Locks of Love

I am making a big change tomorrow morning!  This change has been a long time coming and I am feeling equally nervous and excited about it.  I am having my long red hair cut short and donating it to a charity called Locks of Love.  They are a non-profit organization that makes wigs for children suffering from long-term medical hair loss from many different diagnoses, including cancer.  It takes an average of six people's hair donations to make one wig for a child.  The donated hair needs to be at least 10 inches long in a ponytail.  You can read more about what Locks of Love is all about and see before and after photos of the children on their website. Ever since I learned of the good works that Locks of Love does, I have wanted to be a part of it.  BUT, and there has always seemed to be a lot of "buts" surrounding this issue, I have delayed donating because I am very attached to my long red hair.  I know that might sound vain or silly, but if you have long hair, you know what I mean.  I will be painfully honest.  My long red hair is such an integral part of my identity and it's what people most notice about me and compliment me on.  My main excuse was that I wanted to have my hair long for my wedding.  Well, my wedding was a year and a half ago and I did get to have it long at the wedding.  So why has it taken me so long to just donate it?  I think I am scared of the outcome.  I wonder if it will it still look okay.  I wonder if I will still be unique in some way.

I am a very nostalgic, sentimental person, so when I was washing and styling my hair this morning I was thinking to myself, "Sigh. This is the last time I will be washing and styling my long hair."  And it made me feel a little sad.  I know, so silly!  I can grow it out again if I want to, but it still feels like an end.  I have come to the point where I have decided to focus on the joy it will bring to a child, rather than thinking about my own selfishness or insecurities.  One friend told me, if you don't like the short cut you can grow it out again, but those kids can't.  Wow.  That put things into perspective.

In this process, I will respect my sentimental and nostalgic nature and take some "before" photos for posterity.  I will be sure to share my before and after photos some time soon.

A Dream, a Passion, and a Step of Faith | Pasadena Newborn Photographer

For those of you who don't know, I have officially shifted my business focus and area of expertise from wedding photography to newborn, children, and family portrait photography.  I have been heading towards this decision for a while, and I am thrilled to be moving forward with this choice.  I just love photographing tiny, fresh little babies during their first week of life!  I am very passionate about artistically documenting the connections between a family with a natural, candid, organic approach.  A big thank you to my close friends and family who have supported me with this decision.  I haven't taken this change lightly, and I wouldn't be where I am today without your kind words and encouragement to pursue my passion. I would like to introduce my new photography website!  I am so excited about how it turned out!  I have been wanting to redesign my website for quite a while to customize it exactly how I want it.  When I first started dreaming about it, I wanted a professional, flash website with a simple design that would be timeless, classic, and expertly showcase my portrait photography work.  Thanks to Showit Sites, some awesome web based software, I was able to design and create a one-of-a-kind website that I love.  I am so glad that I used Showit because I can update and improve my site on my own and the changes can be seen immediately.

Without any further ado, here are a few screen captures of my new "baby," but you can check it out for yourself HERE.  Enjoy!

Daniel & Martina Say I Do | Orange County Wedding Photography

Daniel, my younger brother, and Martina got married on Monday in downtown Fullerton. Both of their families were there to support them and to celebrate their commitment to one another.  After the ceremony, we went all went to take wedding portraits at Hillcrest Park in Fullerton and followed it up with a delicious, celebratory dinner together.  Best wishes to you both for a life full of love, joy, peace, and happiness!

The bride's family

The groom's family

My older brother, Sean, and my husband, Brandon, wanted to decorate Daniel's car as a funny surprise for him to find when we were all leaving the restaurant after dinner.  I think Daniel was really surprised and the noisy clanging of the cans helped them make a very noticeable exit!

Bekah & Clay | Pasadena Maternity Photography

Bekah and Clay are expecting a baby girl in just a few weeks!  They have had several exciting events in their lives recently, including moving into a house, completing a Masters degree, being accepted into a doctoral program, and very soon, meeting their first baby.  During the session it was so endearing to see how tenderly Clay treated Bekah... and how much love I could see between the two.  I am sure that they will be amazing parents and I can't wait to meet the baby! Pasadena's picturesque, tree-lined streets offered a charming backdrop for our portrait session together.  Although we started the session inside (with this cheerful blue wall), I especially *ADORED* the images we captured when we stepped out their front door and onto the street.  Bekah and Clay, thank you the honor of allowing me to freeze these moments, feelings, and thoughts in time of this amazing journey towards parenthood.  Truly, I'm so happy for you both!

Laura and Daniel | Los Angeles Wedding Photographer

Laura and Daniel's relationship began with the match-making skills of a group of mutual friends. That fateful summer Laura was staying with her sister and studying hard and preparing for the California bar exam to become a lawyer. Daniel was working in a placement at Los Angeles Children's Hospital during one of his summers in medical school. Several years later, and with great excitement and support from their match-making friends, Laura and Daniel tied the knot.  Laura was a stunning bride and Daniel a handsome groom. When they first saw each other their faces glowed even brighter and they just couldn't stop smiling. That's the way the rest of the day unfolded... glowing and smiling at each other as they said their vows and celebrated at their reception, surrounded by their friends and family. Laura and Daniel got ready, had their first look, and captured some special moments together at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

The ceremony and reception were held at the Bungalow Club in Los Angeles. The venue had a moody, candle-lit ambiance during the reception and the food was truly delicious!

Special thanks to my friend and talented photographer, Rudy Arpia, for capturing some gorgeous photographs throughout the day. Several of the images in this post are ones that he shot.

Daniel and Laura, if you are looking at this post while honeymooning in Mexico, please enjoy a margarita by the pool for me! Congratulations, again, I couldn't be happier for you both.