Beautiful: Inside & Out - San Diego Maternity Photographer Sneak Peak

This is one of my best friends Chrystal, who is expecting baby boy #2 any day now! I was so excited to do her maternity shoot, we actually did two! :P Hahaha. Our first attempt, Alaina spent hours doing Chrystal's hair & makeup, we fought ridiculous traffic all the way to our location, and just barely arrived the last moments of the "golden hour" for me to realize MY MEMORY CARD WAS STILL AT HOME AN HOUR AWAY. I wanted to strangle myself!!! We were in such a hurry getting her ready, leaving the kids with the boys at home, giving them directions on how & when to feed them, change them, play with them, and everything else that I totally forgot my dang memory card... So we went home and did some studio style shots, and decided to start over the next day. Alaina did her hair and makeup again the next morning (thanks Lane, we love you!) and we decided to do her shoot in broad mid-day light...which I am SO glad we ended up doing. Sunset pictures are stunning and all, but that high & bright sunshine just LIGHTS up that beautiful turquoise sea that La Jolla boasts. I've been dying to use my hand painted parasols (check out the asian one in Alaina & Kevin's shoot!) and this so happened to be the perfect opportunity to use my green one! :) Chrystal has been through a lot with this pregnancy: Placenta Previa which ended up disappearing (God is so good!), USMC stress, and the every day exhaustion of being a super mom to a 2 1/2 year old boy, with another on the way. Her husband just deployed to Afghanistan with a few hours notice a few days ago. No, I'm not kidding! At 36 weeks, she got a call that morning from her husband telling her to grab his gear out of his closet, he was being sent overseas in a few hours. Semper Gumby Marine Wives!!! Now that is a strong woman. Chrystal, you are so beautiful inside and out, and I can't think of anyone else who is deserving of TWO days of pampering and shoots all about YOU. I love you and can't wait to show you the rest of your photos. Enjoy your previews!

The Notebook Engagement Shoot Sneak - San Diego Engagement Photographer

Alaina & Kevin got engaged a while ago, and between both of our busy schedules, it was so hard to find a date that didn't clash between the two of us. We had about 3 attempts to get this done, and I'm SO glad that it DID take that long. I wanted to keep their session youthful and full of energy...but at the same time, romantic and mature. I've always wanted to shoot at Belmont Park in Mission Beach and when I told Alaina about my ideas, the concept took off! She wanted something vintage, which I was totally up for (you know me!) and we came to the idea of something Notebook inspired at a carnival/fair... Here are just 3 of the 100 pictures that I want to put up! But I just want to torture my sister-in-law with what's to come. :) I love you both so much, and I couldn't be happier with your shoot. A session full of laughs, love, kisses and headaches (thanks to rickety roller coasters).  Enjoy your sneaks!

"R" Family Preview - San Diego Family Photographer

This gorgeous family contacted me all the way from Nebraska! They frequently visit Carlsbad for family vacations and always thought it would be fun to take some family portraits with the stunning backdrop that San Diego can offer... They finally took the plunge, and I'm so glad they chose me to do it with! We had so much fun. Hope you enjoy your preview "R" family, you guys are great and have amazing kids.

Newport Beach Wedding - San Diego Wedding Photographer

This weekend, I had the awesome opportunity to shoot a wedding in Newport Beach. And not only that, it was on a YACHT that cruised smoothly around the bay, passing Balboa Peninsula & Island while the two love birds exchanged their vows on the Pacific Ocean.  It was wonderful. Here are a few sneaks!

Mrs. Columbia

Isn't she just gorgeous? After Alaina and I finished this shoot, Alaina brought up that she looked a lot like Sandra Bullock and even Kim Kardashian! She totally does! Silvia is a Columbian native who is surprising her husband with some absolutely stunning pictures for his birthday. He's currently deployed, and he's being led on to think that she's buying him something...which, is the truth...somewhat! I can't wait to hear about his reaction when he receives that package! She's done some modeling work back home, with some big names like Guess. I love the dynamic of women that I do sessions for. Women who are experienced in modeling, and women who have never had any type of photo shoot other than those cold and awkward "tilt your forehead towards me, chin right, ear down, shoulder back, OKAY HOLD IT!" school photos.  It really makes my job a lot more fun having such a great mixture of clients.

Thank you Silvia, you did an amazing job and you look amazing!!! Your husband is one lucky man!

Curvy beauty!!!

I really, really couldn't pick which ones to share with you all. I just loved every single one of the pictures that I edited of Ria. What it really came down to was what ones I found appropriate for sharing. :) She was such a sweet girl, her beauty really does run bone deep. Ria contacted me a few months ago, and we set up this session around her family vacation. She drove all the way down from San Fransisco to beautiful San Diego for this shoot! I was so flattered that she chose Alaina and I to work with her! These are going to be an anniversary gift to her fiancé. SO excited for him to see these! Prepare Ria, he will be at your feet! Hehehe.  You did such a great job, you would have no idea that this was your FIRST shoot ever!!!

Just one!

Here is a preview of Ms. Ria's boudoir I did yesterday. She couldn't stand to wait and just wanted to see ONE picture!!! Just one! :) Gorgeous!!!