not going to lie, I kind of forgot about the blog on our trip. It was nice to not worry about posting photos & just enjoy our time!

But then it hit me, I really want to post photos, but that currently seems like a large task considering I took around 4000 photos. FOUR THOUSAND. I'm shaking my head because that's a ridiculous amount! So, I'm going to narrow it down (big time) and only post those photos that are my fav's.

Until that time comes (cut me some slack time wise, pleeeease!), here's one we took with the almighty iPhone4 on our first night in Paris (and my fav memory of the trip).

And until I get a chance to post more, I have some wonderful engagement shoots to post over the next week.

au revoir!

gpofw | 08.25.10

2010-08-25T08:00:00.000-07:00

gratuitous photo of Finn Wednesday

Finn & Sammy (the blur) playdate

(iphone4 photo)

foto friday | wickedly amazing

2010-08-20T16:36:00.000-07:00

I've been dying to see Wicked in SF and when I heard the show was coming to an end, I begged my mom for tickets for my birthday. This was by far one of the best musicals I've ever seen. I don't even have the words to describe how amazing everything was - the theater, set, costumes, props & cast. It was just...well, amazing. If you haven't seen it, I highly suggest you do before it comes to a end on Sept. 5.

Details here - Wicked

casey & yelena | sacramento engagement photographer

2010-08-13T20:00:00.000-07:00

We've known Casey & Yelena for a couple years now & they are two of the most artistic people you'll ever meet (I have two pieces of Yelena's art hanging in our home sweet home). They've been married for four years and until recently never had professional photos taken of them. Casey contacted me over the Christmas holiday to purchase a session as a gift to Yelena. So once the weather turned warmer [warmer is an understatement, the sun was SO hot we were sweating half the shoot], we headed out to no mans land for our session.

Side note: These two are troopers - not only was it a billion degrees out, but there were mosquitoes & ticks everywhere & still they smile & pose like its no big deal - amazing!

I highly suggest you check out their artistic sides
his & hers

gpofw | 08.11.10

2010-08-11T19:26:00.000-07:00

gratuitous photo of Finn Wednesday

he loves car rides - whether in his crate or head out the window

gpofw | 07.28.10

2010-07-28T21:55:00.000-07:00

gratuitous photo of finn wednesday

Finn & Sammy finally got to meet today

hi, I'm cute

2010-07-26T08:00:00.000-07:00

Look at that smooshy face...this pup needs a name tag that says "hi, I'm cute."

My parents brought this little guy home yesterday and I spent all day giving him kisses on his cute face. He's only 10 weeks but super mellow compared to Finn.

foto friday | an apple a day

2010-07-16T21:39:00.000-07:00

This was taken at a recent engagement session (which will be posted soon).

It reminds me of two things:

apple hill & the beautiful fall season
twilight - the series, not the time
(call me crazy, I don't care)

In other news, life is getting extremely busy & it's getting harder and harder to keep up on GPOFW & foto fridays.
So, here's my new disclaimer - I'll try to post twice a week, if I don't, sorry!

GPOFW | 07.14.10

2010-07-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

someone's got a sweet tooth, just like his mama

(iphone photo)

Dylan | Sacramento Senior Portrait Photographer

2010-07-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

I first met Dylan and his mom Kim in Old Sacramento for our session. I arrived with images in my mind of where to shoot and what backdrops to use. But Old Sac was a total fail - not only were the trains absent, but it was packed to the brim with people. I have never seen Old Sac this packed before. So, a last minute location change had us shooting in an empty parking garage. Dylan was a senior at Capital Christian School who is planning to attend Azusa Pacific in the fall. Dylan's also a proud new member of the Azusa football team.

The sun (and heat) was out in full force that afternoon which forced me to become even more familiarized with shooting AGAINST the sun. I'll admit that prior to my last few shoots, I was a little afraid of shooting into the sun, but I absolutely love the glow and the brightness it brings to the images. Once I found my rhythm & Dylan warmed up to the camera, we were on a roll.

foto friday | take a seat

2010-07-09T08:30:00.000-07:00

I found this beauty while wine tasting & loved how the sun hit the chair so elegantly

GPOFW | 07.07.10

2010-07-07T21:30:00.000-07:00

stick muncher

foto friday | red, white & blue

2010-07-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

Have a good weekend!

GPOFW | 6.30.10

2010-06-30T18:42:00.000-07:00

When we're at work we normally leave Finn in his play area which is in our huge entry hall, blocked off with a gate so tall that I can't even get my legs over it.

We came home the other day and what do we see?
Little Finny, on the other side.

Little Houdini. So plan B was to keep him outside (which we have yet to do for this length of time).

We came home the other day and what do we see?
Little Finny, and a destroyed screen door.

