Spring love!

I had the most adorable little family sessions this spring, it has to be one of my favorite's for sure:)

As a photographer it's always so awesome to have clients who come to you a couple times a year, every year <3 it makes me happy, it's fun catching up, & it's precious watching the subtle changes in their families as they grow:)

But I also love when I get to meet a new client, I have no idea of what to expect, sometimes it's a bit more challenging because I don't know the family, their dynamics, the children.....

Well, I KNEW this would be a beautiful shoot, even though I hadn't shot w/them before, I knew this was an adorable little family, but what I didn't know was that it was going to be a bit of a magical session:)

So it's not always ponies & rainbows from "hello":) Our hello was quickly turned into a few tears as one of these beauties was showing me her giant awesome white balloon for their shoot that they had brought & were so excited about it, BUT we watched it fly up, up & away..................

I felt so sad for her;/ luckily I had brought a few tricks for this sessions & even though they ween't an awesome, giant white balloon, it was almost as fun:) We had bubbles, peeps (it was before Easter:) & confetti eggs!

These little girls are beautiful....but I think that I had a little fairy on my shoulder during our session because as beautiful as they truly are, 98% of the time they were snacking on treats, or picking out "stickies" from their sandals.....after all were really were in the forest, & well, the forest has little critters, tall dry grass, & all sorts of things that an 18 months old & a 4 year old might be a bit distracted by:)

I am in LOVE w/these images, I hope mom n dad are too:) Speaking of mom n dad, they were darling as well!  & so sweet w/their girls, so full of love <3

I feel lucky to be able to get to know new & "old" families thru my photography, capture pretty photos, & freeze time for them <3

It's the best thing ever!

ok....now scroll down & LOOK @ these faces :)

SOOOO cute!

A friendly face from my youth:)

A couple of months I had the opportunity to do a very fun family/maternity shoot w/someone who I knew many moons ago, back when I was a good~but "sassy" teenager:)

Karen (the mom here:) & I went to the same church, she is just a little bit older than me, so we didn't have the same group of friends, but I remember her well:)  I remember she ALWAYS had a smile on her face, I remember she always would say "hi" to me whenever she saw me......I remember she was a nice girl :)

Not much has changed....Karen STILL always has a smile going on:) & together w/her husband of 30 years, has raised a very nice family together, & I loved that I got to see her again after about 25 years, meet her family, & was able to capture some very sweet & tender moments.

  Karen (& I'm sure her hubby too:) ADORES her grandkids, & they adore her <3 I had fun getting a few photos of her doing what she loves, reading to them, it was so cute :O)

Karen, thank you for having me be a part of your family for an afternoon:) It truly                                                                      was an honor <3

forty one

forty one.  this is how many years I was able to be with my mom here on this earth for.

mothers day has been very bitter-sweet for me since my mom passed away suddenly, nearly 3 years ago.  not a day/night has gone by without me thinking of her, missing her......wishing she was still here, wishing I could press "mom" on my cell phone to ask her a quick question, ask her how her day is going, or just call her for no reason @ all. I miss her very much, sometimes it still literally hurts my heart.

going through a few old albums I have, I found this photo of my mom n I @ one of my bridal showers, almost 18 years ago, my mom was always "put together" unfortunately, I didn't really get that trait from her lol:)  she was always "dressed" I don't think she even owned a pair of flip-flops, & well, those are my favorite shoes to wear! we are so much alike in many ways, (you know that old saying "I'm turning into my mother") but in many ways, we are different. 

my dad moved in w/me & my family the same day my mom passed.  they were married for over 60 years, my poor dads life changed dramatically in a matter of minutes.  I am happy to be able to have him w/us here, but often times it is heart braking to see, & feel the loneliness & longing he has for her.  I snapped these shots above yesterday of him.  he was deciding whether to go on a little walk around the block, or not........he stood out there for maybe 10 minutes, & I bet that he was thinking of my mom for 9 of them.....

 on a happier note:O) like I mentioned earlier, my mom was always "dressed" she had TONS of clothes....TONS! (BUT she was a bargain hunter-so am i:) we donated about 40 nice outfits to an organization for women, that my church was gathering for....some we gave away, & I gathered a few of her "staple" clothing....blouses that she wore a little more often, a shirt she wore on our recent vacation to Italy together, her night gown she would water down her patio in EVERY day (she cleaned/washed her patio DAILY:)! one of my favorite robes she wore in the mornings, & lace from a Temple skirt she had.........

 I have a friend who is an amazing seamstress (I mean amazing!) & I came to her w/an idea I had, to make little rag dolls for myself, my kids & my sister.......& I had her make a little patchwork pillow for my dad.  I wanted to give it to them for Christmas & we only had 2 weeks or so to get them done......she said YES, & I was SO happy & excited!!!

