Nayda Maternity - Mt. Tamalpais Maternity Portraits

If you’re lucky, you’ll have people in your lives who will always make you feel like family. In our experience, this isn’t a sense that comes gradually, but all at once; that’s just who those people are and they can’t help but have their warmth and hospitality shine through in everything they do. Shannon and Chris were those people when we first met them, before we even did their Palace of Fine Arts and Baker Beach Engagement Session and their wedding the year after. Chatting with them at the historic 7Mile House in Daly City, there was an unmistakable sense of comfort and gratitude that we sensed immediately.

Being with them for their wedding in New Jersey, meeting all their friends and family, we came to understand that this was no fluke; they both grew up with incredible people who loved them separately, and evidently, even more after they found eachother. We were the beneficiaries of the good vibes of two families who were looking forward to be forged into one through Shannon and Chris. We met their friends who no doubt fell in love with them for the same qualities we picked up in both of them, and most importantly, we met their mothers who, even in our short time there, made us feel like one of their own. It became that clear that this special capacity to us feel like family was because they came from fantastic ones.

Following that, we were incredibly happy to hear that they were expecting a little one and even more honored to be included in this new chapter of their lives. On top of that, Shannon and Chris were always clients who “got” what we were going for, and were always excited to work with us. For their maternity session, we decided to head out to Mount Tamalpais in Marin County just north of San Francisco. 

We had never shot in Mount Tamalpais, and especially with Shannon and Chris, we’re not sure why we waited so long. The vistas afforded by being on the mount, and the completely enchanting wooded areas nearby were a perfect backdrop for Shannon and Chris and the mood of this time of their lives. We were lucky to shoot on a beautiful day with plenty of sunlight filtering magically through the treetops of the forests there, giving us plenty of drama without too much fuss. We particularly appreciated Shannon and Chris’ company; just catching up with them and sharing our own experiences as we’re expecting as well was just what our souls needed. The charm is all still there, and was a reminder that we need to get together more often. Truly, some of our favorite people.

Congratulations to these two, about to be a trio — there are no people or families we’re more excited to see bring another one of their own into the world.

Marilyn+Jowel - The Lind Boracay, Philippines Wedding

Marilyn and Jowel are a perfect fit for each other.  There is an undeniable warmth and style between them that we saw during their Altamont Pass/Livermore, CA engagement session.  We expected their wedding at The Lind Hotel on the tropical island paradise of Boracay, Phillipines to closely follow suit in both dimensions, and we weren’t disappointed.

What was meant to be a small destination wedding overseas turned into a larger affair when nearly anyone who might have celebrated with them stateside, made it to the Philippines for them.  In this way, their wedding felt familiar and comfortable, but with the exhilirating edge of a much anticipated vacation.

The Lind Hotel itself was a perfect backdrop that complemented Marilyn and Jowel’s stylistic sensibilities; slick, contemporary, with a dash of timelessness.  There were beautiful vistas to be had in every direction, but what shone brightest was the love between the Marilyn and Jowel, their friends and family.  As we covered their wedding, we only hoped that we were catching all the love and excitement coming our way.  Thankfully, looking back at what we delivered to them, we did ;-).

If you’re going to fly across an ocean to get married, it’d be best to make the most of it; Marilyn chose to do this with a couple of dress changes (just for giggles!).  She did a quick change into a sequined number after getting her hair and makeup done before getting into her formal dress.  Later on, Marilyn gave the dress a little edge with a custom leather jacket to go along with her studded black leather Valentino ballet flats.  From the ceremony overlooking the beach from a high vantage, to the reception under string lights with the same vista, and all the people who came together for Marilyn and Jowel, we could not ask for more.

It was an absolute thrill and honor to be with these two through their journey to their wedding; we’ll cut this short and just let you enjoy their story, a thousand words at a time.

-J&A

Venue The Lind Hotel Boracay || Planning/Coordination Boracay Weddings/Ah New Beginnings || Dresses Vici Collection, Allure Bridals from Weddings and Dreams || Makeup @charrielanettemua || Hair @melizza.stylist || Suit Topman || 

Christy+Sidney - San Francisco, CA - Treasure Island, Embarcadero, Pier 7 Engagement

“Uhh, what just happened?”

We have been so lucky that all of our clients have been people with whom we really connect — we always come out of our meetings feeling like we just spent time with old friends. What we usually don’t expect at the conclusion of these meetings is joining forces with the couple to buy an entire corner of a bar in a trendy part of Oakland shots of Tito’s while sending semi-incendiary messages of "MAKE LIKE BEYONCE AND PUT A RING ON IT" to the unsuspecting boyfriend of a cool bar patron April and Christy just met.  Life surprises you sometimes though, and it thankfully snuck up on us in our first meeting with Christy and Sidney, making us question what had just transpired, but in a good way.

Speaking with this couple over e-mail, we should have known that buying drinks for complete strangers was a possible trajectory for the evening; they were both intensely gracious and super friendly, but Christy especially had a special bombastic energy that came through even in text. It was more “big” than loud, and it made sense when we found out that she is actually originally from Houston, and obviously, everything’s bigger in Texas. Either way, we met that at MUA in Oakland, and immediately, the good times were rolling.  The ladies bonded over talk about Barry’s Bootcamp and the wonderful buttkicking therein, while the guys found a lot of common ground in their geek lives over games that they’ve both spent too much time in. 

We actually didn’t actually speak too much about the details of their wedding, but thankfully Christy and Sidney took it as a good audition anyway, good enough to book us in the end, but not before we capped the night off the aforementioned rounds of Tito's for strangers and some night time Humphrey Slocombe Ice Cream nearby. After some heartfelt goodbyes, Sidney and I were glad we were too ensconced in detailing the finer points of our Fallout playthroughs to not be included in all of April’s and Christy’s merry/friend making at the bar to get all of us home in one piece.

Like we said, it all worked out, and we set a date for their engagement session. The Winery SF on Treasure Island is a place that they both loved and were members of, so it was only natural to take advantage of it — it ended up being a really cool place with great pockets of light which were useful because of the on and off rain outside.  We ended up having to dodge inside at times to avoid the worst of the weather, but were usually greeted by some great doorway or skylight in the SF Winery interior.  Christy and Sidney, despite misgivings about being on camera at first, were an absolute joy to watch and work with. For all of Christy’s Texas bombast, she’s met a cowboy who’s clearly wrangled her heart /I’mSorryAboutThatOne . We didn’t have to do much to get that look of genuine comfort and excitement from them — it’s so obvious why they’ve chosen eachother.

After The Winery SF, we made the best of the various environs of Treasure Island still dodging the weather, but eventually ending up at Fog City SF along Embarcadero for some snacks and drinks while we waited for night to roll in. Thankfully, by this time, the weather had dried out, allowing us to get out on Pier 7 and adjacent spots where Christy and Sidney had their first kiss.  

We have to give this couple special kudos for being so up for pushing through the weather and needing to touch up makeup/hair constantly — the wind was doing no one any favors, and it took real courage for Christy to rock her very cool but bare-armed dress when the wind was kicking.  Either way, we loved the way this session turned out, and we can’t wait to spend more time with them on their wedding day this fall!

Special thanks to makeup artist Charrie Lanette Carter and her wonderful work with Christy :-)  Follow her on Instagram at @CharrieLanetteMua