Having cake and eating it, too | aliso viejo child photographer

I can barely believe it. In just short of 12 hours, my "baby" will be entering Kindegarten. I am filled with joy, excitement, and a sprinkling of sadness and nervousness. Nervous because her world is opening up to more strangers and we are both going to have to ascertain which will become friends and which should not. Sad at the realization that my baby is no longer a baby. Sometimes, in short, fleeting moments, I wish I could stop time and she could stay my baby. But those moments make me cherish our photos and this job that much more. The photos capture that moment forever. And in that way, I like to think I do get to have my cake and eat it, too.

I need a baby | aliso viejo newborn photographer

Not in the way that you might be thinking.

By far, my favorite type of photo session to do is newborns. I just love seeing cute little squishy babies in all their newtotheworldness. There is nothing like it. You're getting fresh human beings before being influenced by anything or anyone. They're adapting to life outside mama's belly and yawning like they've been working in the farm from sun up to sun down. You know that big yawn I'm talking about. I love capturing these precious moments in their lives because they don't stay this tiny, this wrinkly, this pliable for very long at all. You can already see them losing a bit of those things at just two weeks old! That is why I think it's so important to have photos to document newborns in the first couple of days. Heck...if I could be there with you in the hospital, I would! (I really would; birth photography is something I'd like to get into someday, but I'll save that for a later post)

Ok now, couple my love of shooting newborns with my itch to pick up my camera and shoot someone other than my own crazy kid (not that I can tire of photographing her!) and you've got me going back on my word. I know I said I wasn't taking on new clients until September...but I'm making an exception for the babes.

So there you have it. I want a baby. or two. or four. Do you know anyone who just had or is about to have a little bundle of joy? Send them my way folks! :) Interested parties can either email me at info@sweetface-photography.com OR shoot me a message on Facebook!

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Movin' on up | orange county family photographer

Yes...you read that right.

The big news is that Sweetface Photography is moving! Starting in July, I'm going to be an Orange Countyer! Orange Countian? Orange Countyite? OCR (Orange County resident)…yeah...we’ll just go with that. ha!

First I want to thank all of my clients over the past three years. It has been quite an amazing run here in San Diego (my home for the last 20 years - literally). When I first started Sweetface, I had it in mind that in order for me to be successful, I would need a ton of clients booking me. But very shortly I learned that while that may be an appropriate goal for some, for me, my success meant repeat customers. Because it meant that [1] they appreciated my art so much that they felt secure in trusting me to capture some lasting memories for their families. And an equally important [2] these wonderful people not only appreciated me as an artist, but connected with me on another level. That has become my barometer for success – repeat clientele – and I’ve been very blessed in that the majority of my business has been such. So on that end, I admit I am quite disheartened leaving behind such amazing people.

However, I am going to go into this move with an optimistic heart and mind. I’m telling myself that I can achieve the same level of success and even grow, as Sweetface Photography plants its feet on Orange County’s soil. I will be taking the summer off so that I can settle in, get me and my family acclimated to the lay of the new land, prepare my little one for KINDERGARTEN (wow!), and get the business changes in order. While I will not be doing any physical shooting this summer, I WILL be accepting clients for the holiday season (sessions taking place September through November). So my friends, if you have any friends and family members in the Orange County area (or close by) who you happen to know are looking for a family photographer who wants to grow with their growing families, please let them know I’m headed their way and to shoot me an email. Or heck…even if you’re in San Diego, we can definitely work something out as far as travel for your session. I already have one San Diego family (one of those amazing repeat clients/friends I was talking about earlier) booked for their holiday session in San Juan Capistrano! So things can definitely be worked out folks. Talk about a great way to veer away from the “typical” san diego shoot. ;)

*sigh* I’m long-winded, I know. I promise, I’m shutting up soon.

Again, I just want to thank all of you for your support, encouragement, and for many of you, your friendship. There seriously are not enough words to express how much you mean to me. It’s been one amazing ride.

You stay classy, San Diego!

WARM holiday wishes | la jolla family photographer

I love that while this is what the holiday season looks like for some...



...ours looks like this, complete with the likes of a gorgeous family like you're about to see.  And like I love warm holidays in San Diego, I love this family.  I've been lucky getting to photograph Chelsea, Michael, Ella and Quintin for the past year and a half (Quintin was just six months old the first time I shot them and he recently turned two!); luckier still just getting to know them.

Once again, the family is planning on using these photos for their holiday cards, so we'll post just a few so we don't ruin the surprise for their friends and family.

Ali in an alley | san diego family photographer

There's no better compliment than a lovely family coming back and trusting you to capture some memories for them.  Today I got to photograph Roxanne, Craig and Ali for the second time and they were such great sports, trapsing up and down the streets and yes, even alleys of downtown san diego.  Here are just a few from today's session...

Let's start with our blog title - Ali in an alley ;)  Isn't she adorable!?










I love this one...

Box of chocolates | pacific beach family photographer

What's the saying ol' Forest Gump made famous?  Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get.  Well, the same can be said for photographing young children - especially when they range in age from 10 months to 5 years old.  And especially when the 5 and 3 year olds are boys.  But these kids were such a breeze to work with, and the entire family is beautiful, sweet, and the camera loved each and ever one of them.  Take a look for yourselves...

I just love sweet, baby girls...

Seriously?  How awesome and adorable are these boys...

Mom and dad are totally working it for the camera.  Hotness! ;)

I heart the K family.  Fo' real...