Ooooh, Finn!

heading out | I Never

2010-06-20T21:12:00.000-07:00

I'm about to head out on an amazing trip this week - meaning, no posts this week.

Here's what I'll be up to:

Last year the Equal Start team took 20 inner city Sacramento students from our after school run club on the trip of a lifetime. On this trip, affectionately called ‘I Never’, the students were exposed to higher education and a lifestyle that they have never considered possible. The students’ eyes lit up as they received a tour of the University of Oregon and the Nike Factory headquarters. You could see the dreams forming and ideas rolling around in their minds.

This year the I Never trip is heading down South. We will be touring USC and making a special surprise stop at Disneyland. Our goal is to see even more dreams birthed in these 4th, 5th and 6th graders as they escape the confines of their neighborhood. From June 21st thru the 24th the students will no longer be worried about where their next meal will come from or where they will sleep that night. On this trip we will be crossing off a list of ‘I Never’s including:

-I’ve never been to the beach

-I’ve never slept in a hotel

-I’ve never eaten at a restaurant

- I’ve never been to Disneyland

-I’ve never believed I could go to college

See you next week!

poor little guy

2010-06-19T16:54:00.001-07:00

I missed foto friday, but I missed it for a good reason...

Poor little guy had a 3 in 1 surgery, but he's recovering well!

GPOFW | 06.16.10

2010-06-16T18:38:00.000-07:00

He loves this raccoon like no ones business.

foto friday | lime on the side, please

2010-06-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

A while back I posted our his & her mugs (which we love to use on weekend mornings lounging outside). But we also have his & her cups which are frequently used for delicious margaritas on hot summer days.

GPOFW | 06.09.10

2010-06-09T18:06:00.000-07:00

he likes to lounge on our patio set, but who wouldn't?

foto friday | among the giants

2010-06-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

We spent last weekend in SF to celebrate our 2 year anniversary. It was a get-away filled with amazing things like our 28th floor hotel room & the most amazing hotel bed I've ever slept in. Dinner of choice was at Tin, where I ordered an amazing bowl of pho (which to be said, I'm pretty picky in my pho, it's required to be delicious, and it definitely was). Seeing our favorite band Nada Surf play at the Great American Music Hall, and cupcakes from my favorite spot (ever). And to end our trip we hiked around Muir Woods for the first time & those redwood tree's are nothing short of amazing. My camera only surfaced on this last segment of our trip and I snapped what I thought was beautiful. Needless to say, it's all beautiful, but every now and then the sun would peek out and shine it's light ever-so-perfectly. If you haven't been to Muir Woods - GO! It's only 30 minutes (or so) outside of SF, you won't be disappointed, I promise.

GPOFW | 06.02.10

2010-06-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is the cute little face I wake up to

he makes mornings brighter

2 years down - a lifetime to go ♥

2010-05-31T13:15:00.000-07:00

Two years ago, on May 31, 2008,
I married my best friend, my other half, my soul mate, my husband.

We've grown so much together since we said "I do" and I wouldn't change a thing about it. Not only were these past years filled with love and laughter, but a new home and a puppy helped complete our 2nd year.

I can't wait to see how our lives will continue to blossom as we grow older together.
I love this man more than I ever thought possible.

foto friday | re-run

2010-05-28T20:36:00.000-07:00

foto friday has taken a backseat to a special occasion (which shall be posted later this week)

In the meantime, enjoy this photo from our last trip to SF

Happy Memorial Weekend!

GPOFW | 05.26.10

2010-05-26T19:58:00.000-07:00

gratuitous photo of finn wednesday

Audi | Sacramento Senior Portrait Photographer

2010-05-24T08:00:00.000-07:00

Meet Audi - an outgoing , head-to-toe beautiful senior at Lodi High. Audi has plans to join a nursing school program and is deciding if she wants to start her college experience at CSUS or Azusa Pacific. Not only does this girl have a sweet smile, but she's got the heart to match it.

And we can talk about the amazing choice of outfits?! We drove around Elk Grove with a backseat full of clothes discussing what would look best with each location. I must admit, I loved every single piece of clothing (and accessories) Audi brought to our session.
I love shooting sessions with amazing outfits & choices galore.

Wouldn't she make an amazing model?

Audi - thank you for giving me the opportunity to capture your senior portraits. I had an amazing time tromping through field after field with you (& thank you for being so easy going with my crazy ideas). Good luck next year, I know you'll have an amazing year!

foto friday | 1869

2010-05-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

I like to find old items with a history, even when they're found in train yards.

I'm so far behind in my blog posts - I promise to be caught up this coming week.

GPOFW | 05.19.10

2010-05-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

someone got a new little bed

(gratuitous photo of finn wednesday)
photo taken with an iphone

foto friday | AMGEN tour of CA

2010-05-14T10:57:00.000-07:00

Eddie is really into biking - so when the AMGEN tour kicked off in Sacramento last year, it was a must-see. Granted it fell on Valentines day last year, t was actually a ton of fun running back and forth trying to snap shots of the bikers & waiting for that 10 second glimpse of Lance Armstrong & Levi Leipheimer zoom by.

