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Crazy Kiddos? No problem!

I am not ashamed to admit it, I am a photoshop junky.  Long before I was shooting fun, fabulous portraits for clients, I was cutting and pasting heads from one shot to the next.   Yes, I actually started my photography career as a touch up artist and quickly learned that if I wanted to fulfill my personal vision for my clients, I had to step behind the camera.

I love nothing more than working with crazy, spirited kids and their families.  But, and this is a big BUT, it is extremely difficult to get the “perfect everyone looking at the camera with perfect smiles on their faces,” shot organically.  This is where head swapping can save the day.  Take this example, I have been photographing these gorgeous kiddos for years.  Our sessions have lots of giggles, silly faces and potty humor and that means it is tough to get everyone to look at me at the same time.  The image on the left is the original image I shot.  Their darling son is cracking up and looking off into the distance.  The daughter’s hand, on the right, looks a little strange bunched up in her dress… but with the power of photoshop….. everyone is perfect.

Now you know my secret, not every portrait starts off perfect!  But hopefully the end results will be enjoyed for a lifetime.  Enjoy!

 

Orange County San Clemente Pier family portraits

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Beautiful Madison’s High School Senior Portrait Session

I have been fortunate over many years to have some amazing young photography assistants work for me.  In Madison’s case, I have known her for years!  In the Blue Sky’s Salon and Studio days, her portrait in one of our beautiful vintage dresses, hung on the wall.  She grew up to be every bit as beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.  I love that she runs on the same clock that I do… be early whenever possible…, that she has a great sense of style and always helps with wardrobe for our clients.. also, that she gives me great insight into the High School experience and what I should look out for when it comes to my daughter.  We have had some great laughs together, and more than one boy we have photographed seems to have fallen for her.  I was truly honored to shoot her high school senior portraits.  Thank you Madison and thanks to your family for raising such an amazing young woman! Enjoy!

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Shipwrecked: Styled Session for Autumn Rain

2014 has been a year of creative growth for me up to this point.  While I adore working with families, kiddos, wedding parties, event and corporations, sometimes a gal just needs to do a personal project.  In June of this year, I made the commitment to myself that I would do one project every 6-8 weeks just for me.  To have fun, explore a subject, work with a beautiful model, expand my portfolio and so on.

As is usually the case when I get an idea, a name immediately popped into my head, Denyse!  My friend Denyse Angus is an amazing stylist and has some seriously stunning kids.  While she has primarily done styling for friends and family (including me for a family session several years ago), she is as gifted and talented as any professional I have ever worked with.  I shared with her my vision for my first several styled ideas and she set right to work.  Initially we were just going to do it with one model and focus solely on being creative and then, boom, another friend popped into my mind….Deseree Burjakowsky and amazing jewelry designer.  I called her up and asked if we could borrow some of her jewelry for the session.   Please go to her Facebook site and like Autumn Rain Designs!  It is truly stunning. Also, Denyse suggested we use her son Dustin in the background and my story came to life.

Here are my favorite images from the session.  I am also doing a couple of art pieces, that will take some time to create, but I will share with you in the future.  I want to give a big shout out Thank you to not only Denyse & Deseree… but to my beautiful model Ava, the handsome Dustin and to Jeff, Eden and Madison for helping me put this all together and dragging props down to the beach at 5:30 am!  Enjoy!

 

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Laguna Beach Commercial Photographer: Treva’s Beach wear

The summer season is in full swing! We leave next week for our annual “date week” in Austin, while Kasey attends University of Texas swim camp. But, to get you in the mood for beach weather, I want to share one of my very talented friends line of beach cover up. Simple and sophisticated, I love everything about Treva’s beach wear! Check out her gorgeous website to see some of her creation here!  Or just scroll down to see highlights from our most recent photo session!  Love you Treva! Enjoy!

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My Austin Peps: Laguna Beach Kids photography

I have to admit it…. I am obsessed with Austin, Texas!  The food, amazing… some of my favorite restaurants include Eddie V’s, Lamberts Downtown Barbecue, Garridos Austin for atmosphere and great food  , and Blue Dahlia Bistro just to name a few!  The people are so genuinely nice and have such great style, the music scene is exceptional, the landscape is amazing for photography AND you can walk everywhere in the city… a huge plus.  Not to mention that it is my son’s dream to swim for University of Texas.

Over the last several years both my kids have gone to swim camp at University of Texas and Bob and I have spent the same week exploring the city.  It has been our “date” week.  We love it so much that in the future we would like to live there part time.   Really, can you imagine calling Laguna Beach and Austin Texas both home???  Pure bliss.  And we have been so lucky to make friends in Laguna who also call Austin home, The Sadler family.  If you want to really know what the people in Austin are like, you have to meet Frana!  She is an amazing ball of energy and positive vibes.  She has been so generous with our family, helping set up reservations at The Austonian for us, recommending great things to do and places to go, etc.  Her kids are just as amazing as the rest of her family!

So, thank you Frana!  For being a great friend, and raising amazing kids.  I can’t express how grateful we are to you!   Enjoy!