Shot on location at THE LIBRARY, San Diego, CA! (Did you know you could shoot pretty much anywhere?!)

I told this mom, ‘you bring the creativity, I’ll bring the camera’. And a beautiful and often hilariously fun photo session was born.

Shot on location in Incline Village, Lake Tahoe on a brisk and beautiful October Day.

This is the second round of photos taken of these sisters. Their mom, one of my childhood best friends, insists they mostly don’t get along. I totally beg to differ.

Shot on location in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA.

Rarely are we as put together as when we schedule a Christmas card mini photo session. More often than not, everything comes unglued right at the perfect moment. Families are complex and unpredictable units of moving parts. And that’s the beauty of the whole thing in the first place. The spirit of this family to patiently work through their son’s antsy-ness went beyond expectations.

And never underestimate the power of candy and bribery at times like this.

Shot on location in Donner Memorial State Park, Truckee, CA.

This family was so vibrant and so fun, it was absolutely necessary to leave these images fully saturated. (Plus, mom spent a small eternity making sure outfits color coordinated…so, there’s always that.) With 3 young girls and 3 completely different personalities, we were able to get the full spectrum of girly playfulness to almost grown up maturity.

Their comfortability in front of the camera and their ease with each other was so refreshing and made a standard family portrait session that much more fun.

Shot on location in Truckee, CA in the field directly across from their house. Lucky kids.

Despite the sweet and gentle demeanor, this family packs a punch, with smart-as-a-whip kids and graciously over achieving parents.

And when a standard portrait session leads to frolicking in grassy fields in golden fall light, you let that light and those personalities lead the way.

Shot on location in Incline Village, NV.

Certain stages of our kids lives just have to be documented because they are so darn cute.

This is one of them.

Shot on location in Reno, NV.

3 generations of strong, strong women. ‘The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’, wether you want it to or not. And the loving way with which the older generation has shaped the younger is admirable.

This standard family portrait session was a heartwarming example of the strength of family bonds.