The power of social media can be pretty unBOOlievable. I first saw Ashley tagged on another Instagram account and I thought 'damn, I would love to shoot with her’. I realized she was also in the Bay Area, so I slid into her DM’s like a creepy dude and you can imagine my surprise when she actually replied and wanted to set up a shoot!
Both of our schedules were crazy busy at the time, but we managed to set a date for mid-October. Ashley has such an awesome look and it only seemed right that we took part in the Halloween festivities with some spooky glam.
You know that feeling when you walk into a room but then forget why you’re there? That’s been my constant state these last few weeks as a Bay Area wedding photographer. I’ve met so many amazing couples and shared the most genuine, happy moments but boy, is it overwhelming at times. My off nights mostly look like wine, cookies, edit, repeat.
Okay, this may seem like the ideal situation to most… but it’s actually pretty easy to get burnt out and blurry eyed when the only person you interact with all day has four legs and a tail.
This styled shoot with my past bride Lexie was exactly what I needed for a breath of fresh air!
Ohh Baker Beach, where the tourists flock and the locals let it all hang out… literally. Baker Beach has one of the best views of the Golden Gate bridge and even better sunsets, so naturally it is a great location for Engagement shoots.
Krystina and Matt are California locals but have somehow never had the pleasure of visiting Baker Beach. We arrived just before sunset, and even though we were bombarded with tourists and nudists, their chemistry was fire, making it so easy for me to get some great photos.
Yayyy to Mr & Mrs Defazio!! Lexie & Brandon booked me for their wedding at the beginning of 2017 so it’s safe to say this day was pretty HIGHLY anticipated.
Lexie's day started how most wedding days (or any) should start: mimosas with the girls while getting their glam on. The boys gathered at Brandons family house for BBQ, beers, and boy things.
Roughly six months ago, Broc and I decided we needed to go to Costa Rica ASAP. We had been dreaming of another surf trip since our plane left Bali over two years ago. I’ve never been to Costa Rica and getting there proved to be a bit of a mission. A month before our flight, we were strangely notified that our connecting flight out of Panama would be delayed, so we spent 5 hours wondering the airport sipping burnt coffee and knocking over Duty Free sunglasses. I ended up buying some.
Our fur baby just turned two! Or 24 months if I wanted to be one of those moms…
Loki Bear,
How did we get here so fast? You are the king of head tilts and judgmental looks, my little bear. You’ve come a long way from eating our socks and running away from your own projectile vomit. You’re hands down the best (and only) thing we’ve bought off Craigslist that instantly made us parents.
In January of 2013, I lost one of my best friends to Cystic Fibrosis. Four months later, on my twenty-first birthday, I lost my twenty-two year-old cousin, Nicholas, in a car accident to a distracted driver. In 2014, I shattered my tibia plateau, tore some vital knee things and had to get emergency surgery. Throw in a break up and it’s safe to say it was a pretty terrible period of time for me. When it rains, it hurricanes.
Do you ever look at two people hopelessly in love and feel… repulsed?
That’s how I sometimes feel as a person in love. It’s ten times worse when you’re the lonely person out of love. I’ve been there, too.
A few weeks ago on a five-hour flight, I sat next to a man in his fifties with pretentious being his main personality trait. Just some foreword: I despise airplane conversation. Not a fan. It’s like a never-ending elevator ride. I hate it so much that sometimes when my phone dies, I keep my headphones in and occasionally bop my head to keep up the elusion that I’m listening to music.
Instagram @nicolaleighphoto:
Seth and Elena met in eighth grade and have been together for 11 years!! LOL WHUT. Seth sealed the deal and proposed to Elena this April in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The love they have for each other is so easy to see and I’m so stoked that I have the honor of photographing their wedding next June!!
We chose to do their engagement session at China Beach and this September evening was so perfect, we pretty much had the whole beach to ourselves.