Nostalgia Portraits: Capturing Your Life...

Family of Three and Three-month old!

2010-09-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

'Tis the busy busy busy season! Right about now, the phone calls are pretty much nonstop since everyone's realized that the holidays are right around the corner!!! Just thinking about it gives me heart palpitations. Although I LOVE the holidays, they seriously stress me out. When I start hearing Christmas music playing at the Falls, that's when I really start to come undone. :/ I met this adorable family yesterday and soon they will be a family of 4! That's right, Miles is going to be a big brother! And this morning, I had the chance to see the scrumptious Ashton who not so long ago I captured fresh out of the womb. He is absolutely delicious and still has not lost one strand of hair. Perfect!

Miss Chloe...

2010-09-14T13:35:00.000-07:00

Warning: This post dates me! When I received a call from Zasha (Chloe's mommy) that she had just had a baby girl, I was like "It can't be. She's so young." Then it hit me: it's been a good 6-7 years since I see her. My goodness where does the time go? Zasha was a sophomore at high school when I met her while I was teaching. That was over 8 years ago. Since then, she's graduated from UM with her Master's Degree, gotten married and now has a baby girl. Incredible! And what can I say about little Miss Chloe? She slept like an angel for me and she's already 4 weeks old. Love it when I get sleepy babies!!! I'm thrilled to know that I'll be seeing Miss Chloe more often now as she's part of our "Grow With Me" package. Yay!!!

Knots of Hope...

2010-09-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

Let me tell you a little about a wonderful charity started a few years ago by a seventh grader! Yup, you heard right. With a little motivation and a whole lot of help from Mom and supportive friends, Priscilla Suzal-Wright was able to make this organization what it is today. She is now an 11th grade IB student at Coral Reef Senior High. Knots of Hope was founded in order to raise awareness about organ transplants and donation as well as to raise necessary funds to help families that are affected by this. By coming together, making, and selling beaded bracelets, this group of now 35 girls have been able to help raise funds for The Transplant Foundation. They are also having their very first Knots of Hope Gala this October with the goal of raising money for their cause. For more information about this group, please visit
http://transplantfoundation.org/knotsofhope.asp
and to become a fan of their Facebook page and find out how you can contribute, please visit http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Fans-of-Knots-of-Hope/105334536187413?v=info&ref=ts

Founder Priscilla Suzal-Wright...

Officers...

Moms of members and organ recipients as well...

Miss Samantha...

2010-09-10T10:31:00.000-07:00

Oh my, the life of a two-year old... If you want to learn the power of distraction, just ask any parent of a two-year old. One minute, fiercely upset, the next, laughing at the top of our lungs! It's always exciting in their world and these sessions are never dull or boring. Miss Samantha has the most intense eye lashes and the most beautiful smile. She's waiting for her baby sister to arrive in just a couple of weeks. I had the pleasure of getting to play with her for a little while and I think I was able to capture that spirit of hers!

Another Pretty Mama!

2010-09-10T07:21:00.000-07:00

Lots of pretty ladies having babies lately. September and October always seem to be peak season for maternity and newborn shoots. Those holidays really work magic on a couple, don't they? ;) Here is the lovely Ariane! So modest, yet stunningly beautiful! Reminds me a little of Claire Danes, huh? I can't wait to meet Mr. Nathaniel!

Miss Brooke!

2010-09-07T18:29:00.000-07:00

Now while I don't normally like to schedule sessions at 2 months age, I have to say this session went beautifully! At two months, babies are finicky creatures. They're wakeful and irritable, don't smile a whole lot, and rarely look at the camera. Hello????
Little Brooke obviously did not get the memo on normal 2-month behavior. Just look at this beauty! All smiles and eye contact! She didn't even cry until the very end (really mean reflux :( ) and by that time, she had pretty much given us what we needed. It also helped that Daddy was there. She doesn't even have to see him. Just the sound of his voice set off that adorable toothless grin. A true "Daddy's Girl" she is. Without further ado, I present to you Miss Brooke...

Studio Kinda Day!

2010-09-06T10:43:00.000-07:00

With South Florida's unpredictable weather, the studio's been my friend!!! Saturday's three sessions were full of color, smiles, and rain-free weather. :) Here's a peek at all 3...

Stop this Train...

2010-09-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

This song... ALWAYS makes me cry. I can't even get through the first verse without getting all choked up. I have this slide show in my mind that constantly plays when I hear certain songs and this is definitely one of those. Although I love the idea of watching my family grow, I just want to freeze this time. I've lost so many important people in my life that the thought of losing one more... can't even finish the sentence. I guess it's just one of those nostalgic days. Here is that wretched song and here are some of my favorite snapshots revisited...

Beautiful Luna!

2010-09-03T06:01:00.000-07:00

How I love a happy baby! Luna's in that perfect laugh-at-everything stage. We played tons of peek-a-boo and dressed her up in all kinds of cute outfits and accessories. I just love her expression in the one with her purple outfit. Sooooo cute!

Itty Bitty Belly...

2010-08-31T19:49:00.000-07:00

When this beautiful mommy contacted me for maternity pics at 34 weeks, I envisioned myself at 34 weeks. Ha, ha, not so pretty. I had 3 huge bellies, so much so that my maternity pics were done at about 28-29 weeks. After that time, I'd get the wide-eyed look from people asking me, "Any day now, huh?". Well, in comes Jennifer with her tiny little belly. She looks fantastic (even though like every pregnant woman she thinks she's huge)! I also loved that she brought things to make this session personal, like her flag football league shirt. Together with my fab Marshall's finds (scarves), we came up with some pretty great shots!!! Can't wait to meet her little man!

Emily and Frankie...

2010-08-31T08:23:00.000-07:00

I love it when I get a set of twins that couldn't be more different! It didn't take me long to figure out that Miss Emily is the leader. Frankie spends so much time looking at his sister, she must seem so cool. ;) He loves his trucks and cars, such a boy. LOVE it. And Emily is a very girly girl, dainty and poised. The two are an adorable pair!!! I'm so glad they came!

