rock & water • wang bo • shaolin monk & kung fu shifu

beach, martial arts, sports

My daughter recently started taking kung fu at the Shaolin Temple school near our home. The first time we met Yuan Shifu & Wang Shifu, we knew that we had finally found the teachers we were looking for–their presence is strong & caring, & their expertise is obvious. (I was also excited that Zoë might get to learn kung fu in Chinese!) Wang Shifu is an experienced performing martial artist as well as warrior monk of the Shaolin Temple. I had the amazing opportunity to do some pictures with him at a beautiful location that inspired us both. I have been so excited about the photographs; I just have to post a few here now, even though I have so many more to go through. Thank you, Wang Bo, for a spirited, energetic collaboration! I look forward to more in the future…

peach beach • the hockensmith family • torrance, ca

beach, little ones, we are family

I’ve had the special pleasure of photographing the Hockensmiths twice a year for the last three years–& it’s been amazing to watch as their baby girls have grown into big girls! Haley is a spunky monkey who loves sports & dance. Hannah is a girlie girl, just as dainty & discerning as a modern-day princess. Their parents, Jacque & LeRoy are the type of parents who so have it together–they’ve always got a plan, execute it with style, & pay attention to the details. I always wish we had more time just to hang out as pals, but I just feel lucky to see them when we can! This session was a treat–on the beach on a perfect SoCal afternoon, the balmy breeze blowing us gently into almost sunset. We took our time & enjoyed the warmth & our little wedge of sand. Jacque & LeRoy got to play with the girls, & I got to capture their laughter & love. Sweet!

See the {Holiday Hockensmiths}!

blue beach • the saunders family • redondo beach, ca

beach, little ones, we are family

The last time I photographed the Saunders kids, they were so little! Beautiful, spunky Summer was four, & little brother Mason was just a baby who was literally “laid-back” for our whole session. This time around, Summer is a big girl, even more beautiful & more spunky, & Mason is superbly athletic! I was so happy to be able to photograph the whole family. Jennifer & Skip & the kids were so game, running races, frolicking in the water, despite that it was the coolest morning we’d had at the coast in many weeks. But the mist couldn’t dampen this family’s energy & spirit–so much sweetness & fun in their group! And the cozy snuggling made for lots of warmth–enough to make us forget the chilly wind…

on a mission • marco, age 6 • palos verdes estates, ca

beach, little ones, outdoors

One of my greatest pleasures is catching up with families at regular intervals, seeing how the kids have grown & changed. For the last three years, I’ve gotten to do annual portraits of Marco, an energetic, imaginative, precocious boy whose mom is a creative, magical, ultra-feminine force of nature. Marco loves costumes, & each year, I feel honored that he tolerates my shooting away, while I follow him around, catching him being a kid. He clambers up rocky beaches & climbs trees with the ease of a monkey–it’s so inspiring to watch, & an exciting challenge to keep up with him! This year, we ventured to the coast, & he was on a mission of the imagination…