Cameron & Matt // Sonoma Engagement Session

Often times, the very first time I am meeting new clients is when I arrive at the location of their engagement session. I know it's an unreasonable request to have them jump right in front of my camera and start being adorable on command, so I make it a point to not "start" right away, mostly so others know I'm kind of a weirdo, and that they don't have to be nervous in front of me or my camera.

Cameron had invited me to her mom's home for this session, and nowhere in the planning did I visualize THIS place. Situated in the hills and surrounded by the most gorgeous oak trees and lush vegetation was the most perfect place that Cameron calls home. As I arrived, Cameron and Matt came out to greet me, and Cameron gave me a bit of the backstory on the house and how her parents built their living, breathing dream home from the ground up. She showed me the tree house that her and dad built, and we truly just wandered the property and turned it into an engagement session along the way. Not only did I click with this couple quite immediately, but the more we walked and meandered around with no true agenda, the more natural they became in front of the camera (and the more I became obsessed with her hair?!).

I left this engagement session feeling incredibly lucky to have crossed paths with these two, and feeling extremely thankful to be chosen to capture their special day.

Larissa & Eric // Sonoma Wedding

If there is any piece of advice I would ever give an aspiring wedding photographer, it would be to find the clients who get you. Who without any hesitation, see something in your work that speaks to them, and choose you to tell their story. In that same breath, I would also tell said hypothetical-aspiring-photographer to choose clients that you really "get" as well, and that the mutual understanding and relationship building between those two parties is what will ultimately make you LOVE your job, then forget that it's a job, and leave you feeling nostalgic for every wedding day and couple that passes.

Beyond Larissa and Eric being two of the nicest human beings I've ever met in my line of work, they are also excellent human beings to each other, and that was immediately apparent when I documented Eric's proposal to Larissa nearly two years ago. I was elated to work with them again for their wedding day, and I felt an instant-ease the moment I greeted them on their wedding day, like we had worked together hundreds of times. Like we were old friends.

This day was absolutely stunning and chock full of gorgeous details, but what I'll remember the most vividly is how wonderful they were (are) to each other and their crew of closest supporters. I felt myself beaming with joy FOR them as they walked down the aisle hand in hand, and then loved them 1,000 times more when I saw them look over at heard them fully admit to having "swamp ass", moments after the (brutally hot) ceremony. And that's kind of how you know you've found your people in the wild world of the wedding industry, and how you know you're exactly where you're supposed to be.

Cheers to these great humans and thank you for sharing a bit of your hearts and this day with me.

Al + Antrom // The Assembly, San Francisco

Every once in awhile, a dream wedding comes into my peripheral, and if I plead with the universe long enough, it quite magically becomes my reality. It's a very unreliable superpower of mine, but happens frequently enough to make me think I'm a pretty lucky person. This was the case for my good friend, Aleksandra's wedding at the highly sought after and buzzworthy co-working space for women, The Assembly. I knew this would be a beautiful opportunity for a beautiful friend, and I think I said, "Yes, PLEASE!" even before she officially asked me to be her wedding photographer (oops?). The only small (massive) caveat was that it took place 9 days after my scheduled C-Section...but spoiler alert: I survived (and so did my super supportive husband and super chill baby boy).

Known for her jaw-dropping, original woodwork, Aleksandra is a prestigious artist based in the Bay Area, and she brought this same originality and artistry to her wedding day. Al (as we like to call her), and fellow artist friend, Katie Gong, collaborated on the wedding backdrop, and the two created the centerpiece stage that left us all in a state of AWE. Al even created the massive pieces behind the bride and groom table, serving as the most stunning focal point of the room. But beyond this wedding looking like an actual dream, the most memorable visual from this day was seeing these two people smiling with their whole bodies, knowing they found their person, and being able to share their happiness with their closest friends and supporters.

Cheers to these two on what ended up being one of the sweetest days I have ever documented. Thank you for putting your trust in me to tell your story.

Special thanks to all the lovely vendors that worked their butts off to make this day look as good as you see in the pictures!

Venue: The Assembly

Backdrop: Katie Gong

Florals: Siren Floral Co.

Dress: Loho Bride

Hair: Population Salon

Catering: Stag Dining

Sky & Liz // Outdoor Art Club Wedding

When some of your sweetest friends ask you to be their wedding photographer, and you're 8 months pregnant, you still say, "Hell yeah"...but then have to warn them about your full-on pregnant waddle for the entirety of their wedding day. Luckily, these friends of mine both understood and encouraged the "pregnancy waddle", and luckily this didn't hold me back from telling their love story.

