My whole life up until now, I've been fortunate to make Southern California my home. I grew up in Ventura County, and our weekend playground spots extend to the sunset beaches of Ventura and Santa Barbara. I also started my business here; for over a decade now getting to venture into beautiful wedding venues in Camarillo, private estates in Los Angeles, and my favorite- the Santa Barbara County Courthouse. But as our family of five has grown, so have our dreams for our future. While I will always be a California native girl at heart, we’ve decided it’s time to trade PCH and California golden hour for a homestead life in North Carolina.
From the Pacific Coast to the Piedmont
Though all the way across the country, this isn’t a random move for us. It feels like a series of “meant-to-be” moments leading us home. With my sister-in-law and parents-in-law already settled in the Charlotte area, and my high school best friend living in the Triangle, the pull toward the Blue Ridge Mountains became impossible to ignore. Especially with all of them constantly asking us when we're moving out to NC... There’s also a personal connection here that started for me in high school. One of my friends talked a lot about his childhood in Raleigh and the forest in his backyard. As a kid in a condo in Simi Valley, that sounded like a dream. Then my now husband introduced me to the music of the Avett Brothers, and I’ve felt a connection to the soul of North Carolina since then. My husband proposed to me to "If It's The Beaches", and now we are looking to move to the exact town that the Avett Brothers grew up in. It feels very full circle for us. We are currently looking for a nature embedded property in Cabarrus County to build our homestead—complete with chickens, dogs, cats, and plenty of room for our three kids to roam. As I transition to being a film wedding photographer in North Carolina, I find myself drawn to the same organic, garden-style elements that defined my California career—now reimagined among the ivy, brick, and lush greenery of the South! I am truly so excited for a new chapter, new landscapes, and new wedding venues to explore in The Carolinas.
"If it's the beaches, if it's the beaches sands you want then you will have them. If it's the mountain's rolling rivers then you will have them..."
The Timeless Aesthetic: Why I'll Continue as a Film and Digital Wedding Photographer in North Carolina
In a world of fast-paced digital imagery, often with a cheap filter slapped on top to "mimic" film, I choose to remain a true hybrid film and digital photographer because of both the nostalgia and the future legacy it creates. My style is rooted in the soft grain, luminous skin tones, and nostalgic warm color palettes that only true film can provide. As I primarily work with couples and families who grew up with film as the only or most accessible photography medium, there is a certain level of 80's and 90's nostalgia baked into using real film, especially in a new world obsessed with technology and AI. Continuing as a film wedding photographer in North Carolina, I believe this medium perfectly complements the region’s aesthetic:
- The Light: Film handles the lush, humid greens of the North Carolina landscape with a soft, ethereal quality that digital often misses. I often see wedding photographers turning their greens brown in post processing, which I have never understood. I choose film to capture how the greens of both oak trees, and ivy covered walls actually present themselves.
- The Heritage: Film is a physical medium. Just like the historic estates in Charlotte and Charleston, it feels permanent and traditional, rather than just a new fad or the latest technology. (Looking at you, AI.)
- The Moment: Shooting film requires intentionality. It allows me to slow down and capture the simple and true moments that make your wedding day truly yours. California has been my home for over 30 years, but I will admit that the hustle pace of being close to Los Angeles doesn't fit my personality. I enjoy slow days, nature walks, playing outside with my children, and living intentionally. North Carolina has felt so much more in line with that even in the brief visits we have had to Charlotte and the Biltmore Estate in Asheville.
Film Photos from The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North carolina- From 2024
A Dual-Based Approach: California Roots, North Carolina Future
I am not saying goodbye to my West Coast couples. Because we have deep family roots in Ventura County, I am maintaining a dual-based business model. I will be traveling back several times a year to visit family and friends, and maintain wedding dates during these times. Whether you need a Santa Barbara film wedding photographer for palm trees and sunsets, or a Charlotte film wedding photographer for gardens and red brick estates, I am here to bridge that gap with a decade of experience.
The Roadmap to Summer 2027
Moving a family of five across the country takes a lot of planning, as well as grace that things will be up in the air for a while. Here is my tentative transition schedule:
- Summer 2026: Extensive house scouting in NC. I am available for film engagement sessions during this time! I will be starting to make connections and get my lay of the land.
- Late 2026 - Spring 2027: The official move to the Charlotte area!
- June 2027: Booking my first wedding dates as a film wedding photographer in The Carolinas.
A taste of What to expect when You work With ME:
Now Booking: Your North Carolina Film Wedding Photographer
If you are a 2027 couple who values the timeless, grain-filled look of film photography and you’re planning a wedding celebration in the Carolinas or California, I would love to meet you. Let’s document your legacy together. You bring the love, I'll bring the film.
