Sometimes I am the photo-ninja.  You have an idea I am nearby, but you are not exactly sure when I might appear behind a door or, in this case, an infant swing. In its proper operation (swinging, filled with a sleeping baby), I find it difficult to catch a crisp focus while it’s in motion.  My client/friend Jenn and her baby Lily were my victims, ahem… models this day. SO sweeeeet! I love the natural (no flash), raw unpredictability of this type of shooting. Babies are always in control. They mesmerize, hypnotize and basically turn on their cuteness stun guns. I cannot stop staring and shooting and smiling and yes… getting nothing done but baby ogling, watching the miracle before me just breathe! At some point I am the one captured, not the subject. Those little toes, the amazingly perfect lips and eyelashes, and their itty-bitty hands… and then, their eyes open and you’re hooked. Maybe, just maybe, if someone harnessed the tractor-beam force behind the eyes of a child that sees the world in awe and splendor without prejudice or great fear, we would be nicer folk to one another. I think they call it unconditional love. Yes, unconditional. Thank you, I’ll take two of those please……

Here she is… that sleeping snuggle of smoochey goodness waiting to be held and loved by her family……… Lily Ann

And Jenn may hunt me down for using these images of her without make-up or wardrobe change… but I couldn’t resist the unrehearsed moments here.  I just had to share them with you. Beautiful and real…here are a few of those moments.

Ahhhh, she’s awake! Precious…..

“my gift is how I see life, my art is telling your story”

Moms are where we trust and store our hurts and fears, our dreams and our hopes of accomplishment, and in this place we can know these things to be held safe and precious.They hold us close, kiss the boo-boos, listen to our prayers, teach us the difference between grace and mercy, and are able to superglue anything back together with great efficiency that which we were asked not to touch in the first place.

Here are a collection of some of my favorite quotes, and images that define that kind of sacrificial love…

” A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie, for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.” ~Tenneve Jordan

“All mothers are working mothers.” ~author unknown

“Sweater, n: garment worn by a child when its mother is feeling chilly.” ~Abrose Bierce

“Mothering is like being pecked to death by chickens” ~ Tracey Koos

“All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That is his.”  ~Oscar Wilde

“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”  ~Elizabeth Stone

“Her children arise up, and call her blessed.”  ~Proverbs 31:28

“I cannot forget my mother. She is my bridge. When I needed to get across, she steadied herself long enough for me to run across safely.”  ~ Renita Weems

“When I was a child, my mother said to me “If you become a soldier, you will be a general. If you become a monk, you will end up as the Pope.” Instead I became a painter,and wound up as Picasso.”         ~Pablo Picasso

May you know now how much your mom loves you long before you explore the attic or basement full of the precious items she kept that remind her of you. Hidden are the photographs taken, fingerpainted art, baby shoes, handmade chipped pottery, construction paper Valentine’s Day hearts and report cards from every school year…these are her treasures.  She is ours.

and speaking of our treasures…”Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” ~ Matthew 6:21

 

“my gift is how I see life …my art is telling your story”

like Brad, Clint and Dale.

There are not many boys that truly become men, ask any wife or mother and they will tell you that men are just much hairier versions of their younger selves, but internally ,emotionally they are at best, little boys.  I love boys. I mean, I love the antics, the conversations, the mindset, the spontaneity and daredevilry of the all American boy. I so enjoy shooting them too. Especially the three brothers here, Brad, Clint and Dale. ( Amy, their sister is absent, but you will see her in a post later this year hopefully) They agreed to get together on this afternoon to shoot this session for their mom. I love that. For their mom, for Mom’s Day, and to give her their smiles, a glimpse of their personalities, ( and yes Clint ) their awesomeness to cherish and remember these moments frozen in time forever.

So, can you tell me who is in charge here?  They are. I just followed them around and listened to their antagonisms to one another, their understated comical verbal jabs and their mental jousts revealing the natural order of things, as they proved the theories of birth order.

Brad is the oldest. He is very smart, with a quick wit and outrageous sense of humor. He is the quiet kind, speaking only when spoken to with no hesitation to show his respect for others and love for his country. He is a Search and Rescue corpsman in the Navy (I feel safer already as I scale this twenty foot ladder to grab the alley shots).  He and his wife Danni soon will be living near us in San Diego. I cannot wait to show them “my” Southern California.

Clint is the middle man… reflective, carefully analyzing the situation, highly intelligent, Psych student at the University of Central Florida. Asking all the right questions about my career and my passion for it, I hear him sarcastically quip “So, you’re trying to catch our awesomeness, right?” Funny stuff. I did…and there was plenty to catch. These images are just a third of the afternoon’s catch! Thanks for sharing that with me Clint. Love your ink, too.

