A walk for the mind and the spirit!

Hi readers! I am writing you today to tell you about an upcoming event that I am participating in that is both very important and very exciting to me. It is NAMIWalks for the Mind of America, NAMI’s signature walkathon event that is being held in San Diego, CA at Balboa Park: 6th / Quince / Balboa on April 17, 2010.

I will be walking with my head up; proud to know that every step helps to further research and treatment for those suffering any one or combination of the many forms of mental illness. More specifically and personally, I'll be walking with the hope that it helps get us closer to finding the cause and hopefully one day a cure for dementia and Alzheimer's - an illness that has recently begun to tighten its grip on my grandmother.

I would like to ask you to come and walk with me or to donate to support my participation in this great event. Visit my personal walker page to sign up: http://www.nami.org/namiwalks10/SDC/sweetface. There is also a link so you can donate directly to me online. Donating online is fast and secure, and I'll get immediate notification via e-mail of your donation.

NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, is the largest education, support and advocacy organization that serves the needs of all those whose lives are touched by these illnesses. This includes persons with mental illness, their families, friends, employers, the law enforcement community and policy makers. The NAMI organization is composed of approximately 1100 local affiliates, 50 state offices and a national office.

The goals of the NAMIWalks program are: to fight the stigma that surrounds mental illness, to build awareness of the fact that the mental health system in this country needs to be improved, and to raise funds for NAMI so that they can continue their mission.

NAMI is a 501(c)3 charity and any donation you make to support my participation in this event is tax deductible. NAMI has been rated by Worth magazine as among the top 100 charities "most likely to save the world" and has been given an "A" rating by The American Institute of Philanthropy for efficient and effective use of charitable dollars.

Thank you in advance for your support.

For more information about NAMI, please visit their website at www.nami.org

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!

Giving is Awesome - the winners | Encinitas family photographer

As some of you may remember, this past December I announced my participation in the Giving is Awesome (GIA) program - a program that affords custom photography for some very special people in our community (click here for more info). When I contacted Laural with the news of her winning, she was just weeks (if that) pregnant with their second child and knew that she would want to save her GIA session for his arrival. Well, yesterday morning I had the honor of meeting and photographing this beautiful, new family of four. I had a great time shooting with them yesterday - the weather was so perfectly gorgeous and this family just shined with love. Take a look...

Umm yeah - the eyes. Killer!

How cute is little Mason?

Gabi was just the epitome of doting big sister. She was so eager to just hold and love on her baby brother - totally melted my heart.

One last shot of this beautiful family...

I am so glad I participated in the Giving is Awesome program this year. It renewed my faith in the good that can be found in people and provided me the opportunity to meet this sweet, lovely family.

Rain, rain go away| Mission Bay family photographer

I've been watching the weather for the entirety of this last week because the threat of rain was imminent for today's session. In fact, as late (or as early, depending on your POV) as 1:00am this morning, the weather channel was still forecasting morning showers. Melissa, my client, and I decided that we'd wait until an hour prior to the session to call it - if it's raining at that time, we'll postpone; if not, we'll meet up and see what happens. Thankfully, when I peered out of my window this morning, the clouds were bright and the sun was shining! Melissa and Brian are parents to Nathan and Kira. In honor of Kira's arrival and Nathan turning three soon, we made our way out to mission bay to capture some images of this beautiful family!

Raise your hand if you're ready to see sneak peeks! ;)

Ok, so I know I say it time and time again, but I mean seriously, I *am* right. I get to shoot some really beautiful families!

Hot mom alert ;)

And I'll close out with a close up of miss Kira, in an image which is likely to make my favorite 10 of 2010 list at the end of the year.

A dozen smiles | San Diego family photographer

Today I met one of the most fun, charming, and beautiful families in all of San Diego. Seriously. I'll admit being a shade nervous anticipating my largest group yet - eight adults and four kiddos under three - but I had *such* a great time photographing all of them.

As you can imagine, shooting a large group means LOTS of pictures, so this post is going to be word light and photo HEAVY (which is how most would prefer it anyway. lol)! Let's get to the sneak peeks...

Let's start with where it all started - Roberto and Ana (and their furbabies, too!).

With their grandbabies...

The whole gang!

Check out Ruthie and Peter heating things up. Careful you two - that's how you got the lovely Valencia and Toby ;)

Definition of cute = Toby

Go ahead...melt from the sweetness! :)

Another furbaby, Cooper, getting in on the photo action...

Hayley, Eduardo, and Adrian looking fab.

I found myself a little jealous of Adrian's wardrobe ;)

Dan, Jessica, and little Sophia being beautiful together...

I swear Sophia is "smizing" like no one's business. Tyra would be proud ;)

LOVE this family. Great job guys!

Walkin on Sunshine | san diego family photographer

I love photos. I love beautiful families who love photos. I also especially love that the storm that has been accosting our usually sunny city for the duration of this last week, broke just in time to let this session happen. The weather today, while a tad colder than most of us Sun Diego folks are used to, was capital G-orgeous. Seriously - as I was making my way to this shoot, I had the Katrina & The Waves song blasting from Nigella's speakers (Nigella is the new car's name; more on her in another post). Anyhow, I suppose the fab weather was fitting since the family I had the pleasure of snapping today is capital G-orgeous, too! Don't believe me? Take a sneak peek!

Here's Ciria with her lovely Isela and handsome Joaquin...

The cuteness of miss Isela was almost too much to handle. I mean, seriously.

Joaquin is just the most handsome little boy. Pretty much ever.

Proof that beautiful babies come from beautiful parents.

Winners are awesome | San Diego family photographer

Before I announce the winner of the Giving is Awesome giveaway, I just want to take a moment to thank all of you for your nominations. This giveaway turned out to be so much more than just being able to do something nice for a deserving soul. Reading all the entries really just reminded me about the basic good we all have within us - and for that I am the most grateful. It was such a difficult choice to make, as there were so many deserving families highlighted and all the nominees were very deserving of this giveaway. But alas - I can only choose one.

The winning nomination came from Annie, who will receive a complimentary CD with their next photo session. Our very deserving winner is Laural - a very good friend of Annie's who has been there for her during times of need and beyond; whose family is going through some of their own tribulation right now; and who is, in Annie's words, "...super helpful to me, and a genuinely kind, good person" and "...truly kind even when things are tough for them."

Congratulations Laural and Annie!

And with a full heart, I wish all of you wonderful readers a very Merry Christmas!