los angeles, ca portrait photography: photographers photographing photographers

i'm still in the process of editing the images from sunday's funday with verenice, the talented photographer behind l dot a dot photography, but just wanted to get to share a few. we had an impromptu "workshop" together. a day where we could both practice skills, goof off, and shoot the sh*t, without feeling the pressure of an actual client in front of our lens. it was a beautiful, all be it chilly day, we were armed with our cameras, a truck full of clothes,  and all that was planned was stopping wherever we felt would make awesome backdrops. 

the camera loves her, both behind, and in front of it!! 

elle styles

i always love to help a friend with a new business venture. my girlfriend shelley, who is an amazingly talented hairstylist, recently started her own business: Elle Styles. she will come to you and do your hair, rather than you having to go to a salon. she is amazing at brazilian blowouts, i've seen some of the transformations first hand. 
but anyways, when shelley first told me she was starting her company, and started her facebook page to help promote herself, i said how great it would be if we collaborated on a photo shoot to show off her amazing skills! it just so happened too, that my amazingly talented australian makeup artist houseguest carlie, was still in town and able to do the makeup for the shoot too. 
so together, with three beautiful friends, we put together our photo shoot. i wish shelley and carlie all the luck in their careers, they are both ah-mazingly talented artists! 
and as for our "models", i think all three of you need to quit your day jobs and go become the worlds next top models. seriously. y'all rocked it for me!! 

yes, i am alive

someone once said, "instead of writing (or blogging) about life, how about living life". and that is exactly what i have been doing the last couple weeks! while i have been neglecting my poor blog (sorry!), i have been enjoying the summer months and the beautiful weather we are blessed to have here in southern california. i have had some amazing sessions lately, and am a little back up on editing all of them because we went camping for an entire week! me, the dirt, one boy who doesn't walk yet, and two boys who love adventures. it was an adventure! so until i get all caught up, here are a few previews from a some of the shoots! there's a little love, a little life, and of course, a lot of fun! 

yes, those are my feet, out the window of the rv we rented

the day

i'm having a day. you know, one of those days where nothing really goes wrong, but nothing really goes right either. a day where the computer doesn't cooperate, and i have to resend an email 5 times before it finally goes through, a day where my editing gets postponed due to the fact we ran out of diapers and i needed to make a run after i use the last one out of my diaper bag. i day where the nightlight i buy for the babies room needs to be returned because, well, it doesn't light. but then it was a day where i got to sit and watch the jacaranda flowers fall off the tree and float down to the driveway. and i was able to enjoy mac n cheese with the boys. and i was able to send off some amazing family pictures to a gorgeous family, so they would have them in time for father's day. and so, it wasn't that it was a bad day, but it wasn't as if it was a good day either. it was just a day. 

i rarely feature my own children on here, mainly because i feel most people don't want to see my kids, they want to see themselves or my clients. but some days, mine are just too cute to pass up. i am spoiled at the fact i have the ability to chase them around with a camera all day if i feel like it, so yes, i do get amazing pictures of them. but it is rare that e will sit and actually smile for me these days. he's a typical 3 year old- i won't take a picture because you want me to, but some days, i figure out what i have to do to make him smile, and today was one of those days. all it took: "don't smile". i think i know my new secret weapon! you judge for yourself!

i think i know my new secret weapon!

buy love here

michelle and andrew are not getting married anytime soon. but when i put the request out for a few couples  to help build my engagement portfolio, michelle said she would love to. andrew on the other hand, told us only if he could wear a denim shirt with jeans. ummm, in michelle's words, "this ain't no jc penny catalog shoot!" 

these two were so much fun, and the giggles and laughing were non stop. trying to get sultry or serious faces was next to impossible, and andrew kept telling michelle to "think of dead kittens", which strangely made all of us burst into hysterics instead. really? i know, right.

        

they came prepared with yummy cupcakes and a few changes of clothes, so we had fun changing locations with each outfit, cruising down melrose until we found the perfect backdrops- we even stole some guys doberman for our "urban prop". ok, so we didn't "steal" it per say, we did ask permission, and he gave us a very 'are you kidding me" look as he handed over the leash.

to see more of this awesome session, check out the slideshow

and please forgive the cheesy music with it, i haven't figured out how to get MY music with it! 

***Updated*** thanks to my bpf verenice, there is now awesome music with the slideshow!!