Meet Adrienne M. Cossar, 25, visual development artist and style icon. Also known as Myinty, she specializes in concept work for Animation Films and Games and has been working on a new collection of astrological themed oil paintings for her upcoming show. It was such a delight working with her on this shoot! We met up for some late afternoon sun between Beverly Hills and Century City to create these shots. I love how much color poured into these takes. xx
Sona + Alireza are soon to be married in Istanbul, Turkey so I met them at the Pasadena City Hall on Sunday for an engagement session. The location was gorgeous and these two are so vibrant, in love and a total dynamic duo. So much to love here. xx
Ana- a vivacious Russian with a beautiful smile and a great love for her friends & fun + Charley- her Latin lover (now husband) with a heart of gold. Sometimes a most unexpected combination fits so right and witnessing the marriage of these two souls was just that. It was a simple ceremony where I met them for just a few hours on the back patio of the Ca del Sole Italian restaurant in Studio City, CA. The bougainvillea was in gorgeous bloom and the long table was set for their nearest & dearest friends and family. It was a simple and no-fuss way to have a beautiful celebration. xo
Meet Shauna & Graham, two gracious souls who got married at El Presidio de Santa Bárbara- a state historic site on Canon St built by Spain in 1782. Originally a fortress, two original adobe buildings still stand here- including the 2nd oldest surviving structure in California. Thus, it was extra special to have such a sense of history for a west coast wedding. On a day of many moments, one that stands out is when a close friend graced these two creatives with a meditation within the thick, quiet adobe walls holding the realities of dust & time before walking down the aisle. True to their spirit- authenticity, family, friendship, intention & joy encircled these two throughout their wedding day. Following the ceremony, a multi-instrumental procession performed by friends and family led the party to the reception across the street at the Alhecama Theatre. Here, tables were covered in goldenrod yellow, bowls of mandarins overflowed (Graham’s favorite) and market lights hung from above. Inside on the wooden stage, Shauna’s dad performed more than one song as the dance floor kicked into gear. Shauna & Graham- y’all crushed it and it was oh-so-lovely. xx
That dress btw? Leanne Marshall | Location: El Presidio | Reception: Alhecama Theatre | Event planning: Burlap & Rose Weddings
Have you noticed the fresh looks coming from old school Gucci? In 2015 the brand revitalized its image with the choice of Alessandro Michele, an Italian designer, as its new creative director. A bold, unconventional choice for the job, and his work follows suit. The juxtaposition of mediums, vibrant colors and mis-matched layered prints and materials all find a way to the surface in discordant unison. Shooting with one of my favorite models (also Italian) Sarah Cioffoletti + assist of stylist/MUA Anna Calloway, we channeled some of Alessandro’s charm on a cold winter’s day in Asheville, NC. xx
Sarah: @contr_heiress Anna: @violetteplanette
Graciela & Lucas Miller have since become proud parents since this shoot. I love that we fit this maternity session in when we did. Grace is an incredible woman in her own right, an amazing new mom, and a dear friend of mine. And when she has a vision, you can be sure that she’ll make it a reality! This was a collaborative shoot pulling iconic inspiration from Sophia Loren & Frida Kahlo. Channeling Loren’s timeless Italian seaside aesthetic, we captured several striking images on black & white film with my manual medium format camera at Abalone Cove. After lunch, we prepped for round two which is when her hubby met up with us near the coast in San Pedro. This group of images felt painterly- using lots of bold color, fresh roses and a textured natural outdoor location. We wrapped it up with sunset at the coast because, well, the timing was right and we were right there! It’s impossible to ignore the light when it’s just so right. I loved bringing these ideas to life- but I had the easy job! Grace just delivered her baby girl a few weeks ago! It’s fitting that so much of this shoot was by the sea- she had a successful all natural water birth. Welcome to this great wild world Sedona <3.
McKenzie & Erin held the most beautiful fall wedding near Asheville North Carolina. The day was glowing with these two incredible women. The ceremony was held outdoors with the sun filtering in through a hug of tall trees. Catering was done food truck style beside a field of goats and donkeys. And by evening all guests were tearing it up on the wooden dance floor. So excited for you guys! xx
It’s been 30 years since the Los Angeles Teachers Union went on strike. However their demands were not met at the negotiating table- so they’re picketing the streets for smaller class sizes and more counselors, nurses and pay as of 7am this Monday morning. At Hollenbeck Middle School in Boyle Heights, the teachers stood in the pouring rain with ponchos and flyers while chanting their demands. "I'm a teacher and I brought my son with me to strike." said Ed Weber with his son Jasper Weber age 8. "If we don't stand up now the quality of our education will continue to be eroded." says Weber who has been a teacher in Los Angeles for 23 years.
