Happy 3rd Birthday Molly and Sam!!

Have you met the sweetest and best cats ever? These are my rescue cats I adopted almost three years ago. I found them at Lacy street shelter sleeping on top of each other. I couldn't bare to separate the two of them so I brought them both home. They bring so much joy to Joe and I. We love them like they are our children.

Today is their 3rd Birthday and I thought it would be fun to have a little Birthday party for them They love real chicken and the canned stuff so today they get to have both. They are so happy right now that they are running all over the place.

To the best cats ever....

I Love you, Molly and Sam!!!

Henry is 1!! Caterpillar Kids Place: La Canada, CA

I first met the Kim Family a couple years ago when their oldest son, David was turning 1. We met at my old studio to do his formal shoot and then again at his Dol. David is on my website sitting in the fall yellow leaves looking adorable as ever on the day of his Dol.

Last June, baby Henry arrived and for the last year I have been documenting his life. Newborn, 100th day and now his formal shots plus 1st bday party.

This year the party was at Caterpillar.  If you haven't been their yet and live nearby I suggest going. It is clean, well organized and has a great staff. They have wooden jungle gym, a bouncing house, every toy car and dress up costume a kid could ask for. The babies and kids were all having a great time.

When it was cake time Henry was READY! He went for it like I have never seen a kid go for their first cake. It was all over EVERYWHERE, his face, hands, hair, the floor. It was priceless!! Check out all of Henry's cute buddies that came to celebrate his 1st birthday.

A week later The Kim's came over to my house for a private studio session to get the formal images taken. There are loads of cute ones but the one of Henry and David was my absolute favorite. They are really sweet with each other and you can tell they LOVE each other.

The Kim's broke the news to me a while ago that they would be moving at the end of July. I was so sad to hear it but then they told me it was just to San Diego. Kali asked if I would travel because she couldn't replace me and I teared up a bit inside. In my line of work that is the best compliment you could ever hear from a client. (I of course said, "are you kidding? Yes")! So until we meet again in San Diego Kim Family!! xoxo

Happy Summer: Beach photos and fun projects

I am at home today working on some of my new crafty props. I started making these props last fall and now I can't stop. I have to hand it to my sweet husband Joe because without him all my "bright ideas" wouldn't come to life. But now I am determined to learn how to use the sewing machine so I don't have to ask Joe to help me all the time. (not that he minds but..) Up until now I have just been hand sewing everything. Sure it takes longer but I enjoy doing it. Did you know that before I started my photo business I had a t-shirt company? It was very short lived but I did. I would buy vintage t-shirts and hand sew little characters on them or use a bleach pen and draw something. I sold them on consignment.

Anyway, I thought I would share some of my first favorite photos I did at the beach with my props. This is when I first introduced my crafts to my photos. I like to think back to when I was a kid and what I would have liked to play with; what my favorite things were to make. It started with pinwheels, crowns, flags and now it is growing into making much bigger things. I am excited to show you in the upcoming shoots. So stay tuned!!

Some of these have the props and some don't but as I was pulling photos I couldn't resist. Hope you enjoy them! Happy Summer!!

Karen and Brad are now hitched; Louisville, KY

Remember these two stylish cuties from their engagement shoot last year? I was so honored when she told me that she wanted me to come back to Louisville and do an "after wedding" photo session. They got married last fall when they went on a cruise with their families. Then they had a wonderful wedding party in Louisville that unfortunately I was not able to attend. Karen saved all the details from the wedding party and brought them along for the photo session. She knows how much I love the details.

On the day of the shoot we were all worried it was going to rain. I kept saying, "Mother Nature, just don't rain for the shoot and then you can rain all you want"! It was raining when we met up and all the way until we got to the photo location in Achorage, KY. (small town outside Louisville) I said, "We are really lucky and I feel so blessed for this weather. I mean really the rain just stopped for our shoot"! About 10 minutes after I drove away from the shoot, it started to rain again.

Karen and Brad are so in love and it just beams around them and certainly shows in the photos. They are so fun and are always up for anything that I suggest. Even as far as hopping a broken fence and risking getting spiders, ticks, or mosquito bites for a shot.

Congrats to Karen and Brad! A special thanks to my mom for going thrifting with me for hours to find all the great props in the photos (also props from her basement). A very special thank you to mother nature for not raining; I owe you one! 

The Frawley's: Happy Father's Day

I would say, "Meet the Frawley's" but you already have several times if you have been to my website. You will see photos of this beautiful family from the last 4 years. They were one of my first clients that I met when I started doing photo events at Burgundy Blue back in early 2007. Ayden was about 3 and Tyler was about 5 months when I first met them. These two have been best buddies since I have known them and now they have a little brother, Dane. He is just as sweet and full of personality as his brother and sister. If you want Dane to smile all that you have to say is, "Dane, teeth" and he will smile for you.

I wanted to make a special Father's Day gift for James so I got the cardboard, fancy paper and paint out to make this special sign for the kids to hold. I knew I would not have a problem getting them to hold the signs for me. Instantly, they sat down and gave me their best smiles for dad! Thank you to the Frawley family for being so wonderful and loyal to me over the years!

Happy Father's Day to all the great Father's out there. Have a great weekend!!!

The Lee Family: Pasadena, CA

Jason emailed me earlier in the week from work in NYC. He wrote that he will be in town over the weekend and wanted to get family and 1 year milestone photos of his son.

It was Joshua's first professional photo session but as you can see in the photos; he was a natural. I arrived at their home and Joshua was still sleeping. I grabbed a couple sleeping shots and then when he woke up he looked at me as if we were old friends. He was so still and happy. I had Jason and Maggie jump into bed with him for a family shot. It was a perfect moment and perfect light.

After he woke up a bit we got him dressed. Then we headed to the living room so he could show me how he can stand and walk around the couch. When we were done cruising around the living room we went outside. They live right by the Pasadena Auditorium. While I have never been inside I have always driven by and admired the beautiful architecture.

It was a perfect afternoon and thanks to mother nature she held off on the rain that day. Happy 1st Birthday, Joshua! I am so happy I got to document this special milestone in your life.