A Day Inside | Downtown Women's Center, Skid Row

It was early December. At 4am, I woke up, got ready, and drove about an hour downtown to San Pedro St. in the Skid Row community of Los Angeles, just a few blocks from Little Tokyo, to the Downtown Women's Center. I was tasked with a dream project to create imagery capturing the spirit of the center ahead of the launch of their brand new logo and website that went live last week. Although I'd visited before to meet with staff and photograph a MADE soap-making workshop, this was my first time witnessing what happens inside the Day Center after it opens its doors at 6am. 

Downtown Women's Center's New Website Goes Live

I'm proud to share Downtown Women's Center's newly launched website and branding, featuring many of the images from our full-day shoot. Stay tuned, I'll share more images soon. In the meantime, take a look around their site and get to know the wonderful work they do everyday.

Portraits for Talk to Amber

Just before leaving for Japan, I shot portraits for The Conversation Coach, Amber Wright of Talk to Amber, at her longtime Cal State LA campus. We wanted to create fresh authentic images that reflected the grown woman she's become and fully captured her vibrant and fun personality that's at the heart of her brand. Here's a look behind the scenes, with final shots now live on TalktoAmber.com!

Coming Soon! Portraits for Talk to Amber

I had the joy of capturing the vibrant and expressive personality of Amber of Talk to Amber at the beautiful Cal State LA campus this past December. I'll share my favorite shots from the photo shoot with a few behind the scenes soon! Stay tuned...

Homeboy Industries Portraits by Mike Saijo

Artist Mike Saijo just completed a book piece series of eighteen portraits of members of Homeboy Industries, the nation's largest gang-intervention program, founded by Jesuit priest Father Gregory Boyle. Laid onto pages of Father G's book, Tattoos on the Heart, each portrait has a story. The homeboy above, on the weekend before Mike shot his portrait, had a gun pulled on him, but the trigger jammed, and he survived. He appears on the pages of the first chapter, God, I Guess.

Kelvin's Painting of Buildings

Kelvin started painting lessons with Mike in the back of a small Taiwanese tea shop in Arcadia several years ago. Kelvin, who is autistic, paints with bright, vibrant colors using acrylic, and focusing on detail, taking his time, and building concentration.