Hello world! Meet Brady Nolan Giehl! This bundle of joy was welcomed on 5.25.22 in Oak Park California. Mom Julie and Dad Nolan are so over the moon to hold their little guy. This beautiful baby boy was simply perfection during his newborn photo session. It's was such a pleasure to photograph Brady. At just 10 days new he slept right through making it for a lovely, calm experience for his parents. This sweet baby boy was incredible at his newborn session, just look at those full cheeks and sweet little face — yes I even got a smile in too!!! I absolutely can not wait to watch this little guy grow.

You can take the girl out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the girl. They carved their names out on an oak tree years ago and now their fate in sealed. This cute couple had a small wedding here at Wolfe Canyon Ranch in Thousand Oaks California. The rustic ranch was the perfect location for their vow exchanged to one another. As the sun set behind the mountain we captured these two love birds out in the field having fun as they did years ago when they first met. Come check out these favorites of mine from the day!

Vendors:

Makeup: Spyke Beauty @spykebeauty 

Hair: Pacheco Beauty @pachecobeauty

Venue: Wolfe Canon Ranch @wolfecanonranch

Decor: Party Pleasers @partypleasers

Florial: Flower House 805 @flowerhouse805

Dresses:Bella Bleu Bridal @bellableubridal

Photo: Naomi Epstein Photography @nephotography

I met Lauren and Dan three years ago when they were planning their wedding. We exchanged info and kept in touch through facebook and instagram. When the pandemic hit, their plans to tie the knot were changed just a bit. Their date was set for mid March and well, lock down had thrown a curve ball. But, Lauren’s mom was amazing and made a small wedding for them in her backyard with just the immediate family. A year later, Lauren and Dan decided to add another member to the family. They welcomed their new Aussiedoodle Grover to the mix. Well, one week after bring home their puppy, Lauren was surprise to found out that she was going to be a mom! She laughed and told me don’t even think about getting a puppy before having a baby. Dan smiled and said having both dogs are a handful - but so worth it! Well the family of four will now have a little sister to add to their growing family. We shot these photos in Old Agoura. I loved the soft palette of this golden hour session. An open field, a beautiful couple - what more can a photographer ask for! Right? Hope you guys have a great holiday and also sending you both all the good juju in your last trimester.

As the sun sets below the horizon, you can discover a place where time isn’t measured in minutes but in moments. Here in Union Pier, Michigan you’ll find breathtaking landscapes, starry skies, family fun and outdoor adventures around every corner. From scenic routes on the open road, to rugged trails in the nature, or the well-traveled, they all lead us to the beauty of nature and simple pleasures. Here, you can find unique hidden gems and get lost in the music of the rolling waves and tranquil forests. Whether you are an urban adventurer or an outdoor enthusiast, a foodie a thrill seeker, traveling with your family its all about making memories and of course, hiring a great photographer to capture these stages of life with your kids.

This week, I met the “A” family. I arrived at their summer house which sits along the bluff over looking lake Michigan. Their house was past along from generation to generation and has been in the family for over 60 years. I met their two gorgeous daughters Grace and Harper - who love each other so much as best friends do. We had a blast playing on the beach and even at the end we got into the warm lake with our clothes on - yes… this also includes me too!! I know these photos of them are going to be hanging on their summer cottage walls for years to come. I only hope that in 20 years from now, they can show their daughters these photos and add their own memories with their families on the family wall someday. Thank you “A” family for being so amazing and having the best time with me.

Omgoshhhh if this isn’t the cutest way to welcome the youngest family member into the family, then I don’t know what is! I have been photographing these little ones for the last three years, and each year they have added one new member to the clan!!! I adore these little smiles so much and love watching each one of them grow!!! Mom “M” is beyond amazing in EVERY way possible and made this four tier “smash cake” all on her own. (If you want to know how she made it feel free to reach out and I’ll make sure you get your sweet tooth fix!) We photographed baby Hilde’s smash cake session at Rosewood Beach, Highland Park, Illinois. The day might have been an overcast gray day, but there was nothing more than purple smiles in front of my lens. Hilde, Hazel and Hart all got in the fun of tearing through mom’s amazing cake. I love the bond they all have with each other, and how Hazel and Hart love their little sis so much. We all laughed and had a blast out on the deck by the beach. Well, Hilde I definitely think you smashed “one” to pieces. Happy 1st Birthday baby sweet girl!!!

Joshua Tree National Park is a vast protected area in southern California. It's characterized by rugged rock formations and stark desert landscapes. Named for the region’s twisted, bristled Joshua trees, the park straddles the cactus-dotted Colorado Desert and the Mojave Desert, which is higher and cooler.

