I am so not a blogger.  Especially since I have started working full time!  I love reading other people’s blogs, so full of beautiful writing, thoughts, feelings…..I just don’t have that in me!  But I do want to start posting more, I really do!  So I thought I would at least post some of my work, some old, some new.  My goal will be to update, post photos, etc. at least once a week…….OH and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!!

Cheyanne was a pleasure to photograph!  At first hestitant to have her senior portraits done, she opened up and had a wonderful time, even telling her mom, “Thanks mom for making me do this, it was so much fun!”  I love doing photo shoots, especially when I know the client has as much fun as I do!  2009 Graduate of Santa Barbara High School!

P.S.  Being in the hallways of SBHS sure brought back a lot of memories for me too!  Go Dons!

Chloe…..what can I say.  She is simply adorable, as are her parents!!  Here she is at 7 days old.

Yesterday Gillian and I went shopping before dance class for a pair of shoes for her Halloween costume.  She is going to be a Leopard, and her costume is so cute but she needed a little more “Leopard” print to go with it, thus the shoes….We went to Payless to see what they had and couldn’t find anything.  Luckily I asked the store clerk if they had any type of Leopard print shoes, and to our happiness she said, “I have one pair left, what size is she?”  I told her “8 in women’s” (yes my 8 almost 9 year old daughter wears size 8!)  Anyways, she takes us over and pulls out the last pair of shoes in the store in her size!  Gillian loved them!  Actually wore them to school today (looked a bit ridiculous with her outfit, but hey, you have to let them be themselves sometimes!)

We got back into the car and started off to dance class…….and as she is admiring them pressing her feet against the dash board, I said, “Your Aunt Cindy would have L-O-V-E-D those shoes!”  Now Gillian wasn’t born yet when her Aunt died.  But let me tell you, Cindy would have A-D-O-R-E-D her!  She is so much like her!  She loves to shop, and if you knew Cindy she was a shopper!  In fact, when Cindy died, on her car license plate cover it said, “She who dies with the most clothes wins” or something to that effect….Gillian then asked tons of questions about her, and we chatted the rest of the way to dance class about her wonderful Aunt she never knew……..Cindy was a wonderful mother, sister, aunt, daughter and wife and just a wonderful person all around.  We still miss her so much….. This month marks 15 years that she has been gone, but we will never forgot her……

I had the pleasure of spending a few hours at the Goleta Beach taking photographs of the Bartos Family last weekend.   When we first arrived I couldn’t believe the FOG!  I could see it flying past my lens as I was trying to shoot.  Thank goodness it burned off pretty quickly.  At first we were just going to do a session with Amanda and I was so happy when Michelle and Matt decided to do some family portraits as well.  Amanda was such a great little model, and Michelle you did great too…hehe!   Hope you enjoy your sneak peak!!

Here are some of my favorite photographs of Melissa, Dos Pueblos High School Senior Class of 2009!  I have know Melissa since she was in Kindergarten, when her family moved in across the street from us.  She is an amazing young women who is now attending Cal State Lutheran University.

Going for the vintage look here

Loved being able to shoot at her High School!

10x20 Storyboard's are a great way to display your favorite images!

This is a 16x20 Collage, Border added to show full 16x20 but not part of collage

Have you ever tried to figure out what you were going to wear during family portraits?  It is a stressful thing!  Figuring out colors, accessories, etc….UGGG!  I think that is probably why I, myself, have never had a family portrait done…….well that and the extra lbs I have been carrying around for ten or more years! LOL!….OK, back to the subject!  I am lucky enough to be online friends with a huge group of photographers all over the world, and they have been so gracious to share these wonderful “What to Wear” guides!  I think they are awesome and figured it is getting to be “that time of year” so why not post these for you all to see!

If you are interested in a family portrait session, feel free to call or email me!

P.S.  This blog is BRAND spankin’ new, so I don’t have everything finalized, especially my portfolio, but hopefully over the next few weeks I will have time to devote major attention to getting this site uploaded with all my work and other information still needed.  Thanks for your patience!

Mia ♥

This is one of my favorites!

Lovin' this one too!

Nice combinations...

Love the bright and bold colors here!

Organic! (I can see my nephew Gabe and his family in these outfits!)

Love these!

I had the opportunity to attend a group bridal shoot in Yorba Linda, Ca.   I got lost getting there, but fortunately I arrived in time to capture 4 beautiful couples close to sunset, and was able to get some amazing back lit photographs!   I love back lighting!!

My good friend Venessa was pregnant with her first baby and she and her husband Joe couldn’t be any happier!  They are the sweetest couple ever and I was so glad to capture their little family before baby Chloe arrived!  Here are some of my favorites from her session….

I love shooting pregnant women.  There is such a magical glow to them, each and every one of them are beautiful, and Heather is no exception!   We did her shoot at Goleta Beach at sunset… Here are some of my favorites from her shoot.