Redwoods Cottage

I was commissioned by Realtor Emily Beaven of Compass to photograph a modest but special home in Occidental, California. Affectionately known as The Birdhouse, this 1940s cottage sits among the redwoods on Salmon Creek. While the property is far from a sprawling estate, it was deeply treasured by its longtime owners, and I approached the shoot with the same care and attention to light, shadow, and composition that I would bring to a multi-million-dollar residence.

The home itself is filled with character — wainscoting, built-ins, open-beam ceilings, and stained glass details that speak to its vintage charm. My job was to highlight those qualities in a way that felt authentic, showing how light moves through the small rooms, while also capturing broader views of the property’s redwood setting. In most cases, that “natural” light was carefully shaped with my own lighting solutions, designed to create mood and reveal the warmth of the interiors and the quiet beauty of the wooded landscape.

I also want to give credit to Emily for bringing me in on this project. Instead of defaulting to the quick, basic real estate photography that’s so common, she invested in a more editorial approach — probably four times the cost of the standard option — because she believed this much-loved home deserved to be documented with real care. That choice says a lot about how deeply she values her clients and her profession, and I was genuinely honored to help tell the story of this warm, long-treasured vacation cottage.

Projects like this are a reminder that architectural photography isn’t just about scale or luxury — it’s about storytelling. Whether it’s a contemporary estate in San Francisco or a simple cottage in Sonoma County, the goal is the same: to create images that reflect both the spirit of the place and the care invested in it. This Occidental cottage demonstrates how the same professional approach to real estate and architectural photography can bring out the best in any property, regardless of size or valuation.