I took Sarah’s  maternity portraits when she was 7 months along.  She is a really beautiful woman and the photos came out great.  She brought with her several articles of clothing and we had a great time. I’m really good at helping people feel comfortable and be themselves during the shoots.  I don’t rush anyone and I really love my job so there is absolutely no tension in the air.  The subsequent results are portraits that really capture the person and the moment in such a beautiful way.  The pictures were a present to her husband, Rick and, if memory serves, I believe he didn’t even know she was having them done.

Months passed and Sarah contacted me again.  Their baby boy Jack had arrived.  We set up a time for them to come to my little studio. 

When they arrived, Jack’s grandfather Ray accompanied them.  Ray has tattoed all the names of his grandchildren on his arms.  He was such a nice man too, just beaming at little Jack and making Jack smile!!  It was so cute, I cannot even tell you.  To see this wonderful grey haired man cooing at the baby and the baby grinning every time he did just made my heart open up.

Sarah looked fantastic, which did not surprise me.  And this was the first time I met her husband Rick.  I loved the way he teased her.  It was obvious they are really great friends as well as husband and wife.  He complimented me on the maternity session’s images which was nice to hear.  We took lots of pictures of everyone, some with father and son, mother and son, grandpa and grandson.  I put Jack in a little truck. He wasn’t a fan of that for long, we soon abandoned that idea.  

They turned out pretty good though.  It’s hard for babies that young to keep their heads up so it looked like he was relaxed and kicking back in the little truck.  Hilarious!

I love the contrast of maternity photos and infant photos.  First the baby is inside - then he’s out!  And such is the cycle of life.  

I’m always happy to be a part of it - and to be able to give them photos that capture such a fleeting moment in their lives…

I had the wonderful pleasure of photographing a wedding in Ireland recently.  The wedding was in a very old stone church and the reception was held in Cabra Castle.  Both were amazing… 

Carmen lived here in Los Angeles when she met John during a visit to Ireland.  She had no idea that about a year and half later she would be living in the very center of Ireland, married to a wonderful man who truly loves her.  

The bride is a very dear friend of mine.  I was already slated to be a bridesmaid when I got the call that she couldn’t find a photographer that she liked. 

And so it was that I became both a bridesmaid and the photographer.  I took pictures in strappy sandals and a bridesmaid dress.  It was really funny actually.  Most of the people there didn’t know what to make of it as I put my very large camera, extra lens and flash down, and walked down the aisle with Nico, one of the grooms when the wedding was over.  :) This is me, taken by Maxie at the house before we left.

So I flew to Ireland and spent the week previous, helping her get ready for the big day.  We tested makeup artists, got manicures, went to the last dress fitting, drank lots of coffee and had a really fantastic time all ’round.  

They live in a wonderful stone farm house that has five bedrooms (or was it more?) surrounded by farmland and the cattle that John raises.  It was really nice for me to get away from Los Angeles life and decompress, and of course spend time with my friends.  

On the big day it was incredibly windy and in fact decided to hail for a bit.  Then out of nowhere the clouds would clear and the sun would do its best to warm us whenever we weren’t in the church or the castle.  You can see in some of the shots where Carmen’s veil is flying, or she is wearing John’s coat to keep warm, which turned out to make for really sweet pictures.  

I always include color and black and white images for my clients when I do family portraits, infant and maternity photography and wedding portraits, but for the reception I opted this time for all black and white images.  The Irish dancing and laughing, in all ages (and with some wearing some very fun hats) just looked so good in black and white,  I knew it was best.  

During the reception John got up with the band and sang some Neil Diamond songs.  Everyone went wild!  He truly sounds just like Neil Diamond.  It was amazing!  

All in all I took a lot of photographs, met a lot of really great people, and after I knew I’d gotten all of the images I wanted from the reception I put my camera down and danced my butt off.  I have no idea how my feet didn’t hurt.  I’m the type of photographer who normally wears Converse sneakers.  But somehow, the focus of getting the perfect shot time and time again, kept me footloose and fancy free.  (Oh my - did I really just write that.  I can be a bit of a goofball)

It’s not a common things to love who your friends choose for a mate, but John really is perfect for Carmen. I think it’s quite fitting that they celebrate their union in a castle - because theirs really is a fairy tale.  And you know how the end of that goes… they lived happily ever after.  :)