SANTA CRUZ FOREST FIRE

Leave a comment July 12, 2021 Lisa LeCoump

Last year, a forest fire in northern Santa Cruz county, the CZU lightning complex fire, burned 86,000 acres. It was stopped as it reached the University of California, Santa Cruz campus north of Santa Cruz, where we live. As we are again in fire season, we felt it would be a good time to post a few photos we took of the area that was devistated by the fire last year.

Buying Direct from Growers

Image Leave a comment April 21, 2020 Lisa LeCoump

During this time, we are staying at home and doing a lot of cooking and baking. Going to the grocery store has become a challenge, and we miss shopping at the Farmer’s Market. However, buying directly from local growers has become the perfect answer.

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Flammekuchen in Strasbourg France

Gallery 3 Comments March 15, 2020 Lisa LeCoump

This recipe for flammekuchen is so easy and foolproof we use it almost weekly. It is the perfect make ahead meal and can be a fun family meal project or a healthy food swap, depending on how you make it.

True farm to table – artichokes with aioli

Leave a comment October 1, 2019 Lisa LeCoump

This was definately “farm to table”, since we actually went to the farm. Artichokes are grown around Santa Cruz, and these were from the cliffs overlooking the Pacific. The aioli was made with rosemary and garlic olive oil. Garlic olive oil is a great thing to have on hand. We make it by slowly cooking garlic in oil on the stovetop at the lowest temperature possible, for about an hour, and then keeping it in the refrigerator for safe keeping

Making homemade wine vinegar

Leave a comment June 8, 2019 Lisa LeCoump

I know it sounds unbelievable, but we often have wine leftover. We also have a difficult time finding a decent wine vinegar, so I had the idea of making it out of the leftover wine. After all, how hard can it be?

Amsterdam by night

Gallery 2 Comments October 4, 2018 Lisa LeCoump

One of the loveliest cities by night. The bridges and streets are lit up and the canals reflect the lights.

5 Great tips for photo equipment storage

Leave a comment August 7, 2018 Lisa LeCoump

As professional photographers for the last 10 years, we have come up with a few good storage ideas for our photography equipment.

Cookies in a Jar – Oatmeal walnut

Image Leave a comment July 28, 2018 Lisa LeCoump

It’s not hard to make your own cookie mix, and you can use any of your favorite recipes.

Roaring Camp Wedding

Leave a comment July 9, 2018 Lisa LeCoump

TAYLOR AND DANIEL

WEDDING AT ROARING CAMP IN SANTA CRUZ

Celebration of Spring – crostini with fresh peas

Image Leave a comment April 3, 2018 Lisa LeCoump

Crostini with fresh pea puree then topped with pea tendrils and flowers from the garden.

Memorial Park Wedding

Leave a comment March 28, 2018 Lisa LeCoump

MADISON AND DANIEL

WEDDING AT MEMORIAL PARK, LOMA MAR

Quail Hollow Ranch Wedding in Santa Cruz

Leave a comment March 10, 2018 Lisa LeCoump

TYNETTE AND NOAH

WEDDING AT QUAIL HOLLOW RANCH IN SANTA CRUZ

Wedding at Coastways Ranch

Leave a comment January 14, 2018 Lisa LeCoump

REBECCA AND ELI

WEDDING AT COASTWAYS RANCH

Coastways Ranch Wedding

Coastways Ranch Wedding

Photography: Tony Fitzgerald Photography | Venue: Coastways Ranch | Officient, Flowers, Music, Catering and Decorations: Family and friends

Shadowbrook Wedding in Capitola

Leave a comment January 6, 2018 Lisa LeCoump

TATYANA AND JOSEPH

SHADOWBROOK RESTAURANT WEDDING IN CAPITOLA-BY-THE-SEA

Photography: Tony Fitzgerald Photography | Venue: Shadowbrook Restaurant | Cake: Shadowbrook Restaurant |

Wedding at the Family Estate in the Almaden Valley

Leave a comment January 2, 2018 Lisa LeCoump

Annabel and Tylon were married at the family estate in the Almaden Valley, south of San Jose on July 15, 2017. They wanted the wedding to be a romantic, semi formal affair, with a slight Victorian look. The estate, with it’s tree-lined creek and large shaded lawn was the perfect place. The bride was gorgeous in her Amelia Sposa gown and the groom was handsome in a white dinner jacket. Even the cake looked regal.

