Fairy dust, plus a few bath bubbles
Time to play catch up. Keith and I have photographed a few great families over the past few weeks, and it’s about time we provide a few posts to show you just how adorable they are. First up…Sophia and Luke. Their parents, Eunice and John, suggested grabbing a few shots at a local park. The setting was perfect, especially for Sophia in her fairy princess costume.
Little brother Luke, in an equally cute yellow shortall, enjoyed the swings.
But a quick bubble bath after the park really got Luke to smile.
Luke will turn one this July, and we’ve been invited to photograph his first birthday party. We know that Eunice and John have some great plans for the party in the works, so we can’t wait to photograph this special event. Be sure to check back next month for photos from the big day.
Fill ‘er up
Who would have thought a gallon of unleaded gas would ever top $4? I had to fill up my tank this afternoon while Keith and I were out running errands. I knew I would be in for a surprise at the pump (I haven’t filled up in almost two weeks), so I took my point-and-shoot with me. When we pulled into the Circle K we saw this: $4.199. Ouch!
On a lighter note, while I was getting gas Keith ran into the convenient store for a Frosters drink and some beef jerky. As we started to drive away he gulped down enough of the iced drink to cause a massive ice-cream headache. I’m sure he was in plenty of pain but the expression on his face was priceless. If I wasn’t driving I would have a snapped a shot of him.
Every cloud has a silver lining…
…or a cute toddler. Yesterday, Keith and I had a fun afternoon spending time with the Warner family. We headed to the park with Ryan and Dina to get some pictures of Blake, who will soon be celebrating a milestone…his second birthday! We thought the rain clouds might dampen our time outdoors, but we got lucky. In fact, I think we made the clouds work to our advantage. They made for an awesome backdrop when Ryan hoisted Blake on his shoulders. But this isn’t the only cute shot. Look for more to come.
Shiera & Joe
When we have the time, Keith and I are always up for an afternoon stroll along the beach. And our trip to Laguna Beach a couple weeks ago was especially noteworthy—we had the opportunity to meet up with Shiera and Joe to take a few engagement photos. We started out walking through downtown. This brick wall provided a tasty background.
I love picket fences!
Keith found this awesome arch…
…while I took a liking to this tree. What a sweet moment.
But this stained glass caught both of our attention.
Love this shot! And check out the bling on the guy in the background.
Then we hit the water.
What a fun couple! This is my favorite!
Congrats to the soon-to-be Mr. & Mrs.!
We found Nemo, and then some
On Friday a rare event occurred…Keith and I both had the day off! We decided that a trip to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach would be a great chance to get outside and see something new. But first up, lunch at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. at The Pike next to the aquarium. We ate on the patio to take advantage of the great weather and sunshine. Keith loves seafood and after checking out the menu he decided on the coconut shrimp. I opted for a chicken salad.
I loved how well the restaurant’s decor tied in references from the movie Forrest Gump. The waitresses even quizzed us on some trivia from the film. We did surprising well considering we haven’t seen the movie in years.
After lunch, we made the short walk to the aquarium. We headed to the second floor first to check out the jellies exhibit. I love the way they light up the tanks so you can enjoy the color in these creatures.
One of our favorite shows is Deadliest Catch. When I saw this crab it reminded me of the show and I had to snap a quick shot.
The tropical fish exhibits had a lot clown fish like the cartoon character Nemo, but I took a liking this copperband butterflyfish. I love its yellow stripes!
We also found a small glass enclosure that had a few tiny frogs in it. This yellow one stood out the most.
The aquarium has a lorikeet feeding station. We bought a couple cups of nectar and made some new friends.
After a few hours at the aquarium, we were starting to get hungry so we decided to head south and brave the Friday night crowds at the Irvine Spectrum. It seems that we were just ahead of the dinner rush. We got seated right away at the Cheesecake Factory. We were a little underwhelmed with the pasta and chicken tacos we ordered. But we heard good things about Pinkberry so we decided to check ‘em out. I ordered an original with strawberris and banana while Keith got an original with chocolate chips and almonds. We were expecting the original flavor to taste like vanilla, but instead it tasted like lemon. It was a bit of a surprise for us. We both decided that while it was a fun treat, we might opt for Coldstone Creamery next time.
Sweet celebration
Last Saturday, Keith and I stopped by the home of our friends Marlayna and Mitch for a special celebration—their son Julian’s fourth birthday. While all the veggies, pizza, and sushi were delicious, nothing beats the dessert. Marlayna ordered several dozen cupcakes from Sprinkles Cupcakes in Beverly Hills. The cupcakes were the perfect size for all the kids to gobble down. And the three-tier tray that Sprinkles offers made for an impressive display for Julian to blow out his candles. Happy Birthday, Julian!
Matt & Jamie
On Sunday, we attended the wedding of Keith’s brother Matt. Gloomy skies threatened the pre-ceremony photos with rain, but luckily, the precipitation was kept at bay. Jamie’s bouquet changed hands a bit during the portrait session. Matt was a good sport to model them for us.
The great fall colors in Jamie’s bouquet and sash added a vibrant splash to the overcast day.
The happy couple.
Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley is a must-see location for anyone in Orange County. The park has its own bike rental shop featuring these awesome surreys—perfect for any couple to peddle around.
Matt is a car buff. At the reception, Jamie surprised him with centerpieces that featured classic model cars in rich fall colors. This one served as the perfect backdrop for their rings.
Instead of a traditional cake, Matt and Jamie opted for rich chocolate cupcakes. Congrats to the new Mr. & Mrs.!
All-American Baby
This weekend, Keith and I had the opportunity to photograph Baby Logan, and his parents, Elizabeth and Michael. What a happy baby! Logan smiled and giggled during the whole photo session. Toward the end of the session, Michael suggested draping a flag behind Logan for an early Fourth of July photo. It was the perfect idea!
Night Light
Ever wonder what you’ll get with a long exposure on your camera? Keith and I were curious, so we headed to our local mini-golf course to find out. We mounted our camera on a mini-tripod, selected a slow shutter speed (2.5 seconds), set the timer, and let the fun begin. This shutter speed was a bit too long, but we got a kick out of seeing the result, especially the circular pattern of the blades on the windmill and the transparency of our bodies against the background.
On the Cover
A Saturday spent cooking in the kitchen has just paid off. Keith and I are pleased to announce that our photo of a pasta dish made the cover of the Orange County version of Westways magazine. The cover feature for the June issue was on picnicking in Southern California. Three recipes were included with the article. Keith and I had the opportunity to make all three dishes–Caprese Pasta Salad, Herbed Roasted Chicken With Mustard Marinade, and Lemony Green Beans–and photograph them. Not only did these dishes look great, but they tasted even better.
