The food was great as always and I feel like I captured more images than last year, baby steps.  ;)

Apparently the only good lighting at my parents is at the dining table where a hanging light is super bright!

Looks like Kris and me will be aging beautifully because this is what 55+ looks like.

Typical Erik look, WTH?

My favorite of all. I can’t remember the last time we all four took a photo together, love.

These days I am playing catch up from taking some time off during the holidays and trying to get settled and organized for the year, so much to do and not enough time! Will be back with my word of the year tomorrow.

This fall he came to the states from Mexico to visit all his children here. Starting in North Carolina where he has two daughters and two grandchildren living there and my uncle and his family from Chicago also made a stop there to visit him. Soon after he made a stop here in California where two daughters and two sons with lot’s of grandchildren live, let’s not even count. So there were many dinners at my mom’s and aunts during his week long visit. Sadly I wasn’t able to host any of them since I have been really busy with work.

I think what I loved mostl about having him here is having the family gatherings more frequent than we normally would and of course the lovely discussions we have about anything and everything. Because now I truly understand why and how stubborn me and my family are. I had to laugh at my grandpa for his Spanish vocabulary. It’s that of a rancher and small town folk type, so the terms he uses are just funny sounding to us and vice versa. The funniest was hearing him speak in Spanglish and English… I forget that he once worked in the states for over 30 years! I told him how much I love red wine, but I said vino as it is said in Spanish and he replied “Oh, you mean wine?” see what I mean? Cracks me up.

Don Lupe left this week back to his small town in Zacatecas, Mexico to work once again on his ranch and the 50 plus cattle he raises. He is 80 years old and living strong, can’t wait for the next visit!

Oh and I am still mad at you for giving Duggie back!

Hope you have a great one today. Even though you make me scream and want to shake some sense into you a lot of the times, I am very proud of you and love you to pieces!

Apparently I am in the mood for gray, it’s the new black didn’t you know?  :)

All holiday cards are custom made from the simple form like seen above, ready to be printed a 5×7 with room for your own special message to the more traditional template holiday cards. If you have any questions, ask away.

To see my latest family session go here. Hope to be shooting you and your loved ones this holiday season.

My daily work and home routine is out of balance, but all worth it to spend time with family, always. Also had the opportunity to second shoot a wedding in San Diego this past Sunday and grab breakfast with my good friend Shelina, amazing weekend.

The beaches are so beautiful right now, I love October.

Newport Beach. All SOOC shots, no time for processing and I think they look great just as is.

Laguna Beach this past Saturday and mom even got to enjoy the day with us.

I’ve got some great photos of the whole family during our bbq this past Saturday night, so I’ll be back to share those.

These shots were taken last week, he is now one month old and what is very apparent is that he knows who his mommy is. Everywhere she went his eyes followed, so sweet to watch. It was fun to see Makaelah also being a big sister. Of course there is a little bit of jealousy when we all have our attention on baby Aiden, but she also loves her baby brother very much and that was fun to capture as well.

His baby feet and hands did not disappoint, cute and fun to hold.

I think he’s saying “Sissy, you are smothering me, but I’ll still let you play with me.”

This one makes my heart melt. It’s screaming please print me and frame me now!  ;)

Congrats Rae and Daniel on your new blessing and new home, I hope these images bring a smile or two your way.

This little girl is so sweet. While I was shooting her brother she kept asking me to take her photo and when we finally went outdoors just her and I to shoot she went shy on me. She still wants her photo taken, but she’s just going to be a tid bit shy about it. It’s so cute because when she is, she plays with her hands and starts moving around, hardly making eye contact. Even still she manages to be cute as a button, that girl, she’s a heartbreaker in the making.

Isn’t her outfit the cutest? Her mama knows how to rock a great wardrobe.

Love these jumping shots, or so she tried.  ;)

These photos are bringing me tons of smiles, I love how these little things can make a difference in your day. I’m glad that my work provides this for me, it’s the greatest reward.

