Featured on Evoking You!!!

I'm so incredibly honored to have one of my personal favorite images of the year to be featured on the Evoking You website as thier top 10 pick of 2013!  There is always amazing talent featured on that page and I'm amazed to be chosen.

Check it out here!

Photography Idol Submission

Last year I participated in Photography Idol over at Chic Critique Forum. Imagine my complete shock when I was chosen in the top 10 to be a part of the competition! I didn't make it past that first week but it was more than I had hoped for. I learned a lot in the one challenge and critique I was able to participate in and am back for more. There is so much wonderful talent out there but I'm hoping to make it into the top 10 again and given a chance to push myself and grow.

Trying to choose just one image that encompasses your style and skill is near to impossible! I've debated on this for weeks and finally came to this image. This is one of my oldest and dearest friends who was expecting her first baby. She came "home" to visit and requested a beach location for her session. This shot was one I had in mind for a long time and she was such a good sport to play along. We were able to get it just as the sun was dipping into the ocean and the colors were amazing!

Fingers crossed!

Chic Magazine Cover Submission

I'm submitting this cute shot of Debbie for Chic Critique Forum's cover contest.  They are the place to be if you are a photographer looking for constructive criticism, latest trends, and online classes.

I know I'm taking a big chance with a black and white, sun flare, and off center. But what have I got to lose?

Eleanor turns 1! [Fullerton Cake Smash Session, Orange County Child Photographer]

Little Ellie and I have something pretty amazing in common. We share the same birthday!  :)  I'm not sure how it's possible but she was even more adorable at 1 than when I last saw her at 5 months old. She was having a Monster's Inc. themed birthday party so Mommy brought a "Boo" outfit for her to put on the invitations. Soooo cute! (Her party was awesome by the way.)

 

 

I had so many favorites from this session that I far exceeded my usual number of edits and consequently had a hard time narrowing down this blog post. But I know you'll enjoy all of them because those cheeks are too much!

 

Happy Birthday Eleanor! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHIC of the Week feature! [Orange County Baby Photographer, Capistrano Beach Newborn Photography]

CHIC Critique Forum has selected me as CHIC of the Week for this cute image of darling little Reed. Many thanks to my friend Crystal of Votographie that procured this vintage crate for me. :)

If you haven't visited CHIC Critique Forum yet then you should. They are  magnificent resource for women who love photography. They have daily giveaways, wonderful blog posts, and a very helpful forum. Their Celebrity Photographers are regular contributors to the forum and it's amazing to see them post on my images with helpful feedback.

Go HERE to check out my feature and leave a comment!  :)

CHIC Magazine Cover Submission [Orange County Senior Portraits, Orange County Glamour Photography]

It's that time again!! Chic Critique Forum is hosting a cover contest for their awesome magazine. If you haven't been to their website then you must do it now. They have incredible resources and inspiration for us lady photographers.

Molly and I made 1st runner up once so we thought we'd try again. :)  It makes my job pretty easy when you're as stunning as this girl is. An added plus is that she's fun to be with and will do whatever crazy poses I suggest. Got to let those creative juices flow right?




Fingers are crossed! 

Mothers RAW

I am extremely excited to announce my participation with an awesome global-wide project, MOTHERS RAW. Ever notice the gleaming perfection of mothers seen in movies, on television, and in magazines? Ever notice how glaringly OFF that is from reality? This project dares to challenge that distorted and damaging image. No one achieves perfection, mothers included. That imperfect, beautiful image is what I am looking to capture.

 

Ayelet Waldman said it quite well: “Even if I'm setting myself up for failure, I think it's worth trying to be a mother who delights in who her children are, in their knock-knock jokes and earnest questions. A mother who spends less time obsessing about what will happen, or what has happened, and more time reveling in what is. A mother who doesn't fret over failings and slights, who realizes her worries and anxieties are just thoughts, the continuous chattering and judgement of a too busy mind. A mother who doesn't worry so much about being bad or good but just recognizes that she's both, and neither. A mother who does her best, and for whom that is good enough, even if, in the end, her best turns out to be, simply, not bad. ”

I am looking for up to 20 mothers willing to participate in this project. I can take no more than 20 so please, contact me as soon as possible. Here are few simple requirements!

1. Come as you are. Come as you are everyday, after caring for the miracle that is your child!

2. PLEASE! Minimal make-up. Preferably, NO MAKE-UP! This project is about the real you, bared to the world, as the strong and vibrant mother you are. This project is about breaking the stereotypes of beauty forced on mothers, and even all women, everywhere.

3. No special hair styles, no new clothing, no ridiculously impractical heels. And I mean it, no make-up. If I can do it, you can do it!  Stay tuned for my own RAW shot!

4. This will take a minimal amount of your time. 15-30 minutes.

If you are interested, please contact me as soon as possible!

::the images from this project will be used online and/or used in publications. signing a release form agreeing to this is a requirement for participation in this awesome project::

The Big Latch On for World Breastfeeding Week [Anaheim Baby Photographer, Orange County Lifestyle Photography]

August is National Breastfeeding Awareness Month and this past week was World Breastfeeding Week. The Big Latch On is an event hosted world wide to promote breastfeeding. It's goal is to break the record of the most children simultaneously breastfeeding. My local natural parenting store, Rosie Posie Baby, hosted an event and I had the pleasure of being in attendance and documenting the festivities. It was so fun meeting the ladies and seeing all of the sweet babies. They had lots of goodies including a boobie cupcake contest as well as awesome local vendors, face painting, and crafts for the kids.

 

 

Summer fun at the park! [Orange County Child Photographer, Brea Child Photography]

Every Wednesday this summer we've made it a point to get together with friends either at a park or beach. I brought my camera along this week and had some fun capturing the kids. :)  I'm going to be so sad when summer is over. 

 

 



 

 

Debbie's Senior Portraits [Orange County Senior Photographer, Fullerton Senior Photography]

Debbie is going to be a senior this year. How exciting!  She was just gorgeous and a breeze to work with. Her Mother came to the session with us and was an excellent assistant holding my reflector and helping me juggle lenses. In one shot she's actually hiding behind Debbie holding flower in her hair that didn't want to stay put. :)  I absolutely loved shooting with these two and couldn't pick just a few to share so this is a big post.

I hope you have a wonderful senior year Debbie!