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!

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! :)

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.

Rachel + Chad + Perfect Timing | Pacific Beach maternity photographer

This shoot was just meant to happen. Rain has been forecast for the entire weekend, but thankfully Rachel and Chad didn't let that scare them away from their maternity session this morning. When I left my house this morning, the ground was still wet but the sky looked beautiful - there was a slight sprinkle during the drive up, but I still had hope for a great shoot. Sun was shining when I arrived at their home, so we got started, first in their front yard and then we casually strolled around their neighborhood, letting the urbanscape present some location gems. And as we were finishing the shoot and walking up to their front door, the rain started. This shoot was just meant to happen. :)

Chad earning his husband-of-the-year award. Nothing like a mid-session massage!

Rachel = awesome. She has to be in order to let me shoot her in the rain - and look gorgeous doing it!

Instant fave! I seriously just *love* this photo. Rachel, you are one stunning preggie. Can't wait to meet your little girl!

Del Mar got a little more beautiful today...

I'm fighting the onset of a what feels like another cold, so I'm going to keep my yammering to a minimum on this one. What I definitely want to say about this family is that

[1] umm...could they BE any more gorgeous? Seriously, the lot of them.
[2] they are as sweet as they are gorgeous. I had such a great time just hanging out with them. And lastly,
[3] Grandma didn't make it into the blog today, but I wish I could bring her to all my sessions! There should be an award for unofficial assistant of the year...because she would win! An award and cookies. :)

So let's get to the pictures! Make sure you're sitting down because there are a lot of pictures in this sneak peek!

Here's miss Addison...adorable even from behind ;)












HOT!











Leah and Mike, it was such a pleasure to meet you all this morning. Thank you for choosing me to document such a special time in your lives and I am so looking forward to meeting:

Christian's parents-to-be...

Yesterday evening was yet another gorgeous evening in San Diego. The weather was perfect for a fabulous parents-to-be session for Sophia and Steve, who are expecting Christian Oliver (name love!) this September. The parents-to-be wanted to capture this special time in their lives - you know, when they're still able to get some peace and quiet ;) No seriously, maternity sessions are fast becoming my favorites to photograph because it is all about hope and transition; it is a time to celebrate the love that created this life and the love that will grow because of it. There is a look that can only be found on the faces of expectant parents and Sophia and Steve were no exception. It is a look that I can only describe as peaceful excitement. Normally that would be oxymoronic, but in terms of people awaiting the arrival of their child - it makes perfect sense. So anyway, let's ditch my jibber jabbering and get on with the sneak peeks!

Ahhh...proof that I am funny! ;) lol

Seriously how gorgeous are these two? Christian is bound to be a heartbreaker, I'm telling you.

Here...right here. This is that peaceful excitement I was talking about.

Of course Steve looks great, too, but check out Sophia in all her Vogue-worthy fierceness! Work it out girl!

Sophia and Steve, thank you for letting me capture this special time in your lives. I am so looking forward to meeting your little man in a few short weeks. Until then, I hope you all enjoy our sneak peeks!

Baby on board...

Today I had the chance to meet and photograph yet another awesome family.  Karina and Doug have an amazingly adorable two-year old named Sienna, and are expecting a new little girl...in about a week!  She was on the fence about getting maternity shots done, but I'm so glad she jumped right on in because she has such a beautiful (in every sense of the word) family.  Karina also happens to be an amazing artist - you can check out her amazingness here. 

Well what are we waiting for?  Let's get to those sneak peeks!

The beautiful mommy herself.

The adorable miss Sienna.  Doesn't she look like a doll?

 

Doug and Karina - working it! 

Karina, you make pregnancy look easy and nothing short of beautiful.  I had such a great time with you Doug, and Sienna today, and I cannot wait to meet your little girl on the way.

Erin, Jesse, Norah, and Peter Rabbit

Yesterday afternoon, the weather was beautiful - sun shining, temperature nice and warm.  Yesterday evening, the skies decided to stick their tongue out at me, crank the cold wind up and hid the sun behind a mass of clouds.  Still, I met up with yet another gorgeous family and we decided to ride it out and see what we could make of the session.  Erin and Jesse are parents to Norah and have a little boy on the way, who they've taken to calling Peter Rabbit.  :)  Can I just say I am SO glad that we decided to go for it?!  Immediately after each session, I always do an initial run through and make a list of the photos I know I want to use.  Going through their images I was stoked - by the time I finished the initial list, I had more than double the amount I normally have.  TONS of great images to use...but then it helps a lot when you have a family as beautiful as this one.

Here are your sneak peeks!

They say a photo is worth a thousand words.  But sometimes all you really need is one, and this one, I'd have to say, screams "joy".

I just love how Jesse is looking at Erin in this one.

Yeah, I know what you're thinking.  I get the most beautiful clients, don't I?  Take a look at Erin working.  it.  out!!!

Erin, Jesse, and Norah - I had a great time photographing your growing family yesterday.  Even had fun helping miss Norah find seahorses, seashells, rollie pollies, and ants!  Looking forward to meeting your "Peter Rabbit" this summer!