San Luis Obispo Wedding Photographer Christan Parreira » Portraits

Corey, Melanie and baby Jackson Gregory [San Luis Obispo, CA]

christanp — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 09:00:06 +0000

This post is a massive change in gears from the norm because I, Allegra–Christan’s Wife–have hyjacked his blog to share a moment of our life from this weekend with our friends.
Back in spring, I got a phone call from one of my dear friends telling me she believed she was pregnant. Soon after, it was confirmed by her Doctor. I think I flew onto cloud nine from the moment she told me. I wanted to celebrate her, I wanted to cover her in encouragement, I just wanted to her to feel so un-alone. In some ways, those nine months seem to have flown by and in other ways I cannot believe she now has her baby boy in her arms. I swell with emotion thinking back on the last 72 hours as I can only describe myself as a fly on a miracle’s wall.Melanie had a great birth plan–as most women do– but it played out much differently–as most women’s birth stories do. She found out that she would have a C-section and handled the news with her ever-present and supporting husband. In an effort to reach out and love on her a little more, I asked if she would want her last day pregnant photographed with her husband. I thought of what I would have wanted and I would have wanted to capture that last moment of being a couple before becoming an official family. I would have wanted a quiet place and a still small reminder of everything I feared and how love would unfold in infinite directions that I could never imagine. She obliged and I escaped with them for a brief moment in time to memorize that last moment before parenthood:As we packed up and drove away, I made a last ditch effort to completely smother them in my “hindsight is 20/20″ view of delivery. I offered to be available to them if they wanted a photographer during the delivery. I told them to talk it over (to “dicuss amongst yourselves” for you Coffee Talk SNL fans . I had no idea I’d get a call about 30 minutes before delivery that they had decided they’d want me there. What do you do when someone invites you to be involved in a moment that really should only belong to them? If you’re me, you shake-you cry-and then you pray. I made a specific prayer to God as I drove over to the hospital and I can tell you, He heard me and He showed up.Melanie & Corey’s room flooded with family and friends that wanted to shower them in their last words of excitement, support, and love before their son would come into the world. I suited up to match Corey and we went into the operating room. As Corey was escorted to sit next to Melanie, I was given my perameters. I watched as Corey stroked his wife’s head and she stared intently into his eyes begging for his confidence, longing for his touch, and pulling from his strength. I saw their fingers wrap around each other and knew words were being exchanged that only the two of them would ever hear. An intricate web of prayers hovered over them, I could feel it. The prayers we friends had all gathered around them to offer: wisdom, courage, strength, His will. Those prayers encompassed them and wrapped them in the miracle of their son’s life.Jackson Gregory Knowlton was born on January 29, 2010. As the anesthesiologist lifted Melanie’s head to see her son take his first breath and pull the curtain down so I could see what she would struggle to, he entered this world abounding in instantaneous love beyond what he will ever truly know (because lets face it, do we as children ever truly know how much our parents love us?)Corey would have to endure something I still feel heavy with his ache over. As his wife would be sent to recovery his son would be taken to NICU to be monitored due to Melanie’s gestational diabetes. He would long to be with both and feel a pull that I could feel just by standing next to him: the desire to be in two places at once, the need to hold both his wife and his son, the weight of being the emotional and physical support to his very own family. I can tell you, Corey is an amazing calm to Melanie and he was a pillar of strength and love to his new son from the moment he could hold his fingers and soothe him.To Melanie & Corey, I thank you from the bottom of my swollen heart. I witnessed a miracle I should have never seen this weekend. I love you three more than you’ll ever know!

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Robert, Anjali and baby [Avila Beach, CA]

christanp — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 17:23:47 +0000

This is the first time I have ventured into doing a maternity shoot– at least one that was not of my wife. It brought me back to the moments of excitement and nervous anticipation that was to come as my wife and I waited for our son’s arrival. Photographing them allowed me to relive that magical time before our love magnified itself and multiplied ten fold. What a great gift to receive from one couple’s request of me to capture this life moment.

As the sun shone brightly above and the waves crashed at our feet, Robert & Anjali lost themselves in quiet moments of their love and the mystery of adventure that lay ahead. Robert would disappear as he focused on his baby girl and his wife who was carrying her. Anjali would transcend into a world that belongs only to a mother- the world of sheer admiration and unconditional love for a sweet baby she has yet to meet in person but knows in heart.

Robert & Anjali, thank you for reminding me of how the love of two become even stronger, more infinitely in love just by becoming three. The magical moments that lay ahead are untouchable by any other life occurrence. In the moments when sleep is distant or the moments of uninterrupted awe, may you always cherish the journey!

