I recently got to spend time in Johnny’s world… the heart of where his creativity is encouraged & nurtured, and where nothing really matters except for the love of his mom, his dad & his gigi. Johnny’s mom (a lovely & talented local perfumier, you should check out her beautiful shop!) hired me specifically to capture moments of the two of them together, mainly because she said there are a gajillion photos of Johnny & his dad, and hardly any with her in them… and we were both inspired by this article by Allison Tate in the Huffington Post, that encourages all mom’s to honor their children with photos of them. The quote that stands out to me the most from this article is: “I’m everywhere in their young lives, and yet I have very few pictures of me with them. Someday I won’t be here — and I don’t know if that someday is tomorrow or thirty or forty or fifty years from now — but I want them to have pictures of me. I want them to see the way I looked at them, see how much I loved them. I am not perfect to look at and I am not perfect to love, but I am perfectly their mother.” This subject is near & dear to my heart for obvious reasons (I’m a photographer, duh!), but because I am a mom, and also I am a daughter who was lucky enough to have parents who took thousands & thousands of photos of all my siblings & me growing up… photos & memories that have shaped who I am today & what I have become. I am so thankful for that, and so very thankful that I have gift that I can share to do the same for other families as well as mine.

This year I get to travel to Mexico to document a sweet family on vacation, for the very same reasons… and I may be in your city as well, very soon! Please take a look at my travel schedule, and let me know if you’d like to make memories together:

Lake Tahoe, Nevada // August 12-16
Minneapolis, Minnesota // September 23-27
New Orleans, Louisiana // November 11-15
Phoenix, Arizona // November 18-22
Miami, Florida // December 9-13

…and more cities & dates, to be announced soon! I’d love to see you!

And here are some more images from their wedding… if you’re like me, you’ll practically want to bathe yourself in these images, that are so full of fun, art, sunshine, and love.

I really want to thank Brit & Nina, not only for trusting me to be their wedding photographer, but for being such great friends to me. We all knew from the very first few emails we exchanged & then the first time we got together for drinks, that this was destined to be a forever friendship… I couldn’t be happier to have two people in my life who are so creative, so beautiful, and so full of love for each other & for those who enter their lives. I love having friends who love to get drunk, like to get dirty, be a little weird together, and give each other affectionate names like Poopie & who text me with nicknames like, Muffmeister. I am so lucky to be surrounded by people in love, but feel even more lucky to know that sometimes these people in love have room in their hearts & lives to let me in on some of that too… just like Brit & Nina. I love these two.

I hope you love these images too! Hey! I did it! Fuck yeah!!!

Today is the day that my Madeline turns sixteen years old. SIXTEEN years old. I can’t even say this without choking on my words, without feeling my heart beating just behind my tongue.

Last night as we snuggled & I told her the story of her birth (again, for at least the sixteenth time), and this morning as we made her breakfast & sent her on her way… and even this week as I’ve been frantically trying to figure out what’s “best” for a 16 year old’s birthday, I can’t help but feel so much sadness for the years gone by. I know that ideally, I’m to think about all the happy times past & all the happy times to come, but I find myself instead feeling anxious that I somehow missed something along the way. That there are so many things she did or said that I missed, or ignored, or was too busy for. I was just a baby when I had this baby, just two years older than she is today; for better or for worse, I can’t believe that she’s mine, and that somehow she made it this far under the ill-advised instruction of a child like me.

I found this article called The Arrow of Time, where this family has had their photographs made on the same day each year, for over 30 years. I found this so fascinating, and I admire them for having the awareness at the beginning of their time together, enough to carry on such an important project. I sadly don’t have that with Madeline, but I am starting a project that I just recently thought of, where I will photograph her every week from today until she turns eighteen… so, exactly 104 weeks from now. Which completely blows my mind & renders me speechless… that I only have 104 images until she is no longer my baby, no longer my responsibility, and that she will be free to be without me. I can’t help it, but this kills me a little bit inside. For all those years that I encouraged her independence, I find myself back-pedaling & wanting her back, and wishing for the years that I lost while being too busy to know that like all good things, this too will one day end. One day she will no longer need me & possibly not even want me… and my breasts ache heavy with sorrow, just as they did when I weaned her from me that very first time.

