Graduation Portraits

Graduation || Alegna & Ray

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I met Alegna at the San Jose courthouse Alegna during her 2L summer. I hosted a small gathering for women of color and after learning about her career aspirations, I connected her with partner who worked in the field. When she reached out to me again months later asking me to take her graduation photos, I couldn’t say no. And the cherry on top is that her fiancé, Ray, also graduated from USF the same year with a masters degree in education. Nothing makes me more proud than seeing two Latinxs with DEGREES!! Felicidades!

Graduation || Indi

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I do not remember looking this good weeks before taking the California bar exam, but then again, we can’t all be Indi. Indi asked me to take her grad photos with one request: Rebel needed to be in them. Worth it? I’d say so.

Graduation || Margarita, Ashlynne, Emily, and McKenna

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Graduation || Gaby

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When Gaby reach out for photos she was laser-focused on one thing: she would do whatever it takes to get the best light. It took us a bit of coordination to finally land on a time, and I’ll let you be the judge of whether we got it right:

Graduation || Regi & Cristina

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The dress. The suit. A vibe!

Graduation || Ariel

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Between editing all of these galleries and work, I don’t have brain power left to write cute little captions, but look at these photos of Ariel!

Graduation || Debbie

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This one was a little extra special because last year Debbie and I discovered that we both participated in Girls Inc. programming growing up. It is such a full circle moment to see other Girls Inc. girls achieving their dreams. You go girl!

Graduation || Gloria

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Palace of Fine Arts for grad photos? Say less. Happy to celebrate Gloria’s accomplishments and upcoming 30th birthday with her! Also, check how perfectly that tassel is hanging–so lucky!

Graduation || Jenna

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Started grad photo season with a bang! Jenna and I celebrated her upcoming graduation from Berkeley Law and her recent moot court competition wins. Jenna was truly a superstar and the sun blessed her accordingly!

Senior || Mayra

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When Fernando’s niece asked me to take her senior portraits, my first reaction was “I am cool enough for Gen Z!!” We planned our date around the holidays and got to work. The Claremont colleges served as our backdrop, and they put in work providing beautiful old architecture and maintained greenery for the photos. Mayra came in the cutest preppy outfit that paired nicely with her surroundings. And I have to say, she started out a little camera shy, but after an hour she was hitting poses like it was no one’s business! I am honored to have had a little part in her celebration of this milestone (and I am really looking forward to coming back to this campus to take more photos)!

Graduation || Henna

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After an abrupt end to our law school experience, the bar exam, and almost a year of practice, it was great to see Henna again! As a double bear, this return to campus was quite sentimental for her, but I am so glad that I was able to help her capture the magic of Berkeley in a way that she could take back with her to New York. Something about this overcast day lent the creamiest colors and softest lighting that make Henna’s striking feature POP. I can’t wait to see how the proud parents react to these mementos!

Graduation || Jenny

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When Jenny reached out to me asking me to take her graduation photos, I was so flattered! Despite going to school across the Bay she’d heard of me and loved my work. And then, when she scheduled her photos for the weekend after the bar exam, I was so impressed! This future-public-defender chingona came through looking fly af with smiles, confidence, and lashes for dayyyys!

Graduation || Niland

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Niland reeeeeeally didn’t want to drive all the way out to Santa Cruz to take graduation photos, but you only graduate from UC Santa Cruz once! There was no way I was foregoing the diffused light through the redwoods, wide open pastures, and iconic Santa Cruz vistas; and I’m so glad he was convinced. These photos were particularly special because Niland is my sister’s boyfriend, and I am so proud of what I delivered for him and his family. Watch out! Slug crossing!

Senior Portraits || Leah

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A full circle moment! Ryan was one of the first senior portrait sessions I ever did, and this year I had the honor of taking photos for his little sister. She loved the idea of going to the same park and recreating some of the looks we did for Ryan. I love watching my work evolve over time. But more importantly, I love watching my relationships with clients involve into genuine friendships!

Graduation || Rachel

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Although every session is fun, this one was made a little extra special by the group of students who cheered for Rachel as she posed in front of the big Berkeley Law sign. Rachel was all smiles, laughs, and shakas! After we mostly wrapped up we spent a few minutes chatting about the bar exam and hung out long enough to catch the lights come on and get some moody dusk vibes. Congrats Rachel!

Graduation || Emma

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Okkk yellow! One of my most fun discoveries this season is that I had virtually no outfit color repeats. And Emma in the yellow just makes sense. And can we talk about how she brought a Berkeley themed trolls doll to photographer with her? A riot! Thank you for the belly laughs and dance moves!

Graduation || Clarissa & Manny

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Come to law school for a degree, leave with a sweetheart? Yeah, I know what it’s like. This was primarily Clarissa’s shoot with a few photos of Manny, but I could not help myself and had to go overboard with the couple photos. Clarissa’s pink and seafoam outfits paired with Manny’s brightly colored stole made these photos pop! It was also adorable to see my friends so enamorados. Congratulations y’all!

Graduation || Maria

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One of my favorite things about taking graduation portraits is seeing people that I’ve only known in a school context get all snazzy! (At this point, it is also just great to see people after a year, alone, indoors.) Maria cleaned up nice! She was such a joy to photograph and had me cracking up the entire time. The hoops, the red lips, the dress, it was all such a vibe.

Graduation || Jareli

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Of course she came with the crocs!

Graduation || Katy

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I met Katy at Admitted Students Weekend before she even started this law school journey. I also served as Co-President of the La Raza Law Students Association during her first year and she took over the position from me the next year. So special to watch her celebrate this huge accomplishment!