Warming Up: Nolan at 1

The first image says it all. I asked Nolan if I could see his shoes and, without turning his head to look at me, he stuck out his right foot to, as I requested, show me his shoe.

After spending earlier that day taking pictures of Jonah, I spent later that afternoon taking pictures of Jonah’s cousin, Nolan with his mom, Katie. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Katie because she is Jonah’s dad’s sister. You following’ me, people? =)

With kids growing up so quickly, Katie, a special-ed teacher (teachers are some of my favorite people!), asked if I could shoot some photos of Nolan, who is just over a year old. At first, he was quite the shy little guy, clinging to Katie…and his baseball. “He’s always holding some kind of ball,” Katie said. And as distracted as babies can be, Katie says that if baseball (check out that stance!) or the Lakers are on tv, Nolan’s attention seems to hold. I love this kid already.

After a while, Nolan started to warm up, and how could he not? It was a beautiful Labor Day Monday at Wilderness Park, and all this open grass was just calling for him to run around at will, which he did. He even warmed up to the lady with the camera constantly in her face…or his face, is more like it. That picture below with Nolan resting his hand on the bench? “He’s telling you to sit next to him,” Katie said. Aaaw, thank you, Nolan =) What a sweetie!

After an hour or so, we came upon a set of stairs where Katie and I literally watched Nolan walk up and down a few dozen times until we finally convinced him to move on. At last, he needed a juice break, which produced an even more playful little boy. As the first image signified the start of our day, so does the last signify the end of it. By the time I’d shot a couple hundred photos, Nolan was more than happy to show me his smile.

Wide-eyed: Baby Jonah

Jet black hair, super wide eyes, cute button nose – that’s my new godson, Jonah. He’s just over two months old now and growing at an exponential rate. Okay I’m exaggerating but seriously, this kid can eat! I’ve seen him three times since he was born and I just can’t stop staring at his cute little face. Last Friday, he was sitting in his musical swing and we were basically having a staring contest – which he won because, I don’t think he blinked. haha!

Jeff and Christine are doing an awesome job as first-time parents, and to help in their transition is Mama Thelma, Christine’s grandmother. How awesome is that for her to be taking care of her great-grandson?

I can’t tell yet who Jonah looks like but you can see it him – a little mom, a little dad, and a whole lot of pure cuteness in between.

Home Is Where the Heart Is: Regina & Sean

e-Harmony.com – great job! Whatever it is that you did to bring these two together, keep on keeping’ on, because Regina and Sean are M.F.E.O. That’s right – Made For Each Other. And I’m so happy that I received the pleasure of second shooting their happy day for my very talented buddy, Andrew.

Everything about Regina and Sean’s wedding day was tailor made to reflect their love – personal, intimate, fun, heartwarming. In a cute house just a few blocks from Downtown Orange, they celebrated their wedding day in the comforts of their own home and I honestly can’t imagine a more perfect way to make their love “official.”

Regina spent the morning getting her hair and make-up done, and Sean was running around the city running wedding errands. Not a stickler about traditions, the bride and groom whizzed by each other all afternoon, with scarcely a second to have a conversation. But when it came time for their first-look, it appeared as if they were seeing each other for the first time. It was such a special moment; I can’t even put it into words.

With about an hour or two available before the ceremony, Regina and Sean borrowed a classic car to match their classy looks, and we were able to snap some photos of the couple and their best man and maid-of-honor at a nearby park. I’m a traditional gal myself, but to have the opportunity to take photos of the couple before the wedding craziness really begins is actually really great. The photographers not only get more time with the the bride and groom, but the guests of honor get to spend more time together too. It’s a win-win situation =)

Back at the house, every table in their spacious yard had place settings reminiscent of a good ol’ country get-together, and on the center of each table was a white pitcher/vase filled with bright summer flowers. Guests had mason jars as drinking glasses, and a great part of the menu was prepared by the groom’s chef-sister-in-law. Regina’s hairpiece was a creation by her maid-of-honor, and the beautiful gazebo/altar was built by Sean and his father, Terry, who also officiated the ceremony. When night fell, guests chatted and laughed under a canopy of string lights.

Thank you so much, Mr. & Mrs. Ruddy, for letting us be a part of your day! You’re an awesome couple and I wish you the best!