Meet little miss Ella Stanton!   Adorable as can be!  I don’t really know how to explain (without confusing the heck out of everyone) how I am related to this cute family so we will leave it at this….Ella is the newest member of our wonderful family and we are so excited she is here!   She has the funniest expressions and man oh man does she love her changing table!  I know most babies love to be on the changing table but Ella has a very SPECIAL liking to hers.  (Maybe because her nursery is fit for a princess and she doesn’t want to leave it!)  She gets down right mad if you remove her from it!  I was in stitches…it was really funny.  You had to be there!

Anyways…here is the sneak peek….

I met Darlene and Javier when I was first starting out as a full time photographer.  They were pregnant with their first.  I enjoyed them tremendously!  I was very flattered when they asked me to come photograph Leah…their new baby girl.   Darlene is a great cheerleader and “blog supporter”!  When she told me she was pregnant with twins and would like me to photograph them……I happily agreed, however, I have never photographed newborn twins before!  Photographing newborns is a little different than a normal session…then multiply times two!   Yikes!   I had butterflies in my belly that morning…but then again, I always have butterflies before every session.  There were just more…and maybe because I got pulled over and got a speeding ticket on the way!  Double Yikes!

Enough with my blabbing….meet the perfect and beautiful Miss Natalie and Mr. Ryan!  They are absolutely darling and at 1 1/2 weeks old, Natalie already doesn’t like to be too close to her brother.  Leah was a proud big sister and a blast to photograph as well.   Here is a sneak peek and more fun ones to come!

I met the Hargrave Family last fall when I was hired to do their family portraits.  I came home after that shoot with overwhelming emotion.   I couldn’t get over how amazing they were…not only to me but to each other.  They had recently been put through a living nightmare when their oldest son, Hal Jr., was in a horrible car accident that forever changed their family.

Hal Jr.’s story is one of the most inspiring ones you can imagine.  He started the BE PERFECT FOUNDATION shortly after his accident and instead of me telling you about it…click HERE, I promise you will be positively moved by it!

They didn’t have to ask me twice to photograph the 2nd Annual Fundraiser at the Hafif Estate.  If you have never been to an event at this property…you need to find a way.  It was an absolutely awesome experience to see almost 800 people come together to support Hal Jr. and his FOUNDATION.  Hal Jr. gave a speech that night that was a true testament to what life, family and love is all about.  Thank you, thank you, thank you Hargrave family, Hal Jr. for having me be a part of this amazing, amazing event and for being such wonderful, beautiful human beings.

Hal Jr.’s sisters, Hailey and Bella.

One of the fabulous auction items!  Isn’t she darling?

It was a night of smiles and tears..but mostly smiles!

I had to get this sneak peek up tonight….and it’s just a small peek.  You see Joy and Joe are leaving tomorrow for their 3 week wedding trip to Spain and Italy and I am going to sneak on the plane with them!  They had mentioned they would like to take me along to photograph the fabulous time they are going to have and after all…it is my birthday on Sunday.  I don’t think they will mind!

Really…I am not going….yes..reality has set in quickly that it’s just not possible!  After a “crazy-not-so-fun-kind-of-expensive-week” last week, Joy and Joe were just what the doctor ordered to keep myself from checking into the “looney bin”. (See below)  J & J are my folks neighbors down in Balboa and they did the “legal-courthouse” wedding last Friday just to make sure things had been taken care of here before they went abroad for 21 days of a wedding extravaganza with their family and friends.  What a great couple they are.  I had a blast hanging out with them and photographing their “Balboa” party.  Cannot wait to see photos from the Italy, Spain and “wherever else” party!

I have to briefly explain my week last week because it was kind of like I was in The Twilight Zone….

1. jury duty-put on trial within first 2 hours of being there….no chance now of getting any work done

2. Photoshop tells me I have 3 days left on my trial version of CS3…EXCUSE ME?-Have to wipe every Adobe program off computer and start from scratch!  FUN!

3. Save little girl at party from drowning in pool…iphone in my pocket.  Anyone want a watergun that looks just like an iphone?

4. Go home same day to wash my clothes after going in to pool fully dressed….sounds like someone is bombing house…washing machine broken!  More FUN!

5. Decide to vacuum to burn off some steam…my very special Kirby vacuum blows up!  (my vacuum is like a child to me!

6. Off to do a shoot early Friday morning…pulled over…you guessed it…no not on cell phone…remember…I DONT HAVE ONE ANYMORE!  SPEEDING TICKET!

7. An entire box of Honey Nut Cheerios falls off of top shelf in folks pantry all over my head!  Dad laughs hysterically!