This Sunday kicks off the tour in Sacramento - and if you're in town - GO! Besides the fact that everyone and their mother is crowded downtown, it's an enjoyable experience. The guys ride time trials around the Capital & Tower Bridge area, and then Monday the tour heads to Davis & onward. {map}.

Even though I brought my camera last year, I swear 89.4% of my photos contained only bike tires, helmets, butts, or the crowd because these guys are speed demons. Um, hello, look at those leg muscles!

If you go, let me know!

GPOFW | 05.12.10

2010-05-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

I love that his little legs are peeking out while cuddling with daddy.

(gratuitous photo of finn wednesday)
photo taken with an iphone

foto friday | here comes the sun

2010-05-07T11:22:00.000-07:00

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
and I say it's all right

I love sunny days.

GPOFW | 05.05.10

2010-05-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

my little guy is so tall now

his little (oh-so-sharp) teeth marks appeared on Eddie's hip
such a little chomp jumper

(gratuitous photo of finn wednesday)

we're praying like nuns, run eddie run

2010-05-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Before we get started, let me just say that by no means am I talented sports photographer. I have no interest in it. I think photographers excel in specific categories - mine being couples, not sports. However, the only time you'll find me at a sports event, camera in hand, is when Eddie is on the field.

A few posts back I talked about Eddie's 50 mile run along the American River (here & here) - which started at CSUS and ended in Auburn - we're talking an all uphill trail run. The furthest Eddie had ran before this was 33 miles in training, and before that was the 26.2 CIM. He's insane, but he's not the only one. Jason Harper & Michelle Purcell ran the race too - they are all hands down, incredible and inspiring.

I wish I could say that I wanted to focus more on capturing great photos of him, but my parents, brother, bff & I were at each stop as his support crew, and that was my number one priority.

Eddie was sending mobile photo updates the entire race which you can view here. He also explains why he ran 50 miles & it's a pretty good reason if you ask me. If you want to hear Jason, Michelle & Eddie talk about the aftermath of the race, you can find the podcast here - Episode 222, Till I collapse AR 50 mile recap.

$5 says he'll do a 100 mile race next...just wait & see...

foto friday | walking on a dream

2010-04-30T08:25:00.000-07:00

GPOFW | 04.28.10

2010-04-28T08:00:00.000-07:00

leaf muncher

(gratuitous photo of Finn Wednesday)

foto friday | sweetest obsession

2010-04-23T16:00:00.000-07:00

I won't lie, I'm not an ice cream fan. Don't hate me, I'm lactose.

But, as I was roaming the frozen dessert section my eyes fell upon this cute little thing and I decided I wanted to give it a go.
Besides, with cute packaging it has to taste good, right?!

It tastes like heaven - no lie. It reminds me of a creamy lime cheesecake that melts in your mouth.
I'm in love.

PS - for all you wine lovers, check out Ciao Bella's Blackberry Cabernet Sorbet, which to me tastes like my dads homemade summer wine slushies -mmm.

GPOFW | 04.21.10

2010-04-21T18:30:00.000-07:00

step, step, bite...

sneak peek | 50 miles, audi, casey & yelena

2010-04-20T07:45:00.000-07:00

Three amazingly fun sessions coming soon!

Two weekends ago Eddie ran the American River 50 mile run, which to say the least was intense.

Meet Audi, a gorgeous senior at Lodi High who was so much fun to work with!

And Casey & Yelena, who braved thousands of ticks and mosquitoes for this sun-filled couples session.

foto friday | stop and pick the roses

2010-04-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

Not only do I love having a backyard - but I love having pretty flowers to pick, stick in vases and plop on our table.

GPOFW | 04.14.10

2010-04-14T08:00:00.000-07:00

Grandpa & Grandma love little Finn

foto friday | run 50, run!

2010-04-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

My husband Eddie, my amazing friend Michelle & the inspirational Jason Harper are running the AR 50 tomorrow...that's 50 miles...we're talking 10 hours+ of running.

Insane is a word that comes to mind, no?

It's literally from Sac State to Auburn...all 50 miles headed uphill.

What's even more insane is that Eddie could qualify for the Western States 100 [yes, I said 100] if he completes the 50 miles under 11 hours.
Saturday is going to be a day full of sweat, blood & tears of pain...
But tears of joy once they cross that finish line.

GPOFW | 04.07.10

2010-04-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

How Finn spends majority of his time with us...

such a little angel while he's sleeping!

