There’s no doubt that my work as a photographer takes me to fascinating places, geographically and emotionally. I capture weddings at stunning and tucked away places all over California. While there, I get the joy of understanding my clients on a personal level. And hey, I even take my camera along just for fun during my family’s travels. But what you don’t see is the hours I spend poring over photos at the computer, figuring out which images will make the cut. Out of all those hundreds of thousands of photos I captured and sorted through in 2024, these are the ones that make me laugh, chuckle, fill with pride or revisit spaces I loved.
In no particular order, here are ten of my favorite images captured in 2024—along with the stories that make them even more vivid to me.
10. Holding Nothing Back (San Pedro, Belize)
When you vacation on a small Island of the coast of Belize, your list of destinations is a short one. And maybe that’s just the point. But Secret Beach was one of the destinations we were told was a must-visit. So after an hour of driving our caravan of golf carts to the far side of the island (cars are rare there), the secret was out. Picture palm-thatched rooves covering bars and souvenir shops, American radio hits playing over old speakers, piers with massage tables at the furthest edge, visitors sipping drinks and munching on seafood while sitting at tables submerged by waves . . . and hundreds of chaise lounges. It’s nothing I would call secret, but it was something to see. For me, this frame captured a bit of the colorful and weathered DIY feel of this island community.
Note the umbrellas made of rebar without any fabric to keep the warm Atlantic rain and sun away. They may not be pretty, but they’ll be around for a good, long while.
9. Snowy Escape (Big Bend, CA)
I’m not new to parenting, but I’m a total rookie when it comes to raising a teenager. It took some pleading to get this one in the car for a morning in the snow. There was some peacemaking to keep her and the two younger brothers in the back seat from wounding each other. And I may have resorted to some hot cocoa-based bribery to get her out of the car once we arrived. But once she stepped away from the others for a walk with me, she turned the place into her own winter wonderland. She broke through the thin ice of frozen streams with snowballs. She hummed new favorite songs to herself. She *gasp* asked me to take photos of her manufacturing her own snowfall. (Believe me, she’ll rarely ask for photos). I’m just glad to be welcomed into her world like I was that day.
8. Getting Her Ready (Newcastle, CA)
When I sit down across the table with couples about photographing their weddings, I use words like “photojournalistic” or “candid” to describe my approach. There are a million little stories playing out on a wedding day and it’s my mission to chase those threads along wherever they go.
In the loft of a barn warmed by the summer sun, it was Kaitlyn’s turn to put on the dress. Her bridesmaids were there, and so were her mother and soon-to-be mother-in-law. Not to mention a few other family friends, makeup artists, hairstylists, and kids. Okay, there was a small army on hand to watch this moment. I moved myself to focus only on the main characters as they buttoned up Kaitlyn’s dress and laid it out just so.
The flower girl had been a part of all the preparations leading up to this point, sticking close and joking around with the bride. They seemed close as sisters, though I learned they are rather sisters in spirit. And this young woman was eating up every moment of it. As she ventured into the frame during this shot, I decided that this image was going to be about her instead of the bride. While there are hints of what’s happening on the faces of the other six women in the photo, you can see the light of joy in her face.
Can you blame her? There’s nothing like being welcomed into the center of something special.
7. This Is The Way (Jenner, CA)
I’m sure my friends get tired of my international travel tales–and my tendency to share the history of far-flung places. But the truth is that I’m crazy about my adopted homeland of California. Seriously, what can’t you find in California?
Here you’ll find one of the highest peaks in the country (Mt. Whitney), or the lowest point in the continent (Death Valley). But even if you’re not all about the extreme altitudes you’ll find plenty to love. Pear orchards, movie sets, wineries, alpine lakes and sprawling cityscapes are all part of the quilt that makes up this state. But I’m probably most partial to the coastline, hugging the Pacific Ocean from top to bottom of the state.
This frame comes from the greener, northern coastline of California. It’s where the weather can get a little moodier and the water a little colder. You’re likely to stumble upon tidepool treasures and rugged cliffs. And I think all that makes the area remarkably scenic. Maybe even romantic?
