More pix I love from last shoot

i couldn't pick just one!!! 

an open letter from a one year old

just in case you didn't see it, here's shawn anthony's album!

soon i will be two: a boy's portrait

meet my next subject. his name is shawn anthony, and he is cutest kid on the block! he is almost 2 years old, and like children before him, was the boss of this shoot. generally, when taking photos of small children, i believe the best shots are when one of two things are happening: 1)doing something relaxed and fun, and 2)the last shots of the day.

shawn's mommy said, "if you can take one good picture of shawn and the 2 of us, i would be happy and indebted to you forever!" ok...ok...i paraphrase. it's not that shawn is a difficult child to shoot, but like other mommies and daddies, it takes a lot of skill, energy, and prayer, to get your child to take the picture that you envision to be the "family portrait." usually what happens is that one parent is behind the camera and the other one is in the picture, holding their child. but that's the beauty of having a photographer that comes to your preferred location, and allowing your child to roam, and be relaxed and have fun. those are the golden moments you want captured!

needless to say, and not surprisingly, i was able to capture more than one good shot of shawn and his parents. i think a good shoot means that when i look at the pictures as a whole, it tells the story of that family, paints a picture of how they feel for one another. in this shoot, the ligon family showed lots of love, fun, and patience.

check out my blog later in the week. this shoot has inspired me to publish a new baby book sample. here's his album showcase with the best shots of this portrait session on there.

thank you, beau, debbie, and shawn, for the opportunity to capture your moment.

Voted Best Make Up Artist (The Knot, 2008)

introducing the best makeup artist in the OC (orange county) Makeup Artist 247! don't take my word for it. The Knot.com, a great resource for brides-to-be, has just voted her Best Makeup Artist for 2008! not only is yesenia a fantastic artist, but she's professional, friendly, and down-to-earth. she has been doing her thang, and doing it well for at least 9 years!

 i had the opportunity to shoot some of her work at a wedding last sat. at rancho las lomas, in silverado, which is a unique, romantic ranch-style property, that does at least 148 weddings a year! the coordinator, david, took us on a tour of the place, where you could find birds, reptiles, zebras, and even, white tigers! on the ravens there is a "working actor" who appeared in "pirates of the caribbean" with johnny depp! 

i have to give a shout-out to cynthia, who did all of the bridal party's hair. the girls looked gorgeous! 

if you want to see more of their work from that shoot, check out their album showcase!

boys will be boys

after

before

3 boys. at the park. taking portraits. not an easy feat, but not impossible. i posted some before and after photos. in the beginning, these boys were very shy and quiet, and telling them to smile (naturally) was like pulling teeth. once they got to play awhile, they were so much more receptive and made for some very adorable, brotherly love shots. check 'em out. i'll post more later.

popo: back in action

thank you to everyone that gave their well wishes to our lil' popo. he's doing well. actually he recovered from the surgery better than the rabies shot a few days before! i have to admit, he looked really cute with his cone on his collar. my brother suggested tying a handkerchief to his neck, and making a super hero costume out of it, while he was in the cone. but in his condition, i don't think that would be  a good idea (that's just mean---he lost his manhood, we shouldn't make fun of him). anyway, he adjusted nicely to it after about 2 days, running after every passerby and even sleeping and eating with it. 

since then, i've noticed that he seems happier, or more energetic, since the operation. he is more playful, and he doesn't sleep as much. so, all in all, it was a good thing. we're okay with the fact that there's not going to be anymore more lil-er Po's, running around. No mo' Po's. (get it?)

happy 2nd anniversary

it's been a little more than 2 years since this wedding. i love this picture. it was a wedding in vegas. small, intimate wedding. just family and close friends. this shot was taken right after they got married. she changed into a reception kimono at the hotel, and i followed them to their car, giving them some private time, to relish the moment. there were so many stares from people around them. gazing at the couple, stopped in their tracks to look at the stunning bride. many asked me who they were, where did they come from, one lady was trying to coax her little girl to run and ask the bride where she had come from, did she come from japan?...it's one of those moments that you just want to keep somewhere sacred and secret, somewhere you can play back again, and feel "that way" again. i don't know what they were talking about, if they were talking at all, but i knew what they were feeling.

joy. pure joy.

and that's why i do what i do.