destination wedding photographer

July 29, 2019

Paso Robles Boudoir Session – Winged Goddess

There once was a goddess who had lost her way.
She was weighed down by things of her past, and couldn’t hear over the loudness of her own thoughts.
Unable to go any further, she began to thrash and scream.
In her shaking, she began to shed her skin.
As its heaviness fell to the earth, wings she didn’t know were even there unfurled themselves from her shoulder blades.
With tear stained cheeks and bright eyes, she took what felt like her first breath in ages.
And flew.

July 13, 2019

Gardener Ranch Wedding – Connlaoth + Michelle

My first encounter with Michelle & Connlaoth took place amidst gale force winds on the Big Sur coastline. After 3 hours of trailblazing, waterfall hiking, and trekking through the muddy bluffs — I knew these two were my kind of people: a couple who will never say no to an adventure for the sake of a good photo (or in general). And I could not have been more right. Their wedding was basically straight out of my dreams: complete with a sexy motorcycle, Irish accents, the furriest ring bearer, rich cultural tradition, sparklers (the likes of which caught my sweater on fire. it’s fine.), and a grand finale pool jump. And let’s not forget the honey-like sweetness and that pours from the bride and groom themselves. Believe me when I say, it was good craic. THE BEST CRAIC.

July 2, 2019

River Goddess – Paso Robles Boudoir Photographer

Allow me to tell you a story of the girl who found her light in a riverbed…

There once was a river goddess who had survived terrible things. You see, she had wandered into the desert where her light was stolen from her. Her body ached to feel the water on her skin again, but she didn’t know how to get back home. So she took a dark and uncertain path marked by a sign with the words “Bare Session” scrawled into the wood. She didn’t know where it would lead or what she would find there, but she lifted her chin and continued onward. Little did she know that she would meet a good witch named Sarah who would help her navigate the sands and dry reeds until they found the banks of the river, where they both soaked their skin and drank the good medicine of laughter between friends. And as the water ran over the river goddess’ skin, her soul was rehydrated and her light shone out through her eyes once more.

June 21, 2019

See Canyon Fruit Ranch Wedding – Kiersten & Michelle

I could say so much about these two. SO MUCH. But as I sit here with my fingers hovering over the keyboard, all I can see is Kiersten & Michelle’s first dance playing on repeat in my head. With their friends and family gathered around them, they sang “Your Mess is Mine” (by Vance Joy) to one another as they swayed in the light of the setting sun. And in that moment, I knew these two might just be the most marriage-aware couple I’ve ever come across. It’s one thing to wear the dress, say the vows, and look longingly into your lovers’ eyes. But it’s quite another thing to commit to sharing a messy existence with another human being. Because that’s what marriage is, no matter who you are — it’s the most beautiful mess there ever was. These two don’t take the love of the other for granted, and wouldn’t waste a drop of it for the world.

But don’t take my word for it. The photos can speak for themselves…

{see Michelle & Kiersten’s woodland engagement session}

June 5, 2019

Larken Gomes – A Birth Story

I’ve been thinking lately, childbirth feels like this strange invisible mythical creature that few people talk about on social media platforms. We go from darling pregnancy selfies to sleepy newborn photos, and leave out the most CRUCIAL PART. Some people might actually have no clue what is required of the female body to turn that baby bump into a chunky newborn. It’s become this “out of sight, out of mind” event, which is bull shit because it is also most epic event of all time. It’s messy, it’s painful, it’s primal, it’s ugly, and it’s the most empowering, beautiful thing I’ve ever experienced in my life.

And so, with that introduction, I hope you’ve got your box of tissues handy. Because this one’s a doozy.
It feels like just yesterday that I was in this same hospital wing for Lindsey’s first birth, 20 short months ago…

This woman. THIS WOMAN. She is a warrior goddess of motherhood. She has now brought not one, but TWO unmedicated babies into the world. I am so honored to have been invited into Trevor’s and her birth-space, and am blown away by the way she rode the waves of labor with such grace and fluidity. Right up to the moment she handed over the reigns to whom we fondly call “The Wild Animal”. Lindsey and I have had countless conversations about the phenomenon that happens during childbirth where you feel like you have left your body in the capable hands of your inner beast — the only being who can get you through the final and most painful phases of labor, the only being that can do what needs to be done to get that baby safely into your arms. And that is exactly what Lindsey did. She, along with the support and aid from her precious husband and inner Wild Animal brought a 9 lb. 7 oz. baby girl into the world, safe and sound.

I must warn you. If you have never seen a baby enter the world. Your mind is about to be blown.
THIS is the in-between reality that turns women into warriors, into mothers.
THIS is childbirth.