I became undeniably aware of how fleeting time was

I grew up in Napa Valley, before it became more popular than Disneyland. I loved the fall foliage there but the ocean called me to UC Santa Barbara for my undergrad. My husband and I left the west coast post-college so I could dance professionally in New York City. After a five year stint in New York City and Connecticut (that was enough winter for me), we made our way back to California and settled in Long Beach, where we had our two amazing littles. While our kids were young, just coming into the world, I sadly watched my precious grandparents leave it. I became undeniably aware of how fleIeting time was, how every moment was here and gone before I could mark it in my memory. It was then, when photographs became essential to me. I knew I couldn’t possibly remember all the tiny moments and details of our children’s youth, but photographs would allow me to hold onto more. Much, much more.

THE PHOTOS MATTER NOT only TO YOU, but also to your precious littles

When our family relocated to the East Bay/Bay Area in 2019, our kids cried every single day for months on end. They were devastated to leave behind the life and community we had in SoCal. One day, I asked our youngest what he missed about the old house. He instantly replied, “Our photos all over the walls.” I was really taken aback by his answer. Until that point, the photos on the walls I thought were more for my enjoyment than anything else but I quickly realized that the photos actually stood as daily reminders to our children of how much we love them, how magical our life was/is together, and how important they were/are to us. If you’re considering taking family photos of your own beautiful family, know that the photos matter not just to you, but also to your precious littles. Let’s create time capsules of your family’s special connections and provide you with artful pieces that can grace your walls to really make it feel like HOME.

I needed the photos to remind me of the light

During the height of the pandemic, I was diagnosed with cancer. It was, and still is, a hard road. The hardest. I spent an enormous amount of time in isolation and way too much time in the hospital. Hospital staff members loved to visit my room because I plastered it with photos of my babies and our family. When life was at its hardest, I NEEDED the photos to remind me of the light. I needed my children to hold on to, even though I couldn’t physically hold them. During the past several years, I honestly have avoided being in front of cameras like the plague. I haven’t wanted to hold on to the memories of myself during this time, yet, I recently realized that I need to continue to take family photos not just for me . . . but for them. My kids don’t care that I don’t feel good about myself, or that I still struggle to feel human again. They care about US and the time we spend together . . . . the moments we spend together. They DESERVE to have documentation of our beautiful life together and to be surrounded by daily reminders of our love, no matter what challenges we may face. If you’re on the fence, not sure if you feel up to being in your own photos, I understand. But do it for them and I assure you that you will look beautiful. Chronicle this time in your life while you can and hold dear the moments and love that will carry you through all the days ahead.