Elaine + Alex : Ritz Carlton Portrait Session

I met up with Elaine and Alex at the Ritz Carlton in Laguna a few weeks back. I love that area. I have so many great memories of that area and always look forward to spending time when I can up there.







Thank you Elaine and Alex. I look forward to your September wedding!

Miss Molly Ann from Bloomfield, NJ!

Seeing little one's is always a great way to give me perspective on time. During my trip across the country, I stopped by my cousin's house in New Jersey to visit and see the cutest little one I know, Miss Molly Ann. It's been two whole years since I've seen her and the rest of my family in New Jersey. That's just far too long! Miss Molly is just the best and it was pretty amazing to see how much she's grown!

We made up for lost time pretty fast.



She LOVES my cousin Valerie's sporty car.



And going for walks with her mom.

Photo journal update : Hello BUSY season!

I will be updating the blog with some recent portrait sessions and events. It's been a few weeks since I've had time and I've had some big changes take place in my life SO I will be updating the blog with some big news as well! Stay tuned and thanks for stopping by!!

Zac + Tracy...Take II!

I must feature more photographs from Zac and Tracy's Engagement Session. Love, love, love these two.











Thank you, thank you, thank you Zac and Tracy for your wonderful presence and for your contagious romance!

Big Sur Recap

Yesterday, Mason hung up a big map I had lying around of the United States. It was a nice surprise to come home to after a long wedding day. Basically, the idea is to pin where we've been together, where we want to go and serve as a great reminder that there is so much to see outside of our little world here. It was the first morning waking up and seeing this map which lead me to think about all of the exploring we've done in the past several months. We've seen so much and traveled well over 9,000 miles together. We're very lucky to have found each other at this point in our lives and are able to do all of the things we love to do.

Just like our journey across the country, we two have hit many bumps in the road and bad weather yet all along we've been able to teach each other many life lessons. I woke up very grateful for these past couple of months and wanted to share the Big Sur video that Mason put together. He shot the video, incorporated songs we listened to along our trip and my photographs. We didn't orchestrate or discuss putting these two forms of media together. It happened organically and it's only part 1.

So, if you're at all interested in a "vacation video" please enjoy a view into our camping trip to Big Sur in May 2008.

Zac + Tracy = heaven sent

Zac and Tracy are the ultimate couple to have walked into my world. It was the right time, their wedding day is going to be amazing and their love is so true and so obvious that it makes you feel so different to be around people like them. They are both talented artists and enjoy photography and understand the many elements behind a great image. Mason and I had the pleasure of spending a Sunday evening with them walking around downtown and enjoying Anthology's second floor all to ourselves. There are so many beautiful photographs from their engagement session to share yet I have just one for now.



Thank you Zac and Tracy! It is truly an honor to capture you two at this amazing time in your lives.

Angie + Darrell : July 12, 2008

Angie and Darrell were married on July 12, 2008 at L'Auberge Del Mar.
Joanna Falb of Unforgettable Event planned their special day and did a wonderful job working with a client from afar.
Floral design by Modern Bouquet.
Makeup by Sarah Price of Couture Makeup Artistry.
Ceremony harpist Harp Music By Lea Lyn Bennett.
Ceremony by Reverend Powers.
Stationary Design by Into Stationary.

I really enjoyed capturing their unique and intimate wedding day. Here is a peak at some of my favorites from their day.



Congratulations Darrell and Angie!

Storms along the US of A . . .

Mason and I encountered many storms along our journey across the USA in June. We were driving through Nebraska and Iowa as the storms hit which caused the major flooding in the mid-west. I'm sure you saw on the coverage on the news as we felt the wrath in our car. We were stuck in Des Moines for two days while the biggest storms went over and passed. We listened to emergency XM station for days and learned to appreciate our sunny Southern California bubble.

We were about 15 miles from a tornado that touched down in Nebraska. Experienced walls of rain, wind that still makes me cringe and lighting and thunder light shows. Luckily, Leo and Roscoe [our dogs/kids] just spooned away in their dog bed, snoring and totally unaware or unaffected by what we were going through in the front seat. Props to Mason for his incredible driving during these storms.

We hit the biggest storm in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The next day on the front page of the local papers the headline was, 'Freak Storm Hits New Mexico' We had the pleasure of witnessing it strapped to our seats. Nothing like a little white knuckle driving every now and again.

Here are some photographs that need no explanation other than Mother Nature = WOW.

Dennistown Maine : Population 30

Highly enjoying our stay in Dennistown Maine with my parents. This place is the ultimate place to relax, breath, kick back and enjoy the people who matter the most. It's been raining here on and off so in between the weather we cruise out on one lane logging roads in search of spotting moose or other critters, eating ice cream cones, making great meals, napping, playing with my Dad's new Wii [crack up!], watching pretty big storms go over the lake, getting eaten alive by bugs and all itching together.