Happy Family | coronado family photographer

Riva contacted me a few weeks ago wanting to get some portraits of her family of five, but was a little hesitant.  I understand - it's a little nerve-wracking being in front of the camera.  I'm so glad she decided to just go for it because [1] children grow up so fast and [2] I got to meet this beautiful, sweet, fun family!  Twins Jeffrey and Brandon delivered exactly what I expected from twin three-year olds: LOTS of energy and play.  Baby Lauren is just the cutest, sweetest little girl; I just love her smooshy cheeks!  Riva and Scott, you have such a beautiful family - it was such a great pleasure photographing you all.  Hope you enjoy your sneak peeks!

Downtown, family fun | san diego family photographer

I just love this family. How could I not? Take a look for yourselves...

They know how to have fun...

They can strike some fierce poses...

And my goodness are they just the most beautiful family!

Much to my surprise...

...a friend of mine just emailed me to tell me Sweetface Photography is on the list of nominees for this year's San Diego Parents Pick awards for family photographers!

Now that my jaw is up off of the floor I can tell you just how thrilled I am to even be on this list with some of the local photographers I admire most. I don't expect to win but to actually make the top five would be a goal I certainly wouldn't mind bragging about. ;) So, if you please, click on the ginormous logo below or just click here to nominate me!

Don't forget - you can vote every.single.day until June 13! :)

Show me the awkward | san diego family photographer

Hello friends!

The first contest of 2010 is here and there's a little bit of a twist on it this time around. If you haven't experienced the awesomeness of the Awkward Family Photos website yet, please take a moment to peruse it first and try not to soil yourself during your fits of laughter or flashbacks of your own family's awkward photographic moments) to witness the inspiration for this month's contest. Go ahead and check it out...I'll wait. :)

Ok, so many of you have seen the most standard of contest solicited by photographers, myself included. The basic premise - submit a photo of yourself, your family, or your child(ren) and let the voting begin. The premise here is still just that, only this time I want you folks mustering up the courage to publicly display your own awkward family portraits, submitting those photos, and encouraging your friends and family to vote yours the most awkward! Fun, right? Well...I can say that because I'm not putting my family's awkward photos on display. Erm...because we don't have any...yeah, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. lol

Entering is very simple. Just send me an email with your family's most awkward photo and a quick description about the photo (a couple of sentences will do just fine).

That's it - it's that easy! I will be accepting entries from May 1 until May 10. The top three finalists will be featured on my blog on May 11, and voting will last through May 15. Voting instructions will be posted that day as well. The winning photo will be announced May 17.

Now, what's the big prize up for grabs? The winner will receive a FREE session and a FREE 11x14 print (that's a $180 value)!

Official rules:

1. Winner must reside in or be willing to travel to San Diego, CA for the session.
2. Only one entry per person/family.
3. Please include your name, address and phone number along with your entry photo.
4. Winners of previous Sweetface Photography contests or prizes are ineligible for participation.
5. Winning session must take place before August 31, 2010.
6. Prize not redeemable for cash.
7. Winner will receive one free session for up to five people and an 11x14 print. Additional prints and digital images from the session may be purchased at 10% off.

So go ahead folks - I want to see photos of wicked big hair and shoulder pads, AC Slater mullets and acid wash denim, identical winter sweaters on all the kids, goofy/freaky/funnylooks on your family's faces, or whatever else you think is just hilarious and fun!

What are you waiting for? Go tell everyone you know to enter this contest. All entries should be mailed to info@sweetface-photography.com.

And because a post just isn't a post without a photo...

Party of three and a half | Chula Vista maternity photographer

You might recognize the beautiful family from a session we had last year, when little Bruce was just three months old. Well, the handsome little fellow is about 18 months old now, has grown so much, and will soon be a big brother. That's right - parents, Ace and Marie, are expecting another little boy in June, so we got together this weekend to celebrate this growing family. There were so many great shots that I had a hard time narrowing down some favorites to post for the sneak peek! But I had to narrow it down to just a few; take a look at some of what we got...

I just love happy families.

How cute is big brother Bruce?!

Gorgeous Marie. Gorgeous.

Finley, two weeks old | Pacific Beach newborn photographer

Finley first made her debut on this blog about a month ago, when her parents and I got together for their maternity session. I just met her this past weekend and can already say I love everything about this little girl. She is gorgeous, sweet, calm, has awesome parents, and was totally ready to be photographed - and she's only two weeks old! Here are a few of my favorite images from the newborn session with this sweet, new family of three.

See...total stunner and not even a month old yet.

What better way to start Spring than photographing a gorgeous newborn?

Giving is Awesome - the winners | Encinitas family photographer

As some of you may remember, this past December I announced my participation in the Giving is Awesome (GIA) program - a program that affords custom photography for some very special people in our community (click here for more info). When I contacted Laural with the news of her winning, she was just weeks (if that) pregnant with their second child and knew that she would want to save her GIA session for his arrival. Well, yesterday morning I had the honor of meeting and photographing this beautiful, new family of four. I had a great time shooting with them yesterday - the weather was so perfectly gorgeous and this family just shined with love. Take a look...

Umm yeah - the eyes. Killer!

How cute is little Mason?

Gabi was just the epitome of doting big sister. She was so eager to just hold and love on her baby brother - totally melted my heart.

One last shot of this beautiful family...

I am so glad I participated in the Giving is Awesome program this year. It renewed my faith in the good that can be found in people and provided me the opportunity to meet this sweet, lovely family.