My Heart Has Been Touched

October was Down Syndrome Awareness month and if you may recall, I had a special for families touched by Down Syndrome.

Adorable Joaquin’s mom contacted me and I am glad she did. I had the opportunity to meet this little guy this last weekend and he has the sweetest soul!

I usually walk away from sessions feeling fulfilled after having a great session with families and connecting with them. This session felt different. I felt “filled”. I couldn’t help but smile when I got in my car as I reviewed his pictures because he filled me up with happiness. His smile melted my heart.

Many times I have considered the idea of special needs children being one of my specialties in photography. After my session with Joaquin I KNOW I want to start a focus on special needs children. They have a way of filling your heart and making you realize that no matter how bad your day can be, life is good.

Thank you, Joaquin (and Jennifer!), for helping me realize that special needs children photography is definitely something I would love to pursue!!! I am blessed to have met you both!!!

I won’t keep you waiting any longer! Here are images from the absolutely adorable Joaquin!

WARNING – You can’t help but smile when you see Joaquin’s smile! =) 

Aren’t his lashes ones to envy???

Oh that smile!

There it is again! Don’t you just want to give him a big hug?!

 

I love how secure and safe he is in mommy’s arms. That look of peace says it all. Mommy is his hero!

 

Thank you, Jennifer and Joaquin for sharing your weekend morning with me. I had a great time with you both and look forward to seeing you again!

New Beginnings - Coronado Beach San Diego

My last San Diego session was with a sweet couple that are not only newly married, but have a little one on the way!

Sharlyn and Ajay have the kind of relationship where when you see them you just KNOW they are in love and that they mean the world to each other. They are so sweet with each other it gives me a toothache! =)

I can only say that because they are like a little sister and brother to me. =)

I have watched my cousin Sharlyn grow from a toddler to a beautiful new bride and mom-to-be. She is a GLOWING mom-to-be at that.

Congratulations, Ajay and Sharlyn on your new life together as husband and wife. You will be AMAZING parents and I cannot wait to meet little miss J!

Love and miss you both!

 

They Grow Up So Fast

A long long long time ago my Godson Lorenzo was the first subject of my in-home “studio”. I would like to think that I have come a LONG way since then. ;)

Here he is at a few months old with his cousin Kacy. His mom and I made up a “studio” on the couch and photographed the two of them together. 

Lorenzo is the giant infant on the right. =) I believe he may have been between 3 and 5 months at the time.

12 years later and this is him now…

He has grown to be quite a TALL and handsome young man. It amazes me just how big he is. It doesn’t seem like too long ago that I would wake up in the morning and steal him from his mom’s bedroom so she could sleep in and I could get some cuddle time with the snuggle bug.

His mom, Sharon, is my cousin and I miss her a lot. She was one of my “partner in crimes” in San Diego. =)

 

While at the beach, her sister Sharlyn also had a portrait session so the sisters posed for a few shots together as well.

  

I miss you guys and can’t wait for you guys to visit us (hint hint…when are you coming?)

My All Time Favorite Next Door Neighbors EVER

While in San Diego I was ECSTATIC to get to see my old next door neighbors again (minus Greg).  They were THE best neighbors I have ever had. We had the kind of neighborly friendship where we would actually knock on each other’s doors to borrow sugar, milk, etc. You know, the stuff that typically happened on Leave it to Beaver! :)

We miss them dearly and miss the sound of them yelling “COOKIES” out their window or over their fence. (If you don’t know yet, my husband has some mean, DELICIOUS cookie recipes!) And I am sure they miss the sound of us yelling “LASAGNA” out our windows or over the fence.

Cande and Lisa have an amazing mother/daughter relationship. I hope to be as close to my boys when they are teenagers as Cande is to Lisa. They have fun together, tease each other and you can see just how close of a relationship they have.

Although you cannot see their faces, I like how you can see their shadows above the “love”.

A quick game of tic-tac-toe. Mom won, of course. :)

It’s All About Family – Balboa Park, San Diego, CA

I knew San Diego missed me when I woke up Sunday morning to yet another beautiful sunny, but not-too-hot, picture perfect day! :)

Sunday was filled with 4 portrait sessions so I was very happy that San Diego put on its best weather for me!

