A surprise present revealed!

A few weeks ago I posted a teaser polaroid of a gorgeous sunset peeking out behind some trees, taken during a portrait session tobe used as a surprise present. Mom finally received her present and so now I can share images from that day.



I met Mr. P years ago while working at a little start up in Silicon Valley. He has seen my photography go from show and tell in the office on mornings I had class assignments due, to being the unofficial self appointed company event photographer to where I am now. I have seen him go from working crazy long engineer hours to well working crazy long engineer hours and being a fabulous dad.

Imagine how excited I was and also honored when he contacted me asking that I help him give his wife (who is even more awesome than him) a surprise present for her birthday. We chatted and decided the perfect present was a family session, however she needed to unwrap something on her birthday so we split the session. The first session of two was mostly with the adorable Little Miss A. Who I would like to add is already super smart, fearless and a natural in front of the camera. I was shocked when I saw her because she is almost all grown up and I still remember seeing her as a tiny baby when she was first born.



So without much more of my unnecessary jabbing here you go:







Do not be alarmed with this next photo, dad was very close by to make sure she didn't fall out of the tree.



I can't wait to do the family session with them...

Stay tuned!

Mrs. A (the A is for Amazing)

Mrs. A was part of the combined session with Mrs. D. Together these two planned to surprise their hubbies with similar gifts. They were each others alibis. I had only met Mrs. A briefly once before, actually the day her and Mrs. D came by to plan the session however Mrs. A was so easy going and fun that I felt like I had known her my whole life. I absolutely love how her personality came out in these pictures doesn't she look like she would be the funnest person ever? My favorite thing about her was her laugh. She laughed from the bottom of her heart and each time she did her whole being lite up. It was awesome.



Can you guess what her husband does for work?



At one point during the session she commented that the session was actually more fun than she had expected and that the day was so much fun she felt as if she was doing it fr herself and not just her husband. But really I think when her husband saw his book it was about him and how much she loves him and wanted to give him something special.



I love these Femme Fatale sessions because each woman is beautiful not just on the outside but on the inside too. That sounds so cheesy but it's true and I love capturing that on camera, whether it be a smile, or that crazy crooked mouth (think Drew Barrymore here) or even that far off look when someone is remembering a moment from oh so long ago.



What is that one thing your significant other loves most about you? I bet more than a physical attribute it's something more like the way you light up a room when you walk in, or how he remembers the first time you laughed so hard you spit out your soda. HA! even though you may have been embarrassed I bet it's on his list of favorites. Tell us .. what is it?

This last image is maybe my absolutely favorite from Mrs. A's session. She was completely comfortable and having a great time. We all laughed so much I was starting to think that tears might start coming out which would ruin the mascara ;-)

Film Friday

You are born into your family. No matter how far you may move they are still your family. True friends are the same way, regardless how far you live from each other they are still your friends, and even better these friends are the Family YOU CHOSE.

I developed a roll of film this week, which like many other rolls was unmarked and forgotten about. I was so happy to see the below images on said roll. I met Alejandro about 15 years ago while I lived in Guanajuato. I had decided that my Spanish was turning into Spanglish and the only way to fix that was to go to school in Mexico. I am a Guanajuato native so I thought it was a great idea to enroll in the university there. During my first semester I met Alejandro and we quickly became really good friends having many near death experiences on his motorcycle. Although that is a whole post in itself. I left Guanajuato and moved to Guadalaraja a year and a half later however we remain really good friends --> family. His sons call me "tia" (aunt) and his wife pictured below is like my sister. So much that many times during my visit we went out and left Alex at home with his son. At the time they only had one son.





Have you been to Guanajuato? I wuld love to hear about it. Leave me a comment in the comments section!!

These were taken in October of 2007 during a visit to Guanajuato, Gto. during the International Cervantino festival. IF you've never been you should definitely throw it on your "to visit " list. It's also an amazing place for a honeymoon and a trash the dress session. I'm more than willing to travel to this location ( or any other) for a session. What do you think?

Mrs. F (the F is for Fabulous)

I met Mrs. F way back when she was still Miss D. We met at school, she was taking beginning B&W photography. She was always a bit shy -fashion wise. Never too revealing always in jeans, sneakers and a t-shirt. When I received a call from her inquiring about a Femme Fatale session for her husband as a surprise for Valentine's day, I was absolutely honored. Not only was someone who has a photography background trusting me to capture them in camera but also someone who claims to be self conscious. We met and went over ideas and a game plan to keep the secret from her husband. (I should note here that one of her best friends also signed up for a session for her husband- but more on that in a future post.)



