To New Adventures.

About 10 years ago I was a fresh-out-of-college-graduate, living in Sacramento with my parents. I had dreams of starting a photography business, and I had dreams of starting it in San Diego where Zach had moved down t0 only months before. I knew I could make it work, so only after a few months of being out of college, I immediately set off to Southern California; with big dreams and big hopes.

Over the last 10 years, I’ve built my business from the ground up. Building my client base, working with some amazing people, and honing my craft. Living in the San Diego area (specifically Encinitas where we ended up settling) has be wonderful, and such a treat. There really is nothing like being able to walk to the ocean everyday. San Diego/Encinitas became the place where I grew into myself as a person, and the place where I began listening to my voice, and trusting my gut. The place where I found my wings as an artist and a person, and where I started to fly.

The place where the adventures began.

But even though San Diego created so many wonderful things for me (and us), it was missing something else – namely family, and the community of people we grew up with. And the trees. Man, I missed the abundance of trees up there.

So, after many hours, days & weeks of going back and forth, we came to the decision to start the next chapter in our adventure, and move back up to Northern California, specifically Sacramento where we were raised. Where our family is, and where Zach can fulfill his own dream of finishing his degree.

While I will be living in and based out of Sacramento starting January 2015, I will be serving both Sacramento & the San Francisco Bay Area for weddings, photo sessions & other photography services.  

We are sad to be leaving the relationships & life we’ve built down here, but we know that this next step in our lives is the right one. We will be closer to family, be able to accomplish more life goals, and I will be able to work with my Northern California client base to build my business and my art further.

So, farewell San Diego. Here’s to new adventures!

——————

If you’re in Sacramento or the Bay Area and are interested in inquiring or booking for a wedding or session, please email me, I would love to hear from you! I will be offering booking specials for the first few months of 2015, drop me an email to hear more!

In addition, I would love to collaborate with fellow creatives on shoots, so if you’re interested in getting some photos of something unique & creative, or have some great ideas and want to potentially get it captured, I would love to hear from you too!

sonoma, california

It was 14 years ago that I first met Jennie. We were both bloggers at the time, and I remember one day stumbling upon her site, reading her blog and thinking “OMG, this girl writes exactly like me!” I had to reach out to her, and we soon become good friends (even calling each other ‘soulmate’ since we were so similar in many ways) and kept in touch online. After I became a wedding photographer, Jennie used to always say to me “I want you to shoot my wedding when I get married!” I always think it’s an honor when people I’ve known for so long have chosen me to visually document the moments on such an important day for them, so I was thrilled when that day finally came for Jennie.

I knew the wedding was going to be visually stunning, as both Jennie and Herman are graphic designers, and the attention to detail would be impeccable. From the custom stationery (it helps that Jennie works at Wedding Paper Divas), to Herman’s suit and the groomsmen tie clips (which are initialed), to Jennie’s dress details and hairpiece (which was created by her mother), to the banners, her temporary “love” tattoo on her arm (I love the idea so much I might do it myself when I get married!), the drinks, the decor, the calligraphy (which Jennie practiced tirelessly to perfect) and so much more. Alicia K Designs coordinated the event which seamlessly helped pull it all together; the day went beautifully.

And to capture all this loveliness, we shot this on a hybrid of film & digital, mixing the two together and coming away with some stunning results!

Not only did the event look stunning, but there were some really wonderful moments as well, which is probably my most favorite thing about weddings. Emotions run high on a day like this, and that goes perfectly with who I am as a photographer, which is someone who captures emotions. There were so many beautiful moments during this day, like when Herman read Jennie’s card (and how Jennie tricked him into thinking that she got him a stuffed dog for his gift, but it was really something awesome for his car), when Jennie exclaimed that Herman wrote the exact same words in his card to her that she wrote in her own vows (and he got her Louboutins – to the jealously of all the girls in the room!), when Jennie was waiting to go down the aisle (and was doing breathing exercises to keep calm), all the tears during the ceremony (and when Herman passed off his handkerchief to Jennie — which I totally found endearing and real), when Herman kissed Jennie’s hand on the way out of the ceremony (a total JFK Jr & Carolyn Bissette moment), the stunning sunset (and all the mosquitos that ate us), and the fun barn reception — to name a few.

