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Cameryn turns 1! *Children’s Portait Photographer* Riverside, Ca

Posted on March 13, 2010

My new partner in crime, Sabrina, and I spent a fun morning together laughing, chatting, gossiping, and especially dreaming of our awesome year coming up ahead. I almost forgot that I was actually there to work because we were celebrating her delicate flower’s first birthday with a little photo session. (The photo session that kept getting postponed due to torrential downpours! ) The day before the shoot, we joked that it better not rain or Cameryn will be 2 when we do her 1st birthday portraits!

But the day was perfection. It actually was the first time I got to hang out and play with little miss Cameryn, and I’m convinced that the sun came up just for her that Saturday morning. As Sabrina and I  followed Cameryn around, I couldn’t help but be inordinately cheerful. At 1 full year of age, Cameryn literally lights up and trembles with glee and excitement at anything that she comes across. A flower, a waterfall, a snail, a puddle. I’ve heard lots of moms describe their kid as “happy,” but Cameryn can’t just be described as “happy.” Cameryn has happiness emanating through her pores. She is happiness personified.

I love that her little pant leg is bunched up in the images above. I can imagine a 15 year old Cameryn thinking it was hysterical.

And what’s a birthday without a little cake?

Sabrina, we need more Saturday mornings like that one. I’ll take Lucy along for the next one! Cameryn, you are a delight! I am so excited to watch you grow.

A change is gonna come *Menifee Senior Portrait Photographer*

Posted on March 12, 2010

I love that Sam Cooke song.
“It’s been a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come”
When I lay in bed at night
willing my mind to calm itself,
this is the lullaby that I hear in my mind.
I can’t help but be excited about
what the future holds.
I can’t help but be scared [to death] about
what the future holds.
I can’t help but be impatient about
what the future holds.
All I can do is
visualize
picture
imagine
believe
hope
pray
about what the future holds.
The uncertainty drives me crazy
but what I know is that
a change is coming for me,
and I am headed toward this
with open arms
with unabashed thrill
with overwhelming optimism
with unending faith.
Yes, a change is gonna come,
and like Sam said,
“It’s been a long time coming.”

Veronica, you are down to the last 3 months of your high school career. In June, your life is going to change, just like mine is. Of course, our lives are changing in drastically different ways, but it’s a change nonetheless. I wrote the little ode above for me, but I was thinking all of it as I prepared your photos. I was inspired by you and the thought of you graduating from high school and saying goodbye to an important chapter in your life. It’s been 13 years (including kindergarten) that you’ve been in school, completing all requirements, taking all the tests, writing all the papers. Like I said above, “It’s been a long time coming.” Now it’s your move. You are a young woman of poise, character, kindness, compassion, faith, potential, and love. You have an amazing future waiting for you. I am thrilled for you. Much love and luck!

Why is this baby so happy? *Sneak Peek* Riverside, Ca Children Portrait Photography

Posted on March 8, 2010

Here’s something to get your week started on a cheerful note! Sneak peek of the uber cute Camryn, who recently turned one! More to come soon!

identity…a sneak peek… *Riverside County, CA Senior Portrait Photographer*

Posted on March 5, 2010

Identity is a funny thing. It’s there inside us or always hovering above us, but we don’t always recognize it. I’m not afraid to admit that in the last few weeks, I’ve been struggling with my identity. Who I truly am as a person, who I am as a photographer, who I am as a teacher. The thing is, it’s kind of fun you know. This whole game of figuring out my identity.

Today I talked with some of my high school students about their individuality and what differentiates them from others. Some raised their hand and said, “My hair,” some said, “My clothes,” some said, “Where I’m from.” Some just thought, not blankly stared, but just looked up and to the right, like people who are in deep thought do. Hmmm. It’s tough because, I think that we really do know our true identity, but what makes us pause is how we decide to present it to the universe.  But you know what? That’s the exciting thing about it!!!  Who is the you that the world sees? Whomever it is, you want it to be your best self. Right?

Okay, I’m ranting, and may not be making much sense (I did say I was struggling right?). Maybe it’s because I’m trying on a new look to go with my new life that is coming up very soon. “Hmmmm,” I sigh as I look up and to the right.

**** **** **** ****

Here’s a sneak peek of Veronica, high school senior. Who, just like me, will have a new life coming up very soon.

More to come in the next few days about the lovely Veronica. Make sure you come back to check it out.

Lucy’s World…and her images of the week!

Posted on February 23, 2010

I love everything about my daughter, her laughs, her cries, (even her screams and yells, though I admit I don’t love those as much). I love that everyday for her is an adventure, full of possibility and nonstop fun! Oh how I wish that adults could see the world like that.

She asks, “Why?” more than any other human I’ve met, it is cute…until it gets tiring…My aunt told me once that I used to ask, “Why?” all the time, and she’d tell me to write down all my questions and she’d answer them later, she told me this was payback! Ha!

One of my greatest hopes for my daughter is that she never ceases to marvel at the wonders of the world and the people around her…and that she become a doctor (just kidding, I had to throw that in for my aunts).

Last Monday, President’s Day, while the rest of the nation was shoveling snow off of their driveways, we visited the tidepools in Newport Beach. Lucy, Mario, and I dug our toes into the sand, searched for hermit crab, collected shells, gasped at the millions of mussels stuck to the rocks, giggled and squealed as we chickened out of touching the urchins (okay, that was just Lucy and I).

