I realized it’s been awhile since I’ve done a personal post and thought I’d share a bit of what I’ve been up to outside of shooting weddings & sessions! Though I don’t bring my SLR {which I very professionally refer to as my “big camera”} everywhere I go, I do always have my phone on hand and love documenting pieces of everyday life. Be sure to follow me on instagram for more!

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a peek into a random day’s workspace: tea (a daily must!), cuties & inspiration via west elm’s latest catalog // this is one of the canvases that hangs in my studio – lots of meetings with awesome couples recently!

over the weekend we had a picnic at a winery! there was live music & dancing and we munched on turkey caprese sandwiches, cauliflower soup & earl grey chocolate macarons. (by the way cauliflower is the new brussel sprouts guys.)

last month i hung out with my friend & fellow photog serena in santa barbara. we had coffee at the gorgeous santa barbara public market, walked down state street to the beach, and did a bit of wine tasting!

i am so obsessed with this flower crown. i have this idea that flower crowns should be acceptable daily wear. you with me? // loved this lunch at faith & flower in downtown LA. it was voted winner of “most stunning new restaurant” by eater and also happened to win the “OMG it’s so cute” award by me. highly recommended!

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I hope to be better about doing these little updates in the future, but in the meantime, you can follow me here! Hope everyone’s week is off to a great start!

There are a million and one reasons why I so love and endorse engagement sessions, but the top 4 must go something like this: (1) you get to show the world who you are, (2) in your favorite personalized locations, (3) in your unique “you” clothes, (4) with your best friend and most favorite person in the world (usually your fiance, but I don’t mind if you give me that title too :). And what Nina and Erick showed, lovingly and wholeheartedly, is that they’re Laughers. They laughed from the second I pulled out my camera, as we were chatting in between shots, whenever they caught one another making a silly face – and I would be telling a bold-faced lie if I didn’t say that I LOVED every minute of it (and that it was horribly infectious).

I really adore all the kinds of expressions that seem to come up in a shoot – the serene shots, the sweet smiles, even a more serious moment or two, but my favorites are always the ones with the big, honest laughs. The kinds that remind you of why you’re doing this whole marriage thing in the first place… because who doesn’t want to spend the rest of their life with the one who makes you giggle until your sides hurt & milk comes out of your nose? (The latter didn’t happen on the shoot, but it’s totally happened to me umpteen times, usually with painful things like juice and maybe soup.)

We met up with Nina & Erick in downtown LA, starting off at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, making a detour through the tall fountains of the music center, and ending by MOCA. Thank you Nina & Erick for an afternoon filled with laughter and love!

I love this sculpture in front of MOCA. Totally reminds me of something out of a Studio Ghibli movie.

A bride walking down the aisle is a beautiful thing. As the doors to the church swing open and the light fills up the hall, it’s as if everyone’s breath stops, and the only thing in the room is the beaming, glowing bride. But, in that same moment, it’s wise to take a look at the groom. Because the joy reflected back in a groom’s face is another level of captivating. To see the expression in his eyes, to watch the story of their relationship flash across his face, to see the usually silly, strong, manly men we all know in a state of absolute adoration – to me that look embodies so much of the very reason for the day.

These are the moments that filled up Sojin and Larry’s wedding. I had just met Sojin and Larry that day, but Sojin’s smile as she walked down the aisle and Larry’s face when he first caught sight of her immediately indicated to me what their love was like – deep, palpable, and made to last. They are both so sweet, warm, and real, and it was an honor to accompany Serena Grace in documenting their wedding day!

After the ceremony, we visited a nearby park for some additional portraits…

Then on to the reception. Loved their choreographed first dance!

This was quite possibly the most adorable baby I have ever seen. Look at those cheeks!

I’ll finish with a quick shot of Serena and I at the end of the night. I absolutely love shooting with her!