Ventura County Family Photography: Emma and Ella

This is one of my favorite sessions ever!  I say that a lot, because I'm lucky to have amazing clients who bring so much to their photos and each session is special or unique.  However, these two cousins, who just happen to look like little dolls in these photos, are super sweet and have some of the most wonderful parents ever. 

We collaborated to bring some of the pieces together for a "rustic picnic chic" look (no easy task in balmy southern California) and with their matching outfits, I think you'll agree that this one is epic cute.  I've been saving this one for after Christmas as this session was partly a surprise for their lucky grandmother.  Plus, this is a perfect way to cap off my posts about the fall/winter holiday sessions we did this year. 


Happy Holidays!

Los Angeles Family Photography: Elissa

Elissa's little girl was just a few months old when we did a holiday session last year.  My how things have changed!  She's got quite a lot of personality now and is very fun and energetic.  You can tell Elissa loves being a mom and although her sweet little girl did not stay still for very long, she did allow us to play and take photos for almost an hour. 

I had a great time capturing their beautiful family.  And yes, it's the same basket!  She still fits in it, but not for long.  Elissa, thanks for letting me spend a beautiful day with you and Miss Z in gorgeous Marina del Rey!

Enjoy! 

Chicago Headshot Photography: Areck

I can't stress enough the importance of getting professional headshots, whether it's for a website, professional online profile, or printed material for your company.  They can be affordable if you want something simple and do just a little planning ahead.  Areck came to me needing just one or two photos but realized that having a professional photographer take them would add that extra polish. So next time you're uploading a profile photo to your website or LinkedIn, don't crop that vacation photo!  Call a professional and get something nice done.

Los Angeles Family Photography: John and Guille

It's always fun and amazing for me to photograph little kids for their annual holiday sessions.  They change so much from year to year, and John and Guille's adorable daughter was no exception.  Last year she toddled around and mostly just played, but this year she's bilingual, she wanted to organize her stuffed animals, and she can literally run around.  It was a challenge to get her into the photo with her parents, but well worth it when I saw her sweet smile in some of the frames.

Enjoy!

Happy Holidays!

I love the holiday season and especially enjoy receiving holiday cards with updates and photos from many friends and family.  As we prepared for this year's card, I had trouble deciding what photo to put on it.  Friday didn't enjoy last year's photo session too much so I thought I would make it easier this year and basically capture her doing what she does best: taking an afternoon snooze. 

In my mind, I thought it would be simple: I'd just wait for her to get tired and then slip the small Santa hat we bought on her (which was an adventure to acquire just on its own - Scott nearly killed me as I dragged him from pet store to craft store searching for a miniture Santa hat).  Yet despite running her around in the park before we took this picture, we get everything set up and of course she was wide awake and alert.  Only after putting on her hat and trying to get her to pose for a few minutes did she finally give up and curl up to sleep for the perfect Christmas photo.  I hope you enjoy the results as much as we do!

We wish you a very joyous holiday and a happy New Year! 


Merry Everything,

Ventura County Family Photography: Ken and Lauren

There really aren't enough superlatives to describe this family! They have been with me since the very beginning and I am blessed to call them dear friends.  I got to photograph the very beginning of Lauren's pregnancy, then maternity photos, and then their baby as a newborn.  They are wonderful, fun, creative, patient, incredibly supportive, and their daughter is insanely adorable. I love this holiday session because they have a great sense of style and Lauren actually made the beautiful burlap holiday banner that's in the background and brought most of the props herself.

Ken and Lauren, thank you for believing in me all along.  I love these photos and I love your family!


Enjoy!

Joe and Jenny: Ventura County Family Photography Holiday Session

You may remember this little cutie from her newborn session when she was just a couple weeks old.  She has, if it's possible, gotten even cuter because now she reacts to things that are going on around her and has one of the most adorable little giggles I've ever heard.  Her parents are very patient and sweet with her, making this session really fun.  We were going for a fall theme and even managed to secure a lovely Christmas tree lot location, but alas it was almost 80 degrees in California that weekend.  Not that I was complaining...

Jenny and Joe, thank you for allowing me to capture your family again!  I feel so blessed to get your sweet little girl in front of the camera twice this year.

Enjoy!

Wisconsin Apple Farm

Ever since I saw the movie "Baby Boom" (great 80s movie, by the way if you haven't seen it) I totally wanted to live on an Apple Farm.  Well, maybe not live on one, but at least go apple picking and drink hot cider at one.  On a recent trip to Lake Geneva, we detoured for a tour of this gorgeous apple farm as well as an apple cider doughnut.  Yum!  And who wouldn't want to purchase a peck of apples?  It's not like you can do that every day.

It was on this trip that I really had to embrace fall.  You see, I don't like fall very much because it just means winter is around the corner.  I know there are so many people that love the four seasons, but I'm just not one of them.  The thing is, however, that fall can be really beautiful and it's going to happen no matter what.  So I am learning to enjoy it as best I can and the scenery was truly beautiful.

How do you like them apples?!

Happy Halloween!

Buzz Buzz Buzz!  This year Friday is a Bumblebee.  No tricks, she just wanted treats and in the last photo she is sneaking over to get one. 

What I've Been Up To...

Things have been quite busy and I apologize the blog has been so neglected lately.  Friday just graduated from Puppy School and we've been enjoying a lovely Indian Summer.  Still, that's no excuse, so here are a couple other updates on what's going on with us and the studio!

- I'm obsessed with Pinterest!  Those of you that know me probably have seen the stacks of magazines and clippings I keep around as inspiration for shoots or things I love.  Pinterest allows me to keep this up, minus the clutter, plus share/stalk others' boards for inspiration as well.  If you'd like to follow each other, please leave your link in the Comments section. 

- One of the things I'm looking at on Pinterest and Etsy are inspirations for fall photo shoots and newborn shoots.  There must be something in the water; tons of ladies I know are pregnant or just gave birth, so I am super excited about some newborn and baby shoots coming up!  How adorable is this Aspen Leaf Mobile?  I love the idea of incorporated leaves or acorns into a photo shoot!

- When we moved to Chicago, we were dismayed to find the lack of fresh, organic produce especially in the winter months.  (True story: Scott once paid $6 for a tomato at Whole Foods - lesson learned, check the prices before you buy and don't go to Whole Foods in the dead of winter when the produce is terrible everywhere else.  He claims he was mesmerized by all the gorgeous looking produce and I'm inclined to believe him).  This summer, we decided to make use of our balcony and grow a mini-garden.  Not wanting to get too ambitious we planted several tomato plants and a variety of herbs.  The herbs have been doing fabulously.  The tomatoes, however are another story.  This summer was very late to warm up, so this is our bumper crop (minus two cherry tomatoes that Friday ate):





I think there's enough for exactly two celebratory bruschetta, what do you think?

- I bought the 100mm Macro lens and I simply adore it!  It's an amazing portrait lens but beyond that playing with that 1:1 macro capability is astounding.  I walk around and take pictures of ordinary things that are simply beautiful through this amazing lens.  Here are some I took just yesterday:












You can get even closer...


And closer still!



That's all for now!