Let’s connect! 805.270.5492

Greg – Senior Portrait [Avila Beach]

christanp — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:08:07 +0000

No matter what stage you are in life, it’s easy to look at the past and see how much easier “this or that” would have been if only you knew then what you know now.
As Greg and I drove around San Luis Obispo, I found myself turning back the clock to when I was graduating from High School. I thought about the things no one ever told me (or maybe I didn’t hear), or what I wish someone would have told me. “Life” was suddenly the topic of the hour with Greg. Immediately I felt like an old man telling a young whipper-snapper how to do things and laughed at myself!! Never did I think I would be the person to give advice to someone younger like that….luckily he engaged in the conversation and didn’t make me feel old.

Greg has big dreams of going to college, earning a degree in Political Science and then pursuing law. When I asked him what he was planning on for school I didn’t expect him to actually have it figured out. At that stage in life I didn’t even know what I was going to do that summer let alone what I would be doing with the next 6 years of my life!
It was fun taking these photos! Enjoy.

As Greg did a quick outfit change, I took his little brother and mom on the pier for a few shots and quickly realized the Joe (Greg’s younger brother) was the jokester of the family! There didn’t seem to be more than 10 minutes that passed without him laughing at something or making one of use laugh….it was great! We ended the shoot with a few shots of Greg with his mom and brother. Here are a couple from the mini family shoot.

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Mason – Senior Portrait [Morro Bay, CA]

christanp — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 05:23:46 +0000

When we are younger, all we want to be is older. In youth we dream of getting our license and then going off to college. Milestones. Mason is the age I wish I could be again—the age I feel but the age my body reminds me that I am not.

A senior in high school with dreams of making it to the big leagues, he has a life ahead of him that is full of making big dreams reality. Mason was a peaceful reminder that dreaming like I am young is the only way I’m going to make it!

I had a great time shoot Mason in Morro Bay; he is every bit as cool as he looks! I’d ask for some GQ look and he’d pull off some looks that, Allegra says, could work for an Abercrombie & Fitch advertisement. I coaxed him with a few, “I hope you make it big, dude, cuz I have a ton of photos of you now, maybe you making it to the big leagues will be my big break too”

I can’t wait to see you in the big leagues, Mason! You’re going to make it!

Let’s connect! 805.270.5492

Mason Morris – Senior Portraits [preview]

christanp — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 12:00:03 +0000

Yesterday afternoon Mason and I drove around Morro Bay taking his senior pictures (he’s rad and knows how to rock in front of the camera!). I’ve just uploaded the session onto my computer and wanted to give you a sneak peek.

Let’s connect! 805.270.5492

Travis and Jenny [San Luis Obispo Portrait Shoot]

christanp — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:00:21 +0000

Love can sometimes have a funny way of becoming work. There are moments when we look at a sibling, a parent, or a spouse and we say, “today I am choosing to love you,” instead of it just oozing out of our pores naturally. Travis and Jenny could have many reasons that could make love look like work and yet, they simply oozed love without thinking and with ease.

Travis and Jenny entered our Love Photo Shoot giveaway. Their story touched us deeply and while we wanted nothing more than to say, “They Win!” we had to leave it up to the judges. In a panel of beautiful stories, Jenny’s seemed to touch everyone.Here was her entry….

“My name is Jenny.
The couple I am nominating is my husband and I, Travis and Jenny.

Hmmm… I guess I feel somewhat narcissistic nominating myself, but I would really love a photo shoot of my dear heart and myself, so here is my response. Travis and I have gone through some what of a hard/challenging past year. Moving to our new military-assigned base in Kansas, finding out that our first born was to be born with a severe cleft lip and palate, learning the ropes of parenting, Travis deploying when our daughter was 2 months old, Bella (our daughter) undergoing the first of three surgeries at nearly 5 months – these are some of the hurdles that we have grasped hands and jumped over. I’m not saying we didn’t trip and fall many times. There are quite too many moments I look back upon and know that my tone and attitude could have been sweeter, more submissive, more loving. Many moments where I know that whatever was happening with our baby was not either of our faults, but I seemed to blame myself and him. But, our Heavenly Father is so precious and good to us – to keep us both within His safe and loving palm, to keep our hearts turned toward Him, to allow us to love one another through hardships. I would love to have a photo shoot with my husband to document this first year of parenting, to remind us what it is like to trust fully in our Lord and love one another fully through pain.”

