Holiday Photo Time Again

I've been crazy busy with all the weddings this year! I love "second shooting" as it's called in the industry- working for other photographers, photographing weddings under their studio's name. It's been so great to be able to photograph so many beautiful people in so many amazing locations! But the wedding season is winding down.... it's time for Christmas card season! Let the fun begin! And it did with these adorable girls. I've been photographing them for the last 3 years and I just love to see how they have grown and changed each year.  

Whew! It's been a long time..

I used to be such a good blogger! Look at me now :( Part of the reason I haven't been blogging is because I have been working mostly for other photographers. They call it "second shooting" in the photography industry. That is working for another photographer, under their studio name, but without the long hours sitting in front of a computer editing. I love it!! I get to do what I love- photograph people, but don't have to do what I hate- sit in front of a computer for HOURS on end! :) And as most of the second shooting I have been doing is wedding photographer, I do mean hours.
Another reason I have not posted anything in a long time is because I do not promote myself as a wedding photographer, but that is exactly what I have been doing all spring and summer. Lots and lots of weddings! Again, mostly as a second shooter. But because I have had so many people ask me lately if business has been really slow, I decided I would go ahead and post a little sneak peak at just some of the work I have been doing lately.

At least 10 weddings and a couple family shoots under the belt this season. I've been lucky enough to work with some truly gifted wedding photographers! And have shot in some truly spectacular venues. Ouu, and my photos have even been published in a wedding magazine! (Under the photographer's name I was working for)
So look at my blog and think, "Wow, she must not be doing any photography lately", it's just that I am doing it under an assumed name ;)

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day

A few of the fun ones from the Christmas Mini Sessions..

Merry Christmas from my crew...

Newborn~ Baby Emma

The secret to good newborn photos is to take them when the baby is about 5-7 days old. After that they just don't sleep as well... case in point! Sweet Baby Emma just would not sleep, no matter what we tried. She was just way too curious about what was going on in the world!

Newborn~ Baby Gavin

I love newborns! They are so cute! So soft! They smell wonderful! And as a mom of a teenager, I love that they don't talk back yet....yet :)! This little guy was no exception- he was just so sweet and cuddly! <3

Christmas 2011

I will only be offering a handful of sessions this Christmas season! I broke my wrist in July while on vacation in Idaho and have to have surgery- complete with a titanium plate and 8 screws!

I'm healing well, and have been doing a little wedding work and some second shooting for wedding photographers since, but I can't overdo it!

I will be scheduling a limited number of sessions for Sept, Oct and the first week of November. Email me if you are interested along with the date you are thinking of and the location.

A New Venture

I've started on a new venture! Landscape photography!

I've been busy second shooting weddings (which I love!) but a little slower in the portrait business so a friend asked me to put together some photo cards for her store and it has been so fun that I'm planning on creating a whole line of local Southern California photo cards!

We'll see what happens.....

Taking a Break

Life has been too busy.... two kids, a husband, a dog, an almost full time job, college classes at night and a house to run! Phew! I'm tired just thinking about it!! Because of time constraints, I haven't been able to offer my clients the time they deserve, so I am taking a break! I will be offering limited sessions for Christmas photos in September, October and November. November 14th will be the cut off date for all Christmas sessions this year. You are welcome to email to secure a date!

Going for Rustic

The "F" Family wanted "Rustic and anything but the beach". Such a nice change! "H" even requested that I add some textures to this last photo to make it even more rustic. I love using textures but have found that most clients aren't as in love with them as I am, so I don't use them much anymore. If you love textures and want me to try to add some- please let me know! It can make a photo really pop!

A New View

I've spent a good portion of my beach going days either at or looking at this beach- but I've never photographed there. I was always nervous about not having any shelter from the sun. It was a bit of a chanlenge, but it was worth it. The view down the coast line was beautiful! That's the Ritz Carlton up on the hill in the background.

Poor "S"- all he wanted to do was play in the water. (By the way- "S" is not the toddler, that's little Mr "A"!! LOL!)The waves were pretty good and he was determined to get in an evening session of surf. I think I burst his bubble on that one.

Big Dogs!

Someday I'm going to convince the "D" family to get two chihuahuas instead of the two big golden retrievers they have! Just think how much easier they would be to photograph. It is not an easy feat to get two big dogs and two little kids to look at you all at the same time!! I've got mom and dad and the older girls pretty well trained though :0)

Better Late then Never

We weren't sure we were going to be able to pull this family shoot off! The "H" family was running late- darn kids and their jobs :0) But we did it! And it turned out to be a really nice evening at the beach. I love "J"'s bright blue sneakers! So fun.

The Fall Look

I love shooting at this park in the fall! The colors are just so fun! So different from what you think of when you think of Southern California! We even saw 2 deer pass by about the time we were done. I love that "S" wore his cowboy boots! Too bad little "J" didn't have any to wear... "T" will have to get on that one! Now that I think of it, I want a pair too!

Beach Light

It always amazes me how different each beach photo session is. One day, the sun might wash everybody out, the very next day it might make everyone glow and then the day after the shadows might be too harsh! Different skin tones photograph completely different at the beach too. Sometimes I spend hours trying to take out some of the reds that the sun brings out in people's skin, other times it's too orange! And sometimes...I just get lucky! The "H" family is one of those "just get lucky" times. And what a sweet family too! Poor Dave...I mean Mark!! I think I called him Dave 50 times! So many times it became a joke! Thanks for putting up with me!