Miss Sabrina!

2010-08-19T18:42:00.000-07:00

What a joy to have those big blue eyes in my studio! She is just a ball of deliciousness from head to toe. She didn't seem too much in the mood for smiles until we started singing all kinds of songs. That was the secret! Aren't her hats the best? And those butterfly wings and matching headpiece... to die for.

and here's one for Grandma...

Waiting for Baby Audley...

2010-08-18T10:01:00.000-07:00

This post sort of dates me. I still remember having Sandra's maternity session when she was pregnant with Miss Siena and here we are more than 4 years later with a baby boy on the way. Yay! It's been so great watching Siena grow and now I'm looking forward to meeting Mr. Audley (Jr. that is...). A huge congratulations to Sandra and her gorgeous growing family!!!

Baby CJ...

2010-08-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

This little man was complete perfection. After his belly was full, he pretty much let us do whatever we wanted with him. I love when I walk into a colorful home! Here, there was this bright marmalade wall in the dining room which served as a perfect backdrop for our session. Mom confessed this is her favorite room as well. CJ + beautiful home = GREAT SESSION!!! :)

Learning from Beth Jansen!

2010-08-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy lately that I was craving some "Me" time. When I got wind that Beth Jansen was going to be in town, I jumped all over it and I'm sooooooo happy I did. She is so easy to work with and an open book about her workflow, how she styles her shoots, how to look for the best light, and her post-processing work. I was a sponge! You can see her creativity and fantastic use of color on her blog: http://www.bethjansenphotography.com/blog/

Our small group had the opportunity to shoot in all kinds of situations: urban, beach, window light. Of course, my favorite was the newborn session. We were fortunate that Baby Ben was an absolute dream to work with! Here are a few images (including some of Beth working her magic) from our sessions. I used some of her processing on my images as well and I love how they all POP!!!! Thank you, Beth! It was an amazing experience to work with you!

Baby Andrew...

2010-08-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

This bundle of cuteness made his way to my home this morning! He was so excited to see me, he just couldn't fall asleep. :) It was a battle of the wills for a while between he and I, but in the end I think I won. I think...
Big sister Emma was as sweet as ever. At 2 going on 3, she managed to memorize the lyrics to "Rock-a-bye-Baby" and worked really hard to help Andrew fall asleep. That is until the play room called to her. Colorful shots were on our to-do list and after a little help from Grandma's Target morning shopping spree, we did just that. :) Congratulations to this beautiful growing family!!!

And Boy make 4!

2010-08-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

Part of what makes my job so enjoyable is getting to watch families flourish! I can still blink my eyes and remember going through Rush Week with Analin at UM. It all seems like yesterday, yet here we are all grown up with babies! I'm honored that she and Chris chose me to capture their growing family and now I'm so excited to have just learned (about 5 minutes ago actually) that another little boy is on the way! Nicholas is going to have a little brother! Congratulations to you guys!!! Thank you for letting me be part of your joy! xoxo

Time Flies...

2010-08-02T20:31:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's been a year already since Adrian first came to my studio. He was such a perfect little baby and every session this year with him has been a dream. He never skimps out on smiles and for his 1 year session, he didn't disappoint. In fact, the session was absolutely blissful (except maybe for his aversion to the sand). I photograph at this park regularly and it's always a great place to visit, but on some days, you get the most perfect light anyone can ask for. I'm glad it made it's way to our session! Here is a peek at my first impression of Adrian followed by who he is today!!!

Color!

2010-08-01T19:50:00.000-07:00

That about sums up this session! One of the reasons I still brave going to Jimbo's is because we just get great color. Plain and simple. I love how they were dressed. These kiddos were fun to capture. We even had our very own posing assistant. I totally should have posted the picture with him in it, LOL. An adventure this session was, but a true success in my book.

Blondie in Red Polka Dot Hat

2010-07-30T07:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes things just line up correctly to get that perfect image! We got the blazing sun that's been scorching Miami this summer. We got Mom who picked out the most colorful outfits for our session. And we have Valentina...beautiful blondie with soft, porcelain skin! Yep, I'm pretty happy with how this all turned out. What say you???

Hello Miss Molly!

2010-07-29T09:49:00.000-07:00

I had sooooo much fun photographing this sweet pea! She was as soft as jello, so soft, she kept sinking in to the blankets, LOL. Still, I'm so happy with the images we got. For the one on Daddy's shoulder, he actually thought about switching her over to his other shoulder to not have the "U" tattoo!!!! No way!!! Love it when I have die-hard Canes for clients! Congrats on the arrival of your little girl. I hope you enjoy your sneak peek.

Check out the cute chin dimple she inherited from Daddy!

Who's sleepier? Big brother or Molly???

Scotty takes the Cake!

2010-07-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

This sweetie pie came in for his very first photo session! I was honored! It took a little while to melt away his inhibitions, but by the end of the session, he only had eyes for me. Hee Hee!!! :) Love it when that happens. Baby sister is expected to arrive sometime in November so I'm hoping he'll be back again to capture some of that sibling love!!! It was a pleasure to meet this wonderful family!

Leader of the Band...

2010-07-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

I've had the pleasure of knowing this family for many years so I was thrilled when they asked me to come photograph their latest addition, Christian. He is the 3rd boy in this clan and he's the sweetest thing ever. Mommy is absolutely stunning, although she doesn't think she is. She also can sing, shhh. It was a joy to hear her sing softly in her little boy's ear as he gazed out the window. The words of the song resonated with me. I leave you with the images and the lyrics. Picture perfect, huh?

Must keep walking

2010-07-21T06:27:00.000-07:00

Ask any parent if they can remember the age their child was most tiring, 99.9% will tell you 1 year. Right after they start to walk. Imagine that times two!!! These adorable kiddos were fit for a marathon and with 4 adults chasing them, we still couldn't keep up. :) We even started the session with a walking casualty, LOL. Poor Ben! I hope his nose is better. After all the running, we settled on the swings and got some true smiles! Yay! This family is relocating to Wisconsin in a few weeks so I wish you much luck in your next home!!!

