Carolyn and Brandon - The Pearl
Carolyn and Brandon wanted a truly San Francisco themed wedding starting with getting ready at the San Francisco Proper, doing their first look and portraits at Blue Heron Boathouse, and finishing with their ceremony and reception at The Pearl in the Dogpatch. They decorated their tables with some of their favorite locations around the city.
Ahmad and Ohona
The Gaye Holud celebration for Ahmad and Ohona was held at the San Ramon Community Center in the San Francisco Bay Area. The venue was decorated beautifully, with special details like hand-painted vases by Ohona's Aunt.
Casey and Connor
A bespoke elopement in Santa Rosa with a rainbow of color and flowers. Casey and Connor made their commitment to each other under the morning sun and surrounded by their closest family and friends.
Heidi and Don - Nestledown
Heidi and Don’s magical fall wedding at Nestledown in Los Gatos, California. Highlighted with reds and greens, this love story was one meant for the books!
Bay Area Pride at Great America
Bay Area Pride’s Inaugural Year - uniting the Bay’s colorful LGBTQIA+ communities, families, and allies for a celebration of diversity, inclusivity and joy.
If you’ve ever felt like an outsider, like you have to dim your light to survive in this world, you know how important it is to have a space where you can truly be free. Bay Area Pride might have been in it’s inaugural year- but the community feeling was so strong.
I had the honor of being invited by my good friend Sarah, the owner and creative behind Made by Mocha. She’s so friendly that within a few mins of arriving she knew all the other vendor names and becoming their best friend.
The day was capped with amazing performances by tons of Bay Area talent including Miss Queera Knightly and Red Corvette, a Prince Cover band. To give the feeling of all the color of Pride, I used all the decorations like balloons, streamers and flags to bring the rainbow to each performance!
“Bay Area Pride is more than just a single event – it’s a year-round commitment to celebrating, uplifting, and empowering our diverse LGBTQIA+ community, families, and allies. We believe that everyone deserves to feel safe, loved, and accepted for who they are.”
Connect with the Vendors!
Bay Area Pride - instagram.com/bayareapride2k/
Made by Mocha - instagram.com/madebymocha/
Preppy Parties - instagram.com/preppy_.parties/
Miss Queera Knightly - instagram.com/missqueeranightly/
Casey and Connor
Casey and Connor’s fun and goofy engagement session in Petaluma California was filled with lots of fall color, multiple locations and boots to die for.
I didn’t give Casey and Connor a choice to choose anyone else as their engagement and wedding photographer. Within 10 mins of them getting engaged I was offering my congratulations and demanding my right to photograph their lives. After 10 years of friendship (ok, 9.5 years), I felt I could be a little more forward than I normally am.
As natives to Northern California, Casey and Connor settled in Petaluma. It’s this sleepy little town just outside of Napa with a cute little river running through and a park downtown which we’d planned to meet at. It would have been an adorable little park, however upon arrival I discovered a there was a rally being held! Thankfully, just around the corner and along the water was looked like open space for dogs.
I’m not sure how the dogs lucked out, but there were brilliant orange and red trees, soft tall grasses, yellow leaves on the ground, and curvaceous pathways. As we began talking, I realized what makes Casey and Connor both special and perfect for each other. They embrace each other’s quirks and love each other so wholly its impossible to not root for them. Casey is a bit taller than Connor and where most people would want to hide this, she brought her boots to EXTEND the height!
As we started to head to our second location, Connor suggested we just check out the bridge over the water on the other side of the parking lot. The way the sun was diffused behind the town’s buildings created this perfect glow behind them. It was here we really got to play with what makes them unique as a couple. They love to bend and explore gender roles. So rather than your typical shots where the male is in the “power” position, we replaced with Casey.
Before their session, Casey had confided that she was not a fan of the soft smiles trend and wouldn’t be doing them. I’m so thankful she did because it gave me the opportunity to tell her how beautiful your real emotions are. Styled and posed are gorgeous of course, and there is no competition against a perfect representation of your love.
There are so many blessings to living in such a beautiful state and one of the best is all the epic scenery we have within minutes. Only 10 mins from our downtown location, Helen Putnam Regional Park offers stunning views of the valley and a cattail pond just a short walk from the parking lot. With the sun a little high still, we started at the cattail pond and worked our way back to the cars, stopping to get the ring shots in the fading light.
As we said our goodbyes, Casey and Connor told me that they had been so nervous before their session but somewhere in the middle they realized they were having so much fun they forgot that we were there to take photos which is the easiest way to make my heart sing with joy.
Purim with Chabad of Tracy
Purim Celebration with Chabad of Tracy and featuring a fire show with the TikTok Rabbi Izzy Adelist!
Not only was this my first Purim, it was Chabad of Tracy’s first Purim in their new location AND Dovber’s first birthday! The moment I walked into the backyard, I knew Faigy’s sister Blumie was with us in spirit from all the beautiful decorations. Blumie held a women’s gathering a few months ago, teaching women in the community some simple ways to dress your table for every occasion and it was evident Faigy had been taking notes!
Linoy and Eran Even-Kesef
The community gathered in costumes and with noise -makers for the readings. It’s tradition to make a ton of noise when Haman’s name is read, and the kids really love it. Ruby a little too much as she kept making noise even when Haman’s name wasn’t read. Oops!
It wouldn’t be a Chabad event without lots of good food! Fresh bread rolls, cooling salads, braised chicken and these delicious rosemary garlic potatoes kept bellies full! Hamantashen overnighted from New York for dessert.
Dovber’s birthday cake!
One of my favorite parts of the night was Dovber’s birthday celebration. I have been so blessed to get to see him grow up over the last year. Levi and Faigy were expecting him when we first met them the November before they moved to Tracy. He was just a few months old when they made the journey across the country and we finally got to meet him! We’ve spent a lot of time hanging out and he’s always got a smile for me so he definitely ranks among my favorite kids on the planet.
Also fresh from New York, the TikTok Rabbi Izzy Adelist impressed kids and adults alike by juggling apples and eating them. He pushed it even further by juggling knives over Levi. My kids were disappointed that they couldn’t risk their lives and after seeing him almost “drop” the knives at the end, they were glad they couldn’t. I’m sure it was a show drop to give a little extra concern to the audience before he juggled with fire, but I’m not going to tell them that!
