[Picture Life] ETA February 2015!

To secure the privacy of my client's child, I will refrain from saying their names in this post. Mother will be referred to as L, Father as G, and Daughter, as B.

L and I met in the summer when she had a tiny baby bump. After seeing her over the course of the next 6 months, she approached me to take her next maternity photos. I was thrilled! L is so sweet and encouraging about my craft. I couldn't ask for a better client! I went over to their home, which is currently being remodeled and once everyone was ready, we set out to a local park! 

B is such a ball of joy! She was so precious and such a good helper on our shoot.

My most common question for B was, "can you touch mommy's belly? Can you give your brother a kiss?" She only compiled a couple times, and this was my favorite. 

Itty bitty Uggs!

B was too cute! She was trying to climb up on mommy.

Jessica Hanna - Class of 2015

This Spring, Jessica Hanna will be a San Jose University Graduate! We took some photos to commemorate this exciting achievement. 

Megan Leigh // Trabuco Canyon, CA

Our mission for this photoshoot was to take photographs in the snow that had fallen in Orange County at the end of 2014. Sadly, it had melted away in the area close to Megan's home and we decided not to make a trek up to the mountains which would requiring more driving and then hiking. Instead, we ventured to a local park/campsite and I experimented. I wanted to use my digital camera, my iPhone 5 with my new iPhone Telephoto lens that my in-laws gifted me for Christmas, and my 35mm Minolta camera for this shoot. 

Here are my favorites from my iPhone 5

Here's a couple from my 35mm film camera

Here are my favorites from my DSLR, taken with my 50mm f/1.4 lens

[Picture LIFE] The Warren Family

I met the Warrens in September of 2013 through my husband Chris. Chris and Rosa went to high school together, played music together, and have continued to be friends. Rosa is a HUGE Disney fan and I did a small family session with them at the California Adventure Hotel when they were visiting. Rosa and her family currently live in Santa Clara, so we set up a shoot during our stay over the holidays. I was ecstatic to take their photos again, especially with Rosa being pregnant! We started off the evening by taking some family portraits at a local park. The boys were dressed as classy gentleman. Here are a few of my favorite:

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Rosa and James moved into this 900sqft house in September of 2011. In March 2015, they will be saying goodbye to this home but then saying hello to their new home in Cupertino, CA. In the past few years they grew from being two adults sharing custody of Cohen & Max, to gaining full custody, getting married, having their own child, and two canines. Now their next baby boy is on his way! 

“It has been an amazing experience and has offered us a lot of insight into living humbly, loving each other, problem solving and staying close. ”

— Rosa Warren

James and his mother set out to make ravioli with sausage for dinner.

This was the wedding favor James & Rosa gave away: a bag of coffee beans. They own their own coffee roasting company that James started in their basement. Check out Chromatic Coffee Co. on Facebook and Stop by if you ever find yourself in Santa Clara! 

“We are a great team. Not just me and James, but all 5 of us. We each have a special role in the family, and we embrace what that is, and work together. Each component is very necessary. ”

— Rosa Warren

“We are a family that talks about everything. There is no emotion to big or to small for us to have a conversation about. This is also the mantra for our marriage. James and I have an open book policy, and it’s so great, because it really keeps us each other’s best friends, and biggest critics. We aren’t afraid to fight or disagree. Where he’s made incredible sacrifices, I have made many as well. We keep each other accountable. We know that even when it gets tough, the only way out is through it. It makes the good stuff even better!”

— Rosa Warren

Max, age 6, drew his momma a picture of their family. Only he and Leo had hair.

“Being a big family in a little space means that there’s a lot of fun to be had, I really do think it keeps us so close and connected. But the other side of that means there isn’t much “me” space or time for any of us. Feelings get hurt, people feel crowded and sometimes it can be hard. We all have to sacrifice some wants and desires sometimes, for things that are important to the greater good of the group.”

— Rosa Warren

Max got a hand-me-down camera for Christmas and took some pictures while I was. Photographer in the making I tell you! 

Brothers being brothers. They love each other, I promise! 

And then James took a close up picture of me with Max's camera.

