The JOURNAL

The quintessence of a California wedding draws inspiration from iconic palm tree backdrops, golden sunshine, and laid back beaches. However, any true Californian knows that in between those seemingly flawless days, there are also quite a few cloudy days. So what happens when cloudy weather (gasp!) appears in the forecast for the sunny California wedding […]

“You know, I didn’t realize creating something and sharing with others could make you feel so vulnerable,” he said. The anecdote was acknowledged by my half-paying-attention nod of agreement. He had been sharing about his experience being entrusted with a project that would be shared with a few hundred colleagues. Conversation changed to other topics and the evening […]

Ahh the perfect cup of coffee first thing in the morning. The sound of beans being measured and the water heating to a boil, the smell of the coffee’s first bloom, and the steam rising as the cup is being poured. Heaven. On. Earth. It’s the perfect start to my day. When I’m traveling, it’s […]

30 took a while to digest. It got caught in my throat on the way down and I tasted it every time I hit a bump in the road. And even though it took a while to settle, it feels good to recognize where I’ve been and who I’ve become along the journey. Yes, “the […]

There’s something wonderfully intoxicating about getting engaged in the winter. The world looks different covered in snow. Earlier sunsets each day offer a sense of urgency, and every plan must be carefully thought out due to the cold. It’s as if the world conspires in winter to bring people together. The cuddles and huddles, the coats and sweaters, the […]

It finally happened. He got down on one knee and asked me the question I had been waiting my  whole life to hear–“Will you marry me?” As silent fist-pumping crowds of angels cheered and invisible confetti fell from the heavens, I said “yes!” Finally, it was my turn! After the celebrations had come and gone, and the shock […]

Some friends and I were having a conversation recently about light and dark. There are so many levels and applications we could mention and you’re probably naming five to yourself as you read this, but in this particular conversation we correlated just two. In photography, there must be both dark elements and light elements. A photo […]

For David and Crystal, San Francisco is a place of beginnings and deep and meaningful memories, so it seemed fitting to take their engagement photos in such a special place. We spent the afternoon walking around University of California San Francisco campus, hiking to the top of Inner Sunset hill and around Lands’ End, and ended our […]

Kory and Mikaela’s love story is one that draws deep meaning from their own separate stories of endurance and patience as they waited long and hard to find the love of their life. And like a resounding crescendo after a lifetime of build-up, their wedding day was a full-orchestral celebration. Heartache and waiting was now a memory, and […]

It was as ordinary a day as any. Joel’s morning commute to work was early and monotonous, there were meetings and deadlines to deal with, and he had the happy job of picking up everyone’s coffee orders as usual. He stood in line at Starbucks and quickly checked his work email on his phone. “Sigh… today’s gonna […]