Pharis Family

Being one of my brother's childhood friends, I've known Andy for a long time. So when he called me up last week asking if there was ANY way I could take family portraits, of course I was happy to say yes! But there was a catch... the portraits needed to be taken THAT weekend since Andy was headed back to Japan the following week (where he works as a teacher), and wasn't sure when the entire family might be together next. I told him it wouldn't be a problem, that I'd make it happen. Even Mother Nature decided to cooperate and get rid of the rain just in time! Family pictures like this are soooo important, and I'm glad it all came together in time.

Meet Andy...

... and the rest of the family.

Holiday Mini-Sessions

I have to say... I love, love LOVE my clients. Something magical happens when near-strangers somehow transform into friends in a matter of minutes. Everyone starts off kinda shy and not knowing what to do with themselves, and by the end of our time together the transformation is complete... and suddenly it's like we've been hanging out for years.

That's the feeling I got this past Saturday as I held my afternoon of mini-sessions at The Wedding Pantry.

I love how each family unit has its own style; like a language all their own. And I always appreciate the way that people can be themselves around me, and invite me into their family dynamics for a little bit. Because that's what I'm there to capture. The real stuff. The fabulous stuff.

Here are some favorite shots of mine that we captured that day:

the Alonzo Family What do you get when you have 2 people that are hardcore UCLA fans living together with 2 people that are hardcore USC fans???? A family. Talk about Peace on Earth...

the Artiga Family Two incredibly adorable little boys. Three lollipops (one had fallen to the ground... thank goodness there were back-ups ready!). Two scratch-n-sniff Christmas books. And  one lovable Thomas the Tank Engine toy that couldn't be put down for long. A recipe for CUTENESS!

the Kuy Family Such a happy little girl. Really... her giggles were contagious. I had to smile as she explored the area, enamored with the leaves she found. Too cute! And we were wearing matching sweaters for the day, so I knew we'd be the best of pals.

the Vallee family Henny was the winner of my mini-session giveaway held at the Holiday Boutique a couple of weeks ago.  Which turned out to be totally awesome, since she'd wanted some updated pictures of her family since the newest little addition had come along. And Hannah makes a great big sister... always ready to give a loving kiss to her new baby bro.

A BIG thank-you to all the families who participated in these mini-sessions for the day. You were all so fabulous, and I can't wait to see you all again!

bubbles, balloons & the beach

I was greeted by a rush of running children, and the one who reached me first and gave me the biggest hug was the one I'd been told might be a bit shy. Of course, it could have been the handful of balloons that I'd brought with me that won her over. The kids were already excited for the day, because it was Abbey's 5th birthday. There was a pirate party planned for later that day. With a sleepover. And I was the way to kickoff their fun... with some birthday photos.

Since the family was already gathered for the celebration, it was the PERFECT time to get pictures of the cousins together. And so, we played... with balloons, bubbles, and even some lollipops. Here are a few favorite shots from the morning:

Seriously, this girl had some great poses. This was ALL her...

And THIS was just cuteness to the MAX!

ALL the kids were so freakin' cute! It was so fun for me to see their different personalities shine through.

Close-up of the birthday girl. The "shy" one. Full of spunk & personality. And with the cutest dusting of freckles I've ever seen.

I heard that she had a wonderful party, and that her mom survived the sleepover (with 13 kids!!!). Happy birthday, dear Abbey!

minute to win it

My nephew Michael turned 5, and we all gathered to celebrate. The theme this year? The Backyardigans. I'd explain more... but I don't have a clue. I'm sure all you parents out there are all familiar enough, and those without kids can appreciate the cuteness. And, speaking of cuteness... CHECK OUT THIS CAKE! My mother-in-law outdid herself once again, and made this cake for little Mikey. From scratch. Including all the Backyardigan figures. They are fondant sculptures. Go ahead and pick your jaw up off the floor... I'll wait. Oh, and check out that popcorn tree, too.

There were even placemats to match each of the characters' outfits. I'm on the right, showcasing my new style.

Besides the Backyardigans, there was plenty of "Minute to Win It" to go around. This is a tv show on NBC that I'd never heard of before, but I think that I've been missing out on something quite entertaining. We held our own versions of the games, with some VERY hilarious results. Not sure what this first game is officially called, but I have dubbed it "bobbing for donuts." It was simple: tie several powdered donuts to strings, and then tie those strings to someplace high. (We used an outdoor umbrella.) Set the timer for one minute. With your hands behind your back, see if you can capture the donut and take a bite. White powder EVERYWHERE.

