Monday, March 24, 2014

Welcome Baby Ashling

Yay! My cousin's little girl arrived and last month I got to take some photos of her sweet little self. The goal for this session was to get a decent photograph of Ashling in an adorable mermaid costume so that Amy and Madison could give it to Madison's dad as a gift (he loves mermaids).  And yes, mission accomplished. :-)


But before we got to that point that morning… Ashling started out a little fussy. This gave us a little time to photograph mommy in action. Amy is such a loving mother, and she and Madison have created such a happy and artistic home.





 And now… more adorable photos of Baby Ashling!  Just look at this heart melting smile!


LOVE this expression!


And a few sweet moments with the blanket.





After all that hard work, being so good for the camera, someone was all tuckered out. Time to relax with mommy for a bit.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Kim and Kendall: relaxed beauty at Twin Oaks Garden Estate

If you've followed this blog, you already know that we absolutely love photographing at Twin Oaks Garden Estates in San Marcos, California. And if you've kept up in the last year, you also know how much I loved taking engagement photos for Kim and Kendall. During their engagement session we talked about everything from how they met to their wedding plans - and throughout the shoot I was impressed with just how relaxed and natural these two were - not only in front of the camera, but just in general. I left the shoot feeling really positive about the images we captured, and super excited that we would have the opportunity to photograph their wedding.

Well, the big day finally arrived and they didn't disappoint. Spending the day with such laid back people, who obviously really like being around each other, and getting to know both of their fantastic families, was truly a pleasure. Oh, and I haven't even talked about what a beautiful day this was! Twin Oaks was the perfect backdrop for all of the carefully planned details, and of course, as you'll see, Kim and Kendall are a beautiful couple: inside and out.  Enjoy!

I walked into Kim's parents' home, where she grew, to find this beautiful lady having her hair and makeup done. Yep - this was going to be a fun day to photograph!





Then, at Twin Oaks, Kim and her bridesmaids finished dressing for the big day. It is amazing how great the people are there - tending to Kim's every need!



A stunning bride



Kim gives some last minute instructions to the lovely trio of guest book attendees. Adorable!!



Someone took a cue from our photos of Kim and chose this pose all on her own. So cute! :-)

So beautiful!



Trees strung with photos of Kim and Kendall over the years… so young!




Kim's mother walks her into the secret garden ceremony



Kim and Kendall tie the knot… literally


Just married!














This gorgeous photo wall, created by one of Kendall's sisters I believe, was absolutely fantastic! And rather than having a booth or photographer on staff, guests were encouraged to take their own photo and share them on Instagram. What a great idea.



It was so sweet that Kim's sister sat down with her to give her toast.






The photo wall in action!

Now THAT's a knife! Kim and Kendall use a movie prop that has been passed down in his family.

The happy couple picks up a few new dance moves.

The newlyweds are ready for their exit.

Again, what a beautiful day this was! Kim and Kendall, you guys are so great - thank you once again for asking us to help you capture these memories. You and your families made this day so much and so easy - and you're such a beautiful couple. We hope to get the call for family photos soon! :-)