Memorial Day

I just wanted to give a big Thank You to our brave Men and Women that fight or have fought for our Freedom. The older my children get, the more they learn about the importance of this day, and the more questions I get to answer. I posted a photo of all that I live for. All that is of Importance to me. If we can always remember that our Freedom came with a price... and we owe this day to them...

As I sit here and Edit these images, I look back at that Amazing New Zealand Kiwi husband of mine....lol. I should really post photos of his happy face, but I know deep down he knows we live in an Amazing Country. Our kids are so blessed to have such cultural backgrounds and on Days like Memorial Day, Mommy gets to Answer all their little questions. We will leave other days like the Rugby World Cup for Daddy to answer...

EPIC Senior Photography | Class of 2011

I can't tell you how much I enjoy working with Seniors on their photo sessions. The Girls tend to enjoy it a bit more than the boys... not gonna lie.

I got to work with an Awesome Girl today who was wanting to get some really cool shots. Mom came along and was so so sweet! Working with Great Moms and Great Seniors makes the day of the shoot twice as fun.

Forever 21.... America's Next Top Model... TOMS... all these places have not only inspired me with my style photography, but also inspires my Senior clients... I love the fact that they are all Themselves and all Unique in so many ways. So many different Styles now and days... You're only a Senior Once, and my job is to capture who you are when your senior year arrives....

Making New Friends...

The respect I have for my clients goes above and beyond. Once we get to hang out for a good hour or hour and a half, you have now become my friends. So what I'm really trying to say is... I really hope you like me because this will go a lot smoother if you laugh at my jokes instead of hearing the sound of chirping crickets... Trust me it's not cool when I laugh at my own joke followed shortly after by chirping crickets... not cool. Anyway... back to this Beautiful Family Session. This was so much fun and such a Nice, Outgoing Family. I felt as though we all really laughed together...(well, I hope anyway)

Oustanding Women of the Inland Empire

I was honored when I was asked to photograph these three Outstanding Women. They had a spread in a Magazine for not only being nominated as Outstanding Women, but hardworking and committed to helping young girls find their inner beauty... I will post the article as well... Thank you Ladies for making my job so fun today... I had a blast!

It's time for Family Photos...

Another Amazing Family I had the pleasure working with. I know they thought that this day was probably a big Fail... but I knew what I was seeing, and I knew what I was capturing. Their little guy really wasn't feeling this photo session day. Mom and Dad were really worried and I had to constantly remind them that "it's OK". Times like these when i decide to let the little one run the show. I know as a mom we stress about not getting that perfect shot... we stress that our kids are crying, maybe even screaming... and then we think that this was a Bad Idea. I honestly believe that when kids are comfortable and are able to relax and unwind... I go to work to get some "REAL" shots. Shots that we as mom or dad get to remember. We get to see our real child as they were at that age, at that moment. How he played, how he walked, how he laughed, and smiled. It's real.

Mommy and Me

It was so nice to meet Yvette and her Beautiful little girl. I had such a great time visiting El Centro and It's always nice to just get away from home. I book clients out there maybe once or twice a year. I know for sure that I will be back for Christmas Sessions and dates will be posted after summer. Thanks for trusting in me and for being so fun and easy going.

Family Photography | Brawley

I'm so happy I had the opportunity to work with this Beautiful Family again. I visit El Centro and Brawley maybe once or twice a year (I know Gina is thinking "Not Often") but when I do, I book a few sessions. I'm so excited this family decided to do some updated photos. Seeing how fast kids really do Grow in such a short amount of time will always blow my mind. They are more precious than ever and I can't wait to work with them for many years to come.

Home Sweet Home...

Simple images don't always need some thought-out location. Simple images can be taken anywhere. Grandpa wanted some updated family photos taken right from his home. This was really fun for me, becasue not only did I get to reconnect with an Awesome family... but I got to take photos differently.

Aiden's First Birthday

Little Aiden turned 1 today, and before you know it... all that party planning mom and dad did is over in a days work. I had to capture what a special day this was...
Thank you for having us, such a blessing to be around friends and family...




Little Charlie was a guest that was calling out to my camera... well if she could talk, that's what she'd be doing....

