One of the most challenging aspects of mental illness is that it’s often “unseen.” Unlike physical conditions that manifest visibly, mental disorders can be hidden beneath the surface. My anxiety and panic disorder don’t have outwardly visible symptoms, but they’ve taken a significant toll on my body and mind. From the outside looking in, I might appear as happy and healthy as ever, but that’s just not the truth.
While in Greece I worked with Augustine Hat Co. to create some images of their products. The vibe was European summer and we chose to shoot in our stunning Greek villa overlooking the Aegean Sea. The stunning architecture mixed with the incredible views made the perfect back drop to shoot Augustine Hat Co. in Greece.
When it comes to moments that define a lifetime, few can rival the beauty and emotion of a marriage proposal. As a photographer, I have had the privilege of witnessing and capturing some of the most heartwarming proposals. When Rylan reached out to me to capture his romantic Laguna Beach proposal to Ingrid I could hardly contain my excitement.
Emily and Jake’s intimate wedding on the North Shore of Oahu was such a sweet and unforgettable day. Emily started the day getting ready with her friends and family at her little island home while Jake had a boy’s weekend in a yurt on the beach. Their peachy sunset color pallet perfectly complimented the blues and greens of Oahu, Hawaii.
This summer we decided to spend a few weeks on the road, camping and exploring some new states and national parks. We drove from California through Utah to see Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks. We visited Wyoming for the first time and fell in love with Jackson Hole and Grand Tetons national park. We made drive through Yellowstone before heading to Montana where we spent time with family and enjoyed Bozeman, Whitefish, and Glacier national park. It was the ultimate summer vacation and we will never forget our roadtrip through Utah, Wyoming, and Montana.
Every corner of the Drift Hotel San Jose del Cabo location is exquisite. The accommodations are spacious and inviting, with rooms that feel more like luxury bedrooms than standard hotel rooms. The bar at Drift Hotel is incredible and creates beautiful and delicious food and drinks. The pool in the center of the resort is a lovely place to hang out with a cocktail and is just steps from any room you book on the property.
Growing up in Arizona and spending every summer in the pool I was well aware of the importance of sunscreen. But it wasn’t until I moved to Hawaii that I learned the importance of reef safe sunscreen. Many of the sunscreens I grew up using have harmful chemicals that shouldn’t be used in the ocean as they can cause damage to the reefs and overall health of our oceans.
The 818 tequila brand has style, purpose, and high-quality products. That is why we chose the details of this shoot carefully. The photoshoot location was on a farm in Mexico as a nod to the local family-owned farmers they source from. The models are young, fun-loving, and powerful women, a reflection of the women-owned business they are modeling for. Creating for 818 was such a blast and I am in love with the outcome of the images.
During my recent visit to Mexico, I had the pleasure of visiting Acre Resort in Cabo. This resort was one of the most unique hotels I have ever been to as it had so many different luxury elements to it. When you first arrive you will walk through the lush jungle foliage and pass by […]
Death Valley is one of the country’s most unique and underrated national parks. It is also one of the closest National Parks to where I live in Southern California. Ever since we moved to California and saw how close we would be living to the park, I have wanted to plan a Death Valley camping trip. I knew I needed to wait until the winter months as during the summer Death Valley National Park is one of the hottest places on earth.
Remember when a disposable camera was on every summer camp packing list as a kid? The thrill of taking the photos and then getting to see them all developed after you returned home was like magic. Well, this nostalgic couple’s film photography session felt just like that!
When booking photos one of the questions you might have is “what time of day should we schedule our photos?” While I am confident we can create beautiful images no matter what time of day you choose, I will always recommend choosing golden hour. You might be wondering what the heck that even is and why you should choose golden hour for your photos.
Planning your dream elopement can seem overwhelming but this quick guide will help narrow things down and get you on the right track. Your elopement plans can revolve around a number of things but the good news is YOU get to decide what you want your day to look like.
Here’s the thing. You are already spending the money to elope in an epic location and will more than likely be spending a few days there. This is the perfect time to get exploring and document these incredibly exciting days leading up to or just following your elopement day. Trust me when I say you are not going to want to forget these moments either.
When you think of an elopement do you picture two people running away together, getting married, and not telling anyone? Well, our elopement story in Oahu, Hawaii is a lot like that!
Brand collaborations can be so much fun and really open up the doors for creativity. This beachy brand collab with Effortless swim, Surf and stone, and Augustine hat co was a blast to be a part of.
