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A few teasers from the very gorgeous wedding at Union Hill Inn in Sonora, CA this past weekend. The bride, Maryal, pretty much DIY’ed EVERYTHING. Amaze!

Can’t wait to share more!

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You guys. The trees in Half Moon Bay are epic. Like mindblowingly so. I  have Monica & Roger to thank for introducing me to the beautiful location, where I just keep oogling at the trees. And the light. And of course the adorable couple in front of me. :) Just one image & two polaroids for now. More to come.

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Some teasers from the wedding last weekend! A gorgeous tree shot & a “Mexican wedding photo” via polaroid. Which, by the way, is AMAZING. I simply can’t get enough of it — nor the light in the first photo! Love!

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Stephanie & Derek are getting married tomorrow! Hooray!

The Center San Diego
3909 Centre Street San Diego, CA 92103
Women’s Fest Event
10:00am-5:00pm

oceanview room . san diego, california

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An awesome day, filled with love, awesome cake smashing, hilarious fun & silly guests. What more could one ask for? :)

////////////// on shining & letting yourself be seen.

One thing I really believe about dance is that it’s for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you can or can’t dance, your body was meant to move. In particular, move to music. Move as an expression. Get connected with your body. Why do you think clubbing is so popular? One could argue that dancing at clubs is a a courting ritual because it seems in many ways so sexual. But I don’t think that’s always the case. I think dancing to music is a really easy way to let go of any pent up emotions, and simply feel free.

& I think that everyone wants to feel free as much as they can.

Meet Shannon, a beautiful soul who discovered her love for dance only about two years ago. For nearly her entire life, she turned away from dancing, actually telling people that she didn’t dance. It wasn’t until about two years ago that she did The Artist’s Way, and realized that deep down, she actually had a dancer’s soul. & she could no longer ignore that. So she began to dance.

In many ways, Shannon is a fledgling, a baby bird. Getting to know her wings, getting to know her body in this new way. Experimenting, trying, and stretching her muscles. Often, with something this new, we will be cautious, and not let others in to our new venture. This new part of us. We don’t feel quite confident enough to let others in often because we fear their reaction. What if they ridicule us? What if I look silly or stupid? What if they don’t like it?

So we don’t let others in. We keep it to ourselves. The thing with that is that when we don’t let others in, we don’t let ourselves out. When a wall goes up to protect oneself, neither side can connect to one another.

For the first half of Shannon’s shoot, this is what we experienced. She would dance, but she would keep me out, so I couldn’t see her. It was if she was dancing in her own world, keeping it all to herself. While I understand the desire to do so, I also wanted to be included in the magic she was creating within herself. I wanted to connect, I wanted to listen to what she was saying — & I wanted to see her.

Specifically, I wanted to see her SHINE.

When I brought this up, I remember she looked at me — wide eyed. The thought of connecting to another person while dancing had never occurred to her. The thought that someone actually wanted to be included & listen to what she was saying surprised her. All art forms are born from communication & expression. Dance especially. It’s visual expression through your body.

For people with dancer’s souls, this is something that comes from deep within. And we have to let these emotions & feelings & movements out or we’ll feel stifled. It’s like not being able to talk, even though you have the vocal chords & ability to.

Dancing isn’t just about the lines that we can create, although they can be beautiful. It’s about the energy, the soul, the person deep within. You’re essentially sharing yourself with another person through the language of movement.

So I encouraged her, and reached out my hand to her. I wanted to see her, I wanted to feel her emotions, and I wanted to be there with her. More than anything, she deserved be seen, she deserved to SHINE.

Shannon is a beautiful soul and should to share herself & her spirit with the world. Not only as a photographer or a person, but as a dancer. Everyone should see her spirit through her movement, and go on that journey along with her. It deserves to be seen and it will allow her to connect with others in ways that may not be possible with simple speech or actions. This, is the power of dance.

Thank you for sharing, my lovely friend, I hope the world gets to see more of your dancer’s soul.

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The story of Shannon & I meeting & connecting is actually a special one. A couple of months ago, a stranger had told Shannon that she had a “dancer’s soul.” She wondered what that meant, so she went home to google it, and upon doing that, she found my blog & my dancer’s soul series & immediately connected with it. She sent me a lovely email, and I remember being so pleasantly surprised — I had actually been following her blog for some time. Funny how life works, doesn’t it? :) It’s as if the dance fates brought us together <3

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past dancers: kyle filley | mathew paul chounlamontry | melissa sanchez | tiffany kadani | emily pepper

