A sweet session at one of my most favorite neighborhood spots! Colleen and Keean were immediately at ease in front of the camera, perhaps partially due to the fact that they are so perfectly at ease with each other – they delved right into what I hope couples will do at these sessions… interact, soak in each other’s presence, and almost almost forget the camera’s there. They trusted each other for laughs & smiles, and they trusted me to capture them in my most favorite way. I loved how relaxed and casual this session felt {and Colleen’s pop-of-color marigold cardigan – I loved that too!}

Stay tuned for their crisp summertime wedding coming soon!

Today is Scott’s birthday. A little known fact: Scott is 2 years younger than I am. A not-so-little-known fact: he has always been the more “mature” one in our relationship. I’m the one who frets a bit when it’s too cold, who gets a slightly cranky when it’s too hot, a bit fussy when OH MY GOD I HAVEN’T EATEN IN 4 HOURS AND I’M GOING TO PASS OUT. But Scott is like, the champion of putting up with things. There is a word for it in Japanese. It’s called gaman – patience, perseverance, tolerance, self-control. And Scott is the royal king of gaman. I have never met a single person who complains less than he does, who let’s stresses go, who always always remains calm, and never let’s the teensy things in life {which sometimes to me are! so! unbearable!} bother him. He is as solid as a rock, and to have someone like that in your life, especially when you sometimes find yourself as solid as a bowl of raspberry Jello, is amazing.

For his birthday, I got him tickets to the Azure Ray concert & a hat from My Baby Jo {an awesome vintage-inspired clothing store}, and I asked him what he wanted to do that day. He decided upon biking around town, so we biked down to Tokyo 7-7 for brunch, and then down the sunny stream that runs through Culver City. One of Scott’s favorite things to do is to build stuff (hence the guitar amp building business) and for the past few weeks, he’s been putting together a new bike from a frame he found randomly one day. He brings the beautiful cream-colored ride home yesterday and proclaims that the new bike is for me. So on a side note, on his birthday I ended up with a new bike. What?

Happy birthday to my very best friend and my most favorite person, the one who deserves so so much happiness today, and every day. I love you!

{ photos all taken with my iPhone, processed using the CrossProcess app }

Mai & John were married last month in beautiful Dana Point. For most weddings, we do portraits at the venue, but we were lucky enough to squeeze some time into the schedule to visit one of my favorite rustic backdrops in the OC! Mai & John (and their super fun bridal party) were so laidback and wonderful and we loved photographing their intimate wedding!

It was an extra fun weekend, since we were working two back-to-back weddings with the superwoman Uyen of Sassy Girl Weddings. We all soaked in Mai & John’s amazing day and then woke up the next morning to hang out all over again! :)

I love the moment right after the bride & groom recess and exit, when the wedding party & the guests are all still inside… such a sweet intimate moment:

Love the whimsical details & the subtle bird theme…