Ok, and then there’s Dale. Absolutely the edge. He’s smart, hysterically funny, and an awesomely gifted self-taught musician with some amazing ink to ponder. And of course not being the conservative type, we had a good chat and I learned some new vocab. Thank you, Dale. He had to leave our session early to get to work , but I think we have dozens of images that really capture his character,and he is a great character.

I fell madly in like with these guys. What good sports, and what gracious, respectful men. Killer sweetness, gorgeous eyes and dreamy jawlines….I told you there are a few good men, and there are cajillions more out there. I married one, my son is one, and for all you mothers that are listening and reading, I am sure you are agreeing with me. Behind every great man there is a loving mom, faithfully praying, hoping, and dreaming for their future with a happy ending.

Happy Mom’s Day to Terri , these wonderful guys’ amazing, (and beautiful) proud mom. She even assisted me with our session. If you look closely at the photo montage, you will see her walking with her sons while pulling my camera gear pack. Thank you, Terri, for giving me this opportunity, and thank you, guys, for your patience, enthusiasm and entertaining banter on this afternoon. Funny stuff… but the question is, can anyone handle all this awesomeness?

“my gift is how I see life…my art is telling your story”

 

I remember when my sister used to shadow my every move … copy everything I did, borrow my clothes, pester me with thousands of absurd questions and always seem to walk away unscathed from the most dastardly of deeds. Ok, wait a minute that might have been me?  It was hard to tell who was really the big sister.  I still call her to cry on her shoulder, beat up the bullies for me, and give me the transparent truth about my self without sugar sprinkles on it.

Like these sisters…

Sydney, who we now believe was surgically joined to her cell phone and iPod through infinite hours of texting can now text blindly in complete darkness since the keypad labels have been erased. How does she do it? (my camera is an extension of me, but I would have a hard time capturing images without light) Her cell phone is always in “on ” mode and when you listen to her grunt words into the phone every so often you realize there is actually someone participating on the other end. What are they saying? And if the conversations are hours long, every minute of the day, what is left to say? I feel an eye-roll coming from her even as I write this, ahemm. She aspires to be a marine biologist or maybe even a zoologist. This summer she is enrolled in the scuba diving program at the Dolphin Research Center in the Florida Keys, where she will be studying aquatic marine life. (Boys in wet-suits not included) Science comes really easy to her in school, and she told me if she doesn’t receive her regular A’s an B’s her mom yells at her. ( Parents…arghhh) She is a assistant cheerleading coach and a track manager at her junior high and absolutely loves to run. It’s her favorite pastime other than talking on the cell phone and listening to her tunes on her iPod. She is a fashion freak too… I love the way she likes to put outfits together. She tries to be unique and wear things so she isn’t a clone of everyone else. Yeah for being yourself! Love that. And she is the big sister of…

Baillee. You may find in the thesaurus the words drama queen, or schemer or precocious…all would show a little icon with a stick figure of Baillee and her many facial expressions but especially the smirky-smiling one. Baillee loves anything in the colour pink, dressing up in her mom’s highest heels and singing at the top of her lungs songs, that we are not sure she didn’t co-write with Beyonce (but she’s only seven!). She is a sensitive little elfin cherub, hilariously unpredictable, not lacking in the ability to express herself or show you who is in charge…until thunder and lightening strikes and then the tiny Tigger cowers. I know because we had a quick torrential downpour during our session and we couldn’t start again until the sun came out. (again it’s hard for me to shoot in the dark…but I do love rainshowers). The girls wore their “dancing” dresses for this session, quote from Baillee: “… you know, the kind that twirls with all the sparkles on them”. Yes, I do. They wanted to be sweet and beautiful for their mom to show them they could at least look like they get along even if it was only in a photo.

My nieces have my sister’s eyes. Their personalities are a mixture of her and my brother- in- law, but I think that smirky-smile thingy is definitely my sister.   That is the cautionary sign something unexpected, unpredicted, will happen… and there is no antidote.

Happy Early Mom’s Day baby sister,… here are a few of those images you picked out of the girls favorites of our afternoon together. And BTW, thanks for the free-range turkey tips… it turned out edible (amazing what turning on the oven will do).   I love you too.

I will be posting more of my recent Mom’s Day sessions soon, so hang in there this might get to be a regular this blogging thingy. (inserting smirky-smile here).

“my gift is how I see life…my art is telling your story”

I know, I know…I have been neglecting you. So please forgive me for not speaking to you on a regular basis. I have a basket full of great intentions. You hoped I was kidding when I first told you I would post randomly.  I have amazing clients, with beautiful stories to tell of their lives, but I am very tardy in getting their images edited and web worthy, and the stories written to give them to you.

No more excuses… just a little thought…I am not perfect…but redeemed and forgiven.   Happy Easter! (that’s what it’s all about.)

