San Francisco Holiday Session {Golden Gate Park}

Photographing families multiple years is so fun to see how the kids grow and change. This little guy had changed so much from when I saw him last year and has such a fun personality. His parents said his latest thing was sticking out his tongue and I’m glad we caught some photos of him doing just that because these phases pass all too quickly and I know they will want to rememberer it all.

I met up with this awesome family in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. We sure got lucky on the weather and that even though it was a weekend, we were able to avoid crowds. That was helpful so their face masks could stay in their pockets most of the shoot. We discovered some gorgeous spots and at times I felt like we were in scenes from Jurassic Park. I’m definitely going to head back with my own family to go exploring soon.

Oh and a big bonus was their recommendation to swing by b. patisserie on my way home. The wait in the line down the street was totally worth it and if you go you have to try the chocolate banana croissant! It is out of this world and I’m glad I don’t live down the street from them because I would definitely be visiting too often. Can’t wait to go back soon in the New Year!

San Francisco In-Home Session {Inner Richmond}

It’s always so wonderful when a former client refers a new client and you feel like you made a new friend. My in-home lifestyle family sessions are scheduled for 2 hours to allow for breaks and time for baby to feed and change clothes etc. But I always end up chatting with my clients after the session as I am collecting my gear and I enjoy that part just as much as taking the photos. I just love getting to know people and it’s one of the reasons I love photographing families in their home, where they are most comfortable.

This session took place on a beautiful Saturday morning in the inner Richmond district of San Francisco. The couple’s apartment was so beautifully decorated and the whole space was super inviting. I could have taken so many more detail shots of the apartment but the baby stole the show and we documented all her cuteness to include her smiles, giggles, fingers, and toes. Her nursery was curated by her talented mama and deserves to be in a magazine.

I was so happy to hear that they had 2 cats and wants dot include them in the shoot. Animals always make a house a home and it was so fun to capture them hanging out in their space and on the cat scratchers (they were handmade by mama and they were just perfect!). It really was hard to narrow down the pictures to share because I had so many favorites. Keep all the in-home sessions coming my way…I’m hooked!

Mother -Daughter Photo Session {Cavallo Point}

Mother-Daughter photos are extra special to me because they always remind me of my own daughter and how much I love having our relationship documented. So, I was super excited when my friend and fellow photographer Pam and I decided to meet up and take photos of each other. We first met many years ago at one of Julie Paisley’s photography workshops and have stayed in touch ever since. Pam and I both have 1 daughter (similar ages) and share a love of Fixer Upper and all things Johanna Gaines. I believe he has visited Magnolia Market several times and I’m super jealous. You can tell from these photos that she has an incredibly strong bond with her daughter and I was honored to capture them together. I’m just getting around to blogging this session now during the rainy season so it’s nice to revisit this sunny day in June when we met at Cavallo Point in Sausalito. This spot has breathtaking views of San Francisco and the bay and I can’t wait to go back.

Indoor Lifestyle Photo Session {San Rafael, CA}

The winter months are a perfect time for indoor home lifestyle sessions. It’s a little chilly outside and the weather can be unpredictable so scheduling an indoor shoot is a smart idea. I feel so lucky to be invited into a family’s home and document them in their comfort zone, doing the things they normally do as a family. So when this mama, who also happens to be a talented graphic designer, reached out for an at home session, I was thrilled! Not only was this family adorable and loving, but their home was comfortable and so beautifully designed. Dara sure has an eye for interior design and every room was so well curated. I seriously could have spent the whole time shooting details of all the vignettes, books, children’s toys, art, and antiques. You can check out some of Dara’s graphic design work here.

Tennessee Valley Family Session

It’s hard to believe that the holiday season is upon us and this is the busy season for photographers. Everyone is having their family photographs taken for the holiday card and it can get a little crazy. It’s always no nice to get to photograph a returning family because it’s like getting to see an old friend and for a little while you get to catch up on what happened over the last year and it’s always crazy to see how much the kiddos have grown! This family was on elf my favorites from last year (we did their entire session in their master bedroom) and was thrilled when they reached out to get in from of my camera again. This time we picked an outdoor location in Tennessee Valley that is literally steps away from their home in Mill Valley. There were lots of requests to be spun around and throw up in the air and you can see we had a lot of fun! I think it might be hard of this mama to narrow down the choices for their Christmas card. If you are haven’t gotten your holiday photo yet, there is still time. You can always send out New Year’s cards as well. I highly recommend minted, artifact uprising, persnickety prints, and chat books for your holiday card designs and printing!

Sutro Baths Family Session {San Francisco}

It’s always special to photograph repeat clients and I have been lucky to photograph this family for many years. This year we decided to venture a bit and met up at Sutro Baths in San Francisco. What a spectacular location for a family photo shoot. The kids loved climbing on the old walls and exploring the beach. Even though it was foggy, it wasn’t too cold and the sky turned into a huge soft box, perfect for photos. I can’t wait to see their holiday card this year! There are so many great family photos and I think it will be hard to pick just one!

In-Home Lifestyle Photo Session {Mill Valley}

When I pulled up to this client's home, I knew it was going to be a good session. But when I saw the amazing natural light in the master bedroom, where we were shooting, I was beyond excited! Even though it was a small space, I knew we would get some great shots for this adorable family. The littlest one was on the go during the whole shoot and didn't appreciate being confined to one room but we just let her do her thing. Everyone had plenty of fun and I think their personalities shine through in the photos. It was so special to get their holiday card in the mail with some of these pics! It made my photographer heart so happy!