celebrating a decade together • the roh family portraits

little ones, outdoors, we are family

I have had the special joy of chronicling the growing family of Alice & Chong Roh over the last few years. Last weekend, they celebrated their tenth anniversary! These photos were such fun to do with their spirited kids, Zachary, Kristyn, & Micah, & Gramma Helen. Their family is stylish, fun, & in constant motion–and I think our shoot in Old Pasadena reflected their personalities! Congratulations, Alice & Chong, on a decade of joy & children & the marriage journey…and here’s to the next ten years!

awaiting baby sister • the chiwata family pregnancy portraits

little ones, outdoors, pregnancy, studio, we are family

Yoshie is good friends with Nami Mizoguchi, whom I shot just a couple weeks ago; they were both pregnant & were due around the same time (Nami’s baby boy Ray has since arrived!). I was so happy to be asked to do Yoshie’s pregnancy portraits after she saw Nami’s & liked them. I had such fun with Yoshie, her husband Hiroyuki, & their daughter Sakura–who was just the sweetest little blossom! When I met Yoshie to go over her wardrobe, she said, “I don’t have much black or white” (which is what I often suggest); instead, she had lots & lots of floral prints, because they used to live in Hawaii. I said, “We HAVE to do one outfit with the flowers–it’s so you!” So, we did, & I’m so glad, because the bright colors reflect their joy & unique tastes. I think I have a whole new attitude toward prints! Thank you, Chiwatas, for a wonderful morning! I can’t wait to hear the good news of Baby Sister’s arrival!

christina • boudoir session

beauty & boudoir

Ah…film. How I miss it. I shot Christina with a Contax 645 & Ilford XP2 & Kodak 400VC (those just sound like the names of good old friends!). There just seemed to be a velvety quality about these images, which so perfectly evoked Christina’s essence & effortless beauty. She embodies a sexiness that is both deep & dark as well as free & light. She is always one of my favorite muses…Stay tuned for more of her…

amazing aimée • dance portraits

beauty & boudoir, dance, outdoors

I had just done portraits for Aimée’s son Marco, & she asked about doing some headshots for a project she is working on–choreography to the poetry of Rumi. I was so excited by the idea of creating portraits that would be interpretations of Aimée as the poetry–romantic, magical, mystical, earthy, sexy, dramatic. I had such an inspired session with her–and was so impressed by how game & courageous she was to move & expand into these different versions of herself. Make-up artist, Lizette Perez, created two distinct looks for Aimée, & she embodied both with such ease. Between locations, Aimée & talked about Life–and in these portraits, I hope that she sees what a butterfly emerging she truly is…This post features a few from our first segment, which included a hike up a hill–a perfect metaphor for just the beginning of our visual, poetic, & collaborative journey…