Sky and Liz are old friends back from when my boyfriend-now-husband and I moved to San Francisco, and we used to hang out at "The Warehouse", a type of friend compound (not really a compound, but we called it that anyway) that our mutual friends had rented out. It was a special time in our lives with limited amount of responsibilities, and we enjoyed the creative energies of these friends who lived here. Sky and Liz were fast friends of ours, and while our 'parents of two' life absorbs much of our social calendar, we love having these two over for dinner and watching our dogs play until they pass out.

Sky and Liz's wedding day was absolute perfection from beginning to end, and there is nothing more heartwarming than to see these old friends make a lifelong commitment to each other. Cheers to these two on such an incredible day, and THANK YOU for trusting that I could keep this baby in long enough to be able capture your day exactly as I saw it.

Kelly & CJ // Yosemite Wedding

About two months before this wedding took place, I received an email from the bride, telling me in the world's most casual way that her wedding venue has basically flooded, and that they were no longer able to have their wedding at said location. Instead of panicking or even being 2% upset, she ended the email with, "Can you shoot our wedding in Yosemite by chance? ". Uh, DONE AND DONE.

Beyond being the most excited wedding photographer in the world to shoot my first wedding in Yosemite, I was also so excited to work with this couple, and nothing could have prepared me for HOW.MUCH.FUN. they were to work with. I think they laughed/smiled for 8 hours straight on this day, and I can't say I've ever seen clients HANDLE a zipline with such coordination before (and in heels+stunning wedding garb?). Even though the bi-polar forecast kept us on our toes and almost had us moving a fully outdoor wedding to all indoors, it stayed put long enough for us to capture the breathtaking nature that Yosemite has to offer, and it was honestly the most remarkable natural light I've ever worked with (that cloud cover!!!).

I loved the natural story that unfolded on this day, and I am so freaking grateful for clients like Kelly and CJ who let me "my thing" and trusted me completely. Cheers to this incredible couple who I am absolutely obsessed with...you guys are the real deal. <3

Venue+Catering: Rush Creek Lodge

Hair: Gia Tummillo

Makeup: Sara Chestnutt-Fry

Florals: Whitney Hanson

Lea & Max // Deer Park Villa Wedding

You know you really love your job when you always show up at least one hour early, even if it means you just sit in your car for awhile, and repeat your, "You've got this " mantra, over and over again. As fun and exhilarating as being a wedding photographer might be, there is always that looming thought of, "I have one chance to capture this day perfectly", and I definitely have to practice ALL of the positive self-talk prior to any big wedding day. This is the kind of neurosis I endure as a wedding photographer, simply because all of my couples are so unique and special to me, and I'm diehard about capturing their (very important) day in the most genuine way possible.

I met Lea and Max for the first time at their engagement session, and beyond their easygoing, up-for-anything attitude, they were (ARE) among the kindest people I've ever met. Their "spark" was so easy to capture on this day, and that general ease they had with each other translated so effortlessly on camera. Seeing them again for the second time on their wedding day was another honorable opportunity to document their realness, and I truly felt like I was there to capture friends who I've known for years and years.

Just as I anticipated, their circle of supporters were equally as enamored and in love with this couple as I was (AM). Through the heartfelt speeches, never-ending hugs, and "happy tears" from just about every witness on this day, it was clear that Lea and Max have positively impacted everyone's lives, and the general feeling of gratitude was shared among every person there.

Congratulations to this gorgeous and genuine couple, and thank you for trusting me to tell your story. 100% cried during your entire vows??

Venue:Deer Park Villa

Hair & Makeup: Whimsy Bridal

Florals+Coordinating: Tango & Foxtrot

Donuts: Johnny's Donuts

Videography: Yukio Studios

D.Lillian Photography Associate Shooter

Meet my beautiful, kind-hearted, insanely talented partner photographer, Greer Rivera. She is not only a dear friend, but truly one of the most talented photographers I am so lucky to know, and my number one resource for all of my photography-related conundrums. Beyond our personal friendship, we have worked alongside of each other for a handful of weddings, and I love our intuitive workflow that we bring with us to every wedding.

