just a taste • mrs. d • boudoir session • palos verdes estates, ca

beauty & boudoir

Mrs. D is one of the most wise, crafty, & creative wives I’ve ever met. She speaks with an understanding of relationships & men’s brains that far exceeds her age, so much so that I really think she ought to write a book. While planning her boudoir session, I was really awed by how attuned she is to her husband’s likings & tastes. And she spoke of making him happy in the most generous, enthusiastic way. And their efforts to stoke the flames of love & desire & connection are all the more meaningful, as he is deployed somewhere far, far away, for much, much too long. Mrs. D & I had such a fun time getting creative, & she was bold, & brave, & a celebration of feminine wiles. Can’t wait for Mr. D to finally see these soon…And they’ll be more to come after this sneak peek…

impromptu • cuevas family • pregnancy portraits

outdoors, pregnancy, we are family

Freedom lately has meant not having my youngest baby strapped to my chest at a party–because it means that I can snap away with my camera without the added 18 pounds of chub! And being more quick & agile on my feet means I’m able to take advantage of the gorgeous late-day light & the as-yet unphotographed belly of my friend Erin, who is due in August with Baby #3. We were both attending the birthday party for our mutual friend’s little girl, & as the day stretched out into the early evening, the sun stayed warm & hovered just above the tree line, bathing us all in the glow of summer. I had done pregnancy portraits for Erin almost two years ago when she was pregnant with Jack (the beautiful boy you see below), & this time, she didn’t have any real plans for formal portraits. So, I just asked her to stand in the sun for me, & I clicked away as she, Jack, & hubby Frank laughed & played & hugged (daughter Sienna was off with the other kids). And oh, how much I love these impromptu portraits…

And this was Jack, informing us all, “I’m tired…”

hot/pink • the davenport-paysinger family • manhattan beach, ca

little ones, outdoors, we are family

Finally some real summer weather, & I got to enjoy it outdoors with Coleen & Vonzie! It was a gorgeous, SoCal Saturday, & a three-day holiday weekend. I haven’t had the pleasure of doing portraits for their family since Christmas two years ago, so this was a real treat, especially to see how their two girls, Reina & Maya have grown. What beauties! And such dynamic & distinct personalities. Coleen & I got to marveling at how daughters from the same two people could have such differing ways of approaching and processing the world. (I don’t know why I still find this so mind-boggling; after all, I didn’t think that my kids would just be clones of us or each other…did I?)

I’ve known Coleen & Vonzie for many years, having “grown up” in our teaching careers at the same school. It’s been so wonderful to stay in touch & share the trials & triumphs, tears & laughter about parenting. They are both very athletic & have careers in sports education; their students are so lucky to have had their guidance & care for many years. Reina has been channeling those genetic talents into dance, & Maya is going to be chasing her big sister & giving her a run for the money soon!

Despite the hot sun, this family turned on the charm & snuggling, & it was a great kick-off to their well-deserved summer vacation!

BHHS BFF • sarah, amy, marla, & coleen • manhattan beach, ca

beach, beauty & boudoir, outdoors

This shoot has inspired me to create a new package for my clients: the “BFF” Package, as in Best Friends Forever! And perhaps I should also design a “Farewell LA” package, since this session too was created because yet another long-time LA resident is leaving us for new adventures elsewhere. In this case, recently married Sarah is off with hubby to return to her Midwestern roots–as well as a great new house & new job. Her gal pals of more than a decade wanted to celebrate their friendship with some pro pix, & I was extra excited to shoot them, because they’re all old colleagues of mine from Beverly Hills High School; it was super special to commemorate their sexy smiles & fun friendship in these photographs. Amy was hoping to get “one really great group shot.” Well, I think we came away with more than just one!