Next was a game called "Noodling Around." The goal: in one minute, pick up five penne noodles placed around the perimeter of a table using only a piece of uncooked spaghetti in your mouth. Trust me, it is MUCH more difficult than it sounds. I played this one. I was terrible at it. It didn't help that I couldn't stop laughing, and dropped all the noodles to the floor. Several times.

Here is my husband, about to accept the challenge.

The next game was called "Separation Anxiety." The goal: In one minute, the player must separate a pile of multicolored candies (skittles) into 5 separate containers in a set color order. There were 5 bowls, which had been labeled with a color. The problem was that the color WRITTEN on the card was not the same color as the card itself. So your eye saw the color, but had to read a word of a different color, and go with THAT one. Yeah... it was as difficult as it sounds.

Cuteness break: I had to get a picture in of my newest nephew, Andrew. Here he is with my mother-in-law (his grandma).

Okay... game on! Not sure if this game had a name or not... but it was GREAT for my camera! Here's how it worked: Take one Oreo cookie apart, and stick the side with the filling ON the sliding glass door. (Yes, it was thoroughly cleaned beforehand and in-between each round.) The cookie will stick to the door. You have one minute to scrape the cookie off, using only your mouth, and eat it. Again, it's harder than it looks. (Yes, there are incriminating pictures of me doing this.) The best view of the game was from the other side of the door. Check it out...

Another cuteness break... I can't help it. The camera loves him!

...aaaaaand, we're back. Next up: "Face the Cookie." Put a (non-frosting) piece of Oreo cookie on your forehead. You have one minute to maneuver it to your mouth, using no hands.

She was sooooo adorable doing this. I wish I had a video, because she figured out a way to make it work by wiggling her nose like a bunny.

It was definitely an entertaining party for all of us!

Little Mikey, I hope you had a good day. I wish for nothing but wonderful things for you, and can't wait to see how you change & grow during your 5th year. Now make a wish, and blow out the candles. And I'll do everything I can to help that wish come true! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, little man!

fathers and their daughters {family portrait session}

I had the great pleasure of meeting Jon, William, and their darling twin daughters this past weekend when we got together for a family portrait session. There's something special to me about taking family portraits. Each family is a unit in itself, separate from the outside world... with their own unique ways of being and communicating. And it's a fabulous thing to behold... and even more amazing to be invited to join them and become a part of it; to document the interactions between them all.

This family in particular was wonderful to be around. From the moment we met, they made me feel like I was one of them. And that perhaps we were all just friends meeting up for a friendly picnic in the park. It was fabulous.

The family images were captured in a small park near their home. Nothing fancy... just a small playground, some grass, and some trees for shade. And it was absolutely perfect. Because the pictures we captured aren't for showcasing purposes... they are here to help tell the story of this family & their daily lives. And to help remember how beautiful it really is.

It was a typical family outing...

cuddling with the girls.

and how cute is THIS? They said that the girls really like swinging back-to-back like this.

It was a hot, hot day... and we didn't want their tiny toes to be burned in the sand & on the scorching playground equipment. So we took shelter in the shade, BENEATH the jungle gym.

And after a brief snack session, there was more cuddling. Feel the love...

Jon & William, you have a beautiful family. Thank you both for allowing me the privilege of capturing just a piece of it .

quirks and all

I love capturing beautifully imperfect pictures, especially of children. Kids all seem to have so many little quirks... facial expressions and gestures that are so unique to them. And while I can appreciate the beauty of a traditionally posed photograph, I appreciate seeing their real life beauty much, much more. I love the personality that shines through. Exhibit A: my nieces and nephew.

I hadn't taken pictures of them in a while, and decided to "borrow" them for an impromptu shoot. Their hair was a mess, and they weren't dressed to impress, but that was okay. I captured them as they really were at the moment.

I put them in charge of finding the "cool" places to take pictures in front of, and so we wandered through the neighborhood, playing tag along the way. And this was what I saw...

I love being able to capture beautiful pictures of them in their "natural habitat." I love that we PLAY along the way, so that they can relax enough for me to have the chance to capture their natural smiles, not the forced ones you so often see when the camera comes out.

And then there are the true "quirks." These aren't necessarily the photos that will be hanging on the wall of your home, but these are the ones that you can look back on with a sense of nostalgia, and see the kids as they REALLY were at that age.

Here are my favorite QUIRKS from the shoot:

She makes this face a lot when she is pondering something. It's her "whaaaaaat?" face.

