In 2025, Amanda and I celebrated ten years of marriage. Ten years, two kids, and a dozen stamps in our passports later, we found ourselves at a crossroads of celebration. A decade of marriage is a milestone that demands both reflection and adventure. For our 10th anniversary, we decided to blend the two: the sun-soaked luxury of Cabo San Lucas followed by the nostalgic, cliffside charm of San Diego. It wasn’t just a trip; it was a celebration of how far we’ve come as a duo, and the beautiful chaos of the family we’ve built along the way.
Hacienda Beach Club & Residence
A FIVE-STAR BEACHFRONT PARADISE IN CABO
The hotel was a great experience — they were very attentive and had the best accommodations. We spent the days posted up at the pool and ocean. The staff was gracious to set us up beach chairs and toys in both spots.
Disciples in the Storm
The hotel organized a quaint private boat tour of the arches at sunset. On the surface {of the waters :)} This was a great set up. With two little ones, having our own tour boat gave us the needed flexibility to adjust the route/timing of the excursion. This came in handy once we went around the arches on the wide-open waters of the mighty Pacific Ocean. The boat was rocking a good bit and my oldest son reacted like Jesus’ disciples in the midst of the storm.
On Shooting with Kids in the Field
Every photographer-parent knows the drill: the light is perfect, the moment is right, and someone needs a snack. Traveling with a baby and a toddler demands a different kind of editorial instinct — anticipatory, adaptive, and comfortable with controlled chaos. The Sony a7IV's subject tracking and image stabilization aren't just technical specs on these trips; they're survival tools. Some of the most compelling frames from this journey came directly from the unpredictability of having small humans in the scene.
Massive with fading evening light near the arches in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. December 2025
The view of the arches at Sunset was truly spectacular — An awesome birthday gift for yours truly.
Lover’s beach on the right side of the photo
Famous Cabo Arch — You can see a flock of seals on the bottom left portion of the photo
We traded the turquoise tranquility of the Hacienda for the familiar Pacific breeze of Southern California. There’s a different energy to a multi-stop trip; if Cabo was about slowing down to the pace of the tides, San Diego was about the joy of the 'great American road trip'—starting with the winding, salt-sprayed streets of La Jolla.
La Jolla, San Diego
La Jolla is a stunning coastal neighborhood of San Diego known for its dramatic cliffs, turquoise coves, and laid-back elegance. It blends natural beauty with walkable village streets, sea lions sunning on the rocks, and some of the best ocean views in Southern California.
La Jolla is one of the most photogenic coastal neighborhoods in the continental United States — and one of the most underused locations in lifestyle and travel campaigns. The combination of dramatic sandstone cliffs, clear Pacific water, and the warm California light in December creates a visual palette that's genuinely hard to replicate. Scripps Park at golden hour is a location I'd return to on a commissioned shoot without hesitation.
Sunset at Scripps Park - A scenic point for viewing in La Jolla
Coronado Beach
Hotel Del Coronado
Del for the Holidays
Hotel Del Coronado — Coronado Island, San Diego
The Del is one of America's last great Victorian beach resorts, and at Christmas, it earns every bit of that reputation. For editorial and hospitality photographers, it's a rare location where architecture, landscape, and seasonal light converge naturally. I shot these frames with a film-influenced color grade — warm shadows, slightly muted highlights — to match the way memory actually preserves a place.
From the private docks of Cabo to the sea lions of La Jolla, this 10th-anniversary trek reminded us why we travel. It’s rarely about the perfect itinerary and always about the stories we tell afterward.
This trip confirmed what I've believed for a long time: the best travel content is made when the photographer is actually living the experience, not staging it. Whether it's a resort partnership in Cabo, a coastal lifestyle campaign in San Diego, or a destination editorial commission anywhere between, I bring the same photojournalistic approach to every project.
Interested in working together on a travel or lifestyle campaign? Let's connect.