Welcome 2011

Just wishing everyone a Safe and Happy New Year! Welcoming 2011 with open arms. My heart goes out to those who have struggled this year. There are many of you out there that just want to make it... Those who have lost their homes or don't have homes, those that have lost their jobs or don't have jobs. Those that struggle everyday with things that many of us don't realize. I pray for everyone Struggling right now.
Next time you want to complain of how much wash you have, be thankful you have a Washing Machine.
Next time you don't have time to go to the grocery store, be thankful you can.
Next time you have to get up early for work the next day, be thankful you're going to work.
I have many to thank for getting my family and I through 2010... and not a day goes by where I'm NOT Thankful.
In these hard times, it's hard not to feel bitter and sad, but I'm a strong believer in things happening for a reason... good or bad....
Photography has helped me not feel bitter... not feel sad... but to feel the total oposite....
I am STRONG... I am HAPPY... and I am REAL...
Thank you everyone for trusing and believing in me in 2010.... and to get ready for 2011 ....!!!
Bring on the New Year!!!

ShootOut {Winter Wonderland}

This was my first Photog ShootOut experience. I've never done anything like this nor have I ever taken photos in the DARK. Yes... DARK. A lot of what I do is done with Ambient Light... ewwww that sounded so professional. Meaning Natural Light. So for me to go out and shoot with both Ambient Light and Flash was really a cool experience. We were broken down into small groups and then rotated in with different Leaders (Photographers). The Leaders were amazing! They were all so helpful and covered different areas of lighting.
The Models were Amazing too. They looked H-O-T. Freezing outside, but they looked HOT. I thought the Stylist Michelle Cunningham did an Amazing job that went so well with the Winter Wonderland Theme. Well, except to my 8 year old when he asked, "Mom, why does she have Blue Hair?" With a look of confusion on his face... but, if you're not 8 and if you love photography and fashion, then these photos are the Bomb Dot Com. Hair and Makeup were also a very important part of making this all happen. Hair was styled by Diego Ortega and Makeup Ashley Gannon. Candace Magoski is well rounded with Hair/Makeup/Stylist and another important part of this Team.

None of this would have been possible without a Great Team of Photographers. So a Big Thank You to Verone Pangilinan, Garrett Davis, Matt Saville, Rob Nicholson and Jason Zalameda.

This was the first shoot I've ever done with Models. It was quite fun to be able to pose and give direction and to somewhat be in charge of the Shoot. The only way to put sense to that is... I work with So Many different ages, families, themes, events and just people in general. One thing I LOVE about doing what I do is no shoot... I mean NO SHOOT is ever the Same. I love how I can photograph a 5 year old one week and another 5 year old the next and have a totally different experience. You never know what you're going to get. So Posing Models was a bit easier, but yet just as Exciting to work with. A whole different VIBE. Thank you Maisha, Amanda, Tiohn, Ashley, and Sheena for doing a Fabulous job.

So here's what I got....


So I know I should have been practicing with a flash, but I couldn't come to grips with it. So I just shot with Ambient Light as long as it would allow me... :)









I love my ISO...





Total Darkness here... time to switch to Flash... Something I probably wouldn't have ever tried... but so happy I did....

Holiday Pary at the Summer House

It was a rainy night in Corona Del Mar... but hey, the party must go on. I was so happy to be a part of such an awesome Holiday Party. It was held at the Beautiful Summer House in Corona Del Mar. If you've never been to the Summer House, its a MUST! It's a quaint little Restaurant located near the Beach surrounded by a strip of other shops and vendors. Walking in, is so beautiful yet simple. It really gives you that "BEACH" vibe. All though the company party was beautifully decorated for the Holidays, its still felt like a Summer House. The service was loyal and the food was DEE-LISH!!! It not only tasted delicious, but it was plated like a main course on Iron Chef. Seriously. Yummmmmmm. Writing this is getting me hungry.... Anyway, all in all a Great Event with such a fun hard working team. It almost made me want to turn in my resume just to make friends...lol.

Always Nice to Re-Connect

Do you ever have those days when you're just driving and someone pops in your head and you wonder how they're doing? This was so me! Crazy to think that they were on my mind one day, then on my voicemail the next... I'm so happy she got in contact with me for some family photos. Always nice to see faces that you don't get to see too often. I love how my job can bring such simple Joy.

