Project 52 Month 4 | Family Photographer San Clemente

So, while being a Family Photographer in San Clemente, I like to create things that are just for me, or as I call it, personal work. It's so good to make sure, as an artist, that you're shooting for yourself. It helps keep the creative juices flowing and also takes off the pressure to deliver something specific. You get to just play around with your camera and lenses and practice, experiment, create!

That's why I started my Project 52! It helped take, not only me, but other photographers, out of our normal routines, our comfort zones if you will. It makes us think a little differently, a little more creatively, maybe. It's fun and it's great getting to see everyone's different perspective on the weekly themes. 

For the month of April, our themes were: 
Week 13: Dream
I had recently purchased the Canon 85L lens, and it is SO DREAMY

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 Week 14: Spring
How can one not think of spring when you see a little birdy sitting in a tree

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Week 15: Fresh
Fresh dew on a blade of grass

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Week 16: Flowers
These are....mustard plants? They're normally very bright yellow, however, I altered them in post production just because. 

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If you're interested in seeing the other week's themes, you can check them all out here:
Month 1
Month 2
Month 3

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Acrylic Blocks | Family Photographer San Clemente

As a Family Photographer in San Clemente, I am always looking for new, unique, beautiful products to offer to my clients. I love offering real, tangible, heirloom quality products with my collections because I believe they are more important than just having a digital file. 

I know I've never gone over to a friends house and asked to see the USB drive of images. Nope, instead, when I walk in and see photos displayed on their walls and table and mantles, I stop and stare, touch, admire. Nothing really says "artwork" like a beautiful product displaying your memories. 

Recently, I discovered just how wonderfully beautiful Acrylic Blocks are. They are sturdy and pristine. Seriously, I'm in love, and I think you will be as well!

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I am SO EXCITED to be offering these incredible pieces of art and I would LOVE for you to have one for your own home! Contact Me today if you're looking for a Family Photographer in San Clemente

Little Fighter, Kaavya | Gold Hope Project Photographer

Sometime, about a year ago, I signed up with The Gold Hope Project to be a contributing photographer for their amazing organization. This is a non-profit organization that donates photography sessions to families being affected by childhood cancer.

This is such a special project for me because I truly believe childhood cancer needs more research, which means more funding to get that research. The hope of the project is to try and help raise awareness. I think it's beautiful and I want to help however I can to help get the word out about them.

A couple months ago, I was contacted to see if I could take on my first Fighter Session. While I'll never be "happy" that we even need to have these sessions, but I was excited to meet Kaavya and her family.

Kaavya is a 3 year old little sparkler. She's full of sass and spunk and my goodness is she smart! She was diagnosed with Wilm's Tumor and has gone through surgery and chemo. Thankfully, she has great odds that she will beat this and live a full, happy life. Kaavya is an empathetic little fighter. She hates seeing others in pain, but she's so strong when it comes to dealing with her own. She LOVES Peppa Pig. She's also a big fan of Catboy and Owlette. You'll see a couple photos of her "gearing up" to run SUPER fast like Catboy, and also one of her using her Owlette eyes to look for daddy.

We had our session in downtown San Juan Capistrano. Which worked out so well because there's a train station there, and she loved watching the trains go by. She even tried convincing her parents to go take a train ride.

During our session, I quickly realized that it was I who was being blessed with this session. While I was doing it in hopes of shedding some light on Kaavya's situation and other's like her, and also to bring some happiness to her and her parents through these memories I was capturing, it was me who left feeling happier and more blessed than before I had arrived to the session. It was truly and honestly my pleasure to be able to photograph this beautiful family and such a lively little girl.

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the gold hope project photographer
the gold hope project photographer
the gold hope project photographer
the gold hope project photographer
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the gold hope project photographer
the gold hope project photographer
the gold hope project photographer
the gold hope project photographer
the gold hope project photographer
the gold hope project photographer
the gold hope project photographer
the gold hope project photographer
the gold hope project photographer
the gold hope project photographer
the gold hope project photographer

You can also learn more about Kaavya from the blog on the TGHP site: Meet Kaavya

If yours or a family you know is being affected by childhood cancer, please reach out to The Gold Hope Project for a session. You just need to fill out the application here: Gold Hope Fighter Application

 

Project 52, Month 2 | San Clemente Family Photographer

Following up with my Project 52, Month 1 (which you can see HERE), I'm a little late getting these posted. I love that being a San Clemente Family Photographer, I'm not limited to any one thing. I get to photograph families, babies, births, and special projects just for me. That's what this Project 52 is all about.