No photographer has the same, identical vision, yet, our photography styles have a certain cohesion, and both of our passions are aimed at telling personal love stories through a photojournalist lens. And perhaps the best part beyond her sheer talent? She's really, reeeeally fun and brings ALL the good energy with her, everywhere she goes. Greer and I are excited to announce that we have decided to join forces to better accommodate our growing list of amazing clients. By virtue of bringing Greer on as my partner photographer, she will be working under my brand, and has been trained to represent D. Lillian Photography.  In other words, you can expect to get the same quality of work, aesthetic, and overall experience from Greer, as if you were working with me. All pre-wedding consulting and preparation will be done by me, as well as all the editing, so your wedding day images will have the D. Lillian Photography aesthetic you see in my portfolio.

To see samples of Greer's work, check out her portfolio, HERE. You can also check out a full wedding album, HERE.

A personal note from Greer:

Hi I’m Greer,

I’m a fun-loving, adventure seeking, outdoorsy, chai drinking island girl. I’m mama to a spunky and fearless 3 year old little girl named Tanzin, and I live in Mill Valley, CA with my boyfriend, Travis and our dog, Lucca.

I love to travel, and I have a deep love and respect for the ocean. My favorite weekend activity is packing up our little family and spending the day at the beach. I love hiking, being outdoors, 90’s music, reggae, a really good lemonade and a home filled with music. I’m definitely a dog person and I’m always up for a good adventure, especially a spontaneous one. My favorite smell is a wood fire burning and my favorite sound is my daughter’s laugh.

I’m a romantic at heart and I love islands. I was raised on Martha’s Vineyard and lived on St.John in the Caribbean for ten winters, that's where I started my business in 2007, adopted Lucca, lived on a sailboat, swam everyday, and danced to a little too much reggae!

I love natural light, real and authentic emotion, playful images and for people to be themselves and let their true love shine through. I am inspired by people in love and who live life to the fullest, I love hearing people's life stories and hope to hear yours!

Pierre & Juliette // Stable Cafe Wedding

February is historically a slow time for me as a wedding photographer, and also right around the time I start missing the madness that my previous wedding season brought. I was pleasantly surprised when I received an inquiry from Pierre and Juliette, a French couple living in San Francisco, regarding both a newborn session and wedding photography coverage for their upcoming wedding. We hopped on a call to discuss the details, and I learned that they just had a baby ONE DAY AGO, and that their wedding was in just a few weeks. I'm not even sure where they got the energy for that phone call on that day, but I'm so thankful they reached out and I heard their warmth and calm energy through the phone only a few moments into out conversation. I couldn't wait to document their newborn session and wedding all in the span of a few days and I was honored to witness such monumental moments in their lives.

I arrived at Pierre and Juliette's house on a Thursday, with their Stable Cafe wedding taking place on Saturday. I know firsthand how those first few days as new parents is especially sacred, and I didn't want my presence to overwhelm them, so I explained that my style of newborn sessions is really just documenting that special time, rather than fixing anyone into specific poses. Leo, their newest addition, gave me baby fever from the moment I walked in, and I couldn't help but fall instantly in love with the entire family at that point. In between cuddles, new baby smiles, finger and toe examinations, I watched as their bond as a new family formed.

Fast forward to a couple of days later, and it's storming in the city, and I show up at Stable Cafe a bit drenched, but so elated to see this family again for their intimate wedding. Their families are in town from France, and everyone shows up, ready to help in any way they can. They immediately get the centerpieces and table decorations on the table and the speakers set up, and it was especially heartwarming to see their family and community support these new parents throughout every step of their big day. The phrase, "it takes a village" was played out in front of me, and I was so proud of Pierre and Juliette for designing a wedding day that spoke to them and their laid back nature, and for inviting their family and closest friends to join in on their village.

Congratulations to this sincerely wonderful, kind, and amazing couple, and thank you for letting me tell your story.

Lauren & Faraz // Lovers Lane Engagement

Wedding off-season always provides that much needed breathing space for me and I love magically having weekends to myself again while I conjure up new career goals, and figure out new systems for my business...and then January rolls around and I am this.close. to losing my mind because I truly miss "the grind", and the relationship building that comes with my (dream) job. It's a vicious cycle of craving a break, then finally receiving it at the tail end of every year, and then missing the insanity that IS wedding season all over again. Why my brain functions like this? NO CLUE (insert forehead-slap emoji).