So today, my darling sweet Madeline, I wish you the happiest of birthdays, even if I find myself feeling so very sad. When I see you, I see the sweetest person I’ve ever met, who’s not afraid to speak of dreams & wishes, and who loves to dance & sing… my big little dreamer, whose first smile may as well have been the very first one I’d ever known, that always-present smile, that I could only hope to have as the very last one I’ll ever know. I’m so proud to be your mom… even when you don’t think I am, I am. I see your innocence today, and hope that no matter what, no matter how old you get, how many things you’ve seen or how many times you’ve been hurt… that you’ll always see through those wide eyes of wonder, and always, somehow, be my little mermaid Madeline.

Happy 16th Birthday, my love.

[photos of Madeline at age four, and at age fifteen... by me & by Jillian Mitchell]

And it just so happens, that on April 11th, I received their film back from the lab… which was exactly one year since the date that my Madeline had officially become Michael’s, and he hers.

Serendipity! It’s funny how it weaves its way into our lives in the most beautiful & unexpected ways, isn’t it?!

I get to photograph all sorts of wonderful events & momentous occasions, but to be there for the day that two people choose each other is beyond special to me. I wish I knew more of Molly & Oni’s story, more than just the part of their story that I was so lucky to document, but I imagine it begins with two people who knew within their heart of hearts that there was another person out there that needed them… and then they found each other. Chapter One. From there, it continues with discovery, love, and knowing beyond anything that conventional wisdom could offer, that they belonged to each other. And from there? Only time will tell… time will create a story, from chapter to chapter, an entire series of stories & adventures & long nights & sweet mornings & tales of love & heartbreak & learning & giving & taking & always meeting in the middle… always a place where their hearts will connect again & again. I know this story quite well, and know that there is never an ending to this story, only a beginning that began before we were even aware, and then an entire legacy of history & memories that are created & preserved & cherished from now until never & forever. A history of togetherness that will carry on into the universe as dreams & as energy for millions of others to carry on. Life. Love. And the stories that we create.

Congratulations, Molly & Oni… on the story that you have begun together.

I have a bit of a later start on my wedding season this year, but it still feels just right around the corner; in the meantime I’ve spent this down time trying to get to know myself just a little more… I’ve been relishing in lots of alone time, with long walks & trying my hand in the kitchen, which doesn’t come naturally to me, I’ll tell you. Next up, I’d love to learn to clean my house & possibly garden! Baby steps! Our house is a giant mess, while we sit around & dream about a simpler life, without a big house with big messes. Endless dreaming, getting us nowhere but further from cleaning this house!

But! I love revisiting weddings from the wedding season past, and remember again through images why I love what I do, and feel so blessed to have a talent & passion that invigorates me, and that I can share with others. Emily & Jeremy’s was exactly the kind of wedding I love… simple & sweet, with more dancing than even I can handle! I was so lucky to share this day with my main man Sergio, who shoots alongside of me every so often & keeps me in line. Also! My favorite blogger Lydia over at Ever Ours has featured this wedding on her blog… which is very special to me, because Lydia only features weddings that are beautifully full of love. Thanks, Sergio & Lydia!!!

I hope you love this post, as much as I love posting it… and I hope that no matter where you are tonight, you get to share an epic sunset with someone too.

I seem to get yelled at everywhere I go, and LA was no exception… but how could I ever feel down with light like this?!!! I adore LA, in all of its golden misery. Any of these images can be purchased in print here, with what is another one of my favorite bodies of work.

What are you doing today?! It’s sunny in Seattle all week long, so I’ve been making all sorts of excuses to leave my office, even if to do something mundane like make a run to the grocery store. I also have lots of visitors this month, and am preparing my mind & body for the upcoming wedding season, by trying to get in as much reading as possible & by doing daily yoga as well as zumba with friends. Springtime is my happy time, and I’m feeling especially happy with it being so abnormally sunny here.

