I Heart Faces - Anything But A Face

When I saw the challenge posted for I Heart Faces this week, I knew just the photo I would use. The challenge this week is "Anything but a face". You can have a face showing, but the focus really has to be on something other than a face. I love this image from this session. The kids were being kids and the parents were taking it so wonderfully. That's what I love about my sessions...they are relaxed, fun, and real. The kids don't have to stand at attention and are not forced into uncomfortable poses that frankly, just don't look real. Your session with me is about you. Your family. Your kids. They way you are and they way you are now. Not some cold, sterile environment that is pumping out families and kids for the sake of getting them back to you in one hour. I let you be you. And sometimes we end up capturing the goofy and challenging aspects of your life right now. But we always capture who you are as well. Trust me. Check out this beautiful family's sneak peek from last September and you will see.

Now go check out other interpretations of "anything but a face" over at I heart faces!

Get Ready for your Spring Shoot! {Sacramento Family Photographer}

I cannot wait for Spring, but our weather here today says I must. Just a little longer! I thought we could all get inspired to start planning for some fun Spring photo sessions while we wait. Here is one idea for a family wardrobe. Keep in mind that it is so much fun to add scarves, hair bows and flowers, and many layers even on top of these for a fun and contemporary look.

I love helping my clients with their wardrobe planning since I want to make your session perfect for your family. Clothes do make a difference and accessories can add a lot in helping tie it all together. My desire is to bring out the light in you and your family and it helps to wear what compliments you best! So shoot me an email or give me a call and let's get planning! I can't wait to see you for your fresh new spring shoot!

I Heart Faces - Fix it Friday #87

Just checking for another I Heart Faces Fix-it Friday! This image was shot by Andrea Riley (see the SOOC image below). Above is my edit. I cropped it, gave it a little levels and curves love, did a color balance layer adjustment to get some of the red out, then ran a Florabella bw action, adjusted the layers, lightened in areas that needed it and sharpened. Voila! I love these type of beautiful images, especially when it's dad and baby. Just something about big strong dads getting to hold their precious little one and really focusing on them in this way. Just melts my heart, I tell ya!

There are many other fun edits that will make your heart swoon over at I heart faces!

Damascus Road Christian Bookstore {Sacramento Commercial Photographer}

I had a blessed opportunity to photograph a brand new store in our neighborhood, Damascus Road,  which is celebrating it's official Grand Opening starting today! The owners, Telly and Judy are wonderful, helpful people and they are there for their customers. It's a real treat to shop around the store and enjoy what it has to offer. They have something for everyone, and if you go this weekend, you can take advantage of many specials they are offering. Be sure to check out the link above for more information. You can also check out the Natomas Buzz, our local online news for more information.
                                       

John and Telly are so helpful and very welcoming.

Your kiddos might enjoy this back end of an SUV! They actually did it themselves from junkyard scraps!

They have a sitting/reading area and kids area for both the young and the young at heart.

10 {Sacramento Children's Photographer}

This sweet 10 year old was such a trooper! He was all for adventure when I told him we were going to look for some new locations in a nearby city. When we got to the location I had in mind, he thought it was totally cool. But it was chained up and off limits. Though he thought he found a way in, I had to use my better judgment and ditch the great location for, well, our security and well being. And the law. The things we must sacrifice...

So we came to another new location and it was going well and fine until Mr. Security guard with a really bad attitude came out and decided we should not be outside of a public building unless we worked there. Hmm. I did mention (in a very calm manner) that he could have been a tad nicer about the way he said it, but I didn't argue with him since I had an impressionable 10 year old with me and I wanted to show some love and grace.  We just want to take some pictures, Mr.!

In the end, we found some fun places to play and had some good times being silly and laughing at ourselves. This kid is pretty great and it's so fun to have him one on one. He's growing up so dang fast and when I looked at these images, it really struck me. How did he become ten? 10? Really? And he looks even older in some of these pictures. Must. Hug. Lots. And pray even more. 10 will be 20 in no time. I'm cherishing 10 now.