It was our first time in Joshua Tree! We had plans to get away to Palm Springs with our friends who grew up going to the desert. We had time before dinner so we got dress and headed out to Joshua Tree to go check it out. It was gorgeous and since I always have my camera with me, I wanted to get some shots in to remember this moment in time. We ended up shooting right before dusk at Skull Rock. With its two sunken eyes and skull shaped rock, the aptly named Skull Rock sits just off the main Joshua Tree road. Since Mike just had knee surgery I figured it would be best to get photos of the two of us on flat ground. Once we got in our shots (literally we had 15mins before the sun went down) I kicked off my heels and climbed through Skull Rock. Yes barefoot and in a dress climbing up a rock at dusk - smart move I know but I would do anything for killer shots!!! The area, tends to be crowded for most of the day and there are shadows during the typically quieter sunrise hours. However we managed to grab some shots without any hikers at sunset and had the rock to ourselves! It was a spur of the moment decision to jump in the car and take a ride and I’m so glad that we did!

How to get to Skull Rock

Skull Rock is located along Park Boulevard, one of the main roads which runs through Joshua Tree. The North Entrance (Twentynine Palms) and the West Entrance (Joshua Tree town) are the most convenient for visiting many of the Joshua Tree National Park highlights. These are our top 3 places to stay in Joshua Tree and are perfect for couples, small groups and families:

• M&L Desert Cottage: this beautiful 2 bedroom cottage is just 6 minutes drive from the north entrance to Joshua Tree. The cottage has been completely remodeled and is the definition of desert chic. The interior is gorgeous and there is a fire pit, BBQ and hammocks on the patio for stargazing and al fresco dining. – check prices now!

Location: North Entrance/Twentynine Palms. We love this entrance as it’s both close to many highlights of Joshua Tree National Park and is also a much quieter gate to enter the park by. M&L Desert Cottage is a 20 minute drive from Joshua Tree Town.

• Castle House Estate: with the accommodation options including guard towers, yurt tents, a tiny container house (the perfect chance to experience tiny home living!) and a vintage RV, Castle House Estate perfectly encompasses the unique Joshua Tree vibe. It’s the perfect mix of indoor and outdoor living and the accommodation is beautifully presented and incredibly unique. The hardest part is choosing which accommodation to reserve – check prices now!

Location: West Entrance/Joshua Tree. Castle House Estate is a 10 minute drive from Joshua Tree Town and is 20 minutes north of the park entrance.

• Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Twentynine Palms – clean and well equipped, the Fairfield Inn is one of our go to hotels when we’re exploring the park and want somewhere clean and quiet to rest up. The hotel has a small pool out back, free breakfast, laundry facilities and there’s a grocery store just across the road for supplies – check prices now!

Location: North Entrance/Twentynine Palms. We opt for the convenience of the Fairfield Inn when we have early starts and late evenings in the park.

This past year has been so crazy. Many families haven’t seen each other for more than 12 months. Babies became toddlers, toddlers became kindergarteners and high schoolers are now going to college. Those who lived over seas, had to wait to get clearance to fly out. One of them was my best friend who lives in Israel. When I got a call from Dana in May she was torn on what to do and wanted my option. She wanted to see her mom and dad. Her parents are American and since Israel had a strict protocol they only allow Israelis to come into the boarders during May and June. So her dilemma was should she fly her little ones who are under five and not vaccinated to America, or wait till Israel allows Americans to fly in. It’s been two years since she has hugged her mom and dad and the kids only know them via screen time so I told her to pack her bags. The risk is low and life is too short to not see your parents. They took all the safety precautions got covid tests before coming in. They wore masks when flying and in a few hours they landed in Arizona to see each other. They tested again and everything came back negative. A few weeks later, I booked a flight from LAX out since we grew up together and I haven’t seen her or the kids as well. We had a great long weekend together and I got to even brush up on my Hebrew since Dana and Doron’s kids are bilingual and spoke to me in Hebrew.

Tucson is such a great city! It has all the beauty in landscapes as well as a great restaurants, spas not to mention the art and culture! Since we visited in June (the hottest month to come with average temps at 112 to 114) we found that going up into the mountains was a great escape not to mention 20 to 25 degrees cooler! I never would have thought to say that I was happy to be in 80 degree weather and feel like its so much cooler - but it was!!! We took the family up Mount Lemmon and saw the amazing views that Tucson has to offer and yes we even made it to the very top to the cookie cabin where they had cookies the size of a dixie plate! Our favorite was the Rachel which had chocolate and butterscotch chips in it. As we made our way down we found a lake where we watched families go fishing. It was a gorgeous day filled with happy grins. So glad we got to reunite this summer!!!

