Family number 2 from the weekend was the Giannetti family. So cute- so sweet.  You may recognize both the little cuties, Aaron and Carter, from sessions in the past few months or so.  Here are just a few of my favorites:

This past weekend, I got the pleasure of driving up north to photograph 5 family sessions.  I was so excited and ready for some nice cold weather- secretly wishing and hoping for snow.  Maybe I missed a candle on my last birthday cake, because there was no snow and no COLD weather awaiting me in the beautiful north country.  Instead a warm 75 degrees is what my car thermometer read Friday afternoon when I arrived.  Nonetheless, I was excited to photograph a family that has been coming to be year after year for 3  years now.  And Sonya, the domestic diva, has become a friend of mine as time has passed.  I just LOVE watching her children grow and develop and document them in these little steps in life.  All of Shawn and Sonya’s children are very well behaved and full of life and energy.  Anytime, I get to work with more than one child- there is always some bit of a challenge.  The funny thing was, as I went thru the images, there would be images that all of the children were either smiling laughing or looking at me, and I would think Ah-ha! Perfect! Then I would see either Shawn or Sonya had their eyes closed.  But I must be honest and say, I do not blame them or find fault, we had some pretty harsh lighting to deal with and when it comes to photography- harsh light is not our friend.  Even with the harsh lighting, two parents that wouldn’t keep their eyes open (totally kidding here), and 4 energetic kids, I am pretty pleased with the results we got.  Thank you Hemmings family for letting me hang out with you for the afternoon!

Wow!  I cannot believe how time has flown by.  It only seems like yesterday when I met Traci at Babies ‘r Us and baby Maggi was growing inside her.  Before my eyes- I have watched this beautiful belly transform into a beautiful baby and now into a beautiful little girl.  This year, as I visited the family, it was my 4th time photographing them in the past 3 years.  Each year, I anxiously await and anticipate the email that Traci sends me.  She has been saving and planning for a year and is ready for me to come out to their home once again.  I just LOVE it and get so excited every time I get to go out there.  not only do I get to se Steve, Traci and Maggi- I also get to see all there animals. I think they are up to 3 dogs now ,Rayna (-sp??) the little chihuahua still gets so antsy when I show up.  One of these days she will be happy to see me like the other two.  They still have the llama, two cats, a bunch of fish, a handful of horses and one of the newest additions, is Miss Buttercup better known as “bahhboo” with the cutest puckering of lips as Maggi says it.  She is Mags’ pony.

What a fun day we had.  We started out with a tea party with Bear and George- it was fabulous.  Then quick change of wardrobe to the cow girl boots, wranglers and cow girl hat.  And we were off to explore the world of a little cow girl in the wild west.  As I followed Maggi around, I could sense the joy and freedom she felt from living in her own little paradise( and if I can be honest here- my paradise).  What more could a girl want? Space to roam, animals to lead and ride, fish to gaze at and flowers a plenty for picking- and that is just what she did.

Maggi, you have the best facial expressions, the sweetest smile, the cutest laugh, the greatest love for your pony friend- buttercup, and THE MOST PERFECT LITTLE HEART LIPS EVER!!!!!  I could have stayed with you for a week.  You did such an awesome job- and never had a terrible moment, the whole 3 hours I was there.  I cannot wait to see you again next year…..and the next….and the next!

Here are a handful of favorites. (There were so many I loved!)

Well, if I can be honest- this couple was one of the hottest I have ever photographed.  They are both so darned cute together and separately they are just as adorable!  Can I also say that this is the first time I have ever left an e-session feeling like a total DORK.  I thought that I was being funny and chatty- but I have a feeling these two thought otherwise.  Now, do not take me wrong, both Kristyn and Brandon are super sweet people.  However, I think my conversation skills were totally off the chart in a backwards sort of way that evening.  They were both so soft spoken and didn’t have a whole lot to say.  And for those of you that know me- I talk about everything and anything.  Nonetheless, I had a great time and I can only hope that they did too. My favorite part of the shoot was when they would get a little silly and start laughing with each other.  I did get to learn that she is a nurse and he is a firefighter.  Let me tell you when I found that out, my imagination went crazy.  I kept envisioning a whole different session with uniforms and props.  HA!  I think I really am a dork.  Or maybe these two are just so darned cute and HOT- that I can’t keep up.  Thanks you two for hanging out with me and letting me get to know you a little better.