The day of the session came and we met at the Sheraton hotel for her session. Two minutes flat into the session it seemed as she was born to be in front of the camera. She was completely at ease. The majority of the session was spent acting silly, smiling and shining like a true Femme Fatale. What do you guys think?? Doesn't she look amazing? Her husband is one lucky guy. She's not only a mother of two but a great wife.







I tend to ask women doing these sessions to bring something of their husbands to incorporate into the session. Here she is wearing his football jersey. How sexy is that??



There were so many more images..but those are for HIS eyes only!

Film Friday -

Friday the 13th. Yikes! How many of you are superstitious? Well I am, so film Friday will remain a mystery and not be posted.
HE HE ok seriously I just didn't have anything scanned in...sorry.

Spunky Bride!!

There was once a time that a wedding dress was worn once and then very carefully dry cleaned and sealed away. Never to be seen again.... until the day your daughter got married. When that occasion came, you would run to pull out your dress to offer it to her. A few scenarios then happened: a.) the dress had somehow been damaged (mold, moths, etc) b.) a dress that didn't fit said daughter or was WAY out of fashion or c.) your daughter accepted to wear the dress.

Of course you can still do that. But isn't it more fun to rewear your dress and have some really fun pictures done a few days/months or even a years later, without the stress of the wedding day?


Joann did just that! She had this beautiful dress and no pictures in it (long story). Last Sunday we met downtown for a photo session. Here are some of my favorites. It was a little cold, but the light was amazing.

Let me know what you think in the comments section!!

Femme Fatale: Teaser

Valentine's day is only 7 days away. If you celebrate this day with gifts have you made or bought your loved one something? I personally love things made.

I promised last week I would post a few images from my recent Femme Fatale sessions. However because I am a tease ;-) and valentine's day is right around the corner I am only posting a few images , until next week. I definitely don't want to spoil the surprise.

if you haven't had a chance to book your session yet, don't delay. It's too late to get your Little Black Book or Guilty Pleasure Book in time for the 14th, however it's still not too late to get in on the sale! I've posted some images of these books under the "products" tab up above.

Tease Me! $285 (regularly priced at $385)
includes 45 minute session, password protected online gallery of all proofs, and 20 page 5"x5" leather custom designed album

Mrs. A (the A is for Amazing)




Mrs. F (the F is for Fabulous)

A beautiful Sunset- Film Friday

I love surprise presents!

Tuesday I had an absolutely amazing portrait session with the cutest little girl ever! It's actually a surprise for her mom, so unfortunately I will not be able to post for a few weeks. But as soon as her mom gets her present I will post. As a present she will receive prints and also a future family session, so you guys will get to see both sessions soon. I can tell you the session included some stunt work, a body of water and lots of running around. Its gonna be good.

As a super teaser here is a polaroid of an amazing sunset, I took during the session.

Aren't sunsets amazing? no two are ever the same . I can watch them over and over again. What is your favorite moment during a sunset? I'ld love to hear about it.

WOO HOO!! I was accepted into WPJA!!

I am so exited! Last week I was accepted into the Wedding Photojouranlistic Association aka WPJA. I applied the week before and was nervous, they needed to review my portfolio (website) and because they get so many applications I knew it would take a while. Have I ever mentioned I hate waiting, especially when they only reply to those that get accepted ( due to high application volumes) I could have been waiting for months without a word. Imagine how excited I was when I received a letter informing me I had been accepted.

Never heard of WPJA? Check them out their website to find out more.

Here is a little blurb I pulled from their website:

The Wedding Photojournalistic Association

"Leading the way in Wedding Photojournalism, WPJA represents the most discriminating talent around the world technically, creatively and visually. Qualified members hold industry-leading standards, skills and business integrity."

It's been a week and I'm still excited! I think mostly I am excited because I have never really "classified" my work into a category. I just love photography and catching moments. As an example this following image. It was taken of complete strangers in New York:



This one I am very proud of. It has received an award and was purcahsed by the Triton Museum in Santa Clara! It was photographed on film, which I them developed myself and printed in a wet darkroom on fiber paper!!


And of course since it is all about Wedding Photojournalism. Here are a couple of my favorites from past weddings:




this is a page from a wedding album I designed:


and one of my favorite things at weddings the kids! they are so carefree and always full of emotion.