This weekend we are honoring the men in our lives and say thank you for being YOU!!! I hope everyone had a great fathers day! Whether you are a father, grandfather, uncle, brother, we celebrate the men in our lives who have helped guide us and show us the way. Someone who we can lean on when we need that extra boast or lift us when we are down or cheer us on when we are reaching our goals.

This week I had the honor of meeting the cutest bunch on the Broad Beach - Mom Celeste wanted to do something special for her husband Paul an awesome girl dad who is surrounded by all ladies and yes, even their dog too! Paul is a wonderful father and kind soul who was so glad to finally be in family photos since he is the one alway snapping away! It was my pleasure to grab these moments for him and his family as I know they will alway have these photos as a memory to keep and cherish for a lifetime.

He has a killer forehand and knows how to teach you how to ace your serve. While she knows how to correct your grammar and can create lesson plans. As a tennis pro and a teacher, they both had a lot in common which was - patience. They both love working with kids and watching them grow. They have hearts of gold and will do anything at a drop of a hat to help out family and friends - in one phrase Mollie and Jeff are just the perfect “doubles-duo.”

The two Buckeyes had a long winter in Ohio, and originally had planned to have their wedding on the Big Island - in Hawaii. Due to Covid, their plans got rearranged and it was back to the drawing board. They knew that they wanted to have a small wedding and invite their nearest and dearest as they said “I do” and decided to have their wedding at the next most beautiful spot in the U.S with a killer coastal view was Laguna Beach, California.

The guest count was around thirty people. Mollie had her sister as her maid of Honor and Jeff had his best friend as his groomsmen. The backdrop was absolutely stunning as the ceremony and reception was at The Ritz Carlton - overlooking the pacific ocean. It was a perfect day with thick clouds covering the early evening sky. We even got to head down on the beach as everyone cheered on the bride and groom as they practiced their first dance.

A BIG THANK YOU!!!! Goes out to our amazing team that worked on this wedding:

Coordinator: Engaged Events

Florist: Flowers Etc

Hair and Make-up: Flawless Faces

Photographer: Naomi Epstein Photography

Venue: The Ritz Carlton

DJ: Visions Entertainment

He called me and told me that he wanted to plan a special day for the love of his life. I curled up in my chair and listened as Max had told me what he wanted to do to propose to his girlfriend Marlee. We talked on the phone and half the conversation was in code as she was in the apt with him as he asked me for my advise. Since they had a group of friends and family who wanted to also be involved - we made sure the timing of the day was on point and that each and every turn was a special surprise for her. I drew a diagram to let Max know where he should walk and stand to get the city of Chicago in the background as well as where I would be so that Marlee wouldn’t see me. On a gorgeous afternoon in Millennium Park I waited to spot a couple all in love. Thankfully I looked them up on FB so I had an idea of who I was capturing. Max was a gentleman and lead his girl through the garden and talked to her with ease. He was cool calm and collected when he got down on one knee, I popped out of a hedge and captured the proposal and their blissful emotions from laughs to tears. We walked around the riverwalk and made our way over the State street Bridge to a decorated room where Marlee’s best friends and family were waiting with bated breath. Max’s sister, father and mother couldn’t wait to hug him and of course their new family member and share their joy and their light. Thank you Max for trusting me and being such a super star through out the process.

This session stole my heart in every way possible. Our golden girl of the week goes out to Elise, an 18 year old who had one heck of a year. Moving cross country from NYC to California would be hard for any teenager. Having missed her senior year of high school meant - no homecoming, no prom…. only zoom classes in a new time zone. Elise’s parents wanted to do something special for her big birthday and ask her what she wanted to do for her special day. Elise had told them that she wanted to feel beautiful, happy and in the spotlight. When her mom posted on Facebook what she wanted I wrote her and told her I’d love to make her daughter feel beautiful from the instead out. We talked a few weeks before and this 18 year old completely amazed me. She picked out the location, she picked out her stunning dress and told me that she wanted to shoot during golden hour. Being from Chicago, this was a dream to shoot as I am so use to shooting in city landscapes. A few hours before the shoot, I scoped out Leo Carrillo State Beach and found these hidden caves which were so amazing and I knew that Elise would literally light it up. When we finished our session, I showed Elise a few images on the back of my camera and she held her hand over her mouth and couldn’t believe that these images were of her. I know that this wasn’t the picture perfect year for this lovely girl but just for a moment I made this beautiful diva’s birthday wishes come true.

