My Niece Ashley

I spent Christmas with my brother and nieces in Bend, Oregon, and it was an incredible white Christmas.

My niece, Ashley, is 17 years old and asked me to take her Senior Portrait. As you can see she is very beautiful and photogenic.

I did not bring all my equipment so had to come up with some creative lighting and backdrops. I originally had envisioned doing this shoot in the downtown area of Bend because it has cool historical buildings but it was in the low 20’s way too cold for an outdoor shot. I had to do it at her home. They have a huge bay window in their living room that as the sun went down it made for some incredible lighting opportunity for me. The walls are painted a deep rich red and there is an armoire that has been in our family for generations that when the light hit them it made the background came alive. I sat Ashley in a chair in front of the wall and armoire. The sun was lighting her face but I still needed more light on her hair. I had brought my SB 800 Speed light without a light stand so I had my other niece hold the light pointing to the ceiling and not at Ashley. I wanted the light to bounce off the ceiling on to her hair to give more definition. I set my shutter speed at a 10th of a second and opened up the aperture. This gave me more light for the background and on Ashley.

I decided to do some of Ashley’s photographs outside, too because she has this jet black hair and I knew the contrast between the snow and her hair would really make some awesome photographs. I got high up above her so the background would all be snow, no trees or cars, etc. We did not last long outside because of the cold. I’m so happy with the end results. Time goes by so quickly, I have seen Ashley as a baby, through childhood years and now she is this lovely, smart and sensitive young lady. I’m very proud of my niece.

My Niece Ashley

Baby Caden's First Year

I met Susan and Ross back in early March of this year, when Susan was two weeks away from having their baby. I did their maternity shoot. Baby Caden arrived on March 21st, and in April, I came back to shoot his newborn session. Baby Caden is on my Baby Plan, and I have gotten to see so many changes in him and witness important milestones in his life, like his Baptism. I have gotten to know Susan and Ross, too! They’re great people. Susan is a crusader for animals, always helping out animals in need. I have been privileged to be a part of their photographic memories. Susan wrote to me something that I will always treasure, “When I first saw the photographs of our son, I got chills and had tears in my eyes. We are very grateful to have met you and to make you a part of our son’s life as he grows.” To emotionally move another person through my photography is the ultimate compliment and the best reward I could ever dream of!

Baby Caden's First Year

Coast Kids Magazine Debut

The photographs I took back in September for Coast Kids Magazine have been published in their Winter issue. Here it is online - http://emagazine.orangecountykidsmagazine.com/Repository/ml.asp?Ref=T0NNS2lkcy8yMDA4LzEyLzAxI0FyMDEwMDA=&Mode=Gif&Locale=english-skin-ocr

I just signed an agreement with Coast Kids Magazine to do four photo shoots for them in 2009. I am looking forward to having many more of my photographs printed in such an incredible magazine.

Coast Kids Magazine Debut

Wendy, Brian, Baby Audrey and Clancy!

Wendy had seen my photographs of a family that I took this past spring, and loved them. I was very flattered that she wanted me to take photographs of her 10 month old baby, Audrey, her husband, Brian and their dog Clancy. The day of our photo shoot came and we had to postpone due to rain. So two weeks later we finally met and baby Audrey was all smiles enjoying her first professional photo shoot. Photographing a baby and a dog together can be a challenge. Clancy just wanted to explore and smell everything.

Wendy, Brian, Baby Audrey and Clancy!

Mika & Tom

Amanda Thomas, the Catering Sales Manager at the incredible Renaissance ClubSport Hotel in Aliso Viejo http://www.renaissanceclubsport.com/aliso-viejo (yes, we have a hotel in my city), recommended Mika and Tom to us. Tom met Mika in Japan and fell in love. While waiting for a visa for Mika, they started planning their wedding. This would be our first wedding at the Renaissance, and we were very excited. As soon as Mika arrived here, we immediately did their engagement shoot. We really like doing the engagement shoots since it helps us to get better acquainted with the couple prior to the wedding. Mika is not only beautiful but very animated. Tom's face beams every time he looks @ his beloved which makes for great photographs and a fun shoot. The Renaissance as you can see has many fabulous backdrops…we love the wall of water, the lobby @ the Renaissance, the outdoor patio with fabulous lanterns, it is a good fit for a modern wedding.

Mika & Tom

Children Photography

Here are some more photographs of Julia along with her brother and sister, Ryan & Jenna. I really liked the sweaters they’re wearing for this shoot, great oatmeal color and fabulous buttons, very autumn like. The day of the shoot, it was an unusually hot November day but they were good sports not complaining. I got some great candid and posed photographs of each of them.

Children Photography

Julia

Taking children photographs, I try to get a whole range of emotions, a child’s smile or laugh can melt hearts but sometimes a soft look like this image of Julia can stir the same emotional connection.

Julia

Baby Lily

The most exciting news for me is that my baby photographs are going to be wall art up in the new birthing center, Community Alliance for Birth Options, that will be opening up in Laguna Hills this December and they will be promoting me to expectant Mothers. I met B.J., Michelle and Angelica (mid-wives) this past August at the Parenting and Kid Expo. We were both exhibitors and right next to each other. What incredible ladies, very loving and caring. Michelle is the Mother of Baby Lily (the baby in these photographs). I had the pleasure of photographing Lily. It was one of those dream shoots, Lily was all smiles throughout. Michelle was so great at getting Lily to smile. Last night, Michelle called me to tell me how much she and her husband loved Lily’s photographs. She said that her husband had tears in his eyes when he looked at Lily’s photographs. To emotionally move another person through my photography is the ultimate compliment and the best reward I could ever dream of!

Baby Lily

Claudia @ Four Months

I’m documenting Claudia’s pregnancy. She is four months pregnant in these photographs, and I will take photographs again of her at six months then at eight months. This is Claudia’s first baby and she is very excited. She just recently moved from Switzerland but has lived in California before. Since, I have been to Switzerland, it was nice talking to Claudia about her lovely country, and just spending a pleasant afternoon taking photographs of such a vibrant woman. My particular favorite image is the one of her sitting crossed legged, looking down at a leaf with the striking clouds in the background. BTW, all photographers love clouds they make for some incredible backdrops…. It is not often in California we get clouds.. When I see them, I’m thrilled…..

Claudia @ Four Months

America the Beautiful

Isaac’s Mom is named America, and she is very beautiful. I met her at the Parenting & Kid Expo back in August when she was pregnant with Isaac. She is now on my Baby Plan for the entire first year of Isaac’s life. I really like the experience of photographing a baby during the first year because of all the changes I capture. Next shoot with Isaac will be when he is able to hold his head up.

America the Beautiful

Beach Portraits

It such an honor when another photographer asked me to take her family photographs at the beach. We picked a Friday evening and went to South Laguna. I really like red as the accent color. It made the photographs pop more.

Beach Portraits

Presidential Names

Since, I photograph so many babies I get to discover the trendy names that are in right now. Presidential names are gaining in popularity. The lead so far is Jackson, Carter and Grant for boys and Madison, Kennedy, and Reagan are the lead for girls. The baby in this photograph is named Jackson!!!

Presidential Names

Curls

So much to blog so little time! I did this shoot over a month ago!! This little girl has the most gorgeous hair….love the curls and color. She was in such a good mood throughout the photo shoot. It was fun just capturing her blowing bubble and playing. Jazlyn’s Mother was so excited about her daughter’s shoot. She bought this cute little outfit for the shoot.

I like photographing the back of a child. She will never be this tiny ever again. It is good to see all angles.

Curls