Cheers to 50 years & Easter eggs galore

2010-04-06T08:30:00.000-07:00

Not only was Easter a special day, but my mom turned 50! So we mushed the two celebrations together and came out with an extravaganza!

I cooked 3 dozen eggs with the intentions of using half for the centerpieces and the rest for another little project...but that didn't pan out. So instead, I split the 3 dozen into two vases, added white carnations and a few purple buds and viola.

We had four tables total, two of which had the round vase centerpieces, the other two had recycled glass bottles with carnations. I love collecting glass bottles, they make such pretty vases and you can never have enough.

Well, well, look what the Easter bunny brought us! A little egg thief...

It was little Finn's first Easter/family gathering and he did so well! Instead of his normal biting, he gave kisses, chased balls, jumped in laps and stole Easter eggs. By the time we sat down to eat, he was zonked out in his bed & stayed that way all night.

Our little boy is 10 weeks today! Here's our first family photo

I hope your Easter was fabulous!

foto friday | April showers take away my flowers

2010-04-02T08:00:00.000-07:00

I know I posted a photo of these pretty blooms a few Fridays ago, but I can't help myself. Especially now that these blooms are slowly turning green.

Besides, I'm pretty busy now that I'm on jury duty for a MONTH. Yeah, a month. So, I'll apologize now for any lame April foto Fridays.

Happy Easter, friends!

GPOFW | 03.31.10

2010-03-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Inspired by the adorable GPOWW posts over at Liz's blog, I bring to you a new installment of GPOFW - Gratuitous Photo of Finn Wednesday.

We take so many photos/videos of our little man that I could probably post a photo a day. Obviously, we adore him, more than we thought we could. His little face melts our hearts.

Keep a look out for the next GPOFW post next Wednesday!

foto friday | plus 1

2010-03-26T08:30:00.000-07:00

Meet Finn, the newest addition to our little family!

He is the cutest little thing I ever did see.
Don't ya think?!

foto friday | the grass is greener

2010-03-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

I love many things, but fields rank pretty high on the list...and that includes wispy long grass. There's something about the way the wind flows through the strands that seems so dreamy, romantic...refreshing.

It's a good thing our humble abode faces an open field, otherwise, I wouldn't get to see these dreamy field greens dance in the wind.

On another note, I am in love with this book page backdrop...I want my own...but I'm not sure how Eddie will feel about that. How awesome would it be for photo shoots though!?

(image via ruche)

the hardest part about owning a pet...

2010-03-15T08:30:00.000-07:00

...is losing them.

This weekend our family dog, Buzz, passed away. He was my precious little man...and a huge part of our family. I grew up with him, fed him food at the table [sorry Mom], snuggled with him, let him lay his head on my pillow, taught him how to dance in circles...he even had me trained to follow him into the kitchen to give him a treat [and I fell for it every time]. We knew he was at that age...the final age. It's hard to lose a pet that has become a family member. It breaks my heart to think of how he won't be at the door to greet me when I go to my parents, and how I can't kiss that perfect little spot on his head anymore. I looked forward to seeing him every weekend...and I miss him already.

foto friday | sunlight delight

2010-03-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

While I was expecting rain, this week had gorgeous blue skies. And with this sunshine comes beautiful light, especially right before the sun sets.

So everyday I drive by these beautiful trees on my way home, and I gawk at how the light hits the flowers so gently. I finally decided it was worth grabbing my camera and heading back to snap this.

5:40pm sunlight, I love you.

foto friday | coffee addicts

2010-03-05T08:30:00.000-08:00

Say hello to our little friends...

Wonderland for me, bike lovin' for him.
So cute & so perfect for these two coffee addicts.

nicole & tyler | sacramento engagement photographer

2010-03-02T08:00:00.000-08:00

Once again, let me start by saying, this is not an engagement session, it's merely a valentines day/couples session.

My theory is, you don't have to be engaged to have your photo taken! I would take Eddie out all the time for pre-engagement photo shoots, and now look at him, he's fantastic at posing [he might hate me for saying that].

These two just celebrated their 6 months of lovin and it all fell perfectly into place for a Valentines day session. Are you feeling the rocker-vibe? Maybe that's because they're both truly gifted musicians. Tyler is the guitarist for Method Echo and Nicole sings with the Tipping Point. Check them out!

I think this last set is my favorite.

foto friday | spring awakening

2010-02-26T08:30:00.000-08:00

This photo screams Spring and boy am I ready!

Spring is around the corner and I'm beginning to see it in little things here and there. I love the first blooms of Spring, they're beautiful. Don't be shocked if you see me, camera in hand, tromping through fields of wildflowers soon. It might happen often, you'll see.

foto friday | sweetness

2010-02-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

What's better than a red velvet & cream cheese frosting cupcake? Uh, a giant sized red velvet cupcake with cream cheese frosting AND filling.