The wedding was emotional for me too, as this was for a special friend, whom I’ve known for a very long time. The moment she appeared to walk down the aisle, I remember feeling a lump in my throat, and my eyes get watery, as I saw someone I’ve known for the last 14 years get married to the man she’s loved for a very long time. I was so happy for her, and so happy to be a part of it.

Herman and Jennie are two of the sweetest and kindest people I know – not only to others around them, but most importantly to each other. They are tender together, and their loves is – in many ways – filled with beauty and magic. Jennie and I may have called each other ‘soulmates’, but Herman is her true soulmate, and I couldn’t be happier for her & him.

Venue – Cornerstone Sonoma / Associate Photographer - Don Doblados / Wedding Coordination – Alicia K Designs / Florist – Alicia K Designs / Invitations – Wedding Paper Divas / Cake – Sweet on Cake / Caterer – Sage Catering / Videographer – Motionscope Weddings / Hair & Makeup – LilyAnn Nguyen / Bride’s Gown – Augusta Jones – Lucille / Bride’s Shoes – Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Sash – Haute Bride / Bride’s Veil & Hair Flower – DIY by bride’s mother / Bridesmaid dresses – Etsy / Groom’s Attire – Hugo Boss / DJ – DJ JTrix / Officiant – Rev Joe Indano

Often when people ask me my age, I end up not remembering what it is immediately. “I’m… thirty….. two!” I’d say, after a pause and some thinking. I just simply can’t remember how old I am off the top of my head anymore. My mom used to say something about forgetting how old you actually are after a certain age, and I felt that once I hit thirty, I have just completely forgotten how many years after thirty it’s been. I tell myself that this year, I have less of an excuse to not remember, because it’s double numbers, and as long as I can remember 3, I’ll be good to go. ;)

This year itself has been an interesting one. My year as a 32 year old started off rocky, but as I look back a year later, I am happy to say that I have come away a thousand times stronger than I was 365 days ago. It’s funny how much can happen in a year, but it’s also wonderful how much growth can happen in that timespan as well. The quote I chose for the above image captures this past year in many ways for me. Much of the year has been a lot of soul searching, a lot of figuring out who I am, and where I stand in my beliefs & values. And by doing this, I have never felt so authentic, so honest, and so me.

In addition to looking back, I am also looking forward to the coming year. There are going to be some major changes which will be announced in the coming weeks. Exciting things are in the works, and I can’t wait for this new phase in life.

In all of this, there has always been photography. Aside from Zach, who is always my rock, photography has been one of my biggest constants. It has been my medium for expression for at least the last 10 years, and in no way is that going to stop any time soon. If anything, the last year has strengthened my desire to continue to find expression through photography. Not only expression, but the need to tell stories; my story, as well as others’. Photography is my medium for storytelling, my way of sharing with others how I see the world, and how it makes me feel. I love sharing that with others, because I want people to be inspired by life and the beauty that lies in it, much the same way that I am. The beauty of the grand moments, the beauty of the special moments, and the beauty of the simple everyday moments. These are all threads in the fabric of life, and recognizing them can only enrich who we are.

So with all that said, I’ve decided a few things for my 33rd birthday. I won’t stop sharing. I won’t stop taking pictures. I won’t stop telling my story and I won’t stop telling other peoples’ stories through imagery. I won’t stop being honest. I won’t stop dreaming and I won’t stop finding wonder in life.

I hope to take you on this journey with me, as I know it’s going to be an adventure.

Photos of me by Zachary Kearns

A few days ago, I was going through the archives of my blog, looking over old posts, and reading old things I wrote. I was a much different blogger then than I am now, and it made me wonder, why? What changed? Why did I stop sharing so much? In all honesty, I think that is one of my favorite things about photography — sharing the way I se the world. I love sharing with people how I see life, and how I want to live it. The things that inspire me, that make my jaw drop, the tidal wave of emotions that is the human experience. That is what art is all about, right? A way to express emotion, when simple direct words fail you.

Adventure has always been something I highly value. The ability to explore new places, and to experience that magical feeling of awe — is one of my favorite things in the world. This past summer, Zach and I, along with some of our friends, took off for the Eastern Sierras on a camping trip with the goal to hike Mount Dana. This would be my first mountain summit, and it was quite the experience. I caught my first fish, and we got chased off the summit of the mountain by a sudden thunderstorm! We camped at Tioga Lake, which was always a dream of mine – to camp right next to a lake in the grass, and we canoed, fished, and enjoyed the beautiful Sierras. During our stay there, we also visited Mammoth Mountain and surrounding areas, hiking to Rainbow Falls, stopping at random places by the side of the road (like abandoned homes that overlook the mountains) and Alabama Hills, which was HOT, but beautiful.