Santa Cruz Wedding at Michael’s on Main in Soquel

Leave a comment December 2, 2017 Lisa LeCoump

Carolyn and Darby were surrounded by friends and family as they said their vows on June 24, 2017. A beautiful sunny day and a lovely setting in the redwoods made it a perfect day for a wedding. After the official ceremony one guest after another came up to tell the couple how much they meant to them and what a happy occasion it was.

Photography: Tony Fitzgerald Photography | Venue: Michael’s on Main |

Wedding at Shadowbrook in Capitola

1 Comment November 27, 2017 Lisa LeCoump

It’s hard to find a location that is more romantic than the Shadowbrook restaurant in Capitola-by-the-Sea. The historic restaurant with it’s stained glass windows and cozy atmosphere just makes for a perfect wedding location. Ariel and Jonathan were married here on June 11, 2017, surrounded by close friends and family.

Shadowbrook wedding

Shadowbrook wedding

Photography: Tony Fitzgerald Photography | Venue: Shadowbrook Restaurant | Officiant: Rev. Kimberly Cope | Cake: Shadowbrook Restaurant | Hair and Makeup: The Last Resort salon and Spa

Seascape Resort Wedding in Aptos

Leave a comment November 24, 2017 Lisa LeCoump

Jennifer and Paul were married at the Seascape Resort in Aptos on June 10, 2017. The ceremony took place on the bluff overlooking the ocean, on a perfect summer day. The bride’s father, a preacher, was the officiant for the ceremony and her two sons had the honor of carrying the rings and giving the bride away. A concert harpist added a touch of elegance to both the ceremony and cocktail hour. The groom is from Ireland and guests at the wedding included were friends and family from his homeland. The couple wanted the reception to be a relaxed, family affair, and the Seascape Resort was a perfect location for the celebration.

Seascape Beach Resort wedding

Seascape Beach Resort wedding

Photography: Tony Fitzgerald Photography | Venue and Catering: Seascape Beach Resort | Harpist : Anna Maria Mendieta

Santa Cruz Wedding at Chaminade in June

Leave a comment November 20, 2017 Lisa LeCoump

On a sunny day in June, Venus and David were married at the Chaminade Resort in Santa Cruz. The bride is a pilot, so there was a plane theme woven throughout the champagne and dusty rose florals at the reception. The bride and groom had been friends since they were children, so photos of them decorated the ceremony chairs and the reception hall. The bride’s relatives designed the decorations for the formal cake, and the cakes were topped with photo characters of the bride and groom as children.

Chaminade wedding

Chaminade wedding

Chaminade wedding

Photography: Tony Fitzgerald Photography | Venue: Chaminade | Cakes: Buttery Bakery and Nothing Bundt Cakes | Hair and Makeup: The Last Resort Salon and Spa | Florals and Decor: Eventscapes

Wedding at Mission San Juan Bautista

Leave a comment November 14, 2017 Lisa LeCoump

Susan and Arrin were married in the historic mission at San Juan Bautista on April 22, 2017. They wanted the wedding to be romantic and timeless and thought the historic mission, with it’s rose garden courtyard, was the perfect place. Susan is from Scotland, and brother, sister and close friend traveled all the way from Scotland for the wedding. She wore a long champagne gown with vintage lace and amazing flowery sleeves. A highland bagpiper played as she walked the corridor to the mission doors and entered, starting the ceremony with a regal entrance. After a short receiving line in the rose garden, the guests were led by the bagpiper to the reception at Casa Maria.