I Heart Faces - Red ! Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day! How appropriate for the challenge over at I Heart Faces to be red today! I do have some Valentine photos to share with you, but I couldn't resist posting this one. You may recognize these darling twins from last July, when they were just 6 weeks old. I love love love that I captured this shot of them and cannot wait to see how their relationship unfolds! You can't help but wonder if it will be exactly like the image...one a darling little fun-loving and maybe mischievous girl and the other a more subdued, easy-going sweetie. Who knows..and that is what is so fun about it! It could even be completely opposite! I hope to see them again soon to find out for myself, but until then, here's some fun red with two darling loving girls atop!

I Heart Faces - Fix it Friday #86

Is this little girl gorgeous or what!? As you may know from my current facebook search, I am currently looking for a red head to participate in a fun photo session! When I saw this come up for Fix-it Friday on I heart faces I just had to play a little. It's the first time I have participated in this and it was fun!

Here is what I did with my edit. I first opened the photo in ACR  and increased the exposure and fill light a bit, using recovery and blacks to bring it to where it looked right to me. I then opened it in CS5  cropped it, and ran Coffee Shop's Powder Room action. I used various layers from the action, adjusting the opacity of each. Included was an eye defining and sharpening, skin softening and a skin lightening layer. I flattened the image and used the patch tool to take out the dark circles under her eyes. I then used another action to whiten the whites of her eyes and take out the red a bit. I also took some of the red out of her skin.  Finally, I used Florabella's Cosmo action and adjusted or deleted various layers.

She is just too cute..and I love the photo, too..such a sweet pose.


Here is the original that I had to work with:

Be sure to check out some of the other fun edits today and thanks for stopping by!

Meeting a Mentor

This past Sunday,  I had the opportunity to meet a photographer that I admire. She is a mentor of sorts, and I have learned so much from her Clean Color tutorial and her blog site. Erin Cobb is her name and she was visiting California all the way from Alabama. She was so sweet to organize a Meet & Greet for some of her California fans. Matt and Merilee, a totally adorable and sweet couple who are Erin's clients, opened their fabulous home to welcome us for the Meet & Greet.

It was fun finally meeting Erin, after conversing through her blog and email. She was exactly as I had pictured her (well, she does have photos on her site!).  She had an adorable personality (again, totally evident from her emails and site) and was just so fun to meet.

There were about 10 other gals there who came to meet Erin and express their gratitude and admiration. She has impacted many people with her work and it was so fun to share that with them.
Melanie was one of the adorable professional photographers who drove to Orange from the Ventura area. I was fortunate to sit by her as she was so easy to talk to.

Nobody busted out their camera until Erin did! So funny. But we came out of our shell later and were able to grab some shots.

Kendra (on the right) is also a professional photographer from Murrieta California. She is a doll and brought her bestie, Sarah, along who is a photographer as well.

Merilee provided us with a delicious array of decadent desserts. That girl can bake..and if you know me, my other business, and my major sweet tooth, you know I have some standing to say so :)

Debbie was another sweet professional photog that came to the Meet & Greet. I am looking forward to getting to know her as well.  Meghan is Erin's adorable sister who has a great etsy shop and lots of style! It was so fun to meet her as well, especially after reading several posts on Erin's blog that included her.

It was a neat opportunity to get to join up with this group of gals. Though it was in Orange, CA and not Sacramento, we were able to combine it with a weekend of visiting family and going to Disneyland for my youngest son's birthday.  I'm hoping to someday make it to Alabama to see all the beauty that she captures through her lens. In the meantime, it was great having a tiny piece here!

A Hubby's Gift {Sacramento Portrait Photographer}

I was so happy when I got the call for one of my mini valentine sessions from this pretty lady. She said she wanted to do the session as a Valentine's present for her husband. She had never done a session with just herself before and I was so pleased she called me. I really think every woman should take the time to do this for herself every so often...to see the beauty inside and out and to enjoy a little bit of pampering. Of course, she was so sweet to do this as a present for her husband, but I loved that she had a great time doing it and that she loved the pictures. She was able to appreciate her beautiful self, too.

She wanted a session outdoors, and she wanted it to be sensual, but not over the top. I can't show most of the images here, but I did want to show you some. I think she looks beautiful and I cannot wait to hear what her husband does when he sees them! She ordered a special  book for him which I think may be his best Valentine's gift yet!