Four More Days till Xmas!!! We are so excited to meet new families who are moving into the area!!! Last week I got to meet the most adorable family. We connected via facebook as mom had saw one of my posts and she messaged me letting me know that her family will be moving out of Century City and into Westlake Village. They are sad to leave the hustle bustle of the city life but are so excited to move out into the mountains (as I call it the country) and have more space for their growing family. We took these photos at a Xmas Tree Lot in Agoura Hills and got some cute photos of them all in their onesie PJ’s as this will be their last Christmas as a family of three! Mom Bri is due this February (isn’t she the cutest ever!)

SEVEN DAYS!!! That’s right we are one week away from from Christmas!!! I love this time of year!!! I think out of all years, we all are asking for a holiday miracle. We all can have a little more joy in our lives and we can all bring a little more light into our hearts and to the hearts of others. I had met the “L” family while cruising along the Sherwood neighborhood. We wanted to see all the holiday decorations and this adorable family was dressed up and walking around the beautiful homes in Sherwood. We started talking and they asked me to take their xmas photos in their backyard. It was a beautiful day, mom wanted to do something different this year and bought matching onesies for the family (yes even the dog) As teenagers goes… the girls slowly got into the xmas spirit and I was excited to capture them at this age (because they will definitely look back at these memories and remember that it was their sisters who were their study buddies, best friends and snuggle bunnies who got them through this crazy 2020 year.

Hello from Malibu!!! We had a fun time on the beach photographing this family of four. The “L” family knew of me from Chicago and when they moved to LA they just had to book a session and get their holiday portraits on the beach! The mist was just leaving as we got down to the beach and the sun was setting behind the Malibu mountains. We shot this during that famous "golden hour" (the hour before sunset) that covers the beach in warm hues, diffused light which was perfect! I loved the boho chic outfits mom picked out for her girls and the pastel colors worked so well with dad too! We got some cute candid photos as well as some playful beach stroll photos too! Scroll down and view more of this gorgeous family!

Oh the holidays! Yes, its my favorite time of year. I feel like on December 1st everyone is magically in a better mood!!! Maybe its the holiday music or the twinkling lights from the neighbors house. Maybe its the gift giving or the peppermint mocha lattes at Starbucks that makes the corners of my mouth curl up? Well this year is my first year on the West Coast and yes, it may look and feel a bit different then it does in Chicago but, I for one am loving not having to shovel snow or wear a big North Face coat when leaving the house. Last week, I got to photograph an amazing family who not only looked chic from head to toe, but they were so friendly and loved getting into the holiday spirit. So come click on over and check out some merry smiles!!!

He was practicing his scales while standing with his band mates on the field, when he noticed how beautiful her smile was while playing the clarinet. It was at that moment that Jeff knew who he wanted to ask Abby to Homecoming. He was shy at first but so sweet and those deep brown eyes were so warm and inviting Abby was so thrilled that her crush asked her to go!!! As they stood on the sidelines, they watched their Giants win at home at Highland Park High School. Fall soon faded into Winter and then into Spring and they held a long distance relationship as Abby went off to play in the marching band at The University of Michigan. A year later Jeff joined his cute wolverine and the two of them attend school in Ann Arbor. After undergrad Abby went off to finished her PHD and Jeff got a job working in iT. Long distance was inevitable with one living in Pittsburg and the other in Florida. They both focused on the task at hand. Thanked the tech gods for Facetime and flew back and forth making sure the spark was always there. Finally this year they both made Florida their home, and were so excited to finally get married when boom - Covid hit and they had to change their plans from a larger wedding to a small intimate wedding ceremony in September at the Highland Park Country Club. Leaving the large celebration for 2021. They drove in from Florida and I flew in from California, I was so excited to finally meet them as we have been in communication via emails and zoom calls. Since they both grew up in Highland Park they wanted to have their micro wedding at the Highland Park Country Club just a few blocks away from where Abby and Jeff grew up. I adore these two and yes their dog Baxter too!!! Here’s to wishing these two high school sweet hearts a symphony of love always and forever!!!

The key words for all 2020 weddings is "flexibility" These two amazing human beings took that word to a whole new level. Having first planned their wedding in Northern California - their venue had burnt down!!! They then planned to have their wedding in Colorado a spot that both their families could attend but it was difficult to coordinate at a spot they weren’t close to. So, instead they found a perfect spot! A place that they both attended at separate times in their live. They both bleed purple and decided that Northwestern University's Shakespeare Garden was where they were going to start their love story with two very important word "I DO" They picked October 3rd because it was their anniversary of their first date two years ago!!!