Aren't they so adorable!  each one is a tiny bit different & each one is perfect!

even though I don't have my mom physically here on earth w/me anymore~& the thought of possibly not seeing her again for 40+ years gives me a bit of anxiety @ times, one thing I do know is that I WILL see her again, I will be able to talk to her face to face, & hug her.  I am thankful for this knowledge that I have, it brings me comfort & helps me live a little better each day.  I am thankful that I had such an amazing mother, sometimes I feel like I was spoiled because I have parents who are/were so good to me & I just hope that my kids will have the same feelings, & memories when I am no longer here physically w/them <3

This little girl is my rag dolly <3 I love her so much.  she is next to my bedside, I see her first thing in the mornings, & she is one of the last things I see @ night before I get into my bed.  it may sound a bit silly, but she is a little part of my mom that I have next to me <3 always.

Happy Mothers Day up in the Heavens mom!  I love you.

Ethan......the sweet little man:o)

Ethan C. has been diagnosed w/an inoperable brain tumor @ the tender age of 5.

I got a text followed by a VM during a Friday night shoot several weeks ago, a friend of mine had heard about Ethan, his sudden diagnoses & heard that the PTA wanted to give Ethan & his family a special photo shoot..........I am so happy I was able to do it:O)

The best day when the majority of the family would be together @ the hospital w/Ethan was the very next day!  I had a full schedule, but was able to rearrange a couple of things & make it out to Childrens Hospital of LA........on a side not-WOW, what a beautiful hospital it is!

 lovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelovelove AND MORE love........

Ethan was getting smooched left & right by all the ladies!  I think he enjoyed every second of it too!

Even though Ethan is VERY loved by his entire family, he is 10000000% adored by these two ladies below.  One is his auntie, & the other one is his mommy:O)

                                                                                         The "Ethan bunch"

The image below is so touching to me......little Ethan was getting tired, he did so good, it's hard to believe the little guy is only 5 years old.  I have been told that he is so sweet, & so polite, he has nurses, Dr's & people in his face 24/7 & he is always happy & has a big smile on his face, & is always concerned for others........what an angel..........

                                         precious.................

Even though I feel like we can't question "why" it did break my heart to see him get into his wheel chair & head back to his little hospital room.....

Life is beyond precious...........taking photos this late afternoon for Ethan & his family was a very big reminder to me of just how precious life really is.  Ethan, little man......you are very loved, you're such a brave boy,  Keep on smiling, you are such a doll........ xo

Spring 3/4 mini shoots:O)

 About a month or so ago, I had my first "Spring 3/4 mini shoots" I knew where I wanted to shoot @ & I knew I wanted to shoot..... pretty people:O) & I was able to do both!

 I had been messaging back n forth for a few months w/this beautiful mom, & I was so excited when she saw one of my FB posts saying that I had one spot left......she messaged me & said "I want it":)! I knew her family shoot would be so great, she has a darling family, how could it not:O)?!

                                                                     l.o.v.e.t.h.i.s.s.h.o.t.a.b.o.v.e.V.E.R.Y.m.u.c.h.;O)

One of the fun things for me as a "photographer" is when I get to take photos of new people I meet, & when I get to take photos of people I already know:) I think this cute family above is "totally awesome":)  & let me tell YOU......that little blonde mommy can shake it!  She is an amazing Zumba instructor!  She makes it look like a piece of cake:O)

& these guys are also some "peeps" that I've known for a while:O) I've been able to take photos for them Christmas 2011 & also for their youngest first birthday! I do have to say that it was MUCH:) easier taking the little guys photos when he was a year old, than it was w/him being 2+:O)  He had somewhere to go!  Not exactly sure where that was lol;o) but he was going to get there, & was going to get there by running-all around:O)  All these kids are so cute!  They are another wonderful family!

And often times I get to meet new people, & I love that too:O)  These super cute kiddos are precious, & they have one very talented mommy! Their mom also is/was a photographer, but has since moved on to  a very cool job:O) I felt "honored" that she had asked me to do their little photo shoot;o)

 Ok, I LOVE when I get to take photos of siblings, but I really love it when I get to take photos of BFF's &&&& siblings!  Up above is mommy & her BFF, & both their daughters, who are also BFF's:O)! I'm not sure who was having more fun, the mommies, or the little girls:O)!

I absolutely LOVE this photo above!  These two had the cutest giggles, & smiles!  You could tell that they really loved playing together!  They even had the SAME missing front tooth!  How fun is that:O)?!?!?!

                                      families, siblings, BFF's..........it was a full day of fun & l.o.v.e. in San Juan Cap:O)

one.word.AdOrAbLe.

 I got the chance to meet a really awesome family, & take lot's of precious photos of them all:) I don't know if I enjoyed the perfect & sweet little newborn babe (oh he was SO sweet:) or his VERY entertaining older handsome brother!  He was such a fun little guy! & of course mom n' dad both were pretty great too:) I have to say, I enjoyed each one of them:)

This photo up above is one of my favorites from this day:O) Big brother was holding "kitty" tight, & there's always something extra special to me when I see a mother holding her brand-new babe in her arms, it's just p.e.r.f.e.c.t.