Can't Say FFFFlowers

2010-07-19T10:14:00.000-07:00

Arianna lost her top tooth this morning. She's lost a few teeth already, but this one seems so significant for me. I guess, because she looks like a big girl. How many moms can say that their kids take out their own teeth? I admire her determination. She sat there in front of the mirror twisting and turning that stubborn tooth until she heard the cracks. I've never seen a little girl so happy to see her bloody tooth hanging by a thread. The first thing she told me was that she looked like her big cousin, Mumi. Even she sees how different she looks. Then, she tried to say something that involved the word "Flowers" and started laughing, "I can't say flowers, ha ha ha. " Another few images to store in my long-term memory...

Under the Rain

2010-07-18T18:30:00.000-07:00

It almost didn't happen, but luckily, we were spared and all that was left were overcast skies and a few minor puddles, PERFECT photographing weather! Here is the Ortega family...

The House That Built Me

2010-07-16T12:02:00.000-07:00

I haven't lived in this tiny home in Village Green for 12 years now, but it will always be "my home". Every time I'm in the area, I can't resist the urge to drive past it and wave. The new owners haven't done much to it in all this time as if to preserve our history. The paint's the same, the walkway has the same old-fashioned dilapidated tiles, the once new awnings are collecting mold and yet, it still pulls me in each time I drive past it. See up until I was 21, I knew no other home. Those walls contain vivid memories of slumber parties in the living room, 25 people packed in a tiny kitchen clad with ducks, sleeping on the floor in sleeping bags in a nonmaster "master bedroom", backyard parties with records and tape players, 4 dogs, 1 cat, 1 hamster, 2 bunnies, lots of chickens and birds (you'd think we owned a farm or something), family reunions (some with us and some no longer), the list is endless. Resonating most within those walls was an intense amount of love. Luckily, we take the that along with the memories.
So I drove past this personal Heaven of mine and do what I always do: yell out to my girls "This is where Mami grew up!" and they always respond "We know, Mami." This time, I took out my iPhone and like a strange stalker in a moving car, I captured my little home. Here it is: 12251...

More of Miss Lia...

2010-07-11T13:31:00.000-07:00

The whole family came back for a few more of their latest addition. She's still as tiny as ever. I had bought two beautiful new hats from etsy and they never found their way to her tiny little head. :( Still, with Dad's help ;), we were able to get some awesome hand shots!!!

Gigi made it into one. She and Logan are two birds of a feather...

And of course, my favorite trio...

And of course, my favorites are the ones with her brothers Lucas and Logan. I'm in love with this trio!!!

Ashton...

2010-07-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

I LOVE chunky newborns! I guess I'm reminded of my little brother and how unusually large he was at birth (a full 10 pounds)! I was absolutely in love with him. Ashton was a sweetie pie. He hated the tummy poses, but we NEEDED to showcase his awesome hair!
Perfectly parted, lush, and soft, he's perfect for a hair commercial. :) Mom and Dad were so laid back and happy, made for a very enjoyable session. Thank you for signing on with us for Ashton's first year! I hope to create some pretty incredible memories for you!!!!

Can't decide whether I like the color or black and white more...

Look at Me Me Me, I'm 3 3 3!

2010-07-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

I love how this age brings loads of energy, questions, and chatterboxes! Aiden was no exception. He is this gorgeous, vivacious boy who loves to PLAY! Who doesn't, right? I was in complete awe of his flawless memory as he recited the entire book "Where The Wild Things Are" in spanish. Incredible! Here's a sneak peek at all that energy!

Lia Nicole - 4 days

2010-06-27T17:06:00.000-07:00

She's here and she's complete perfection! 10 beautiful fingers and 10 beautiful toes! I just had to come and photograph this sleeping beauty before I went on vacation. She pretty much let me do whatever I wanted and Mom (Cristy) would just walk away in fear that I would break her child, LOL! I am so enamored of this little girl and I'm so happy that my friend finally got her little girl. Now with my gorgeous sons-in-law Lucas and Logan, Miss Lia will be the perfect little companion for my Mia. There will be more to come as I can't get enough of her. All of her beautiful little flower head pieces are courtesy www.MIPetiteBoutique.com . Aren't they perfect?

Miss Luna at 3 months

2010-06-26T13:43:00.000-07:00

Luna is just the happiest baby I've seen in a while. Seriously, I was talking to Mom and she'd be all smiles at me like what I was saying was hysterical! She's still so tiny and beautiful and we were able to get out some new props to try. I'm looking forward to seeing her again at 6 months!

J's Kiddos

2010-06-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

Had some visitors from Denver on Friday! Janice has been in the family for the last 17 years, wow, had to count back to verify! She and my sister are so close that these two beauties are my sister's godchildren! Bella and Will are the cutest kids with the best personalities! Clearly, it was a fun session and it was so great to see the whole family!

No cake for me, thanks.

2010-06-20T20:06:00.000-07:00

It's always fun to see how babies are going to react in a smash-the-cake session. Most parents expect babies (especially the ones who like to eat a lot) to dig in and love it and the reality is...most don't. They can't stand the sticky sensation of the merengue stuck to their hands and feet. Still, it's fun to watch. :) Mr. Samuel was absolutely delicious with all his rolls and chubby cheeks. Mom had the cutest outfits for him as well. Love it when that happens. We were able to get a lot of color in these along with some great expressions. It was a pleasure to meet this beautiful family!

Skin so soft...

2010-06-20T19:39:00.000-07:00

and the prettiest shade of white belonged to this year and a half old. She is brilliant as well: knows her colors and what sound each animal made. I was amazed, especially since my Mia is her elder by 4 months and knows nothing of that sort. Miss Danielle had her own ideas of how a session should go, but after a few M-n-Ms, a cell phone, and a few different props, we were able to capture who she is.

Only one like him...

2010-06-20T06:19:00.001-07:00

Normally, I'll use my words to say something to explain what a remarkable man my husband is, but today...I'll just show you the kind of father he is.

