Happy new year, everyone!  We just got back from an incredible trip to Thailand, where I shot the most fun Thai/Scottish wedding.  Can’t wait to share!  We’re all still suffering from jet lag, so thank you for your patience as I adjust.  In the meantime, I wanted to share a highlight from our trip.  We got to play with baby tigers!  Cameron was in LOVE.  Seriously, we had to hold him back.  He tried to lay on them and hug them (like he does to our dogs).  Cameron basically broke all the rules:

rule 1: do not approach the tigers head on, always from behind.

rule 2: stay away from their head and face

rule 3: stay away from their front paws

And I’m sure there’s something about not hugging them and rolling around with them.  I wish I took more photos, but I was honestly too preoccupied and scared.

And to prove me right, Cameron took a bamboo reed and hit the tiger on the head.  This tiger ran away and Cameron chased it, pulling it by it’s fur.

Even though I was a bit nervous through the encounter, it was such an amazing experience.  Watching Cameron’s eyes light up is one of my favorite things.  I’m also glad we have a few of these photos to show him.

p.s. the tigers’ trainer was there the entire time.  the tigers were better trained than cameron, so i was more afraid of cameron provoking something than the other way around.

A few years ago, I had the honor of photographing Chi nail bar when it first opened.  Since it’s opening, it has become a hot spot for celebrities and has been featured in a lot of different magazines.  It’s so great to see how much they have grown.  With all it’s success in Beverly Hills, they recently expanded into Little Tokyo.  If you’re in LA, check out Ki nail bar!

Everything was designed by the owner, Fawn, herself!

I love the pedicure area:

And I love how the two sides are inverses of each other!

This was one of the yummiest shoots I’ve done yet!  You may remember Esther of Batch from Scratch from my baby shower… well, her desserts, at least.  But you can now get to know her on MasterChef with Chef Gordan Ramsey!   It starts tonight on FOX!  I was so excited when i saw her on the commercials!  Let me share a glimpse into Esther’s world…

One of my favorite (spicy) cookies ever, Mayan chocolate inferno:

Your classic chocolate chip:

White chocolate cranberry:

Black & Tan brownies!!  Perfect for Father’s Day!

Cardamom Caramel Macchiato:

Another favorite of mine, sweet potato cookies, Brown Butter Sea Salt:

This was the most difficult cookie to style/shoot (haha), but so delicious.  Ginger Iced Sweet Potato:

And who doesn’t love a good peanut butter cookie, right?

Yuzu Lemon Bar:

Whiskey Iced Ginger Cherry… another great gift for Father’s Day!

They also make great favors:

I love pretty packaging!

Catch MasterChef tonight on Fox and follow along the journey with Esther on Twitter!  And her Batch from Scratch journey.

Stressed spelled backwards is desserts.  Coincidence?  I think not!  ~ Unknown

p.s. i wrote this to remind myself how to spell dessert.  i’m a horrible speller and always got dessert & desert mixed up.  now i know!