The story behind Jaunt Journals Santa Barbara
As a photographer, I’ve spent years capturing the essence of my hometown, Santa Barbara, through my lens. Over time, I gathered a collection of images that tell the story of the city’s architecture, landscapes, and everyday moments that make it so special.
It wasn’t until late 2023 that the idea of creating a Santa Barbara travel guidebook truly took shape. Despite the many beautiful guidebooks available for other destinations, I noticed a gap when it came to my own city. With countless references collected from my travels and a desire to share a local perspective, I realized this was the perfect opportunity to create something unique.
With a deep appreciation for coffee table books, photography, and design, combined with a bit of entrepreneurial spirit, this project became a true passion. Jaunt Journals beautifully merges my love for photography with travel and exploration, offering a fresh way to experience Santa Barbara through stunning visuals and curated recommendations.
Shooting in Santa Barbara, Calif. over the years.
The Design Process
Creating a beautiful, functional, and affordable travel guidebook was our top priority. Over the course of 2024, I collaborated with my dear friend and editor, Kathryn Sagaz, and local graphic designer Tanya Keller to bring the vision of Jaunt Journals to life. This was our first book project, which meant we spent months experimenting with layout, color, style, and content to create a guide that was both practical and visually stunning.
Over six months, we went through numerous drafts, refining the pages to balance travel guide functionality with the aesthetic of a coffee table book. I also captured additional images of Santa Barbara, working closely with our interviewees at their local businesses to tell authentic stories.
We were fortunate to collaborate with Pedro De La Cruz, whose hand-drawn illustrations add playful “doodles” throughout the book. His artwork helps bring each page to life, enhancing the visual storytelling and making Jaunt Journals not just a Santa Barbara travel guidebook, but a keepsake-worthy illustrated travel book for locals, visitors, and travelers alike.
Interview and shoot with Pedro De La Cruz and Demi Boelsterli in the Funk Zone, February 2024.
The Printing
The quality of the book was incredibly important to us. We wanted every detail — from the paper to the cover — to reflect careful craftsmanship. Personally, my choice was simple: I went straight to Italy!
We were fortunate to partner with an exceptional printer who routinely collaborates with some of the biggest names in publishing, including Taschen and Assouline. Our book is printed on FSC® Certified Paper with a beautifully debossed cover, creating a tactile, luxurious experience.
In August, I had the incredible opportunity to visit the printer nestled in the hills of Italy and witness the magic of the book coming to life. Seeing our Santa Barbara travel guidebook take shape in real time was truly a dream come true — a moment that perfectly captured the care and dedication poured into every page of Jaunt Journals.
Attending the printing of Jaunt Journals Santa Barbara in Trento, Italy August 2024.
The Final Outcome
The first copies of Jaunt Journals arrived at my home in France in early October, and the joy of seeing our hard work from 2024 come to life was indescribable. Every page had been carefully considered and reviewed, with countless hours spent refining digital drafts. When we finally held the printed version, it almost felt unreal!
We were thrilled to see how beautifully the images and illustrations translated onto the page. The final result exceeded our expectations — a Santa Barbara travel guidebook that doubles as a coffee table book and a keepsake-worthy illustrated travel companion.
After printing, the books were carefully packed and shipped by sea to Santa Barbara. Born in Santa Barbara, crafted in Italy, and now on their way to readers, Jaunt Journals is ready to inspire travel, exploration, and connection — one jaunt at a time.
