Mostly Olivia

A few weeks ago Cameron and I photographed an engagement session in Santa Barbara. The session included Cameron and I, Matt, Tara, and mostly Olivia. While Cameron photographed them together I snuck away with Olivia to get some shots of her showing off. Here are some of my favorites from the afternoon.






Olivia is going to make a beautiful bridesmaid (this must not be mistaken for flower girl – I was already reprimanded once for making that mistake).



I also gave Olivia a little photo lesson - she did pretty good too! Thanks again for a great day!

A New Kind of Texan

Cameron and I were in Huntsville, Texas last week visiting some of my closest friends and speaking at Sam Houston University of Texas. While there, I snapped a few photos of Ava Lynn who is the cutest little Texan I have ever met!!! Though Ava’s parents are from Alaska and California, the locals who know them love the fact that Ava is a ‘Real Texan’. I think she is a California girl at heart – even if she doesn’t know it yet!!





We had a blast eating grits, crawfish, and brisket, which much to my surprise was all pretty good! Mandy informed me that brisket was Texas’ form of Tri-Tip. (Tri-Tip is one of the Central Coast’s most delicious things!). Ava’s daddy was so sweet with her; I kept catching him singing “Ava Lynn….” To the tune of Adel vise – it was pretty sweet. Like me, Cameron found a gushy spot for sweet Ava. Once he got her to laugh he melted and she had him in the palm of her hand from then on. We miss you already Stewies!!

Levi

Little 6-month-old Levi has stolen my heart. He is one of the happiest little guys I have ever met! When I went to his house it was pouring down rain and cold. I walked into their home where I was greeted with the warmest smile. I had to immediately pull out my camera and start shooting away. He was workin’ it!!




Soon after some tummy time his mom gave him a bath and I was so envious of those wet lashes!! Why is it that all the boys have the killer lashes?




It was not long until it was naptime, which did not last long with the blinds open – Sorry Levi!!

Second Shooter Love

My lovely husband gave me a little shout-out as a second shooter. Check it out on the Big Folio Blog

Yeah for Fall !!!

Fall is falling and I am sooo happy about it! I love having to put a sweater on before I go outside (sometimes a sweater – we still live on the Central Coast don’t we?!). The colors are such beautiful backdrops! Also, I cannot help but feel excited about fall because I was engaged in this season only a short year ago: Our Engagment. My most recent shoot was at the Avila Valley Barn a short drive from our house. If you haven’t gone yet this season – GO NOW!!! The pumpkins are out and there are 2 hay-mazes that are great for kids (and adults). Cameron and I were there a few weeks before check out that adventure here: Pumpkin Adventure .




The Roberts girls also LOVE pumpkins and had a blast on the shoot. Apparently this was their 3rd time there that week!! It was so much fun stepping into their little world and capturing moments as they ran around and giggled. Thanks Roberts – your family is adorable!!

Kellen is Here! (Part II)

Kellen has arrived! He is the sweetest little guy. When I arrived there Molly and Rex were still getting ready. Molly twisted my arm and MADE me hold Kellen while she finished up (ahem…little white lie). He had just had a bath and smelled oh so sweet; I think all my purring relaxed him because he went right to sleep. . Once everyone was ready to go we started with some pictures inside. Since he had just woken up from his nap he was all smiles and wide eyed. After a bit of indoor shooting we traveled outside to their backyard where it was gorgeous. That kid is going to have a lot of fun out there someday. The family Golden Retriever followed us outside. Their dog carries around a little stuffed bear everywhere and it reminded me of Michael from Peter Pan. It was even the same type of bear!


After all the hard work of modeling Kellen was a bit tired and ready for another nap. We popped in after he was asleep and snagged a few more photos. Babies are so stinkin’ cute when they sleep.


It will be so awesome to have another shoot with this family to finish up my 3 part series. Stay tuned!! To see some shots from the first shoot click Here.

Odin

Meet my newest cutest little guy…..Odin. This photo shoot was a birthday surprise for his mom, Kyla from his dad Paul. Cameron has known Paul & Kyla for some time….their family owns Swallow Creek Ranch– an amazing venue in Cayucos. Cameron and I actually wanted to get married out there but unfortunately the barn was closed for the winter months.

