Ann & her boys | Diamond Bar Family Photographer

I found this beautiful little spot hidden in the hills of Diamond Bar and knew that I wanted to take a family there. The sun coming over the hill plus the tall, soft grass gives me a simple background that allows us to focus on the most important subject - the family! I photograph a lot of 2 year olds, which most photographers will confess is their hardest type of client. For me? Nah, I love them. You just have to embrace the fact that you have to keep them entertained - they cannot be bored for a single moment. You have to play with them, laugh with them, or give them a task. If you can do that, you are rewarded with giant smiles, laughs, and all of the other sweet expressions of a carefree 2 year old.

"You guys...seriously?" haha

Kristine & Joe's Engagement Session...San Francisco Style!

Kristine and Joe met while both attending law school at Columbia University in New York. They recently relocated to downtown San Francisco and I'll be photographing their wedding in beautiful San Louis Obispo this Fall. For their engagement session, I met them just blocks from their home in San Francisco and asked them what it was like living in such a busy city. They remarked that San Francisco was like the suburbs compared to New York City. Ah, touche...can you tell that I've never been to the Big Apple? haha. We had a great time wandering around as they showed me where they liked to take walks and where they liked to go for breakfast on the weekends. I always leave the city feeling happy and energized and this day was no different. Oh, you San Francisco photographers, how lucky you are to live and shoot in such a beautiful place! I can't wait to come back.

The Venzke Family | San Clemente Pier Photographer

I don't hide the fact that I love to do sessions on the beach. Being from Northern California, I'm not used to warm, sandy beaches where you can hang out sans parka and closed toed shoes. Brianna and her beautiful little family drove from San Diego to meet me in Orange County at San Clemente Pier. I had never been there before and found it be much more quiet and peaceful than the larger beaches that I've shot at (Santa Monica and Manhattan). We let the kids play and enjoy themselves which is my go-to trick to fun, genuine beach photos.

It kind of looks like snow, right?