Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at 10:21AM 
Although Cesar and Christina now reside in Singapore, they met while attending Columbia University, so it made sense that they become husband and wife by returning to the start of their story. I took their engagement photos in Seoul last summer, so when they offered to fly me to New York City to document their wedding, I was humbled with the trust they showed in me.
Sunday, May 26, 2013 at 10:22PM 
They say the best camera is the one that you have with you. Most of us keep our phones with us at all times, and in one sense, that's great because you have a capable digital point-and-shoot camera on you at all times to document the world around you. Instagram, Facebook, twitpics and Tumblrs have more or less taken over our social consciousness when it comes to photos. But I can't help but feel like something is lost in the process.
I have fond memories rediscovering old photo albums from my childhood. Actually, a nearly 30-year-old photo of my wife and I as toddlers surfaced in my in-laws' storage unit just a few months ago, from when we lived in the same apartment building in New York City in the 80's. I want to be able to give my children tangible photos and film negatives down the road. Properly stored, film negatives will far outlast any hard drive. So while it's great that you can have your photos accessible anywhere from the cloud, do you really want your family's visual history stored on a nameless server somewhere in rural West Virginia?
I recently got a Leica M6 again, which is always with me on family outings. I've started leaving my phone at home, which helps me to be more present with my wife and boys when we're out at the park, or at dinner, or wherever. I don't want my family to feel they have to battle my phone for my attention, and it has been so liberating. Leave your phone at home. You can always share your memories later.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at 11:19AM 
The Benhams were in town for a week to visit baby Drew's Korean grandparents. I had recently stocked up on Kodak Ektar film and was anxious to try it out since it had come highly recommended from a trusted friend. We spent an hour exploring Chung Gyeong Palace, one of Seoul's lesser known public palaces. It seems that only locals frequent the beautiful grounds here. The afternoon was perfect, much needed after a long, drawn-out winter in Korea.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 12:17PM 
John asked me to shoot their pre-wedding session on both film and digital. He needed the quick turnaround that digital offers because their wedding was only a few weeks away -- but he and Hannah both shoot with film cameras, and they love the aesthetic that it offers. I'm equally comfortable shooting either format, but I do feel that my approach when shooting film is more holistic and that I am more present in the moment. I don't have to fuss with settings and the back of the camera, I just shoot. Reloading film offers a natural ebb and flow to the session, and it gives us a chance to breathe, to just be.
I shot these on my Leica M6 TTL with Zeiss Biogon 35 f/2 on Kodak Portra 160. The black and white shots were desaturated in post-processing.
Friday, March 8, 2013 at 5:30PM 
Five years ago today, our lives changed dramatically for the better. Your mother and I were suddenly thrown into the crazy, wonderful world of parenthood, and for a while we forgot what a good night's sleep was like. A few days later, you were recovering from surgery in the newborn intensive care unit, and we were reminded about how fragile, precious life is. But you were so strong, and you teach me what real strength means everyday. You were brave, braver than I've ever been. Before your first birthday, you were recovering from your third surgery, and you held my finger as you lay in a pillow-lined plastic radio flyer, and you didn't complain once, and I learned what patience and being present meant. Most days I feel utterly humbled to be your dad. Your smile makes my heart smile, and your laugh makes the sun rise everyday. Your heart will move mountains, son, because, you see, it already has. Happy birthday, Justin. I love, I love, I love you.
