HELLO 2017!

Hello 2017, I'm so glad you're here. 2016 was a challenging year for me due to some not so great family stuff. And my ex-office assistant who was the best assistant ever also left to take a full-time job. Trying to find an equally good assistant has proved challenging. It was my most booked wedding season with 30 weddings, plus other portrait & small advertising jobs. I tend to deliver a lot of photos per shoot, so without the extra help of an office assistant, it's been a bit gnarly. BUT I loved loved loved all the wonderful people I photographed & collaborated with this year.

One of my kid lifestyle shoots was featured in a cool German publication, Süddeutsche Zeitung Magazin. And my co-photo company Gather West was named best of 2016 weddings! Woot! Usually, I work on getting a good number of weddings published, but I didn't get the chance to do any of that last year. Love Inc Mag found me.

I'm lucky that I get to work with lovers surrounded by their loving families all year round. Not to mention the people in my life who love & care for me. Tho tough times suck, it has shown me how much love people have for me, and who I can depend on for anything or a little extra TLC. I will miss my loved ones dearly & forever. It comforts me to know that the love we have for our loved ones lives on.

My last shoot of 2016 was in mid Dec. I'll be busy processing photos, starting engagement shoots & meetings with more 2017 inquiries for the next couple months. And my wedding season starts up again in February.

Here's a mash-up of a few more 2016 weddings with couples from all over the world, Spain, France The Philippines, China, India...more to come from Germany, Netherlands, Japan...

This Spanish & French fusion of families was so fun! How cool that they can speak each others language and combine there cultures so easily.

Today is my grandpa's bday, he was a WWII hero and commercial pilot. My grandparents raised me. I was born in the Bay area, but we lived in Hawaii & Taiwan until I was 7. I traveled often with them, flying first class, and getting special treatment from the crew. It was awesome obviously! I remember being in snow in Japan, meeting my first beautiful tranny in Bangkok, and shopping in France. We settled back down in Belmont for my middle and high school years. My grandmother worked for the American embassy, then as a secretary in the Science department at Stanford University. They were the parents who made me who I am.  Because of them and my upbringing, I think that is why I love different cultures and the satisfaction I get from working with all different kinds of people.

I got to whip out my mandarin with this cute couple from China. My mom's side of the family is Chinese. Their roots are from China, but my grandparents escaped communism to became refugees of Taiwan in 1949. I don't get to practice my mandarin much these days, but I'm technically fluent. ;)

Got to work with the amazing Nicki Wolf, planner, for this sweet wedding at Triple S ranch in Calistoga. Nicki is awesome, she is soo nice, soo there for not just the couple and their family but me too. I want to work with her as much as I can,  I want her & her beautiful energy in my life. Bouquet from Ampersand.

This kind couple is from the Philippines, the bride Tati is a stewardess, and they offered me a trip to the Philippines. Amazing cuz of my family's airline history. And they brought me all sorts of dried mango treats.

Preethi is so pretty. I love Indian culture they are so affectionate. And absolutely love her subtle hippie dress that has peace, love & daisies.

I can't wait to make some amazing things happen this year, try to live a simpler life, spend less time on the computer & finish more home renovation projects.

Here's to a good 2017! Let it be a good year, a happy year, a fulfilling year.