Active-duty military, Tiavonna has traveled far and wide, calling many cities home along the way. Her daughter Brielle was even born in Japan! But San Diego still has her heart. She’s all in on the weather, the beaches, and what she swears is the best Mexican food outside of Mexico. Now back in her hometown, she wanted to celebrate this season with all the California flair. She reached out early with a vision—Christmas card magic with formal attire and Christmas trees in the sand—and I was immediately on board. It was a look she’d dreamed of doing for years, and this was the moment!
At three years old, little Brielle was totally up for wearing a fancy dress. Apparently, she takes after her mama, who just so happened to be Little Miss California 1989, Tiny Tots Division. Brielle’s current obsessions include KPop Demon Hunters, and her mom calls her a silly goose with a sharp little mind. It was such an honor to photograph these two stunners in their gorgeous dresses—and double the trees, since we each brought one! The light was fading fast when we started, but we knew the look we wanted, and we both love how it all turned out.