8. My dear neighbor and friend, Barbara Ruby, passes away. (That put it all in perspective.)  We will miss you Barb!

WHEN LIFE HANDS YOU LEMONS…MAKE SOME REALLY DARN GOOD COCKTAILS WITH THEM AND GO TO BED…AMEN!

Meet Amanda and Kyle.  They met 8 years ago…they fell in love and their story began.

When I first met Amanda…we just hit it off and every email and correspondance after that just made me love her more…I couldn’t wait to meet Kyle.  A week ago we hit the beach for part one of their engagement session and within the first 10 minutes, Kyle was soaked.  Never once did he complain…he just laughed and continued to do whatever I told him to do.  (I have been doing this long enough now to understand that having photos taken is not on the top of the list for most guys ..especially in wet jeans…and that is fine..I get it.)  Kyle, you were such a sport and so fun to work with!

So what is “part two” you ask?

Amanda and Kyle are both horse lovers and own beautiful horses.  We continued the engagement session this past week with “Stinks” who was just the sweetest horse.  Whenever Amanda and Kyle would kiss…he would push them until they kissed him.   We once again had a great time and finished off the night with a nice cold one and some yummy dinner and fun conversation at the good ole’ Back Abbey in Claremont!  A & K…I cannot wait for your big day!  You two are just really special and I feel very honored to be a part of this time.  Enjoy a sneak peek at your sessions….

OMG….I think little Will would win every baby contest out there!  What a cutie pie!  Oh and how he talked to me…just melted my heart.  He actually doesn’t talk yet but boy was he sure trying hard.  We spent some time in his darling, retro nursery and then headed to the neighborhood beach where big brother, Andrew, decided he did actually want to have his cute little face photographed!  What fun we had doing the obstacle course…over and over again.  Will held strong until the very end…then he crashed!  Thank you Ingham’s for a great session and fun visiting.  It’s always wonderful to see you guys..enjoy your sneak peek!

Guilty of not working that is.   However, that is because I was unable to while being TORTURED!   I have been on jury duty and got put on a trial.  (Sitting ALL day and not being able to do anything but listen is PAINFUL!)  Somehow, I have always been able to skirt around this civil duty but that caught up with me and at such an inconvenient time!   Anyways…I am back and trying desperately to catch up with the spiral notebook of a list!  One important piece of news…GET THA FUNK OUT IS FULL!  We have reached full capacity!  If you were unable to register in time, please send us an email so we may keep you updated on future dates!

Mr. Shane and Ms. Natalie.  The only way they are any cuter is when they are together!  I am a believer in high school sweethearts….my folks were “hss”…married 35 years…my husband and I are “hss”…married 10 years and I know a ton more.  The important thing about Shane and Natalie is that they just have fun together!  They both come from wonderful families who I just adore!   They both run track so we had a couple races…I will have to check the “film” to see who won but here are a few of the fun shots we got that day!  Shane and Natalie…thanks for being such good sports!  I loved working with you!

And no..these aren’t gang signs…it’s their high school signs! 

Today is Max’s 3rd birthday and I cannot believe it.  Where did the baby go?  THREE.  Unbelievable.  The joy this boy (and Avalon too) brings to me everyday is beyond description.  I found some old photos on my old “ET head” Mac desktop of this day 3 years ago.  I remember my mom and I being a little freaked out at how strong he was at day one…now we know!  STUD MUFFIN!  Is it going to be football?  Baseball?  Soccer?  Basketball?  All of them?

Today he asked:  Mommy, do you want to play “DOG” with me?

I asked: “How do we play that Max?”

Max answered:  “I throw the ball and you go get it”

I know I will forget all the funny things he says someday.  I have already forgotten the “tiny” days.  Oh how I miss them!  It just gets better and better though!~  Maximus…I love you baby boy!  You make my heart so full!

Max: 1/2 day old (my photography skills really stunk…wow…bad!)

I couldn’t wait for their big day to arrive!  I met them over a year ago and fell in love with them.   David and Trisha chose to be married at Rancho Las Lomas which is just an amazing venue in itself but then you throw in the amazing Vanessa from V3 Weddings (who ROCKED it), Twisted Twig as your florist and 24 Carrots catering and you have one FABULOUS wedding.   David and Trisha are fun people to be around and their wedding was such a wonderful reflection of who they are.    Oh and did I mention the dress?   GORGEOUS….and even more wonderful when it was on Trisha who just was absolutely stunning!  I didn’t even know where to start with their post…too many beautiful images to choose from!  David and Trisha, I am honored that you chose me to capture your special day.  I had a blast and I hope you are having a wonderful time in the DR!

Trisha and her little girl, Victoria, having a special moment before the ceremony.