Something Ivory

Here's a beautiful and incredibly talented friend of mine, Shirley :) She is the owner and designer of her bridal shop, Something Ivory! And she is a GORGEOUS model! We collaborated together in my favorite go-to garden five minutes away from my hometown. She was so, so great and fun to work with. Please check out her shop because she creates VERY beautiful and sophisticated one-of-a-kind accessories and final touches that are perfect for your special occasions.

I've done a couple of other shoots that I have yet to post about, but they will come soon!

I also have many exciting graphic design and art projects I'm working on and other things I've been learning on my own (Like cake decorating!!! About time!) ... so excited! While school life has been busier than before, life has been so incredible, magical and amazing. Can't wait to share more of what I'm planning and working on soon!

butterfly factories on tumbling clouds

The end of last November brought a really beautiful gift to my family and me ... the birth of my baby niece, Vivian. Her tiny toes, her little hands ... her peachy cheeks that stretch when she yawns ... she's a miracle. She's afraid of taking baths, but if you hold both of her hands, she stops crying and suddenly she is so, so brave. I kiss her cheek and her forehead nearly everyday. The presence of a baby girl is so sweet and tender.

My brother told me that having a baby girl in your arms ... makes you want to give her the whole world. :)

"In the depth of winter I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer."
–Albert Camus­­

a breeze in my veins

poconos, pennsylvania

Had an extremely amazing opportunity to shoot a wedding at the beautiful Poconos in Pennsylvania. It was so quiet, lush and crisp there. After the wedding, my friend, who I shot the event together with, and I had some time before heading back to the city to explore the area a bit. While shooting, I thought to myself that these moments are some of the things I live for: being immersed in nature ... in its textures, its sounds, its gifts ... taking it all together and bringing it back with me in pictures.

color the roses in ink

honey

work in progress

Everything's going so fast.

The distant water shimmers
I raised my hands as if in prayer
Leaning back in the night, I looked up quietly
And saw a small firefly fluttering in the sky
-- はなび, AAA

gray rain

I woke up to what sounded like the heavens falling down on earth. It was raining so hard ... this kind of gray and forlorn morning called for laying in bed on floral bed sheets, a mug of hot tea steaming nearby, and piano music playing softly.

mary

model & makeup: mary
photo & styling: me

Here's Mary. :) All I can say is, she's a very beautiful friend of mine.

.. But I was smiling
More gently than anyone else
Standing alone
Without an umbrella
-- rainy day by ayumi hamasaki

soon.

During the 4th of July weekend, I got sick with a high fever. I had achy bones and standing up drained me of all my energy, so I napped through the entirety of Saturday, waking up every a couple of hours to watch the light from my windows change from seafoam white to soft honey and finally to dark inky blue as the night cast its shadow. Sometime before the sun set, I woke up dazed to the sound of high-pitched chirping that came from the attic: baby birds. They just hatched. Their chirping sounded so raw, the first cry of their life.

All day long, and over the night, my mom tended to me. Her warm hand on my forehead. Her rice porridge. Her caring and devotion.