Meg Messina Photography

Feels Like Summer

Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:36:24 -0700

The weather in San Francisco is gorgeous today. It makes me feel like some of this is in order…

Lindy & Derek

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 11:20:00 -0700

One of my favorite weddings of the summer popped up last-minute & turned out to be the most stress-free & sweet experience. Lindy & Derek had their family and a few close friends at the Point Reyes School House Compound. The weather was gorgeous, the food was awesome, & the bocci competition was fierce… so much love and so much fun in this group!

DD40 - A Two Day Birthday Bash

Mon, 07 Mar 2011 20:11:00 -0800

I’m all for extending a birthday celebration a much as possible… I’d probably have mine for an entire month if I could get away with it. So when I got the opportunity to photograph a two-night celebration for the impeccably classy David Dancer… created & executed by the impeccably organized Andy Padilla… I knew I’d found some kindred spirits. This fun group of friends packed the warm, inviting Press Club on the first night. The second night was an intimate dinner at one of the most beautiful restaurants in San Francisco, Quince. Here are a few of my favorite shots from a birthday bash done just right!

Time Flies

Fri, 25 Feb 2011 12:17:00 -0800

How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon? -Dr. Seuss

This poem runs through my mind on repeat the last few months. Time just whips by and it can be difficult to be present in all these great moments (let alone create a post about them). But that’s one of my favorite things about photographs - they can serve as reminders of memories you never want to lose. These collages are some memories from the past few months… my crazy family, incredible friends, and some fun with a new polaroid camera! These little memories remind me how lucky I am…

Winter Wonderland - Elle's First Birthday

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 10:14:00 -0800

On my first birthday, I’m pretty sure I stomped around in a frilly dress, shoved cake in my mouth, & started screaming at guests - total birthday meltdown. But this girl, Elle is a classy little lady! So her lovely parents, Demi & Fred threw her a Winter Wonderland party with performers, a ball pit, balloon snowmen, & face-painting fairies. I’ve never seen kids have so much fun… and so few sugar-induced meltdowns! The party was perfect. :)

Demi & Fred, your little girl is beautiful. Thank you for having me there to photograph all the fun!

Megha's Romantic Rooftop Birthday

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:00:00 -0800

This party had everything — a rooftop overlooking the San Francisco skyline, interiors by Ken Fulk, Inc., and of course Megha and Nirav, a loving couple with looks straight out of a Vanity Fair fashion spread. But for me (because I’m a softy), the evening’s highlight was the photo montage of Megha’s life, created by her parents. I’m hoping my photos will make the cut for the next montage! Happy birthday & happy engagement, Megha! Best wishes to you & Nirav.

Ilana & Seth

Sat, 04 Sep 2010 10:32:00 -0700

When it comes to photographing a wedding, two heads (with two sets of eyes) are better than one. I loved being that second set of eyes on Ilana & Seth’s wedding day. I was working with S. Smith Patrick - an incredible documentary photographer who also happens to have a talent for weddings! While Smith expertly took the lead, I was able to concentrate on the little hidden moments that happen during the main event.

Second shooting reminds me of what my college photography professor always said, compose the shot you’re trying to get… then turn around and shoot what’s behind you.

Andy, Tessie, & Shayla

Thu, 26 Aug 2010 22:07:00 -0700

Shayla & I go all the way back to the awkward days of Junior High. So it was extra fun to meet & photograph her little girl, Tessie. Turns out Tessie is just as precocious, energetic, & sweet-hearted as her mamma! Andy definitely has his hands full with these two ladies!

We had a blast running around the little town of Carmel by the Sea and dressing Tessie in every darling dress we could find. ♥ to you & your sweet family, Shayla!

Up To My Ears In Awesomeness

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 14:23:00 -0700

You may have been wondering where I disappeared to, or at least where my posts went. It’s been hard to find time for updates lately because I’ve been quite busy… well… playing. With the coolest new photo-geek products!

The folks at Photojojo (whom you may remember from this fun party) have been launching all kinds of new goodies & I’ve been photographing & coveting every last one! Here are some of my favorite shots from the photo-fun madness. Take a look, then head over to their site & get busy… playing.

Natalie & Brent

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:16:00 -0700

One thing a girl remembers about her wedding is having all the people she loves around her. It could be while walking down the aisle, during a dance or a toast or a hug - the details don’t really matter. It’s that those she cares for are there to witness the celebration.

For Natalie & Brent, these memories could have been really different. They were in the process of planning their wedding for next summer but Natalie’s dad, Robert was sick. When news came that Robert’s illness had worsened, no one hesitated. Their families came together. Four days later, Natalie’s dad walked her through his backyard, down a path of sprinkled flowers, towards her new husband.

Instead of a rushed or stressful or sad occasion, their wedding was simple and full of sweetness. No one’s thoughts were on the fact that Robert wouldn’t be there in the future because he was there now and he’d be part of the memory forever. It was beautiful to photograph a family like that… it knocked me flat in the best kind of way.

Natalie & Brent, thank you for having me there that day. You have the sweetest family with the biggest of hearts.

