Captured Spirits?
Haunted Bayou- ghost trails? Shutter Drag? You decide.
Categories: couples • Tags: engagements
From Charred Airbnb to Borrego Walls: Art Heist
“Sorry, Dad — I accidentally burned down the Airbnb.” One of my film darkroom prints, sold to a new collector through the Borrego Art Institute before the ashes cooled. It landed in a good home. Two other pieces made it into their January–February photography exhibit: Anthophila X and In The Between — both darkroom double exposures and collages.
Categories: personal projects • Tags: exhibitions
Nature’s Confetti: Almond Blossoms Photoshoot in Central California-
An orchard transforms into something magical and timeless like a fairytale. The scent of the trees and the floating petals really are a sight to see. I’ll be heading up to the Central Valley orchards for just a short window this season—typically late February to early March, with the absolute peak bloom lasting only about four days. If you’re dreaming of photos amid nature’s confetti, now’s the sweet spot to lock in the date.
Categories: Destination Weddings, engagements • Tags: engaged, engagement
Haunted Bayou: Liquid Spirits & a 35mm film Apparition Chaser
Here’s the thing about random conversations—they can turn into your best shoots without warning. During a photoshoot, we started swapping stories about favorite drinks and secret escapes. They casually mentioned they were building a speakeasy. Fast-forward a few months, I asked if I could photograph them right there in their own masterpiece. We shot everything on 35mm with my old Minolta. After the third cocktail kicked in, I was thanking autofocus for saving the day.
Skates & a Camera – Concrete Therapy Session – Newport Beach
ertain spots have a weird gravitational pull… like Newport Beach.
She’s roller skated almost every day for years. Newport Beach is her favorite place to skate on earth, and for her birthday she asked me to capture her there — in her element.
This is why I love what I do: document people where they feel most like themselves. And Boy was Meg feelin’ it!
It was rad. Her in her element. Me in mine. Shot with my favorite camera, off-camera strobe, and the sun doing the rest. Multiple exposures too!
Excited to get in the darkroom and process the film shot!
Behind the scenes photos shot by Kip Roof
Categories: editorial
Shooting 35mm Film on the Beach: Black and White, Nostalgia, and Letting Go of Perfection
LAGUNA BEACH, CA… Grain—sand—and 35mm film. More and more engaged couples are looking for the nostalgia of film photography, and I am here for it. For this engagement shoot, I chose Ilford XP2, my favorite black and white film. One of my wedding couples gifted me their Dad’s old camera, a Nikon FG with a 50mm lens, manual focus only. Manual focus slows down the moment, makes images a bit soft, and has a certain feeling- difficult to describe. This […]
Categories: engagements • Tags: engaged, engagements
A San Francisco City Hall Wedding on 35mm Film
There are places that never lose their magic, no matter how many times you visit them.San Francisco City Hall is one of those places for me. This couple asked for their wedding to be photographed on 35mm film. That alone made the trip worth it. At the end of the day, the couple requested this H&M pose and a Balenciaga pose—a nod to their favorite movie, Triangle of Sadness. Like I could love them anymore! Below are some of my […]
Categories: Destination Weddings, film, personal projects, Weddings • Tags: weddings. wedding
Where Pajamas, Wine, and Gravity Took the Photoshoot
Victoria is a maximalist, and what better location than a photoshoot in her home—where every piece of décor tells a story. Things got even better with a wardrobe change into pajamas, a glass of wine, and a kitchen photoshoot centered around her vintage stove. We danced through beautiful wood doors and ended up on the floor. Success! And the wine was delish- Orange from Trader Joes!
Categories: personal projects
35mm film engagement photographs zine
SANTA BARBARA, CA… I LOVE MY COUPLES Spaceman meets decorator crab, an astronaut falls from the skies Diplomatic Relations, 7:14 a.m. He smelled of Ozone, she of Kelp Creative use of engagement photos shot on 35mm film by my rad couple for their meeting and wedding – a zine! . What a treat to get this in the mail.
Categories: engagements • Tags: engaged, engagements
Because Who Doesn’t Love Family Fun, Crazy Hair, and Jumping in Photos?
YOU- that’s who. silly time fun, imperfections and life. Fun experience with the photos to prove it. Kids natural born actors, the world is our stage, places please, and the red velvet curtains open…
Categories: families, personal projects • Tags: familes
Family Photos in the Forest-Bubbles, Backflips, and Family Antics: Nature’s Playground Awaits!
LAKE FOREST, CA… Fun on location family photos in the great outdoors! Bubbles, snuggles, upside down, family fun day, letting your hair down and encouraging your kids to be kids- showcasing that they are natural born actors! They will learn to fake smile- let’s get their true reactions and who they are right now in their lives.
Categories: families, personal projects • Tags: family
Tourmoween Party Wave: 35mm film Waves and Wicked Costumes at Tourmaline!
SAN DIEGO, CA… Over 100 surfers paddled out to celebrate spooky season and party waves including, Batman, Robin, Posiedon, Cacti, and even Space Trucker! Decided a manual focus 35mm film camera for action shots would be a sweet treat -woops- but gave the out of focus party wave that added flair!
Categories: personal projects
Veiled Anthrophila on exhibition at Decode Gallery
TUCSON AZ… Decode Gallery exhibit, Darkness. My film black and white print collage Veiled Anthrophilia is on exhibit- good news is you can order it directly from the gallery, wouldn’t this look great on your wall? Thank you Decode, for having me!
Categories: film • Tags: exhibitions, film
Smashing Pumpkins
After Halloween, this family doesn’t just toss their pumpkins — they smash them! It’s become a yearly tradition full of laughter and flying pumpkin pieces. I love capturing moments like these — the unique, messy, joy-filled memories that make each family special. What’s one of your favorite family traditions? I’m gathering inspo for future shoots!
Categories: families
The Magic Silver Show Exhibition | Space Trucker’s Descent
Thrilled to share that Space Trucker Descent was selected for exhibition at the Clara M. Eagle Gallery’s Magic Silver Show! This darkroom-printed film collage found its coordinates among an inspiring group of photographic artists — honored to be part of this beautiful space. Director’s Statement:The University Galleries and the Department of Art & Design at Murray State University are pleased to presentThe Magic Silver Show: The Elena Diane Curtis Juried Photography Exhibition 2025. This exciting exhibitionwill again represent much of […]
Categories: film, personal projects, space trucker • Tags: exhibitions, film, space trucker
Laguna Beach City Hall Wedding | 35mm film & Fuji Mix!
LAGUNA BEACH, CA… Love me some 35mm film! Congrats to these lovers, who tied the knot on a Friday afternoon at Laguna Beach City Hall. After signing the papers, everyone strolled past the fire station to the Water District, where they celebrated with family and friends under the big trees and the backdrop of the beautiful Spanish-style building. Planner Dragonfly events
Golden hour on 35mm Kodak gold Film | Laguna Beach Engagement session
LAGUNA BEACH, CA… To go along with the monochrome post- we gotta sprinkle in some color! The engagement session Shot with the Nikon FG on kodak 35mm film – grain and soft manual focus- DREAMY. Special thanks to these lovers for going in the water, and getting sandy.
Categories: engagements, personal projects • Tags: engaged, engagements