When I visited Lisa I realized that everything about her fits perfectly together. There is the attractive, inviting studio with a comfortable couch and chairs. It is sparsely furnished so that one isn't distracted from her beautiful work displayed on the walls. Then there is her wonderful personality--friendly, outgoing, honest, with a great sense of humor. And of course her photographs--clean, simple, elegant, and interesting -- the types of pictures that are so hard to capture.

Lisa had fallen in love with photography while in high school. Then she took photography classes in college. On her way out west, the young East Coast woman found the ultimate job in Aspen, Colorado: she was hired to take pictures of celebrities on the slopes of this famous ski area. This opportunity combined her love of skiing with her love of photography, and taught her to shoot quickly and under ever-changing conditions. Subsequently, she was hired as staff photographer by Aspen Magazine.

In 1998 she continued her way west and settled in Marin, just across the Golden Gate, where she and her family now live. Shortly after her move Lisa shot her first wedding. She loves the variety of wedding work. "It is such an uplifting, joyous occasion, and I have so much fun and want everybody else to have fun, too," Lisa told me. This well-rounded photographer is as good at taking beautiful portraits as at catching spur-of-the-moment pictures, which are her favorites.

Evidence of how much Lisa's work and personality are liked and respected are her portraits of the children whose parents were her former wedding clients. References love her spontaneity, and they comment on her ability to make even the shyest child laugh within minutes. They also remark about her extraordinary sense of lighting and her ability to capture such beautiful pictures while staying in the background.

To keep on the cutting edge in her profession, she joined the photography group, The Short List, and attends national photography conferences. Depending on the guest count, Lisa will bring one or two assistants to each wedding. She speaks French and some Italian.