Also, today I read these words of encouragement from my dear friend Samm, on the Define School blog: “…the creative process comes in waves and is oftentimes something you have no perfect control over. Life often dictates our creativity. Sometimes the waves are big and almighty, sometimes it is just a little ripple and other times the waters are perfectly still. But it is good to experience the highs and the lows. The lows can be just as good as the highs. And, those low times it is good to just rest your mind.” For some reason, everything she said in that blog post is exactly what I needed to hear today. I love it when that happens!

Be well, my friends! I hope you’re somewhere enjoying sunshine, or enjoying the sunshine in your lives.

I also debated on calling this post Sweet Caroline, because I seriously can’t get her smile out of my head… and you know, the whole “hands touchin’ hands” bit.

I have a feeling this is a wedding that I will be revisiting again & again, just to get the warm fuzzies. Carolyn & Peter were the first wedding out of four that I’d photographed that same week, but we kept running into each other around Sayulita. I think they’d even extended their stay longer than originally planned, so all during the next week we’d see them, looking perfectly & perpetually in a state of honeymoon. ¡Amor! I haven’t seen them stateside & that’s okay, because I want to continue imagining them all googly-eyed newlyweds on the colorful streets & beaches of Mexico’s Pacific.

Once again, I have to thank Brian from SharkPig for this video… he is one of the most insane & talented people I know, and I can’t imagine life without him. You can check out the other video from this wedding here! Yes, it was such an amazing time that there are TWO videos. I also want to give a major shout out to my chica Jillian Mitchell, who flies me down to Mexico every once in a while to party with her & shoot weddings, simultaneously… I am one lucky friend. I know I often speak of serendipity & love & whatever whatever, but seriously. These two people are in my lives because of pure serendipity, and they both have given me such a new & appreciated perspective on life & art & friendship… I am so thankful for both of you, and often lay around dreaming up our next wedding in Mexico together. Or our next drink together… I’ll take both or either!

The rest of this wedding can be found here, the videos can be found here… and a sweet little feature on 100 Layer Cake can be found here. Enjoy!

Hasta la próxima vez… ¡Viva México!

Quite possibly the most fascinating city I’ve ever been to! I love Mexico (duh)… but before visiting this city, I loved it for its people & its culture & its simplicity. And then I found myself in this city, and immediately fell in love with its people & its culture & its chaos!

I’m just going to put it out there… some of my favorite images of all time that I’ve ever taken are in this post. I won’t tell you which ones. Although I will tell you that my other favorite image of all time is in the last post; and again I won’t tell you which one it is, although it’s a certain photo of a certain thing that I’m in love with, that I took handheld at 1/15th of a second as the sun had long since settled behind the desert mountains. So proud!

¡Viva México!

[if you're interested in purchasing prints of my photos from Mexico---& beyond!---you can do so by clicking here]

So! Mexico was the first workshop where this was implemented, and it was R . A . D… rad.

If you read my previous post about the ridiculous hacienda that we stayed at while in Mexico, then you know that there was really no reason to even leave that magical place where horses burp rainbows! However, just one hour from there are two great cities… San Miguel de Allende & Guanajuato. We decided to spend the the last workshop day in San Miguel, a town known the world over for its beautiful architecture & history. I’ve actually had a desire to visit this city since I was about 11 or 12 years old, because one of our dear family friends, Jodie, had escaped to San Miguel almost immediately out of high school, had fallen in love with the city & the people & a certain man named Antonio who spoke of the moon in her eyes that lit up the desert, and she eventually had a son named Dillon. Jodie, throughout my life as a young girl & young adult, was everything I ever wanted to be—adventurous, loving, alive, curious, cultured, and one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever met—so to finally visit this city that had made such an imprint on her was hugely anticipated. I wanted all the romanticism of San Miguel de Allende! I wanted the moon to shine in my eyes! And it did not disappoint; although luckily, I didn’t leave with a child named Dillon… or unluckily, I suppose! Upon arriving there, you know why everyone wants to be there. Why every time I mentioned this city to anyone beforehand, they either said its name with exclamation or with a long sigh… It truly is a remarkable city. Wondrous, even.

