Pacific Coast Family Photo Adventures

snow at sea level in Montara

2011-02-23T08:51:00.000-08:00

I'm looking for a family who can be at the beach at 9am on Saturday, 2/26 if there is snow (as predicted).

Well, I'll photograph your family either way but I really want some pictures of snow on Montara beach for my collection!

Call me at 415 822 7581 or email mb@marthabruce.com if you are interested

Very cute boy on a typical SF day

2010-11-13T07:56:00.000-08:00

The bridge is there but our beloved S.F. fog is obscuring it. We still had a great time at Chrissy Field.

2010 Halloween

2010-11-01T14:17:00.000-07:00

Making Halloween costumes is a family tradition. This year we were characters from Dr. Seuss. Here we are!

Beautiful, cloudy day at China Beach

2010-11-01T14:02:00.000-07:00

High clouds can be beautiful at the beach. Here are some great examples

Bubbles in the park

2010-10-27T08:20:00.000-07:00

The Stanford University campus has lots of lovely spots for portraits but the Kingscote Garden is especially inviting. Nice background plants and a pond with a bridge. We brought along some bubbles so the kids had something to do and got some great family portraits.

Ocean Beach

2010-10-23T08:23:00.000-07:00

I can't believe this is the first shoot I've done at Ocean Beach. I used to go there daily and my mom lived across the street for years.

pumpkinmania

2010-10-21T06:41:00.000-07:00

We had fun at Arata Farm Pumpkins yesterday. Pumpkins in all kinds of colors. Plenty of entertainment for the whole family.

A beautiful dancer

2010-10-12T15:18:00.000-07:00

I really enjoyed photographing this lovely dancer in the studio. We are offering special $99 studio sessions in the month of November - book yours today. Perfect for holiday cards

Great Holiday Cards

2010-09-15T16:37:00.000-07:00

It is a little early but...I just thought I would share a link with you for great holiday cards. Minted has fresh designs and can use any photos from our wonderful beach sessions. Check them out.

A fabulous time picking strawberries

2010-07-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from a family visit to Swanton Berry Farm near Davenport. The strawberries are organic and so delicious! It makes a great place for family portraits. There are strawberries galore, some fun trucks to look at and a wonderful farmhouse full of jams and pies and toys. Strawberries are available for the picking through the fall.

Featured Beach for July

2010-06-23T14:31:00.000-07:00

Miramontes Beach is our featured beach for the month of July. We offer a reduced session fee of $129 and priceless images!

The beach is just south of the Ritz Carleton Hotel.

Call 415 822 7581 or email me at mb@marthabruce.com to schedule a session

Revealing the core of humanness

2010-06-13T16:58:00.000-07:00

It's one thing to photograph people. It's another to make others care about them by revealing the core of their humanness. -- Paul Strand

I want my photographs to help connect people. When you look at one of my images, I want you to care about the person, even if you don't know them, because you can relate to their humanness.

This is my ex-husband, Ken Bruce
Aug/1948 - May/2010

Photos remind us of what we forget

2010-05-24T12:35:00.000-07:00

All photographs are there to remind us of what we forget. In this - as in other ways - they are the opposite of paintings. Paintings record what the painter remembers. Because each one of us forgets different things, a photo more than a painting may change its meaning according to who is looking at it. ~John Berger

A picture of a baby's face could bring back different memories to his/her mother and father.

Brian's Birthday at the Beach

2010-05-18T16:49:00.000-07:00

I had some fun with Marianne and Brian the other day at China Beach. Check it out. I think they like each other!

Photographing families

2010-05-12T13:40:00.000-07:00

Photography, fortunately, to me has not only been a profession but also a contact between people - to understand human nature and record, if possible, the best in each individual.: Nickolas Muray; I can totally relate to that quote - I love getting to know my families and making images they will cherish

my garden

2010-05-09T17:58:00.000-07:00

Bill and I finally got our garden semi-planted today. After a major infrastructure revamp. Bill installed a whole new watering system and an attempt at mole deterence - we'll see how that works. Lettuce is the hero around here. Also trying some broccoli, onions, shallots, & parsnips. At the front is the zuchinni volcano. Behind that is our 2nd year asparagus - we can harvest next year! More to come. Here's to a wonderful growing season!

Another family learning about where our food comes from

2010-04-04T09:56:00.000-07:00

Kids playing with kids

2010-03-19T06:57:00.000-07:00

A good time was had by all last weekend when we visited the baby goats at Harley Farm Goat Dairy. Check it out!

200 expectant moms at Harley Farms Goat Dairy

2010-02-15T10:29:00.000-08:00

Annalisa is one!

2010-02-07T11:15:00.000-08:00

What a beautiful Korean dress she is wearing to celebrate! Just a tad long but that slowed her down a bit - otherwise she would have been all over the studio

The heavy lifting is over

2010-02-05T17:24:00.000-08:00

Wow! I spent most of January relocating my studio from the space in San Francisco to my beautiful home in Montara. It is so much nicer to work while looking out my window at the trees, birds and the occasional horseback rider.

I had my first session at the home studio this morning and it is as if nothing had changed. Call me and set up a studio or location session - 415 822 7581. If you come in for a session in February or March, I will enter you in a drawing to win a free, 7 x 7 inch, 10 page, press printed book with all of your favorite images.

Wedding photographer for a day

2009-12-14T08:06:00.000-08:00

My brother Steve and his wife were married on Montara Beach on 11/28/09. It was a glorious day. Here is a video.

The coldest day at Baker Beach

2009-12-09T08:41:00.000-08:00

I've never been as cold on Baker beach as I was on 12/02 and that was before all the Bay Area snow!

I managed to get some great shots of this family even though the girls were shivering and had little red noses!

Low tide quite an attraction!

2009-11-16T11:21:00.000-08:00

I was blown away by how many people were enjoying the super low tide at Pillar Point Beach yesterday. I was trying for a quiet family portrait for a client but instead found the beach and parking lots just crawling with people and happy dogs. It is nice to know that our beaches are so well appreciated. Makes me realize how much we need state funding for park maintenance.

I did manage to get a few images without crowds in the background.

Wine with a View #1 La Costanera

2009-11-14T07:19:00.000-08:00

I've set myself the arduous task of visiting all of the bars overlooking the ocean on the San Mateo Coast to have a glass of wine and report on the experience.

Since it is right in my backyard, I started with La Costanera which just opened last month. What a pleasant experience! The bar is downstairs and has an outdoor deck with heat lamps and two large, lava filled, fire circles. We got there just as the sun was setting and were able to sit outside and enjoy the sites and sounds of Montara Beach.

Happy hour is 5pm to 7pm and they offer house wine for $4 and all bar plates for $6. What a deal. The staff is super friendly. Just to whet our collective appetite for Mavericks, they feature two big TV screens with footage from previous competitions.

Here is my husband enjoying the view

Highway One at 2nd Street in Montara.