I cannot wait until your March wedding- I am sure it will be absolutely BEAUTIFUL and I am so THRILLED it is at one of my favorite venues:  The Desert Botanical Gardens.

I really love this little series.  

Watch out girls!  Or watch out MOM!  Evan is only six, but in a few more years- I can already see all the girls chasing after him.  Evan is funny, smart, athletic and SUPER cute!  He was keeping me laughing the whole shoot.  As soon as he would see me raise my camera- his full on smile would come out.  After a while, and after playing a few fair games, he relaxed a little and the more natural Evan came out (well sort of).  I have known Evan his whole life and just love him to death.  Brighton my son , and Evan get along and play really well together.  Currently they are on the same soccer team – and let me tell you Evan is an AWESOME player.  I don’t think there is a sport out there that Evan is not good at or doesn’t like.

Both of our families went to the fair together while Larisa and I headed off with Evan for his 6 year photo shoot!  Evan was so hungry, so his mom bought him a corn dog and I told him to sit down and eat it and he DEVOURED the whole thing in less than a minute- I guess he was really hungry.  And even better, I had told him to sit down in the middle of the ground and everyone was walking around him.  DO you think it phased him?  Not in the least, he just continued on like there was no one else in the world but him and his corn dog!

Happy 6th birthday Evan!  We all love you- you are fun, talented and amazing kid!

Snips and snails…..dirt and rocks- that is what little Brayden LOVES!  This is the first time I got to work with Brayden and although mom wasn’t too sure how he would behave (there were rumors of him being a little fussy earlier that day) he was such a sweet angel!  So mellow and laid back.  I must admit that I was completely AMAZED at how much he LOVED the dirt.  It was as though he had a built in radar for all thinks messy.  At one point, we put him on the ground in a small pumpkin patch.  Do you think he was looking to pat the pumpkins or just crawl around?  No way!  He spotted (from all the way across the patch I might add) a split open pumpkin and he made a b-line straight to the mess.  It was so funny!  I loved how strong that part of his personality was already present.  Despite the dirt and rocks and messy pumpkin seeds, we had a fun time and he did an awesome job…..not to mention he is such a cutie pie!  Thanks Brayden and Mom for having me be part of your afternoon!

Here are a few favorites!  PS- I am so happy that he brought his little monkey along- I could totally tell that it is his little best friend!

The sun was shining.  The wind was blowing round and round and round.  She stood there so beautiful, he stood there with a tear in his eye.  The day had finally come- a day that some of us that new Jim always wondered when or will it come.  This past weekend it did!!!  And I was so happy that I got to be there to see him say I do, and to finally meet the girl that was the love of his life.  See, Jim and I have known each other for about 18 years now and we had always been friends thru all of high school and always kept in touch.  I can remember when he called me one day not too long ago and said, (with a slight pitch in his voice), “Guess What?”  He really didn’t need to say anymore- I knew at that moment that he had finally asked Heather to marry him.  I had never met Heather, bu tI could tell by the way he always talked about her and seemed himself when he did that she would one day be the one.  Well at least so I thought- and I was right.

This past weekend, Chad and I loaded all the family (well Boedi, the dog, had to stay back and watch the house) in the car and headed west.  Our first stop was Grammy and Poppy’s house to drop the kids off (I even had enough milk stored up to leave Sweet P with them.) Then it was North to meet up with the EAST’S for their big day.

