FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY.

Five years ago today, our lives changed dramatically for the better.  Your mother and I were suddenly thrown into the crazy, wonderful world of parenthood, and for a while we forgot what a good night's sleep was like.  A few days later, you were recovering from surgery in the newborn intensive care unit, and we were reminded about how fragile, precious life is.  But you were so strong, and you teach me what real strength means everyday.  You were brave, braver than I've ever been.  Before your first birthday, you were recovering from your third surgery, and you held my finger as you lay in a pillow-lined plastic radio flyer, and you didn't complain once, and I learned what patience and being present meant.  Most days I feel utterly humbled to be your dad.  Your smile makes my heart smile, and your laugh makes the sun rise everyday.  Your heart will move mountains, son, because, you see, it already has.  Happy birthday, Justin. I love, I love, I love you.

MY FOLKS ON FILM. SAN FRANCISCO FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER.

Flew through San Francisco to catch up with my folks on the way back from Mexico.  Love them.

FAMILY ON FILM

 A mix of cheapie Fujifilm Superia and pricey Kodak Portra on Contax 645, Contax T2 and Canon 1V from the past few weeks.

CHRISTINA + CESAR // KOREA PRE-WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY

I love international couples.  Christina is of Korean descent but was raised in London, Hong Kong and Singapore.  Cesar's parents are from the Dominican Republic, but he grew up in New York City.  They met while they were students at Columbia University and currently reside in Singapore.  They swung through Seoul to have an engagement lunch with her extended Korean family at the famous Sam Cheong Gak restaurant, and arranged for me to take some photos of them beforehand.

I was happy to hear of Christina's appreciation of film, having taken a few darkroom classes as a student.  I put a Contax 645 through its paces along with my workhorse Canon 1V.  All shot on Kodak Portra 400; the B&W photos were converted in post.

JACK'S ADOPTION STORY // KOREA FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER

Becky and Brian finally welcomed Jack Hwan into their family last week. The whole adoption process took them about two-and-a-half years.  Needless to say, it was pretty amazing watching a beautiful couple with so much love to give become a family of three.

Becky had shown my work to some of her coworkers, but never got in touch with me because she didn't think she could afford to have a photographer present.  Her co-workers secretly pitched in and arranged to have me document their adoption story; they surprised her at work a few days before she and Brian were scheduled to leave America for Korea.  I'm so grateful that I was able to be there and help tell the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.