Robertson Family Session // Lincoln Park & Lands End Trail // San Francisco, CA

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This boy is one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen. And his mama and I go way back, our childhood homes were within walking distance from one another. We got together in the city on a foggy afternoon at the end of May to shoot some family portraits, a couple days before Liam's first birthday. He was all smiles. 

Miles waiting patiently.

It was a bit foggy out, which meant we had the entire place to ourselves.

Have you ever seen a more beautiful family? We had a lot of fun together. Welcome to one, Liam. It looks good on you. And congratulations Cheyenne and Ian on four years of marriage! 

Memorial Day Weekend with Friends // Grass Valley

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Warning: this is a photo-heavy post. 

We drove out to the Sierra foothills on Jeffery's birthday to spend Memorial Day weekend with some of our favorite people, to enjoy the lush surroundings, and to meet a very special little lady. Jeffery had never held a baby before and it was pretty incredible watching these uncles fall in love with their one month-old niece. 

On Saturday we hiked past Lake Carr and Lake Feeley to Island Lake, fishing poles in tow. 

Island Lake, Tahoe National Forest

That evening we enjoyed some more baby snuggles. 

Katie runs the garden program at the Grass Valley Charter School, and on Sunday morning she gave us a tour of the [incredible!] grounds. I would send my kids to this school just for the garden. Ranger liked it too.

That evening: family, food, and more baby loving. Uncles, aunties, and cousins, all gathered around, we couldn't keep our eyes off of her.

Welcome to the party, little Ava! We're so glad you're here. 

Happy Donut Day!

Happy Friday! Did you enjoy National Donut Day? I was in Sacramento with my beautiful friend Jess who will be moving to Texas in three weeks! She accepted a promotion in the Lone Star State and I couldn't be more proud of her. And I can't wait to visit!

Marie's donuts are delicious.

After lunch we did some shopping and then went to a matinee of The Fault in Our Stars and cried our eyes out (along with every other female in the audience). It was adorable, well cast, and really sad. I can't wait to read the book.

When it was was starting to cool down we took a dip in the river. 

Have a wonderful weekend! I have two mini sessions tomorrow and three on Sunday, I'm looking forward to meeting some new faces this weekend. 

Muir Woods

May was ridiculously busy. Good busy. And June is shaping up to be the same. I don't want to forget any of the good, so I making myself get some of it up on the blog before I reach the statute of limitations on old news.

Our friends Josh and Katie came and stayed with us a few weekends ago. On Saturday night we ate veggie lasagna and Caesar salad and stayed up late talking and playing Cards Against Humanity. On Sunday we packed pb&js and carrot sticks and hiked Muir Woods. 

I think I need a much wider angled lens to do it justice. Great friends, great hike, great weekend. If you've never been, (we had never been!) go.

Jamie and James // Engaged // Marin Headlands and Golden Gate Bridge

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Jamie and James // Engaged // Marin Headlands and Golden Gate Bridge

When I first decided to pursue a career as a photographer I was both elated and relieved. For the first time in my life I could finally envision myself as a professional, and I knew I had it in me to do everything it took to get there.

What I couldn't anticipate was how much I would enjoy every aspect of the job. These beautiful people make me so grateful I started this journey. Grateful that I get to share in their love story and document this incredible time in their lives. 

Jamie is from the Bay Area. James is from Ireland. They met in Budapest, Hungary where they were both teaching English after undergrad. They later moved to Krakow, Poland, where they lived and continued teaching English for two more years. They got engaged in 2013 (on a surprise return trip to Budapest, well done James!) and then moved to Auckland, New Zealand. 

They just returned to the Bay Area, and a week from tomorrow they will be surrounded by family and friends in the backyard of Jamie's childhood home. They will say their vows and then they will be man and wife! I cannot wait to document their day. 

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hello Tucson!

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As soon as I got of the plane, Raeann and I went out for lunch at La Indita. We were not disappointed. I spoke to Salvador, the owner, and he said they have been in business since 1985, back when his hair was still black. Fine, fine establishment.

Besides the people, my favorite thing about Arizona was all the flowering cacti. The prickly pear blossom is incredible and came in so many colors. 

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That first evening Raeann modeled for me at Gates Pass. We brought along a pineapple as a prop (it's all the rage). It smelled incredible and later we ate the entire thing. (See photos from our shoot here.)

On Saturday I visited my dad's parents, Margaret and Hu, at their home in Green Valley. I can't even describe how good it was to get some quality time with them. I haven't seen them since our wedding, but I was so distracted by getting married that it hardly counts, and before that it was years. I don't even remember how many, so in my adult life it's been pretty limited. Fortunately, my grandmother is a very skilled emailer and it has not been difficult staying in touch. I feel very lucky to have relationships with three of my grandparents. And these two are the best kind of people: spirited, generous, kind, hilarious, and wicked smart. My grandfather just returned home after spending six weeks in the hospital, and is understandably feeling a bit feeble. Although he sounded just like his normal self, which was enormously reassuring. 

Their home is a museum. Note the two Marina paintings, and do you recognize the model in the painting on the right? 

