Working with youth who are homeless, youth who are working hard to overcome life’s challenges, and become independent, and stable, youth who maybe didn’t have a supportive family to come home to, it’s both a reminder of how lucky I am and a reminder that there are so many ways we can make a difference in these kids lives. If I’ve learned anything at all in the 8 years I was marketing and communications manager for SAY, it’s this: our kids need adults in their corner. Adults who won’t give up on them. They need a community to support them. They deserve this, and so much more.

When I started at SAY, the only photos we had were black and white images of sullen kids glaring at a camera. The images were probably stock photos. Used on brochures and online to announce our services. These images didn’t match the hope and determination I saw in our kids. They didn’t match the way I viewed our work. So I got to change that by creating images filled with color. With smiles. With action. I view our youth with a lot of hope for their futures, because that is how they view themselves.

This gallery is just a small sampling of the 15,000+ photos I took over these years. I look back at these photos and have a tremendous amount of love for every single one of these kids. I like to think that that love shows up in my framing, my color choices, my lighting.

Katrina wore cowboy boots under her gorgeous dress, and had these amazing tiny pearls in her hair. The ceremony was held in the afternoon, with sun shining over the Russian River below us. From there, the evening was full of dinner and dancing on an outdoor patio. Right after the ceremony, Katrina and Hunter shared glasses of bourbon and noshed on a charcuterie board, while spending a few quiet moments together. Later on, they shared bourbon flavored cupcakes, made by Cupcravery, before dancing long into the night.

The entire day was so filled with joy and laughter, I’m honored to have taken part in it!

Kiddos don’t always want to pay attention to the camera, which is exactly what I love about them, so I had a great time just letting the photo shoot happen exactly how Ethan wanted it – he got to play with mom, and climb a jungle gym, and I just hung back and captured some of the great moments.

Their wedding was held at a lovely private home owned by family friends, with catering from a local paella vendor, and for dessert, a gorgeous tower of croquembouche, harkening back to Stephanie’s French roots. Her grandmother flew in from France, and stole the show with a speech about the love their family shares, and how happy they were to be celebrating this occasion together.

Katrina and Hunter are members of the wine club at Truett Hurst so the location was an easy decision. The entire vineyard is gorgeous, from grassy fields and an old barn, to a gorgeous river view and a delicate flower garden. I loved Katrina’s cowboy boots and hat; and Hunter’s whole cowboy-casual look. I heard Katrina’s planning to reuse the boots on her wedding day. Can’t wait to see them!

With a shortage of parking at their venue, Twin Hill Farms in Sebastopol, they hired a yellow school bus to ferry folks in from town. They also had a kids entertainment station with colored pencils and the cutest coloring book style images of themselves! The apple farm was the perfect venue for their wedding, and it was a joy to work with Brooke and Bill.