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Eliza and Michael met in the most unexpected of ways. Michael was an inmate at San Quentin State Prison. Eliza was enrolled in a psychology program at the California Institute of Integral Studies. She volunteered for a program through CIIS to help prison inmates process their actions and their traumas. San Quentin was her first assignment, and that's where she and Michael first met.

This is a very special edition of the Sasha Photography Podcast! Today is not just a Friday. It's the Friday before "The Burn". This is the day when many couples that plan to get married at Burning Man head out to have a Burning Man Temple wedding. Exactly 5 years ago, I was at Burning Man, where I was lucky enough to attend the wedding of Aleks and Nick, as a friend and unofficial photographer. Since Burning Man 2012, our families have become close. Our older kids are just a couple of months apart in age. (In fact, you might hear our kids faintly in the background). But back then, we were just getting to know each other. Recently we went on vacation together, and Aleks and Nick were kind enough to share their Burning Man wedding experience with me. https://sashaweddingphotography.com/sasha-wedding-photography-podcast/

Very excited to bring you Alexis Garrod. She's a Level 2 - Certified CrossFit Coach, experienced personal trainer, and partner at CrossFit Potrero Hill. Many people begin a dedicated fitness journey to get in shape for their wedding and honeymoon. Everyone wants to look their best on their wedding day, fit into the dream dress or tailored suit, and of course feel fit and confident on their honeymoon. Hashtags like #sweatingforthewedding may be something of a cliché, but as Alexis and I discuss, this time in your life is actually an amazing opportunity to instill positive habits and improve your fitness going forward. Among other things, we discuss crossfit; how to customize your fitness plan depending on how much time you have left before the big day; diet; women's FAQ's about weightlifting; the Master Cleanse; motivation; social media etiquette; measuring your progress; how to burn calories just by living; and what Alexis does when she wants to get that "salty, crunchy feeling." Visit http://SashaPhoto.com/podcast/#AlexisGarrod to see: -A photo of Alexis in action doing a CrossFit Open workout -Photos of me and my wife doing a handstand contest at our wedding -A photo of Alexis in the studio Also check out the Master Cleanse videos my wife and I made! Here's the link to the first one: https://vimeo.com/11908281 CrossFit Potrero Hill website: http://crossfitph.com/ and the promo video I made for CFPH, starring Alexis: https://vimeo.com/80240997

Dmitry Greenberg is a professional wedding musician and band leader. He was born in the Ukraine, and came to California by way of Israel. It's a pretty amazing journey, and today he's one of the best-known wedding entertainers in the San Francisco Bay Area. Check out his work, and his clients' feedback: https://www.yelp.com/biz/non-stop-productions-san-francisco

I photographed Alina and Alex's wedding day on September 3, 2016. The ceremony and reception were at Temple Emanuel in San Francisco. Before we arrived at the synagogue, we had a long creative shoot around SF. We played around with graffiti and murals, and rented out a bar for some unique shots. The couple joined me in the studio to share their recollections of the day, as well as to catch up on how our lives have changed over the last few months since the wedding. Among many other things, we talked about what happened behind the scenes on the wedding day, time traveled back to Alex's rather unexpected proposal, and talked about what Alina might do with her three wedding dresses.

I've run into Cynthia many times at San Francisco City Hall, as well as private wedding ceremonies all over the Bay Area. Most of the time I see her in a black robe, so it was intriguing to invite her to the studio and learn about the woman behind the robe. Cynthia and I had a fascinating conversation. We started talking about weddings, but before long we were discussing (among many other things) her love for hats, costumes and film noir; some of the oddest ceremonies she's ever performed; and even that time she climbed on a piano and sang "Black Coffee". I honestly didn't want to let her leave.

I am very excited about this new chapter in the podcast. This awesome couple joined me in the studio on a Sunday morning, literally after our second engagement shoot. I’ll be photographing Maria Elena and Jose’s wedding in June of this year. We spoke about how they met, Jose’s incredible proposal, and how their wedding planning is coming along. It was really a treat to put down the camera (at least for an hour or so) and to get to know them on a more personal level. Head over to SashaPhoto.com/Podcast to see photos of their engagement sessions, as well as a picture of them in the studio!

Every family has a story. Over the past two episodes of the Sasha Photography podcast , my father, Igor, has taken us on my Grandfather’s journey. How he escaped the Nazis - and certain death - on his family’s bicycle. His bravery during the war. How he built his life, his home, and his career, out of the ruins of a shattered city. Now, the final part of this trilogy: my father’s immigrant experience. The struggle to leave the Soviet Union and to make it in America. Like many immigrants, he bet everything. Time and time again. And nearly lost it all.

My Grandfather Isaac continues to build the foundation for his life, and begins his career as a photographer. After surviving the war, he now has to learn to navigate and survive the Soviet system itself. This is Part 2; the middle of the story that is framed by two crucial journeys. The first was on a bicycle, over the dirt roads of Belarus. The second, nearly 50 years later, brought our family to America. Together with my father, Igor, we dig deep into our family history. Note: There are no photographs in our archives from my grandfather's photography project, where he photographed a quadruple-amputee nurse Hero of the Soviet Union, Zinaida Tusnolobova. However, there's quite a bit of information online about her. There's also a small museum in Polotsk that appears to contain photos and artifacts from her life. Could my grandfather's photographs be hanging on those walls? http://tusnolobova.polotsk.museum.by/node/633 http://pravotnosheniya.info/Istoriya-trudnogo-schastya-poteryav-na-fronte-ruki-i-nogi-Zinaida-Tusnolobova-sumela-postroit-semyu-i-virastit-detey-3761.html

Every family has a story. A legendary figure in the genealogical tree. In my family, this hero and patriarch is my Grandfather, Isaac Yevelev. The legacy he left, as a survivor, a family man, and a master portrait photographer, has shaped my identity, my values, and my own career. This story is framed by two crucial journeys. The first was on a bicycle, over the dirt roads of Belarus. The second, nearly 50 years later, brought our family to America. Together with my father, Igor, we dig deep into our family history. This is Part 1.