For the second part of our photo swap we decided to shoot at the train station in old town Claremont. It has beautiful architecture and texture and it was the perfect backdrop to use my framed black board. We were good girls and did not take the typical train track photos you see with people walking across them. Don’t get me wrong, we would have loved to take that typical photo, but we do not like fines. No, thank you. We ended the shoot right outside a little vintage store with the cutest display on the side of their store. The lighting was still harsh that day around 5:00 PM so the shade at this location was perfect to get up close and personal on Beka. I love, love taking up close head shots.

Luckily for me I get to shoot her again later this fall along with her husband, so this won’t be the last of Beka you see around here.

My favorite. Her eyes really do sparkle, no photoshop here.

Love the off shoulder, it is always lovely and complimentary on any woman.

I had so much fun with this! Can’t wait for my next photo project, gotta keep the creative juices flowing while they’re here.

I met Beka a few months ago in Claremont at an Industry mixer along with her husband Craig. They were delightful and very warm. We had a great conversation that night, exchanged business cards and email exchanges began. They have been in the business for the 3 years and so I often pick Beka’s brain for info and she gladly shares. Their photography is beautiful and I love that they truly see it as just pure fine art, what a great team they make.

Beka is clearly fun, sweet and creative. I knew I was in for a treat when she invited open conversation during our email exchanges, was truly engaged in sharing ideas and clearly communicated the type of images she wanted. We started our day at 11:00 AM and did not stop clicking away until 5:30 PM! I can honestly say there were still many other places we wanted to shoot, but there was just not enough time in the day and I was too exhausted to continue.

I’m so glad I invited Beka along for this swap. It feels great to connect with others that are pursuing this full time, that truly love their work and are in it whole heartedly.  We both loved the idea of working in the mid-day hours with harsh sunlight, it’s good to challenge yourself and work in different lighting situations. I really learned a lot from her and enjoyed the experience very much, plus I finally got to shoot someone in a library like I always wanted. Photographers have fantasies too, you know. Thank you Beka, I had tons of fun!

Enjoy and be prepared to be amazed by Beka’s modeling talent. Seriously, I think she uses her photography as a cover up and obviously models for Anthropology.

Loved her pretty ring.

Don’t hate, but her hair is naturally that color and so are her eyes. Natural beauty always shines trough, especially when you have confidence and Beka carries both well.

She loves shooting with windows and vintage linens, we really lucked out on this one.

Off we were to the library to cool off and shoot, very quietly.

We were giggling half the time like silly school girls, afraid we would get caught and kicked out.

Yay for the orange VW van that was parked in front of the deli we had lunch at.

Lunch break at Claremont’s Juice Company for some yummy soup and sandwiches.

Stay tuned for Part II, you don’t want to miss it.

She is so talented and as she calls it has “ career ADD” because she enjoys many creative outlets. With a design background she enjoys design, event planning and photography. Aside from that she is just sassy!

Last week we decided we needed some creative mojo and so off shooting we went. Afterwards we enjoyed some happy hour at the Memphis Café in Costa Mesa minus the cocktails. When on a budget, food comes first. It is no surprise Betty and I work well together. She is on her game, organized, talented and most importantly a foodie of healthy food – perfect match. We then attended the OC Smug Mug meeting to hear Roberto Valenzuela speak (the man is a photo genius) and I learned so much from him in the short period of time.

Our shooting venture took place at Newport Back Bay, it was my idea since I needed to scout out the location for a family shoot next month. Finding new locations is almost just as fun as shooting the subjects.

Just beautiful, love her natural beauty.

I love movement and dance, these are some of my favorites.

Betty you are so fabulous, so glad to have met you and that we connected. Look forward to working with you in the near future, thank you for all the magic you brought to my camera. Artists just get it don’t they? 

I first met Jackie last August in Costa Rica (I know, pretty cool) while on vacation. She was sitting at the bar of the local restaurant we dined at that night. All I can remember is having the best passion fruit mojito, some really yummy thai pizza and great conversation with Jackie and her husband. We hit it off immediately, she told us more about Costa Rica since she grew up there and we talked about our life back in the states. Kris and I even asked her serious questions about settling in Costa Rica and living there, something Kris and I often think about (we are so serious!). After a great night of conversation before we parted we exchanged emails. I had promised her a gorgeous sunset photo I had taken, but we do this often when we travel and don’t always actually connect with people once back home. To my surprise the connection took place and we became online friends.She has been one of my biggest supporters and when she realized she would be in California for business she booked a mamalita session with me, I was and still am flattered.

She is a very strong, loving and successful woman. Currently resides in New Jersey and lives very close to most of her siblings and mom, but still has family in Costa Rica. Family is important to her. A foodie, traveler and art lover, just my kind of gal. Her smile is contagious and her gracefulness and love shine through her. I love that you can have a serious conversation with her, but then can quickly burst into laughter just because.

We planned her session at the beach in the late morning and the light there was just gorgeous, we then headed off the 133 highway in Laguna Beach and found a little conservatory or park that had lot’s of wild grass. After catching up, getting to know each other more and enjoying lunch we finished her session again at the beach. The light had changed and it was misty and chilly. I enjoyed every bit of our session, she was so much fun, willing and organic. During this session and after processing her photos (some are even straight out of the camera and untouched) I realized that shooting outdoors, especially at the beach which I love is really my strength. I can’t describe the exact feeling, but I get lost in what I’m doing and I love being barefoot and feeling the sand and water, it’s like home to me. Once again, another mamalita session that has left me feeling inspired and on a real high. Every time I see these photos I have serious giggles and a smile just remembering this day.

Her yummy long hair is so fabulous in this photo, it’s sick. .;)

I love how she smiles with her eyes, just beautiful.