These are but a few of the images that I forever hold in my heart, yet they are sufficient to tell the story of a father who loves his girls more than life itself.
Happy Father's Day to him and to all those special Dads out there including my own.
xoxo

Miss Maria

2010-06-18T08:45:00.000-07:00

It's always a pleasure to have Mariita in my studio! She's a happy baby who loves to curl her toes. :) I had some stuff from MI Petite Boutique to model and she was a willing participant. I love their fabric flowers and tights with crocheted flowers!

Simple and sweet

2010-06-16T12:24:00.000-07:00

I love it when a mommy comes in and knows exactly what she wants out of session. Simple was what she ordered and I have to say that Mr. Pierce makes simple look extraordinary. He did a little bit of sleeping and a whole lot of feeding (poor Mom), but at the end, we were able to get a few perfect shots. I love how crisp and clean he looks on that heavenly white!!!

Nicholas - 18 Days old

2010-06-13T08:34:00.001-07:00

Mr. Nicholas has arrived and big brother Ricky is smitten with his baby brother! It's amazing just how much they look alike, too. I decided to leave my studio light at home and use only natural light and I'm soooo happy I did. Maria and Robert had the best furniture and light to work with! The textures and colors are right up my alley. So what if Mr. Nicholas had no desire to be naked, LOL! We got some pretty spectacular ones, huh??? I have to add that the blue cozy knitted blanket was knitted for me by my mama when she was pregnant with me. Yes, she insisted that I was a boy. :) Thank you for welcoming me into your home and being such perfect hosts! ;) You're family and home are beautiful!!!

Against the elements

2010-06-09T09:03:00.000-07:00

Location sessions have been a nightmare to arrange this week. We've officially entered the summer afternoon rainstorm season. After a couple of rain dances, we managed to keep the rain away, but not the ominous clouds, or the humidity, or the strong will of a 2-year old. LOL! I left feeling a little defeated not thinking we had anything special, but I always surprise myself. I absolutely LOVE these! We finally found a way to keep Miss Abby put: SAND!!! She stayed in the same place for about 15 minutes, no joke. Although the smiles were hard to come by, the expressions were priceless.

Here running wild with her beloved "Ducky"...

Julian

2010-06-07T14:02:00.000-07:00

Sweet Julian is getting bigger every day! He has these delicious rolls I want to bite. They made it to the session right before the sky literally began to fall. It was a horrible storm. We made due and got some sweet images in the process. Here are some...

A few more before the baby comes...

2010-06-07T08:04:00.000-07:00

When we originally had our session with Cristy, the hubby wasn't able to make it. Here is the post from our first session
http://nostalgiaportraits.blogspot.com/2010/04/finallya-little-girl.html

Well, we finally got Armando in and we took a few before heading out and having pizza at our favorite place Carina's! Here's a peek at what we got:

What can I say? The boys love my quacking, LOL!!!

What a session!

2010-06-06T11:40:00.000-07:00

I can write a full blown story about this great big family session complete with comedy and drama! We had bugs flying in eyes, lipstick on shirts, runny noses and watery eyes, horse and carriage rides, horse getting tangled up in carriage and did I mention, God-awful HEAT! Yet, look at the smiles on their faces! That's what family is all about now isn't it? Things can get crazy, but they're always FUN! I've had the pleasure of knowing this family since I was a teenager. I've witnessed nuptials, births, and kids growing from being toddlers to college students. Wow! It's always a pleasure to spend some time with the Bellos on their beloved "Finca Hatuey".

A Classic!!!

And finally there's Henry and Hatuey...

Family of Five!

2010-06-06T07:05:00.000-07:00

I got a visit from this beautiful family over the weekend! I've been friends with this pretty mama since high school and I love that through Facebook (and the occasional party or reunion), we get to keep in touch. She, too, is a CANE!!! Jolie and Javi were high school sweethearts and just look at how far they've come! Their kiddos are gorgeous. After a little coaxing and bribery, we were able to get some pretty spectacular shots. Those eyelashes, oh my!

My Gigi's Ms. Kristina...

2010-06-03T14:14:00.000-07:00

Today was Gigi's last day in Pre-K 3 and she broke my heart when it was time to go. I've never seen a 3-year old cry so much because she wasn't going to be with her teachers anymore. That should tell you how wonderful her teachers have been with her. Kristina is one of them. From day one, Kristina has showered "her" Gigi with love. It gave me great comfort everyday to know that my little girl was so loved at school. She has a beautiful family which I had the privilege of photographing recently. Here is a glimpse of that session...

Family of Four

2010-05-29T08:32:00.000-07:00

Looking at the captures from this session brings a smile to my face. I've had the joy of watching them become the family they are today. Alexis and David have had a few bumps and health scares but by the grace of God, they are enjoying the happy home they've built together. And what a beautiful home it is!!! I'm honored to have been able to freeze this moment in time for them. Just look at how gorgeous this family is!!!

You and Me Together

2010-05-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

I knew exactly what I was doing when I decided to marry my husband! There was no question, no doubt. It was a decision that made every part of me feel wonderful, the really good kind of decision! We're pretty perfect for one another and together, we've made a pretty perfect family. There are lots of things that I'm unsure of in this life, but when it comes to him...100% CERTAINTY and together, I know, we can pretty much get through anything this life throws our way.
You can't imagine how thrilled I was when Gabi graciously said that she would take our family portraits! She absolutely captured who we are as a family and I couldn't have asked for anything more. Check out her work at www.photographybygabriela.com .
Looking at these makes me fall in love with my family all over again!!!

More sneak peeks...

2010-05-18T07:15:00.000-07:00

I've had twins, triplets, new families and old! This last week was a busy one and I'm enjoying every bit of it. My latest purchase makes these wonderful blog boards for me. It's called the Moira Compositor and all I have to do is pick the images I want to show and it creates the board for me. Just what I needed to simplify things and free up a little more of my time. Yay! Here is the compositor in action...

Here's the Anido-Lopez Family with their beautiful additions...

The Leons and their "Smash the Cake" session...

and gorgeous Christopher and Adriana...

Austin...

