Wedding season has officially arrived and we were more than honored to capture these beautiful moments from Shannon and Eli's wedding held at the stunning Walker Ranch in Livermore, California. This beautiful location and gorgeous weather was coupled with the bride and groom's amazing collection of family and friends which made the day even more special and unforgettable. 

We visited with Brittany over the span of two days to shoot the forest images along with some on the beach in Half Moon Bay, CA. Brittany, her husband Bob, and horse Joe, a stout bay quarter horse, had a great day at the ocean. 

Contact us for all of your equine photography needs! 

phil@phildoylephoto.com

(925)-337-0336

The media day we had with the Cal Poly Rodeo team, San Luis Obispo, was very special. This year we were able to schedule the athletes portraits along with some amazing action images.
Coach Ben Londo and his team are poised to make some dust this year. Hopefully the images we created will help with their marketing efforts as they prepare to follow up last year’s debut of Poly Royal in the Spanos Football Stadium. 

Please contact Phil Doyle with your university rodeo or equestrian team media needs!

(925)-337-0336

phil@phildoylephoto.com

As we begin to look back on 2017, one of the highlights was the Ising/Payne wedding. We had been looking forward to this one for a long time and Kristel and Jay had an amazing day. The ceremony was held in a remote area in the Livermore foothills at the Ising Cabin that had a massive deck overlooking a incredible Vista where these two tied the knot. Then it was down to the main part of the ranch for the celebration which was second to none. 

We had a fantastic senior session with Sarah K at the Iron Horse Equestrian center in the beautiful San Fransisco East Bay area. Accompanied by Sarah was her beautiful bay thoroughbred gelding who really worked the camera. With large white socks, a long blaze, and a unique personality to go along with his marvelous looks, Sarah's bay gelding helped us create some fantastic images. 

I had the pleasure photographing the Pistol Annie's Drill Team, based in Livermore, California, while they were competing in Reno at this year's rodeo. We also did a portrait session with them as they hired me to come out and create some images. I had a blast with the kids and I hope to shoot more drill teams in the future! 

Give us a call about your teams personalized photo shoot today! (925)-337-0336

I had the pleasure of spending time with a good friend of mine, Anna Bavor and her beautiful Palomino Norman. We shot these images at her home and on the adjacent ranch. For those of you that know her she's an amazing soul, a fantastic horsewoman and a super cool person.

Her special connection with her dapple gold palomino was evident throughout the photo session. Thank you again Anna and Norman, it was a blast!

"I discovered Tudanko in Spain on a horse shopping trip with a friend/client. Our agent called him a 'Wild Card', he was a last minute add onto our schedule for the day as he had only just become available for sale. At first glance, Tudanko was a skinny, black horse with only a few weeks of dressage training. Little did I know, that I had just met the horse the would become my next dressage partner. I quickly fell in love with Tudanko...his expressive gaits, willing temperament and his intelligence. By the end of the my second visit, I did not want to leave! Nearly a year later, Tudanko still makes me smile...does not matter if I am riding him, grooming him or just spending time with him. I feel very fortunate to have found such a special horse and I am looking forward to wherever the future takes us!"

-Beth Nehse

Trainer at Cayetano Ridge, Livermore CA.

Contact Phil Doyle Photography for all your equestrian photography needs!

(925)-337-0336

phil@phildoylephoto.com

We recently had the pleasure of sharing time with Marlo, a 2017 Castro Valley high school graduate, during her personalized photo shoot. When Marlo came to us she was seeking a session with Kyd, a beautiful full blood Arabian that belongs to her trainer, mentor and friend, Cynthia Eldridge. Marlo and Kyd were amazing in front of the camera and we all had a ball. Together, we created some fun shots in the arena, at the barn and in her cowgirl attire!

We would like to give a big shout out to Sandy and Charlie Interbitzen for allowing us to pursue this shoot at their ranch in Livermore, California.

Please feel free to shoot us an email at phil@phildoylephoto.com or call us at (925)-337-0336

We look forward to customizing your own photo shoot!

Ericka and Ryan were married last month at the L4 Ranch in Waterford, California. Ryan comes from a large family with a deep, rich heritage in dairy farming while Ericka comes from strong country stock herself. The two newlyweds have known each other since they were in 4H together as kids. They reconnected in college and bam! It was an incredible event at a beautiful location with an amazing group of people!

If you are looking for the perfect engagement, wedding, special event or senior portrait photos, feel free to email or call us at: (925)-337-0336 or phil@phildoylephoto.com 

The 99^th annual Livermore Rodeo was held during the second weekend of June. Livermore, CA is 40 miles south-east of San Francisco and is a eclectic community with high technology and national defense companies, wineries and ranches.

This rodeo always draws a packed house to watch top notch cowboys and cowgirls compete. This year was unseasonably cool with the temperatures in the mid 70s.

The Livermore Rodeo is one of my favorite rodeos to photograph because of the wide panel surrounding the event which allows access from any angle.