Far from home and with a beautiful blessing of a daughter with health problems, Travis and Jenny have had the worldly odds stacked against them and yet, they display faith, love, and courage. We were touched by her honesty and moved by their trust in God.

It is often said that Actions Speak Louder Than Words. Jenny’s words spoke loudly but indeed, their Love in Action as a couple spoke volumes louder than any written story ever could.

Here are a few photos from their session.

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Baby Bradley – 1 year old

Allegra — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:31:18 +0000

I am blessed with an amazing family. One of the most amazing set of relationships I have within my family is with my cousins.

In July of 2007 we spent two weeks in Peru involved in Missions and later, vacation. This trip was monumental in our lives and, as it turns out, it was the end before the beginning.

At the end of July, my cousin Spencer and his wife Alli shared with us the news that they were expecting the first addition to their family. It was mere seconds later that Christan and I realized we, too, were expecting. Alli and I shared the months of expectation together almost every single day. “How are you feeling? What are you registering for? Are you ready?” It was incredibly special to me to have shared something so intimate with my cousin-friend. There really isn’t anything quite like being pregnant with someone and here we were, family, about to add two little boys to an incredible mix of love and fun.

Bradley just celebrated his first birthday and I was honored that they asked me to come and celebrate the milestone with his 1 Year Photo Session and attend his birthday party where I could capture the cake eating moments. Bradley’s birthday celebration flashed it all back through my heart on fast forward. Where on earth had the time gone? It felt like seconds ago that both Alli and I were just dreaming of Bradley and Ashton and now, here was this walking, talking little life that was stuffing his face with cake. Seemingly independent and surrounded in endless love, there has been no more dramatic of a bookmark than this baby’s life. His advancements, his growth, his changes all marking the passing of time in tauntingly shocking ways.

Sweet Bradley, a truly gentle, happy, and loving baby boy. You may never know how excited your Momma was in the wait for you but I know. I will remind you in the years to come as you play with Ashton and we spend weeks in the summer together as cousins once again. I’ll never forget the moment I heard of your coming and I’ll always remember the moment I first saw you. Happy 1st Birthday, BAM!

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Baby Canon – 1 year old

Allegra — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 02:17:39 +0000

I remember how badly I wanted to have a baby girl. I was so certain I was having a girl that a boy name wasn’t even something we had discussed. As my husband prepared himself for the years of gun holding and boy threatening, I dreamed of bows and a guaranteed best friend. Eventually, we found out that baby girl I would have bet my life that I was having was actually a boy. I guess it’s a good thing I didn’t bet my life. From the moment our son came into our life, I have been unable to imagine ever having a little girl.

I bet you’re wondering, “What does your son have to do with Canon?” I’m getting there.

My husband’s family was once filled with 3 nieces, all the same age and apart by only months. Suddenly that changed and three boys were all born within months of each other and Canon was one of them–the second one. It appeared that girls were being taken over and the boys were moving in.

Canon is our sweet nephew. Having the chance to pull out the camera and capture his celebratory first year of life was extremely special to me. I often wonder about the relationship that he and Ashton will have as they grow up together. Who will beat up who and the lot that comes with little boys. With only seven weeks between them, we can’t help but dream of a close bond.

Canon is the life of the party full of boy roughness and determination. I cannot believe that a year has passed and this little boy, our nephew, is walking and continues on his way to growing up too fast.

Sweet Canon, we love you. As you grow, we can only promise to remember the most embarrassing stories and share them at the most prime of moments. Thank you for coming into our life!

Let’s connect! 805.270.5492

Travis and Jenny [Preview]

christanp — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 05:54:19 +0000

Here’s a quick preview of the photos I’m currently processing from my photo shot with Travis and Jenny.

He couldn't keep his eyes off of her....

This couple was amazing……stay tuned for more from this shoot!

Let’s connect! 805.270.5492

Baby Penelope Portraits

christanp — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:49:00 +0000

Last week Allegra had the opportunity to complete the second of a two part series with baby Penelope. I can’t believe that 4 months have passed since the first shoot; she was just a week old when Billy and Melissa brought her over. Here are a few pictures of Penelope’s second shoot.

***husband bragging alert***
It’s no secret that my wife and I love photography but it is little known that my wife loves photographing babies. I find (at least) an email a week in my inbox of photos she has taken of Ashton (which I LOVE) while at home. Here are a few more photos of various kids/babies she’s taken.

***husband bragging over***

Let’s connect! 805.270.5492