Things got started off at the Warwick Hotel in San Francisco. Janeth and her bridesmaids had their makeup done and shared some tender moments together. Justin and Jeremy had some boy time together. Justin told me about how he had to assure Jeremy that, it's not just mommy and daddy getting married, it's all three of them. Next stop was San Francisco City Hall, always a favorite. We made a quick stop in the woods and ended the night at San Pedro Square at Olla Cocina. It was a warm day with warm people.

Videographer: KimberLee Webber

Leslie and Sean came all the way up from Southern California to be among the redwoods for their big day. They got married at the beautiful Deer Park Villa in Fairfax. Their families and whole wedding party were laid back and lots of fun to be around. After an intimate ceremony with some emotional vows, we snuck off for some portraits at Lake Lagunitas nearby. There is so much natural beauty around this venue, and it was so great be able to have a little time to explore the area with the couple on the wedding day. Big thanks to Sarah and her staff at SWC for keeping everything running smoothly and making the wedding look great. Enjoy!

Some tunes from my editing session:

Dentro de mí semillas tengo de ti y sin ti pueden querer morir

CARLA MORRISON

THE NATIONAL

Claire and Andy met performing theater a few years ago. They both have a lifelong love for the screen and stage, so decided to meet at the Alameda Theater and sneak in a few shots in their gorgeous space. From there we had some pizza and beer the Star on Park. We ended our day at the Marin Headlands to feel the wind and watch the fog roll in. It was a good day. It sounded like:

If the stars don't shine
If the moon wont rise

PENNY AND THE QUARTERS

And I think the dress looks nice on you.
Yes, I can see a lot of life in you.

SUFJAN STEVENS

Charlie and Suzanne got married at the Brazilian Room, just down the street from the Berkeley apartment they share. It's a venue that I've wanted to work at for quite a while and their wedding didn't disappoint. These two both had major crushes on one another in high school, but never dated. Those feelings never faded and years later, they finally had their second chance. For their wedding, they wanted a beautiful place outdoors where their friends and family could just be themselves, relax, and enjoy themselves. I think they succeeded.

Thanks to Jessica at Culinary Excellence. Their staff did a great job with planning and catering. 

I listen to music while I make my blog posts. Here's a playlist of what I was hearing while making this one. Feel free to listen along:

In flames I sleep soundly
With angels around me

YEAH YEAH YEAHS

Sam Cooke

Take me to the upside down. Second, level please.

I wish you out of the woods 
And into a picture with me. 

Nickel Creek

Ceremony: Old Mill Park

Reception: Mill Valley Community Center

Planner: Kit Sshires

Makeup: Abigail Rooney

This always remains 
Even as the world spins itself apart

ALABAMA SHAKES

Liz and Craig got married on a Wednesday in the middle of Winter. Turns out Wednesdays in the middle of Winter are when you get the best weather and most beautiful weddings. Liz is the mother of one of my good friends from college. My friend, along with her brother and Craig's 3 children were all there to celebrate and come together as a family. More importantly, they kept their parents from doing any work on their big day. I had a blast capturing moments and portraits for these two. Enjoy!

Ceremony: Hastings House

Reception: Pasta Moon

ISLEY BROTHERS

This year marked a number of transitions for me. Long story short, wedding photography was one of two full-time jobs I was pursuing, but I left teaching at an elementary school is Oakland, so that I can dedicate my energy to this work. I got engaged to my best friend. We bought a house. I had surgery for the first time.

I'm so glad to have this job and I'm proud that I get to do it in a way that stays true to my own values and true to the people I photograph. More than ever, I realize that there are always going to be trends, demands and pressures, but that all of that should be secondary to capturing honest photographs. I want my work to capture the beauty that I see in my couples and their loved ones. Taking that perspective with me everytime I go to work, I always feel like I have the best job. To more memories and moments in 2018! Enjoy!

Here are some of my favorite venues of 2017:

Rio Villa Beach Resort

Nella Terra

Mills College Chapel

Deer Park Villa

Oh I do believe
In all the things you say
What comes is better than what came before

CAT POWER

Now I'm darker than the deepest sea.

Just hand me down. Give me a place to be.

NICK DRAKE

So what’s wrong if there happens to be one guy in the world who enjoys trying to understand you?

HARUKI MURAKAMI

It's because of you when I'm in bed in the morning that I can wind my spring and tell myself I have to live another good day

HARUKI MURAKAMI

Who knows how long I've loved you
You know I love you still
Will I wait a lonely lifetime
If you want me to, I will

YEAH YEAH YEAHS

For you, there'll be no more crying.
For you, the sun will be shining.
And I feel that when I'm with you,
It's alright, I know it's right.

FLEETWOOD MAC

In flames I sleep soundly
With angels around me
I lay at your feet
You're the breath that I breathe

YEAH YEAH YEAHS

Be my rest, be my fantasy

SUFJAN STEVENS

All of me pressed onto you
But in this light you look like Poseidon

SUFJAN STEVENS

You take the high road and I will come along

Bring me the ocean and I will bring you song

I will follow you.

ANGUS AND JULIA STONE

Trust me, stay and stay
Overboard
I don't want to let you down

SHARON VAN ETTEN

I worried bout rain 
And I worried bout lightning
But I watched them off
To the light of the morning

BON IVER

I've got a plan, I've got an atlas in my hands.

BENJAMIN FRANCIS LEFTWICH

DAVID FOSTER WALLACE

You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving. The great acts of love are done by those who are habitually performing small acts of kindness. We pardon to the extent that we love. Love is knowing that even when you are alone, you will never be lonely again. 

VICTOR HUGO

Memories and thoughts age, just as people do. But certain thoughts can never age, and certain memories can never fade.

HARUKI MURAKAMI

I met Rosalee and Micaela three years ago shooting my first destination wedding in Cancun, Mexico. They were the videographers, and were just the easiest people to be around and relax with during the down time. They were from Dallas, so I figured I wouldn't get to work with them again.

Last Summer they reached out to me and asked if I would do a couple's shoot for them out in San Francisco. I loved the idea, but I asked them, "if you're going to spend all that money on flights, hotel, meals, etc... where would you really want to go?" 

Enter: Iceland. Best road trip/portrait session ever.

Spend your money on the things money can buy. Spend your time on the things money can’t buy.

HARUKI MURAKAMI

There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.

LEONARD COHEN

For a moment the two of them looked at each other, wordless, as if they were asleep and their dreams had converged on common ground, a place where sound was alien

ROBERTO BOLANO

Photographs open doors to the past, but they also look into the future.

SALLY MANN

With heat struck afternoons long through

Those idle dreams go back to you.

NEON INDIAN

FIRST AID KIT

I had been introduced to these two through a mutual friend. They're an adventurous couple and have travelled all over the world together. So when it came to choosing a wedding location, Yosemite was an obvious choice. It was unbelievable working in such a beautiful setting and it was so much fun working with Robin and Robert. By the end of the night, the bride was ready to get out of her dress and into pajamas... so she did. That didn't stop her from dancing or taking one last portrait under the star-filled night sky.