This is Sunshine, in her Easter bonnet ( ears) walking her friends along the harbor in Long Beach Sunday afternoon. Happy Easter to you too Sunshine!

Pray I will find a path to the door to see real sunshine before I leave to fly to work this week… I heard it’s spring out there, and there is life beyond my digital darkroom.

 

“my gift is how I see life…my art is telling your story”

 

 

Sometimes I am asked by my female clients to shoot a private session for their fiance’ or husband, so we secretly rendezvous to a mysteriously beautiful location and create the most romantic and intimate atmosphere we possibly can. These images are intended for those quiet moments before the wedding, when their partners can see the images privately and reflect on the girl they are about to marry, or sometimes they are created as an anniversary gift just to celebrate the years they have been married. Wives love giving these to their husbands who have been deployed overseas and, of course, the guys love getting them too!

 

First we collaborate on the locations, the wardrobe ( you may want to bring a few pieces of your newly acquired lingerie, fun dresses, or jeans and t-shirts, your guy’s button-down dress shirt, favorite jewelry, and of course those amazing heels you’re dying to show-off!) and then if you wish to indulge, we will talk about providing professional hairstyling and or make-up to create just the right look for your guy. These are tasteful, intimate, and gorgeous images designed for you using the most natural light available. After you choose your 40 favorite images of the day, they will be printed into a little keepsake storybook-style album and bound together with a choice of linen or leather covers. Best part…you remember this day, and get to keep the evidence! I get a kick out of knowing that your man really loves and enjoys receiving these images.

 

p.s. …I love you (p rivate s essions)

It’s the beauty inside you that counts…and, of course, he already knows that!

“my gift is how I see life…my art is telling your story”

Armen has always been a source of  encouragement to “work with my hands” and sculpt from my experiences the art I envision in my head.

I met Armen when I was in eighth grade. She was the older sister of a guy friend. I looked up to her, and was mesmerized by her artsy-ness. She has been my friend since way back in “the days” before Disney came to Florida, and being a naturalist meant allowing nature into your every day thinking,  not thinking “green” to be politically correct. We were the original granola chicks… post-hippies, who never tired of trying to love everyone or everything unconditionally.

And Armen does… her art background is in graphic design. She started her business 28 years ago painting signs, designing business cards and logos, and eventually created her own greeting card line. She collects encouraging, positive quotes about life, and incorporates them into her hand-drawn pen and ink creations, which she then watercolors individually. Armen built her business through personal relationships, not blog updates, and Facebook pokes. Even though she owns a computer, she still has one-on-one conversations with all her clients. She listens and always come up with the end result being a great rendition of what they dreamed, with the clients personality and business attributes built into the project. She created my first business card for me over 12 years ago… and I have had a handful of clients tell me they kept that old card because they loved the photograph on the front with its artistic uniqueness.

Here are just a few of the images of our session together when I was in Florida. These images of the door are included because I love the project she created for an art installation in downtown Orlando a few years ago.  Area Central Florida artists were chosen to create a project about LIFE using the blank canvas of an eight foot paneled door. Each artist chose a word that they would give “life” to, and describe it through their medium. Armen chose the word love, and used the Chinese symbol for love with the quote and description coming down the center of the door as in a scroll. On the back of the door she used tromp loeil and painted quotes to appear as if they were pieces of paper attached with pins or tape at their corners.( It looks so real!)

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Thank you Armen for this session with me…  I got a great workout carrying that door down the street to your lake, (that thing was heavy!) Armen decided to create these images with me …(not waiting until you’re not so busy, or until you lose that extra ten pounds, or until the next issue that troubles you comes along as the excuses why not to be photographed),…to celebrate her life…. the woman/artist/friend/partner/mentor/loved one to her family that she is now.  She appreciates what she has accomplished in her life, what she has learned along the way, and is joyous and thankful in her celebration of it.

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There has never been anything artificial about you, and I believe the beauty here is real, inside and out. No Photoshop necessary to show a beautiful creation that God has made in you.  You have been given a gift in those hands to demonstrate your love for life !

Here’s an excerpt from one of her collected quotes that I really like:

“Nothing is ever lost. Not time; for what seems to have passed, lives on in the wisdom of future decisions. Not money; for what seems to have been spent, was only invested. And not love; for what seems to have vanished, has only moved so close you must look within your heart to see it.”    .….unknown source

 

“my gift is how I see life…my art is telling your story”

Becca is engaged!
Being in love…it’s as if there is a gravitational pull, a chemical imbalance until that one is with you, and then all that you are becomes real…and because those moments are shared together, each morsel of life tastes more delicious and every colour appears more vivid.