“We became a family in this home, I met and got to know my step sons and became a Wife and a Mother in this home, we had our third baby in this home, we all did so much growing here. It will be incredibly hard to leave. But we’ll take all these incredible memories, and valuable lessons with us. It will always be in our hearts! Well, except for the part where we have to share a bathroom - as a family of 6, I’m betting we won’t miss that at all.”

— Rosa Warren

[Picture LIFE] The Evans Family

I met the Evans family just before Christmas through Jaclyn's sister Cat. Jaclyn and Colin have been married for over 4 years and have two beautiful little girls: Karaleigh age 2, and Aria age 4. When I met their girls, they were all about performing, poking, and playing. Normal kid stuff. Cat had told me about her sister Jaclyn's wonderful massages and her family's unique lifestyle. She mentioned that Jaclyn enjoyed bartering services and well, I can't resist a good massage so Chris (my husband) and I reached out to Jaclyn about trading a photo shoot for massages for us. I was intrigued by the lifestyle that they lead and couldn't wait to document it and spend more time with them.

The Evans family lives at the summit of the Santa Cruz Mountains in a 500sqft home that has a bedroom, a bathroom, and a kitchen/living room combo. This September will mark 5 years in their humble abode.

Jaclyn describes their lifestyle as, "Rewilding; transitioning from a lifestyle of relying on society to being self reliant. Every change in perception and choice makes a big difference, and successful changes fuel that fire to continue on. Whether it be composting, foraging, fire making, or making our own soap." 

Karaleigh is on the left and Aria is on the right. I arrived soon after they woke up that chilly winter morning.

Colin makes his family butter coffee and butter hot chocolate. 

Even his girls drink the coffee sometimes. 

Karaleigh was not a fan of the "gooey egg" that daddy boiled and made momma eat the gooey part. 

First, Aria wanted to show me their fort.

And then it was Karaleigh's turn.

Jaclyn: Come sit and drink coffee with me. We do that together.
Colin: I don't like to sit by you *jokingly*
Jaclyn: You can squat. You like to do that. 
Colin: I can do that :-)

As part of their organic and natural lifestyle, Colin and Jaclyn only drink water from springs, like ones they find here. 

Even though the girls haven't seen the Disney princess movies like most little girls, they know all of the songs by heart and enjoy playing with their dolls. Rapunzel is Aria's favorite. 

Karaleigh is quite the ham and loves performing for anyone. I predict she will be an actress or performer of some kind when she's older. In this photo she is "pinning" (spinning). She can't pronounce her s's yet. I can't handle how adorable these two chickies are.

While dad makes a fire in their bedroom, the girls practice their hand drill skills that they learned at a nature awareness program in Felton called Fox Tracks. The three of them attend every Monday.

“Our inspiration for parenting comes from the old tribal mindset. Our culture is not set up to support this but we do what we can to bring it back to the roots of togetherness, songs, story telling, and following our children’s natural desires and passions rather than imposing those things. This is a reason we have chosen the unschooling route.”

— Jaclyn Evans

Time for some archery Aria got her own bow and arrows for Christmas. 

It was a wee bit chilly outside at 10:30 am in the mountains. 

Ilford 400 - 35mm film

Karaleigh was looking for some help with Aria's bow and arrow.

Every parent needs their own space. This is Colin's star jointed annex that he built himself

The bottles on the floor were collected to store fresh spring water.

Colin's standing workstation helps improve posture and focus when working on the computer.

Jaclyn wanted some photographs of Colin on his slack line. Have you ever tried walking on one of this things? It's hard! 

“Our house is small and can get messy. We get make trips to Goodwill often as we aspire to live in a yurt one day with more space to pursue our lifestyle dreams. In the meantime, while our kids are real little, I like to remember the quote ‘cobwebs be quiet, dust go to sleep, cus I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep’”

— Jaclyn Evans

[Picture LIFE] The Heilman Clan

For Christmas this year, my husband and I are spending it with his family in San Jose, CA. Just a few days before we made the road trip up from Orange, CA, my new step-sister-in-law, Jessica messaged me on Facebook and requested a lifestyle photoshoot to commence in their 1000sqft home in San Jose. Jessica and her husband Jeff have 6 beautiful children ranging from age 2-17. I was thrilled at the request since I had never done a style quite like this before. Jessica and I first met about 6 months ago at my bridal shower and after hearing such wonderful things about her family, I was excited to capture a glimpse of their cozy life this Christmas season. 