I was so excited when Lauren reached out to me regarding their 2020 wedding plans, and even more thrilled when we started chatting about an San Francisco maternity+engagement session. Not only did it mean my off-season was wrapping, but it meant that I got to catch up with this friend, meet her incredible partner, and gush about their impending baby boy. We met at our location, and the ease of telling their story through photography immediately set in.

Congratulations to this beautiful couple who will undoubtedly be the most remarkable parents so very soon. Already fantasizing about the most adorable family portrait for your wedding...

Collection Jess

Meet my beautiful, kind-hearted, insanely talented partner photographer, Jess Hensley. She is not only a dear friend, but truly one of the most talented photographers I am so lucky to know, and my number one resource for all of my photography-related conundrums. Beyond our personal friendship, we have worked alongside of each other for a handful of weddings, and I love our intuitive workflow that we bring with us to every wedding. No photographer has the same, identical vision, yet, our photography styles have a certain cohesion, and both of our passions are aimed at telling personal love stories through a photojournalist lens. And perhaps the best part beyond her sheer talent? She's really, reeeeally fun and brings ALL the good energy with her, everywhere she goes.

Jess and I are excited to announce that we have decided to join forces to better accommodate our growing list of amazing clients. We have developed a partner photographer pricing collection for our clients whose wedding dates and/or wedding budgets are a bit lower than my current rates.  By virtue of bringing Jess on as my partner photographer, she will be working under my brand, and has been trained to represent D. Lillian Photography.  Although the partner photography pricing is lower, you are still getting the same quality of work, same aesthetic, and same overall experience as if you were working with me. All pre-wedding consulting and preparation will be done by me, as well as all the editing, so your wedding day images will have the D. Lillian Photography aesthetic you see in my portfolio.

Collection Jess starts at $3700, and includes the following:

-6 hours of coverage

-online gallery

-download link of high resolution, edited images

Add-ons include an engagement session for $450, and additional coverage for $400/hour.

To see wedding samples of Jess's out-of-this-world gorgeous work, email me at dlillianphotography@gmail.com or fill out my contact form on my website. 

Priscilla & Ryan // Point Reyes Engagement

Being new(ish) to Marin county, I've only recently scratched the surface of jaw dropping locations that surround my general vicinity, and I've been itching for more opportunities to capture the North Bay. I had plans to do this engagement session in Los Angeles for my friends Priscilla and Ryan, however, those travel plans fell through, and they instead decided to make the trek out to my neck of the woods (pun not intended). I secretly-now-openly wanted to impress them with a scenic road trip to show them a bit of the coastline, but had no real plans or expectations of what we would see along the way, and had hoped they would be just as into the spontaneity of the day as I was (spoiler alert: They were). This day, this road trip, and this couple was everything I could have hoped for and more. We ran up and down this Cypress Tree Tunnel, stalked some cows, discovered what we thought was a mythical creature in the distance (it was Elk), drove 20 minutes out of way to see a lighthouse that was both closed and not visible, and laughed a countless amount of times while inadvertently creating over a dozen inside jokes. We wrapped our day with a home cooked meal and canned wine, and blabbed incessantly throughout the night, retelling our most embarrassing stories, and then gushing about their upcoming wedding next year. Beyond excited for these sweethearts, and sorry for gradually engulfing your bodies with our malfunctioning air mattress throughout the night.

Lyndsey & Jeff // Foreign Cinema Wedding

It has been a wonderfully crazy wedding season that has included four international trips and oodles of road trips up and down California, however, I was elated to be home and settled for Jeff and Lyndsey's San Francisco wedding, and I've been nostalgic for this day and this wedding venue, ever since. While I'm probably biased due to my own blissful,  past experience of living in the city, I've always had an affinity for San Francisco weddings, and I was reeling with excitement and gratefulness when Jeff and Lyndsey asked me to be their wedding photographer. I knew it was important to them to incorporate elements of their daily lives together into their wedding photography, and I loved starting my work day inside their home, where so much of who they are and how they love permeates from every corner. We had a plethora of different first look locations and ideas on the table, but opted for the street right outside of their home that naturally boasts stunning views of the city they met in, and aligned with our mutual vision that these images should reflect their relationship. Jeff and Lyndsey's wedding venue, Foreign Cinema, was especially unique, and beautifully encompassed the intersection between phenomenal food, artisanal wine, handcrafted cocktails, film, and art gallery. The urban vibe of their venue and its location felt quintessential to that of San Francisco, and I loved having the rare opportunity to incorporate some street photography into their wedding day, while simultaneously navigating around the local bystanders. This wedding day left me asking the universe for more San Francisco weddings, and left me feeling grateful for the opportunity to capture this day exactly how I saw it. Congratulations to this (absolutely stunning) couple, and thank you for letting me tell a part of your (wedding) story. Planning: Lisa BravoFlorals:Bewilder FloralVenue: Foreign Cinema

