A Year in Review: 2017

2017 was a BIG year for me in many ways. Just like last year, it was both exhausting and exhilarating!   I photographed more weddings than ever before and crossed the country so many times I lost count. I flew so much I managed to earn premier status on two different airlines!  I visited a new state (Louisiana) a new country (Japan) and made 3 trips to Mexico.  Whenever I start to feel burned out or exhausted I take a minute to
reflect on the powerful and beautiful imagery I get to create and
remember how lucky I am to be able to do what I’ve dreamed of doing
since I was a kid- create pictures that people will remember.

One of my favorite aesthetic philosophers, Roland Barthes, broke down
his analysis of a photograph into two parts: the studium and the
punctum.  The studium is what a photograph denotes.  It is the subject.
Every photograph has one. The punctum, however is personal.  It is what a
photograph connotes.  It is what jumps out of the photo and wounds you,
personally connecting you to the image.  The punctum can coexist with
the studium, but it changes it. It transforms an image you like into an
image you love.  An image that you can look at for a second and think of
it all your life, as quoted by one of my favorite artists, Joan Miro. 
My intention in all of these photographs below are to create images full
of punctum- images that pierce you. Images that stay with you for the
rest of your life.  Images that turn into beloved heirlooms to be
cherished by generations to come.  I’m so grateful to all my 2017 couples and families who let me into
their lives to document a little piece of it and all the incredibly
talented wedding vendors and editors who’ve kept me on my toes
creatively and inspire me everyday.  I’m incredibly excited for all
my 2018 clients who I’m just getting to know and can’t wait to see what
magic we create together in the new year.  I already know I’ll be crisscrossing the states again with a handful of weddings on the East Coast and will be spending a few weeks in Europe photographing some incredible weddings, engagements and fashion editorials.

In addition to weddings, engagements and portraits, I had the opportunity to photograph four major editorials this year.  They were published in The Knot, Destination I Do Magazine (coming out January 2018) and on Style Me Pretty.  I also added more commercial work shooting for Joanna August, Vow to be Chic, Madly Bride and Hushed Commotion.  I was honored to win the Grand Prize in Rangefinder Magazine’s Wedding Photography Awards and had the honor of photographing the 2017 Knot Dream Wedding.  A landmark wedding as Amanda and Elena were the first same-sex couple to be selected by The Knot for the prize.  I had online and print features in Martha Stewart, Us Weekly, The Knot National and California Editions, Flutter Magazine, Style Me Pretty, Magnolia Rouge, Brides Magazine, Trendy Bride, Wedding Flowers & Accessories Magazine, Rangefinder Magazine, People Magazine, Modern Luxury Weddings Magazine, Dear Gray Magazine, Green Wedding Shoes, Carats & Cake and a few other international publications.   Brides Magazine named a photograph from Jo & Al’s wedding as one of the 50 Most Stunning Wedding Photos of 2017. Wedding Chicks named a photograph from Amanda and Elena’s wedding as one of the 20 Most Epic Wedding Photos of 2017. Style Me Pretty named Jenna and Shane’s wedding one of the Best + Most Beautiful Wedding of 2017.  And Martha Stewart included my photo of Melissa and Mike’s cake in their favorites of 2017.  While all of the publications and awards are so exciting, there’s still nothing better than the feeling I get when I press send on a gallery and imagine my clients watching their slideshow for the first time.  Sending a huge thank you to all my incredible clients for allowing me to document your day!  Another big thank you to the incredible planners, designers, florists, makeup artists and hair stylists, stationery designers, fashion designers, chefs and all the other talented artists I get to collaborate with every weekend! I love working with you all to bring beauty and joy into our clients lives.  And lastly thank you to all of my second shooters and assistants who work tirelessly to help me bring nothing but the best to my clients! I know I shoot a ridiculous amount of film and I love all of my assistants whose fingers are exhausted by the end of the day from speedily rolling all my film!  Cheers to the new year everybody! Sending love, light and joy for 2018!