I’ll be back next week with more of my recent work and some fun posts.

Edgar received it as a gift from his friend that breed’s them. He had been wanting one for a long time and he couldn’t be more happier, he’s already in training. Did you know they have private training school for pups now? Edgar didn’t enroll him in one, but his friend did.

Let me just be loud and clear about one thing, I love the idea of my baby brother having this pup, I already love him too, but the name just makes me want to vomit! It’s okay, my brother has heard the ranting already. Like really, you really are going to name him that? How humiliating when you take him to the dog park, he’ll get made fun of you know? So If we can’t convince Edgar to switch the name (you know, it’s still early to change it), he might have a few different ones. Just like my parent’s chihuahua whom goes by Mousy and Chiquita, brilliant, I know.

The three of us, Edgar, my other brother Erik and I enjoyed a lunch at a cafe at the Beverly Center. We had originally thought of going to the UCLA Book Festival, but since Erik goes to school there he wasn’t too excited about being on campus on a Sunday.  Plus, Edgar and I arrived a little late so we decided to not go after all. After lunch we picked up the pup at Edgar’s friend’s house and took him to a park near by in La Brea. It was nice to get some sun and run around. Then we dropped Erik off and we headed to my place. Once we arrived Kris was able to meet the pup and play with him too, nice way to end the day since Kris had to work.

Now for the good stuff. There are many photos to view, but after viewing I’m sure you’ll agree that they are worth the long post, enjoy.

My favorite photo of the day.

Holy cute!

Now does this little guy look like a Duggie to you? Please join me on this campaign to change his name, a cute pup is counting on you.  What name would you give him just based on these photos? We don’t know his personality much yet as he’s only had him a few days, but he’s very playful and oh so full of love.

This was shot in the mid-day on the Saturday before easter so there was an easter egg hunt, easter bunny and games going on on the other side of the giant backyard. It was super fun to watch the kiddos get all excited over the easter bunny and running around with their easter baskets. And yes, like with most events I shoot, there was some yummy, super delicious cupcakes, strawberries and other great food. I love how I’m attracting all this good stuff.

I just melt seeing these photos, George and Natalie are so easy and fun to photograph… their emotion and connection is so organic and I love capturing it. Again, knowing the subject helps tremendously!

Big props to Bells’ grandma for getting her this super cute bonnet for her easter photos.

Yup, Bells still has that strawberry blond hair.

Thank you George for making this photo extra fun.

Beautiful yellow poppies.

Natalie’s official trademark.

I love baby feet and hands, you’ll just have to deal.

My favorite of Bells. She is so cute, I wanted to pinch her cheeks and give her lot’s of kisses.

Proof of their amazing and most loving connection. They were given no direction, they just interacted naturally and I snapped away. Love how comfortable they are in front of the camera.

If you’re not officially in love with Bells after seeing these photos then I’m not sure what will do the trick.

Nat and George, I am so grateful to you for allowing me to capture these family moments for you. I love working with you and never in a million years did I imagine that we would go from sharing cubicle space, office meetings, excel spreadsheets to sharing your precious moments while I document them and you support my venture. What a lovely family you’ve created, I am very happy for the both of you. I hope to try that Malbec you gifted me very soon, I’ve got nothing but love for you babes!

Leave some comment love for Bells if you’re a fan, up next a newborn session.

Despite this fatigue I’m excited to finish work today and tomorrow so I can go to a photo expo on Friday where some of my favorite photogs will be speaking. I see it as a fun day and the kick off to a lot of netmaking and working towards new systems and taking my business to a new level. All very exciting and lot’s of work indeed. No worries, I’ve actually scheduled for some more normal working and sleeping hours to accommodate for this, we’ll see if I stick to it. If you have ideas or a method to keeping a sleeping schedule and still be able to be a full-time workaholic, please let me know, I’m all ears.

How do you all like the previews? For me they are fun to post in the middle of processing and let’s face it, it’s a good and easy way to blog too. Up next a preview to the newborn session from yesterday, happy hump day!