It’s crazy town that this year is winding down, but there are so many sweet memories to reflect on and carry forward. I still can’t believe I get to hang with the best people to help document their life stories. It’s really an honor and joy, and I’m excited to dream up what images will be made in the new year. Sending you and yours love! xo
The only request was to capture the happiness present in this life season, so we went a long, exploratory walk together and did just that. :)
I shot some photos for a DC city guide on Life & Thyme. For those who know me, it’s not a secret that I really adore DC and love calling it home. Over the years, it’s been inspiring to see how neighborhoods have grown in vibrancy and how the food scene specifically has built and shaped community.
Here are some images I made from an afternoon hanging with the kind folks at Seylou, one of my favorite local bakeries. It was a lot of fun to get a behind-the-scenes look of the heart that’s invested and the magic that happens way before we get to take the first bite.
Recently somebody asked me to describe how I approach a shoot, and my response was essentially that I try to show up as myself so that others feel comfortable being themselves. As far as photo philosophy goes, my style is on the natural side, and my main goal is to document people as they’d be if a camera was not present. This means that most of my direction is open like “hang out on the bench” or “go in for a hug” so individuals can interpret the cues and act as it rings true for them.
It’s the best when clients—like these lovely humans—are on board for real life documentation.
I got to introduce this sweet family to one of my favorite spots in Rock Creek Park and document new memories as they were made. We ran around looking for butterflies and crossing bridges and exploring together. It was a lot of fun.
Also, I got a wee emotional editing because I could see that love lives on these faces.
Breathing dreams into reality usually requires courage, perseverance, self-love, a whole lot of work, and patience. Getting to see my soul sister, Alli, journey from articulating a dream to launching an independent business doing just that has been truly remarkable.
La Vidacita is a collective of artisans and entrepreneurs co-creating meaningful accessories and a new reality for women and children in rural Guatemala. Alli designs thoughtfully to celebrate women and to celebrate life.
I'm so grateful for the fun we had collaborating on this shoot for her lookbook. I've seen firsthand how stunning these clutches are, and if you'd like to join in on the party, check them out here!
This portrait session was particularly special because it took me on a little road trip with a childhood friend and her two tiny humans to a lavender farm in Virginia. We ran around to pick flowers in gorgeous open fields and played Ring Around the Rosie until it was time to venture homeward.
On the way back, each time Brooklyn shared a cracker with her older brother Colt, she'd say, "Here you go, Suman." My heart melted. (Suman is short for superman.)
Spring in DC is nothing short of magic. The city comes to color and life in flora form, and I'm grateful to have reveled in a beautiful day with this sweet family.
My fingers and toes are crossed that the warmer days are here to stay!
Two-week-old baby burritos might be my new favorite subject to shoot. :)
Lucy is one of the reasons I decided to explore photography and to take it more seriously in college. Her images moved me and made me want to make better photos. Also, she helped me pick out my first DSLR, the Nikon D40.
We'd go on little adventures around Charlottesville with our cameras to shoot just for fun, and that 19-year-old version of me had no idea she'd be photographing her friend's family portraits ten years later.
Lucy, thank you for inspiring me to embrace the camera life and for inviting me to help document your story!
"Just snuggles up on the couch" was the request for this family portrait session, and I was more than pleased to oblige. Here's a small collection of my favorite images featuring one of my favorite families!
Covering the event for Culture Trip was good for me because I was encouraged to pay extra attention to the other marchers and interesting signs or interactions. I wove around the city exchanging smiles with kind, gracious feminists. And just like last year, I walked away feeling full of hope and solidarity.
I'm forever astounded by and grateful for how my camera gets us invited to help document such personal moments in people's stories. Ones they want to celebrate. Ones they want to remember. There's something so special about making art or viewing art that evokes questions like, "Am I allowed to be here?" or "Am I intruding?" because it's like we get to take a shared step into somebody's behind the scenes. We get to explore what's real and human. And that makes my heart really happy.
Quite a few of my friends are new parents, but that doesn't change the fact that the whole making a baby thing is absolutely remarkable. I mean, is it not nuts that moms grow tiny humans in their bellies, and then give birth to beings who will develop thoughts and interests and dreams of their own one day? Amazing, right?
The transition into parenthood is a beautiful process to witness, and it was a true treat to hang with KC, Adam, and one-week-old Clarkson to make some photos together. I love their love.
Friends, whether you're hoping to document this life season in photo form or gearing up for holiday cards, I'm stoked to offer mini portrait sessions this fall in DC!
The cost includes a 20-minute shoot and an online gallery of 20 edited images for download.
Come hang on Saturday, October 28th at Meridian Hill Park or Sunday, October 29th at Constitution Gardens.
Please email mustardtights@gmail.com with inquiries or booking requests. Many thanks!
The moment we arrived at No Ordinary Love Ministries' safe house in Addis Ababa, we were greeted with the biggest and tightest bear hugs from dozens of young, smiling faces. The space was light and airy, and beneath the sound of children at play, the sound of music played softly. I had a gut feeling that we had walked into something special.
No Ordinary Love Ministries is committed to reuniting lost and trafficked youth with their families, and to date, there have been more than 400 reunifications. Street addresses aren't common in Ethiopia so locating homes is truly an amazing feat.
It's still surreal that my cam and I got to journey with a sweet spirit named Adanech to reunify with her mom and siblings. I'll let the video tell her story.
Earlier this year I traveled with a creative team led by The Table Initiative to visit a collection of rad nonprofits in Ethiopia. Our time there was equally heavy and heart-filling. Unthinkable brokenness exists, but so does unwavering hope. My goodness is that difficult to reconcile on most days.
I quickly grew to adore the kids I met and the babies I held at ESMAfrica, and I was deeply grateful to witness how the organization loves on them.
Here's a video I made about a strong and brave girl named Marta who was declared by her tribe to be a mingi (cursed). It'd mean so much if you'd share a few minutes to hear her story. And hopefully be reminded that we're each worthy and loved just as and where we are.
A zillion thanks to my team for being with me every step of the way, and another zillion thanks to my trip fundraiser supporters for making the experience possible.
esma // marta from Angela Wu on Vimeo.
Costa Rica was steamy and dreamy. I journeyed there with about a dozen co-workers for a dear friend's wedding. The trip was beautiful beyond words and so saturated with emotion.
Pura vida is Spanish for "pure life." According to trusty Urban Dictionary, it's the law of the land in Costa Rica. The expression is used in many forms, from a greeting, to a synonym for "excellent." Ticos follow this lifestyle and are some of the most wonderful people on earth. A synonym of "hakuna matata." Life is wonderful; enjoy it.
It's safe to say we embraced pura vida through savoring the pace of beach life, the bursts of color at sunset, reading reading reading, and our little work family. We were silly beans, per usual, but somehow I found myself engaging in deep, challenging, and thought-provoking conversations that seemed a little heavy for the beach, but were a good dose of nourishment for the spirit.
Below are snaps from my phone!
