Bonjour, Aloha, Welcome!  I am Jody. 

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Travel has been one of the great joys of my life for as long as I can remember. It began with a homestay in Bourges, France, when I was a teenager, where I got to speak French every day, eat at someone else's family table, and wander streets that had existed for centuries. Up to that point, France had just been a place on a map, but being there and seeing firsthand how another culture lived made it real. 

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Over the years I have lived and traveled throughout Europe, continued studying languages, become a Certified Specialist of Wine, built a career as a photographer, and explored a long list of destinations, always curious to see what makes them special. Every trip has added another layer to the way I experience the world, and I still get excited every time I discover a hidden surprise- those are the places I remember most, and the ones I most enjoy sharing with my clients.

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Why Viewfinder?

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People occasionally ask where the name Viewfinder came from.  A camera's viewfinder is a way of framing the world. It encourages you to slow down, pay attention, and decide what deserves your focus. Sometimes the most interesting photograph is not the obvious one, but the one you discover after wandering a little farther or looking from a different angle.  Travel feels much the same to me.

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I would rather help someone fall in love with one neighborhood than race through ten attractions. Sometimes the memory that stays with you is not the famous landmark at all, but the quiet café you wandered into, the conversation with a local shopkeeper, or the little hotel that made you wish you had booked another night.  Those are the experiences I love finding, and the ones I most enjoy sharing.

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A Different Way of Seeing

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Photography taught me that the best viewpoint is rarely the most obvious one. Flying taught me preparation, awareness, and perspective. Together, they changed the way I travel.

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I learned early in my photography career that the technical and the creative work hand in hand. Beautiful images depend on attention to detail, thoughtful planning, good timing, and knowing when to slow down. The best journeys do, too.

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When I scout a destination, I wander neighborhoods before recommending them. I stay in boutique hotels, visit wineries, search for restaurants worth lingering over, hike local trails, and pay attention to the architecture, local markets, cafés, and the small details that give a place its personality.

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Some of those discoveries become photographs, some become blog posts, some become recommendations I am excited to share with my clients. Instead of relying on guidebooks, I enjoy creating my own.

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Home Base

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Today the Northern California coast is home. Just south of San Francisco, I spend as much time as possible photographing the coastline, exploring neighborhoods, dropping into wineries, staying connected to the local art scene, and making regular excursions to Napa, Sonoma, Carmel, and beyond. I know this part of the world well, and I love helping visitors discover it.

 

I hope I have the opportunity to help you discover your own new point of view!

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And, as they say in the flying world, “Blue skies and tailwinds!”

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(For more photography, visit Holman Photo On the Go (travel)  and Holman Photography (portraits and weddings)