Nightingale Photos Blog

Welcome to my blog!

I love shooting weddings! After working 13 years as a staff photojournalist at the San Francisco Chronicle, I am able to take all my training to create emotionally rich images for my couples. My goal is to create a wedding photostory that tells YOUR story. You are unique and your images should be, too.

I cry at weddings. I can't help it! I get emotionally invested and I won't apologize for it. It allows me to get into the zone where I am completely immersed in the moment and I strive to make images that reflect that.

Each couple is different and each wedding photostory should be, too. We usually begin with a fun engagement session. Some recent locations have been the alleyways of Chinatown, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a working ranch, and Alameda Naval Base, to name a few.

I love being inspired by new locations, and I go with the flow. Photojournalism has taught me to constantly adapt and embrace changing environments, lighting condition and the unexpected. I am most proud with my ability to capture genuine moments. Do I shoot formal portraits? Absolutely. They are important! But my passion is to find the moments between the moments. No one ever raves about an image where 20 people are looking into the camera with painted- on smiles. The great images are the unexpected hug, adjusting a dress, relaxed laughter.

My couples are very special to me because they invite me to witness true intimacy. I am truly blessed!!!

Other fun facts: I am a native of Oakland. I hear that's quite rare. My family came to San Francisco during the Gold Rush, and we've never left. Can you blame us? I love being able to shoot here because there are so many off-beaten locations I know and love.

I have an amazing family. Richard and I have been married for 15 years and have a marvelous daughter, Sophia. Now our wedding was not quite the type I shoot nowadays. We got married on the beach south of Santa Cruz with a Mexican trio serenading us and a table holding pitchers of margaritas. I LOVED our wedding. Richard's family made all the food: beans, rice, tortillas and tri-tip. And more margaritas. We bribed the musicians to stay longer by raising more funds with a money dance. We hold our wedding dear to our hearts.

We also have two dogs: Ruby and Roomba...yes, named after the vacuum, don't ask. Richard is a multi-media teacher at UC Berkeley, and just created the Nightingale Wedding Film. We are so excited to offer this! I gotta brag...Richard won an Emmy last year for a documentary, so he WILL be working with me. Sorry honey, no weekends off for you!

I hope your are getting excited on the road to your wedding. Don't forget: as long as there is love, lots of laughter, some food and wine, your wedding will be a blast. Thanks for reading and I can't wait to hear YOUR story, soon.

Christina