In January 2022 I had the honor of getting to photograph my first swim brand, Acacia, at Roamers Workshop in Oahu, Hawaii. I was a little nervous for this shoot since I wasn’t as confident in my skills to photograph brands just yet, but I was excited to learn in this fun and encouraging setting.
In September 2022 Brandon and I were invited to a wedding in Washington state and instead of flying we decided to make a roadtrip out of it. I was so excited to see and explore the Pacific North West that I put together a 10 day itinerary with stops all over Oregon and Washington. The plan was to spend some of the time camping and some in hotels, but never sleeping in the same place twice. I wanted to see and explore as much as possible in those 10 days.
When I first moved to California I was so excited to build my location guide for my couples! I began exploring and researching new places all over Southern California. This particular location jumped out at me and I was so excited to plan a shoot here, but I needed the perfect couple to come along. Enter; Claire and Jordan.
In January 2020 I shot my first couples session ever at this gorgeous location on the east side of Oahu, Hawaii. Exactly two years later I got to come back and shoot this elopement in the exact same location. It was so exciting for me to have this full circle moment and see how far I have come in my business.
Honey Blue Jewelry is a local Hawaiian business that I had the privilege of working with while spending time on the island of Oahu. Lo creates the most beautiful, minimalist, handmade pieces of jewelry! The Honey Blue brand is made for the ocean minded and provides a sustainable way to bring little bits of the ocean into your everyday life.
During the couple weeks I got to spend on island I made sure to indulge in all my favorite local restaurants. I also adventured all over the island. From driving through Haleiwa, to hiking mountains, to swimming in waterfalls, to diving with turtles, I did a little bit of everything. I even got to visit my old house from when I lived on the island! This trip was just what my soul needed and I already can’t wait to go back!
Working with Heather and Bryant was so much fun and such a perfect setting for me to get creative. We met up in Oceanside, California and watched some dolphins play in the shore while the sun started to dip in the sky. The whole scene was such a vibe!
I loved the neutral colors so much and they went beautifully with the location. Soft, earthy, neutral colors are super flattering & they help your location HELP YOU. The right color choices COMPLIMENT your surroundings. Don’t get me wrong, you want to stand out, but not like a sore thumb.
She Brews Coffee is a local coffee shop located on the military base in Fort Irwin, California. Their menu is filled with fun staples and rotating seasonal drinks that can all be customized however you like. I personally love the banana bread chai and I can’t wait for the summer blueberry drinks to make their return.
Sunrise on the beach is such a magical time of day and always a favorite for couples sessions. The ocean waves are so calm and peaceful, the morning light is soft and romantic, and there usually aren’t too many people around. Even if you aren’t an early bird, it’s worth waking up for.
In July 2021 Brandon and I found out we would be moving to Fort Irwin in Southern California. We were immediately excited for all the possibilities to come in our new home. Come October 1st we were on the road and ready to start California living. After a quick stop in Palm Springs to see the windmills we arrived in our new desert home and were in love with all the scenery. We got settled into our new house and started making friends right away. With Fort Irwin being such a central location to so many amazing places I started planning trips right away.
There’s something about a cliffside elopement that just feels right. Nothing screams feeling on top of the world quite like this. Add in a bridal cape and some ocean views and you have yourself the dreamiest elopement of all time!
The thing I love most about elopements is the ability to do whatever the heck you want! This Laguna Beach elopement had all the bohemian vibes. From the color of the dress to the rented vintage convertible to the carefree frolicking on the beach, everything was just perfect.
Our Spare Change has been my very favorite jewelry company for years now! OSC was started back in 2015 by two sisters who decided to run a business out of their college attic. Their first ever pieces were actually hand stamped coins made into jewelry, hence the name “our spare change.” The mission behind their pieces was to help people share and wear their stories!
Living on the island of Oahu, Hawaii was one of the most memorable & magical times of my life. Most days I spent traveling around the island and indulging in all this tropical paradise had to offer. Hawaii life was my ultimate dream come true.
They say the early bird gets the worm but I would argue that the early bird catches the best wave. At least that’s how it worked out for this gorgeous sunrise surf session in Kaneohe, Oahu.
I remember the first time I hiked this mountain I was blown away by the view. It was even better than the photos I had seen online! I thought this would be a beautiful place for couples photos, or better yet an elopement!
My session with these two was such a great reminder that the best photos are made when you let loose and just have fun! Rolling around in sand, running through water, and kissing in the rain can lead to some romantic and emotive photos. Trust the process and trust your photographer at your next couple’s shoot.