Faith and Rob Engagement

When I found out I was shooting this couple for engagement photos, I melted!  A gorgeous couple, a romantic setting?!?  Yes, please!  But what I wasn't expecting was how fun and silly they would be.  We had a great time at Wilson Winery walking the grapevines and making memories!  Thank you both for allowing me to be a part of your love story!

I'm so excited to do more couples shoots!

Temecula Maternity Indoor and Outdoor Shoot

Michelle and her family have come into my life through photography.  It started with a family photo and has turned into a nice friendship!  When I heard she was expecting, I was SO EXCITED!  When Michelle told me she wanted to do maternity shots, she had a couple of ideas. So fun!  

Michelle is beautiful under all circumstances but is especially gorgeous with that pregnancy glow!  We started with some shots of her in her room...

What are maternity pictures without her other little one?  Some sweet and some sassy!

My personal favorite!

Next, Michelle wanted some outdoor photos with her whole family.

I can't wait to meet the little guy and if the timing's right, I'll watch him be born!  I love capturing these moments!!

Posing and Posers

I went to a workshop given by Sadi Lane of Whimsie Photography last month and it was amazing.  The focus of the workshop was romantic posing.  I've had a crush on Whimsie's photography since I won a gift certificate from a Facebook contest and got introduced to them.

When I got there, it was obvious that I was the most out of place...everyone had their Mark d's and I had my little 7D.  We started at a neat little apple orchard in Oak Glen.  The couple had just married the week prior.

The sun was still a little bright but we got some fun shots...I was able to learn tons from Sadi about how to easily move from one pose into another and how to use the same pose different ways!

She was gorgeous and they were a fun (slightly nerdy like me) couple to work with!

As we moved to a second location, where there was a trail, I snagged this shot... it was so Victorian feeling to me, I had to edit it different from the rest.  Oh!  Here is where I should mention that my camera pooped out on me somewhere between a shoot that I did earlier that afternoon and this shoot.  My autofocus stopped working correctly.  But, like a trooper, I went back and forth from manually focusing and MAKING it work!

We got to the second location as the sun was setting, it was breathtakingly gorgeous!  

The sun started to set, and it started to get chilly.  We had been working for a couple of hours and having such a good time we barely noticed it was almost dark.  This was such a neat experience.  I feel much more confident posing couples (less like a poser) and helping them help me capture their love on "film."

I'm on Thumbtack!

I'm hoping this will be good for business!  Super excited! 

It's a website where people get quotes for services...I think I'll love it!

I would love it if you check out my profile and leave feedback!

Kamea's Birth

This Monday I got to participate in one of the most amazing events anyone can be a part of!  A birth!  As soon as I found out that "Birth Photography" was a thing, I knew I needed to do one!  There are few moments in life as special as birth and I wanted to be able to capture it for someone.

I knew someone where I worked that was pregnant with her third child.  I nervously asked her if this is something she would be interested in doing and after she spoke with her husband, she said YES!

This was by far the best case scenario...amazing family, fine with this being my first time, and welcoming. 

I got the text message at 11:22am on Tuesday the 11th.  Her water broke and she was going to the hospital!  One problem...I was at work!  I went at 2:00 to take some pictures and check on mama.  She was all smiles as was her husband.  I had to be back to work at 3:00 which was fine because I was off at 5:00 and mom could tell nothing was going to happen by then 

When I got back at 5:05, mom's contractions were a little bit stronger and her mother and brother-in-law as well as her best friend were there keeping her company.  The way her mother watched her, you would think it was her first child. Everyone continued to be in good spirits...it was a neat environment to be in.  Grandma telling stories, dad watching the contractions...

Things continued to get a little more serious but mom kept her happy face on in between contractions.  She also did not sacrifice her social life ;)

Smiling through a contraction!?!?

As the pitocin kicked in, the contractions got stronger.  Mom opted for a natural birth so she started feeling it!  I watched as Grandma's worry set in.  It was amazing how Dad's love for his wife was so apparent as he naturally knew what she needed and comforted her. 

Soon, the nurse came in and told us we would likely meet baby Kamea within the next hour. and prepped mom on the next steps.  Energy coursed through the room...nerves and excitement!

Mom powered through the last of her contractions and pushed like a champ.  No screaming, no swearing, no crying...she was amazing.  She made me proud to be a woman.  The look on her face when she met her baby was priceless.

Welcome to this world baby Kamea!  You were born into a lovely, warm, smart, faithful family.  You will be loved and taken care of.  You are a lucky girl!

Baby Ethan

What a super happy guy I got to shoot yesterday!

I even got to use my new mini couch!  I'm hoping I get to stay their family photographer and watch little Ethan grow!

It's a new year!

Well, today I'm going to be making my site live.  I'm a little nervous because I'm afraid people will think I'm taking myself, or photography, too seriously.  I know I am learning but I also know what I love.  

I've always loved taking pictures of beautiful things, and people.  I recently remembered the first "photo shoot" I had.  With my 6 month old nephew, January 1990.  (He was a bitty premie that's why he looks so small one 3 months adjusted)  I would have been about 7 3/4 and remember thinking how cute it would be to have him in the bassinet with my newly acquired teddy bear Molly (who I still own).  

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Hey, look at the antennae on that phone!

After I remembered that photo, I remembered another shoot.  Thank goodness my sister wrote the dates on the back.  This one is from when he was 4, July of 1992.  I had props and everything.  So silly!

He was, and is, such a cutie...and what a HAM!

The point of this story is that photography has always been an interest and I am happy to be taking it more seriously.  I love my m-f 8-5 career as a Speech Therapist and don't want to replace that but it is neat doing this on the side and helping my friends and family, their friends and family, and now strangers capture moments and memories.  

So thank you all!  I hope to continue to learn, and grown and perhaps entertain you all!

Tessa