Personal · Pre-Christmas in Portland

Made a quick trip out to Portland for a few days (with Angelica, Donmiguel, and Trixie) for a fun, little Bay Area getaway before Christmas. While we weren't able to venture out too far from Portland, we still made it a priority to at least stop by some key spots along Colombia River Gorge (Rowena Crest, Latourell, Multnomah, etc.) and Jonsrud Viewpoint. Both Donmiguel & Trixie had never been to Portland before, so my sister & I took them around to see the usual, touristy things that Portland is known for, as well as stop by our favorite restaurants. Portland also came in quite clutch for our last-minute Christmas shopping -- as Californians, we definitely took advantage of the no sales tax that Oregon boasts. All in all, this was a much-needed retreat from the Bay Area, and I'm glad to have had the opportunity to have a "cousins trip" with some of my absolute favorite people. This was our first, but definitely not our last!

Seniors · Melanie + Michelle

Met up with Melanie and Michelle on an overcast Sunday afternoon, only to have the skies part right as our senior portrait photoshoot had commenced -- how fortunate we were! Because most students typically choose to have their graduation photos taken at either their respective school campus or the Golden Gate Bridge, Melanie and Michelle decided to go for the Embarcadero this time around. While the Embarcadero is still a very touristy and sought-after location, it's surely a lot more low-key than the Golden Gate Bridge (or even the Bay Bridge, at that) for photos, and definitely allowed their photos to stand out from what people are typically used to seeing. One thing I truly enjoy about portraiture is the fact that an otherwise "common" or "cliche" photo location can instantly become that much more interesting whenever it's not intended as the main focal point in an image. Melanie and Michelle definitely have bright futures ahead of them, and I wish them both an early congratulations for graduating from the University of San Francisco with their Bachelor's degrees one semester early!

Engagement · Laura + Peter

Having known Laura and Peter since our high school days (SHCP Class of 2011, represent!), I was thrilled to find out about their engagement on social media, and even more thrilled weeks after to hear from them asking if I could take their engagement photos! I was truly honored. After much communication, as soon as we knew it, we found ourselves in San Francisco on a partially cloudy day, ready to take their engagement photos. Laura described it as "surreal", and that's pretty much how the entire photoshoot felt -- surreal, given that she will be marrying her high school sweetheart. The reality is, Laura and Peter allowed each other to grow not only together, but individually as well, complimenting each other through all of these years and learning to love each other's imperfections.

One of my favorite parts about this shoot, in particular, is how comfortable we were all with each other from the moment we met up, despite having not seen each other since graduating high school. Sure, I feel that I'm typically very good when it comes to making people feel comfortable with me and giving reassurance (it's my job, after all!), especially when I'm taking their photos, but the mere fact that Laura, Peter, and I already had a history together definitely made this shoot a memorable one. 

Wedding · Tania + Jarin

Had the pleasure of photographing Tania and Jarin's vineyard wedding in none other than the beautiful Sonoma wine county, alongside Rolo Tanedo (@dunksrnice). From a personal standpoint, one thing that I was able to take most from Tania and Jarin's wedding was the sincerity and compassion behind their voices and actions as they were reciting their vows during the wedding ceremony. They both told little short stories about how they couldn't exactly pinpoint the first time they fell in love with each other, respectively, however it was merely due to the fact that moment after moment, they found themselves falling in love with each other over and over and over again. Tears filled the air, with the body language of their guests being just as emotional as their own, making for a very memorable wedding ceremony. Rightfully so, Tania and Jarin's special day was filled with love and inspiration - from beginning to end.