Some friendships grow old with you, they age as you age and they transform as life sends you through its unavoidable seasons. Over the years, Hanniel and I have been BFF’s, classmates, roommates and ever since we were probably 4 and 5 years old, our families have pretty much become one in the same. I’m reminded how valuable true friendship is and how quickly we take the people around us for granted. I’m so thankful to have friendships in my life that run deep, inspire me to be better and can encourage the dreams and passions that live inside our big hearts to come alive, simply just by being around each other. This was a day with Hanniel.
Featured! Ruffled Blog | Frances & Ben // Mill Valley Wedding Photographer
This wedding stole my heart. All of the elements throughout this wedding oozed of simple romance and whimsy. Frances and Ben got married on top of Mt Tamalpais amidst the gorgeous fog and beautiful scenery. As I shot this wedding, I truly felt like I was documenting a fairy tale, something out of a book. From the enchanted little mountain home where Frances got ready, the rolling hills on top of Mt. Tam, the adorable little animal figurines sprinkled all around the reception and dancing under the gold sparkly stars…can we say DREAMY? Yes. Absolutely. A big thank you to Ruffled Blog for featuring their wedding today! To read more about how Frances dreamed up this romantic day, be sure to check out Ruffled.
Location: Mt. Tamalpais // Day-of Coordination: Emily Read Bentley of Enjoy Events Co. // Wedding Dress: Coan Couture // Bride’s Headband: Mignonne // Bride’s Earrings: Renna // Bride’s Velvet Bed Jacket: Lacis // Groom’s Suit: Maxwell’s Clothiers // Groom’s Shirt and Tie: Sean // Makeup: Paige Howie // Hair: Diane Beaver of Solid Gold Salon // Wedding Flowers: Ingrid Shoemaker of Blume Designs // Wedding Caterer: Sage Catering // Wedding Cake: Susie Cakes // Stationery: Printable Press
Lily & Blake // Carmel Valley
There are certain things that make me super happy and meeting couples that I instantly click with is one of them. I had the best time with Lily & Blake and Nima (thanks for exploring and assisting for the day!) as we explored the quaint streets and gorgeous valleys of Carmel. Although they live in the great state of Texas, Lily and Blake fell in love with Carmel and all its rustic characteristics. From the spanish tiles to the picnic under the sun, the elements in this shoot make me swoon! 
Featured! Style Me Pretty | Hannah & Josh, The Rengstorff House in Mountain View
A big thank you to Style Me Pretty for featuring Hannah and Josh today! You recognize love when you see these two together — plain and simple. They ooze adorable-ness and every inch of their wedding was so unique, personal and totally reflective of their mutual creativity. I absolutely LOVE getting to work with couples, like Hannah and Josh, who not only inspire me to continue doing what I love to do as an artist but motivate me to love others, humbly and genuinely. I can’t say enough about these two or this wedding…so I’ll let the photos speak…
Venue: Rengstorff House | Makeup: Kristen Calderaro | Hair: Gigi Moss | Cake: Sweet Productions | Caterer: Crunch Catering | Cinematography: Sonny Aguirre Jr. | Coordinator: I Do Venues | DJ Name and URL: Elite Entertainment | Dress: Enzoani from Rins Bridal in San Carlos, CA | Maid of Honor Dress: Anthropologie | Flowers: DIY from Whole Foods and Palo Alto Farmers Market | Grooms Attire: ZARA | Earrings: Etsy | Lighting: Enhanced Lighting | Shoes: Nordstrom | Stationery: designed by Hannah & Josh | Birdcage veil: Etsy | Ceremony Rug: Anthropologie | Favor pins: Anthropologie
Caroline & Greg // Berkeley Botanical Garden
“We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.” Caroline & Greg’s wedding was filled with so much personality, telling their story through the little details that symbolized what brought these two together: Dinosaurs and Samba. Even though they were from two parts of the world they had a lot of commonalities…Caroline was born in Brazil and Greg spent time studying abroad in Rio. Caroline worked at the Museum of Natural History in NY and Greg took a class on dinosaurs. As a result of these common threads, their lives intertwined and they were happy to finally say, “i do” (and not just once!) First the traditional ceremony in the gorgeous Botanical Gardens of Berkeley, then a colorful Korean ceremony outside the Faculty Club where, inside, the samba band played some ridiculously good dance music!
