Posted on May 1, 2012

What’s up with this San Diego weather lately?! It’s been so dark & gloomy; I’m ready for some sunshine… and I hardly ever have to say that!! Luckily for me, the only sunny day in the past week was on Saturday when I joined my aunt & uncle (and their furchild, Barney!) at Balboa Park for a beautiful afternoon session! Barney is 14 going on 15 & she gets around like a champ! I do have a soft spot in my heart for Golden Retrievers… my husband & I just adopted our first puppy ever a few weeks back. More on that to come later, but for now check out how awesome this doggy is & how adorable her parents are!!

Posted on January 8, 2012

Ashley & Matt were such a fun couple to kick start 2012 for me!! I had a bit of a break there, so they are my first clients of the new year & they definitely eased me back into work-mode by being super friendly & fun!! Pregnancy looks SO good on Ashley; she’s glowing & absolutely gorgeous!! I just love maternity sessions; there’s so much anticipation for what’s to come in the near future! I really hope these guys come to me for newborn photos in February; I can just tell their little girl is going to be super adorable!!

 

Posted on November 27, 2011

Mikhail & Lindsay were so much fun to photograph at Balboa Park!! They were so sweet together & their interactions reminded me a lot of the way my husband & I act towards eachother (playful yet loving, hehe). The lighting was fabulous in the afternoon here at the park & these shots turned out so beautiful! Can I say I just LOVE backlighting???

Posted on November 21, 2011

I often get asked the question “What should I wear to my photo shoot?” While style varies for everyone, there are some basic guidelines to follow:

1. Stay away from super bright, warm colors

We’re talking hot pink, bright red, orange, etc. I always suggest neutrals or neutrals paired with lighter colors. They make the backdrops pop & typically flatter skintone.

2. Dress (kinda) comfortably

If your clothes are uncomfortable, you’ll be uncomfortable… and you’ll look uncomfortable in your photos! If you decide to wear a skirt, make sure it’s long enough to where you can sit down without worrying about giving anyone a show! OR if you do want to go a bit dressy, bring a casual outfit change as well, so we can grab some of those candid, sitting on the ground shots without worrying about the dry cleaning bill!

3. Try to stay away from “matchy matchy”

We’ve all seen it done, and there’s good reason for it… it’s a classic look! The matching white polo shirts & khakis, jeans, black pants, etc. Most people have probably seen this look done & loved it, so they decide to do it themselves. While I welcome all clients & opinions, I do find the photos are more interesting when you mix it up a bit. Maybe you still want to do white tops & jeans, but everyone wears a different style of white shirt… or maybe someone’s in a white dress, or jean skirt instead of jean pants. Just a little variety goes a long way in making your photos look current, without losing that classic touch.

4. Dress for the weather

Is it supposed to be windy for your beach session in December? Please coordinate your outfits to include long pants & sweaters! There’s nothing worse than families that look miserable standing in the cold in dresses & or shorts! Plus, if you want your kiddos to smile in the photos, sticking them in freezing cold weather with nothing but a tank top dress isn’t going to do the trick! If you picture dresses & warm-weather clothing in your photos, schedule a session during the spring or summer months… and opt for a late afternoon session over a morning session!

I was browsing through online boutiques the other day & came across this awesome guide of trendy outfits for women… I absolutely love this stuff & it looks great in photos! This is just an idea of some of the current trends that are going on right now… pair these looks with a beautiful smile, pretty location & warm backlighting & voila! Your pictures will turn out amazing!!!

Posted on November 21, 2011

Desiree & I met as flutists at band camp our freshman year of high school & we’ve been inseparable ever since! She & her boyfriend, Brenton, have been together for 2 years now & they are absolutely perfect for each other! I have to say, I really love the holidays because I get to see so many friends in front of my lens that I don’t usually get to photograph so it’s really special! Plus, I’ll admit it’s nice knowing I won’t mess anyone’s name up on accident.

How cute are they??! They’re going to make beautiful babies someday. I love my friends!!

Posted on November 6, 2011

I met Amanda & Chris for the first time yesterday for their Ultimate Engagement Session at Balboa Park & Coronado! These two were lucky; we actually did THREE different spots: Balboa Park, Coronado Ferry Landing, and the Coronado Beach (by the Hotel Del). They brought along a few different outfit changes too so we really made the most of our time together! Chris wasn’t too stoked about taking photos in the beginning, but I think I won him over! These two were super sweet & we were chattin’ it up like friends by the end of the session!

Posted on October 27, 2011

This was my first time ever shooting at Bate’s Nut Farm & it was awesome! The pumpkin patch is so fun & colorful & I love all the hay bales! The only negative part of this location is I can pretty much only shoot here on weekdays, as weekends are INSANELY busy. My first client of the day, Amy, said she lives about 3 miles away from the farm & it took her 45 minutes to get in the gates last weekend. WOW! So I’m limited on what families I can do, as a lot of people can’t do weekdays, but was happy to have two mini sessions yesterday! The lighting here is warm & awesome & this is THE place to go for fall photographs!

 

Amy & her boys first came to me almost a year & a half ago with Groupon. She definitely has her hands full with a 9 year old, a 7 year old, and twin 2 year olds… all boys!! The little ones weren’t too keen on taking photos today but I managed to snap some shots when they least expected it! I was really impressed with the older boys & how much they helped their mom wrangle the kiddos & figured out what the little ones needed in order to be happy. I love when families work together & these guys were SO well behaved & did great!

 My second session of the day was with Morgan & Dan… I absolutely adore this couple! I first met them probably over 2 years ago back when I was doing free sessions in the park to build up my portfolio a bit. I remember thinking they were a couple I could totally see myself being friends with, and I felt the same way yesterday! They’ve gotten engaged & married since we last saw each other so it was really cool to catch up! Dan keeps the session fun & light & made me laugh through their entire shoot. They’re so cute together too so they make my job really easy… the time was up before I knew it! I’m so glad I got to play around a bit with the glowy sunset lighting for their shoot; it was perfect!