Two amazing friends dropped off this massive piece of heaven to celebrate my half birthday! Doesn't get much sweeter than that!

Except maybe this...

I couldn't resist posting another...could you?

sneak peek | nicole & tyler

2010-02-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

This past Monday I shot a Valentines [not engagement] session with Nicole & Tyler and I can't get over how beautiful they are together.

Seriously?! How spicy is this photo!?

More [much more] hotness soon.

foto friday | love version 6.0

2010-02-12T09:34:00.000-08:00

It's a four day weekend and Valentines day is around the corner. I'm not the type of girl who needs flowers, candy, jewelry or an amazingly extravagant night [though I am a sucker for candy]...as long as I get to spend the day with the one I love, I don't care what we do.

This will be our sixth Valentines together [and only our 2nd married v-day], and we're sticking to our tradition of dinner & a movie. For the past six years, we've enjoyed a delicious dinner at Frasinetti's Winery and our movie pick this year...probably the Book of Eli. What are your plans?!

ps-how could I forget...sometime this weekend I'll be making s'more brownies...don't they look delicious? Not gonna lie, I'm making them more for my sake than for Eddie. Mmm...marshmallows

(image via Joy the Baker)

You can find this easy recipe at Joy the Baker along with a bazillion other mouth watering tasty treats.

Happy Valentines day!

foto friday | sf lovin'

2010-02-05T09:30:00.000-08:00

It's that time of the week again, so without further ado - our San Fran getaway!

*side note: the man who took this photo tried about 6 different positions before finally snapping the pic. I'm a little surprised our faces don't show our suppressed laughter from the awkward moment.

This was supposed to be a weekend without any photo ops [I really tried...I even left my Canon at home], but my little point & shoot found it's way out of my pocket a few times.

And of course, we did our usual eat/drink/treat at the same spots and saw the Cold War Kids play at the Fillmore.

I love weekend getaways, and that's all I have left to say.

foto friday | city sky

2010-01-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or did this week fly by? I intended to update with photos from our trip to SF, but that didn't happen. I wasn't expecting many photos though, I left my camera at home and only brought out the little point & shoot when I pleased. But lo and behold, that little camera packs some pow, don't ya think?

Seriously though, how could I not snap the City skyline?
I promise a massive photo post in a few days.
Happy Friday!

foto friday | flashback

2010-01-22T14:39:00.000-08:00

While the photo below was taken a couple years ago [actually during our proposal weekend in SF], I feel that it resembles my current weekend.

I love the fog rolling in...[@ the memorial cemetery in SF]

This weekend will be devoted primarily to a funeral & a weekend getaway in San Francisco.
I'd like to stay and chat, but the City is calling my name.

ps-did I mention we're seeing the Cold War Kids play on Saturday? We're oh-so-excited!

aaaand just for kicks...a photo after Eddie proposed to me

the thomas family | sacramento family photographer

2010-01-20T08:00:00.000-08:00

Ok, so you've probably seen this little cutie all over my blog, but I'm not sorry, she's absolutely precious. Momma wanted a few new family photos for the holidays so we managed to score one day without rain to capture a few moments.

The headbands, the smiles, the giggles, the dainty hands - I seriously can not get enough of her!

I recently found myself experimenting with a slight vintage/retro look and I really like it! It's not normally a style I lean towards, but perhaps the tides are changing -
it is after all, a new year & a fresh start.

And last but not least, my favorite.

foto friday | spend a little time

2010-01-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

It's Friday again - man, this week flew by. I'm not complaining though, it's a 4 day weekend for me! And not only is it a long weekend, but we're having our housewarming party tomorrow! Friends, family & Chevy's food - what could be better?!

I have to admit though, the real highlight of my Fridays are these kids. I wrote about how I'm involved in a program on Fridays at Oak Ridge Elementary and I absolutely look forward to it each week. If you have an hour free on any Friday till June, come join us, you won't regret it!

Happy Friday!

foto friday | merry merry

2010-01-08T08:00:00.000-08:00

Taking my first step in my weekly goal - here's my first contribution to Foto Friday!

It may have been our second married Christmas, but it was our first Christmas in our new home! Appropriate ornament for a very special Christmas! I can not wait to create memory upon memory in the years to come in our lovely abode!

Speaking of Christmas, I received the ever so lovely Canon 50mm f/1.8 from the hubs and am totally obsessed with it. It is utterly amazing and I have a feeling a good chunk of these posts will revolve around the lens.
If you don't have one - get one - you won't regret it.

Seriously though, how awesome is the depth of field compared to the first photo!? And I kid you not, I only enhanced the exposure on this photo - that depth of field is 100% real.

I'm in love.

twenty-ten

2010-01-05T18:24:00.000-08:00

So this is the new year, and I have no resolutions. I've never been one to make resolutions - I'd rather make little goals to stick with and try to complete them daily, weekly or monthly. And then, if all else fails and I bite the dust, I won't feel like such a loser.

