Bay Area Kids Photographer : Shae and Ava

Happy Easter!

The morning after I arrived back in Los Angeles from Costa Rica I had the chance to photograph my favorite little orange county darlings, Shae and Ava. I photographed them back in December for their Christmas card but little Ava was at that awkward not-yet-sitting-but-not-quite-only-laying age so their Mama, Sarah wanted to try again when she got a little stronger. I've been photographing Shae since she was only 6 months old and have so enjoyed watching her come into her own little personality. She is a spit-fire and is definitely going to be a handle when she hits her teenage years! Her expression would go from mysterious and serious to a huge smile in one frame!

I think this is a perfect shoot for an Easter-day post .. little girls in Sunday dresses never gets old to me!

Love to Sarah and Brian- xoxo

Bay Area Wedding Photographer : Calamigos Ranch, Malibu : Amber and Dave

What a week! That is all the personal story I have to tell right now. :) Amber and Dave are the best kind of clients-a low-maintenance, totally in love couple in search of really pretty pictures. They chose such the picturesque wedding venue, Calamigos Ranch, in Malibu, CA to gather their friends and family together and tie the knot. Beautiful light streamed through the trees, ducks waddled around, willow branches gusted in the wind... it really was a perfect day. Amber chronicled her wedding planning journey as a blogger for Wedding Bee under the aptly named, Ms. Spaniel and I've had such fun following her trials and tribulations and seeing her wedding day come to fruition was such a treat!

Amber and Dave, thank you so much for including me in your story- I wish you happiness and love for all time!

(This wedding was two days after I got back from Costa Rica and I could not have made it through this weekend without one of my very best friends, Regis. Thanks for the driving, bag carrying, the always beautiful work, and of course, the non-stop laughter!)

Credit to Regis for the socks shot :)

A wedding in Costa Rica : Lex and Lee : Pura Vida!

Can I come to Costa Rica to shoot your wedding? Um, let me think about that. YES! I like to be open and honest with the world. So I'm going to let you in a little something about this next wedding. I get nervous when I travel. I LOVE traveling- let me make that known. But, I have a fear of the unknown that sometimes cripples me and creates pains deep down in my stomach. It's like I am standing on a diving board looking at a pool full of water that I know is absolutely freezing and I just have to jump in. I know it will take my breath away and sting my skin as soon as I make contact with it but I argue with the pains in my stomach until I convince myself that I have the courage to jump. (Whether the courage actually exists doesn't really matter.)  Of course, as soon as I jump- as soon as my body is submerged in the icy water- the water doesn't feel so icy anymore. In fact, it feels refreshing and awakens my mind. It felt so good to jump into Costa Rica and to jump into Lex and Lee's story. That said....

I was nervous about this wedding- like crippling stomach pain nervous. I am good at what I do, that I know. I am humbled that someone would want to fly me somewhere to photograph them and I try to remain as confident in my abilities as I can. (Of course, I am an artist and artists are constantly questioning their ability.) So, as you can imagine, flying to Central America to shoot a wedding does not mix with my fear of the unknown very well. It's a good thing that Lex and Lee and their entire wedding did! Minutes upon arriving at the amaaaazing wedding venue, Villa Caletas, my worries subsided. We had made it there with all of our luggage, we had survived the flight, the van ride, and our Spanish was proving to be pretty good! We were greeted with warm towels for our face and yummy juice and I immediately looked over at Heather and thought to myself, "I could get used to this."

Lex and Lee and their entire friends and family were a dream. I photographed Lex's sister, Ileana's wedding to Carlos 2 years ago (hi guys! pina colada, anyone?) so I already knew that I was head over heels in love with them but the way they all put my stomach at ease and welcomed Heather and I into their celebration was over-whelming. I was chatting with Lex on gchat recently (because we're besties now :) ) and we were commenting how we sort of feel like we were never there- like it was literally all a dream. We remarked, "Thank goodness there are pictures!" Yes, thank goodness! And with that- thank you to Lex and Lee and your familes for having me out to document your love. I was overwhelmed with the intensity of what you feel for each other and am so honored to have played a part in your special day. You are not clients, you are friends forever!

Onward!

Lex's bridesmaids made her garter out of pieces of their bikinis. :)

Wondering what that gorgeous stone is? Lee surprised Lex with a black Tahitian pearl as her engagement ring.

Puda Vida!

To view a complete slideshow of their wedding day images click here.

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A little Ivy Cat to brighten my day.

Before I left I was a mess. Like, seriously, my calendar was peering at me from behind the corner of my monitor as if to say, "Are you kidding me? I am not coming out until at LEAST June." My laundry was piled high, the kitchen sink stacked with dishes from too many weeks ago, and lets not even start talking about the state of my TIVO! I was starting to envy my day-job friends- you know the ones who get to wake up, go to work, and then come home? Before I left, knowing myself all too well, I took some advice from my mom and scheduled a day off. Listen, I know some of you will look at me and laugh. Ehem! You were just in Costa Rica, missy! But guys, seriously, I was working. ;) If any of you have a hard time handling the insane schedule of your own business (Isn't is so masochistic that we are literally doing this to ourselves??? Terrible ;) ) try this  method and stick to it! Schedule a day off. Put a vacation notice into your boss. ;) Spend the day on your couch watching TV, turn the twitter off, do the dishes, and finish up that laundry!

I'm back in the saddle, my friends. Lots of shoots to edit and lots of blogs to share. For now, here is my favorite little girl, Ivy Cat from a few weeks back.This turned into a real study of expression. I wish I was witty enough to write expressions for these- can anyone think of anything funny? I mean, the last image needs something really really good.... you'll see what I mean.

This was a really good story she was trying to tell us.