The first session of the day was the T family at Balboa Park.

I have known this family for years and it is safe to say that I don’t think I have ever been around them when they weren’t smiling and having fun with each other. They are all such a fun group of people and Sunday was definitely not any different.

Thank you, T Family, for allowing me to share your morning with you. And a BIG thank you to Dre and Andrew for letting me interrupt  Sunday football!

Kat and Gian – Balboa Park

I had the pleasure of going out to San Diego this last weekend for some portrait sessions. True to San Diego, the weather was BEAUTIFUL!

My first session of the weekend were the mother/son team of Kat and Gian.

Kat is one of my dearest friends. We have one of those friendships where we can finish each other’s sentences no matter how obscure the subject is. =) My husband often gets frightful when she and I are together because she shares my loudness, dorkness, goofiness and humor.

It was great meeting up with these two again. Gian has grown to be a handsome young man and I miss his “teenagerness” around my household. =)

I miss you two and I’m glad I had a chance to see you guys last weekend! MUAH!

 

Testimonial – Boudoir Session

Awhile back I posted Teri’s Boudoir/Glamour Session.

I was excited to receive her feedback-

“I was nervous about doing a boudoir session, but though it sounded like a fun idea. After a few minutes I began to feel really comfortable and excited about having some "sexy" photos of myself. You are so professional with a great sense of humor that put me at ease. You ability to gently direct me and at the same time listen to my ideas created a very lively session. I especially loved how beautiful you made me feel with the pictures you took. In the middle of the session tears came to my eyes when you showed me some of the images you had captured of me. I couldn't believe how good I looked! I hadn't thought of myself in that way, as sexy, flirty or beautiful in a long time. You made me feel really good about my body and myself. I am so grateful for the sense of joy you gave me from seeing my body and myself this way after so much time. Since the main reason I did this photo session was to give the pictures to my boyfriend for his birthday I have to mention his reaction! He absolutely loved the pictures! He could not stop talking about them and telling me how sexy I looked!! The smile on his face and the sparkle in his eye showed me he loved how good I looked! I want to thank you for showing me my beauty again. You brought that out in my and I want to thank you for that. It is such a tremendous gift and your photography and who you are brought that out in me.”

Have You Scheduled Your Holiday Portrait Session?

The Holidays are creeping up on us. Christmas is only 2.5 MONTHS AWAY!!!

Where did the year go? Mentally, I think I am still in February! =)

If you haven't scheduled your Holiday Portrait Session yet, then here is a great deal for you!

For the same price of our regular session, you will receive TWO High Resolution Digital Images ($40 value). These are great for sending through email to your friends and family, posting on your blog or Facebook page AND for getting those Holiday cards printed at Costco (they have great designs to choose from!) OR you can ask me about our Holiday templates. They are first come first serve basis and they will only be sold once. That ensures that my customer will have a one of a kind design this Holiday. =)

This special is only good for session that are booked AND completed by November 31st so schedule your session soon to ensure your date and time are available.

MRS Photography is San Diego Bound! Schedule A Portrait Session

I am VERY excited to announce that MRS Photography will be in San Diego October 24 and 25th for portrait sessions!

Sessions are available Saturday morning/early afternoon and Sunday afternoon (the morning sessions are already booked up!!! YEAH).

This is a great opportunity to have your Holiday family or children’s portraits, maternity, headshots (for you business folks or models), engagement, or high school senior portraits taken. View some of our recent work and our portrait session options at www.MRS-Photography.com.

Please pass this on to any of your friends or family that may be interested in scheduling a portrait session. You will receive a complimentary 8x10 ($20 value) for each session you refer.

Ready to schedule a session, email me at MRS@MRS-Photography.com or call me at 619-397-8497 to schedule your session. I look forward to seeing you!

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month –Photography Special – Please pass it on!

October is Down Syndrome awareness month and to honor the light of our lives, Cody…

I would like to extend a special to families that have been blessed with children with Down Syndrome. 