For a sense of scale, see if you can spot the hikers making their way along the cliffside trail.
6. Keep Warm (Inverness, CA)
Compared to the last coastal photograph, it’s a little easier to spot the humans in this one.
Sure, Maureen and Abdul are city kids. But they were determined to visit the remote Point Reyes National Seashore for their engagement photos. In fact, it would be their first time visiting. The rain and clouds looked a bit menacing on the way out to the coast, and we all let out a sigh of relief as the departing clouds left behind a golden haze. It all made for a beautiful playground for these two to mark off a wonderful time of life together.
I especially liked this shot of them cuddling there in the ice plant and sea grasses, just a few hundred feet from the ocean. The gusty wind may have dropped the temperatures, but they seemed to be keeping plenty warm. I doubt their first trip to Point Reyes will be their last.
5. Deplane, Deplane (McClellan, CA)
Most weddings I photograph don’t include a trip to the local Aerospace Museum. Then again, most of my grooms aren’t commercial airline pilots with a love of vintage aircraft. And even if they were, I doubt most brides would be willing to sneak away from the reception for photos out on the tarmac. This wasn’t “most weddings”.
In other words, the stars aligned for plenty of fun out there with Karina and Joe. And my favorite of the bunch was this image of them stepping down the stair truck, as though they had just landed and were setting off on their honeymoon. Sweetness and vintage vibes were in full supply.
4. Surf . . . (Stinson Beach, CA)
Okay, okay–so there’s a lot of coastline in this year’s collection of photos. And there’s a great reason.
At the beginning of 2024, my wife and I asked the kids if they had any goals for the year. My daughter quickly chimed in with, “We should totally visit the beach every weekend!”
We were expecting something more along the lines of personal growth goals, clearing hurdles, accomplishing feats of strength, etc. You know, trademark January speak. But my wife and I gave her idea some extra thought. My family has recently struggled with overcoming some trauma and big emotional issues, and we’ve noticed that we tend to enjoy being with each other more when we’re out exploring together. Maybe not weekly, but monthly trips to the beach could be just what we needed to do some healing.
This frame comes from our first beach adventure of the year, right at the start of January. Even if the setting hadn’t been absolutely beautiful (which it was), it was indeed a wonderful time together. And I thank God for our many other trips to the beach this past year.
3. . . . Turf (Stinson Beach, CA)
So that same trip to Stinson Beach I just told you about also included a 6.6-mile hike. It may not have been a walk in the park, but any trail that leads me through redwoods, ferns and waterfalls is halfway to heaven for me. Even better, I got to take that hike with my family.
Well, the rest of the family made it through half of the hike–enough to get them down to relax on the sands of the beach itself while I approached peak soreness.
2. This Kiss (Newcastle, CA)
Is it okay for me to love an image simply because the sun was in just the right spot? And because the dandelions covered the ground with a supremely soft feel? And because the couple was so very abandoned to joy, generosity and kindness?
If “yes”, then I submit this photo for your consideration and enjoyment. That day was a dream, and I wasn’t even the one getting married.
1. Two Sigma Guys (Capitola, CA)
Yet another one of our monthly, cathartic trips to the beach brought us here. After some pastries in Santa Cruz, some impromptu shopping at the Rip Curl Outlet Store, and a visit to some dear friends in Capitola, we spent the last of our daylight at New Brighton Beach.
Who would have thought that the same two brothers voted most likely to throw each other from a moving train would choose to hole up on the same rock as the tide came in? And who would have thought they’d latch on to each other like the best of friends for all their oceanside antics. Not me. But it certainly gave me hope to see a bit of real friendship growing between my two sons.
And yes, these same two boys chose the title for this image.
Runners Up
Thank you kindly for diving deeper into my favorite photographs and memories of 2024. I hope the new year holds plenty of adventure for us all!
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1 comment
Just amazing pictures for unforgettable moments. Thank you for always giving your best!
Best wishes to you and your family always!