She makes this face a lot, too. (ugh.) She thinks that it's hysterical.

He likes to show off his muscles.

And here, I think he is a bull. Or maybe it was a monster. Whatever it was, it was L-O-U-D!

Ah, yes... the attitude of a "tween." It's coming out more and more lately. Gotta love it, right? RIGHT?!

She started to get frustrated. Ah, yes... the first signs of meltdown. But I'm a PRO in deactivating those types of bombs. The solution for the moment was to give her even more control of the situation. How? By handing over my camera.

I gave her a quick lesson and let her take a few shots...  and they turned out to be A-MAZ-ING! What can I say? The girl's got a great eye.  (I think I might have to HIRE her in the near future!) Here are the faves, as captured by my 10-year old niece:

(p.s.: must give thanks to my husband for helping to wrangle the kids along the way; no one is as magical to them as their "Tio.")

Okay, my turn with the camera again. Some favorite family shots. I love to see the connections between the 3 of them.

And when you play, and just let the kids be KIDS... that's when the magic happens.

I'll leave you with my absolute FAVORITE of the day...

welcome to the world, little one

"It's time." I got the call on Friday evening, while hanging out with my best friends. Fortunately, I'd warned them ahead of time that this might happen, and that I just might end up having to bail on them. I raced home to meet my husband, at which point we raced on to the hospital. And then time stood still.

The entire family was gathered in the lobby of the hospital, trying to pass the time and ease our minds. Some played cards, others read. One even sat and watched a movie on a portable dvd player. But we were all waiting.

It was just after 11:00 pm and my in-laws were about to give up for the evening and take the kiddos home. One of the girls pleaded... please try again? So a call was made, and it had been made just in time. He was coming down to get us.

Armed with a video camera that was already recording what our reactions would be, he said... It's... a BABY. um, yeah, we know. A grandparent asked, is it healthy? And breathed a sigh of relief when the answer was yes. And so we waited for him to speak again...

it's.... a... BOY!

The siblings jumped for joy, while the rest of us teared up a bit.

I had a new nephew! I could hardly believe it. Now the score is even... 2 girls and 2 boys. A perfectly matching set.

We all floated up in the elevator, excited to see my sis-in-law and visit the new little boy for the first time. Tried to wait as patiently as possible out in the hall, taking turns so as not to overwhelm them. First the siblings. Then one set of grandparents. And then another. And us. It was as if everyone was holding their breath, trying not to wake up from this beautiful moment. And, of course, I asked if I could capture it with my camera.

We didn't overstay our welcome that night, but came back in groups to visit the next day.

And at that time, we finally learned his name...  Andrew.

I think I'm in love...

(in the photo above, we can't tell if he's doing his "thinking" pose, or practicing saying "call me.")

Mother and baby went home the next day. And I was able to capture these sweet shots of the siblings holding their new baby brother. They are all so enchanted with him.

(Um, yeah... the one on the right isn't one of the siblings. That's my husband, saying hello to his new nephew...)

And look how amazingly sweet the girls are... notice the tiny felt toys piled upon Andrew? There's a blue puppy and a brown bear... those were sewn by the girls, so that their new baby brother would have his first toys. Too, too adorable.

I'll leave you with an image of him gripping his teddy bear. And I can guarantee that if his fingers weren't tucked away safely in his little sleeves, he'd be sucking on them.

family fun for everyone {family portraits}

I met up with Sharon and her family at Twila Reid Park, while everyone was gathered for a picnic and a family reunion of sorts. I knew I shouldn't have eaten lunch ahead of time.... from the moment I got there, they all started trying to get me to eat. That's how it is with big families... they welcome you in as one of their own, and then they ply you with good food. After a while, we managed to gather most of the cousins together, and made a loop through the park to grab our shots.

First up, the highly anticipated JUMP shot. Everyone was on board for this one, including the unsuspecting dog. (Poor Ginger was even airborne at one point, but shhhh... don't let Sharon know that!)

This is a great example of being able to find cool backdrops ANYWHERE you go... the fence is actually the enclosure for the dumpster.

And here's Sharon (second from the left), rocking what she's dubbed her "Top Gun" look.

At Sharon's request, we HAD to get a running shot! LOVE this!

And here is the whole group. I wanted to get a nice, posed group photo of all of them...

And another one to show their TRUE personalities!!!

It was a great group and I had a great time. And Sharon, don't worry... I wasn't scared away, like you thought I might be. You guys are fabulous.

And after it all, I DID get a plate of food (and even helped myself to seconds of the lumpia).