As the sun started to come down, Mario and I sat on the sand and watched as Lucy plopped herself down on the shore. She got drenched, but didn’t have a care in the world. We watched her dig in the sand with a giant mussel shell, sang songs to herself, and just enjoyed being. It was a great way to marvel at the unending blessings God has brought to our lives. Boy are we lucky! Here are some images from our afternoon. Enjoy!

My universe…

Daddy snapped this next one of Lucy.

Pretty good, I tried to convince him that we can be a husband and wife photog team. He declined.

Our last view before we headed home…

Meet Cole

Posted on February 18, 2010

Last Saturday, I got to shoot a wonderful family. All in all there were 19 people! It really was 6 families, connected to each other. I’m saving that for another blog post. But for right now, I want to share with you one special little man. For me, he stole the show that day. I can’t really pin point what it was. Maybe it was his piercing blue eyes, or his sweet spirit, or just how comfortable he was in front of my camera. It must be all of that put together in a little man named Cole.

I know, right?!?! Cole, can every little boy I photograph be just like you?

It’s no secret that I have a daughter. (Come on, did you really think that I was going to get through a blogpost without a little Lucy anecdote?) Mario and I always joke about the future when she’s old enough to bring a boy home to meet us. I can honestly say that if she brought home a boy like Cole, we would look up to the heavens and smile.

Stay tuned for Cole’s mom and dad, his Papa-u-mao and Grandma, Aunts and Uncles, and Cousins. More to come soon!!!

Why we celebrate February 13

Posted on February 13, 2010

The story of our family is in 2 parts. We have Lucy’s homecoming, April 11, we call that Family Day. Then we have today, February 13. It’s a special day in our household. Last year, February 13 fell on a Friday. Friday the 13th. An ominous date for most, but a lucky, special one for us. It was on this day, February 13th, of last year that a man in a robe shook our hands and said, “Congratulations mom and dad!” We rejoiced, we thanked God, we wept, we hugged. Mario and I, held Lucy tight, and we kissed each other knowing that this marked a very important time in all our lives.

We weren’t in a hospital. We were in a Riverside County Courthouse. The man in a robe wasn’t a doctor, he was a judge, a commissioner actually. It wasn’t the day of Lucy’s birth. It wasn’t even the day that the three of us became a family, because Lucy had been home with us for almost a year. It was the day that the County of Riverside, the State of California, the United States, the Earth, officially recognized us, Mario, Lucy, Lindsay – the Chavez Family. On this day, February 13, 2010, we celebrate the finalization of our adoption.

Here are some images taken by friends and family of that blessed, blessed day.

Here’s us waiting outside the courthouse to open. Nervous, anxious, excited. I love Mario’s silly face.

In the courtroom, surrounded by family and friends.

Our family story is one that we are extremely proud of, thankful for, and often celebrated. We have a fun day in store for the three of us, heck, we have a fun life in store for the three of us.

Lucy’s Photo of the Week!

Posted on February 10, 2010

My little girl has been on adventure after adventure lately. She learned to appreciate the classics, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and such. She got her very first photo ID card (in the form of a D-land pass). She visited her first private university. She watched her very first live play, Peter Pan. She’s getting a bit feisty and insists on doing everything herself, which makes getting ready in the morning take forever. She also assisted me at a photoshoot for the first time! She was great! Especially in making the little babies smile. We had a great week. Tune in for what she’ll do next! I love Lucy, and I love being a mommy.

We heart kisses!

Posted on February 9, 2010

I have been a fan of the site, I Heart Faces Photography, for a while now. They do weekly photo contests and challenges, and I’m not really sure why, but I’ve never entered one of my photographs. This week’s challenge is “We heart kisses!” The moment I read it, I thought of one photo. I’m telling you, just remembering the day I captured this photo makes me smile and tingle, it’s one of my all time faves.

So even if I don’t win this week’s challenge, capturing this sweet moment feels like a win! Happy early Valentine’s Day!

The Great Outdoors

Posted on February 3, 2010

Last Sunday, I attended Matt Saville ’s natural light workshop. Despite the unexpected freezing temperature, I had a blast, and met some really cool people who are equally obsessed with photography. Matt decided to take our little group on a little adventure to Silverado Canyon, which, if you don’t know, is a quaint town off of the city of Orange with gorgeous hiking and mountain biking trails.

Now for those of you who know me, I’m not the outdoorsy type, I don’t like to get dirty. Up until my family got into wakeboarding a few years ago, I was known to say that I don’t like submerging myself in natural bodies of water (I know! It’s sad, and I grew up by the beach, too). Over the last few years, I’ve been slowly transforming my misguided preconceptions of nature. (Matt, if you’re reading this…I’m sorry, but read on please, because it gets good…I promise!)

During the workshop, Matt mentioned how much he would love to take a bridal couple for wedding photos up to Silverado. He said that it would be a great location for the couple who are lovers of nature and shoppers at REI. Secretly, I thought, “That is definitely not me!” But as the afternoon continued, and as I saw the images from my camera…I was getting hooked. My mind was transforming. Everywhere I looked was  overwhelming beauty. Yes, true, great location for a photo session, but really…just a great place to be!

Matt is so knowledgeable about all things photography. I learned so much that I’m still processing it today. I appreciate him imparting his knowledge of this art that so many people enjoy and are passionate about. I also thank Matt for introducing me to some great people and this great location! Silverado Canyon…can’t wait to come back. I may not bring a mountain bike, or have the proper hiking boots, but I’ll be there enjoying it all the same with my camera!

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