Our Christmas Card

Like many of you, the year was just too fast. The next thing we knew, it was that time again to send off holiday cards, and we never got our own family portrait taken. I guess itls like the mechanic with the broken down car. Being a proud mommy, I wanted to show off some of my favorite photos of my two little guys that bring so much happiness to our lives. So I designed the card to show off some favorite photos from the past 12 months. Yes, I know there's a crying shot of Colton and a pout on Charlie's face in another, but they are still some of my favorite pictures of them.

We hope you all had a fantastic holiday and that the year ahead is filled with wonderful blessings for each of you.

What a Great Compliment

I deeply love being a photographer. It's an honor when people ask you to capture their important moments of their lives. Moments that are quickly passing, and will not be the same again. The honor is complimented when customers use my images on their holiday cards, and send them of to share their greetings and these fleeting moments with the ones they love. It's a great compliment when I get a holiday card from someone and it happens to be of an image I took for them.

The first photo posted here is an examples of that. It's a composite of the Davis Family photo session. You may have seen some of their maternity photos that I posted. Where does the time go?



These following images are from a wonderful couple who's wedding I photographed. It's wonderful to be able to record this stage of their life with them as well. I'm looking forward to being baby Russo's first paparazzi. The first one posted of them is what they used for their holiday card (what a great way to say they like my work), the other two are a couple of my favorites from their session.

Charlie's Birthday Party

Charlie wanted a surprise party for his fifth birthday, and that's just what he got. You can click on this posts title to have a peek. I hope you enjoy some snapshots from the day in this little movie.

Leila & Enrique

The best engagement sessions are the ones that really reflect the personal side of the couple, not just a more traditional location. They are more fun for the couple and more fun for the photographer since it may be a place we don't usually shoot. With Leila and Enrique, he LOVES tennis, but Leila seems to know what she's getting herself into, and besides, she can still distract him from the game well enough. The first half of the session began at Barnes Tennis Center. It's a really nice place that I would love to play at sometime. Too bad I can't play tenni
For the second half of the shoot, we went to In and Out Burger. It's got to be the tastiest burger joint ever! And it's the place that this gorgeous couple goes to whenever they have something to celebrate.
Their wedding is the end of December in Old Town. It's going to be BEAUTIFUL!

Sarah & Matt in Cleveland

I know I should have posted these a long time ago, but better late than never, right? Here are just a few of my favorite images from Matt & Sarah's wedding. If you want to see even more, scroll down and look for the link to their movie.





Sarah & Matt were the first couple I've seen "Rock the Reception"


The couple tied the knot in Sarah's hometown of Cleveland, but they live in New York City. And in true NY fashion... the couple's last song was Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" and they drove off in a yellow cab. It was beyond cool.

Now Look What I've Started

Not too long ago, I was busy posting photos of customers up on my blog, now I'm posting family photos like crazy and there doesn't seem to be any end in site. Don't worry, I'm only kidding. I've got more than a few images from some recent shoots I want to share with you all, but how could I NOT post this picture of Colton? For those of you who know him, he can be a real pistol, but then he'll go off and flash those eyes of his along with that smile you see. Who can resist this little stinker?

A Boy, A Brother, & A Train

It may have been the same day I took the picture of Charlie below that he ended up with his first black eye. That's right, Charlie's little brother Colton decided to throw that yellow metal train at Charlie's head. The black eye isn't really that bad as you can see for yourself, but I had to post the pictures of our first-born's first shinner.



Here's one of the victim with Colton holding People's Exhibit A

Yes, I take pictures of my kids too.

I know I don't often post photos of my own little angels, but I do take their pictures. Here's some proof. Okay, so it's only one of Charlie and his brother is A.W.L., but at least it's a new picture.

I don't think that I'm the only photographer out there who finds it challenging to photograph their own children. Poor Charlie and Colton are pretty much over the camera and so they seem to go running when I point it at them. It never seems to be as easy with my own kiddos. This picture is a good example. You see, it was going to be one of Charlie sitting under the tree, then it turned into him on his belly, which eventually turned into him laughing while chillin' on his back. The only reason I got this one was because I've got a pretty fast trigger finger these days and I really need it with my kids. What keeps me going is when I get a sweet shot like this one. It makes it all worth it to me as a mommy and a photographer.

