joanne choi • mom/food blogger • headshots • santa monica, ca

headshots

It’s hard to believe that Joanne & I have known each other since 1994! That was long ago, when we were both in the graduate teacher’s program at Stanford–before embarking our beloved careers teaching English, before finding Love & getting married, before becoming moms, & before starting second careers. And seeing her for the first time in a decade this last weekend was just like seeing family–we just fell right into step with each other, talking like not a minute had passed since our last face-to-face conversation (which was incidentally, probably very quick, since it was at her wedding!). We met up in Santa Monica, where she was visiting her brother & his family. I finally got to meet her three beautiful kids, which is like a glimpse into my future, because she also has two daughters & a son, a couple years ahead of me.

Joanne is a food blogger with her amazing Week of Menus. This is doubly impressive to me, because in addition to raising her three children while her hard-working hubby works far away, she is able to blog…about cooking. Do you realize that involves: 1) grocery shopping, 2) actually cooking, & 3) writing about cooking, & 4) taking pictures of what you’ve cooked! Anyone who knows me knows that cooking is as foreign to me as raising alpaca, shoeing horses, & learning Swahili. I just don’t have a knack for it–or any concept of how to begin. It’s an art, a language, a way of being–and I just never got the bug. Joanne has quite the following, & it’s easy to see why, because her writing is wonderful to read, & her recipes are delicious. I’m proud to say that recently one of her blog posts included a snippet of a conversation we were having over Facebook; too be included in one of her reflections is a true compliment!

One of my favorite things Joanne does is that she’ll ask her Facebook fans: What do you have in your fridge right now? And then she’ll give them ideas to create something yummy out of those ingredients! (If you think you could use that kind of Cooking Fairy Godmother, then find her on Facebook!)

Joanne also has a love for photography & is always so supportive of my work. It was a treat for me to be able to “play” & do some headshots for her. I can’t wait to shoot her whole family. And next time, hopefully a full-blown environmental portrait with her in action.

they said it would go by fast • zoë’s preschool graduation • redondo beach, ca

little ones, personal, preschool

In the weeks approaching Zoë’s preschool graduation, I think I was in denial. I just refused to think about it in any personal way, except to remember that I must bring my camera, because I was to shoot the event. I’m not sure how long I’ll use this head-in-the-sand approach to the fleet-footed milestones of childhood; I am barely able to keep up just bearing witness to it all. The upside of my being a pathologically sentimental person is that it makes me a great photographer–because I want to remember all the details. So, clicking away prevented me from melting down–it helped me stay in the present, instead of giving in to the flickering slideshow in my mind of images of Zoë as an infant (first bath, first solid meal, first steps, first pig tails); or alternately jumping ahead in time & imagining her going to prom & walking down the aisle. Just be here, one frame, one/five-hundredths of a second at a time. Just be here, in this moment, truly seeing my child’s funny smile while accepting her diploma.

In the pure spirit of Riviera PlaySchool, the kids were all their impromptu selves: still grubby from playing, perhaps spattered with paint, gathered together for an organic ceremony. Zoë wore three types of camouflage & sported tattoos on legs, arms, & cheek. The director & founder of PlaySchool, Linda, presided over the event, reminding the families how much she & the teachers love these children. Each child received a special book made especially for them by their teachers; it was full of photos of them & the kinds of caring messages that only teachers can write. In addition, each student got a sunflower seed–to plant & to symbolize the future.

I just have to express our deepest gratitude to Linda, Susan, Dawn, Madi, & Katie, these gifted teachers of heroic patience, humor, & kindness. Everyday, they make PlaySchool a safe, loving, stimulating, fun environment for my children to learn & grow, & give them the attention & guidance that I hardly think I’m even capable of at home. You are all amazing human beings to choose this vocation–& all of us benefit from your calling.

Congratulations to all the graduates & their misty-eyed mommies & daddies…

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!