We had lunch at The Stables, a restaurant at the Tubac Country Club south of Green Valley, and the food, views, and company were terrific. I ordered fish tacos with mango salsa, and learned that my grandmother has never in her life eaten a fish taco. I learned a lot of things on my trip. The entire time I was there I felt so grateful for the opportunity. If there are people you need to visit, MAKE IT HAPPEN! It is so so worth it, and you'll only regret it if you don't. 

I said my goodbyes (after a few more photos) and drove back to Tucson. Raeann took me to the top of "A" Mountain (or Sentinel Peak) for the view. 

That evening we ventured out to Sabino Canyon for a sunset hike. Just like that it was my last night in Tucson and I tried to savor it. 

Desert sunsets are pretty special. 

In the morning, Raeann and I drove up Mount Lemmon.

We went for a hike up near 8,800 ft. The surrounding area was recovering from a fire, so all the trees were growing back really fluffy and dense and we hiked pretty high up but it never opened up enough to get a view. It was chilly up that high, but scorching by the time we got back down. We pulled over on the side of the road to photograph some cacti. The saguaro were in full bloom (they're the state flower of Arizona) but the blossoms are so high off the ground that it's a challenge to get a decent photograph. 

Thank you Raeann, Margaret and Hu, for showing me such a WON-derful time (as my grandmother would say). Tucson, you're lovely!

Raeann at Gates Pass // Tucson, Arizona

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A beautiful friend whom I love and admire, the desert at sunset, and a pineapple: pretty much a winning combination. I loved visiting Tucson. I'm so glad I got the opportunity and I can't wait to share more. 

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Isn't she lovely? It's hard to believe we've been friends for 12 years. And I am so proud of her. She just graduated from the University of Arizona with her Master's Degree in Public Health and is moving back to the Bay Area! Yay! 

Clara Turns Two!

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This month is flying by. And I'm the happiest I've been in a long time. A lot of angst has subsided and I'm feeling very grateful for where I am. Grateful for the good people in my life, success in my business, and appreciative of beautiful, healthy days. And this little girl is taking up a pretty sizable chunk of my heart.

Clara turned two a few weeks ago, and I snapped these photos at her little birthday celebration at a Berkeley park. I can't believe how fast she's growing up, and it's only accelerated by the presence of her older sister, Nyah, whom she absolutely adores. I have the pleasure of spending a few mornings a week with Clara, usually while Nyah is at preschool, and sometimes I get to watch them both. I can't adequately verbalize how much I enjoy them, but I know they're my absolute favorite subjects to photograph. And they're really so much more than just eye candy. 

Welcome to two, sweet Clara Bear! It looks good on you. 

P.S. More from last fall, last spring, and Clara's first birthday. 

Weekend Photos // San Anselmo & Lands End

Happy May! Here are some photos from over the weekend. On Saturday we attended a 10-year anniversary party for dear family friends at a beautiful ranch in San Anselmo. Of all things spectacular on this property, Jeffery and I were drooling over the vegetable garden. 

The roses didn't look too bad either.

On Sunday we drove into the city for the Warriors game. After the win, while Jeffery golfed Lincoln Park, I hiked Lands End, camera in hand. Afterwards, we both agreed how nice it was to have some time to be active on our own.

After checking on Jeffery, who had nine holes to go, I went and got some sushi and then drove out to the Lands End Lookout to explore the Sutro Baths at Sunset. The light was just getting really good and I was wishing I had a model.  

May is going to be a big month.

This weekend is my Mother's Day Mini Session event, and I have a few spots left. I am also getting together with this gal to make our annual birthday cake, a little bit late. But really it's never too late for cake. Also, a very special little girl is going to celebrate her 2nd birthday and I can't believe it. 

Next Friday I fly to Tucson for the weekend to visit my friend Raeann before she graduates with her master's degree from U of A. I will also get to see my grandparents, who I haven't seen since the wedding. Really looking forward to a change of scenery and getting to see their faces.

Later this month is Jeffery's birthday and we are going back up to Grass Valley to celebrate at a cabin with friends and we get to meet the baby (it's a girl!). 

In addition to my Mother's day sessions, I have a couple family sessions scheduled, an engagement shoot, and my first wedding (!) at the end of the month. Pretty darn excited about that. 

And the next thing you know it, it will be June. 

Nicole and Ross // Bay Area Couple // Lake County Engagement

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Nicole is one of my very good friends, and our friendship is the effortless kind: we have so much in common and the conversation comes easy. I have known Ross just as long (they were already dating when she and I met working as shop girls) and I've liked him all along. But their pup Edie is brand new, and I'm a huge fan. Even more than I like each of them on their own, I really love them together. Together they're a family, and a really freaking good one. Relaxed, interesting, fun. They bring out the best in one another, and they look damn good together. 

We found a jawbone and they did some tooth extraction, perfect opportunity for a ring shot (here's some backstory on the bones).

Ross is from Iowa. Nicole is originally from Alaska, but spent most of her adolescence just miles from this Lake County valley. After undergrad, Nicole's best friend Elaine was starting at the Iowa Writers' Workshop and she decided to tag along. "We went to a movie night to watch Rosemary's baby, which my mother and I had listened to together when she drove me out to Iowa. I met Ross that night and Elaine encouraged me to join Facebook so I could flirt with him and the rest is boring stable relationship stuff." 

Ross and Nicole, congratulations on your engagement and welcome to the club of boring stable relationships, also known as a happy marriage! I couldn't be more thrilled for you guys.