Venue: UC Botanical Garden Redwood Grove and UC Faculty Club // Cake Pops: Sweet Lauren Cakes // Coordination: JB Event Productions // Band: Sambada // Dress: Elizabeth Fillmore // Shoes: Manolo Blahnik // Veil: Etsy // Flower Headpiece: Britex // Bridesmaid Dresses: JCrew // Bridesmaid Shoes: Nina// Flowers: Katharina Stuart Floral Art and Design // Stationary: Paper Source // Paper Banners: Ay Mujer!
bay area engagement photography // Kai & Yaxi, San Francisco
Cupcakes from Kara’s marked the date of their upcoming wedding, izzy soda, pinwheels and balloons — Yaxi is a lover of the little details, like me! Yaxi and Kai came out to SF from Houston to shoot in the city they both love and miss since moving out to Texas. They met at UC Berkeley where their story began and despite the crazy SF weather, we had such a great time shooting and laughing…and laughing even more.
Brand new branding, blog & website!
I’m so excited to finally reveal my new branding, blog and website! Its been SUCH a labor of love and I am so happy, I can’t express it in words!! As a graphic designer, I appreciate unique design and really value branding that speaks directly and creatively. Its been quite a journey to get to this place– I was aching to have something that I felt was ME, something that reflected my heart and my artistic vision. I have evolved so much over the last couple of years as a photographer and designer and it feels amazing to enter this new season! A huge thank you to all my amazing friends, family and clients who have shown me unbelievable support and have been part of this journey with me. I couldn’t have done this without your love and encouragement.
A big huge thank you to Kelty from Steep Street who took my creative vision and translated it into a website that speaks so loudly of who I am and everything I envisioned. Being a designer myself, it’s everything when you find another designer who is on the same page and Kelty has been a God- send! It all began after I designed my new logo and began to brainstorm my look and feel, my vision. Thanks Kelty! The video on my site was created by my amazingly talented husband, Arash, who captured the behind the scenes story of engagement sessions, weddings and an editorial shoot. Hope you enjoy!
bay area portrait photographer | Angie’s Bridal Shower
Now these bridesmaids know how to throw a modern San Francisco shower! Angie’s bridesmaids put together a super cute, modern bridal shower. I loved all the greys, pinks and whites. So much DIY decor, flowers from SF Flower Mart, white milk glass vases, bud vases that held the menu cards, custom printed chopsticks, game cards, and such yummy food from hello, good bite. .
Caterer: hello, good bite. // Floral Design: SF Flower Mart // Vases: Ebay // Cupcakes: Love At First Bite
bay area engagement photographer | Mandela & Tim, featured!
This shoot makes me smile from ear to ear. I have been dying to share this and now I finally get to! Check out the feature on The Wedding Chicks for even more photos from the shoot! Mandela and Tim are such a cute couple and everything about this shoot, really captures their sweet personalities. We got a chance to collaborate with the amazingness that is Enjoy Events Co. We have been SO excited to finally work together and this was the perfect meet up. We brainstormed and incorporated Mandela and Timmy’s young, fun, urban style and wanted to bring it to life. We set the tone around the idea of Navajo prints mixed with the outdoors. Megan and Emily gathered some antique vessels, Navajo patterned pillows, hung a sheer backdrop, created a wildflower bouquet with a few vintage boxes to tie the look together. And this location could not have been more perfect! Lush rolling hills, crystal blue glistening water and oyster shells all over the floor added such a unique element to the shoot. I especially loved all the old shipwrecked buildings– can’t go wrong with that. I can’t wait for next weekend when we will all meet again for the wedding!
bay area engagement photography | Hannah & Josh
Ok I am so excited not only to share these photos but to have you meet two of the most fun loving and just pretty cool people ever, Hannah and Josh. Sometimes you meet people who you click with and these two are totally those people. We share alot in common from art to just being lovers of creativity and sold out members of the creative industry. Hannah and Josh met at Dreamworks, where they both work…and actually worked on the movie, Megamind together. How cute is that? I can definitely relate to falling in love with someone who shares the same passions and can motivate and challenge you creatively. From teepees to chickens…this session will definitely remain as one of my faves to date! So excited to shoot their wedding this summer!