In addition, you will also noticed more photos of me! That’s because Zach had taken a photography class this past year, and shot alongside me during this entire trip, which was awesome. :) He made some really wonderful images — like the one above, which was just before sunrise on the way to Tioga Lake (to which I was passed out in the car at the time).

All in all, a wonderful adventure, filled with good memories, and new experiences!

I just realized that I haven’t posted much in the last 4 months! That’s how crazy it’s been, but I thought I would share a few images that I have been working on recently. :)

Feel free to follow us on Facebook to get more recent, up to date work!

on changes in life.

Many of my Movement from Within sessions center around the same thing — following our dreams, owning our stories, and changes in life. These themes are all really important, but the one constant, of course, is change.

Change can be a pretty scary thing. Change can also be a really sad thing. But change is also an incredibly beautiful thing.

When I photographed Alyssa two years ago, we were both very different people than we are now. I originally met Alyssa when she was subbing for a dance class I was taking at the time. I immediately noticed in her a passion and love for movement and dance, and I knew she would be perfect for the project. I immediately asked her if she’d like to do a photo shoot with me, and she said yes.

At the time, I was doing these sessions in full force. I had a few lined up, and I had been doing them for about two years then. It was wonderful for me, to explore, discover, and find ways to tell these dancer’s stories, as well as work with them to become the dancer they want to be. If anything not just help them become the dancer they want to be, but maybe even the person they want to be, through one of the things they love the most — which is movement.

Of course, that’s why I called these sessions Movement from Within. Honest movement, I think, comes from the soul, and when you have to look into your soul, often times a lot more will reveal itself.

After photographing Alyssa, I photographed a few more dancers, and then I decided to take a hiatus. It wasn’t a planned hiatus, but I think I had a feeling that I needed to take a step back, and revisit the project again later.

Two years pass and one day, I remember thinking to myself: I think I’m ready to work on this project again.

One thing that I do with the project, is send a letter to the dancer with my thoughts and observations to them. I never did get a chance to share Alyssa’s images with her until now, so I wasn’t sure exactly how to write what I wanted to write. It had been so long, and we were no longer the same people. My observations of her then, may no longer be relevant to her now. But I decided to send a letter with my thoughts from the shoot, and I hoped that she would still be able to glean something from what I had said.

After sending her the letter, she wrote back the next day, detailing to me all the things that had happened in her life since that session, as well as what the session meant to her. If anything, it seemed like the session put forth a catalyst for her and changed her life.

After reading that email, I found myself happy for her, honored that it meant as much as it did to her, and in awe of how much we do change as people. Even myself. I think of who I was then, and who I am now, and I am in awe of the fact of how much I myself have grown as a person.

In fact that is something I tell myself often. I am no longer the same person that I was before. Even yesterday. Even 5 minutes ago! We are always changing, growing, evolving. And that change can come from external forces, but at the same time, it’s how we deal with the change internally that matters. Are we going to resist and complain about our hand in life? Or are we going to make the best of it, and move forward to the life we want?

I think we all want the latter.

Change, I think, is an incredible thing. I know there are a lot of people out there who fear change because with change, we don’t know what to expect. At least when things stay the same, we know how to handle it! Even if it’s not a life that we want. But I think when we embrace the idea of change, and the idea of being uncomfortable with what could happen in the future, growth appears, and beautiful things can blossom.

—————

I am so glad to be sharing these sessions again. I think the wonderful thing about hiatuses and taking a break from a project or something you are working on is the renewed perspective you may have on it, because you were able to step away and come back with fresh eyes. Especially since during that hiatus, I have been able to take more dance classes, train, as well as perform in a dance company for a short while, giving me a new perspective on movement, as well as the project itself. When I looked at these images again after a long break from them, I realized how much I loved photographing dancers this way, and I needed to come back to that and put it out in the world again.

If you’re interested in doing a session, please feel free to email me.

. . . . . . . . . . .

past dancers: elizabeth amati | kristine domingo | shannon leith | kyle filley | mathew paul chounlamontry | melissa sanchez | tiffany kadani | emily pepper