What I considered to be my “personal work,” stemmed from my love of a few things: people, places, things… and straight lines. Yup. That about sums it up. It’s no secret that I’m a very straight shooter, that I rarely explore anything outside of The Rule of Thirds or even The Golden Mean, and also that I love human element in all of my photos. It’s also not secret, or it shouldn’t be, that I actually suck at landscape photography or environmental photography or whatever you want to call it. So while exploring San Miguel, I wanted to focus on lines, but approaching them in a way completely different than I normally would… and I also wanted to photograph people, but that really didn’t happen because I’m chicken shit. But! I think I’m pretty proud of what I did come up with. I think I ended up with a strong body of images that I can be proud of… maybe 3 or 4 that I really really love, and I think that’s not bad. Obviously it’s been a few months since I took these images, but revisiting them again with such an extended period of time between when I took them & now, really has me appreciating them even more. I love the thought of going to a city that practically everyone in the world wants to go to, and trying my best to photograph it in a way that no one else did. Is it possible? Maybe. We’ll see…

Anyway, here’s to being better. A better photographer when I can be… and a better adventurer when I should be.

[if you're interested in purchasing prints of my photos from Mexico---& beyond!---you can do so by clicking here]

puking rainbows... seems about right.

te amo, yolanda!

Imagine a long day of traveling from Seattle to Oakland to Salt Lake City to Mexico City to León, and then taking a long & dark ride into the unknown, and ending up in the most beautiful place that you could ever imagine, with a freshly made & authentic Margarita waiting for you… so beautiful & refreshing that you barely even remember how hard it was to get there. Welcome to Hacienda Las Trancas & the ranchito of Las Trancas. A fortress of history & mystery & beauty, that is about one hundred years older than the church across the plaza that happened to just celebrated its 378th year in existence. You wake up every morning at 7am to fresh coffee & hot cocoa that was made with giant chucks of chocolate that were recently crushed into it… then you wait for the breakfast bell to ring at 7:30am for a meal that is both authentic & unique, and probably the best meal that has ever entered into your body. And then if you’re like me, you anxiously await the lunch bell & dinner bell; and by day one you have fallen under the spell of Yolanda, the chef who lives just down the road from the hacienda with her six children & who is the one graciously feeding you every day for three meals a day, and you find yourself yelling “te amo, Yolanda! te amo!!!” every time you see her.

And you know, the rest of the day you can either have a massage by one of the local village people who have been trained in massage (full body hot stone massage for $35… yes please!), or go for a long horseback ride through the mountains with the stablehand giving a detailed & romantic account of the hacienda’s history, or you can have a driver take you into the nearest towns (San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Dolores Hidalgo) for basically what I refer to as Mexican Tourgasm (yes, i made that one up!)… or you can just soak in the pool & wait for the bell to ring for your next meal. I did all of the above… why not!

The history of the hacienda can be found here; you should totally take the time to read it! It’s absolutely fascinating, especially if you’re a history geek like me. And the hacienda’s main website can be found here… pleeeeeeease oh please, somebody book a workshop or a vacation or a reunion or a wedding at this hacienda, and bring me a long with you!

Obviously I travel a lot, but this is the first time in a long time that I felt completely free of guilt or desire to be elsewhere or even any sort of homesickness. Instead I felt absolute calm, and could only think of my family in terms of when & how could I get them back to this place with me. I know I go on & on about Mexico & my love for it, and I know it could be thought that such a romantic experience as staying at Hacienda Las Trancas could be considered far from an authentic experience… but I say fuck it. If it takes a trip to the desert highlands of Mexico to take a step back in time & a chance to be quiet & at peace, I say go for it. And I totally did. I also had sworn off swearing just days before this trip, and the second I walked into this hacienda, I found I couldn’t help myself & was swearing up a storm with more fervor than ever before.

It’s just that fucking amazing. Hacienda Las Trancas… te quiero!

[to see all of my photos from Mexico & even purchase them if you please---!!!---visit my storefront by clicking here]