My little goal is to update my blog on a weekly basis. These weekly segments, known as Foto Friday, will consist of a photo [or photos] I've taken that week. I think this little goal is good for two reasons - 1. my blog will no longer be oh-so neglected & 2. it'll be good for me to pick up my camera [besides doing so for sessions] and shoot something I find beautiful, inspiring or interesting.

Below is a sneak peek of a recent session with the most adorable little girl.
Don't you just want to eat her up!?

So with that, happy twenty-ten!

the bunbury family | sacramento family photographer

2009-12-17T21:58:00.000-08:00

And now for my long overdue family session - drum roll please...

Words can't describe how beautiful this family is. I had an amazing time during our session in Folsom. How cute are these two boys? I loved watching them interact with one another!

I'll admit my first time photographing a walking toddler wasn't too easy, but once I realized letting him do his own thing was the best bet, I was able to snap some great shots. Check out the piano jam session with dad. These boys are going to be extremely musically talented!

My poor blog has continuously been neglected. At this rate I've been posting once a month, but my New Years resolution for 2010 is to keep up to date on my posts. My free time gets a little fuzzy between Thanksgiving & Christmas, so after the holiday season is over I'll have a few new posts ready to kick off 2010. So, in the mean time - enjoy celebrating with your family! Merry Christmas!

all they need is love | sacramento childrens photographer

2009-11-28T19:14:00.000-08:00

As it's Thanksgiving weekend, I'd like to share something incredibly close to my heart which I am truly grateful for - the opportunity to be involved in these kids lives.

Alongside Be Change, I've had the opportunity during the past few months to connect with the kids at Oak Ridge Elementary in Oak Park - the roughest neighborhood in Sacramento. I truly believe that every child deserves a fighting chance, equal education, opportunity, health care and healthy, nutritious meals.

Be Change/Equal Start has partnered with the Sacramento Food Bank to provide each child at Oak Ridge a bag of nutritious food, every Friday, for the rest of the school year. We're talking about 475+ bags of food donated to these kids, so that each child will have food for the weekend. I lead the Friday Food Fill Up & I've snapped a few photos over the past few months.

These kids are amazing & as much as I'd like to think that they need me...I need them, too.

Want to lend a helping hand? There are many ways to get involved including Wednesday afternoons filling the bags, Friday afternoons handing out the bags, running in the CIM to raise funds for health care for every child on campus, or donating to the cause. Click here for more info & take a peek at the "get involved" section.

lagging on updates

2009-10-23T11:28:00.000-07:00

I'm lagging in the update department, but I have many new updates coming your way...that is, once we finish unpacking our new home. That's right, new home, our very first home & we're oh so excited.

Upcoming updates include - family session, Utah adventures & a new project I'm involved with for Equal Start, including the cutest kids and donated food in the roughest Sacramento area, Oak Park.

And because I simply adore this photo for it's accurate portrayal of us -

Eddie & I - Utah
09.27.09

left my heart in portland, OR

2009-09-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago Eddie & I flew to Portland, OR. The best way to describe Portland is to deem it a mix of San Francisco [minus a couple million people] with the beauty of Lake Tahoe. A place so wonderful, I can't help but long to move there, asap. Don't fret, my roots are here, and I won't be moving any time soon. Below are a few photos from our trip including - our venture up the Columbia River to view lush waterfalls and landscapes to die for.

Next up - snapshots around Portland including - the city scape, Portland Saturday Market, old churches & random findings.

And if you're planning a trip to Portland, we have a few fav spots we'd recommend you try.

If you love sushi [the REAL sushi, not American frou frou kind], check out Sushi Ichiban. Not only is it a classic sushi go-around, but the prices are fairly cheap and the sushi is amazing.

And to add to my adoration, they have an incredible bowl of ramen. Which I might add, I'm always on the hunt for amazing ramen bowls, and Sushi Ichiban wins, hands down.

If you're a devoted book snob, like me, you'll find anything and everything at Powell's City of Books. It's 4 stories of color coded rooms to help guide you to find that perfect book. This isn't a bookstore for browsing, this is a bookstore which sucks in multiple hours of your time, without your consent. Eddie literally had to drag me out after two hours of book searching. The highlight: the rare book room, you can marvel at the treasures, but don't touch that $350,000 Lewis & Clark Expedition unless you plan on adding it to your cart.

Coffee lovers, have I got the place for you, Stumptown Coffee. Not only is the espresso amazing, but the mixed drinks rival the likes of Peets Coffee. The hip design & decor will have you coming back for more. Did I mention they feature art as well? So grab that one of a kind donut from Voodoo Donuts, and head on over to get your caffeine fix.

