Emi and Kyle were surrounded by their charming families who were helping make this celebration a success. From hosting the wedding at the groom's parents home, to setting up the tables with gorgeous centerpieces and decadent cakes, everyone was helping. They all seemed so joyous to see Emi and Kyle tie the knot and the celebration led to a lot of dancing and laughters as the night went on. The food was delicious and people definitely took advantage of the buffet. Smores were brought out at the end of the night for the few guests who were sticking around as the sun was setting. It was an absolutely delightful event that I was so happy to capture
california
Lassen Volcanic National Park
When I moved to Northern California, one of the few parks I really wanted to visit was “Lassen Volcanic National Park” because it looked majestic, unique, serene and seemed pack with adventures. My quick trip to this immaculate destination ended up definitely being an adventure.
After looking for a campsite online and not finding a single spot available for my travel dates, I assumed everyone had the same idea, and they had all reserved a campsite months in advance. However, I was dead wrong. The campsites were not full, they were just not opened yet. Campgrounds in and around the park only open at the end of June because, to my surprise, the entire park is still covered with snow at this time of the year, and the road going from the south entrance of the park to the North entrance of the park was completely closed except for the small portion leading up to “Sulphur Works”. They had heavy machinery on the road to clear the snow but they had just started the process and they had barely made a dent.
Not knowing this important fact, I ended up booking a small cabin in Mill Creek, a few miles outside of the park, and I was the only person staying there that weekend.
After talking to the rangers, I quickly realized that hiking to the top of Lassen Peak was out of the question on this trip, but I was lucky enough to still be able to do the other hike I had intended to try when I drove up to this park: The Cinder Cone Hike.
On my way to the trailhead, I stopped in Chester (the only town on this 1h30 drive to the other side of the Park) and bought a pair of overpriced snowshoes because I definitely hadn’t come prepared (I later realized that I had also forgotten to bring rain gear on this trip)
It was actually my first time ever wearing snowshoes and when I climbed the steep ascent to the top of the Cinder Cone, it was a slightly frightening experience.
Once I made it to the top, all these hours of driving and the struggle to hike to the top were rewarded with the most amazing view of the crater, beautiful colors, and a breathtaking view of the lava fields blanketed with snow. I was also happy to find out there was a route on the backside with no little, which made the descent much less challenging than I was expecting.
Even though this trail is somewhat short, walking in snow and volcanic sand made this walk a little strenuous, but It was an absolutely mesmerizing experience and I was so happy that I could check this hike off my bucket list.
As I drove back to my little cabin, I stumbled upon a winery (Indian Peak Winery) where I spent some time chatting with the owner/winemaker and enjoyed some of his fabulous wine. The owner was selling cases of his wine at a discount because he was retiring and he was trying to sell his property I had no Idea they had wineries in the region and it was a pleasant way to end the day.
The day after, a snow storm was expected in the region with up to three feet of accumulated sow on the road…. so I left my cabin in a hurry and never looked back.
I do hope that I get the chance to go back to this magical part of California one day.
Note: All the pictures on this post were taken with my Iphone
Maternity Photoshoot with Angela Sun - Hermosa Beach, California
The sunsets have been amazing in the South Bay lately, and I’ve been trying to make there most of my time living so close to the ocean. From riding my bike along the strand, to taking long walks on the beach while trying to capture the beauty of this beach life, it’s been an amazing time. I was so delighted to catch up with Angela Sun, who had worked with me in the past on my “Underwater Sports” series, and I got to meet her lovely husband for a fun photoshoot by the pier. They were so fun to work with and capturing their happiness was so effortless. I wish them the best with their baby boy who is due very soon!
Mary and Mike - Franklin Canyon Park, California
It was such a privilege to work with these three wonderful human beings. I have known Mike for almost twenty years now and it seems like we have followed each other footsteps from the day we met. We both started our career working as assistant editors on “The Fifth Wheel”, We both worked at Nickelodeon shortly after they canceled that infamous dating show, we then both made out pay to the Paramount lot and spent many years working at ET/The Insider…. and we both got married around the same time. Needless to say, when he reached out to me and asked me to capture his family and meet his partner in crime, I was excited beyond words.
We spent some time at the Franklin Canyon Park in the Hollywood hills, a stunning area with trails, ponds, and a lot of picturesque spots. The sun was out and we had a fabulous time catching up while taking fun pictures near the lake.
Senior Pictures - El Matador Beach
Our day at the beach started a little late and it just happened to be one of brightest and warmest day of the year, so the light was a bit harsh and we tried to make the best of it. It was my first time doing a “High School Senior” photo session and I had a lot of fun trying to get the perfect shot with Faith who was such a pleasure to work with. She couldn’t wait to be out of High School and she was enthusiastic during the entire shoot and was never afraid of the oncoming waves that managed to get both of us wet. It was only a matter or minutes before we were dry again though, and we managed to get a lot of fun images. We wish her the best on her journey after she graduates high school.
Family Photos in Malibu
It was a few weeks after the infamous Woosley fire that burned a vast area of Malibu, but what remained of the fire was a grim reminder of the destructive power of mother nature. We walked around El Matador beach during high tide, which made for a fun and adventurous photoshoot around the picturesque beach. It was insanely warm for a winter day so we headed in the hills and finished our day at Malibu Café. It’s a quintessential L.A spot with overprices drinks, under-appreciated housewives, and a lot of fun backyard games.
We captured a lot of adorable family photos and we shared memories that will last a lifetime
Culver City, Gabriel and Bogosse
I was lucky enough to spend a month with my nephew who came to visit with the rest of the family for Christmas. We had a lot of fun riding scooters on the boardwalk, climbing high towers at the playgrounds and sharing a lot of meals in the sun. He may have learned a few bad words along the way but we shared a lot of great moments together, and he taught me that there is always a good opportunity to watch Moana again. One of our daily routines was to walk the dogs around the neighborhood so we decided to take the pictures there. Both Bogosse and Gabriel were adorable and it was another great bonding experience for all of us.
Family portraits on the Venice canals, California
Two days after thanksgiving and I got a sunburn while shooting this beautiful family that I have had the privilege to capture almost every year for the past nine years. We took a stroll along the canals of Venice and took a lot of fun pictures.
Wedding at Orcutt Ranch, California
It was a beautiful Sunday at the Orcutt Ranch in California where Kim and Guillaume celebrated their love and got married. It was such a pleasure capturing their beautiful day and being part of the festivities. We had so much fun collaborating to get images that they will cherish for years to come.
