Chloe Anne: First Birthday

just in case you haven't checked it out! 

happy "early" birthday, KOI baby

this weekend, our family had a get together, a pre-Christmas celebration, if you will. our family has grown, and changed. we have lost some of our beloved family members, but they are never forgotten. it is now our generation's responsibility to carry on the traditions that have been instilled in us. thankfully, our cousin, Girlie, invited us to her home, and we celebrated together. at the same time, we celebrated my niece's birthday (she turns 5 on Dec. 30), Koi. I remember the Christmas we celebrated the year that Koi was born (well, my cousin, Alma, was still pregnant with Koi)...wow. A lot has changed since then. A lot has changed...(that's all i'm going to say...) anyway, she has the cutest smile! see the pix below!! happy birthday, baby...

happy holidays!

From Drop Box

From Drop Box

our lady of solitude, los angeles, quinceanera photography: lolita

view here or view in its own window

if you want to view lolita's album pages, click here to view in it's own window

ahhh...to be 15, again

i was instantly brought back to my teenage years, shooting lola's quinceañera last sat. 

being 15, although j. would probably argue, wasn't that long ago, for me. when i was a teenager, i was considered a "geek." nowadays, the term "geek" means someone who is a know-it-all about one particular thing, like "computer geek" or "star trek geek." but back in the days, "geek" meant what i guess "dork" means today. a part of me is still that geeky kid. i still sing loudly, with the windows down. i still love Hello Kitty. i still am in love with Johnny Depp. i still like to dance in the aisles of Rite Aid or Walgreens to the "soft hits" played over the loudspeaker late at night (j. hates when i do that. but i know that he secretly loves it...).

so, i totally "got" what lola was going through all day at her quince.  the fussing, the running around, the shying away from my camera (although i hope she got used to me shooting every step she made!), being uncomfortable in a dress and heels, the tears, the laughter with friends, cousins, family, and being surrounded by the craziness and loveliness of...being in a big family. j. mentioned that it reminded him of our wedding. imagine that....but she definitely handled herself like a young lady (unlike myself, being that age). very cool teenager.

lola is loved by 7 brothers and 2 sisters. she's the baby. we could tell this affair was coordinated, put together, and executed with love and affection. and her mother was so hospitable and sweet. she asked if we ate, or wanted any refreshments. we felt right at home!

above is a sneak peek to what's to come. still editing through some pix. stay tuned for the slideshow!

thank you Ravelo family, for your hospitality, kindness, laughter, and....fajitas!

it's an animal party

not among the wildest parties that i've been to, have i experienced this. this was indeed, the "wildest." this little girl's 4th birthday had wild animals, like possums, snakes, lizards, a scorpion, millipedes, and...a kangaroo!!! 

she was so brave with all those different creepy crawlies. i was so curious about them, i took so many pictures of these creatures, up close. so much so, i was starting to get creeped out myself! 

everyone seemed to be having a blast! kids and parents, alike! here's an example of a photo book/album that i've been working on!

olivia's dollhouse, los angeles, birthday event photographer: hannah

olivia's dollhouse and tea room is a great way to spend an afternoon...if you're a 6 year-old, of course! this cute and quaint place is literally a dollhouse, filled with dolls, gowns, sparkly shoes and accessories, and personal hairstylists and makeup artists attending to your beauty needs.

once the girls got glammed up, they came out of their shy and timid selves, and really posed it up for the camera. no coaxing there!

when planning a special event like this, it is a great idea to hire a photographer for the event so you and the mommies can sit back and enjoy the moments with their daughters. these pictures are going to be great looking back on, 10 years from now!

thanks hannah for letting me spend the day with you!

check out her album showcase!