This is my dear friend Emily Brundige. She is an animator, puppeteer, all around super girl and human time capsule. As adorable as she is brilliant, she is also the creator of the wonderfully awkward and seriously menstrual doll, “Pubertina”. She asked me to take some portraits of her and her doll and I came running with my camera in hand. Thanks, Emily, for a wonderfully fun and awesomely back to the future photo shoot. I look forward to many more groovy collaborations together. I dig you, dear heart. Anyone who makes a doll that is perpetually on their period is A-OK in my book. Onward to the photos! 

Oh, and for the full Pubertina effect, watch some of Emily’s genius below…

Fredo Viola and I go way, way back. In fact, about this far back…

In our teen years, Fredo and I collaborated on countless videos and photographs and we still collaborate as adults. He and I wrote a song together called “Let The Sad Out” which was featured in the 2004 remake of “The Manchurian Candidate”. Fredo is an amazingly talented person, a visual storyteller, recording artist, world touring performer and avant-garde filmmaker. Check out his brilliant work here.

Fredo, I am so glad we have stayed best friends all these years. Looking forward to many future projects together. I love you, pal.

Debby Boone is an old and dear family friend. At 7, I was the ring bearer in her wedding and I’ve pretty much had a crush on her ever since. She is one of those people that radiates light from the inside out. Being with her is being in the presence of true goodness and between her electric smile and piercing blue eyes, she is a photographers dream. Thank you, Debby for asking me to shoot you again!

My sister, Donna Jean Freberg, recently published her book of essays, “Love Is My Religion”. She asked me to shoot some pics of her for her book jacket and promotional materials and I was delighted to do so. Donna is a human sunflower, beautiful inside and out. Her writing is wonderfully human, poignant, authentic and funny. Reading her words is like pulling up a chair and having a nice cup of tea with an old and trusted friend. Congratulations, Donna on your new book!

Shooting Sebastian Montoya was a total pleasure from beginning to end. Not only is he an amazing actor, he’s a serious professional with a strong sense of self and a strong sense of character. As hardworking as he is easy going and as fierce as he is fun, he is why I love being a portrait photographer. Thank you, Sebastian for reminding me why I do what I do.