Nika & Patrick // Preservation Park Wedding

Back when I first spoke with Nika on the phone about wedding photography, she casually mentioned that their wedding theme was basically Coachella. "Uh, CONTINUE", I remember saying, feeling instantly excited about the prospect of shooting something eclectic, and opposite of traditional. As Nika and I continued to gush about her and Patrick's wedding, I learned that they had first met at Coachella, "back before it got popular", and that they wanted to emulate a festival vibe with wide-ranging food and drink vendors, and for it to a completely interactive experience with all of their favorite people. That was the vision I heard back during our phone call over a year ago, and what actually transpired on Nika and Patrick's wedding day far exceeded my already-high expectations. Their wedding "venue", Preservation Park, was a recreation of an old, Victorian neighborhood, and yielded the absolute best space when pulling off a festival-themed wedding. I was especially impressed with how they nailed the "interactive" part of their wedding vision, and I loved watching their wedding guests drift from the food trucks, to the bar cart featuring handcrafted cocktails, to the flower crown bar, to the photobooth, and to the merch and swag tent, and not ever really sitting down because there was so much fun to be had. Both Patrick and Nika were so completely calm throughout this entire day, and I loved that by virtue of having a laid back, easy-going wedding, they got to be present for each other, and enjoy every single minute with their greatest supporters. I'm still wide-eyed and smiling from this day, and grateful to have been trusted to document the true uniqueness of this wedding. Congratulations to this amazing couple who gave me one of the best work days I've ever known.Venue: Preservation ParkPlanning: Make It MarikoFlorals: Juna AlineaFood Trucks: Senor Sisig,Taqueria Angelicas,Lil Green CycloDessert: Boba Guys, Hookt DonutsBar: Bar Car SfLighting: Gatsby ENT GroupPhotobooth: Say Ya PhotoboothRentals: Bright Event Rentals

Ryan & Lev // Felton Guild Wedding

From lavish castle weddings in Sweden, to art warehouses in San Francisco, to intimate backyard weddings in the middle of nowhere, I am game for IT ALL and I'm continually impressed with how my couples piece together the most exquisite day that is unique to them, and how flawlessly they make it their very own. Ryan and Lev's forest wedding is no exception to this, and their friend/family reunion+backyard brunch theme immediately spoke to me the second I got their inquiry. Coming from a not-totally-structured person, I always feel so creatively empowered when I come across clients like Ryan and Lev who just gift me their trust, and completely let me do my thing in the background. They asked what time I'd like show up, they gave me a family shot list, and the rest we winged as a team (which included trampling through the back area of this forest and finding some sort of slightlllllllly creepy yurt). I left this wedding day and thought to myself, "I wish I could stay longer and eat pie all night with this couple and all of their guests". This wedding especially highlighted how important it is for me to have a connection with my couples, and I feel so grateful to still be doing my "thing" in a way that continues to feel authentic and genuine. Watching these two take a laid back approach to wedding planning was so inspiring, and truly yielded the kind of day where they got to hang out and be present for all of their biggest supporters. Cheers to these two lovely human beings, and thank you for having me (and being A-OKAY with that creep-tastic forest session).

Jennifer & Benjamin // Orebro, Sweden Wedding

Three international flights+one 2 hour bus ride later, and my built-in second shooter (husband) and I have arrived in Orebro, the seventh largest city in Sweden and home to a medieval castle, better known as Orebro Castle. This city is where Jennifer and Benjamin will be getting married the following day, and that castle that I keep humble-bragging about is where their wedding reception will be taking place. I did as much Google image-stalking as possible prior to this trip, but nothing could have prepared me for the beauty of this day, this town, and most of all, Jennifer & Benjamin's love story that unfolded in front of my very eyes. Not even going to lie: I fell in love with Sweden about .2 seconds after I arrived, and more specifically, Orebro. Jennifer and Benjamin's wedding was a cultural experience in and of itself, and a beautiful homage to Benjamin's Swedish ethnicity. I watched in amazement as customary, Swedish traditions played out (ex: when the groom leaves the room, male wedding guests quickly form a line and swiftly kiss the bride until the groom returns, and vice versa), and I had the incredible opportunity to take a short cab ride with the bride and groom to capture the essence of the local village, featuring the "Falu Red"-dyed paint, a hue that is specific to Sweden. Much of this day felt (and looked) like a medieval fairytale, and I am so thankful for Jennifer and Benjamin for giving me an opportunity to both see and capture such a marvelous (other) side of the world. I'm already nostalgic for this day, for this couple, and the sheer beauty that draped ever square inch of this day. Forever thankful to these two for letting me tag along and showing me the adventure of a lifetime.

