fabulous in oakland | seattle family documentary photographer

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.” -Coco Chanel

I've been anxious to share this family session, but I wanted to give it a little time and distance or I likely would have included 100 photos. Words can't express how much I love this family and in a week where loss has been the theme, it felt really good to go back and focus on this beautiful family that I hold so close to my heart. Mikal was one of my first friends when I was the new kid in high school and though we drifted during our college years, we found each other again in San Francisco where I was lucky enough to witness Mikal and Mike's first dates and early months of head over heels falling in love. Within months they were engaged and planning their intimate back yard wedding. Fast forward a few years when they welcomed their first son Liam who I am lucky enough to call my godson, followed by sweet Henry. Although I have photographed this family for years, during weekends in Seattle, at their home in Oakland, or on San Juan Island, clicking away between conversations with my best friend or while trying to get dinner ready for the kids, this time I was focused entirely on them and it was magical. That morning in the Oakland hills, the fog swept over their house and the entire hillside was covered in mist, reminding Mikal and I of home in Seattle. The photographer part of me was so excited to photograph in the fog (I love me some fog!), and Mikal didn't let the weather deter her from being her glamorous self. Always one to throw on a dress and heels in lieu of jeans like the rest of us (okay, me), she played tennis and baseball with her boys, all while looking fabulous and so completely Mikal. It was a morning of jumping on the bed, close cuddles, laughter, a few meltdowns to keep it real, comforting embraces, and joy in the midst of all that fog and real life even though it may look a bit more glamorous than yours or mine.