featuring...

I am so excited to feature Stella B on the blog today! Her work is seriously DROOL worthy... I got mail from her and was just super wanting to take that picture NOW because I knew how cute it would be.  I am so in love with this little sock monkey hat that if I could fit my fat head into it, I would try to rock it.  Uhm, yea, cause that is just how I roll! 

Ok- you still with me? Is it not just the cutest?? Its so much better on....

wait for it... wait for it... 

Yea! That's what I am taking about! 

I think my model, little Ms. K agrees... this is a winning combo! Perfect pair in the sock monkey hat from Stella B.  and super full and fun pink on pink tutu from Sweet Things Kids (you remember her... she's got a HUGE spring fashion show coming up! That's a whole other post, though!)

Special thanks to my model and her parents! Your cooperation and little Miss made my day! <3

{xoxo}

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a face I love to photograph….

As a photographer, I am passionate about my work.  I think that its something in you, that you either have or don’t,  I have been asked before, “show me how to take better pictures”- and while I don’t mind sharing what I know, I can’t teach the passion I feel inside of me. 

Do you ever have a face you just LOVE to see in a picture? There are always little ones that I just fall in love with, through the lens.  This little one is definitely one of my recent favorite faces.  Just something about the way she scrunches up her nose, and kind of smiles, but not just yet? She makes me work for what I get- but let me tell you… its all worth it at the end.  I love her combination of blonde hair and hazel brown eyes.  She’s truly just adorable… and a little spit fire! Maybe it’s the combination that I love… or maybe its just images like these that make me smile.

 

Its been a rough month here for us, and I am so grateful sometimes to get lost in work…To look at a face like this- something that reminds me that “this too shall pass”… Thanks Ms. K for being you, and for bringing a smile to my face today.

 

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If I could take a trip, and get lost in these eyes…

 

You have met my son, Jace, before… He’s one of my favorite people to take pictures of… His eyes are so beautiful, sometimes I feel like the camera can’t capture all that I see… I have been messing around today, in a feeble attempt to take my mind off things I would rather not think about today.  This is a new technique on the eyes that I am trying.  I like it a lot, but I do think it needs a little refining.  Basically I edited the way that I normally would, but then grabbed my rectangular marquee tool, and selected just his eyes… I applied a lot of sharpening, and a bit of an HDR feel to the eyes… dropped the opacity (maybe I could stand to drop it less?)- and there you go… beautiful eyes.  Its just something that I am trying out, and I think for sure there is a lot more playing that could be done with it, but… for now- I am satisfied with the picture.  Are you interested in a tutorial showing the steps I used? Let me know.  

 

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Meet the Sedillo’s!

Funny, sometimes what a small world it is.  I have lived in Riverside about 8 years now, and before that I was in Orange County, but originally here from the IE.  A few years ago I was at the market, and saw a familiar face, although at the time I couldn’t place him…. A few months or so later, I saw him again, but this time, surrounded by a beautiful family and at the park that I coach at- and where my kids play ball…. Small world, it was Anthony (although, back then it was just Tony)… I had worked with him at a small tool distribution company wayyyy back when! Blast from the past though it was, I was happy to see him, and meet his beautiful wife, Jen.  Together they have 4 really cute and sweet kids.

This is Noah.  He’s ten, I think? What a great kid, so polite, and a really good ball player… All of the kids have amazing eyes, and when I asked him to look directly at the camera, he almost looked through me! Love this shot of this handsome young man.

 

This is Kori… I had the pleasure of coaching her first year in tee ball… WHAT A HOOT she is… not only cute, she’s got the funniest little personality.  I could literally eat her up.  She and my son Jace are in the same class together at school…. I like her soooo much that THIS cheapskate bought TWO $2.00 candy bars from her… that says a lot!

 

This is Kody… He’s about three now, and he is just a little prankster!! Always stealth in that three year old way…. sneaking up on me and trying to “steal” my keys, cell phone, etc.  He is super mischievous, but in a good little boy way.  If I am having a bad day, I know this little one would be able to make me laugh in a heartbeat. 

 

Last but definitely not least, Kaulin… the baby of the bunch.  He’s right around 8 months old, and I had the pleasure of doing a session with him when he was just a tiny little baby.  While he hasn’t had as long to identify his role as baby brother in this family, I know he will be just fine… He’s already spirited and determined… did I mention ADORABLE? Look at those lips.  Sigh, boys like this make my ovaries riot!!

Glad though, that it is a small world… being able to reconnect with blasts from your past isn’t always a bad thing, and in this  case- it’s a RAD thing! Thank you to the Sedillo family for an awesome time, and for being who you are!!

Mini session with a super cute Boo...