Liz & Schuyler // Marin Engagement Session

It's not every day you get clients who willing to brave their fear of heights and climb a borrowed ladder (from the fishermen down below) for your "vision"...that's why you make your friends do it instead. Meet Liz and Schuyler- dear friends of mine who volunteered to be my gorgeous bridge trolls for the first half of this engagement session, and made my "under a random bridge" vision come true. Being a new-ish Marin county resident, I am constantly on the lookout for potential engagement session locations, and I often times drive aimlessly to scout for these perfect, coveted spots. The bridge location was perfect for engagement session victims Liz and Schuyler, but also totally precarious, not 100%  foolproof, and required a ladder resource, and me climbing on top of my car, and posting up there for a solid 25 minutes while we both nervously+confidently completed the first segment of this session. There may or may not have been bird-poop galore up there, but these two were total champs and braved the less than ideal conditions (and subsequent vertigo), and my "under a bridge" engagement session dreams were completely realized. We ended our session at another location I have never used before, and I had hoped it would yield the highly sought-after "golden hour" we were racing to achieve. When you have friends for clients, you can really just say, "Go frolic in that field!" or sing, Puddle Of Mudd's "With Arms Wide Open" during their session, and they know exactly how to be themselves, in front of you. Completely and wholeheartedly honored to capture these two being blissfully in love, and beyond excited to do it all again on the Big Day, 2019!

Avisha & Ron // Puerto Vallarta Wedding

"80% chance of thunderstorms" is usually somewhere near the top 10 list of wedding photographers worst fears, the night before said outdoor wedding, especially one that is set in a location that boasts exotic, jungle terrain and meant to be enjoyed near picturesque, white-sand beaches. It is the day before Avisha and Ron's Puerto Vallarta destination wedding, and I am on my way to their rehearsal dinner where I would be meeting them in person for the first time, prepared to bring all the good vibes and weather luck for the following day, but being open to idea that the impending forecast might literally put a damper on their wedding day, and thus their spirits. Upon arrival (sweat dripping down my actual face, about 10 levels past "dewy"), I was greeted by the bride's sister, Amira, who graciously showed me around the small, yet expansive property of Villa Verano, a 17,000 square foot estate on an acre & a half of a beachfront private paradise. A few moments later, Avisha arrived, greeting me with a giant hug, and it was clear in an instant that her and Ron had a "zero cares" attitude regarding the ominous forecast for the following day, and from that moment on, I only witnessed the happiest, calmest energy from the couple and every single one of their guests as they all proceeded to have an amazing time in a magical place, celebrating each other along with their community of supporters. I left their rehearsal dinner feeling so inspired for whatever the next day would hold, umbrellas and all, knowing my subjects were already just so happy to marry each other, and that type of energy is so much more important to capture over less-than-ideal weather conditions. So remember that whole, "80% chance of thunderstorms" on every.single.weather.app? It never happened. Not even a drop. I greeted Avisha in her room that next morning, and brought as many of her details outside as possible, thinking that I could at least get some images of the Puerto Vallarta landscape in the background prior to the weather turning. But then the whole day turned into taking shots outside, and never once did we need to scramble for shelter or overhangs, and instead, we all just had the best day ever. My "work" day honestly just felt like I was hanging with a bunch of awesome friends who occasionally like to jump in a pool with all of their wedding clothes on, and I mean it when I say Avisha and Ron were the most laid-back couple, who completely trusted me to do my thing with absolutely no questions asked. This wedding was only a few months ago, yet I'm already nostalgic for this day, and I desperately need this couple to renew their vows every single year, and with all of these same people, in this exact spot. Cheers to this lovely, outrageously sweet couple who made my Puerto Vallarta dreams come true, and THANK YOU for sharing all those churros with me. I may or may not have eaten more than my fair share??Venue: Villa VeranoPlanning: Mar WeddingsDress: Laudae Bride

