Favorite Five Photos & Videos of 2025 — from Pacific Grove and far beyond!
2025 was packed with memorable shoots, stunning locations, impactful portraits, and community moments. While every image has a story, these five stand out as my personal favorites — either because of the experience behind the camera, the creative result, or the emotion they captured.
Looking Ahead to New Stories in 2026 — Let’s Create One Together
Looking ahead to 2026, I’m excited to keep exploring new places, meeting interesting people, and creating meaningful images — whether that’s here on the Monterey Peninsula or a bit farther afield. If you have a project, event, idea, or story you’d like documented in a thoughtful and creative way, I’d love to hear about it. Photography works best when it’s collaborative, and I’m always open to seeing what we might create together in the year ahead.
Flight Through the Waves — the Drama of the Pacific Grove Coast
Some photos are all about being in the right place at the right second. This wave exploded against the rocks in Pacific Grove with a line of birds cutting through the frame at the exact moment of impact — a split-second where everything lined up. I love this image because it’s pure coastal energy: big surf, dark granite, and that clean black-and-white contrast that makes the moment feel timeless. I am also happy to report that the birds made it past the wave safely!
See more wave impact photos from that day
Asilomar Conference Grounds — Harry Potter Themed Dining Hall
When you hang candles from the rafters by fishing line one by one, you want to capture this amazing interior decoration style with professional photographer, and that’s what the team at Asilomar Conference Grounds asked me to do, just before the dining hall filled with people for a corporate dinner celebration. A moment of peace and magic, so all that put in the hard work to make it look so can remember it, and the conference grounds can market it!
See even more views of this amazingly decorated dining hall
Monterey Bay Half Marathon — Capturing Collective Spirit
Photography that makes people feel something is always rewarding — and this community-centered event delivered exactly that. From action photos of runners’ determination, joy, and stamina, these images felt alive and full of motion.
DJ Jason Kushy Branding Portraits — Creative Collaboration at Its Best
I had no less than four photo shoots to choose from with this client (local DJ Jason Kushy), but this session stands out for its energy, vision, and ongoing creative partnership all with the backdrop of a professional recording studio.
Check out the full photo story
Check out Jason’s music on Spotify
Upper Klamath Lake — Drone Reflections & Video Poetry
This drone flight was a highlight of the year from up in the air — beautiful autumn light, near-perfect reflections, and a remote Oregon lake rarely captured with this kind of clarity and motion. The result was cinematic and meditative, unlike anything else in my 2025 portfolio.
Check out the original blog post