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.

We are Family... (sing with me)

The whether was perfect. The sun shinning, not too hot and not too cold. This session had been planned a while back, and I was happy to meet and work with the rest of the family. I had the honor of photographing part of this family months prior..
SO this shoot went so smoothly...(men were hungry) photograph Grandparents with Grandkids... (men wanted to be done to go eat)photograph Kids with Parents...(Men Still Hungry) photograph Parents with Kids....(now can we go eat?) then photograph Families... I'd say all were happy...LOL. Seriously though. A GREAT Family.

Harvest Party...

This was really a great Idea. I've known this family... ummmm.. well before they were this Family... Ok, So I'm not making sense again, but it's true. I must say, that being a photographer, you get to meet and or reconnect with such Amazing People. Childhood Friends, High School Friends, Friends of Friends, Friends of Family and so on... I Love that!
I had an Amazing time being a part of this Party. (Oh, and my Daughter had a great time as well...lol) Getting everyone together before the Madness of the Holidays is such a GREAT Idea. Having a Photographer there to capture it all was another Great Idea. I seriously felt like a Guest. Everyone was so fun and kind that I felt like I could have kicked up my feet and stayed... :)


The Party in Action...

Urban and Sweet

So I received an email from a long time friend. OK. So, she wasn't really my friend growing up, but my sisters. I was just the little tag along sister that had to be cool too. Well, guess what? When you reach a certain age in life, it doesn't matter how old you are anymore... We're just all cool.

So I had the honor of photographing this Good Lookin Family and doing something a little different. We did a few Urban shots that looked stunning. Then we went and played Dress up... YAY! I love dress up. Such a great memory that Mom will have documented forever. I have to say, that having a daughter you treasure these moments and you never want to forget them.

LifeStyle Photography

So it's hard for people to get away from that "Perfect Photo" Look. I love working with families that have so much fun on my shoots. OK, Maybe Dads don't think it's as fun, but I try my hardest to make it fun for the kids first.. then the parents. Maybe the kids laugh with me, and the parents laugh at me... but whatever gets a great photo right? This family had such Fun personalities. This was my first shoot in which I could barley hold my lens, I was laughing so hard. Seriously. Dad cracked me up! Too Funny.





I love this Photo!

{ EPIC }

I LOVE how all my Senior Photo Shoots show someone Different. They're REAL. They're FUN. They're FRESH. Did I mention FUN? I have to say that You're there to be Yourself, and I'm there to capture it.

I was so honored when I was asked to photograph these Beautiful Girls. They are Best Friends and both so very Talented. We met a few days before the shoot just to talk a little about what they had in mind. So this is what we came up with... Thank you girls so much for trusting in me... I had A LOT of Fun!

You + Me + She = THREE

OK, So I've noticed my titles getting a little more and more Lame. But I seriously thought it was cute. It sounds great right now, but maybe in a few days I might look back and think ... "ummmm, Hello...what are you thinking?" Maybe I need to read more .. I'm going to just throw this out there, but I only read TWILIGHT over and over again. Yes it's true. Twilight, and the occasional People Magazine...(and a TON of Photography BOOKS-even the way too boring ones)
So back to my post...
This family, I had never met before. They had seen my work through a friend of ours and then contacted me. I swear, my clients are the BOMB! This is really how my business took off so Fast and I Thank them Everyday. This was their first little girl and she seriously couldn't be any CUTER... We just did an "At Home Shoot" and the photos are Adorable. She is quite the Little Model.

Photography Friends

A few months ago I was able to attend a Photography Workshop. My first One actually. I never get to attend any of these things because A; they are usually WAY TOO Expensive or B; Hello, I have 3 children and very Little HELP. So, I heard of the great deal and I felt as though I couldn't pass it up. Through out this whole business adventure, I haven't really had a chance to meet many people that do what I do. So it's always nice when you attend these kinds of things to meet others that do what you Love to do and share similar stories. It really makes me feel like maybe, just maybe I'm doing something Right...
So I was so happy to meet this Photo Momma. We exchanged info. and then that was that. She contacted me shortly after and asked if I could take their Family Photos. Well that didn't make me nervous. LOL. There are so many amazing Photographers out there, but whenever I'm asked by ANY family. I just feel so blessed and honored. Really. I love what I do, and I'm just going to give it all my all every time...



The Best Lighting EVER!!


Did I mention the Best LIGHTING?