It was fun to check out NPR’s homepage later this afternoon! Was glad to see one of my photos make it to the top of the page :) Check out the stories here: https://www.npr.org/2019/01/14/685095810/under-rainy-skies-los-angeles-teachers-take-to-the-picket-lines and here: https://www.npr.org/2019/01/13/684645947/los-angeles-teachers-are-moving-forward-with-a-strike
With the first possible teacher’s strike in 30 years looming in LA, parents, students and teachers are bracing for a no-show in the classrooms come Monday morning. However they will be nearby, picketing for smaller class sizes and more help by way of more librarians, counselors and higher wages. Teachers are the guides of our next generation- lets help them find the resources they need to make our public schools ones that we can be proud of. Article here: https://www.npr.org/2019/01/11/684420036/i-m-a-little-stressed-la-teachers-brace-for-a-possible-strike?live=1
Erin & Eric know how to throw a wedding. Everything was simply gorgeous & graced by a sun-filled October day. So many of their loved ones flooded into Duke Gardens to celebrate the vows of this couple. Nothing was rushed and everything was lovely. Everyone’s presence was quickly treated to champagne flutes on the garden grounds following the I Do’s, while Erin & Eric greeted everyone in turn. Their attention to detail clearly applies to the friendships these two have. I wish these sweethearts only more magic in the years to come. xx
Congratulations to these loves! With plans to marry next month in China, we got up early for a sweet engagement session by the California coast. These images will be sitting pretty at their wedding for a reflection of their home in the USA. Location: Rancho Palos Verdes, Abalone Cove
Naomi and her beau flew into LA from New York and we were able to set up this gorgeous botanical-inspired engagement session at the LA Arboretum. Lucky for our short window of time, we had those classic California sun rays all afternoon. Naomi has a love for cacti so we incorporated those beautiful desert vibes and then made our way to the ancient forest to create some lush Gauguin inspired images. Best wishes to this dreamy duo who are set to marry on Long Island next year. xo
Emily & Joe are going to make great parents. They have an easy positive energy and are expecting their first child in just a few weeks. It was lovely capturing this maternity session for them at Lacy Park in Pasadena, CA.
Meet 13 yr old Mae. She rides horses competitively and is rapidly becoming an IG influencer. We met up at the stables in Pasadena, CA to capture the equestrian brands she reps. This girl is driven, dedicated and is definitely going places!
Lucky us, it was another gorgeous LA afternoon which offered up some beautiful light for wedding photos. The bride Elsy looked positively stunning and her new hubby was totally dapper and charming. Location: Brand Park, Glendale CA
Mazel Tov! I met the sweetest couple ever and am so excited for their future together. They were in town from Dallas and this was a quickie fun engagement session at Venice Fishing Pier near Marina Del Rey, CA.
On a seemingly average Wednesday afternoon these two flew in from Maryland with three of their nearest and dearest to have an intimate wedding ceremony along the rocky coastline of Malibu, CA. I felt so honored to be part of this gathering. Congratulations to these two incredible women. I wish now that I’d photographed a copy of their vows… they were so beautiful and everything you would want to hear from your partner in life. <3
Danielle & Christian, got married in a fragrant botanical nursery in Venice, CA. The roses, lights and warmth of a summer night were a gorgeous hug around this vivacious and tender duo. After getting ready, we held the first look beneath the iconic hanging Venice sign up the street from their home. These two have a real kind of love, and their marriage was a long time coming. The catering was delicious and 100% vegan, there were games for all sizes, floral bouquets in all directions and an intimate environment that held both a lot of love and a good time. Congratulations D&C!
Venue: Big Red Sun | Hair: Logan | Catering: Cena Vegan
I had the pleasure of teaming up with luxury bedding company CozyDown for a product and lifestyle shoot in Downtown Los Angeles. We took plenty of photos of the beds, but my favorites were wrapped up on the balcony! They create premium down filled comforters and I think these photos look pretty cozy :) Daria modeled and was gorgeous to work with.
Amanda & Taylor had a beautiful backyard wedding in the garden of her family home. This intimate wedding felt so heartfelt, natural and joyous. I loved the way their children were also celebrated and honored on this special day. All my best to these two!