Here are some photographs of wildlife we've come across and other things I've found to be interesting around the area.

Hello from the upper right corner of the map!!

We arrived in Dennistown Plantation, Maine on Friday, June 13. Our journey across 14 states has been amazing!! Colorado takes the cake for me. It's the most beautiful state - the light, the mountains, the overall vibe. Early last week, we headed North from Colorado to Wyoming to catch interstate 80 which took us through Nebraska where we outran a tornado by about 15 miles, got stranded in Des Moines, Iowa right at the brink of all the flooding and disaster going on there. We experienced storms beyond anything I could have imagined. I've never seen it rain so hard. It was coming down in waves with the wind. We made it through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York to Massachusetts in these storms. We stopped in Mass for a few days and then headed to Maine on Friday.

It's so amazing to be back up here in the summer! It's hard to believe that a month ago they still had majority of the 16 feet of snow they had this winter. My mom's garden is in full bloom and everything is so green, lush and beautiful!

Saturday, my parents took Mason and I on a tour of the area to see close by waterfalls, towns out in the middle of nowhere and down to their friends camp, Cozy Cove Cabins. We sat along the Wood Pond [Lake] in front of their place where I spent many summers growing up. This is Mason and my Mom . . .



Of course there are many photographs from this trip. I have to admit I've been enjoying myself so much that sitting down at the computer has been tough because there is so much to do and relaxing to be had.

I hope all is well for everyone!!

Deanna + Corey : Palm Desert, CA / USA Roadtrip!

I got together with Corey and Deanna out in Palm Desert at the Desert Springs Resort on Sunday, June 1st. These two are getting married in San Diego in August and I was able to visit their hometown. It was great to get out of town and photograph a couple in their home town and of course new locations are always appreciated!

Thank you Corey and Deanna for spending your time with Mason and I on Sunday. You both did an awesome job bringing your love and letting me capture you two during this amazing time in your life. I can't wait for your big day!




This session was a great way to kick off our June 2008 ultimate road trip across the USA - California to Maine! We left right after this session with Deanna and Corey and made it to Phoenix for a night. Currently, we're resting in Steamboat Springs, CO after camping in Sedona, AZ, Grand Canyon, exploring Monument Valley & Moab, Utah . . . what I've seen in 24 hours is amazing. This country, the terrain, the weather, the people, the way of life is a combination of elements that I could sink my teeth into for MONTHS yet we keep going. . .

On Saturday, it's time for us to cruise [as fast as possible] across the mid-west, avoiding all tornadoes and arriving in Niagara Falls for a night. I'll be uploading photographs again soon! WiFi is hit or miss yet I'll be arriving in Maine next week and can catch up with updates once we get cozy there.

Now, it's time to go back to listening to the roaring Yampa River right outside our room and the snoring of Mr. Leo. Goodnight. : )

Claudia + Maik AND Anke + Steven = Double Wedding

These two couples traveled all the way from Germany to get married in San Diego. I had the pleasure of capturing their San Diego Wedding on Friday, May 30. It was extremely sweet and we had a great time.

Lynn Schuster of Pure Planning coordinated their event even with a huge time zone difference and language barrier. Reverend Powers married the two couples and it seemed we all laughed through the ceremony. He's an awesome, wonderful guy that makes me feel at ease every time I see that he's officiating a ceremony.

I grabbed one photo to post before heading out on a month long journey across the USA.



Congratulations Claudia, Maik, Anke and Steven!

Lauren + Ryan :: Married, May 25, 2008

Lauren and Ryan sneak peak! They were married at the The Dana on Mission Bay on Sunday. It was so much fun to witness Lauren becoming Mrs. Jett and her and I both agreed that the day went by so fast! Her father performed the ceremony which added a unique personal touch and had me laughing throughout. Then there is the intense chemistry that Lauren and Ryan have for each other. They didn't seem to take their eyes off of each other and when they were a part in the room they were looking at each other and whispering, "Baby, I love you."



Tara O'Bannon and team of Events by Design coordinated their event. **Thanks ladies!! I enjoy being around you and had fun through the whole process!!**

Summer :: it's HERE!

We're planning our big cross country trip today and it's the perfect day as it feels like summer! I remembered this photo and had to go into my archives. . .this reminds me of what summer is and how it feels.

Photo Booths :: Foto Cabina, Inc.

Photo Booths are one of my favorite things and I recently discovered a company based in Orange County who also serve San Diego County with their awesome rentals. Check them out!!

Company :: Foto Cabina, Inc.

I'm really impressed and hope to see them at an upcoming event!

Example of the quality, lighting and fun of the booth!
Featuring the lovely Lynn Schuster of Pure Planning
and the talented Jason Taylor of Taylor Films
and me!