Alyse

While I am originally a big-city girl from San Diego, I spent years living my "tiny home cabin" dreams on a goat farm deep in the hills of Napa Valley before returning back home. Capturing people's most precious moments is my biggest passion! When I was 14, I knew photography was going to be my life's work, and spent all of my younger years photographing anything and everything that inspired me. While I mostly shoot weddings now, my work is a culmination of all my previous photographic endeavors, including, an Associate in Fine Arts, film photography, instructing darkroom printing and photography science for elementary students, studio production assisting, and numerous personal projects. My other passions include all things having to do with travel, animals, holistic living, and food!

WHAT IS YOUR MOST PRIZED POSSESSION?

My 1970’s, 19-foot, Alpenlite fifth-wheel trailer! Truly the trailer of my dreams, my fiance and I scored this gem off Craigslist on a whim before we even had a truck to pull it! We spent an entire summer renovating the interior with a little help from our family and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. It is the perfect little “home away from home” whenever we want to get out into nature.

WHAT FICTIONAL CHARACTER DO YOU MOST IDENTIFY WITH?

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WEDDING MEMORY?

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS?

Lisa Simpson. Compassionate, outspoken, and constantly romanticizing life. Lisa Seems to always be in deep thought and conversation and spends a lot of time trying to learn from her mistakes. I love that Lisa is always striving to be a part of the greater good even if she has to be a little rebellious.

I was photographing a bride and her mother, when I instructed them to walk hand in hand toward me shooting my camera in rapid-fire to get the perfect shot. Just then a butterfly flew right by both of their faces. The mom stopped in her tracks and pointed in awe at the butterfly. I got a perfectly still image of the butterfly front and center, her gawking at it, and the two of them holding hands drenched in angelic lighting. The mom immediately pulled me aside in tears and told me that her son (the bride's young brother) had passed away a month ago and she had asked him that morning to send her a butterfly as a sign that he was at the wedding in spirit. She had the picture printed and hung.

Being fully immersed in a single moment. It's not often that we aren't thinking ten steps ahead or looking back on what was. There is something about existing regardless of your past and present that is so beautiful. I believe in those moments people are their most authentic selves. Easy ways I like to do this is by being with loved ones and sharing books, movies, music, games, or even writing. It gives me a chance to focus on the now with people I love.

Go-tos

My kids

I often joke that I gave birth to them, my pups mean everything to me and make all my days better! I have a pitbull mix named Nala, and a one-eyed trouble-making corgi named Scout (seen here before she lost an eye).

MATCHA LATTE

Yep, I don't drink coffee! This is as close as I can get to caffeine intake. My top-secret order is an “iced matcha latte with homemade almond milk and a bunch of cinnamon mixed in". Once you add cinnamon, you will never go without it!

Herbal health

I love holistic living and have a whole apothecary shop in my house full of herbs, tinctures, oils, and salves. I often make my own teas, natural remedies, and even beauty and household products!

BURRITOS

I could eat a burrito every day for the rest of my life (and don't think I haven't tried). I like to consider myself a connoisseur, however, I am biased toward burritos in Southern California and Baja. To me, they are just all around better than anywhere else!

YOGA

Yoga is always the perfect reset button if I’m feeling out of sorts. I love being in a class with people who are all there to share the same experience together.

BOOKS

I’m obsessed with listening to audiobooks! My favorite genre is Fantasy, but I’m a sucker for any kind of fiction. I often listen while I am editing, driving, or before bed.