their 3 sons • family portraits • palos verdes estates, ca

little ones, outdoors, we are family

I had a blast catching up with my old friend Gregg, & meeting his beautiful wife Kim & their three good-lookin’ sons! They were so full of joy & warmth, & they make raising three boys ranging from age 2 to 20 look like a walk in the park. I know Gregg from my teaching days, & I remember so well his positive energy & his humor. He & Kim both have such generous smiles–what a wonderful match. Oldest son Josh exuded a calm that I don’t often see in most 20-year-olds; he is working toward a degree in computer technology. And the littluns, Nolan & Matthew, just inquisitive as ever–& so, so sweet, & so willing to play with me & allow me to capture them running, climbing, & cuddling with mom & dad. It was a sunshine-y day in so many ways!

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!

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…

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…