2010-05-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

This little piece of Heaven was in my studio last week and he was an absolute joy to photograph. Just look at those lips and his perfectly groomed hair! Mommy came prepared with hats from Etsy and he looked so cute in them, but I'm still crazy about his perfect hair! Here he is in absolute blissful sleep, complete with an open mouth and everything...

Quick peek at a little beauty...

2010-05-16T20:01:00.000-07:00

Business and kids have been keeping me busy, busy. I've also been trying my hand at in-person ordering (which I love by the way). I'm hoping this way, clients can see their photos faster (like the following week - fast!) thus getting their photos up where they should be within a few weeks from their session. Yay! I have so many sessions I want to show you glimpses of, but for now, I'll leave you with this beautiful porcelain doll: Veronica! She is precious! Our session was last week and Mom is coming in on Tuesday to see her full gallery and get help placing her order. I just wanted to give her a quick glance at what she'll see very soon. :)

Love those eyes!

2010-05-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

I've said it before but it's worth repeating: The eyes have it! I adore a little baby who makes great eye contact and Henry did all that! Lately my business has been bringing old faces to my front door and this makes me really excited. Henry's mommy is another sorority sister of mine, Erika. We actually pledged together and the last time I ran into her was right on Broadway after having seen Mary Poppins with my girls. How random, right? It was so great to be able to catch up a bit and finally get to meet her little man. I'm totally working behind the scenes to get her back here in Miami where she belongs!!! Muah!

My Best Friend

2010-05-04T15:48:00.000-07:00

I have only a few, but the ones I do have mean the world to me. Melanie is one. We met in the 9th grade and instantly became the closest of friends. Somehow we knew that connection we shared would never be lost; not to boyfriends, not to graduations, not to weddings and children, not to time, and not to distance. Somehow, we've withstood all of it and I'm so proud to call her my friend. I'm in awe of her strength and I always know that when I need some grounding, she's the one to call. I was able to capture the essence of who she is when she last visited and I share a little bit of her with you. Here she is...my best friend with those she loves.

Mommy and me...

2010-05-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

When I first started my business, I took photos of Miss Hailey. She was barely a year old and just look at how big she is now! I had the pleasure to photograph not only Hailey, but her pretty Mama after all these years.

Tristan

2010-05-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

I just love that name. Particularly because it reminds me of the glorious long-haired Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall. He looks like a Tristan, too, with his milky skin and beautiful blue eyes. You can tell Mom and Dad are second-time parents. They were calm, cool, and collected and this just made the session go smoothly. Miss Veronica (big sis) was such a sweetie. She came in carrying Woody and Jessie dolls and she actually made Mom write her and Tristan's names on the soles of their shoes just like in Toy Story. How cute is that? They were such a perfect family and I feel honored to have captured this time for them.

So sweet...

2010-04-30T08:18:00.000-07:00

You know sometimes how you meet someone and can tell on their face just how sweet they are? This is absolutely what happened when I met this little boy. Mr. Ernie is always full of smiles and open arms. There's no need for "getting to know you's" or "breaking the ice". He just comes in ready! Here he is getting ready for his baptism. We were able to sneak a few with big sis, who's a sweetie pie as well.

and here with his hair slicked back... LOVE!!! My little Ricky Ricardo:

Baby Boy makes 4

2010-04-21T17:05:00.000-07:00

This gorgeous family is expecting another little boy! As I was culling through these photos, I couldn't help myself...my eyes were drawn to Mommy's beautiful hair and skin tone against that rich blue. She truly looks radiant although she doesn't believe this. What expecting mommy does, huh? I was so excited to see her as it had been a good 10 years (in person that is, Facebook is a Godsend). She and I went to the "U" together and were Zeta sisters. It was so great to see how little she's changed and how sweet her demeanor still is. I'm really hoping I'll get the chance to photograph baby Nicholas, hint, hint. ;) Enjoy your sneak peek my friend...

Little Old Lady in 8-year Old Body

2010-04-20T05:59:00.000-07:00

This beautiful girl is such an old soul! When you speak with her, it's as if you're speaking to a 50-year old, LOL! She was so into our session as well, coming up with poses herself. Just when she was getting warmed up, it all ended. :( I promised her that at the next session, we'd glam her up and she LOVED that idea! Her communion dress was stunning and more importantly had sentimental value: it was the very dress her Mommy wore at her First Holy Communion! Hearing these stories make me wish I had done a better job preserving my wedding dress. It's still sitting in the garment bag hanging in my closet. Maybe there's still hope and I could use part of it to make my girls' Communion dress (cause you know they'll all be wearing the same one just like their baptismal gown). I digress...Here is the regal Miss Sophia!!!

Love this next series with the hands by the face...

Pretty in Pink (and yellow)

2010-04-18T15:05:00.000-07:00

This little bundle of deliciousness came into my studio this Saturday! Her skin is a perfect milky white and the rolls on her thighs make you want to bite her! I absolutely loved her baptismal gown. The slip was made from Mommy's wedding gown and the entire dress was made by her great-grandmother! Pretty spectacular, huh? Part of what makes me love my job so much is getting to know all these wonderful people with fantastic stories to tell. Never a dull day!

Energy!

2010-04-18T14:41:00.000-07:00

That one word sums up this little boy! There wasn't a single prop that can contain him, LOL! He was all about being free and playing with his ball! Isn't that what everyone wants??? Still, when he least expected it, I was able to capture some priceless expressions...

and the cake..... SUCCESS!!!

Thin Line between Sibling Love and Rivalry

2010-04-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

Mia is fascinated by Gigi! Really, who isn't? She's this red-headed ball of fire always on the move and up to no good. She's a comedian who doesn't even try to be funny. So now it's become a habit of Mia to seek out her Gigi and shower her with hugs and kisses.

And then there's sweet Nana...always so tender with her baby sister hoping for a bit of that love to be reciprocated and sometimes, it isn't. :(

And then, she'll throw her a bone. :)

Ah yes, all is well with the world again!!!

Well, maybe not! LOL!!!!!