Towards the end of our session, just dancing and having fun. Swinging her hair to rhythm of the wind.

So my fellow readers, which one is your favorite? Show her some mamalita love and leave a comment.

Jackie, you have such a beautiful soul and I am so glad to have met you, bella! I’ll have a mojito with you anywhere in the world that our paths may cross again, look forward to the next meet up.

Mucho amor y pura vida.

You haven’t seen anything yet. I have such a beautiful story to tell you of how this session came alive and all that is to know about this mamalita’s beauty.

Meet Gabrielle, she’s my best friend’s sister and we go way back. I used to babysit her kids while in college and loved it, why not watch movies with kiddos and play, right? So not only is she a mom of two beautiful kids, but she is very strong woman and well look at her, gorgeous. I had such a good time watching her smile into my camera and enjoying the awesome sunlight we’ve been getting in southern CALI lately, plus we indulged in a nice glass of chardonnay during one of our breaks.

Her maltase, Sugar… love the expression.

Gab, I hope you enjoyed the session as much as I did, you look fabulous and you know it! Is anyone else jealous how gorgeous she looks in that purple top? Too sexxy for that shirt!!!!!

This shot will fit right into my mamalita collection and all that it represents. I’m so blessed to be surrounded by such beautiful and strong women, it’s definitely very inspiring and so lovely to be able to capture it. My wish Annie, is that you see this photo and feel beautiful and loved because you are!

Looking at these beach photos makes me want to be back there again, can’t wait for the spring to come. I’ve enjoyed all the rain and gloomy mornings from this winter, but this CALI girl is ready for the sun so I can wear the flip flops and sun dresses once again. I’ve got lot’s more to share, this is just a teaser.

Her grandmother Eulalia was a very strong, dedicated and sweet woman, one that could hold her own and put up a fight if you pushed her buttons as her husband did at times. However, her husband also loved her very much and referred to her as his mamalita. A word in Spanish that translates into a term of endearment, like if you took mom and said mommy. It’s very hard to explain you see, Spanish never translates very well into other languages that are not romance languages. Whenever I try to translate things to people I feel like it’s an injustice because Spanish as well as the other romance languages are so beautiful and it feels as though it loses its meaning when translated. You’ve got to trust me on this one, it’s a very beautiful and loving word.

That is how my mamalita sessions were born because I think every woman needs to feel loved and beautiful inside and out (this is what the mamalita sessions are about) and I want to have fun and bring something unique to my business. Below are some of my favorite mamalita sessions so far, I hope to add many more to this collection.

Thank you Toni for sharing your lovely story with me, it deeply touched me and inspired me so much that I wanted to incorporate it somehow into my business. I know that I’ll be telling this story many more times and I will gladly tell it with a smile every single time!

I’ll let the photos speak for themselves since most of you that follow the blog (even though you don’t leave comments Erik, Kris, Fabian to name a few) already know about the photo swap and all the juicy details, if not scroll down two posts down to Meet Caroline. Just like in Caroline’s photos, these are all SOOC as far as cropping and tilting go except for one photo. I’m really proud of the results and I hope you enjoy.

I love her eyes in this photo, but most of all I finally have proof to show her that her hands are just as beautiful.

Just gorgeous, natural posing and I’ve captured her beautiful eyes. She might kill me for posting such a close-up of her, but I’ll take the beating so you as a viewer can enjoy, you’re welcome.

I’ve always loved the way Trude laughs, how she throws her head back.

I love her sexy-librarian look with her glasses.

One of my favorites-yum.

SOOC shot and I love the results.

Just awesome!!!!!!!!!!!! I played with the tilt SOOC and then in processing used a fun sunshine action to bring out the natural sunflare and sun spots.

My second favorite.

I love how you can see her smile just a bit.

Did I mention how much fun we had?

Trude is an amazing photographer herself, smart & sassy woman that just happens to be one of my best friends. I know, I’m pretty blessed liked that.

Life gets a little crazy sometimes, but I can always count on her to listen to me. She’s one of the best listener’s I know and like in my family she’s the only girl, so we both truly understand the essence of sisterhood via friendships. She is my techy and often my email pal whether it’s personal, photography based or our linky love emails, we always share and help out one another. Don’t even get me started on the fashion and shopping guru that she is, but I mooch off of that too and we try to keep our shopping dates at a minimum otherwise we get into major trouble. I won’t even get into our mutual addiction and love affair with dark chocolate and guacamole, I just won’t. Love you amiga!

Will be back with some more photo goodness, I  have two maternity shoots this week and I’m really excited about it.

For those of you who speak photography out there. These shots that are tilted or seem cropped are actually all SOOC (not one photo is cropped) with just a boost in contrast, brightness and the occasional fun B&W or vintage action. I loved how they turned out, I went a little crazy on the tilting, but overall I’m happy with the results. I feel that with this shoot I really learned a lot on getting more SOOC shots exactly the way I want them in terms of the crop.

Caroline was so fun and I can’t wait to do this again in the Spring. She’s a fantastic photographer so if you’re in the San Francisco area check out her work. She’s also a very talented scrapbooker and all things design. We bonded over the fact that we both use lot’s of garlic in our cooking and hope to get to know her more via her blog and on our next meet up. Caroline, you are such a beautiful person all throughout and I’m grateful to have captured all that is you.

Cool scarf right? She made it herself, yup… she’s talented like that.

One of my favorite close-up shots of her, just captivating and so natural.

All natural sun flare and sun spots-photogasm!

Love her “sexxy look”, it’s as if she’s done this before.

What is your favorite shot? I have too many and I’m still in awe of all this goodness. Just when I think that it can’t get any better, another shoot proves me wrong. Stay tuned for Trude’s pictures coming up soon, one word-amazing! What a great way to end the year.