So I know I just got back from shooting a wedding in Hawaii... that's coming... but before I talk about that trip I have to talk about the weekend before where I was so excited to do not one but TWO family portrait & baby sessions.     The coolest thing I walked away with from these two sessions.. was finally knowing EXACTLY what my portrait style is... and you'll see it from the pics.  I'm not a posey posey person... pictures with the whole family looking at the camera smiling are fine and nice... but to me... I love to capture the reality... the funny faces.. .the running around in the back yard...  a family at home where they are comfortable and living their normal life.  This truly captures a period of time in the history of the family... think about it... 15 years from now when the kids are in college, what pics are going to be more fun to look at... Sweet Casima jumping on the trampoline... or being forced to sit still and smile for the camera (I mean really how often do little girls sit still anyways).

as you look at these pics...  they really don't need much explanation... its "A day in the life" on a sunny Santa Barbara afternoon.  These pictures aren't "perfect". . . but life doesn't look like a perfectly painted canvas.

Hope you enjoy them...

 

Yesterday I was having one of those days where everything seemed to be going backwards and for some reason I just couldn't bring myself to smile... well... that was until I started working on these photographs.  I couldn't help myself...  every other pic I looked at was making me smile from the depths of my soul.  I mean come on...  how could I not...  just look at the pure joy and excitement that flows out of the faces of Kasima and Niko!!

Looking at these photos truly warmed my soul and made me so happy to be doing what I love!! 

This is the 3rd photo session I have had with these adorable cuties.  I first photographed Ulrike when she was still pregnant with Niko and Kasima was as shy as can be...  not anymore!!  granted even though they know me and my camera... Kasima & Niko still ran circles around me... LITERALLY... these two would not sit still...  I was amazed they weren't just blurs in every image.    But I guess that's what makes the pics so special... they were having so much fun!!!

May true joy and happiness find you when you need it... and may you be present enough to feel this sun when it shines upon you!

Love,
A

For being a one year old... this little boy has more expressions then anyone I've ever met!! 

A few weeks ago while others were prepping for their super bowl parties I was driving in Michigan to meet up with my dear college friend Jackie... it'd been ten years since last we saw each other... amazing how time can fly yet we both look and feel the exact same as we did when we were 21...  and here I was showing up on her doorstep with a camera in hand to photograph her adorable baby boy Brady (well some things have changed.. we're a little bit more responsible now)!! 

We had so much fun.  He is a little rascal...  and an explorer.  I just love letting kids do what they want and follow them around with the camera.  Plus as many of you know the minute you put a little one in place to sit still ... what do they do... cry or  crawl around... so why not go with the flow!!  The cutest part was every time Brady was crawling towards unknown territories he would look back to mom and dad...  "can I go here?"... and of course he did anyways!!

Just check out little Brady's eyebrows... sooooo expressive... he had us in stitches!!

Jackie... it was sooo wonderful to see you after all these years and to get a glimpse into your family. I can't wait to see how Brady grows.  I'll see you soon... we still have a dinner date with the "Dale" girls to plan!!

May you all experience the joys of reconnecting with friends and family from years gone by!!

Love,
A

Rachael and Jordan may look a little familiar...  I photographed their wedding back in October... because the sunset a little early that day I decided it would be fun to do another photo shoot with this happy couple in their backyard... Santa Monica pier... so I headed south

Well, it turned out to be quite a little adventure... after being kicked out the carousel...  almost kicked out of the arcade... and then  taken into security...  (note to self... make nice with the Santa Monica Pier security guards) ...  we were on our way... and what a beautiful afternoon.. .the lighting was perfect.  I had such a blast with Rachael and Jordan.  One minute they look like supermodels... the next their hysterically laughing... and then all of a sudden there would be an incredible tender moment. 

Rachael & Jordan, I'm so excited to have been able to spend time with you guys not once but twice!!  How fun!!  So glad we've become friends!!

Love,
A

I know I have been off the radar a bit... but its pretty hard to keep up with the blog when I am hopping from family to friend to family to friend all over the northeastern part of the US...

But I have a quick break from my niece and nephew (who are tired from ice skating... actually I think I'M more tired then they are) to hop on the computer and upload a few pics from New Years on the island... and this past week with my adorable niece and nephew...

I'll be hopping on a plane late tonight ... and finally back to my routine in my office Monday morning... in sunny California... (finally my feet with defrost)!!

Hope you are all enjoying the first week of 2010...

Love,
A

Here's some of a Wintry Mackinac....



And here a few of my favorite 4 and 8 year olds...