While coming up with the themes middle-end of last year was a little difficult (it's hard to think of 52 original themes). It's also not easy to come up with WHAT to actually photograph for these themes. But that's the fun part. The themes are open to our own interpretation and as artists, we're free to go with what we are feeling.

So, without further ado, here are my weeks 5-8 of Month 2. Can you spot the theme I created within the themes? Here's a hint... there's a certain holiday that happens during the month of February ;)

Our theme for week 5 was RED
I instantly thought of fruit when I saw this theme. I happened to have some pomegranates in my fridge (I LOVE pomegranate seeds). So I figured, why not cut it up and photograph the beautiful design that hides inside.

san clemente photographer

Our week 6 theme was: Passion
I chose to do a selfie session with my boy, Capone. My passion is capturing the moments, the memories. So that's just what I did. And I swear, he's not as terrified as I made him look by hugging him like this

san clemente photographer

Week 7: Love
I can't even begin to describe how much I love this boy. He was the first dog my husband and I got together. He was destined to be ours and he has been loyal ever since.

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And finally... Our week 8 was: Hearts
I happened to be doing a Gold Hope Session this week. So I wanted to incorporate this little heart sign that I made for the little girl to hold.

san clemente photographer

I have to admit, so far, I'm pretty proud of myself for sticking with it. we are already on week 12, so I'll be sharing more in the next couple weeks. I hope you're loving seeing these as much as I'm loving creating them.

If you're looking to have a family session (or maternity, birth, newborn), I would love for you to Contact Me today to talk about capturing your memories!

 

Saying Goodbye | San Clemente Family Photographer

As a San Clemente Family Photographer, I often express the importance of a photograph. I always say "When we're gone, the photographs will be all that's left to remember us by." Last week, these words became all the clearer. When you have to say "Goodbye", you understand the true importance of a photograph.

My uncle passed away last week. It was heartbreaking. For his wife, who he had spent 42 years with. For his children, who he loved to teach. For his grandchildren, who he loved to love. For all of his friends and family, and for me.

When I heard the news, one of the first things I thought about was the photos I took of him at my cousin's wedding almost 3 years ago. I cannot even begin to explain just how grateful I am to have those images to look back on. I'm also glad that my cousin and my aunt have those images to look back on as well. My only regret is that there aren't more of them.

You see, when someone passes, that's when things become clear. The time we didn't spend, the talks we didn't have, and the pictures we didn't take. Thankfully, my family had tons of other photographs of him that they were able to share and look back on.

He was a kindhearted soul. I always remember him being laid back, funny, and patient. He loved his family and he was kind to everyone he met. He will forever be missed by anyone who knew him. And I'll forever be thankful that I am a San Clemente Family Photographer who was able to capture my uncle in photographs, even if I wish we had more.

 

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Military Homecoming | Camp Pendleton Homecoming Photographer

As a Camp Pendleton Homecoming Photographer it is my pleasure to be able to capture families welcoming their own personal heroes home from a deployment. Being away from someone you love is hard enough. Being away from them for 6 months or more, and we're talking nearly unbearable.

Military families are strong and resilient. We are a community that stands by one another and supports each other. We all get it. We all know what it's like. We all have that one thing in common. Things get tough, but we just keep on going... because we have to.

I met Ravan the day Mike was returning from his 6 month military deployment. We drove down to where the homecoming was supposed to be, only to find out that it was being delayed a few hours. This is totally normal in the military life. Things never really go as planned, that's why we have plans B, C all the way through Z already in place. Instead of driving back home at the risk of needing to turn right back around, we decided to grab some frozen yogurt and sit and chat. I loved this opportunity because I got to know Ravan and Mason a bit more. I loved how excited Mason was that Mike was coming home. They already had so much planned out that they were going to do together.

We waited quite a while, which you might be able to imagine was pure torture for Mason. But the reaction I caught when Mike finally arrived was priceless.

I am so thankful that I am able to capture these moments. And I am so thankful for our men and women who serve our country. Thank you!

 

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camp pendleton homecoming photographer
camp pendleton homecoming photographer

If you or someone you know is looking for a Camp Pendleton Homecoming Photographer, I would love to hear from you. Just shoot me a message:

Also, feel free to check out my Homecoming Collection Information