And last, but not least, Portland has some amazing breweries, but one of which I'll mention. We first encountered this beer last Halloween when the dead man bottle caught our eye, ever since, Eddie's been hooked on Rogue. Check out the Rogue Brewery for good food and booze. If you don't want to make the trek to the Brewery, check out their booth at the Portland Saturday Market, which we also recommend you check out.

And because I can - my fav new boots put to use in downtown Portland.

leslie & matthew | lodi wedding photographer

2009-09-17T17:04:00.000-07:00

By far my favorite collection to date. Leslie is stunning.

09.06.09

Lodi, CA

nicole & paul | sacramento wedding photographer

2009-08-31T14:22:00.000-07:00

Nicole & Paul's wedding in Loomis allowed me to dive head first into wedding photography. I must admit, Nicole was more mellow than I was, but once the night progressed on, my jitters vanished. I simply adored shooting their wedding day, it was such a blast!

Below are a few of my favorites from their memorable day.

Paul & Nicole, thank you for letting me be a part of your special day!

leslie & matthew engagement | sacramento engagement photographer

2009-08-06T15:13:00.000-07:00

tying the knot
09.06.09

sneak peek - nicole & paul

2009-08-02T23:43:00.000-07:00

sneak peek:

08.01.09
Loomis, CA

lake tahoe

2009-07-19T18:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I enjoy living in Sacramento; we're close to Lake Tahoe and close to San Francisco. We get the best of both worlds. We spent three consecutive weekends in Lake Tahoe and below is a random sampling of our adventures including: ferry cruise to emerald bay, hiking, camping, and the fourth of July. Weekend getaways=love.

I love how the flag looks sheer in the sun.

one year bliss

2009-06-05T21:16:00.000-07:00

Last weekend we celebrated our one year wedding anniversary in San Francisco. Saturday was spent shopping till we dropped and finding a tiny, yet amazing, authentic Japanese eatery. Everything about it was fantastic, and I must admit, made us miss Japan like crazy. Sunday, my camera was beckoning to come out and play, so we headed to the Mission district. Yet, after driving around a bit, deemed it an unsafe playground and made our way towards Chinatown. We've roamed the streets numerous times, but always find something new to marvel at. Below are a few of my favorites.

Whenever we go to SF, we have a habit of sticking to our favorite spots. A few of our favorite spots are listed below the slide show. We highly recommend them, as they've never let us down [unless they were closed, ha] and are moderately priced. Below are my other fav shots from the trip to Chinatown, enjoy!

Favorite restaurant: Q Restaurant
-our picks: fried calamari w/ chili-lime aioli, spinach salad [with delish toppings], mac & cheese with tots [famous dish], angus burger with garlic fries and a grilled banana for dessert. Can't forget about their mega extensive wine list!

Favorite cupcake bakery: That Takes The Cake
-our picks: Prom Queen [the BEST strawberry cupcake made with real berries] and the Samoa [just like the girl scout cookie]. Actually, every cupcake here is uh-mazing.

Favorite watering hole: The Cantina
-our picks: looking for a spicy kick in the face? try the Laughing Buddha made with chilies. For a citrus taste, try the Misdemeanor.

one year down, a wonderful lifetime to go

vanessa & jon michael

2009-05-10T17:42:00.000-07:00

These two are long time friends of mine and are tying the knot in June. They are the sweetest couple and I'm so happy for them! These are some of my favs from our shoot [slideshow style!]

baby addison - take two

2009-04-19T18:00:00.000-07:00

So the first attempted session with Addison didn't quite work out, she was a little too fussy. I honestly only came out with one good photo.

So I tried again this past weekend and was met with success. I wanted [secretly needed] exposure to photographing babies. I'll admit, I'd rather do adults, they're easier to give instruction too. Babies do have the "aw" factor though.

I think I still need more practice until I'm sufficiently confident in my baby skills. Although, I don't think these are all that bad for my first [semi-second] attempt.

our first - easter 2009

2009-04-13T18:00:00.000-07:00

This was our first married Easter and we spent it with my Mom's side in Sonoma. I absolutely love our holidays in Sonoma. Everything is amazing; the company, food, weather, walks, memories. There's also an abundance of poppies [my favorite flower] everywhere you turn.

[click photos for larger views]

Eddie & I are also coming up on our first year of marriage...crazy! Before we left Sonoma, I made him stop at this amazing old barn and pose for a few photos since it's been awhile.

He is risen! Happy Easter!

sneak peek - heather

2009-03-31T08:08:00.000-07:00

sneak peek:

I think it's impossible for Heather to take bad photos.

She's simply stunning

sneak peek - melissa & john

2009-03-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

sneak peek
engagement photos coming soon...

