Taking on a shoot just two weeks after having a baby wasn't exactly my plan, but when given an opportunity to work with Los Angeles-based artist and designer Beatrice Valenzuela, you all but forget the fact that you're in the midst of a newborn haze and you jump on said opportunity.
My afternoon photographing Bea for Dôen was precisely what I needed to ease back into my work and wake up my creative energy in the most gentle way possible. Greeted by a subtle breeze and Latin music playing in the kitchen, I entered her treehouse-like oasis in Echo Park and any and all first-shoot-after-baby jitters were immediately quelled. Bea is the type of person whose overall presence will make you me feel as though you've known her for a lifetime, and she's also the kind of soul who insists on prepping a gorgeous spread for a mid-shoot snack then invites you to stay for dinner. I honestly could have spent days on end with her, and the whole experience was something I wanted desperately to take home with me and recreate for every shoot following this one (I even took video on my phone with the hopes that it would jog my memory when looking for inspiration and/or a pick-me-up in the future). Anyhow, I think I've made it clear that everything about this day was dreamy and ideal, so feel free to take in the photos below, check out the Journal post on Dôen's site, and attempt to imagine what I was lucky enough to witness and be a part of.