“I’m looking forward to capturing this time in our lives as we transition out of the “baby making” phase into “Professional baby raising” phase. Somehow - thinking of this next Chapter in that way makes me feel a little better about it”

— Jessica Heilman

“I think what I would like is family portraits in our house. The reason is we are in a transition season and will be leaving this house after around 8 years, the formative years of our kids lives. We have outgrown it, simply because we do not own it. However my Grandfather (the kids Great Grandfather) did a lot of improvements on it, I laid new flooring etc”

— Jessica Heilman

The chalkboard wall is strategically placed in their entrance where the family can be creative and welcome their guests. 

Ilford 400 - 35mm Film

The perks of being the only daughter is you get your own room, away from smelly boys! Madeline's room doubles as the craft room.

The boys' room doubles as Dad's office during the day.

The recreation room is where the kids use the computers and where they watch movies on a projector. As you can see, they are big super hero fans.

Jessica deco-paged this wall and did many other crafty things to decorate their home. It pretty much blows Pinterest away.

Ilford 400 - 35mm Film

Washington, "Osh" age 6, shows me a photo of the kids from two years ago, before Teddy was born. 

Here we have Jeffrey, the oldest child, and Teddy, the youngest. 
Teddy sure is the  most photographed of the bunch and for good reason. 

I mean, look at this face! 

Ilford 400 - 35mm Film

Madeline, "Maddo" age 12, said it perfectly after she crossed the lens in this frame, "Oh sorry! Mommy and Daddy moment." 

Ilford 400 - 35mm Film

The eggs were prepared by Jeffrey, 17, with fresh garlic, onions, cheese, and cream. These meatballs were provided by the neighbors. Mom made the garlic bread. Jeffrey is quite gifted in the culinary arts. He and his brother Joseph run a business called The Cookie Boys. 

Ilford 400 - 35mm Film

Dog pile!! These kids Love each other a whole lot and it shows.

And then it was time to read, no, sing the "12 Days of Christmas" in bed. Everyone. It was truly a joy to capture. The majority of this family spends a lot of time in Mom & Dad's bed, hanging out so why not pile everyone on their bed for some photos in their natural habitat? 

Teddy was ready for the grass photo that Jessica usually takes. This time, she got to be in it! 

“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

— Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

““We once heard a pastor preach that Proverbs 22:6 in the original Hebrew spoke in terms of the bend of a bow. He said that as a bow has a natural “bend” in it - in order for the arrow to fly straight, we are to raise our children in their natural tendencies. Whether art, business, cooking, medicine... If your child shows gifts and talents, it is our role to encourage and inspire them. Proverbs 22:6 means to me that if our children are pursuing the desires of their heart (as God intended) they will never depart from God as they will feel happy and fulfilled in life. As their parents observing them and their natural ways is our #1 job!”

— Jessica Heilman

Be sure to check out Jessica's One Week Wonder Blog, art website and follow her on Instagram @jessicadheilman

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[Picture Passion] Dance

For my final project in one of my classes at Chapman University, I was instructed to make a 2-3 minute mini documentary about someone and something that they do. I chose to make a film about my friend Chloe and her passion for dancing. As I finished editing, I decided that I wanted this to be the first mini doc in a series about people and their passions. I absolutely Love when people are passionate about something and I want to capture that on film. So if you would like a short video showcasing your passion, let me know. Let's make it happen! 

Feel free to leave your comments below about this film or any suggestions of future films! 

[Picture LOVE] Shumaila & Yusuf

Shumaila invited me to her bridal shower to take some photographs of all the decorations and of course her with her friends. Her fiancé, Yusuf, would be coming by after the party so we could take some photos of the two of them since she rented her dress for this occasion. Her upcoming wedding is a Traditional Indian wedding so she wanted this special day to be documented as well. 

The dessert table was seriously to die for. It was such a great variety of sweets and displayed so perfectly! 

Lots of fun poses in from of this back drop. This was my personal favorite.