Montage Family Session
Despite the roller coaster that 2020 has been, there have been many beautiful moments. Reconnecting with returning clients who have become friends, is always a highlight! I’m so thankful for the Case family! Please enjoy my favorites from their Laguna Beach family session. Please stay safe and well! And let’s plan to shoot together in 2021! xoxo
Laguna Beach Family Session
This Laguna Beach family session embodies many thoughts and emotions. First, this session was in honor of the long journey Mark and Traci have been on regarding their health. Mark has been suffering from Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for several years now and both of them underwent gastric bypass surgery last year. The fact that Mark was able to stand for more than a minute or two, in broad daylight, let alone participate in this photoshoot was a literal miracle! You can hear him tell part of his story by clicking here. He talks about how undergoing gastric bypass surgery allowed him to lose 190 lbs in less than a year and has helped alleviate some of his (IIH) symptoms.
The timing of our session was also miraculous! California beaches had been shut down for months because of Covid-19. They had reopened briefly, but were closing again for 4th of July. With the possibility of all of us having been exposed to the virus weeks before our initial session date, we tentatively rescheduled. (Mark and Traci are from Utah and extended their stay in SoCal to accommodate.) After confirming we were Covid-free and setting a new shoot day, the day before beaches were to close for the holiday weekend, our paths aligned and we were able to make beautiful pictures together! I’m so thankful this session came to pass! 😉
Swami Beach Family Session
It was 62 degrees and raining when I arrived, but this Swami’s Beach family session turned out beautifully. Baby Ronin touched sand and the Pacific for the very first time. The low tide gently lapped at our feet. Mom and Dad grinned as they watched Ronin’s reactions to the ocean water washing over his toes. The sky was overcast and the sun finally popped out 5 minutes after we were packed up and piled into our cars. No matter. It was a morning spent in the best possible way: documenting a family’s love for each other.
Seal Beach Maternity Session
My heart is full as I write this post. This maternity session celebrates the astounding joy that can only be embodied by *first*time* parents to be. Imagine the anticipation; the waiting for your new little wonder and creation to join you in full-fledge physical presence. Then multiply it by 100! Or even 1000! Through the help of modern medicine, great effort, and periods of heart break, Jackie and Scott are realizing their long-held dream of parenthood! I remember the day Jackie shared the news with me. It was around Christmas time last year. Jackie was then 6 months pregnant, but it was hard to tell. (She didn’t want to spread the news until they were certain this little girl was going to make it to full term.) As I sat across from her in her living room, she revealed the precious news. I wanted to sing! I wanted to shout for joy, cry, laugh, give her the biggest hug I could manage… I was ecstatic for her! Words can not do justice to the emotions I felt then, or the emotions she and Scott must be feeling. It was an honor to commemorate this special time in their lives. XOXO!
Laguna Beach High School Grad Session
There are a few times in your life when professional photography is an absolute MUST. Senior portraits are no exception. If you can swing it, please don’t settle for the school’s photographer. No offense to a studio set-up, but there’s only so much creative latitude you can have with a “step-right-up”one-stop-shot kind of set-up. Who wants to be typical and cookie cutter? Why not create portraits that are a bit more scenic?
Shayne wanted a beach backdrop. Done! No better place than Laguna! He wanted wardrobe options. Done! You want traditional mixed with non-traditional. You wanna wear your sunny’s in a few of the shots? Done and done! He brought props too. Cool!!! That said, this first shot is probably my favorite. Love the wave crashing in the background and the expression on Shayne’s face! Congrats Shayne on 4 years of hard work in the bag! I know it will pay off! Here’s to getting in to UCSD!!! Go Tritons!!! 🙂
Santa Monica Engagement Session | Kristen & Daniel
This Santa Monica engagement session was so much fun! Who doesn’t love California weather?! Where else can you splash around in the ocean while other parts of the country are bundling up for snow?! Kristen and Daniel were a pleasure to work with. So easy going~ We had such a fun time exploring the Santa Monica promenade, beach, and pier! Congratulations on your engagement! I look forward to photographing your wedding in 3 days!
