Dear Reader, I wanted to pop in and say thank you for being in my world and for your support over the years. I started my photography business in 2007 after a stranger came to purchase a baby carrier from my Craigslist ad. She saw a travel photo on my mantle and asked if I'd photograph her child. She persisted after I ghosted her and became my first paid client. One of the images from that session still hangs at Palo Alto Medical Foundation—a reminder of those early days. Some of you also...
9 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, She said, “I’m 65, and I’m not finished.” Hell yes. She’d heard me speak at a summit — and one of my AI portraits, me with a unicorn, stirred something in her. She felt seen. The power of being seen — through AI. Not as “mom” or “grandma,” but as a woman who’s lived many lives and is filled with stories — from her three degrees, two universities in different countries and four/five carreers across different industrires. She told me, “I’ve spent decades showing up for everyone else....
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, Recently, I chatted with a relative of a family member. She thanked me for a photo I’d taken years ago of her and her baby daughter — a cherished image that still sits within sight, one of the only ones they have displayed. All these years later, she hasn't stepped in front of the camera again. Her daughter takes selfies of them together, but those stay buried in her phone. They don’t see the light of day. It made me feel both a little sad and grateful that one photo has held so...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, I'm writing this from India — it's Diwali, the festival of lights.I came out to see my father, whose health has declined recently.The air smells like sweets and fireworks, and I’m surrounded by family.It feels like Christmas, but warmer (hot, actually), louder, and more chaotic than I remember from childhood. Diwali lantern Partly because I’ve adjusted to the quiet of suburban American life. Yesterday, my brother invited me to lunch with one of his team members — a young man he...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, "Going through the photos, I discovered things her camera captured that I hadn't noticed about myself before." When my client Alice shared those words with me, I knew exactly why I do this work. Alice originally booked a portrait session for her daughter. When I suggested she step into the frame too, she hesitated — but then she said yes.Watch these short videos: 👉 Alice shares her experience working together👉 Alice looking at her portraits from playful to powerful We ended up...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, She said, “I’m 65, and I’m not finished.” Hell. Yes. She booked a call after hearing me speak at a summit. One of my AI images of me with a unicorn stirred something inside her. My words made her feel seen.Not just as “mom” or “grandma.” But a woman still burning with stories. With vision. With a voice that refuses to go quiet. She told me, “I’ve spent decades showing up for everyone else. Now it’s my turn.” That part hit hard. She saw that unicorn and thought,“What’s my version...
6 months ago • 1 min read
Dear Reader, My son messaged me recently, asking, “Would you like this pour-over coffee set for Mother’s Day?” It made me smile—I sent him that link a few months ago.We love craft coffee, strong opinions 😂, and thoughtful gifts. Being his mom has taught me patience, presence, and how to hold space through change.And what have I passed on to him?→ That it’s okay to question things.→ That emotions are not a weakness.→ That growth requires effort and compassion.→ That you can be both independent...
7 months ago • 2 min read
DearReader,April 27th would have been my mom’s 86th birthday—and four years ago, on this same day, my aunt passed away on her 86th birthday. My mama with my son when he was a wee little guy, when we visited India Two women. Two completely different lives. My mom, Aai, was the quiet force behind our family. Her work—making endless cups of chai, cooking meal after meal, and keeping our home running—was unpaid, expected, and often invisible. She did it all with love but rarely with recognition....
7 months ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader, There’s a trend where people ask ChatGPT: What do I look like? Beyond the fun of seeing an image rendered, what struck me was how much it reveals about your personal brand—how you show up through your words, vibe, and energy. It’s a surprisingly powerful brand exercise. It took four tries to get an image that felt close to me.Which, to be fair, wasn’t the point. The AI was offering a poetic interpretation—not an exact likeness. But of course… I had to see how close it could get. 😄...
8 months ago • 2 min read
Dear Reader, Are you into the five love languages?I read the book years back and found it fascinating. AI art for V-Day! Any guesses about where I want to be? My top two are acts of service and words of affirmation. I have realized that my biz has one too. And as an entrepreneur, mine is to continue learning and growing. Ironically, one of my first dot-com jobs was as a principal designer for "lifelong learning." It’s almost poetic how that theme has been woven into everything I do. I’ve...
10 months ago • 1 min read