Palace of Fine Arts for grad photos? Say less. Happy to celebrate Gloria’s accomplishments and upcoming 30th birthday with her! Also, check how perfectly that tassel is hanging–so lucky!
Graduation || Jenna
Started grad photo season with a bang! Jenna and I celebrated her upcoming graduation from Berkeley Law and her recent moot court competition wins. Jenna was truly a superstar and the sun blessed her accordingly!
Holiday || Me!
Obviously, I took my own holiday card photos. Fernando and I recently moved to San Jose, and we wanted to take our photos here to highlight the life change. While jogging one day, I came across San Jose’s rose garden and knew this would be the place. We came around 8:30 a.m. on picture day, and I’m glad we did because around 9:00 a.m. the garden started filling with other families taking holiday photos. Looks like we picked the spot! The morning fog provided the a nice hazy background and the softest morning light. In 30 minutes we had enough selection for the holidays, and beyond!
Senior || Mayra
When Fernando’s niece asked me to take her senior portraits, my first reaction was “I am cool enough for Gen Z!!” We planned our date around the holidays and got to work. The Claremont colleges served as our backdrop, and they put in work providing beautiful old architecture and maintained greenery for the photos. Mayra came in the cutest preppy outfit that paired nicely with her surroundings. And I have to say, she started out a little camera shy, but after an hour she was hitting poses like it was no one’s business! I am honored to have had a little part in her celebration of this milestone (and I am really looking forward to coming back to this campus to take more photos)!
Family || Martinez Olguin
It is always fun when my lawyering and photography worlds collide. In this case, one of my mentors reached out to me to take some family photos. Apparently many other families had the location in mind because there were at least four other sessions happening at the same time. Luckily, that gave us more time to catch up. And, oh my goodness, when I tell you that her daughter was one of the most special people I’ve ever met, I mean it. I hope to continue to capture her family over time!
Branding || Marsha
Marsha and I met through her twin sister years ago when I was working on Flavors of Oakland. Since then, Marsha moved to Hawaii, got her yoga instructor certification, and her massage therapy license. She recently moved back to the Bay and was looking to do some branding for her business so she reached out to me. We put together a concept for a serene, outdoor vibe, and I love how these turned out! S/o to Marsha and her model for getting up early for these sunrise shots.
Check out my photos in action at: https://www.marsharosenblatt.com
Environmental Portrait || Victoria
My co-worker wrapped up her term last week, and I cannot deal. As a parting gift, I offered to take some environmental portraits of her in her office and in the library, and let me tell you, I was shocked by how gorgeous the lighting looks in the office!
Thank you, Victoria, for an excellent year, and you all can look forward to her engagement photos coming Spring 2022!
Graduation || Henna
After an abrupt end to our law school experience, the bar exam, and almost a year of practice, it was great to see Henna again! As a double bear, this return to campus was quite sentimental for her, but I am so glad that I was able to help her capture the magic of Berkeley in a way that she could take back with her to New York. Something about this overcast day lent the creamiest colors and softest lighting that make Henna’s striking feature POP. I can’t wait to see how the proud parents react to these mementos!
Graduation || Jenny
When Jenny reached out to me asking me to take her graduation photos, I was so flattered! Despite going to school across the Bay she’d heard of me and loved my work. And then, when she scheduled her photos for the weekend after the bar exam, I was so impressed! This future-public-defender chingona came through looking fly af with smiles, confidence, and lashes for dayyyys!
Graduation || Niland
Niland reeeeeeally didn’t want to drive all the way out to Santa Cruz to take graduation photos, but you only graduate from UC Santa Cruz once! There was no way I was foregoing the diffused light through the redwoods, wide open pastures, and iconic Santa Cruz vistas; and I’m so glad he was convinced. These photos were particularly special because Niland is my sister’s boyfriend, and I am so proud of what I delivered for him and his family. Watch out! Slug crossing!
Senior Portraits || Leah
A full circle moment! Ryan was one of the first senior portrait sessions I ever did, and this year I had the honor of taking photos for his little sister. She loved the idea of going to the same park and recreating some of the looks we did for Ryan. I love watching my work evolve over time. But more importantly, I love watching my relationships with clients involve into genuine friendships!
Graduation || Rachel
Although every session is fun, this one was made a little extra special by the group of students who cheered for Rachel as she posed in front of the big Berkeley Law sign. Rachel was all smiles, laughs, and shakas! After we mostly wrapped up we spent a few minutes chatting about the bar exam and hung out long enough to catch the lights come on and get some moody dusk vibes. Congrats Rachel!
Graduation || Emma
Okkk yellow! One of my most fun discoveries this season is that I had virtually no outfit color repeats. And Emma in the yellow just makes sense. And can we talk about how she brought a Berkeley themed trolls doll to photographer with her? A riot! Thank you for the belly laughs and dance moves!
Graduation || Clarissa & Manny
Come to law school for a degree, leave with a sweetheart? Yeah, I know what it’s like. This was primarily Clarissa’s shoot with a few photos of Manny, but I could not help myself and had to go overboard with the couple photos. Clarissa’s pink and seafoam outfits paired with Manny’s brightly colored stole made these photos pop! It was also adorable to see my friends so enamorados. Congratulations y’all!
Graduation || Maria
One of my favorite things about taking graduation portraits is seeing people that I’ve only known in a school context get all snazzy! (At this point, it is also just great to see people after a year, alone, indoors.) Maria cleaned up nice! She was such a joy to photograph and had me cracking up the entire time. The hoops, the red lips, the dress, it was all such a vibe.
Graduation || Jareli
Of course she came with the crocs!
Graduation || Katy
I met Katy at Admitted Students Weekend before she even started this law school journey. I also served as Co-President of the La Raza Law Students Association during her first year and she took over the position from me the next year. So special to watch her celebrate this huge accomplishment!
Graduation || Maya
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it. Maya’s a model. Look at the angles, look at the face, look at the limb control. Truly an honor to capture these!
Graduation || Samah & Saroop
“Siri, play Best Friend by Saweetie and Doja Cat.”
That’s it. That’s the whole tweet.
Graduation || Maya
Okay so Maya is one of my top 10 best posers of all time! I would tell her, “can you move you arm like this?” and she would do what I imagined but better. I mean, look at the perfectly pointed toes in the last photos!
But, yeah, golden hour, backlighting, nature, YES.