Two years ago when I visited the Los Angeles area with one of my dearest pals, Stacey, we stayed with her sister, Erin, Erin’s hubby, Jeff, and their (then) newborn, Maya. It didn’t take me long to fall in love with California—or, in turn, with the sweet Shafer clan. I took photos for them then in Santa Monica—capturing what life was like for them with that new little bundle of joy.

Fast forward to the present and it was a blast to pay them a visit as the last stop on my trip back to SoCal in August. To check in on where they are at in their lives—a move from Ventura to the Calabasas area, the addition of a second adorable kiddo (this time, little brother, Maddox), and yep, still jealous that a part of Erin’s day with the kids can involve a trip to the playground in Malibu. Of course we made time for another little impromptu family session. And of course, I fell in love with these guys all over again.

Erin and Jeff, thanks for letting me crash with you guys on my last night in Cali! It was so great to see you all again!

We shot the majority of these images on a hillside at the campus of Pepperdine University. It was a GORGEOUS night. The light was perfect, a cool breeze in the air …As we were driving back, I was craning my neck out the window to soak in the view as much as I could when I asked Jeff to stop the car so I could take a photo. When I was in high school, I kept a pamphlet for Pepperdine at the top of my stack of college applications. I couldn’t believe there was a school out there that beautiful and I never ever dreamed I’d get to see it. Eleven years later, and there I stood. Breath taken away and all.

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