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…

bo & eric • engagement portraits • redondo beach, ca

engagements

I had such fun with Bo & Eric, shooting them for their engagement! Eric’s sister, Joanne, is an old friend of mine from grad school, so doing these portraits for her brother was a special honor. I love the tale of Bo & Eric’s courtship; they told me their first date was at Cheesecake Factory, but it was the third date that cinched it for them. As they tell it, Bo was impressed when Eric offered to eat her piece of kobe beef that she thought was a little too raw; & Eric liked that their similarly low-key personalities were a good match. And when Eric proposed at the pier in Malibu, Bo said, “Are you joking?” So funny! So for our session, we celebrated their history by enjoying a dessert at Cheesecake Factory & then having some fun at the pier & the beach! Congratulations, Bo & Eric! Have a wonderful wedding in Korea!

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…