Baby’s first birthday – Ladera Ranch – Child Photographer

Bella rocked her first birthday party in Ladera Ranch.  She had friends, family, games and a hot dog vendor who fed us all great dogs and nachos!  This post is really three posts in one, so sit back and relax while looking through all the pictures I posted!

I love the little feet!

Best idea EVER!  Well, at least since sliced bread…when it comes to edible items… Cupcake cake.  Is that what you call it?  I don’t even know, but this is one idea that is worth copying!  Beautiful cake, and NO mess!

I love pretty party bags.  :):)

Here to save the day!  Michelle with The Dog House!

Yummy in my tummy!

The birthday girl…showing up to her party in style.  Sporting a shirt that says: My name is: A Miracle.

Full of smiles!

Blowing kisses…that is another favorite thing to do.

I love capturing the interactions!!!  So much fun!

SO CUTE!

It’s my birthday!!!

Wow, what do I do???

Yeah, no thanks Mom.

Ok, fine.  I’ll have a taste.

She is chatting it up with her friend about the chips, food, party… and I’m sure hair styles and clothes too.  You should have heard it.

La familia.

Look at that smile!  I’m sure mom is making faces at her cause she is sure grinning.

Bella’s birthday buddy.

So sweet!

Love, love, love all the pics of kids playing, smiling…I love capturing life.

Bye guys!  It’s been fun!  :):)

Looking back – favs of 2010 – Orange County and Sacramento Family and Life photographer

2010 was a great year with lots of fun photographs of beautiful people!  A little bit of everything with senior pictures, maternity session, weddings, birthday parties, and family photos.  While I am starting to enjoy location scouting a little bit more, I still have a deep love for the perfect expression no matter the location.  For me, it is all about capturing life as it is happening.  Here are some of my favorites from the past year.  I’d love to know what you think, so drop me an email or leave a comment on the blog.

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!  We are so blessed to live in as free of a country as we do.  And we owe a huge debt of gratitude to all those who have gone before and are now fighting for our freedom.  Thank you to all our servicemen and women who have given and do give their lives for my freedom.

Here are a few pictures from the Lake Forest 4th of July Parade yesterday that represent those who fight for you and I.  Have a great day!!!!  And remember freedom is something you fight for.

Extreme Mustang Makeover, Norco, CA – daily life photographer

Last year I was invited to attend the Norco Rodeo and I LOVED it!  This year I heard from a different friend that there was a rodeo happening again in May.  I didn’t know too much about it, but I bought a ticket anyway and took a friend to see what was going on.  Turns out that once again I was blown away.

This Extreme Mustang Makeover was not like the rodeo in the fall, rather it’s purpose was to increase the adoption of BLM-housed American Mustangs through innovative gentling competitions and awareness programs.  Trainers work with the Mustangs for 90 days and at the end of the 90 days there is a competition to show off the newly acquired skills, followed by bids for the adoption of these magnificent animals.

This horse and trainer impressed me the most!  The horse was so well trained that it was able to back up through these two pipes dragging the tire all the way through, without touching the pipes.  Then the horse walked sideways over one of the pipes and sideways the other way over the other pipe.  This beautiful performance is truly a testament to the skill and care of the trainer….and all of the time invested to make it happen.

Published!!!!

Yesterday I was contacted by a local news blog and asked to write a story about the Race on the Base event held Saturday at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base.  I was shocked and speechless because I do not consider myself a good writer by any stretch of the imagination.  However, once I had given that disclaimer, I said I would give it my best shot.  Check out the story here.

Race on the Base – Los Alamitos Photographer

Wow!  What a wet day!  This morning two friends and I arrived at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos before the crack of dawn to set up my vendor booth at the Race.  The rain was intense and the wind was right there with it.  After standing in the rain for about 5 minutes I made the decision that I did not want to set up my booth even though I had a SUPER CUTE display!!!  There was just no way all of the photos would survive that weather.

So we improvised and walked around meeting people and passing out this card:

back:

It always amazes me to watch athletes compete in their sport despite the odds that are against them, be it physical limitations, weather or sheer challenge of the event. Today was no exception as I watched hundreds of people start the run portion of the reverse triathlon just as it started pouring.  The kids’ run, which was earlier in the day, went off well though with no rain!  It was cute watching the kids’ personalities… some of them were hard core, some of them were just having fun, some didn’t really fully get what was going on, but they were enjoying themselves none the less (well, most of them).   Check out some pics from my iphone!

Finally stopped raining around 7am:

Jumping in the river!

Reason number 49 that I am glad I did not set up my booth!

10k In-line skate/wheelchair race:

Kids’ race warm-up:

And they’re off!!!!

Baby Andrea turns 1 – Child birthday photographer – Orange County

What a year it has been!  A year ago we were all at the hospital in the wee hours of the morning praying for this baby and wishing she would hurry up and arrive!  She finally showed up and she was perfect!  I must say though, that I love photographing her at this age; her expressions, her smiles, her joy are simply the BEST!  Happy 1st Birthday Andrea! You are so precious!

There are a ton of photos that I could have included in this post, but I tried to narrow it down to just my favorite, favorites.  Enjoy!

Melissa’s friend Jill made these cakes for the party.  They were super yummy as well as being so beautiful!

Not too big of a mess!

Andrea loves to share…and feed other people!

He was sleeping!  But he opened one eye to see what was going on right when I took the picture!

She was not sure what to think, but she knew she didn’t want to hit it.

Andrea is very generous!