You know that Jack Johnson song….it’s a good one!  Today was the day Avalon started kindergarten.  I surprised myself..no tears!  Avi did great…until it was time for me to leave.  I am pretty mean to take photos of it but I want to remember this day.  It’s a big step for all of us but very exciting.  Dammi Platinum (my mom who is now retired from education) came up to witness the big day.  She was on cloud nine not to be at work!  Thanks mom for helping me out with Max!  Avi, I am proud of you big girl!  You are truly one special little girl!

After school we visited our friends new salon “Little Kuts” to get some back to school hairdo’s.  It’s pretty cool to have a kids haircutting salon in town!  I think we will frequent the place…great play room!  If your kids need a trim…a do…a cut…check it out!  It’s awesome!  Congrats M & M on the opening and a job well done, my kids said they loved getting their haircut there!  Grand Opening Celebration is September 28th!

Buckled in…ready to go!

We are here and things are going great…she is posing and smiling!

All the new backpacks with nothing in them….

And the breakdown begins…”don’t leave me here mommy…I don’t want to be a big girl”

She survived…and had a big smile at pick up!  PHEW!  Off to haircuts!

Shout out to the La Verne campers!  My friend Debbie asked me if I would be willing to come down to their campground and take some family photos of them and their friends!  I asked if in return we could sneak our trailer in and join the party!   The “seasoned camper” that I am…knows this campground is really hard to get a space at!  It was a hot day…but these families were real troupers putting on makeup and getting “dressed up” while camping.   I truly enjoyed the dynamics of each family and how they all joked around!  It was a very fun night and I am honored to have been a part of it!

Meet the Hepburn family:

The Johnson’s #1 family:

And last but certainly not least..the Johnson #2 family:

Cabo was fabulous and the time with the family was priceless!   Spending time with Greg, Avi and Max like that was just what “the doctor ordered”!  We are home now and dealing with “reality”….a washing machine that flooded the house because a rat decided to make his home in the bottom and chew threw the hose and a broken pool vacuum.  I think Shrek and Fiona might be living in the bottom of it!  Good times!  Wanted to share a few photos from vacation….

It took me 3 days to finally relax and now I am in the napping, “pooling” and happy hour mode only to have to come home in 2 1/2 days!  It is beautiful and we are having a blast as a family…and I did bring the laptop but it’s been packed away until now!  Just wanted to check a few emails…see what is going on in “reality” and make sure the family at home is ok.

Greg’s youngest brother, at the ripe age of 23 years old, had a stroke last week.  He has recovered from it, thank God!  They have found a hole in his heart.  He will decide based on more tests what he will do.  It really was scary…we are thankful that they found it so quickly and that he regained 100% function.   He and our little Avalon might be able to compare their scars soon!   We love you Charlie and are praying for you constantly!  Ok…Avalon is begging to go back to the pool…..so off we go!

This past weekend I had the honor of shooting a celebrity poker event for the One Step Closer Foundation. It was a fun day at Hollywood Park watching the “big dogs” play poker for a great cause!

The foundation raises money to help find a cure and bring awareness for Cerebral Palsy. The One Step Closer Foundation aims to make a difference by establishing fundraising efforts towards bringing a keen awareness and understanding of this disease to the community…~JZ

Jacob Zalewski is the president & CEO of the foundation and living with CP himself. He is a doll and did a fantastic job with this “first annual” event!

The Biggest Star…Jacob Zalweski

Shannon Elizabeth

Miguel Nunez

Montel Williams

Sam Simon and Dennis McCoy

Montel Williams and Jamie Gold (WSOP 2006 Champion)

Do you recognize this SuperStar?

This past weekend, my sister and I had our first wedding together and it was fabulous! My sister owns her own event business called CREATIVE MIND EVENTS.  She is not only a fantastic chef who was trained at Cordon Bleu but also an unbelievable event planner! I am so proud of her for following her dreams! Great job Jen…you did a beautiful job! Due to the bride and groom’s privacy, I won’t be showing any of their images. Let’s just say…BITCHIN!

So this is the last family I had the pleasure of shooting while in Portland.  Bobbi was a buyer at Nordstrom up at their headquarters back in my “handbag” selling days and we were instant friends!  I havn’t seen her in over 8 years but we have kept in touch through email, photos, etc…  I couldn’t wait to meet her little guy, Grant and what a handsome little dude!   I had so much fun with her family…and their dog!

So you ask…what beans are spilled?   Well…in the middle of my trip and in the middle of one of the sessions, my “5D” shut down on me!  Just died……shutter closed and wouldn’t re-open so I did what all professional photographers do…I acted like nothing happened…took the darn thing apart and nothing.  So fortunately…I had my backup to run to.   I kept shooting while the “internal panic attack” took place and prayed that Canon could fix it in time for my big wedding that next Saturday.  Then in the middle of my session with this lovely family…my backup camera decided to have a seizure.  I remained calm but what the heck…two cameras down within 2 days of each other…are you kidding me?  Session over.  Apologies made…run to the car and cry to my husband.  Fortunately…I think we got some killer shots before this all happened.   Canon did fix my cameras…but not in time for the big wedding, celebrity poker and 3 family shoots I had this past week!   Thank God for my fabulous photographer friends who came to my rescue!  Patrice, you rock!  A true friend is someone who shares their brand new 5D knowing that they have one of the biggest weekends in their career thus far!

Ok…enough writing…meet the fabulous Harrison/Sinclair family!

Meet Ava…almost walking…loves to point and make kissy face!   She was fascinated with the tutu’s I brought along…her dad..not so much but I think when he sees the photos of her in it…he will change his mind!  She was a cutie patootie and loved having her photo taken.   I just wanted to grab her cheeks and kiss them!   Thanks to her mom and dad for letting me do some “crazy” stuff with her…don’t worry…dad was behind the wall when we stuck her up in the old window!  You CAN try it at home!  he he he

I don’t think they come any cuter than this! Meet baby Charlie, at the time of this shoot (remember…I am a bit behind) he was about 2 1/2 weeks old and cute as a button. Big blue eyes and blond hair and the cutest little features! Watch out Jolie-Pitt babies….you have competition!

I spotted Jack-Henry across Jameson Square in the Pearl, waved to his mom and before I knew it, Jack-Henry was running toward me with excitement shouting “Jo” and threw his arms around me!  Talk about making me feel good!  I was blessed to have met this family last summer while in Portland and now I feel like old friends which just makes this job only better!   Little Asher had grown like a weed and was full of energy, emotion and expressions!  I pretty much laughed the entire shoot…it was a great session!   Here is a peak…