e three.

back in february, i did a shoot with my dear friend emily and helped her scheme her brand. and i promised a full post once her site when live. well, after months of hard work, emily has just recently launched her new photo, design and card business: e three. i am so excited and so proud. be sure to check out her site and order some cards. seriously. they are hilarious and uber chic too.

and alas, more photos of the beautiful emily...

the jalama cañon ranch.

a few months ago, my friend anna was telling me about a new wedding venue north of santa barbara for which she had recently become the rental and event coordinator. after several years of preparation and hard work, the jalama cañon ranch was ready for it's debut as the idyllic venue for an intimate wedding or family getaway. the 1000+ acre ranch is simply stunning and impressive. it boosts rustic cabins, chardonnay and pinot noir vines, a herd of goats, hundreds of california oak trees and miles of winding dirt roads. it has that quintessential california wine country charm. i was smitten and just had to be involved in creating some their marketing materials, i.e. photos and website. so anna and i styled a day-after-shoot to show off the photo-ops at the ranch. here's what we came up with...

our gorgeous models, chris and leah.

the cat followed us around all day and conveniently strolled onto the porch with impeccable timing and grace too of course.

one of the many vistas from the property.

and there are gorgeous oak trees everywhere...

and fields. and grass. and purdy light. i have a crush.

check out their brand new site designed by yours truly. thank you leah + chris for modeling for us.

debbie + andrew | beloved.

crowley lake. it's a small mountain town surrounded my snow-capped peaks overlooking a lake. a lake that so many of us locals have come to love so dearly over the years. many a summer have we played in it's strangely green waters. they were no exception. they met when they were teens. he the crowley local, and she the frequent visitor who grew up in ecuador but called crowley a home-away-from-home. it wasn't until many years later that their friendship truly took shape and became one of intentionality, trust and authenticity. it soon grew into something more--a deep love and adoration for each other and a relationship built on Christ, a desire care for and love each other well and a commitment to keep life fun and light-hearted. together they picnic in the park and play cards. he paints and she crafts. together they explore. nature, museum-going and bike-riding they love. they pray, they create, and simply be. together. she is his beloved. and he is hers. they are debbie + andrew and this is their story...

we started the shoot a local college campus where we found some awesome light, textures and architecture. andrew brought his bike along and we got a fun series. and somehow they managed to walk away with no flesh wounds. last time i tried this we weren't so lucky.

then we found this awesome water feature and building...the fountain would randomly go on and off it was hilarious.

after we got the bridge shots, i paused. and had that look in my eye. i was scheming. andrew asked if i wanted them to shimmy along the ledge and stand against the windows. and of course i said "yes. just what i was thinking. do it" they were all about the challenge and everyone managed to stay dry.

the funkiest building ever but so cool for photos.

and the light reflecting off the white walls was superb.

then with vintage suitcases, wildflowers, a blanket and andrew's art kit,we went to the most beautiful park just before sunset. it was perfection.

check out that beam of light coming through in the background. wow.

okay so this lens flare was made in camera. crazy eh? i can't even deal.

i almost forwent the rose gardens, but i'm so glad we wandered over there. awesomeness.

wow, what a shoot. so much fun, i can hardly wait for their september wedding up in the sierras. for more of debbie + andrew, view their slideshow here.

[p.s. the first image was the last frame i took. the "lovebirds" were serenading us during our time in the rose garden. and debbie asked if i would take a picture of them. so i thought it fitting to include it in the post.]

lisa + tim | beloved.

they met on the interwebs. eHarmony.com to be exact. and it was not long before they schemed their first date at a local cafe in santa monica. they dined and laughed, conversed and but it was between frames at Lucky Strike that they found themselves smitten and ever aware of their connection. through adventures up the coast and family gatherings, date nights in santa monica & deep conversations after a home-cooked meal, they began to fall in love. their relationship is one that is genuine and honest, fun-loving and silly, intentional and relaxed. together they find themselves aware of the artistic beauty that surrounds them be it through discovering new nooks and cranies in la or enjoying good food and conversation, concert-going or hiking. they laugh. they pray. they line-dance. they are lisa + tim. she is his beloved. and he is hers. and this is their story...

i am particularly fond of making my clients work for it. you know...hike for 12 miles. scale up a hillside, lay down on a bed of pokey succulents, or precariously tip-toe along a ledge over a pond. it's all part of the adventure peoples. it requires commitment to the shot and trust too of course. and luckily, my clients trust me fully. or mostly. so naturally, i drug tim and lisa up a hillside in the blistering winds all to these two shots. bam. totally worth i think. case and point.

and if that wasn't enough, we hiked out along the cliff-side to get these shots.

i even took on the deathly foxtails. and while i was picking them out of my shoes and socks for the next two hours, it was well worth it to get this little nugget.

they even humor me when i want them to do stuff like this...

i quite enjoy this series...

some of my favorite feet shots to date.

right after i said "that's a wrap" and started toward the car, tim helped lisa off her perch on the fence and i heard her squeal and chuckle. i turned around and somehow managed to snap the image on the top-right. and it's one of my favs...

for more of lisa + tim, view their slideshow here.