Family Photos~ Fun at the Pier

 Family photos at new locations are always a challenge, but add in the fact that they were taken during one of the busiest weekends for taking Christmas photos and you have a crazy situation. There were 5 or 6 other photographers vying for the perfect shot in the posts of the San Clemente pier! I have to say that it was all quite civilized, but still a little crazy.

Family Photos ~ Just the kids

I have been photographing this particular family's Christmas card for the last 5 years. This year mom and dad opted out of the photo and had me just photograph their son. ( I personally do just the kids on our Christmas card every other year.) I don't think he thought it was the best of ideas ;) Maybe it's the age?

Family Photos~ Fun in the Leaves

 How adorable is this family? And they have the most amazing blue eyes! It's no wonder little Miss J has been in a recent Hanna Anderson catalog as well as a few Ritz Carlton adds. Now that little Mr J is getting older and might, just might be able to sit still for more then a moment, he may be joining his sister in the modeling business.

Family Photos~ Sandy Toes

There is a reason we stopped doing this adorable family's photos at the beach. But somehow we forgot what it was! It didn't take long for us to remember what it was as little Miss P made a full speed charge straight for the ocean! Luckily Mom is fast and intercepted just in time! She eventually made it in up to her waist, but I was lucky enough to snap a few cute ones before that!

Family Photos~ Park Time

Another family that I have seen each fall for the last few years. I love having families that call me year after year. It's so fun to see the kids grow and change. However, one of the challenges is to be creative with the location so that photos look different each year. This year we chose a cute little park close to their home for photos.

Family Photos~ Rustic Fun

Rustic is very trendy right now, and I love it!

It's been so much fun to get to see these boys grow up. I've taken their Christmas photos for the last 5 years! This year we tried out a new rustic location and dragged Dad along :) He was a trouper and hung in there, even when I told him we were all done- then rescinded and told him I saw one more spot I wanted to try!

Newborn~ Nikaela

I don't get a lot of chances to photography newborns. Most of the families in my social circles are busy sending their babies off to college. The only way to get better with newborns, and have those families who are just starting off want to have you photograph their newborns, is to have practice! Well, finally one of my friends and her husband decided to get pregnant and bring adorable Baby Nikaela home so that I could have a chance to get a little practice in (you know I was the reason for all of this, right) LOL! Well, what ever the reason, I'm glad they did. Isn't she adorable!

Seniors~ Chase

Look out UCSB, Chase will be there next Fall. Tall, handsome, charming, intelligent and athletic, I just might have to send Sara (my oldest- who also happens to be at UCSB) over to help him get acclimated to the campus!
We had a good time capturing his senior photos. Unfortunately, it was so windy at the beach that we didn't get many good beachy photos, so look for a make up session posted soon.

Family Photos~ FIrst Photos of the Season

The first Christmas session of the season ended up happening on a very warm day! I just wish the rest of the summer was this warm! No, it had to wait until the very end to get warm, right when we were all ready for fall!! In fact, it was so warm, I Instagramed it! Luckily, the photos don't show just how toasty it was in San Juan Capistrano... the Abadie Family looks great!

Christmas Mini Sessions

It's that time of year again... time to start thinking about Christmas photos! Because of so many weddings, I only have a few weekends to try to squeeze family photos into. So I am only going to offer one day of Mini Sessions this year- Sunday, September 29th. 

Mini sessions are a shorter version of a regular session, but because of the time limits they are limited to immediate family only. Because they are shorter versions, prices for both the session and for digital negatives are also a little smaller. Please contact me for information on pricing as well as available time slots.

I'm So Excited to be Able to Share!!

I'm so excited to be able to share this image from US Weekly! I was so incredibly honored to be able to second shoot this wedding for the amazingly talented Christine Bentley from Christine Bentley Photography. I have been working with Christine this last year as her second shooter but was still honored and shocked to be asked to join the team of amazingly talented photographers who attended and captured the moments from this day! I don't post most of the work I do with Christine. She is an incredible wedding photographer and I want the spotlight to stay on her for her talent... but I had to share this one! The three part series will air on September 2nd on Bravo.

Seniors~ Sara

Isn't she beautiful!? No only is she beautiful, but she is smart and sweet (most of the time). My baby is a senior! Graduating Valedictorian and heading off to University of Santa Barbara in the fall. I can hardly believe it! Congratulations Sara! I can't wait to she what you do with the world and all the opportunities that await you!

 

Senior Photos~ Brett

 Brett is such a great guy. I can say that because I've spent a lot of time around him lately... he is my daughter's boyfriend. Sweet, smart and athletic, she made a good choice :) Unfortunately, Brett will be going off to Buchnell University in Pennsylvania in the fall while my daughter will stay on the West Coast. They get along so well, I won't be surprised if they find a way to meet up every chance they can get. And you never know what the future holds. Congratulations Brett on getting into such a great college! And for getting on the water polo team.

Seniors~ Sara and Brett

Ok, ok... I really did Sara and Brett's photos together at the same location, on the same day, but I wanted each of them to be able to have their own post. But I have to post a few of the two of them together too. Like I put in Brett's post, they will be on opposite coasts come September :( They get along so well... I take that back, he puts up with her so well that it's sad to know they will only have Face Time and emails soon. Hard to say what the future holds... only time will tell.

Seniors~ David

 David is heading off to the The California Maritime Academy to study  Engineering in the Fall so he wanted to be sure to capture his love of the ocean and boats for his senior photos. With Dana Point Harbor right in our own backyard, that wasn't too difficult :) And with such a great smile and easy going attitude, it was a pleasure to photograph him for his senior photos! Congratulations David on making it into the Maritime program!

Seniors~ Alexis and Whitney

I had a lot of photographing best friends Alexis and Whitney. I dragged these two through glass and mud and bugs and they didn't complain once.  These two have been friends for years and I was so honored to be able to capture the bond they share. I've know Alexis since she was in kindergarten! And she is just a sweet today as she was when she was 6. Congratulation Alexis on your admission to Washington State University! I know you will do great!

 

Senior Photos~ Echo

I love this location and the light on Echo's hair. Doesn't she have the cutest name? I'm so honored to be able to photograph her senior photos. I've know Echo for a few years now, as she plays lacrosse with my daughter. She is such a sweet girl (unless you run into her on the lacrosse field!), funny and smart. Echo is heading off to the University of Santa Barbara in the fall! Congratulations Echo! That's a heard school to get into!