JOURNAL

Collage of holiday polaroids

Family Photos

12 Tips to Taking Better Holiday Photos With Your Family

November is here, which means the season of togetherness and gratitude is just around the corner. And just as stuffing and mashed potatoes are staples to the table, so are group photos of the family. But wait! Your favorite family photographer shouldn’t have taken that extra serving of pie and is now in a food […]

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three day old baby sleeping in bed with loose swaddle

Family Photos

Three Days Young

Oh gosh, it feels like ages since I’ve held a baby as itty bitty as three days old. The little fingers & toes, tufts of hair, soft whimpers, those early days of getting to know one another. It’s a privilege to be in this sacred space, and these sessions are such treasures for me as […]

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family snuggling in bed early in morning with dog.

Family Films

What is a Day in the Life session?

Have you ever wished you had a time machine to magically transport you back to a moment to relive from your childhood? I would give almost anything to revisit and re-feel what a day in my life looked like when I was little. To see how I moved and sounded. To see how my parents […]

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mother and father kissing young daughter

Family Photos

Patiently Waiting

I’ve been channeling some positive juju to this family as they patiently wait to welcome their newest addition. I remember playing all these wild scenarios while waiting for my daughter to come along. Will it be like the movies? Will my water break and gush in the most public of places? Will I be able […]

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underwater family photo while snorkeling at tunnels beach in kauai

Photo

Oh, summer, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…

It’s hard to believe that our summer has officially ended with my daughter’s first day of MIDDLE SCHOOL. One day, I’m on a boat getting emotional while watching spinner dolphins leap out of the ocean (btw-I now have a deeper understanding of why people get dolphin tattoos). The next minute, I’m explaining to my daughter […]

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mom, dad, and daughter, being snuggly in the bed

Family Films

A Day in the Life Film for the G Family – San Francisco

The most rewarding thing about what I do is the connections I make with my client-families. It’s humbling to witness these intimate spaces. But sometimes, my heart gets so sentimental and protective about the work we created together that I feel it’s too special to share. That’s how I felt about this video, but this […]

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girl holding colorful array of fortune cookies

Personal

Happy Year of the Tiger

Gung Hei Fat Choy! In preparing for the Lunar New Year, we did a little pre-party in Oakland’s Chinatown last weekend and got some fortune cookies for my daughter’s class, courtesy of Oakland Fortune Factory. Tangerines and oranges make more traditional gifts, but you know—5th graders. We also caught a Lion Dance at the Pacific […]

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a family dressed up as bananas dancing at a family session in alameda

Family Films

Favorite Moments of 2021

As I reflect on 2021, I can’t help but think about all the families I created with, and my heart is full. I care so deeply for them and about this work. Documenting their family stories and crafting meaningful experiences and art for them is a true honor. Some of my favorite memories: It was […]

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brothers walking lovingly in the Morcom Rose Garden

Family Photos

Mini Sessions at the Morcom Rose Garden

Mini Sessions. They’re not for me … unless it’s for charity. For this session, 100% of proceeds were evenly split between two non-profits, CARE India and Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. It sold out in a record-breaking time of two days after I announced it. I’m so grateful for the compassionate hearts of my client-families. We […]

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craftsman home lit up with red and white holiday nights at night

Family Films

Dunham Lampoon’s Christmas – COVID Edition

You know it’s desperate times when a group of introverts break into comedy to spread joy. In lieu of gifts for my birthday this year, I asked my family if we could work on a project together. Because much of the holidays are spent with our loved ones in Michigan (who we’re missing terribly), it […]

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