we are family

go, lions! • the pastoor family • playa del rey, ca

we are family

I didn’t get to meet the Pastoor family when we originally planned, several weeks ago, but as things turned out, we got to do our photo session on a perfect day, at the perfect time, in the perfect place. The golden, late afternoon sun was coming from all the right directions, shining down through the beautifully lined trees on the Loyola Marymount University campus–where Jolene & Art’s oldest son, Cooper just graduated from earlier this summer. Sister Taryn runs track at UCLA (Go, Bruins!), & Kelton happened to be celebrating his 17th birthday the day of our shoot. The Pastoors are an athletic family, & we had a really fun, high-energy session. And, in addition to the Lion & the Bear in the family, there’s also the Dog: Louis (get it? Pastoor?). No family portrait could be complete without him!

love the name “katie” • hsin-kuo family portraits • palos verdes estates, ca

little ones, studio, we are family

I love how being a photographer has connected me with people; in this case, the game of “six degrees” of separation has led me to my sister’s high school classmate, Amy.  And, it’s very fun that Amy’s little girl is named “Katie Kuo,” which is my sister’s name. It was such a treat to be able to meet Amy & her husband Michael, & to do their first official family portraits with baby! Katie was so energetic, so ready to play, & her parents were quick on their feet! And Amy & Michael both have these mega-watt smiles that are so expressive. We had a lot of fun–& Katie was a rockstar–not a meltdown in sight the whole session! She was very patient with these three adults mugging for her & fussing over her. What a great time we had!

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…”

finale • fourth of july 2011

events, holidays, little ones, personal, we are family

Every year, we invite family & friends to potluck & enjoy front row seats to see the local fireworks from the balcony of my parents’ house. It’s a late-night gathering, because the fireworks display begins after it’s completely dark–usually around 9:30 PM. As the kids get older, they are more likely to stay awake long enough to see what all the excitement’s about, but every year, there’s at least one littl’un that succumbs to sleep before (or sometimes during) the show. This was my favorite pic from our party this year: Sweet Neave asleep on her Daddy’s shoulder, her parents trying to beat the traffic & heading out before the show was over. In the background, you can see the finale; the foreground, Chris & Shannon catching one last glimpse before heading home at the end of a three-day weekend…