Lea by the lake

I've had the good fortune to work with Lea Stafford as a planner on private events and she is one of the best- smart, kind, hard-working, and on. top. of. it. When she asked to shoot some portraits to accompany her new venture into the food world, I was more than happy to oblige and had the best time strolling around Lake Merritt on a sunny Sunday. Check out her new Instagram account @staffordeats for some serious food inspiration!

The Bay

I recently forced my husband to have a date night and share some $1 oysters at a local restaurant. The view from their back patio may not be what most associate with San Francisco, but by now it feels like home.

Photograph by Kara Brodgesell

Photograph by Kara Brodgesell

Big Bambú

I've been going deep into my archives lately to add a travel section to my website and came across some shots from a favorite experience from what seems like a past life.

In 2010, I was living in New York and made a birthday trip with a friend to the Met to see Big Bambú by Doug and Mike Starn. Seven years later, it still stands out as one of the most impactful and joyful pieces of art I've ever experienced.

The brothers commissioned rock climbers to help install and lash-together the 100 foot long rooftop sculpture made entirely of American-grown bamboo. Visitors were able to climb around paths and stairs and if any part of you enjoyed forts, treehouses, or unique viewpoints, it would have been hard not to be charmed by this beautifully chaotic piece. 

Photographer Tricia Turner

Tricia was kind enough to participate in a personal project I've been working on, which involved a very different type of shot. But while rearranging her space to set up for that one, I couldn't help grab a portrait of this stunning woman in her perfectly lit home. 

Photograph by Kara Brodgesell

Photograph by Kara Brodgesell