Cruising....

Please excuse the quality of these photos, they were taken with a camera phone which I am not a huge fan of but I am a bit neurotic about catching the siutation on any kind of camera.

My husband and I took a cruise to Ensenada, Mexico for a "just because" trip. We have both been working crazy hours and haven't enjoyed each other nearly as much as we should. We still see each other everyday but too often we have to do so while feeding the kids, getting everyone dressed and out the door for some various outing, doing homework, taking a shower, etc. It's hard, as I'm sure you all know, to find quality time each and everyday with not only your kids but your spouse too. That all being said, Brian and I try to escape from the everyday life at least every-other month or so.

The cruise was a sort of celebration, as well, since 2/3s of my audits for my day-to-day gig are over and went as smooth as silk! It's also the calm before the storm for the next, and biggest, most important of the audits in May. For Brian, it was an emotional out, time away from work, a time to let loose (and learn some disco moves) and a way to cherish what we have back at home.

The following are some photos, again not fantastic quality, of the first night on the cruise.

Oh, he LOVES ME!!!
Hey, none of that on camera!

You can kinda tell we needed some "us" time!

Raining Outside

In Southern California, we don't get all that much precipitation. So when we do, it's intriguing! The kids were cooped up inside with rain, sleet and snow coming down outside throughout the day. All four kids were "writing" in the condensation on the sliding glass doors. I caught the kids at different points admiring the changes in our weather. I love to catch them thinking about our world. That's part of the beauty of living in an area where we have real seasons to be part of.

Capturing Special Events

Shooting special moments in candid settings can often capture more than a planned photo shoot. Planned photo shoots are classic and can catch a special time as well but it's planned and organized. When you carry your camera around with you and shoot birthdays, haircuts, school or athletic events, you can catch the personality of the special people that are part of your life that you wouldn't grasp with a planned shoot.

My daughter Chloe decided she wanted to get her haircut about a year ago and Daddy wanted her to wait. He wanted her to look like a little girl as long as possible. Over the past year, she has worked her dad into saying yes for many reasons but the one that got to Daddy was that she would be donating her hair to Locks of Love, an organization that creates hairpieces for children that have gone through cancer or other medical diagnosis that cause long term hair loss. Since my hubs is 13 years in remission, this was a deal sealer. Besides my husband, a very close friend of ours is also a childhood cancer survivor that was diagnosed at 3 years old and is now Chloe's age and cancer-free. For Chloe's 8th birthday, we took her for the haircut that meant so much to all of us. We even had all of her brothers in tow in support of her new do and the donation to a fantastic organization. Chloe is an amazing girl with a huge, generous heart.

For more information on this organization please see http://www.locksoflove.org/.

Valentine's Day

My amazing Valentine and I escaped the kids, jobs and house for 4 days and traveled to San Jose, Napa and San Francisco. We were on a bus in the middle of San Fran and I eyed this man who was fascinating to me. I took one picture and it captures so much.

Love is in everyone from my silly husband and I eating ridiculously sized sundaes at Ghiradelli's to this sweet man who is probably older than my parents and still showed the whole city that he had a special sweetheart on this day. Enjoy creating your own ideas of this man and where he was going, what he'd been doing and what his Valentine would say to him.

Ridiculous Sundae at Ghiradelli's Square

This is MY Valentine! Handsome, huh?

Wedding Photos

Wedding photography, the way I do it, isn't necessarily typical photography. I want a few of the husband and wife in a more intimate setting. After all, this IS about the two of them. Incorporating family is equally important, especially when family and friends visit from far away. It's vital to talk to your photographer about what YOU expect and want caught on film. I am always open to new suggestion, ideas that you've seen or something off the wall. Intimate photography is my favorite, whether it's engagement photos, boudoir photos or couples time during a wedding or commitment ceremony.

Prepping For a Shoot

Preparation is important. The best shoots are ones where you are rested and fresh. Haircuts should be a couple of weeks old so that you are used to styling a new look. For women, fingernails should be painted in a neutral color that doesn’t detract from clothing or posing.

A relaxed environment is essential to a good photo session. Some people like to bring a family member or trusted friend along for support. Bring anything that makes you feel comfortable and at ease. Some photographers will encourage you to bring your favorite music to a shoot.

Multiple clothing changes show your versatility. Consider simple clothing for close up head shots. Solid colors or even bare shoulders are fantastic options. For full-length shots, try to vary your look. Consider evening wear, business attire, casual outfits and swimsuits if you are comfortable. Try to bring some clothes that are classic and simple in addition to outfits that reflect current fashion trends. Simple jewelry is preferred. Here are some photo types that we can do:

Beauty: Close ups of full face, head and shoulders. These photos should be done with fresh, well applied make-up and some retouching. This is what you typically see in magazines, especially hair mags. When in this kind of photo shoot bring along a loaded makeup bag.

Swimsuit: We can shoot swimsuit photos, weather permitting, at the beach, poolside or at your choice of Southern California locations.

Fashion: Fashion photography is used by designers in advertising. For this type of photo, think of current fashion trends or looks that capture a particular theme, such as my "Rocker Boys" look. Clean, solid colors are best. Avoid loud prints or patterns.

Editorial: In editorial photos, we are more edgy and creative. This is where imagination really comes into play, so choose clothing and accessories that show your versatility and personal style. This type of photography also uses one aspect, such as hands or feet or a book to help tell a story.

Lots of these types of settings overlap and you often feel more comfortable the longer you shoot. When you see a photo of someone or something that catches your eye, take it to your shoot and see if the photographer can replicate the idea or setting.

Me and Miss Thing

My Hubs took this one

And this one
This is my pretty girl

Smiley little cheese ball

Serious but so pretty