Stacy & Brian's Tahoe National Forest Engagement Session

While we all live in the Bay Area, Stacy and Brian requested that we do their engagement session in the high Sierras, specifically at Sardine Lake in the Tahoe National Forest. For generations Brian's family has been coming here so it's infused with memories and tradition. Not only that, but Brian proposed to Stacy high atop a peak at this very place.

I brought my family along and we stayed in the cutest one room cabin with no cell service and no internet (we had to drive 90 miles out of the mountains for that). My kids are city kids through and through so this was quite the experience for them :) Stacy and Brian left a bottle of wine in our cabin along with a note welcoming us to their special slice of heaven.

For our session we jumped in a car with their adorable dog Cowboy and explored the area. We knew that we wanted to end our session on the lake in rowboats right as the sun crested behind the mountains. We frolicked in late summer meadows, splashed around in a stream, loosened up with a cocktail, and then went out on the lake. It was magical.

The Peake Family | San Francisco, CA

I love photographing other photographers and my session with Alison and her family was no different. They wanted a session in San Francisco to commemorate their years in the city before moving back to their home country of Australia. We found a small, beautiful beach that gave us views of the Golden Gate Bridge and also space for her two boys to run and play. By the end of the session we were all wet but thankful for the opportunity to call this beautiful place home...if even only for a few years :)

The Hoover Family | Walnut Creek, CA

I absolutely love photographing young families. Honestly, my favorite ages are 2-6 years old because all they want to do is play, laugh, and love on their parents. Sure, it's a little hectic but is not that representative of real life? :) This beautiful red head and her little sister were ALL smiles the day of our session and I fully attribute that to their parents attitude towards photos. There was no hissing in their ears to hold still and smile, instead they encouraged the girls to be who they are. The result was a session chalked full of genuine playfulness and it made it a dream for me to shoot as their photographer.