Bring me back to beautiful Brentwood - Multi-Generational Joshi Family Photos

Once a year, families jump on airplanes from different parts of the country to reunite for a very special occasion. The Joshi family came together in California where Gautam and Neha live, and there was no better location to capture some photos of their reunion than in beautiful Brentwood. 

With rolling hills, beautiful old trees, and leisurely walking paths at Round Valley Preserve, I was able to arrive early for a solo hike to find specific scenes to shoot. A sign of a good time is wanting to do more than time allowed, so I'll definitely look for a reason to come back. East Bay kids, look me up!

Here are a few favorites from the Joshi family session. Thanks for inviting me along! I felt like an honorary Joshi for a small amount of time. :)

Enjoying Autumn and Getting Into Halloween Spirit in Denver!

This month, California is experiencing one of the most tragic set of wildfires it's ever seen. We have a toddler with a sensitive respiratory system, and had no choice but to evacuate the air deemed hazardous due to smoke. Many families had to do the same, and we were lucky enough to have my husband's parents to stay with in Denver, Colorado! We hope to return home soon to cleaner air, and of course wish all the best for those who lost so much in Northern California.

Something I love about Denver is the presence of real seasons. This sounds silly, but San Francisco is pretty much the same all year, hovering between 50 - 70 degrees and either clear or foggy most of the time. But here in Denver, Autumn is in full force, and we had to take advantage of the falling leaves and gorgeous warm colors everywhere. 

I should also mention that I'm so thankful that my 3 year old, Noah has returned as my #1 collaborator. We went through a spell of him not wanting to participate in pictures for a brief few months after his baby sister arrived, and in hindsight, it was a challenging transition for us all to grow from a family of 3 to a family of 4 -- most difficult for Noah, even if sad for me. But now he's back to saying, "mommy, I have an idea!" and we'll do it! The Halloween theme was his idea and he was super enthusiastic to wear his "Mr. Bones" shirt.

Children are the best. Family is everything! Here's to good health and easy breathing.

Amazing 6 Year Anniversary "Candy" Gift Idea: Hayes Valley Mommy & Me Photo Session

I had to share this adorable mommy & me session. In a stroke of genius, Lauren came up with an idea to give her husband a photo book themed "candy" for their traditional 6 year anniversary gift. Together, we came up with visiting a candy store, and the best one I know of is Miette in Hayes Valley. Not only is everything delicious, but the shop is as cute as can be, and it's in one of the most colorful and vibrant neighborhoods in San Francisco. 

I have limited mini sessions coming up on 11/4 in this same neighborhood and have 1 or 2 slots left. Email me if you're interested! Here's a preview!

Happy anniversary, Matt & Lauren! 

Why I Love San Francisco's Crissy Field + Baby Bradley Turns 1!

I have a couple of special things happening here. First -- mini sessions are nearly sold out, and I'm so happy I'll be reunited with families from last year, as well as meeting new faces! Some slots are available for the incredible, colorful, family friendly Hayes Valley, but Crissy Field is sold out. If you're still interested, let me know and I will open up a new date. stephanie@marilee.co

This brings me to the other special thing -- one of my newborns turned 1 year old! Proud parents Grace Ann and Brad brought baby Bradley to play in the late afternoon sunshine, and I was bewildered to see him walking (even chasing me!) in the blink of an eye. There is such joy from behind the camera over this past year. Thanks G&B for inviting me to cover his first year! 

If you've never visited Crissy Field before, you'll see amazing views of the San Francisco Bay, but the most prominent part of your view will be the Golden Gate Bridge. Crissy Field used to be a former U.S. Army airfield until 1974. Residents now enjoy a huge stretch of grassy field right along the water. 

We met & hung out by the Warming Hut for a few reasons: 1) great parking, 2) there's a pier! 3) beautiful proximity to Golden Gate Bridge and the downtown skyline, 4) lots of grassy fields, 5) tree line to create some shade when needed, 6) there's a little beach! All this is within stumbling distance, so it was great for baby Bradley to roam around. So if you've booked a mini session with me, you'll get to see some of these scenes. 

Here are a few of my faves! Enjoy.