Stillie Awards - Engagement Sessions

As I've previously blogged about this year's Stillies, the photo moments from this year that make me metaphorically stand still as favorite moments in time, it's time to look at the Stillies from my wedding photojournalism, starting with some favorites from engagement sessions.

The first Stillie involves a photo from a session where the groom had said it took practice to remember to smile for photos before we had begun. This reminds me of an episode of Friends where Monica and Chandler decided to get engagement photos done (theirs were done in a studio) and try as he may Chandler couldn't show a natural smile whenever the camera was on him.

It was much easier for this couple, Chauntel and Gerardo to smile naturally than Chandler, in fact, Gerardo told me at the wedding that he even looked daily at this photo, to remind himself to just relax and smile. He did a great job of enjoying himself and smiling at both this session and the wedding day, itself.

Stillie for Best Smiles at an Engagement Session:


The second Stillie involves Jill and Aaron, a couple who are originally from the south, and who have come to love California and call it their home. For their session they wanted to go to many easily recognizeable places so the folks back home could appreciate the beauty of the state.

They wanted photos both where the scenery was itself a separate subject and where they would all blend in together. In this photo they blended in well, and with the light enveloping them and the statues surrounding them, it feels to me like they are getting a blessing on their relationship.

Stillie for Best Overall Use of Background Scene


The last Stillie involves John and LaTrisha who really wanted to match their surroundings and each other at their sessions. Conventional photo wisdom is that a couple should dress similarly both in terms of colors and formality of clothes to look like they belong together in these photos. They not only matched dress wise, they also brought three sets of outfits and we matched them color and style wise with their enviornment.

Stillie for Best Overall Matching




Congratulations to Gerardo and Chauntel and Jill and Aaron who were married in 2006. I will be photographing La Trisha and John's wedding on January 24.

Stillies - Photojournalism

It's hard to believe a whole year has gone by. During 2006 I finished my photojournalism studies at San Jose State University, completed two PJ internships (one for the school, one at The Santa Cruz Sentinel), begun a new job as a photojournalist for The Pinnacle, became House Photographer for JJ's Blues (literally a year ago to the day was my first night working there) and also photographed many weddings, engagements, and other events.

Here are The Stillies, moments that made me stand metaphorically still after the fact, from things I've photographed for newspapers this year.

Favorite Use of Angle to Convey Movement, from the Wharf to Wharf Race:

Favorite Enviornmental Portrait, Keith Barefoot, Fire Dancer at a party:

Favorite Photo Showing Action, author mule packer James Brumfield:

Favorite Personality Coming Alive in a Photo (tie)

Dorothy Oster, 83, who dives every day

and Mitch Johnson opens up his newstand business


Soon I will be posting the Stillies for my wedding work this year.

The Stillies

With 2006 coming to an end, I will be posting soon the first ever Stillies - moments that, while taken with the participants in motion, really make me stay still (temporarily ;) ) and reflect on all the emotion and beauty of as I saw it.

As a sneak peek, the first Stillie will go to a moment I captured as a photojournalist, Amanda Dobbs skating at the HP Ice Arena. Amanda has been skating since she was 2 1/2 and skates for hours each day. Off the ice she often rehearses entire skating events in her head to be prepared mentally as well.

These photo win the Stillie for Most Athletic Moments of 2006





Her mom also wrote a letter to the editor of my paper, below, which we published:

Enjoyed daughter's coverage

I wanted to thank everyone at the Pinnacle for the really nice story that you all put together on our daughter, Amanda. We have received numerous calls from friends and others that live in the area with people's excitement about the story that you did.

Danielle was wonderful to work with and did a great job interacting with Amanda and her coach and people were very impressed with the photos. The coverage was exciting for all of the people at the rink and the other places where Amanda trains to see - many very impressed that a figure skater got that much press - as that doesn't always happen at the "up and coming" level of skating … so when it does it is much appreciated!

Anyway, we just wanted to send our thanks to the paper and to John, for his continued work in bringing Amanda's story to people's attention - it makes her feel really good and has given her some nice home-town support as she heads off for the last of her qualifying competitions on Monday in Seattle. Thanks so much for being willing to cover her.


Laura Dobbs
Hollister