baby isla || newborn photography pacific palisades

My beautiful Aussie friend Danielle and her hubbie John make the most gorgeous babies (and give them some great names)! Here are a few family photos taken with their son Mason last month.

And here at 10 days old, is little Isla just perfect looking and so awake. Usually I recommend taking newborn photos at about 5-10 days old so they're super sleepy and moldable. But little Isla was so awake already... she just wanted to see what was going on. No fussing, just eyes wide open. After about 4 hours of nursing, peeing and pooping, she finally fell asleep (and I hope she took a long nap for you Danielle)! And thank goodness for Danielle's mom who was there to magically rock Isla to sleep.

awake.
are you kidding me with those cheeks?! I just want to squeeze them and eat 'em up! and check out that perfect little pucker.





because danielle looked so lovely with the chandelier...




Isla wasn't so sure about the joke I cracked.







back in her cozy pjs... finally asleep (in a fun little hat I knitted).

welcome to the neighborhood nico! || family photographer pacific paliasdes

I took some photos of John and Marcia's weimaraner Max last year and now I'm so happy to have taken their first official family photos with their new daughter Nico - the most beautiful little girl who has one dimple when she makes her huge smile and a growing Buddha belly that rivals the Pillsbury Dough-boy.


see the little dimple?

















the happy family! congratulations!

Cal Bears family || family photographer pacific palisades

On Saturday I got to see our old friends Al and Mireya for the second time in two weeks! Last weekend they were in on Matt's plan (along with about 40 other friends and their kids) to surprise me for my 29th birthday. What? You don't believe I'm 29? LOL... maybe I need to work on my crowsfeet-removing Photoshop skillz. Okay, okay... let me do the math... oh, it was my 33rd. Anyway, they sure did surprise me! Matt won some major brownie points and I think he may be put in charge of all future party planning - taco guy making fresh tacos in our front patio, 3 cakes, party favors for the kids, even a new engagement ring for me. (Did I mention I dropped my circa 1920 diamond ring in the Pacific Ocean a few weeks ago...yeah, let's not talk about it... )... let's just say my new ring is plastic and very large. lol.

What am I doing talking about myself?! This post is about Al and Mireya (two of the kindest people in Los Angeles) and their two handsome boys. So I got to see them again this Saturday as we met along the side of the road next to a pretty popular roach coach (might have to try it one of these days). I had Mireya climbing over tree roots in her cute wedge sandals and had the whole family standing on top of a picnic table so we could get these orange flowers in the background.

Here's a little sneak peek!

the family.




introducing marcelo (love that name).




introducing daniel (3 years old but is as big as my 5 year old).




Found this stump and moved into into a nice little spot by by some flowers and flowing water (uh, I'm hoping it was a water pipe that broke that caused the stream and not some other type of pipe). I just LOVE this series of papa and son together.




cracking jokes... that's a knee-slapper Dad!




get your kleenex out mireya!







since it was such a pretty spot I thought we'd try to get in one more family shot... this is how daniel felt about that. lol. Hey, he's just being honest.




I invited everyone back home for some tamales, chips and coffee. Well, wasn't exactly planned that way, but glad we go to hang out some more! Thanks for drinking my coffee creation (had to combine a couple different coffees since I ran out of the regular stuff).


I got a few shots of little marcelo all dressed up in his birthday suit too! Leaf borrowed from earlier photo shoot location. :)




lashes

Happy Memorial Day!

Our little Jack's trying to recover from his cold in time for his birthday on Wednesday, and the rest of us are trying not to get sick. Grandma and Grandpa came to town, so we opened a few of his presents early and have been having fun relaxing around the house.

I just wanted to post a couple more photos I've been working on... here's Danielle, John and Mason. EXCITING NEWS! If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you already know, and if you don't, go over and add me. :) Danielle invited me to come along with her maternity shoot with Nigel Barker from America's Next Top Model. Woo hoo!!! So I joined Danielle and another prego friend Alyssa on their photoshoots. Amazing! It was so eye opening to see how Nigel shoots and what his set up was like (studio backdrop set up in a backyard patio). I got to chat with him and his family (gorgeous and super friendly wife and 2 cutie pie kids) and the hair and makeup guys who made the mommies to be look even more radiant. I cannot wait to see how the photos come out since I'm sure the lighting set up will make them look so much more dramatic than what I got to see with the daylight.

Anyway, Happy Memorial Day! Thanks to all those protecting our country!

family of 3 or make that 4 || malibu family and maternity photography

Yesterday it was dreary and overcast out - looks like June Gloom has arrived early in Pacific Palisades. But for family photos scheduled at noon, I was actually happy to see the cloud cover as bright full noon sun doesn't always make for the most flattering images (unless you like to have dark raccoon eyes). The overcast skies help keep the images soft which is a perfect look for maternity.

We started off at Danielle and John's house... tested out the dining room table... I just couldn't resist the hard wood table and delicate chandelier.




then one in the yard... Danielle insists she's only having grapefruit cravings but I'm not so sure...




on the way to their house I found this cool green wall.
mason leading the way.







then we headed down to the beach.
how gorgeous is she?







my new shot for little kids when they're too busy to stop and take pictures. A slow shutter speed shows Mason's fast movement (and his tongue sticking out)...


more to come!

sister, sister, brother, cousin || santa monica family photographer

Thanks to facebook, I've been reunited with a bunch of old friends and coworkers that I haven't talked to in years. In a past life, Liane, John and I worked together making educational video games for kids... oh wait, that was this life, just 8 years ago! In that past life, we also did a mini triathlon together, played volleyball after work, and ran along the Strand in Hermosa. Wait, sure that wasn't another life?! Running? What's that?!

Anyway, I was so happy when Liane contacted me about taking their family photos! Not only did that mean that getting to do my job, but it also meant that I'd get to see my old friends. A win win! Since Liane and John were driving up with the kids from San Diego, we set up a post photo shoot play-date for so we could all hang out some more and catch up. The kids had a blast playing together in the yard and smearing smoothie pops all over their faces. Kaylie and Molly really hit it off with their love for smoothie pops on the face and kitty talk (meow, meow, I'm a kitty meow).

There are way too many fun pictures from our shoot, but here's a little sampling.


The whole gang... max, cousin audrey, claire and molly




audrey




claire







molly




max




having a little fun




abracadabra, make our toes appear!





I LOVE this one... we switched out of dresses into suits...then had a little juice box break




a lucky ladybug







Thanks again for making the drive up here! Can't wait to see you guys again this summer!

Big Bro Bo and Little Bro Jake || Pacific Palisades Family Photography

Kristine once told me they wanted to name their second son Luke, but then that would make their kids Bo and Luke... super cute right? But it's nearly impossible for me (child of the 80's) to say "Bo and Luke" without adding the "Duke" at the end... and of course I hear it it that narrator voice from the Dukes of Hazard tv shot too. Ha! So Kristine and Scott named their second boy Jake.

We spent last Sunday morning taking photos, playing and even did a little reading.


jake. 7 months.







go bo go.




nothing like a good book.







the whole fam.