I’ve known Kristen since middle school, and from the very start of her wedding planning she explained she wanted something simple, relaxed, and super intimate. The result was spot on. Thirty of their closest family and friends, flown in from all across the country. A beach house right along the shore, so they could run out onto the sand for a quick ceremony. A taco truck to provide lunch, freshly made margaritas, frosty beers & waters in buckets, a hand-painted ice cream cart for desserts.

To pile more awesome on top of all of this, they asked for donations rather than gifts, and as favors, included personalized tin pails for everyone filled with both candy & seashells. Kristen and Cody had both chosen charities they felt passionately about, and we were asked to place our shells in the jar of a charity of our choice. For every shell in the jar, they donated $1 to the charity.

I was invited as a guest, but since they didn’t have a photographer, I offered to bring my camera just to capture a handful of couple & family portraits. In the end, I found myself snapping away wayy more than planned, because of how organically beautiful everything was and how there seemed to be a piece of Kristen & Cody’s personalities tucked into every aspect of the day. And that kind of wedding? It’s always the most beautiful kind :)

Phoebe and Min will be getting married in China, but wanted to do some bridal portraits in LA beforehand. I was so happy they mentioned shooting at the Pasadena City Hall as its one of my very favorite places for photos – it always promises beautiful soft light, dreamy pastel colors, and during this time of year, opulent pink roses wherever you look :) Min and Phoebe both have such sweet and warm personalities and arrived with so much enthusiasm for the session – I feel so lucky to have been able to document a snippet of their story together! :)

Another ones of my beautiful past couples, who has welcomed a new addition to their family and invited me to document another milestone in their lives :) They’re living in nor cal now and it worked out that I was able to meet up with them while I was there for one of my weddings last month. They showed me their cute new home, the parks where they take Ryan, and one of their favorite ramen places (which was DELICIOUS!)

From the moment I decided to do photography, I always wanted to specialize in weddings and engagements, but I’ve really been enjoying these family sessions that have fatefully fallen into my lap recently. The images that result from these relaxed, peek-into-the-daily, lifestyle type sessions speak so closely to my heart :)