Pasadena Ballet Portraits
This Pasadena photoshoot with Long Beach Ballet ballerina Sophia, brought me back in time to the year 2010. She had just started preschool and I was to be one of her preschool teachers. I had recently bought my first entry level dslr and had been granted permission to document the students and activities. It was the beginning of two journeys that would evolve and converge a decade later.
At that point, (pun intended), Sophia had already been dancing for 2 years. It is amazing to see how she has grown. She is a beautiful young woman, dedicated and determined to master her craft. She is currently pursing an ambassadorship with Russian Pointe! I would not be surprised if she is chosen and am excited to see where her passion for dance takes her! Here are some of my favorites from our session. xoxo
Los Angeles Maternity Session
Southern California was having a heatwave the day we ventured out for this maternity session! ‘Ave wore the perfect summery dress, and she and Quincey handled the afternoon like pros! It was so much fun working with this sweet couple and I look forward to the arrival of baby girl Kennedy! Please enjoy these highlights from our session! xoxo
Vogue all the waaaaay! #calvinklein
Walker Canyon Portraits
Izzy is a dear friend, and for an afternoon, she was my model and partner in adventure and we set out to see the incredible Super Bloom of 2019! It was not until after our trip that I read that disturbing the flora can disrupt the delicate poppy ecosystem and even prevent the super bloom from returning. Lesson learned: stay on the path. Avoid the urge to, as John McCrae once wrote: “In fields the poppies blow, between the crosses row by row. Short days we lived, felt dawn, saw sunsets glow; loved and were loved, and now we lie in….fields…..” (An excerpt from the poem Flanders Fields.)
Lighting Workshop Arts District dtla
I hosted my first off-camera flash Lighting Workshop (1.0) this summer. The following are images created during the practical application (2nd half) of the workshop. According to the attendees, the only thing they would have changed about the overall experience would be to include ice cream. (Loved that! :D)
If you are a photographer who has been wanting to learn off-camera flash, or is struggling to figure out how to evolve your approach to low-light situations, I am now offering 1 on 1 mentoring sessions and a bi-annual workshop. If you are interested in attending or scheduling a mentoring session, please email me at: daltiercreates@gmail.com
The next workshop is slated for January 2018! Stay tuned for announcements and more info! Thank you to all who helped bring this wonderful event together! xoxo
Long Beach Plant and People Portraits
After a Naples family session, I had arranged to pop over to Lisa’s house, from Succulents for the Soul Instagram fame, where we met for the first time! I photographed her amazing yard and met her adorable grandson named Dean. Lisa has poured hours into landscaping her beautiful front and back yards! She has created an oasis to surround her home. <3
Costa Mesa Portrait Session
Light and shadow were in full effect for this Costa Mesa portrait session. This couple had been wanting to have professional photos taken for some time now to celebrate their love. I am a huge supporter of documenting relationships at any and all stages. Whether you are celebrating 6 months together or 60 years… I am ready to document your love! Thanks for trusting my process and experimentation Mary and Jordan! SO happy with this first “ring of fire” shot!!! It was a blast working with you both! Enjoy! xoxo
Gum Grove Maternity Session
On a hot sticky summer’s afternoon, we braved an unexpected battalion of vampiric mosquitos to capture images of the little miracle growing inside Ariel’s belly. Eucalyptus oil pierced the breeze as we strolled down the path at Gum Grove. Despite the pouring sweat, we had a fun session! When we first met up, I asked Sam if he had a pocket knife. I wanted to cut a clean edge at the bottom of some reeds I’d picked on my way to the shoot. Sam went back to his car and emerged with a bowie knife!!! 😀 The thing was HUGE and came in SO handy! (No pun intended!) We cut out way through the rugged terrain again and again. It was totally worth the heat and bugs! Here are some of the results! Enjoy!
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!
