I’m sure many of you can relate to this… Sylvia and I became online-friends while planning our wedding.  Our weddings were a week a part and we were both active on the wedding forums.  We were also both bloggers and coincidentally, “ran into each other” in the blogging world too.  You know how you feel like you totally know someone from their blog/fb, but have actually never met in person?  Well, I later would randomly see Jimmy walking their dogs, Kobe & Angus, around the neighborhood while I was on shoots.  As Jimmy reminded me, I once scared him.  I had just finished a shoot and happened to walk past him… it was pretty dark, but I recognized Kobe & Angus.  I said, “You’re Sylvia’s husband!”  … he looked creeped out…  “Uh… and that’s Kobe & Angus!”  …even more creeped out…  After I said that, I kinda regretted it because how was I supposed to explain to him now how I know Sylvia.  Luckily, he laughed about it when I saw him again for this session.

So if you couldn’t tell, they’re expecting baby #2!!  Frances is going to be a great big sis:

Jimmy wanted a few photos with his very first car.  It’s 20 years old!!  I can’t believe how well he has taken care of it.  It really says something about him, and you can see it in the way he’s with Sylvia & Frances.

LOVE this next image:

I also heart this last photo:

For those who don’t know, we’re expecting our first child next month.  I don’t know how else to explain the surge of emotions, but as I was editing a recent maternity session I did, these photos pretty much sum up the joy & intimacy between soon-to-be mom and dad.  These photos ease my anxiety and remind me to just enjoy each other.

Looking at these make me look forward to lounging around this Thanksgiving holiday!  I wish you all a relaxing long weekend!

It’s an amazing feeling to watch a family grow.   You may remember the Oh family from their first maternity shoot, to Roman’s newborn, 100th day, and one year portrait.  They actually recently delivered a healthy boy, Grant.  As I was shooting this second maternity session, I thought back to their first maternity session and I felt so special that I got to see them through these milestones.  They’re still the same giggly couple, but I could also see how much they have grown.  I feel like their growth parallels my growth since they have been with me since day 1 of this business.  Needless to say, they are a very special family to me.

I love that photo above of Roman.  It just makes me laugh.  And I love his “skinny” jeans, that are still baggy on him.

This next photo is one of my favs.  I think it was his first time seeing a dandelion so the first thing he did was smelled it!  I guess that’s better than trying to eat it.  haha.

Just like her first pregnancy, Grace just glowed.  She carries the bump so beautifully.

Roman already warming up to his little brother:

peek-a-boo!

And I just love this next father-son moment:

I don’t remember what got him so excited, but it was hilarious:

And then he was tickling himself with the weeds:

Congrats to the Oh family on their new addition.  I can’t wait to meet Grant!

I’m in Vegas this week for WPPI, but had to make sure I scheduled a new post for you all!  Nikon is sponsoring my trip, so huge shout out to Nikon!  Check back next week for photos from the week of fun, inspiration, & learning.  In the meantime, I wanted to leave you with this adorable maternity shoot!  Tweeny is the genius behind The Flower Lab.  She did the flowers for a beautiful wedding I shot back in September -  I’m so behind on blogging that I haven’t even blogged that wedding yet!   We wanted to do something fun for Tweeny’s maternity shoot, so I thought of a retro/pin-up inspired shoot.  She found this adorable polka-dot bikini!

Theresa at TH Makeup & Design did her flawless makeup & super cute hair.

That blanket she’s sitting on was made for Josh by his grandmother.

These two have been together since high school – they have been together for half their lives!  Isn’t that so incredible?  You can really see how in tuned they are to each other, like completing each other’s sentences and talking so much alike – it’s really like talking to one person.  It’s amazing to witness their strong connection.

They have lived all over the country together, but have settled in LA by the beach for the past 3 years.  It was only appropriate to document this milestone on the beach.

Tweeny & Josh, congrats on the start of this new chapter in your lives!  I look forward to documenting the arrival & growth of baby Josh!  xoxo

You may remember little Story from her portrait session with pumpkins and balloons last year, and then her first birthday.  You may also that a little announcement was made at the portrait session.  A week before Story’s new sibling arrived, we headed out for another family session.

Story is so spunky and a super happy baby.  I love her!

I wanted mommy and daddy to kiss Story on the cheek.  Story cuddled with mommy, but when daddy got in close, she suddenly turned around and pinched him!  And then pushed him away!  We were laughing so hard!  (I know you’re not supposed to laugh because it encourages her, but it was so sudden we couldn’t help ourselves!)

Story phone home!

I took so long to blog this that little Sophia has actually arrived already.  Let me introduce you to little Sophia!