Friends, Food, & Confetti Explosions

Tue, 06 Jul 2010 13:56:00 -0700

Photography may be my job… but I chose it cause it’s fun! So when I have the chance to shoot something involving good food, great friends, & sparkly things that go BOOM I’m just in photo heaven. Here’s a look at our Independence Day celebration, foggy San Francisco summer style!

Shannon, Jake, Grace, & Jack

Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:40:00 -0700

A gorgeous family + lovely natural light + a big bed to jump on = a very fun photo session.

Past Perfect - Sharon's Retro Birthday

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:24:00 -0700

Life looked better in the 1960’s & I’ve always wished I were a photographer back then. Fancy cars… snazzy suits… classy ladies… it’d be hard to take a bad photograph. Ends up my friend Sharon’s Birthday Party was a mini time travel! For a few hours that evening, we all looked our swanky best & I was so glad to have my camera… cause the photographs were easy to find.

Peonies

Thu, 03 Jun 2010 09:31:00 -0700

Photobooth Buzz!

Tue, 25 May 2010 23:41:00 -0700

Remember all that oohing and ahhing I did over the Halestorm Masked Ball? Well the lovely writers at SfGate’s The Buzz felt the same way… and they even featured my Photobooth in their coverage of the event! I can’t get enough of these crazy, creative photography set-ups. You too? Well here you go, my favorites from the Dressed to Kill Photobooth!

The Halestorm Masked Ball

Wed, 12 May 2010 12:17:00 -0700

The creative geniuses at Ken Fulk Design threw a party the likes of which I had never seen… because that’s just what’s required when you’re honoring a woman as lovely as Denise Hale! I can’t really describe the glamour of it all. But Leah Garchik did so I’ll leave the words to her and just say that this party was a photographer’s dream. I was honored to make the memories of it.

Who rocks the party? Photojojo does.

Fri, 23 Apr 2010 13:38:00 -0700

I recently started photographing products for a super-cool, local company called Photojojo. Not only are these guys promoting the fun of photography and stocking some of the most awesome photo goods out there, they’re having a great time doing it! Today they released a new Chalkboard Speech Bubble. While standard product shots are always necessary, Photojojo has major style. So they opted to throw a Photo Booth party to really show it off… and I was the lucky girl that got to shoot the festivities.

A huge applause-filled THANK YOU to all the Photojojo fans and friends that came out to the party… I couldn’t have asked for better models. Get on over to the Photojojo Flickr page to see all your fabulous antics! ♥, Meg,

The Doggie Gaga Project... behind the scenes!

Tue, 20 Apr 2010 12:13:00 -0700

A couple weeks ago, my good friend and fellow photographer, Jesse Freidin woke to a surprise phone call — his friend had just seen Jesse’s photos on the Regis & Kelly show! Jesse does gorgeous fine-art dog portraits (see them on Jesse’s site). But it was his Doggie Gaga Project that *busted out* on the world wide web and was covered by everyone from Perez Hilton to People Pets. To see those hilariously creative images, visit The Doggie Gaga Project’s facebook page. Once the, uh… dog was out of the bag and Jesse’s talent was displayed all over, fame and praise and the demand for more Doggie Gaga followed!

And who doesn’t love a second helping of something that’s so fantastic? Especially when that something is a creative collaboration among good friends! That’s why I was thrilled to photograph the making of The Doggie Gaga Project - Round 2. Jesse’s new images are launching today… here’s a look at how they were made.

Pancake - always the first to take the stage.

Craig & Terra, plotting the shoot.

Rebecca creates the telephone hat for Bob the dog!

Jesse with his favorite camera - The Horseman Field. And the shoot is underway!

Pancake investigates the other costumes…

Jesse uses Joanna’s head to style the Coke can wig. We “test-run” only on the humans! :)

Jackson gets ready for his close-up.

He’s obviously destined for stardom!

Christine Zona - an inspiring photographer with the personality to match. Check out her angle on the day: www.czonafoto.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/the-doggie-gaga-project/

Jackson slurps up his well-deserved treat.

Bob patiently waits his turn…

…and when it comes time, he delivers like a champ!

Rebecca models her masterpiece.

The final shot of the day.

Jennings makes it easy - he’s an old pro!

Jesse & Craig take a break… but Jennings still wants to model.

Pulling the final shot…

Congratulations, Jesse!

I ♥ dogs. I ♥ Lady Gaga. I ♥ film. And I especially ♥ all these creative, crazy friends that made such a creative, crazy project come to life! Let’s give them a round of applause.

Photographer : Jesse Freidin : www.jessefreidin.com

Photographer’s Assistant : Diana Cao

Costumes : Rebecca Gerber

Behind the scenes photography : Christine Zona : www.czona.com

Assistant Producer : Craig Gotsill

Videography : Bert DiVietri & Terra Haywood : www.youtube.com/user/TerraHaywood

The Flying Girls

Sat, 17 Apr 2010 08:31:00 -0700

For every holiday, birthday, or just-because gift, Craig gets me some sort of amazing camera. They’re all shapes and sizes. Plastic, cardboard, water-resistant rubber. The collection is pretty impressive… and I love every one of them! The most recent was a teeny camera that takes two images per 35mm frame. The results are super cool! Here’s a couple samples… The Flying Girls.