John and Amy made the trip down from LA the other day to have me shoot their maternity photos! Married for two years now, they were ready to start their family and couldn't be more excited for the little boy that will be theirs in September. Amy is an OB nurse, so she's had lots of first hand experience with many births, and can't wait for her turn to give life.
I have this theory that men always want their first baby to be a boy and women usually prefer a girl for their first. Maybe it's just a bit of familiarity with what you'll be getting, but I know that John & Amy feel very lucky to be having a boy. This little boy is going to grow up in a home filled with so much love:
John is quiet, but so tender and kind with Amy:
It must be amazing to see your wife change from the girl you've known into a mother:
And for Amy to watch sides of John come out that she didn't even know were there:
I can't imagine how this time must feel: A mix of excitement, love, maybe a little scared, nervous...so many emotions at the same time:
But mostly happy:
For sure, mostly happy:
Isn't it wild to look at Amy and know there's a whole PERSON in there? One with his own thoughts, feelings, and personality?
One who comes into the world with no expectations:
And whose every need you are responsible for fully:
I met Elisabeth for the first time four years ago when she was nine, at her sister Jessica's Bat Mitzvah. Jessica too, was one of those people who seemed older than her years, and who I have though of often, knowing that she would grow up to be an amazing person.
At her Bat Mitzvah, her younger sister Elisabeth was such a sweet presence. I remember her being so excited not only for Jessica's big day, but for her own future Bat Mitzvah, which at the time seemed SO long away! Well, her turn is finally here, so we took off for the happiest place on Earth the other day to shoot her pre-Mitzvah portraits!
For the record, I did not look like this at 12. I vaguely remember trying to crimp my curly hair and dousing my bangs in Aqua Net hair spray. Yeah, I would say Elisabeth is definitely a natural beauty:
Her theme? Alice in Wonderland, of course! There wasn't too much Alice-y stuff around the park, but there were a few hidden gems:
Elisabeth is so authentic. She is sweet, sassy, energetic, and silly. She is completely ELISABETH:
A touch of a Mad Hatter:
I love these two photos. She's so composed:
One of the things I remember MOST about Elisabeth from four years ago is her dancing! She is an AMAZING dancer, and she must have just been born that way. She recently started ballet and will already be going en pointe next year, a huge accomplishment considering she has so little formal training:
I wanted to make a few softer photos too:
We headed into Toontown for a few more fun and quirky shots:
There is just so much fun stuff there, I was loving it! Having moved here from somewhere that is very far from any Disney park, I didn't grow up going to one. I wish I had gotten to experience these things as a kid!
Of course we had to have Elisabeth ride the teacups! Fact: I hate all rides that spin, and was feeling a little icky after even SHOOTING a ride that spins! It was worth it though:
So fun:
I love a good merry-go-round:
I love these two:
Although Elisabeth looks and acts very mature for her age, she is still, and hopefully will always be, a kid at heart:
Elisabeth, it was SO much fun to get to photograph you at Disney! I just love your spirit, your kindness and your sense of humor and fun! Your Bat Mitzvah is going to be incredible, and I am excited to be a part of it!
"But I'm a WEDDING photographer", I thought to myself. What am I doing here?!
I've always liked dogs--well, most dogs. Dogs are a lot like people, with personalities, quirks, and attitudes! There have been some that I've taken to more than other, and....some that I could have gone without. In any case, what I love about dogs is their ENTHUSIASM, their absolutely single-minded desire to please.
And their soft fur. Adorable.
When Michelle asked me to shoot some photos of Uno, her french bulldog puppy, my first thought was, "Sure, why not?!". I've photographed lots of different things, and why should a little puppy give me any trouble?
I should have realized what i was in for when Michelle arrived with her arms full of more equipment and supplies than the Octomom needs to drop the kids at preschool.
Uno, as I found out, is quite the little Energizer bunny--he is a ball of non-stop GO GO GO!
This is what the majority of my photos of him look like, his little tail end wagging as he dashes away from me:
Don't be fooled--he's not looking at me. He is looking at the treat Michelle is dangling just above my head:
You can practically see him salivating at the thought of knocking me out of the way and taking his reward off in private:
Photographing a puppy is tougher than photographing pretty much anything else I've done. First of all, for all that Uno is adorable, he is just a baby! He doesn't really know his name quite yet (or chose not to respond), and once he'd eaten the first fourteen treats we bribed him with, those didn't seem to quite do the trick anymore either.
We tried a new tactic called, Mommy will hold you while I get at least a FEW good ones of you, you little rascal!
Jeff doesn't second shoot for me (he doesn't quite know how to work a camera yet), but I had him give me a hand on this shoot. Who else would look so cute doing this?!
Oh Uno, you are adorable:
Such a little piglet!
I think all of the running away from me finally wore him out, because he look a little bit sleepy here:
You can just see those puppy eyes ready to close...
Then we put him in the grass:
And all of a sudden, he was revived! You can just hear the stretch as he searches out his next spot:
I love this. It is the quintessential UNO:
Peace out!
In related news, these puppies are the cutest thing you will ever see. The best news is that one of these little darlings is going to be coming to our home sometime next month!!!! We are so excited for the arrival of our first born :)
**if you're wondering, they are Old English Sheepdog puppies. and yes, they are so cute you could eat one. Nom nom nom!**
Today I photographed a french bulldog by the name of Uno. I haven't had a chance to go through them all yet, but for now, I will share this one (Uno) with you!
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