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Ever since I went camping for the first time last year at Joshua Tree, I have been camping as much as I can! I love the freedom of it & the ability to explore and to be a part of nature. A few months back I went on a camping trip with Zach and two of our good friends Justus & Tabby — who was also 6 months pregnant at the time! It was such a wonderful trip, and I am dreaming of new island camping adventures! There’s nothing like being out in an island & disconnecting with technology, and connecting with the earth & the people around you. <3

cuvier park & the marine room //// la jolla, ca

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I have so many good things in the works and I want so badly to share them with you all! Here is just a small sampling of what  is to come soon!

ceremony . st patrick’s church, san diego
reception . darlington house, la jolla 

sword boutonnieres + knight of honor (instead of maid) + quirky, fun group = <3

So thrilled to be a part of this month’s issue of Riviera San Diego magazine! The image featured is one of my favorites from my dancer’s soul shoot with Mathew Paul Chounlamontry. I am beyond thrilled that I even got a chance to say a few words about the shoot & what these dance shoots are all about — an “artist’s statement” if you will. :) I am so glad people are responding to these images — it makes me want to go out and photograph more dancers!

You can read the article online here.

/////////////////////// on expectations , becoming who you really are & moving with meaning

“You can’t perfect emotion.” — Kyle Filley

I think expectations are something we all battle with. Sometimes people will expect us to be & act a certain way, or look a certain way, or even have our plans & futures to be a certain way. Or these expectations can come from within. We expect ourselves to be perfect, to have it all together and figured out.

But that’s never the reality is it?

Kyle is a dancer who is at the brink of his future. Initially, he was going to study medicine and become a doctor, but about a year ago he decided that no, that’s not what he really wants to be — at least not right now.

Instead, he wants to pursue what he loves, and that is a career in dance.

That’s not an easy decision to make. Especially if expectation comes into play. It can be external expectations from others, or perhaps expectations that comes from ourselves. Shouldn’t we pursue something that gives us security? Shouldn’t we be selfless? Shouldn’t we do things for the greater good — or for “the long run”?

The thing is, I wholeheartedly believe that if everyone were pursuing what they truly loved, then it would be for the greater good because everyone would simply be happier & more fulfilled.

When I first found out that Kyle was going to pursue dance professionally, I was thrilled. Ecstatic, even. At the time, I barely knew him, really — I only knew of him because I would see him around our dance studio. I would really only get to see him dance at the yearly recitals. I always thought he was a lovely dancer, but it wasn’t until his final recital year as a senior that I saw everything change. When he got on stage, it was as if he was pouring himself into what he was doing — every moment, every extension had meaning for him. It was as if he was becoming who he truly was.

And that was a dancer.

I think it’s a special thing when people realize what they truly want in life, and where they want to go. Screw expectations, this a passion, a desire. Something that simple cannot be extinguished with time. I’ve seen it time and time again, even with my own self. It’s a brave, brave thing to admit it, and move towards it. Especially if you have fears about it, especially if you have doubts. Especially if you have voices in your head saying “Shouldn’t you be doing ______ instead? What will others think??”

That’s when you say: “No, this is who I am.”

Own it.

I’ve said it before, but dance is not always about technique, especially when it comes to expressing ourselves. My favorite moment during the entire session was when I asked Kyle to dance through a strong emotion — & for him that was frustration. Namely, frustration tied with expectation. During that part, I saw him moving through emotion, and the energy that was coming from him was palpable. This is one of the things I truly love about dance — when you see the other person conversing with you, through only movement & energy. Because where the energy is, that’s where the meaning is. Where the emotion is. Even when the emotion is one that isn’t pleasant to deal with, like frustration. Moving to it is often a way for us to deal with it, to express it, to put it out into the world.

Which is why I am so thrilled that Kyle is doing something that allows him to express himself through movement, which I think for many people who love dance simply need. We need to talk in another language. And that language is dance. I am also happy that he recognized what he needed to find his bliss in the world, and to keep doing it. I think too often we let expectations get in the way of us doing what we truly love, and becoming who we truly are and doing what we truly need. We let other forces dictate how we should be living our lives, when really, we should take control and say no, this is who we really are. And own it. Be proud of it. Because that is you.

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past dancers: mathew paul chounlamontry | melissa sanchez | tiffany kadani | emily pepper

///////////////////  la jolla, california 

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A bit of San Diego, a bit of Paris, and lots of fun! Lindsay is a graphic designer, so it was only natural that she designed and styled so much of her wedding, and it paid off — I simply love the styling of this entire day! She had her hand in so much that she was even sewing her hairpiece just before putting it into her hair. Everything was perfect, from the menus, to the christmas light designs, the mustaches, the instant photos & the candlelit dinner. A really great intimate affair (about 40 guests) filled with silliness (did you see the photobooth photos yet??) & lots of style! Love it!

It’s good to be silly. :)

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Images from their wedding coming to the blog soon!