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.

Here are a few shots from the workshop. The main focus was composition and I enjoyed the challenge that Greg proposed.

I know, they are too gorgeous. Love how they worked the blues and Oana worked that skirt! Also loving the great connection I’m making with other photographers through these groups and workshops. Which one is your favorite?

Can’t wait to shoot this family soon when they return from their family vacation. Thanks Vanessa for thinking of me. You have a beautiful family and it was nice reconnecting and seeing what a wonderful mom you’ve become.

My favorite photo of hers has to be the one with her tongue sticking out. Doesn’t Layla have the most gorgeous eyes?

Thank you Trude for assisting me and shooting with me, I couldn’t have done it without you! Nikki and Jeray, thank you for the referral.

These girls have to get ready too you know, cracked me up.

Katie just being beautiful.

I want these shoes, just saucy!!!!

Loved the way Rick looked at his bride, lovely.

One of my favorites, it captures the day.

Congratulations Katie & Rick on the new chapter in your lives, especially on the new addition to your family.  I hope you enjoy viewing these memories as much as I have, cheers to you!

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!!!!!

Yesenia is my best friend’s sister so I’ve known her all my life, since the time she was in her mother’s belly and there for we were quite comfortable. I even told her stories of how Socorro and I would write scripts and demand that her and her brother act them out while Socorro and I directed and recorded on VHS. I got her to laugh and made for some pretty photos. It was the perfect afternoon, with some sunshine, but not overwhelming and even a little bit warm (almost 80) that day.

She is at such great ease being pregnant and I admired that about her, it was the same ease that Socorro had when she was pregnant. I hope that if I ever decide to have children I can be in the same state as them when pregnant.

Purple, sparkly ballet slippers await Alicia.

That is one happy looking, preggy belly!

Thank you Yesenia for the opportunity to capture this special time in your life. I wish you all the best in your delivery and I can’t wait for our newborn session with Alicia, really soon.

As if I wasn’t lucky enough, I have another maternity session this Saturday at the San Gabriel Mission and I’m super anxious and excited – let’s go!

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.

These girls are such natural beauties, they pretty much rocked my world and my camera! I might have to do more than one post for this session, there is just too much goodness. I am laughing and smiling like a big nerd in front of my mac as I’m editing these photos, just amazing.

Please wipe the drool off your mouth and get a grip because there’s much more of this, will come back with some more.