P.S. I really need to work at getting my images the same size on this blog. Don't worry, I'll work on that.

Something must Matter to YOU, right?

I was doing a little blog hopping today and found this gem on another fellow photographer, Jessica Claire's, site. I love her style which is why I stop by her blog from time to time to see what going on with her. She had this video posted and I couldn't agree with it more or resist posting it here to help spread the word. Please share this with everyone.

Travis & Aliah's Wedding in Mexico

In August, Aliah and Travis exchanged vows South of the border at the Estero Beach Resort. It was a blast of a weekend (see the post called "FRIDAY IN MEXICO - CLICK HERE" for proof). Aliah & Travis are inspiration and a blessing rolled up in happiness and laughter. Congratulations again you two and thanks for a fabulous weekend.



The ring bearer, Cash, gave it his best shot, but the day proved to be too long for him. Luckily, his Uncle stepped up to the newest and greatest roll in a wedding... The Ring Bearer, Bearer.


I'm think I'm fully in my "I love old looking pictures" phase.

Sarah and Matt's Wedding Day Movie

To view the movie best and a little larger, do NOT click the large play button you will see. Instead, go to the file name below or to the left and open it up directly from there.

Now, click on this posts title above to take you to the movie and enjoy some pictures from their day.

Happy Anniversary Adrian & Justin

Today is Adrian & Justin's 2 year wedding anniversary. Thanks to the "hurry up and wait" military lifestyle, these two hurried their vows along 2 years ago today. This Saturday, they had their wedding portraits taken. I was so happy to learn that they didn't just push it off and end up never doing it. Photographs really are just too important. I'm glad these two feel the same way and gave us the opportunity to make this happen for them. This wonderful couple deserves a wonderful happily ever after. Happy Anniversary Adrian & Justin!

Dawn and John's Wedding

I can tell you that I have been to LOTS of wedding both with a camera and as a guest, and I can sincerely say that I enjoy them very much, and I really do cry at nearly everyone. REALLY. There are just still so... romantic about them still to me. There were lots of beautiful things about about Dawn and John's wedding, but if I could only tell you one special thing about it, it was just watching John look into Dawn's eyes throughout the ceremony. I don't think I've ever seen a groom immersed in the moment or the event the way John was. There was no nervousness, no timidness, only a poised man, confident and thankful for this beautiful woman and this day.
As usual, here a few images from their very special wedding day.

Friday in Mexico - Click HERE!!!

If you would like to see some picture from the Friday before Travis & Aliah's wedding at Estero Beach, Mexico, click on this posts title for the link. Once there, don't get suckered into the big button in the center. It's a small file. Instead, click the MPEG4 file on the far left under the VIEW MOVIE area, or the link in the INDIVIDUAL FILE area.

Beautiful Day

I am back from my trip to Cleveland and have a couple other things that I'm working that you'll be seeing shortly, but I wanted to post one quick photo from my latest adventure.

Why am I sharing this one with you when you know that I have many others that are close up and show the beautiful faces that filled the day? Because I was there and although it may not be artistically stimulating, I experienced certain emotions as took this image.

I'm drawn to it because it shows the large sky. A sky nearly as large as the love that was felt on this day. The sun, like their love, triumphed over the clouds and the rain to make for a day that could not have been more magnificent. Textured with the clouds as it's remains, the storm was destined to be defeated by romance and love's entitlement.

Bravo, Sarah and Matt!

Kira

Kate and Kyle have a baby sister, and isn't she beautiful! Kira was born in July and these are some photos from her session when she was less than a week old. As you can see for yourself, she's in good hands.

Looking at my photos, you can see that I do use some actions on many of them. That is not the case with big brother Kyle's picture. Straight up, this little guys eyes are this striking.

