Campsite 48

We almost postponed our annual anniversary camping trip a few weeks because so many California campgrounds were full, closed for the season, shut down due to plague, or under extreme fire/drought restrictions. The thought of camping without a fire just made me sad and I was getting pretty bummed about it all when Evan found a campground near Yosemite with one spot left. We grabbed it and a week later, we were pulling into the loveliest little campground!

It was mostly full of fishermen and hunters staying for a few weeks with their campers & pup companions, so it was quiet and clean. In the mornings we walked to the lake with our coffee and at night we slept (fairly) soundly with our tent open to the stars and full moon above. The campground and lake were situated in a little valley, so we had beautiful mountain views on all sides and watching the moon rise above the cliffs each night was sort of magical.

We were both a little drained after a h-o-t summer in the city with little traveling, so I can't tell you how much this peaceful respite soothed our souls. This is my very favorite of our traditions.

baby Jay

While we were taking these photos I asked the beautiful mama, our friend Tina, how much sleep she was getting with 10-day old Jay now in their lives. She said she was getting around an hour and a half at a time, with his feeding schedule, and I just couldn't imagine - and then she said "it's also just so much fun to look at him, so even when he sleeps I'd rather be tired and awake staring at him than sleeping". Motherhood leaves me completely in awe. A love that big is stunning. 

A big thanks to Justin & Tina for letting us be part of Jay's life with these photos. This was a new photo venture for us, and we had such an amazing time capturing the love these two have for their son. 

post-adventure blues

I've got those post-adventure blues. Like, big time. 

We returned from our anniversary west coast road trip just a few days ago and I've been in mourning ever since--it was such a wondrous, beautiful week and I can't stop thinking about everything we saw. Softening the blow is the memory card full of photos that I get to edit and look through over, and over, and over again. We saw so many sights we'd never seen before, places that filled us with awe and become ours. What a special thing, to see a piece of the world for the first time with someone you love...it forms a bond that is forever yours, a place you have only been together. The place and that person are permanently entwined in your memory, perfectly preserved. I'm so grateful. 

Here are a few photos from the first few days of the trip in Portland & Eugene, where Evan was performing in a play called The Ghosts of Tonkin. I was so happy to be in Portland for a day, a city with which I will always have a love affair. We drank Stumptown coffee, visited Powell's books, drank freshly brewed beer and prohibition-era cocktails, strolled around the gorgeous Portland State campus, and both got to spend time with our mothers--altogether, the best day. After Sunday brunch the next morning, we drove to Springfield, a tiny town outside of Eugene where they had their second performance and we watched the sun set over this bridge. The next day, the adventure truly began--more photos to come. 

"to love a person is to see all of their magic, and to remind them of it when they have forgotten."

happy birthday to a man whose magic never stops amazing me, and who never fails to remind me of my own. I love you, I love you!

lucky in love

long distance is hard. San Diego & LA may only be 125 miles apart, but it's far enough to not come home to each other most days and that feels pretty damn far. and so I am very, very thankful for the time we get to spend with each other, whether here or there. no matter how you slice it, we're lucky in love and that's the best kind of luck to have. 

through love's lens

disclaimer: it's about to get sappy in here. 

My boyfriend, Evan, just bought a new (gorgeous) camera so we've spent lots of time playing with it lately. Here are two frames we've taken of each other recently...something about a photo taken by someone who loves you is so special. To see yourself as they see you, or at least to attempt to, is a beautiful thing. To truly see yourself the way loved ones see you  is a gift I wish I could give to so many people--but photos and words will have to do for now.

We celebrated our one year anniversary this weekend and I'm in still just in awe. That we went for it, that we made it through a year that was hard for both of us and came out as best friends head-over-heels; that it has already been a year, that it's only been  a year, but  most of all I am just in awe of how lucky, loved, supported and cared for I am. To have found someone to adventure with and stumble through life hand-in-hand...I'm so happy. One week from today we embark on our biggest adventure yet as we drive down the west coast to start new lives in California--it's terrifying and exhilarating and I can't WAIT.

"there are all kinds of love in this world but never the same love twice." - f. scott fitzgerald

lucky in love: Antonia + James

Last month I got to photograph the loveliest, most laid-back backyard wedding (laid-backyard? does that work?) for a girl who I've known since we were toddlers. Our families have been the closest of friends for years (here's some adorable proof) so photographing her day was an honor and so, so fun. 

Antonia wore her mother's wedding dress, which another family friend tailored to create this gorgeous gown. How special is that? Seriously, look at the back of that dress--stunnnnning. Her & James are perfect for each other; balancing each other out in every way and quite obviously in love. 

The ceremony and reception took place in her parents' back yard, which they call Good Times, beautifully decorated with natural blue details and woodwork by my mom & more friends--everything about this wedding was homemade and put together by friends, which made the day even that much more full of love and joy. Even the delish dinner featured pulled pork that had been slow-roasted and personally pulled by friends. Too good. 

And seriously, this wedding was fun. Nothing was fussy, nothing overly stressful, nothing overdone: just good friends, good food, good beer, good vibes & true love. This is a family that truly laughs together, cries together, and takes care of each other, and I am so grateful to have them as part of our lives. Antonia & James, thank you for trusting me with my very first wedding, and thanks for the fun day! I wish you thousands more days just like this, full of the people who love you.