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I met the Van der Vijver family back in 2011 when I photographed a 10th anniversary vow renewal for family friends, Kate and Pete Barba, on the Van der Vijver estate. (You can see the blog post for that session here.) This time it was the Van der Vijver family’s turn! We met at 8:30am on the grounds of Robert and Missy’s home in Fairplay, California, where I got to photograph them and their gorgeous son, Sasha. Sasha was such a fun little boy to hang out with: we got to throw and run through fallen leaves and he has…

Ahhh… Lexi and Perri. Two sisters, graduating high school seniors, and a beautiful yard to play in. I was one happy photographer! These girls were ridiculously photogenic and, coupled with fall colors, fun outfits and a swing, I found myself 1,000 photos into reviewing their session with barely an image nixed. And the best part was looking at each image and recalling not only how beautiful the shot was but what wonderful, warm, and grounded young women these were. Photographing them in their own yard together, we were able to combine their sessions, photographing Lexi as Perri made an outfit…

Photographing another photographer is nerve-racking. Especially when that photographer is one who is incredibly successful and whose work you greatly admire. When that person is also a good friend, there is added pressure to not only produce technically beautiful photos but also to capture something a little deeper – the emotional spirit of the day. So, when Chip, who is an accomplished architectural and fine-art photographer (plus friend of ten years), asked me to photograph his Monterey wedding to Shannon, I was not only very honored but, I’ll admit, a little daunted.  That said, I’ve been photographing weddings for more…

Baby Mark’s parents were referred to me by some wonderful clients/friends of mine, the Haffners, and Mark Alexander is their first child. I got to shoot this new family at home in Grizzly Flats recently.  It’s so wonderful to photograph a new baby at home. Those womb-like newborn shots are just adorable (and I enjoy capturing those too) but there is something so incredibly special and intimate about being invited into someone’s home to document their first, authentic moments as a newly-expanded family. At four weeks, Mark is past the curly-q, newborn stage but that didn’t mean that we weren’t…

I love it when I get to give back to someone who is usually not on the receiving end of such gifts. That’s the case here with beautiful Victoria, who won this session at an auction for a charity event held by the Diamond Springs community earlier this year to help the family of one of the 19 fallen firefighters from the Arizona blazes, Sean Misner. His wife, Amanda, who has roots in the area from her high school days, was just two months away from delivering their first child, Jax, when he died. The whole community came together on…

Graydon is one year old and his light-up-a-room charm has only grown along with his little legs and chubby cheeks. You may remember this playful little fellow from the many other opportunities I have been lucky to capture his smile: birth | newborn | 4 months old | 8 months old I just love this family. Graydon’s parents Tom and Bethany came to me as wedding clients and I love seeing the result of their love in the way they are such caring, adoring, and kind parents to Graydon. They’re also super easy-going which makes them, and Graydon, easy and fun…

A ballerina in the woods = magical. There is just no way to not say “ahhh” when you look at these images of beautiful Rebecca, during our session to celebrate her upcoming graduation next year. Just a couple of short years ago I was photographing her brother, John, as he prepared to join the Marines. Becky is considering the US Coast Guard Academy as well as Geneva college in PA,  Montana State, and Tulane. Her plan is to study chemical engineering and pre-med. High school has been busy for Becky, where she has competed in track-and-field (her specialties being long…

Here comes Fall, with it’s golden meadows, dreamy light, and warm palettes. A great time to catch up with the Bila family, who I first photographed back in 2009 (click here to see their session.) Back then their son, Banyon, was just 6 months old but now there is a fourth member to the family, little Avila, and it was time to update the family portraits. Minda and Tyler not only have a new daughter, they also have a new home (and it’s gorgeous — who doesn’t love a turret?) and so we met up where they live in El…