It's Here!!!

My Gallery Wrap Canvas is HERE!!! HOLLA!!! I'm so excited if you cannot tell by my writing. I am one happy Mama.



(the other order was for another client... I didn't have another child)

Family Photographer | Gift for Mom

I love that I've become friends with so many great people. I like to call my clients my friends, because that's what they've become. They are not just people or just clients. I would go above and beyond for my friends and I would go above and beyond for my clients.
Getting the family together for a photo for Mom is always hard. Hard with working families, families with kids, kids schedules, works schedules, blah blah blah...
This family pulled it off early. We had a day planned, everyone knew and I was Ready. Unfortunately, this lovely California whether was not... rain, rain, rain stopped, then rained again. So we had to re-schedule. The next time around we had some beautiful light, some natural photos and one happy mom/grandma.

Champion | Senior Photographer

Senior photos have taken a Turn... a Turn for the Better... Thank Goodness! The Girls Love these sessions and usually Rock them Out like Crazy, but the Boys have the "Are you Kidding Me" attitude and tend to make me feel really old and un-cool. LOL! I am not Old and I am still Cool... because... I captured who you were in that moment. I say that a lot with my photography, because I feel that what's important. I'm not going to ask you to do the chicken dance in front of my camera. I may do it, but who knows what I'll end up doing that day. If I can find time to be quiet during a shoot or stop making jokes that only make me laugh.. then I'd do the chicken dance...

Good ol Jacob here was willing to listen to me and make this all happen. He had a lot to show his the last few years in High School... Some Championships to be proud of along with a timid little Smile. I love that this is who he is...

New and ALL for ME

I took time out today to do something for myself. Due to lack of Wall Space in my house... well, Lack of ANY Space in my house... I wanted to update my ONE wall. I didn't want to make this a huge project, but I've been wanted a beautiful Gallery Wrap Canvas from my printing company. I wanted One Photo for One Wall.. Simple is my name.
I ended up by making this decision really difficult. My kids absolutely hated me by the end of this shoot, and Mom wasn't too happy with them either. Geesh! what a hard shoot... but at the end of the day, they are all that matters to me and I'm comfortable to not have to show their everyday lives to prove to anyone for everyone to see...













I LOVE my Cool Kiddos...

Mr. and Mrs. Vandermade

The sun is out and the breeze is mild. I exit my car with all my gear and take in a deep breath of salty sea air. Inhale. Exhale. It's going to be a good day. This is what I do. I am here to capture this Life Long Memory that's going to tell this story from here on out. That will one day be passed down to children and grandchildren. I take what I do Very Serious. Very.
The Wedding was held at the Pacific Edge Hotel in Laguna Beach. The Villa is breathtaking. I honestly imagined which room would be mine and then picked out my children's room as well. Had that been our home of course. Then I snapped out of it to see my cousin the Beautiful Bride. Tai looked Gorge. She had that brides glow goin on. She is a super fun girl, and I know Lenny is one Lucky guy to have her in his life. Lenny is honestly one of the kindest most humble person I've ever talked with... Don't let his big USC football Size scare you off... :)

It take a great team to make it all possible, and they made it happen...
Scarlet Sage Floral Design did an Amazing job with everything. It was absolutely stunning. Hair was done by Alyssa Lawler. She specializes in Weddings, Prom, Date Nights and Simple Relaxation. She can be reached at lawler.alyssa@yahoo.com
Dress was from Davids Bridal and Tux was from Friar Tux Shop. Brides lace bolero jacket was made by Lady Lion Couture. It was custom made just for the Bride and customer service couldn't have been better. Nice people who understand.
Let's not forget the center pieces. The conch shells came all the way from Florida from SeaShellWorld.com. Once again, working with such helpful people makes a world of difference.
After the ceremony, dinner shortly followed at the Beach House Restaurant. The food was to die for. Beautifully plated to a point where you were sad to mess it up. The taste was exquisite. Yes, I'm getting hungry as I blog...
This Simple, Intimate Day turned out Amazing. I was honored to have photographed it and honored to part of an Amazing Family. xoxoxo