So that's her nickname, Boo.  Maybe it was from the movie Monsters, Inc.? Hmm, should have asked.  It would be kind of funny if it were, because as soon as I saw this little cutie, I remembered my own little girl at her age- and when that movie came out, I thought she reminded me of the little girl, Boo, in the movie. 

Little Ms. C's birthday is this Tuesday, and this cloth diapered cutie was already on the move.  Here are a few of my favorites of our session.

Cutie in cloth

Happy Birthday Boo!! Tutu from Sweet Things

The bad blogger strikes again....

Really, I try. I know from the looks of this sadly tended blog it doesn't appear as such... but if thoughts were actions that counted, I would have the most awesome blog of all.



So many things are going on in life- The biggest of all is that all of my kids are in school now. They started 4 weeks ago, but I am still missing them every day, and still trying to adjust to being a stay at home mom with no kids to take care of. I toy with the idea of getting a "real" job, where I would have to paste on the business suit and smile... but I haven't convinced myself that its a bridge worth crossing... not yet.



I got a puppy, just a few days before the kids started school. He's a great little pooch, and I think I am using him as a substitute kid these days... I depend on him to bother me while I am trying to go potty, or talk on the phone... Its like my brain doesn't function the way its supposed to without some outside distraction.



When we first got our puppy, he was the cutest, tiniest little thing. All full of fur and fluff. I am not generally the girl who gets giddy with cute fluffy type things, but... Uhm, yea. I went a little crazy with the camera in the first few days.



I have been working, here and there, but September is generally a slower month for me. I miss shooting as much as I usually do, but I know that I should enjoy the break, because October, November & December are gearing up to be very busy months. Yay! Bring it on...



I was asked to be the exclusive blog photographer and designer for a really awesome blog, called the Savvy Moms Guide. Its a really great resource for moms!



I am also working with Nicole of Sweet Things Kids, she makes awesome tutus and costumes.



Off to edit, just thought it was about time to check in.

The boys!

Seriously... I look at the calendar and am just in awe that its already the end of July.  Where has summer gone? My kids will start back in about a month.  I know that seems like a while, but if you know me, you know that I am super duper attatched to my kids... This year, back to school will be particulary hard.  All three of my littles will be in school, and its my baby's first year!

Yesterday was a pretty mild weather day, especially for being summer & Riverside.  Instead of being cooped up in the house, I decided to take my boys downtown for a little mini photo session.  These are a few of my superfavoriteloveshots of the session.

Here is my little tough guy, Johnny.  He looks so grown up, and ahem, if I do say so myself so BUFF! Now, really, its probably because he is holding his arms that way, but he really likes this image of himself- cause he's got "ninja muscles" Maybe this is the photo that I could use for his Senior page, when the time comes?

Again, the crazy lady laying on the ground to get this shot in front of City Hall.  I love the angle here, and the lighting was really good, too! I love how soft (without being washed out) this image feels.  His eyes are perfect!

Jace hamming it up in the alley.  One of the many cool alleys I found to peruse while walking in Downtown.
 

This was taken right outside of City Hall, there are a lot of fountains that just called out to my boys.  I love this image for so many reasons... I love the reflection of light to his face off the water most of all.

Johnny & Jace can't keep a straight face for anything!!! I had them sit down in front of City Hall for this shot.  I am sure patrons doing business wondered what this mad woman with a camera was doing laying down to get this shot.  Oh well, I say WORTH IT!

Valentine's Day is right around the corner...

What's better than life long friends and two beautiful daughter's to carry on the friendship? Me being able to photograph them!

The day started out with the sound of "10AM10AM10AM" in my head... I did my normal mama things in the morning, and got the kids off to school.  Started taking a little time to get my gear ready, the bench loaded, make sure that I had batteries, and all that good stuff.  Next thing I know its already 9! Shoot... 9? I am in pajama's, me and Jace both are... I still need a shower.  This should play out interestingly....

When I am in the shower... my mind wanders- where it eventually lands upon something called 11AM... and a very nice reminder, written in pen, in my lovely day planner, sitting on my desk.  Wait, 11AM? Out of the shower, in a towel, to find the day planner... Yep, there it is... 11AM.  Yes! I have a whole extra hour.  No problem now...

Jace and I are ready to go.  My old bench in the back of my pick up truck, props and camera.... Good, lets do this. 

Big thanks to my good friend and day care provider extraordinaire, Kelly, for taking care of my baby while I went to photograph!

I get to the location, the beautiful brick wall.  The sun is really bright, and the wind was fierce... No alley access today, and can't do anything on the steps... So we set up along side the brick wall and get to work.

Thanks for a great day, today, and I hope that you love your images...