a day in the life..

this is a very special family that i really miss seeing on a regular basis.  we use to see each other a few times a week at santa monica gymnastics, where i use to teach.  you can catch a glimpse of miss A.'s reminiscences of the gym in one of the photos below. once you're a gymnast, it's so hard to stop.  

and then there's little miss N. pictured below who just turned the big ONE! i don't have any words for this amount of cuteness..   

and this is miss C..  the sweetest little girl you could ever meet. she was born with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome and is such an inspiration.  i love these quiet moments..

“we take ourselves too seriously”

This was an evident theme in my yoga class this morning taught by Govindas (an amazing, amazing yoga instructor at SMPY). He also spoke of playfulness: letting ourselves go, letting go of worry, and letting go of self consciousness. As adults, we so easily lose sight of what it’s like to just be… to feel such pure, simple joy that can come only from letting go and fully experiencing a moment.. I think there’s so much to be learned from children. They own playfulness. They know, without even knowing, what it’s like to be enveloped in the joy of life. I think we should all start taking notes from the children around us, like this little 6 year old who had me smiling constantly.. and laughing and running from the waves coming in to shore.. the cold water tickling our toes.

a perfect maternity shoot..

i had a wonderful session last saturday with this lovely couple expecting their first child. we set out to make quiet, contemplative black and white photographs (my favorite kind) and i think we did just that. i'm completely thrilled with these images and so excited to meet the little guy, who is due in just over a month!

Giving Back: The Heart Gallery of Los Angeles

I recently photographed this young man in Glendale at the Casa Adobe De San Rafael & Park for The Heart Gallery of Los Angeles (an organization that uses professional photography to help foster children find permanent loving homes).

It could go without saying that in our short time together, he certainly touched my heart. If you or someone you know is looking to adopt, please don't hesitate to visit The Heart Gallery!

Giving Back: The Heart Gallery of Los Angeles

these two brothers are like so many of the children i know. they love animals, sports, and most importantly each other. they are full of energy, filled with laughter, and so very sweet. the difference that cannot be seen is that they are looking for a loving family to call their own.

i had the honor of volunteering for The Heart Gallery of Los Angeles last month and my life was greatly impacted. it is my hugest hope that the lives of these two will soon change for the better.

if you or someone you know is looking to adopt, please check into this wonderful organization that uses professional photography to help foster children find permanent, loving homes. if nothing else, please spread the word so that these two deserving kids, and so many others, will have a chance to find a family to belong to and a chance for a better life.

my 2 favorite kids in LA..

i know i shouldn't pick favorites, but i see these boys a few days a week and they've become a huge part of my life. they are so sweet and hilarious and are responsible for so many of my smiles and so much of my laughter!

just thought i'd share this recent photograph i took as a surprise gift for their wonderful parents. it turned out pretty much exactly the way i imagined it. :)