You know the ad that says: “Life comes at you fast…”? Well in this case, that’s true. We shot these images last autumn as a secret session for Becca’s boyfriend, Dan. Now, he’s her fiance! I have been wanting to post a slideshow sneak-peek of some of those images to show how beautiful she is (obviously to her soon-to-be husband, and to the rest of the world) and today was the perfect day.

Becca wanted to capture all the romance and glamour of the old Hollywood ingenues because many of those old film stars and musicals are her favorites. This 19-year-old loves Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland musicals, Disneyland and reading on a rainy day. Becca is a Southern California native, but she has traveled to over half the U.S. before she was 18. She told me she could make smoothies in her sleep (that’s her job), and that, now more than anything, she prays for God’s perfect will in her future with Dan.

itunes: Sara Barailles( live )…….Gravity

Becca confesses that she’s had a crush on Dan since she first laid eyes on him in junior high.They together now lead those students in praise and worship at their church. Becca, with her sweet clear voice, sings and plays piano/keyboards, and Dan leads the group playing guitar and singing.

Becca is very special to me. She has been one of the people who loved me unconditionally when I moved here to California. She is truly my friend. She is the epitome of outer beauty, inner peace and joy. She just asked if I would photograph their wedding…I would be honored (no arm twisting necessary) and look forward to shooting their engagement session soon! Thank you Becca…


“my gift is how I see life…my art is telling your story”

 

Why is it that when you are in a tremendous hurry, or you have to be somewhere on time and you are in “late arrival” mode, objects from the universe are placed in front of you, hurling randomly into your path from the nether regions of outer space to find themselves between you and your destination? This was one of those chaotic moments I speak of as I maneuvered through the waves of human life crushing past me on this day in the Jackson Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. There is an old saying in the south… ” Whether you are going to heaven or hell, you have to connect through Atlanta”. This might be true.
On this day I am traveling to Orlando from Orange County, California. I am in a hurry.( really) I am not LATE. I have plenty of time (20 min.)before the plane takes off. Out of the corner of my eye, (the other corner is dodging airport shuttle traffic, small human engines running from parents, folks older than me dragging luggage and what seems to be the years of taking a slower pace) I notice a man lying on the floor of a gateway in the E terminal reading a book The Shack with his head on a backpack. He is wearing camouflage. Not that once trendy sand camo….real standard military issue camo. Before I can completely stop in the flow of passengers I realize there are about 10 or maybe 15 more dressed accordingly at his gate waiting. Hmmm? I now have 15 minutes.
I believe that there are enough miraculous moments to capture with my camera without ever leaving my neighborhood that could keep me busy for a lifetime. I could spend hours just shooting the sunlight pouring in my window on my staircase, more time than should be allowed. The story is there you have to see it, catch it, and realize that it may be your only chance before the light changes and the moment is gone. This was one of those “story” moments. I wanted to be in it. I wanted everyone to be in it also.
I placed my gear at my gate with a very understanding, reliable looking elderly couple and told them what I needed to do. My gear was in capable hands. (do not ever do this, it’s always against airport security)I grabbed my camera-without an external flash so as to be less obtrusive( and also to prevent camera confiscation)and pinballed back down the terminal dodging bodies to catch these moments. I asked for verbal permission since I had no waivers with me. I am the photo sniper.
I had to wait until the traffic cleared to catch the first few shots. The light was ugly yellow green fluorescent ( pardon my very low resolutions and my camera shake),but the reflection off the floor gave me a great shot for my soldier reading his book. I quickly darted around the gate, asking their stories, telling mine, and asking permission from those not sleeping. I can’t stop. I have 10 minutes.
Ten minutes for the men and women who were all from different platoons. They were brought together to form one team. They didn’t know each other, they only know this was not a drill, or training, they were going off together to work. It was their mission, their job, what they had been training for…soldiers, heroes, just regular folk. Their connection was delayed that day and they had been there for hours, waiting. Checking family updates online, writing loved ones, playing computer games, eating pizza, sleeping, praying, listening to music on their iPods, and waiting. Their destination was Afghanistan. Maybe you have thought about them. Prayed or spoken quiet wishes for them. Theirs is not a job I could do, or want to do. I love these women and men. They are doing this for their families, for us, and for each other. Thank you isn’t enough.
I want to try to thank you, all of you for going there for me. For standing up for what you believe, and for waiting there that day. I got to meet you. You are amazing Americans. You are my heroes. You gave me time with you, and now I know what to pray for you. That is the least I can do, and here are the (21) photos I promised you. Thank you.

p.s. I was the last to board my flight…, but I made it. I trust you all did too.






















































































































Dear heroes,
If you would like a copy of an image of you for your family please get in touch with me through my website contact page, it would be my pleasure to send one to them.
God bless you, -cece










































“my gift is how I see life…my art is telling your story”

“my gift is how I see life…my art is telling your story”