Alaya & Christian at Big Sur!

I recently photographed the wedding of Alaya and Christian at beautiful Big Sur, CA. It was a very special wedding—or perhaps elopement. The couple kept it very intimate, sharing and celebrating with four friends, one of whom officiated. It was quite a treat to be able to photograph the ceremony so close, and an extra bonus that Alaya and Christian are awesomely fun people and totally in love—which made my job easy! From looking at the pictures, you would never guess the torrential rains the day before and a washed-out dirt road nearly ruined my plans to be there! As you can see, everything worked out perfectly and right before the ceremony, the fog cleared and the sun shone happily while Alaya and Christian said “I do.”

And check out their online SLIDESHOW.

George Saunders at Stanford University

Last week, George Saunders came to Stanford University for a reading and colloquium, as part of the Lane Lecture Series. Mr. Saunders told the audience that he'd begin with a very serious academic lecture on literature, but if you've read any of his stories, you might have been a little suspicious... Sure enough, Saunders' quips soon had the auditorium filled with laughter. After the "lecture," Saunders read his short story "CommComm."

Here's the director of the Stanford Creative Writing Program, poet Eavan Boland, with a warm welcome.

Then to introduce Saunders is fiction writer Tobias Wolff. Wolff taught and mentored Saunders at Syracuse University.

George Saunders.

Saunders miming the time he ate an enormous cheeseburger. (Just kidding.)

At the colloquium the next morning, Saunders discussed the meaning of progress in one's writing (with some helpful advice for writers and students) and finished with a question and answer session.

Saunders was most gracious in speaking with attendees and signing books.

After the colloquium, attendees enjoying lunch on the patio.

Baby Phoebe and Her Beautiful Family

I had the pleasure of photographing newborn Phoebe, her big brother Emerson, and the parents Rachel and Alyson. Rachel is Alexa's sister (who, with her husband and son, makes frequent appearances on this blog), so it was so nice to photograph more of the family out here in California. I was thrilled to see Alexa and Max again during their visit here; I do miss being neighbors with them. Well, welcome Phoebe and congratulations Rachel and Alyson!

Max at One Year

The day before leaving Virginia, I photographed Max--the son of my good friends Alexa and Jeremy--when he was nearing his one-year-birthday. We went to a nearby playground and also Ellanor C. Lawrence Park. I've had the pleasure of photographing Max before: when he was 10 days old and when he was in the womb--well, technically, I photographed his parents :)

Alexa, Jeremy, and Max were also our neighbors in Virginia. I'm really going to miss them and also miss watching Max grow up. Alexa helped found the Holistic Moms Network of Northern Virginia; she's an amazing woman. They have family in the bay-area, so I suspect (and hope) that this won't be the last time you see Max on my photo blog :)

Here's the adorable Max! (You can compare how he's grown from his newborn and even earlier in the maternity photos.)

Jammage, Inc.

Jammage, Inc. are siblings Bradley and Kimberly. Bradley will be a senior GMU, where he is studying English Literature. Kimberly will also be a senior this year, in high school. Every time I hear Kim sing, I think, "That is amazing!" And then several months will go by and I'll hear her sing again, and I'll be completely blown away again, even more so. She is only 17 and her voice is developing absolutely beautifully. And Brad is also a fantastic guitar player. He carries it with him everywhere and it's the best. I hired them to play at my engagement party in 2007, and Brad again for my wedding in May. Highly recommended! Thanks to my best friend Heather for helping out with the photo shoot :) Heather will also be using her graphic design talents to use these images for an album cover or something. (Heather is cousins with Jammage, Inc.) We shot in Pennsylvania, at my mom's house, where we were all hanging before the drive across the US. Brad and Kim performed after the shoot and even the Von Kundra bird was dancing. You have to hear them, if you ever get the chance.

You can get more info, hear a few tunes, etc. on the Jammage, Inc. myspace.

Here is the talented duo: