Family Time

We had a fun adventure yesterday with the "S" family! First of all, what a great family! I had photographed part of the family last Christmas when the youngest wasn't even walking and enjoyed them then. Meeting up with them again yesterday reminded me of just how sweet they really are! This time I got to meet the rest of the wonderful family- grandparents, brothers and sister-in-laws and adorable cousins!

Unfortunately for us, the spot we had originally chosen was just not going to work. It is a beautiful park overlooking the harbor, but yesterday the winds were howling and it was really cold!! So a quick change of plans took up to a cute park I had never been to before in San Clemente. Adventures are always fun!

The kids held together wonderfully despite all the changes and the fact that we were out past their dinner, and for the little ones, past their bed times! Here is a sneak peak at a few of the shots:

Thank you again "S" family! You guys were great!

I Know it Sounds Crazy, But.....

I know it sounds crazy to start thinking about Christmas when the kids are not even out of school yet......but I wanted to make you are aware of some Christmas deadline!

• November 10th- Deadline for holiday sessions with orders for Christmas
• December 8th- Deadline for all holiday sessions

If you would like to have any of your images for Christmas or Christmas cards printed by me (see the Samples section for what I offer- more will be posted as we get closer to the holidays), you must schedule your session before November 10th. If you are only interested in purchasing a digital negative for printing your own Christmas cards, then you must schedule your session before December 8th.

I will not be offering full sessions after December 8th so be sure to plan ahead!

Matilda Jane Trunk Show

I found the cutest clothing line!! And the really cool thing about it is that it is only available through Trunk Shows!! So it's cute and unique!!

The company is called Matilda Jane. You can visit their website here- Matilda Jane
and you can view their Spring/Summer collection here.

I will be hosting a Trunk Show on June 5th from 10am to 1 pm in a boutique set up with a couple other vendors. I am so excited!! They will be sending me 75 pieces to show! And unlike some homeshows, there is no hard sell or representative there to pressure you into purchasing- just lots of really cute clothes to look at and order!!



And before you start thinking- Oh, this is not for me...I only have boys- Matilda Jane does some really cute grown up stuff (just one example) as well as a few pieces for boys. So be sure to come by and check it out!!

Please email me for directions as I don't really want to post my address on such a public forum!! And if you know anybody who might be interested in showcasing their stuff at a boutique, let me know- I have a couple vendors confirmed but I'm looking for 3 or 4 more.

And be sure to take a look at the photo included- I am offering specials for the show and there will be drawings for more prizes for all those that stop by- no purchase necessary.

Oh! And did I mention- a free mini session (to be scheduled in June sometime) for anybody who makes a Matilda Jane purchase of any amount!

Update:
The show went well. Not as great as I had hoped, but well. Next time I will have to do some advertising on the OC Boutique blog. Anyway, here are a few shots of my little one wearing the some of the Matilda Jane line:

Father's Day Mini Session

I will be offering Father's Day Mini Sessions this year. These are just what they sound like! miniature versions of a regular photo session.

I will be offering two locations on two separate dates.

• Sunday, June 1st at the beach from 5-8pm
  
• Monday, June 2nd at the park from 3-5 pm.
  

Each session will be scheduled for 20 mins each and will include one 8x10 of your choice for $125. Additional prints and print packages will be available for purchase. 10-15 images will be placed in a private, password protected gallery for you to view and order from.

There are a limited number of openings for these mini session and they usually fill up quickly. All session must be prepaid in order to reserve your spot. I will keep a wait list and those sessions that are not paid by Friday, May 30th will be rescheduled from the wait list. All session fees are non refundable.

Because time is limited there are a few restrictions that do not apply to regular session. There is 4 person limit, no change of clothing, no in person ordering session and not all print options are available. If you feel that a regular session would be a better choice for you, please contact me to schedule. For Father's Day delivery, all prints must be ordered by Sunday, June 8th.

Boy Meets Tree

We live in such a great area! The choice of locations for a photo session are endless!! The beach, something urban and edgy, rolling green hills at our local parks or rural and county like as in the case of this session!

"A" took quite fondly to the trees- a true boy! I'm sure mom hurried him home to a nice long bath. We all were in need of one by the time we were done!! (photos taken with Tracie Taylor of Tracie Taylor Photography)

So True!

I had the privilege of shooting a wedding this weekend with my friend and fellow photographer Tracie Taylor. As those who regularly read my blog know, Tracie and I have done quite a few wedding together. Well, I have to say...this is the most truly truly in love couple we have photographed. They were so sweet!! C and E it was an honor to be present at the joining of your hands in marriage!

Rural Sessions

Living where we live along the coast, sometime we start to think that for an outdoor photo session our only options are the beach. Nothing could be farther from the truth!! We have so many different options! Just look through my website or some of the older posts here on my blog and you will see there are many options!

One of my favorites is a Rural setting. These are done at various spots around Orange County yet they look like they are worlds away!

Here are a few samples of some shot the other day

Everybody Loves a Sale!!

Everybody loves a sale!! Including me!! So to celebrate spring, I am offering a 40% off all print reorders for past clients for orders placed between Tuesday, April 1st and Tuesday, April 22nd. (Discounts will be taken from the current price list.) All you need to do is email me that you would like your gallery reposted (no reposting fees!) and go from there. I am also now offering an in person consultation if you need help with your order.

And for all future clients- or for those who are thinking about another session, I am offering print order gift certificates (to be used towards your future print orders) at 30% off if the certificate is purchased between Tuesday, April 1st and Tuesday, April 22nd. All certificates must be used toward your print order and not your sitting fee. These can also be purchased as a gift for a friend!

Offers are for prints only. All canvas and speciality items are excluded. Let me know if you have any questions!

What an Awesome Weekend!!

I had the best weekend hanging out with 25 other photographers at a workshop in San Diego!

Just like any other profession, photographers take workshops to keep up on the latest techniques or to learn a little more about certain aspects of the business. This particular workshop covered studio lighting- something I am not at all familiar with, as well as some unique was to enhance images. The photographer who taught it has the coolest style! I can't wait to incorporate some of her ideas into my work!!

Some samples of the images I captured while there:

Happy Easter!

OK, I'm a day late- but I was a bit busy yesterday sitting on my tush- in the sand!!

Oh, it was such an awesome day here in Southern California! In the 80's and sunny- a perfect beach day!! And so.... after church, we went to the beach! I told the girls that the Easter Bunny left the baskets at the beach for us. One of them bought it- the just turned 13 year old- she was a bit difficult to convince!

I hope that all of you had a wonderful Easter Sunday! I sure did!


Easter feels like such a rebirth for me this year! I can't wait to see how the next few months go. I have so many things "in the works" right now that I am super excited about! The first being a workshop that I am attending next weekend. She is one of the "must attend" workshop teacher according to many of the top family photographers!! I can't wait!!

The other is a SALE! Who doesn't love a SALE!!! Check back on Monday the 31st for all the details!!

Stay tuned for more ideas to come!!

What happens in Vegas....

What happens in Vegas does not always need to stay in Vegas! Especially if the whole purpose of the trip is to learn!

I just got back from WPPI- a wedding and portrait photography convention held each year in Las Vegas. WOW!! It was fun!!! and educational!! I heard some top photographers speak and saw all the newest and hottest lines for albums and products- and I have to say- the companies I already use were the ones that were the most impressive (whew!)!

I did come away with a couple new ideas and a whole new direction for wedding photography! I am happy to say that my friend Tracie of Tracie Taylor Photography and I have decided to joined together for our wedding photography. I enjoy shooting weddings but I much prefer being the second shooter- as many of you have seen me post here. I like the ability to take in the small details and quite moments while Tracie really enjoys the challange of capturing the bigger connection between a bride and groom- together we really are a great team! So look for big things to come from our join venture!

Not only was Vegas inspiring for the new direction of my wedding photography, but I was also inspired and motivated in the area of my family photography- which will remain a sole venture. How can you spend 3 days with the best of the best in the business and not come away inspired!

photo by Tracie Taylor- processing by me:

A beautiful day for a wedding!

Once again I was the second shooter at a Tracie Taylor Photography wedding. My much preferred place to be at weddings! I love to be able to stand back and capture the details and the small things while Tracie's personality is much better suited for being the leader and helping make the bride and groom feel just how special their wedding day is! Together we work really well together!! As a matter of fact...look for a join venture in the future! We make a great team and I think we will go really far in the wedding industry together!

Well, we had another great adventure together last week when we shot the wedding of J and A, (along with J's two adorable daughters) here in Dana Point and Laguna Beach. They are such a beautiful couple together! And the wedding was spectacular! Once I convince Tracie that she needs to update her blog I will post links to it so that you can see her take on the day (she's not too into the blog thing...yet!). For now you get my view:

Once every 7-10 years!

"Once every 7-10 years expect a flu season that knocks you on your tush" is what the doctor told me. Well, it had been about 8 years. Lucky me! My time was up!!