Lea & Max // Presidio Engagement Session

I may be in the thick of wedding season and dreaming in first looks and ring shots, but I will always crave these beloved engagement sessions, and they always provide the calm I need in between packed wedding weekends. Beyond having the creative freedom to select unique locations and set the general vibe for these engagement sessions, they also yield the perfect opportunity for all of us to get to know each other, and allow the right space to inquire about each others life, and I will never tire of learning how all these amazing couples have found each other.Lea and Max are new clients, yet felt like old friends about five minutes into this session, and their sweet energy was almost palpable. We met up for this session at one of my favorite, hidden spots that I found on complete accident during a past San Francisco wedding, and it never fails to disappoint or photograph completely differently, depending on the season (it's the perfect mash-up of both beautiful nature and slightly creepy Snow White forest). The more we got to talking, the less I had to coach them through any posed shots, and their organic chemistry was so easy to capture the less I intervened. My engagement sessions are always one hour long, yet I couldn't stop documenting these two, and I secretly-now-openly could have captured them until the natural light left us completely that day.Cheers to these two incredible humans on their engagement, and thank you for allowing me the creative space to capture your love exactly how I saw it on this day.

Whitney & Alex // Nestldown Wedding

Once upon a time (aka last year), I was chatting with a photographer friend Jessica, and I was telling her about the time I thought it was a good idea to have a bunch of booked weddings close to/around my due date of May 2017. This is also when I learned that Jessica was currently pregnant and in the same predicament with booked weddings that I was in last year, and I did my best to support her and advise against the stress I put myself through leading up to my due date. Long story short, this is how I inherited this lovely couple, and how I wound up at this unicorn of a wedding venue, and I kind of feel like I owe Jessica my second born child for giving me this wedding day and this stunning couple (although she just had her baby...probably not the best thing to gift her at this moment).Whitney and Alex's wedding day was something out of an actual, real-life fairytale (FernGully, to be exact). The morning of their wedding day started with unexpected scattered showers, and instead of it working against us or hindering my work environment, the fresh rain added the right amount of dew to the surrounding landscape, and I loved the pockets of subdued light we were able to find. Beyond the stunning property, both Whitney and Alex had the calmest energy, and I'll never forget seeing them together for the very first time during their First Look, and how their chemistry was almost electric. Although they hardly knew me, they didn't let that stop them from being wholeheartedly themselves in front of the camera, and their bliss was the easiest thing in the world to capture.Cheers to this incredible couple, and thank you for letting me be a part of your genuinely magical day. P.S. Do fairies live on this property? NEED TO KNOW.Special thanks to all the incredible vendors who helped to make this day even more magical:Catering: Poetry in Motion CateringFloral: Apis Floral Videographer: Steelhead CinemaDJ/Band: Los Gatos DJHair: Cynthia JacobMakeup: Doreen RosasCake/Desserts: Icing on the Cake

Courtney & Erick//Rancho Victoria Vineyard Wedding

After a rough past month of enduring a total website crash and losing every.single.blog.post. I've ever written, I'm finally done weeping about it, and ready to get back to gushing about the weddings I've been shooting this season, and the incredible people I've been meeting along the way. Courtney and Erick, beyond being two of the kindest human beings I think I've ever known, had an absolute breathtaking, flawless wedding day with so many fun, vivid colors and a zillion other details that I am still daydreaming about. The sweeping views of the local vineyards and sprawling hillside made for an unreal backdrop, and they couldn't have been more at ease, even after I pressured them to climb up a fence while wearing the opposite of climbing-attire. I love how they incorporated their Mexican culture with details like a live mariachi band, authentic Mexican food, and a churro station that guests literally RAN over to (just kiddding, it was me), and the succulent cupcakes were something out of Willy Wonka's factory. I may or may not have to ice my feet after a long wedding day, but boy is it always worth it when you get to work with total sweethearts like Courtney and Erick, who make you miss their wedding even just one day after it's over.Special thanks to all the (extremely) talented vendors who turned this day into a visual masterpiece:Venue: Rancho Victoria VineyardPlanner: Jenn Robirds EventsRentals/decor: Tin Roof FarmhouseLinens: La TovolaFlorals: Thistle & HoneyCake: Go West BakingBride's Hair: Tina RomoBride's Makeup: Shana Beals