It’s hard for me to imagine what it must be like to become a parent. The combination of joy, accountability, and pure love that I conjure up can only pale in comparison to the real collection of emotions that a new parent must feel. I got just a small glimpse at such a reality when I photographed Nancy & Garrett a couple weekends ago. I was overjoyed when Nancy contacted me to photograph the two of them & the soon-to-be newest addition to their family! (A big thank you to Hana for sending them my way!) It was my first time doing a maternity session and I loved seeing the way Nancy and Garrett interacted with each other, as well as with baby Lucas. They’re going to be such wonderful parents!

UCLA’s Botanical Gardens provided the perfect secluded and scenic location for the shoot. Even though all three of us are UCLA alums, we had each only visited the gardens once or twice. And after visiting it this last time, I must say it is way WAY bigger than I remember. Who knew there was a jungle in the middle of campus?

Although I mostly photograph weddings, I always get excited when I am contacted for a portrait session. Discussing and planning the session is like taking a peek into their backgrounds and experiences – a dancer, a business woman, a new addition to the family; each session celebrates who they are and this moment in their life.

In this case it was Takeo Uesugi, the father/father-in-law of Keiji & Becca (the first couple I ever photographed!). Takeo is an amazing landscape architect. The Japanese Garden at Cal Poly Pomona, the Japanese Friendship Garden in Balboa Park, the garden by the JACCC in Little Tokyo – he’s designed countless beautiful landscapes across California and beyond. As we walked through the garden at Cal Poly Pomona, he pointed out the koi, described the different sounds of the water trickling under the bridge, and explained the varieties of plants that filled the garden. His serene knowledge and absolute love for what he did shined through his every word and it was an honor photographing him in the midst of his beautiful work.

The cherry on top was when Keiji informed me that an article featuring Takeo and some images from the session would be featured in the Nichi Bei Times, northern California’s leading Japanese-American newspaper. The article is a wonderful recognition of all of his work and a great overview of Japanese gardens in the US. The online version of the article can be viewed here.

And a few more shots from the session…

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P.S. Thanks to everyone who played along in the little giveaway in my last post! The winner of a wonderful little package of tea bags is Nelly! Nelly, I’ll be in touch with you soon and everyone else stay tuned for the next “Fave Finds” installment :)

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One of the things I love most about what I do is meeting new people and going through the process of getting to know one another. But it’s an equally wonderful thing working with people I’ve worked with before. It’s like having coffee with an old friend – you pick up right where you left off, with old laughs, new stories, and a warm sense of comfort. So when Gabi contacted me to do another photoshoot, I was super excited to work with her again. This time she had a wonderful vision of creating shots with movement, images that really showcased her killer dance moves. We brainstormed locations and ended up shooting at UCLA, our joint alma mater, since it provided lots of opportunities for jumping, spinning, climbing (you know, all the normal things we Bruins used to do in between classes). I loved seeing locations on campus in a new light; little corners that I never gave a second thought to as I walked to finals with my head buried in my notes (I was one of those “cram-everything-in-30-seconds-before-the-test” type of “studiers.” Not necessarily always “effective.”)

Thanks Gabi for a wonderful session! I’m continuously amazed by your talents and wish you success in everything you do! :)