Love Story.

It’s the question everyone asks an engaged couple. In between the clicks of my shutter, I asked, “So… how’d you guys meet???”

One responds, “On e-harmony…”

Then the other responds, “I mean at Hooters…”

Then I hear, “No we met on a plane…”

With each response, I imagined a sweet story behind it. So let’s keep their love story a mystery. What matters most is that these two beautiful souls found eachother and since then, literally everything in their life has been falling into place.

As we roamed through Monterey one early morning, it felt as if no one else was around. Alex and Erik were simply themselves, in eachother’s company, and in love. I was fortunate enough to be able to capture this special time in their life.

Alex and Erik, I am counting down the days to your wedding!

A Sweet Melody

As soon as I introduced myself to this cutie pie, she smiled and reached her little arms out to me. It wasn't hard to fall in love with Melody in that first moment.

Melody was so happy and full of smiles all morning. I whispered to her mom, thanking her for making sure Melody was well-rested and ready for pictures that early morning. She responded, "Oh no. She's always happy like this...".

Happy 1st birthday, Melody! Jamie, thank you for coming out to meet me!

Back and ready to shoot.

I took a little bit of a break and now I'm back in action. I'm anxious to share some of my recent shoots here and even more excited to share some upcoming projects I've got in the works. If only there were 25 hours in a day or 8 days in the week, then maybe I'd get everything done as fast I want to.

In the meantime, take a look at Liz and Matt's beautiful family:)

Enjoy...

There is a behind-the-scenes story behind the next shot. You can't see, but off camera at their legs is cutie Aiyanna just within reach of her dad. As I frame Matt and Liz in the shot, I notice lil Mathew just off to the right, alternating between squatting down behind a tree and peeking at me...

... I aim the camera in his direction then he jumps out with war paint on his face. Hilarious. Thankfully we were just wrapping up their shoot!

Taking a break from a break

After a busy last few months, the plan was to take some time off from shooting. The Nikon needed a rest, the family missed Mommy, and it was time for a necessary break.

Within the first two weeks of my "time off", I started to get the itch. I looked at my calendar and saw I had a full day open so I texted my niece.

Sissy, you busy Sunday? Wanna know if you can come down for pics.

The rest is history...

Robriana (aka Sissy) nailed it.

One minute she’s her typical silly self...

Next minute, FIERCE.

With the style and expertise of my best-friend-since-forever/sister, we got so many awesome shots that day. Some of my best images over the years came from the joint effort of Bird and I. She also has a very artistic eye and we are quite the team.

This was a fun day.

celebrate.

"It's important to celebrate the people who hold your hand and never let go." -Leanne Coppola

Family.

Their house was a second home for me while growing up. For years, her mom and dad put up with all of us girls raiding their kitchen, being loud and laughing all hours of the night, and moving furniture around to take over the family room to make up dance routines with ridiculously loud music. Through all this, they continued to welcome me with open arms and treated me like their own daughter/sister.

When Joy told me they wanted to have family portraits taken, my response was “Tell me when and where. I’m there.”

After we wrapped up the big family pics, I had Joy and Jason stick around a little bit longer so we could get a few shots of just the two of them.

Love.