Another Communion Beauty

2010-04-15T10:23:00.000-07:00

I must have the most photogenic clients on the planet! I always say it doesn't matter whether they smile or not, it's all about the eye contact and Miss Andrea has plenty of that! I am absolutely in love with her dress as well. Her Mommy had it restored (it belonged to her aunt) and the result was just stunning. From what she tells me, her grandma made the little pearl box where she keeps her rosary. Isn't it beautiful? I'm looking forward to taking their family portraits next week!

The Face of an Angel...

2010-04-11T12:06:00.001-07:00

Truly it is, isn't it? She even has the "Cindy Crawford" mole and all, just gorgeous. It's no wonder I kept taking close-ups! Both her sisters (yes, another family with 3 girls) are just as beautiful! I can't believe how quickly the time goes! It feels like just yesterday, we were photographing big sister Dani for her communion. Without further ado, I present you with Miss Katerina (Kati) and her very angelic face...

Finally...a little GIRL!!!

2010-04-10T12:51:00.000-07:00

I can't begin to tell you how excited I was the day I found out my friend Cristy was having a girl. It was my Mom's birthday, I was sitting in a restaurant and I started screaming and jumping up and down like a lunatic! To understand my very strange reaction, you'd have to go way back. You see, Cristy and I shared the same affliction of same sex children, LOL! I had the girls and she had the boys (the very VERY adorable boys). She only has nephews and I... well, you know about my girl fest (3 daughters and 4 nieces, NO NEPHEWS!!!) So, even today, we still think the day will come when she will go into labor and surprise, surprise, it'll be a boy. I'm not sure the repeated ultrasounds will do anything to convince her. :) So here is her "last" maternity session and we decided to go all out and make it a very GIRLY one. Yes everyone, make-up and all! ;) I'm thrilled to be a part of this and am so glad that Maylin introduced us 5 years ago my friend! You've turned out to be quite the keeper. Muah!!!

More Communion...

2010-04-06T08:03:00.000-07:00

Here's another little beauty to add to the collection I've had the pleasure to photograph this year. I love that we were able to squeeze in a few with her baby sister. These girls all have such beautiful hair!!!

Lovely Mama-to-be!

2010-04-04T20:48:00.000-07:00

I've had the pleasure of knowing this pretty mama-to-be since she was in middle school with my little brother! It's so great that I get to capture this time for her. I love that I'll have the honor of photographing baby Austin for his first year of life, so many sweet memories to come!!! Thank you Ivy and Juan for this privilege and may the next 3 weeks be speedy and comfortable. xoxo

Another Smash the Cake Session!

2010-04-04T20:39:00.000-07:00

Oh Mr. James... always so shy in the beginning! And then just when the fun is beginning, it's time to up and leave. :( I'm so excited about getting to photograph him this summer with the whole family! I'm dying for a chance to hang out with his big brothers! Thank you Mom for the cupcakes, the girls devoured them after lunch. :)
And thank you soooo much for the flowers! They are still beautiful and vibrant today!

The Communions continue...this one with gorgeous family!

2010-03-31T15:07:00.000-07:00

One of the many advantages of photographing the daughter of another photographer: she's so loves the camera! I had to give her very little direction both in studio and out. I told Mom that I would have a hard time narrowing down my choices for this blog post and I was right. I just LOVED this session! I'm also excited that I was able to capture some sweet moments with Dad in front of the camera as opposed to behind it. ;)

Getting back into the swing of things...

2010-03-27T12:17:00.000-07:00

I want to thank all of you for being so patient and concerned in my time of loss. These last two weeks have been difficult, but seeing how awesome my clients are makes me feel blessed. I'll be working hard this week to get those pending sessions posted, emails and phone calls returned, and orders processed. There's much to be done! I'll leave you with a few from a session I had this morning with Miss Adriana. She gets baptized on the 10th of April. Aren't her cheeks absolutely delicious? I swear I almost bit a chunk out of her during our session. ;)

Growing Together...

2010-03-18T07:58:00.000-07:00

I was recently reading the blog of a photographer who often inspires me, Sarah Ulrich, and she wrote about her desire to capture more families. I think her post just says it perfectly so I won't try to recreate. I'll just share it with you:

http://www.uniquelyyouphoto.com/blog/2010/03/15/perfectly-imperfect/

I, too, vow to capture the love in your family, to showcase your home so that others may catch a glimpse of who you really are, and help you create a lasting memory time will never erase. With that, I leave you with images of two recent beautiful families and with a quote that means more to me today than it ever has...

"Yesterday's the past, tomorrow's the future, but today is a gift. That's why it's called the present.”

and I'll add that you can never recreate the present so stop wasting time and take every measure to preserve it!!!

Only Good Fortune...

2010-03-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

is what I desire for you this St. Patrick's Day! I'm no macro shooter by any shot, but I came across this little patch of clovers and I couldn't resist. I've been a little down lately and being able to work on this was a breath of fresh air. I wish us all the luck of the Irish. Go out and have a green beer!!!!

Teeny Tiny Princesses...

2010-03-14T19:24:00.000-07:00

How lucky was I this Saturday? I got to hold and capture not one, but two precious newborn girls! Miss Luna Victoria was 8 days old and Miss Kaylee was 10 days old. They were both like play dough in my hands, I just love this age! Funny how even though these sessions were back to back, I didn't repeat the same background or prop. I was so excited to get so much variety and I kinda knew what the mommies would like. I can't wait to get started on their birth announcements!!! Enjoy your sneak peeks. Get ready for image overload!!!

Those Beautiful Eyelashes...

2010-03-11T21:07:00.000-08:00

My goodness Miss Emma is precious! She's got a soul-searching stare. She started out with some coy smiles and then little by little started laughing and clapping and having a good ol' time! It helped that Mommy and I were singing fools throughout the entire session. Thank you "Music Together"!!! Here's another family I've had the pleasure of knowing for quite some time. I got to witness their nuptials when I was pregnant with my first born. I literally was about to pop, dancing in those crazy high heels I rarely wear today, LOL! I'm so glad to see what joy Miss Emma brings to their lives. Parenthood is something, isn't it? Well, enjoy the extensive sneak peek. Can you tell how difficult it was for me to narrow down my favorites?