Kyla had mentioned to Cameron a few times how she wanted pictures of her baby and Paul finally took initiative. We drove out to their house and knocked on the door, when Kyla answered she was VERY confused considering their house is a bit off the beaten path. Once we told her why we were there she was thrilled!! Odin had just got up from his nap and was in his prime to model for the camera. He and his parents worked it and I was so happy with the finished product. Here are some highlights from the shoot.

Ethan Chase

Meet Ethan Chase, he is one of my little nephews and every time I kiss his chubby little cheeks I get a bit ooey-gooey inside. On a quick visit to see my brother, sister-in-law, and little Ethan I couldn’t resist snapping a few photos of the little guy. This is their first baby and I have to boast, they are AWESOME parents. You wouldn’t know that they’ve only had 3 months practice! Cameron and I did a shoot a while back for them during their pregnancy, check those out here Ethan Chase!



I couldn’t help but post so many pictures because they were all so cute!! Cameron finally had to help me trim them down because how many pictures with the same expression can you have?! (If you ask me – LOTS). He started to make fun of me as I was processing them and squealing and ‘oochoo-booboo-ing’ to the computer screen. I admit, I was a bit ridiculous. I am sure you will probably see lots of the little guys on my blog, along with ALL of my adorable nephews and niece!!

Rex & Molly

Since I have started to photograph babies and children it is only natural to move in to pregnancy as well. Rex and Molly are the neatest people! I had the pleasure of meeting Rex about a year ago while being in a business group together. They own California Wellness Center and have been doing great since starting the business a few years back. They signed up for my ‘New Life Series’ which includes a sequence of 3 shoots as well as a compilation album from every session. Since this was 1 of 3, it was great to spend time with them and learn how down to earth they are. They have decided to have a home birth and find out the sex of the baby on the birth day. I give them credit….I don’t know if I could wait that long; birthdays and Christmas are already torture enough. Rex & Molly were naturals in front of the camera and I cannot wait to meet their little one sometime soon.

Wyatt James

Here I am finally blogging and I feel like I already have so much to blog about! This is Wyatt; he is one of my sisters 4 kids! A little over a year ago my husband and I were just dating and I had to pull teeth to get him to come to the hospital to meet his ‘possible’ nephew. He says his ‘uncertainty’ was all an act: well maybe…..he was a thespian in High School. Anyhow, it was last year that I grabbed Cameron’s camera for the first time and attempted to capture…..well anything. I have to say, I was a bit nervous and at the same time excited. I absolutely LOVE kids and I loved seeing my new nephew through the camera. It was fun to allow myself to be creative and express something I love in a different way. Check out Cameron’s blog
to read about Wyatt. Here are some of my shots from that day.



Nine-ish months after that day I had married my best friend Cameron, became business partners, and jumped willingly onto our wonderfully blind rollercoaster of life. It has been WILD. Wyatt being my first photography subject was also my first ‘experimental shoot’. I made Cameron take the other 3 kids while my sister and I stayed at the house; I was free to experiment all I wanted. I was pretty nervous still being in the prenatal stages of photography but….I LOVED it! I was being creative in a new way and capturing something I love so much. Cameron is an awesome teacher and assisted me in the processing. I am excited to see where I can go from here and what new and creative things are ahead!







This look is after he threw a doll called 'Mad Cameron' (It's a doll of Van Gough that looked like Cameron when he used to have his beard) Hmmm maybe Wyatt is jealous Cameron and I are married....I know how much he loves me!!

New Blog!!

Hello!! Many of you have heard OF me and yet have never heard FROM me. My better half, Cameron, often posts about me and our new life together on his blog here. It's been a pretty crazy year for Cam and I. We have been busy with planning a wedding, getting married, working together, jumping into the crazy months of wedding season AND growing in our new life together. It has been the best year of my life!!! Since we are working together now I have also started to shoot with him. He is a patient teacher giving me room to learn and grow. However, I also teach him a few things now and again ;P. I am venturing out mostly on maternity and children and will be posting current work. Aside from maternity shoots, I love to work along side my husband on engagments and the occasional wedding. I still have A LOT to learn, but in the meantime; please enjoy my pictures and comment every now and then. A little feedback is always nice!