The stock is supplied by the Bridwell Pro Rodeo Company, Tim and Haley Bridwell accompanied by the legendary John Growney. The incomparable Clint Sylvester provides humorous rodeo commentary and barrel work as Will Rasmussen announces the action. Eric Layton and Tim O’Conner are the cowboy protectors.

One major highlight to the rodeo is the Saturday Night dance which was honored to host “Wolf Hamlin and the Front Porch Drifters”.

If you enjoy these images or are on a rodeo committee and are interested in my photography services please contact me at phil@phildoylephoto.com or (925)-337-0336.

Last week we spent two hours at our local fair in Pleasanton, California. Cotton Rosser and the Flying U Rodeo Company put on a rodeo with free admission and an overflowing crowd.

There are certain moments, memories and visions that are poignant in a persons life. Justifiably so, Cotton Rosser has received every honor and award imaginable in the world of rodeo. I witnessed him riding his big paint in front of the entrance interacting with people and calling children over to pet his horse. As Cotton Rosser sat on his horse, he welcomed people of all races, creeds, and colors at the Pleasanton fair located in the San Francisco Bay Area which is one of the most diverse areas of the country. 

It was truly incredible to witness how a man of such stature could be such a beacon for the beauty of rodeo and the western lifestyle. He is truly, the King of the Cowboys.

This year was the 22nd Annual Lil' Pardners Rodeo, a heartwarming event that the Livermore Pro Rodeo puts on every year to include the local community. I was lucky enough to be down in the arena capturing meaningful memories for the Lil' Pardners and their families. It was held right before the final performance of this local PRCA Rodeo and it captured the hearts of the contestants and audience as these wonderful kids competed in a mini rodeo. Each special needs cowboy and cowgirl was assigned their own cowboy, cowgirl, rodeo clown or Rodeo Queen to be their host throughout this amazing event. They all received gifts that were donated from local stores, shirts and a beautiful belt buckle! The entire event is sponsored by the Rodeo Foundation and the Livermore Stockmen's Rodeo Association and is all put on voluntarily by the cowgirls, cowboys, rodeo clowns and Rodeo Queen of the PRCA!

These Lil' Pardners compete in almost all the same events that the cowboys and cowgirls of the Professional Rodeo Association do! From horseback riding to running the cloverleaf barrel pattern to roping and riding "broncs", it is a special day for these beautiful young people, their families and all of those who choose to be a part of the Lil' Pardners program.

If you would like to either participate or volunteer for next years Lil' Pardners event at the Livermore Rodeo, please call Donny Perry at: (825)-784-6558 or visit http://www.livermorerodeo.org/lil-pardners 

We had the pleasure of photographing Brittany and Bob's beautiful wedding recently. It was held on the pacific coast at Chateau La Joye. The weather in Half Moon Bay was incredible, however it was paled in comparison to Brittany and her bridesmaids. This was our first event with our new photographer, Angela Shield. As a second photographer, she did an amazing job capturing the best memories for the newlyweds. 

The wedding itself was an absolute blast! Angela and I enjoyed ourselves just as much as any other guest that night. It makes it even better when the photographs turn out to be this spectacular. I wish Brittany and Bob the best as they continue their lives together in marriage.

For all your engagement and wedding needs, please feel free to call us at: (925)-337-0336

Michelle Hewitt served as Miss Livermore Rodeo 2016, and was an outstanding queen for the rodeo. She had a vision of making some photos in the snow, so we drove into the Eastern foothills of California to the snow line, and had an amazing day.

Phil Doyle Photography is not only a professional company, but we are artists as well. When we have clients that have vision and know what they want to do, we are willing to travel great lengths to make compelling, new, and different images.

Contact Phil Doyle Photography with your vision today!

Oakdale, also known as the Cowboy Capital of the World, hosted their spring rodeo on April 8 & 9, 2017. We were able to attend the Friday slack and performance, jump down to San Luis Obispo for the 77th Annual Poly Royal Rodeo, and then back up for Oakdale's Sunday performance.

Oakdale is one of the most fun rodeos in California, and always draws a huge crowd! It is also particularly unique because it has a very cool access point for shooting rough stock, which is very close to the chutes. The ability to shoot from under the bottom panel creates a unique and dramatic angle for images. Many years ago my friend, Marcelo Fuentes, told me as a photographer to dig a hole and crawl in it. It's definitely a big part of what I do today!

The weather variations also make it fun, at least for the photographers. Quite often you'll have rain, with slop and mud, which makes for some crazy images.

Additionally, their barrel-man Clint Sylvester is one the best in the business, and add Chance Jackson and Rick Moffatt as bullfighters and you have two of the toughest men in the sport.

Till next year, Oakdale.

Megan Stevens was recently crowned the 2017 Miss Rowell Ranch Rodeo. We had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours with her at the Silverfern Ranch, where she boards her horses.

Megan knows her way around horses and was an amazing model... Equipped with a big personality and radiant smile, she was a blast to photograph and hang out with!

We look for big things from this young lady in the years to come.