I have spent the last 3 weeks fighting one thing or another! A cold which turned into a sinus infection, then bronchitis which almost made it to pneumonia with an ear infection and then to top it off....the flu!! Did you know they can test you for the flu?? Well, mine was positive! Influenza B! One lucky thing was, that because I thought my bronchitis was coming back I went to the doctor within 24 hours of it hitting me and they were able to prescribe Tamiflu. Let me tell you- that stuff works!! My doctor told me that she had just gotten over the Influenza B strain and was in bed for 5 days. I only had to watch reruns of "What Not to Wear" for 2 days with the flu!!

But I'm on the upswing!! Yeah!! And I am so happy to think that it will be another 7-10 years before I have to deal with this again!!! Sorry to everybody who's photo session had to be rescheduled! The weather is better now anyway!

Round one! Heavy duty antibiotics, an inhaler for the asthma that the bronchitis brought me and an inhalable steroid for the sinus infection. Plus, the second box of tissues that I went through! AHHHH!

Round two- Tamiflu! Yeah!! Plus something for the nausea and vomiting that goes with the flu (this stuff really worked too!!) and throw in some Tylenol with Codeine for the aches and pains and the bad headaches! Fun!

And the winner is....

Thank you everybody who voted! I had over 70 votes on the first poll, but since you could see the results before voting I uploaded another poll template and had an additional 22 votes!

And the winner is with an overwhelming majority is........#1.

# 3 came in a distant 2nd place. I've added the winner to the header on my blog and will be adding it to my website this afternoon. After that it will go onto a whole slew of new marketing materials I am in the middle of designing. I love marketing! I'm terrible at doing it for myself! It's something I plan on working on quite a bit this year. So stay tuned!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope today finds you with as much love in your life as I have right now!!

Engagment

I went along with Tracie Taylor to shoot this adorable couple for their engagement photos. I will be the second shooter at their weeding in April. I really like being the second shooter at weddings and not the primary one (as I've mentioned before). And Tracie is always so much fun to work with! I can't wait.

I'm not sure whos idea it was to do it in the morning?? AM shoots are not Tracie's usual idea of fun (AM is not Tracie's idea of fun at all!) It was darn cold at the beach at 7 am! There was frost on the rooftops as I drove to meet up with Tracie. But the sky was beautiful!! Crystal clear after weeks of rain!

Here is a little peak at what I captured:

Weekends filling up!

It's going to be a busy Spring!! Hurry and book soon if you are interested in a weekend session!!

I only have one weekend available in February! And there are a limited number of openings in March and April as well! If you are thinking of squeezing in a session before Easter, you better hurry!! Only a few spots left! Easter is Sunday, March 23rd this year.

Working on some new speciality items!!

Well, since everyone has had to reschedule lately because of illness I have gotten some work done on some new products I will be offering this year! It's been fun putting together templates and samples!!
If you are a client who has had a session in the last 6 months and you would like me to do some collages, storyboards or books for you I will repost your gallery without the reposting fee for the next 3 months.

Here are a couple sample of the new storyboards! I would love to hear what you think!! Leave me a comment below.

Gettin' back in the groove

I have been feeling less then inspired the last few weeks. The craziness of Christmas, the let down of all those New Years resolutions broken in the first week and the cold that would not go away all combined to stifle my creativeness.

Well, thank goodness for friends! My good friend and fellow photographer Tracie Taylor dragged me along the other day to help her with a group senior photo shoot. I warned her I was in a funk (I don't think she ever has one!) and that the cold medicine I had taken so that my sinuses would not explode might not make me the best of photographers!- but she had me come along anyway.

At first I had a hard time "seeing the shot", but it wasn't long before I was warmed up and ready to roll!! Thanks Tracie for always believing in me! Here are a couple the more creative ones- there were plenty of more traditional ones- but what fun are those when you've found your creativity again!!

Tracie reflected in an old mirror!

Another Catch Up

Another "Catch Up" session! If you frequent my blog you may recognise these adorable kids. I did the three "M" kids a few months back. But Little Miss Spunk, "M" decided that she would stick her tongue out in almost every shot! So I asked mom if I could come back for "Round 2".

These turned out much better!! I did a few of baby bother "N" too. Amazing what a difference a few weeks can make in a baby's appearance!! He looks so much more "boy" and less "baby" in just those few short weeks! Aren't they both adorable!!? Big sis is just as cute! She is the one eyed girl in my header bar!