Contemporary Photography

If I can get you being yourself, then I feel comfortable that I've done my job. Sometimes people worry that things just aren't going right. Its like those days when you just need them to go right, and they never do. Well, If I can tell all to trust in me, please do. In a great photo, we don't need it all to go right. That's not what Contemporary Photography is about, nor is it what I'm about. I want my images to show who you are... I want them to be Real. I want them to tell a story. These photos are who I'm about.

Happy Holidays...

Just wanted to wish everyone a Safe and Happy Holidays. Things have been really busy around here, and I couldn't have done it all without the Trust, Love and Support from all of you. So I thank you all from the bottom of my heart and if you were unable to book a 2010 Shoot, I still have openings for 2011 !!! There will be some Big changes coming and I will be excited to share them all with you....

Desiree Niumata

Colorful Day

With the clouds rollin in this day, I knew we had to get these done. A little rain doesn't bother me at all on the day of a shoot. I don't think anyone wants rain, but man oh man do hazy days make Great Lighting!!! Great Lighting, a Darling Face and Colorful Socks make some Amazing Photos!!! Wow, all those exclamation points.... that's how you know this was a Colorful Day!!!!

Vintage | I love Vintage!

Have I ever mentioned how much I love Vintage? There is nothing cuter than a Sweet Little Baby Face in a Really Old Vintage Suitcase... I'm like a magnet when it comes to run down locations and props... That's what I love and I'm stickin to it...

Keep Calm and Carry On...

It's not often I get asked to take photos "at Home". We often get caught up with the impression that photos need to be Perfect. Perfect dress, Perfect Smile, Perfect Setting... and I understand to some extent... but... What if you're a mom who sees beyond that? What if you want to Remember your children "at Home"? What they did, how they did it, what they played with or even they're favorite drawing? I know as a mother it's something I want to cherish forever. It's something you'll remember and have documented just for you. It's something only you can understand... I must say that after hanging around this family for an hour or so, made me more Real. I know you're probably wondering how so? Everyday you get caught up in your own personal Life. It's just what it is... but when you get to focus in on another, a whole new level of Respect opens up inside of me. That's why I LOVE what I do. I love that I get to see Beyond a Photo. I see so much More.

{ Family }

OK, So I wanted to spend more time talking about this shoot and how Incredibly Fun this family is... but honestly... these pictures do all the talking. I cannot believe how Stunning, Outgoing and Comfortable everyone was. The Grandparents... YES.. I said Grandparents look AMAZING!!! She introduced herself to me the day of the shoot, and no offense, but when you hear the name "Grandparent" I tend to think Older than I... and yes I do know that Grandparents today are much younger... but even so...
I must say that on my drive home I said a teensie weensie little prayer that I look that Good when I'm a Grandparent... Gorgeous Family!

Growing Up

When clients want to come back for another session, I want to jump up and down like Mario from Super Mario Bros, when he's standing under that brick thing full of coins... OK. Minus the Brick Thing and the coins. What am I trying to Say? I just want to jump up and down OK? LOL.
This family did return for another session and boy oh boy was it nice to see all those kiddos getting so big. It really is crazy to me how time goes by so fast. Both Moms who happen to be sisters are the sweetest and always such a joy to work with. I had a student with me this day who got to follow me around which made things extra exciting. I look forward to working with them again...

Different

When Families schedule a shoot, I often think "How can I make this Different"? How can I give them a photo like nothing they've had before? How can I make it real and true to who they really are?
This was a Huge family that we broke down throughout the day. I tried to give all of them something different. Because we're all different. One child may not like having his photo taken, while the other one loves it. One may stand completely still, while the other one wants to run around...I know I had to let each personality shine through, and the best way of doing that... is let them be real. Here are just a few samples I got throughout the day with some different looks...

Bay-BEE Shower...

We all stood waiting anxiously for Mom to BEE (get the theme) to walk threw those doors. This was the day she'd find out what she was having. Boy or Girl? I had never gone to a shower that has done something so fun. The theme was of course BEE's, and everyone got to hold a bee that announced "It's A GIRL!" She walked in with Daddy to BEE (ok, I'll stop) hands covering her eyes. Count of three.. ONE.. TWO.. THREE... "It's A GIRL!!!!" Seeing her expression, emotion, happiness, joy, excitement, nervousness... you name it... we all saw it and felt it. It was quite touching. Another great event to be a part of.