San Francisco was BEAUTIFUL- not overcast and the temperatures were just cool enough without too much chill!  The first night we were there, I was able to finally meet Heather, and when I did, it seemed as though I had known her my whole life.  She was so beautiful and fun!  I was so excited to be there to celebrate with them.

Saturday came and it was another gorgeous day, Chad was afforded the job of second shooting for me and he did an awesome job.  The ceremony was short and sweet and the reception was relaxed and fun.  The awesome thing was the at 4pm when the reception ended, Heather and Jim allowed for us to take them back to the city and get some awesome shots!  I was so happy that they allowed the time for us to do that.

Here is to a lifetime of happiness and love!

One of Chad’s images that I love.  This cement was the perfect color to match their blue and green wedding!

Heather’s dad brought this really cool old classic car and we were able to use it for some fun images- this was Heather when she was arriving to the Cliff House.

The Beautiful bride and her father just as they are coming down the aisle.

A fun port hole in one of the doors.  Wish I had something that I could have cleaned it with- but all the smudge marks actually add to the feel of it.

I LOVE it when a bride chooses to wear shoes of a different color!  So fun!

One of my favorite images of the day- and it is Chad’s image!  Love it.

Another one of Chad’s- I love how happy Jim looks here- and is laughing so hard- PERFECT!

Fun SHOES and fun SOCKS!

Can you believe that the driver of this trolley told Heather- NO!!! That he was not going to let her get on the trolley for some pictures- I tell ya SOME people.  

Chad, me, Heather and Jim!  I was so much fun getting to come to your wedding and taking lots of fabulous pictures.  We love you guys!

She lives here.  He lives there.  We all wish we lived there- or at least I do.  Well, on most days.  Last weekend I traveled to La Jolla California to get to know Cheryl and Steve a little better.  Upon meeting each other at the “cliffs” in La Jolla, we had to search to find one another.  Steve spotted a blonde chic shooting some other couple out on the cliff and wondered if I had given up and sold them out- NEVER!  You two are much too fun!  We did finally find each other and I am glad we were slightly delayed- it gave the cloudy haze some time to burn or blow off- and the blue sky came popping through.

Right away, we headed down to the sand where we were greeted with a few monster waves- enough to get all of us wet.  These two are so much fun and we had such a blast.  I was totally impressed that they were willing to make out on the beach while bunches of people  hung out and watched the sunset.

And despite the fact that I slid down the rocks, got slammed by a monster wave ( my entire back side- head to toe was soaked) and got disrupted for a slight moment by some wacky college boy- we al survived, even my beloved Canon 5d.

I cannot wait to shoot their wedding in March!

This was so sweet.  Steve was excited about an idea he had as I took a picture of her ring on a cork I found.  He found this little cool wash-up and wanted to do his own ring shot.  So here is it!

The Hubbard Family!!!! Congratulations! I will be contacting you to work out the details. And just so you know, I may have a prize for the runners up: The Cecil Family as well! Thanks everyone for voting.

Last weekend, my Aunt flew me to Idaho to take my cousins senior pictures.  While I was excited, I must be honest and say that I was a bit nervous.  I am so much more comfortable photographing girl seniors- not sure why???? But I kept thinking, I hope that the pictures are fun for him and that I can make him relax and get into the whole thing.  I knew it would be a challenge as Tanner is not your mainstream HS boy.  He is much more the type that has his own thoughts and ways and likes to be unique.  Which I think is great.  As we started out, I could tell he was not interested at all in the whole idea of the session, but as time went on- I could see the enthusiasm grow.  I know the images I captured are somewhat different than my norm, but that is what I love about them.  I think they capture Tanner as the free spirit, funky kid that everyone knows.

This image really stands out to me. When I see it, it reminds me how so many teens have so much to say, but are often silenced by their own confusion, or by the world that surrounds them.  

I love this image- one of my favorites

This is my favorite- I think it really sums up Tanner.

******PS-DON”T FORGET TO VOTE IN THE POST AFTER THIS ONE.  VOTING WILL END ON SATURDAY THE 26th***********