On a recent trip to the Bay area for a photography workshop with Ben and Erin Chrisman, I got the chance to photograph the Jamali family at the beach. They recently moved from the Sacramento area to Berkeley and it was a great time to reconnect with them and continue capturing their growing family. My first session was when Shirin, their daughter was an infant. Since then I’ve captured their family at least once a year including getting to be present at Kian’s birth. Being around them feels like family at this point. They know me well and how I like to…

Kailey, Matt and baby Nyron. Born February 17, 2015.  Shared with permission from Kailey and Matt.You never know when a newborn will actually make their way into the world, or even how. It’s is often a case of throwing it all into the air and taking the ride to see what unfolds, ironically, much like raising children. I love when one of my past wedding couples allows me the honor of being present during such a personal time. Since births aren’t scheduled, I tell them, if I can make it, I am there. Kailey kept close contact with me during the…

I’m so grateful when cool clients are referred to me by other cool clients. Being friends of friends really goes a long way and this session was comfortable right from the get go (I just googled that and it is a real phrase…git-go too, fyi). Brooke and Smokey are warm and friendly folks, easy going and like minded. They were easily open to letting the session flow as it will- almost an unspoken; which is important because, beautiful Wren was only 2 months old and those of us who have had babies know that it is not about OUR timeline- it is about theirs- and going with…

I was glad when Jeanette Di Muccio contacted me during the holidays with the idea for all the kids to gift Dee (her mother in law) a family session for Christmas. It’s not easy to get a busy family, scattered around states, together and usually takes someone with some inertia to make it happen. Good job Jeanette. I was glad to get to meet up with their family once again and capture them years later. I first met them all when Joscilyn and Jared asked me to photograph their wedding back in 2007. Fairly new to wedding photography at that point, I…

Julianne and Daniel chose to get married on 12-13-14 at Haggin Oaks Golf Club in Sacramento. This was the last sequential day for 20 years and also the anniversary of their first meeting at MIX, a dance club in Sacramento, where Julianne decided to passed along her phone number to Daniel. They texted all night long and well, the rest is history. Julianne told me early on that they are both laid back and that the most important thing at the end of the day is that they are “husband and wife”. They were so grateful that they got to celebrate with their family and…

Oh the weather outside is frightful….and that is when Kailey said- “you know what, let’s just do it”. So, off into the stormy day we went up to a beautiful field above Placerville. We had originally hoped for snow having booked a few months earlier, but rain was what we got. I love photographing Kailey and Matt and have had the pleasure of numerous big events with them. They are easy going, and respectful and patient of the creative process. We work well together. (Kailey is a photographer too! And Matt, well you should see him sporting that red scarf-…

I’ve been watching Taylor and Ryan grow at basically the same rate as my own kids. You see, our children are about the same age and I have been photographing the Anderson family, annually since Ryan was an infant- perhaps for 9 or 10 years now? Jessica and Bret are so great about making time for this every single year despite their crazy schedules. They don’t even need to explain a cancellation/rescheduling as I’m living that same life too- kids running in various directions, working parents doing the same, soccer soccer soccer, family in town for a visit, I remember stitches one year,…

Devan is one. Well, really, 15 months. And isn’t that just how it goes when you are working parents trying to make it all happen between traveling jobs, new home buying, moving, childhood bugs, the unpredictable weather and all of that? I met Kim, Sean and Devan on a beautiful fall morning up in Apple Hill just a few months after his first birthday—for his third session in his First Year baby package. We still celebrated even though we were a little late AND even though I know he wasn’t feeling his best. Kim and Sean are past wedding clients and…

I met Lauren and Chris on a glorious fall day for their engagement session up in Apple Hill. It is a great way for us to get to know each other in front of and behind the camera. As with many sessions, we slowly moved into those moments that feel real as we all got comfortable with each other. I always joke, “you mean you don’t have photo sessions every weekend?”.  Lauren and Chris love fall along with the cooler weather and cozy evenings that it brings. They are both nurses and live in Hermosa Beach and were up having an…

You know when you just click with someone? As a photographer, this is pure joy, especially if they are your subject. Nerves go away, trust prevails and that creative flow just happens- where you move from one idea to the next gently and confidently, and maybe a little giddily too. The Gimpel family came referred to me by the Little family(thanks Bob and Kim). Alison, Ross, Ayla(6) and Sage(4) said this was their first “real” family session. So, off we went climbing to through the bear clover to get to the top of the hill overlooking Jenkinson Lake, well, because there…

I think the Little Family were the first folks we met when we moved to Pollock Pines in 2000. Bob and my husband Jeff have worked together as foresters since then. If am not mistaken, at that time Jack was an infant, my daughter Jaz, just a future thought, and Kim was driving school buses for the district while studying for her masters. I could have gotten the timeline completely wrong, which sadly, wouldn’t surprise me at all. I love when I get the opportunity to photograph the Littles, who, by the way, aren’t so little anymore. Well, Bob and Kim, yes, but Jack and Macy? Fast forward 14 years:…

These images make me smile. I’ve known these two for over 10 years. Our kids were in daycare together from the beginning. During one of my recent mentoring sessions  I needed a couple models for some out in the field shooting, so I asked them. I knew they would be perfect. Love these two -warm hearts and a great sister connection! I’d love to photograph your children this holiday season. I’m going to head out this week to capture my children though, somehow, I don’t think it will be as easy:) It never is with your own.