Like Porcelain...

2010-03-11T07:49:00.000-08:00

I absolutely LOVE Miss Amanda's baptismal gown! She looks like a little porcelain doll with her bonnet. I love all her different expressions with those beautiful eyes. Here's a peek at some really great shots we were able to capture of her...

Another Communion Beauty...

2010-03-09T08:43:00.000-08:00

and the weather was just fine! This little model was very into our session. By the end of it, she was looking for new places and creating new poses. A natural I tell you! Here is her long awaited sneak peek. Janet, you can stop stalking the blog now, LOL!!!

This cold is killing us!

2010-03-07T12:06:00.000-08:00

Mom had aspirations of a beautiful warm sunny afternoon and visions of her little girl in an adorable orange bikini, but Miami just isn't Miami these days. :( Spring, where are you??? I'd have to say that we made some lemonade out of lemons, though. It helps that Miss Valentine is an absolute cutie pie and so easily entertained! Here she is in her Minnie birthday outfit! I can't believe she's turning one soon! I still remember her newborn session. :(

Cute and Spunky Princess...

2010-03-03T11:24:00.000-08:00

I met Miss Emma in my daughter's ballet class. She is full of personality and always has a smile on her face. I'm happy to say that her mommy and I have become good friends. Mom's been making plans for this session for quite some time and I have to say, she did an awesome job on wardrobe selection! I love me some striped tights and knit hats and that pettidress is such a pretty shade of pink. It gave those portraits such a soft feel. Here is Emma in all her splendor...

with Mommy...

dancing and twirling...

Communion with a Vintage twist...

2010-03-01T08:39:00.000-08:00

Meet beautiful Alexandra! She'll be receiving her First Holy Communion in May and since the weather was so terrible Saturday afternoon, we took a few in the studio. We'll be taking her location portraits in March! Since at her location session, we'll be working with natural light, I wanted these to be dark, moody and dramatic. I also got my hands on these beautiful textures by Tina Parker at My Lil Creations and decided to work them a little. I must say.... I LOVE!!!! Mom, I think we got that vintage feel you love so much! Can't wait for our session in the meditation garden!!!

and one with her very proud Mama!

Double the Deliciousness!

2010-02-27T16:02:00.000-08:00

When Oliver and Zachary arrived sans nap, we thought that might mean trouble for our session, but smile or no smile, they have the most wonderful expressions. They say "the eyes have it" and that couldn't be more true for these beautiful boys. It's so clear to me how loved they are as well. Mom, you totally deserve a night out! And definitely take those boys out! The whole world awaits them. Here they are...

Got an Angel...

2010-02-24T19:01:00.000-08:00

and he's absolutely perfect! It was touch and go there for a while, but thanks to the little circus act between Me, Mommy and Grandma, he succumbed to our deep sleep tactics! I think they ran out the door to Walmart to buy a space heater since I made them believers, LOL! Angel is Mommy's 3rd little boy. I was lucky enough to photograph her older twins when they were born and to capture her maternity as well! It's always so nice to see this family. Congratulations on the birth of your little gift from Heaven! :)

I'm in Love...

2010-02-22T18:56:00.000-08:00

We had a rocky start, but after, say, 5 minutes I had me a beautiful blue-eyed boyfriend! What a heart breaker he is going to be! I love those mesmerizing stares he gives. Makes him look like an old soul. Mom sure is blessed to have him! Thanks for sharing your precious little boy with me.

Smash the Cake x3!!!

2010-02-22T12:11:00.000-08:00

Can you imagine the amount of cake that went flying during this session? It was fun to see how much the triplets, especially Zachary, enjoyed playing with cake! Hard to believe these angels were born a year ago already. What a blessing to see how far they've come and how quickly they are growing. Here they are looking as cute as ever...

Boy in blue...

2010-02-21T15:59:00.000-08:00

Oh to have a gorgeous little boy like this one!!! Mom brought all these cute outfits to photograph him in and he even let us get a few of him in the hat!!! Yay! I had such a hard time narrowing down my favorites. I couldn't decide between the smiling or the serious so I just included a little of everything!!! Here is cutie pie, Nathan!

Found a sweet spot!

2010-02-19T07:54:00.000-08:00

I'm always on the hunt for a great location for sessions. What do I look for? Not for cool architecture or colorful buildings (although those help ;) ). I search for places where the sunlight is soft and sort of embraces you. You've seen those photos of people in nice wide open fields where the sun kisses their hair and skin. Now that's a great spot! I found such a place and grabbed the girls and tested it out yesterday. I LOVE it! Just look and see...

Got the boat out...

2010-02-18T07:58:00.000-08:00

It had been a while since that little wooden boat had seen the light, but on Tuesday it made its way into both of my sessions. Nicholas looked so cute with those rain galoshes and when Dad started getting creative visions, I remembered I had that little drum set to go with his rock star shirt! Later when Amanda and Anthony got here, Mom had those adorable sailor outfits so I couldn't resist. Amanda also loved swishing in the lavender petti. Mom's going to have to invest in one! To both families, enjoy your sneak peeks. I'll try to make your decision-making a little less daunting. ;)

Such sweetness...

2010-02-16T07:03:00.000-08:00

I'm so enjoying watching little Maria go through all her little changes. She's just full of smiles these days especially for her mama. Next month, she'll be baptized in her beautiful white gown! Here is Miss Maria and all her cuteness:

To you and yours... Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T10:00:00.000-08:00

This morning I woke up to cards, flowers, chocolate, and balloons, the traditional Valentine's Day sentiment. Yet this wasn't my favorite part. As we all lay in our King-size bed on a cozy Sunday morning as we do each and every weekend when the hustle and bustle of the week is at bay, I counted each and every single one of my blessings. I have a husband who not only works hard to make this home a haven, but who still crushes on me and never forgets to tell me (and always makes me feel) how beautiful I am. I have three beautiful healthy girls who remind me how meaningful my life is. I have a family who dotes on me, keeps me young at heart and gives me that soft place to fall. And... I have my camera and I'm able to use it everyday to help remind others how special their life is. How awesome is that? So I wish you all a glorious Valentine's Day with those who give you that soft place to fall.