Time to Get Ready

Things have been ramping up around here. This coming weekend we're photographing the wedding for "The On's" (my nickname for Dawn and John), with Sarah and Matt's the following weekend in Cleveland. But my focus right now is on finishing the photos from Travis and Aliah's stunning wedding in Mexico.
Finding time to blog again is going to be tough, but I thought I would toss one out there for you to peek at. Aliah is simply breath-taking. And in this shot, she was only getting ready for the wedding rehearsal! I will be posting some more from their wedding as soon as possible, but I'm putting this one out there now just to wet your appetite.

The Brown Family Comes for a Visit

What an honor it is to continue to be a part of a family by photographing them as they grow. The Brown family has given me that honor and I'm thrilled about it. Bernadette and Al have now welcomed baby Justice into their lives, and he sure makes the family complete. The family lives on the East Coast, and still look me up to photograph them on this same beach each time they're in town. It's the same beach where I first photographed them when Bernadette was pregnant with her oldest son, A.J. As you see by his size, that was a little while back, and before my digital days.

The beach was crazy busy on this day, and I had a star sighting! David Baxter from Ohana Photography was there on a photo shoot too. Clearly it was a fine day to be photographed.

4-5-4

Saying "please" and "thank you" are important. And personally, I think knowing them in many languages is also important. Charlie hadn't said those words in Spanish for awhile and I taught them to him again. About a half an hour later, Charlie asked me for a drink, then said, "4-5-4." He meant to say "por favor."

A Few More of Sarah & Matt

Finally I found a moment to upload a few more images from Sarah and Matt's engagement session, including one where I was having a little more fun with "the ring" shot. And I just have to say that I LOVE New York! You don't get this kind of graffiti just anywhere. Kidding aside and artistically speaking, it's the love, warmth and tenderness you see between these two, regardless of the rough grunge surrounding the graffiti brings to these images that makes me like them so much. But then again, maybe that's just me.
Gotta comment? I'd love it if you'd post it.

Sarah, Matt & New York City!

Have you ever been so excited about something you don't even know how best to start? That's how I feel about this. After being asked by Sarah if I could photograph her and Matt's engagement session, and in New York City, I could hardly be contained. A gorgeous couple... a fabulous city... What an opportunity!
Here are just two pictures from the 2 day session. The first one has to be one of my all-time favorites. Sorry Matt & Sarah, it's not just because your both smoking hot, but it's the spectator on the bridge who clearly agrees with me that makes this one of my favs. Just as we were about to begin taking photos on the Brooklyn Bridge, the very place that Matt made one of the worlds most romantic proposals to Sarah, I captured this man walking by and "enjoying the view".
As for the second photo, Sarah's smile is so warm genuine that most of their photos from the shoot show her that way, but this one of her and Matt... there's just something about it. How she's melted into him with the soft expression of being deeply and truly contented and fulfilled with this man. I just love it.
Please add your COMMENTS too. I know that many of you peek at my blog, but I would love to get your input, so please do. If you are worried Blogger is going to send you junk mail, it's not going to.

Brittany & Dylan's Big Day

I'm excited to share some photos from Brittany & Dylan's big day. They are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. These are just a few of my favorite images from their incredible fun day. I'm so happy for these two. I also have to share with you that one of the best parts about the reception had to be the food! No, not that fancy schmancy stuff, but Brittany's favorite meal... Cheeseburgers and Fries! They rocked and it was such a fun way to make their wedding reflect their fun personalities. It when the wedding is truly personally that it becomes something special.

My photo buddy Donna didn't get the chance to try the way yummy burgers because this was the wedding she broke her arm at while working with me! That's right, at the very beginning of photographing the before ceremony shots, she tripped, fell on her elbow, and broke it. My over achiever friend didn't even tell me until AFTER we were finished with the ceremony, and formal portraits of the families and the couple. Can you believe that!? Hat's off to Jessica Claire's Shoot Sac on this occasion as well. It's what Donna fell on. Although her elbow broke, the lenses in the bag were fine. How's that for a testimonial of a product. I keep telling Donna she needs to share that story with Jessica Claire.