Doyle almost canceled meeting up Eva on October 3rd, 2018. He had an awful first date at lunch, and Eva was his second date of the day. Doyle had some terrible luck with his bike mere hours before the date and figured he was going to be late. Nevertheless, he managed to talk himself out of cancelling. The plan was a Thai place that turned out to be passable at best. Well, within a few minutes, he knew this date was different and decided to brake his own rules he had set out around dating. After dinner, Eva and Doyle walked and talked for quite some time after the date, and before the night was over he knew he wanted to see her again. Doing a dinner date as a first date broke rule number one of his rules. Doing two dates in a day broke another one of he’s rules. Asking for the second date while still on the first broke another rule and texting the next day definitely broke his top rule. But, Eva was different. Eva knew this one was special. It just was easy and the two naturally fell into regular communication after that first date. She, would always send the post-first date, thank you text...but most of the time it would be to either just thank them for their time and move on or gauge interest for a second date. In this case, she already had the second date locked down. But that thank you text turned into a flow of communication that hasn’t stopped - every day since that first date, for two years to the day of this ceremony the two have always been in each others lives.

It was such an honor to capture the love between these two this past weekend in Chicago. The ceremony held a total of twelve people. Everyone watching wore a mask. The weather held up and we had a light drizzle during the ceremony but nothing was going to stop these two from tying the knot. After the ceremony I got to capture some fun photos of them by the Evanston lake front. The reception was held in Highland Park at a close friends home who planned a dinner for all to attend. Doyle had spent many years in Hawaii and wanted to tie in some alluring Hawaiian traditions. While Eva’s background is Mexican and added in her lovely cultural to the mix. The night ended with a major surprise Doyle planned for his bride - who couldn’t wait to dance! As they cut into the cake all of a sudden a live mariachi band played their song for the first dance as husband and wife. Eva and Doyle this day was so emotional and I loved everything you two planned to make it such an unique and beautiful day.

If you look up the term Indian Summer, you'll read that it’s a period of unseasonably warm, dry weather that sometimes occurs in autumn in the Northern Hemisphere. It also, one of my all time favorite movies that was released in 1993 (if you haven't watch it, do yourself a favor and thank me later) Well, Chicago has been having incredible weather the past few weeks - and I for one am not complaining. The only thing about unseasonably warm weather in the fall is that the leaves change quickly and the autumn season is shorter. Well, the “R” family made sure to get their fall family photos in asap! We had a gorgeous day photographing in Northbrook at their grandparents backyard. Mom did such a great job getting everyone dressed and out the door looking so super sharp in not one but two different outfits!!! We hung out on the dock around the beautiful lake. Their smiles beamed brightly and the pine trees and beautiful nature reflected in the water which was the perfect backdrop. Thank you “R” Family for all the smiles - I know you will cherish these forever!!!

This past week we had such a change in weather. We went from t-shirts to sweaters in a blink of an eye!!! Well I know one family who were so excited to get their family photos captured while we were having a lovely Indian summer. Having spent years in the city, this adorable family of four made the epic voyage to Northbrook and couldn’t be any happier for their two boys to be close by their grandparents and cousins. We picked this spot which was right off the highway off of Sanders. I loved the wildflowers and prairie grass in this area. mom “s” did such a great job picking out a few colors and sprinkled them throughout everyone’s wardrobe. It was the perfect touch to this warm fall day! If you and your family would like to schedule a session - I still have a few openings left before I head to the west coast!!! 

Welcome to the world Baby Noa Phyllis! Who arrived one day after mom’s birthday! She was born on September 16th, 2020 at 1:36pm weighting in 6lbs 11oz and was 20inchs. Noa was mom’s best gift she had ever received as she was the rainbow that fulled her heart. They say that the greater the storm the brighter the rainbow and this little star just shines so bright and brought tears of joy and happiness to both mom and dad. This was a significant day as both mom and dad had a very tough storm prior to welcoming this precious gem. It was a hard but, the dark clouds passed and brought baby Noa to them and the two of them couldn’t be any happier. To have a child is one thing but to have a child during this pandemic has a completely different tune. Mom “L” is such a strong women to have carried all seven months during Covid! I can’t even grasp what it must have been like — the one positive thing that I can only fathom is that the two of them had their privacy all throughout this experience and really relied on one another to be their pillar of strength. The two of them formed strong roots before welcoming their family tree. I wish these two nothing but the best this coming year and can’t wait to watch your family grow!!!