The Big Top!

2010-02-12T10:11:00.000-08:00

Meet Miss Ana Cristina! She is turning a year old and celebrating it circus style! She's got the most contagious spirit and smile, so happy. It's refreshing to see babies who smile all the time. I see it as a reflection of who their parents are and so in this case it makes sense. Mommy is one of my sisters from Zeta Tau Alpha and fellow CANE and I can't recall a time when she hasn't been smiling. So here is the light of her life...

Where I come from...

2010-02-11T06:58:00.001-08:00

I'm a very nostalgic person. I've always been, all my life. It's probably why my business name suits me so well. My mom's always called me the family historian because ever since I was a child, I could spend hours pouring over photo albums, asking countless questions, soaking it all in. I'm not sure if the stories I heard about my grandparents were romanticized, but I do know what I witnessed as an adult with the type of love they had for each other. There are few people who can say that they've lived their life to the fullest and were able to pass on gently to the next life holding the love of their life's hand. That is how my grandfather passed, surrounded by the amazing family he put together. I think witnessing this kind of love helped me not to settle for anything and find a partner who I can create this same kind of magic with. Speaking of magic, my childhood was the most wonderful time. I must be the luckiest person alive to have such a beautiful family who loves each other with not one condition! This is truly what Valentine's Day is all about. It's not just the romance and the flowers, it's a time to count your blessings because if you look really hard, you'll find a million in your life. So I leave you with a tiny piece of my history and a BIG part of who I am. Happy Valentine's week! xoxo

Meet Mr. Julian

2010-02-10T14:55:00.000-08:00

It seems like only yesterday, I was taking Adrian's newborn portraits. Today felt a little like deja vu especially since Baby Julian is a splitting image of his big brother (and mommy), sorry Dad. :) Maybe the girl will look like Daddy (especially since Julian's cowlick is on the side and not the middle, lol.) I digress. Julian was an absolute dream to photograph. He slept and slept and pee-peed a little on Mommy, then went right back to sleeping. And just look at all that hair!!! Let's hope it doesn't fall off. Without further ado, I introduce to you, Julian!

It's a Girl!!!

2010-02-09T12:19:00.000-08:00

After enjoying little Kevin for over 2 years, this family is getting excited about a little girl! Ladies, take a good look at Heather, she is already 35 weeks along!!! Doesn't she look great? By the way, Heather's a talented graphic designer so if you ever need new branding or a fresh and modern logo, she's your woman!

Happy Happy Joy Joy!

2010-02-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

That's all I got from Mr. Julian! This little chunky monkey already weighs 17 pounds! AND you should see how tiny Mommy is! I can't wait to see what he looks like in about 3 months when he's sitting up by himself. Here he is with all his delicious rolls and toothless smiles...

That's all I got from Mr. Julian! This little chunky monkey already weighs 17 pounds! AND you should see how tiny Mommy is! I can't wait to see what he looks like in about 3 months when he's sitting up by himself. Here he is with all his delicious rolls and toothless smiles...

Always Happy Adrian!

2010-02-07T11:05:00.001-08:00

I can't remember a session where Adrian hasn't been all smiles. Mom must be doing something right! It was fun to see him crawling around the studio, so active now. Mom and I got a little work out. He also had the best outfits complete with hats. We're very fashionable! I couldn't leave out his tiny tush picture. That one is just for Mommy!!! Here is Adrian at 9 months...

Pretty Little Señorita...

2010-02-05T10:54:00.000-08:00

with a flower in her hair...
Isn't she adorable? Her brothers (she's a triplet) weren't feeling well so she got the camera all to herself. At first, the pettiskirt was keeping her arms up in the air, but she quickly got used to it and then gave us some pretty smiles. Next week, the boys will join us and we'll get to have our "smash the cake" session. Here's a quick peek at Miss Jocelyn...

Pure Innocence...

2010-01-31T16:10:00.000-08:00

When I think of the color white and all it represents, I understand the relevance of the baptismal gown. Here is this handsome little boy, a clean slate, ready to take on the world. It truly reminds me what a job we have as parents! Here is baby James, so shy and sweet when we first met. Little by little, he revealed his little personality to me and by the end of our session, I was getting that little spark in his eye to match his playful smile. It was a joy to have him (and Mom) in my studio! I can't wait to photograph the rest of the family.

Andres turns 1 year!

2010-01-28T21:18:00.000-08:00

I love that I've been photographing this family since their firstborn was a little peanut! I can't believe how fast time has gone by since I first met Andres. He looked like a little Asian baby, absolutely delicious! You can find both him and his beautiful redheaded sister gracing the photo galleries of my new website. Here they both are just hanging out at home, and what a beautiful home it is!

Miss Arianna!

2010-01-27T04:44:00.000-08:00

Well, another beautiful Arianna has graced us with her presence! I was so excited to learn her name and to know that her name is spelled just like my firstborn! I love her name!!! That little tiny bug could drink some serious milk! Poor Mommy got peed on a few times, but I learned this is completely normal in their household, lol! She didn't discriminate though. Daddy and I got our fair share as well. :) Well, help me welcome Miss Arianna! I included one photo for Daddy (Minnie) and one for Mommy (butterflies) as they each have their own favorite.

Lucas is Here!!!

2010-01-20T04:32:00.000-08:00

There are lots of rewarding things about being in this profession and this is definitely one of them. I've known the Brea family since the very beginnings of their budding relationship back in '95. My God how time flies, that was almost 15 years ago! I was honored to be part of their wedding and now I've been able to capture their two beautiful children! And now they have their picture-perfect family and will always have a partner on Disney rides. ;) I really had a hard time narrowing down my blog selection. I always overshoot...

and giving me the face after ragging on her for shushing in the poor child's ear (her calming tactic). Hee hee! :)