When you have a child with Special Needs so much of your heart is given to them. You forget about yourself and want nothing more than to give your child an equal opportunity at everything and to make them feel “normal” in a society that is quick to judge, quick to feel sorry for them (when there is no need to!), and for them to build a confidence to ensure they can do ANYTHING they put their mind to. Statistics mean nothing when you are a parent of a special needs child. For me, at least, my child will not be a statistic because the only one that Cody has to be compared against is, well, Cody. =)

If you are a parent that has a child with Down Syndrome I would like to offer you a 

Complimentary 30 minute session with an 8x10 print

The session also includes:

• Location of your choice
• Online viewing and ordering of your images for 2 weeks

Please feel free to forward this special to friends and family that have a child with Down Syndrome.

This offer ends October 31st, 2009.

Also, 10% of all sessions and print orders this month will be donated to the National Down Syndrome Society.

Glamour Session – Teri

There are so many moments in a women’s life when we judge ourselves too much. I know I do it too often. Daily sometimes.

We judge our looks more than anything – I need to lose weight, I wish I looked the way I looked 10 years ago, Oh no – a zit, my hair isn’t cooperating today. That is some of the dialogue that goes through my own head.

How often do we find the reason to pretty ourselves up for no reason just to feel good about ourselves? I think women need to do it more often. We need to see what others see in us and not be so hard on ourselves.

Lately, quite a number of my friends are going through life-changing moments in their lives. Some good, some bad. Some are just self-conscious. I have been wanting to do something for them to feel better about themselves. Something to let them see they are as beautiful on the inside and the OUTSIDE.

Then I realized I have a camera! That was the birth of the “Glamour” Sessions (AKA Feel good about your self session).

I have asked a few friends and family members to do “practice” sessions with me and my brother’s girlfriend, Teri, was the first to say yes and schedule a session.

As a photographer, nothing is more honoring than someone you photograph crying in disbelief that the beautiful person they see in the portrait is them.

I want to be able to help other women feel this GREAT about themselves!

Would you like to schedule your own Glamour session? An album with your portraits would make a great gift for your significant other! =)

Stay tuned for news on earning a FREE Glamour Session with Glamour Gals parties! In a nutshell, it is an opportunity to get your gal pals together for a fun night of makeup, hair, pretty clothes and pictures!!!!!!

Renee’s House of Hair Photo Shoot

I had the honor of photography hair models for Renee’s House of Hair in Vacaville. She is an awesome stylist that I personally use. She helps me conceal my “natural white highlights”. =)

Along with her husband (and barber) Donald, Renee created these amazing hairstyles for the models.

And with a powerhouse glam squad of makeup artists (they REALLY are artists) of Exquisite You Salon from Sacramento, they glammed the gals up and they were ready for their camera time!

I had a BLAST with these ladies (and the couple of gents) and am excited to share some of their images with you.

Visit my fan page on Facebook to view more images from the photo shoot.

This is Renee and Donald’s dog Sugar. While I was setting up the backdrop and lights, Sugar kept standing in front of the backdrop and pose. Isn’t she rockin’ that mohawk?

These were our male models for the day.

 

And now the artful display of makeup (I really wish I could have the glam squad fix me up every morning!) and beautiful hairstyles on the women!

(Check out the eye shadow art on these women!)

And our glamorous youngsters… 

It was great meeting all you models. You were all SO MUCH FUN !!! Let’s do this again!!!! =)

Day Care Portrait Session Sneak Peek

One of the reasons I love being a photograph is because I get to meet amazing people. I especially enjoy meeting children with vibrant personalities. They make it hard to walk away from a session without smiling and laughing at what a fun session we had.

Photographing the day care children last week was no exception. I met some amazing little ones that were SO full of personality. They made my job super easy and fun.

A couple of the children cried, but the end result were smiles from all of them.

Thank you, beautiful children, for allowing me to interrupt your school day and for brightening my day!

Here is a sneak peek of some of the children photographed that day. Aren’t they just absolutely adorable???