Next on the roster, babies. And in doing so, I'm dubbing tomorrow "baby day." As I mentioned a while back, my friend Rebekah had her baby girl, Addison and I have the honor of photographing her baby stages! Tomorrow is our 2-week baby photo session! Then following the session, I'm attending a family baby shower for my cousin. Hence, tomorrow is baby day.

I'd like to say I'll come down with the baby-gimmies, but lucky for me [and Eddie], I only have the puppy-gimmies :)

sneak peek - misha & micah

2009-03-15T21:37:00.000-07:00

sneak peek:

tomorrow's another day

2009-03-13T17:09:00.000-07:00

bridal shoot tomorrow morning
engagement shoot tomorrow afternoon
busy day.
stay tuned...

putting compassion into action

2009-03-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

My husband Eddie has been competing in the TBF [total body fitness] duathlons this season [a duathlon is a 2 mile run, bike, followed by a 2 mile run]. After the 3 series race, he was named 2009 division champ for the 20-29 male age group [his first big win!].

He seems to be gaining progress in his training towards his ultimate goal in making it to the National Xterra triathlon in Utah. We'll see how he does in the first Xterra tri March 29th!

Eddie on the first part of his run*

Our good friend Mike joined in on the fun as well. We were waiting by this tiny little bump in the path and I'd yell at all the bikers to jump it. Some would laugh, some would ignore, and some would jump. Mike jumped. Riders should be more like that. Entertain me, please.

Ash cheering for Mike

Our other good friend, Michelle, ran in the trail run and placed third in her division! She's literally incredible aaand beautiful. Her big trail run is on the 28th & I guarantee she'll be fantastic. This girl inspires me to reach for the stars; don't know what I'd do without her.

To see more photos from the race, take a look at Eddie's blog.

In other related news:

Our inspirational friend/mentor, Jason Harper, started a non-profit org called Be Change [aka Extra Mile Run]. It was created to bring "awareness to the plight of health care for the children of Sacramento's inner-city campus of Oak Ridge Elementary School in the heart of Sacramento's roughest neighborhoods." Last year Jason ran 100 miles in 29 hours for these kids, and inspired us.

Eddie ran the California International Marathon this past December with a group of runners supporting De:terminence; his first time being fully involved in helping a cause. It sparked a fire in him to do more, and decided to pursue the next step. His goal: to raise funds and awareness for the children at Oak Ridge while competing in the Xterra triathlons. I'll be there on his journeys, documenting everything I can. You can also view his blog here to see his progress [he'll be updating this weekend].

Put your compassion into action!

______________________________________________

*I have him trained to smile at the camera, this way, I can capture better photos, ha.

rebekah & baby girl

2009-03-06T10:24:00.000-08:00

I did a maternity shoot for my good friend Rebekah last month. We've known one another for over 8 years thanks to our small private school & church. And as of March 4, she & her husband Matt are the proud parents of Addison Brielle, a beautiful little girl with a full head of hair and rosy cheeks.

The weather forecast proclaimed a dark rainy day, yet no rain appeared, and the sun peeked out from the cluster of clouds every now and then. I took her to my favorite spot - my dad taught me how to use my camera here. It is the most beautiful spot in any season, rain or shine. I've explored, kayaked, hiked every muddy section of this glorious place. It's my secret little [big] garden. We only ventured into a quarter of the land, but she was such a trooper!

She had an antique rocking chair [Matt's grandma's old chair] in her trunk that was on it's way to the dump. I inherited it and let my creative mind flow. Besides the two up top, these are my favorite photos. The rocking chair makes them perfect.

We have our two week newborn session coming up, and I can't wait to photograph this adorable little girl! Rebekah & I have been brainstorming ideas for months! Stay tuned in a couple weeks for that post!

stephanie & dan

2009-03-05T17:31:00.000-08:00

These two love birds are tying the knot in June 09. This shoot was a breeze - the chemistry between them is undeniable. Dan works in the US Air Force & Stephanie is a special education teacher finishing her Masters. Our session was shot where Dan proposed to Steph in October. I rarely had to give them directions; these two were in their own world [which makes it extremely easier to capture true moments]. How cute are they!?

my favorite shots [above]

how beautiful is that backdrop?!

a glimpse into my world

2009-03-03T16:23:00.000-08:00

Considering this is my first post, I might as well introduce myself.

My name is Alyssa Ballisty & I simply love photography - I have since I was young, thanks to my father. He passed down his first camera, a Pentax 100, to me in high school. Nothing can compare to an old manual film camera. Although, my Canon EOS 40D comes close. I'm most creative when behind the camera, but I wouldn't pass up the opportunity to be in front of it either.

I'm now taking the next step as an aspiring photographer.

Not gonna lie, it's a little scary, but exciting.

This blog will capture my experiences in this new adventure.

I'm working on a website, but for now you can lurk my myspace.

ps-if you'd like to become part of my adventure, I'll gladly accept.