She’s my smiley little niece and goddaughter and I love her to pieces! To get ready for her second birthday, my friend and cousin-in-law, Rochelle, asked me to take some photos of Lorelai for her invitations. We spent about half an hour at a park a block away from my house and just let this little girl let loose. Don’t underestimate the tiny-ness of this child – she’s a sassy daredevil who seems to have mastered the art of posing before the toddler age of two. 
Month: March 2013
Maximo’s 3rd Birthday – Toluca Lake, CA
Old friends – love them. Literally – LOVE. THEM. Adriana and I – we’ve known each other since we were five years old. For those of you doing the math, that’s 30 years of friendship! I had the honor of being there when her son was baptized, when her son turned two and most recently was there to celebrate Maximo’s 3rd birthday.
Sometimes I can’t believe that Maximo’s mom is the same woman who, dressed up as Snow White’s evil queen when we were in the fifth grade; the same girl who forever refers to me as her first Filipino friend. But here she is, such a wonderful mom to a vibrant little boy and someone who I’ve never known to spare any detail and expense when it comes to doing anything. This year, Adriana and her husband threw their son a Toy Story-themed party, and aside from the faces of Buzz, Woody and friends decorating the surroundings, they also found a way to keep Maximo’s little friends, busy.
Who didn’t love art when they were little?! Small tables topped with paints, markers and piggy banks were the kids’ playground and they loved every minute of it.
Adriana and Gonzalo – you two never disappoint! Congrats on three years of parenthood!
Angelina & Jesse: Wedding – San Luis Obispo, CA
Having basically a girls’ weekend up in beautiful San Luis Obispo with my buddy, Tam, isn’t exactly what I’d call “work,” but we did manage to get in some labor of sorts to shoot my awesome co-worker, Jesse’s, wedding to his beautiful bride, Angelina.
I’d been battling an awful flu that week, but with the help of antibiotics, good ol’ dependable NyQuil and a lot of prayers, I won in the end. Actually, I have Angelina to thank for giving me the extra boost of health in the end, because when I walked into her room and saw her getting ready with her mom, sister, soon-to-be mom-in-law and sister-in-law, excitement for her and Jesse took over.
Jesse and Angelina didn’t have the typical 12-hour long wedding day. It actually wasn’t a “day” at all. To make the most out of their weekend with friends and family who were visiting from out of town, Jesse and Angelina made their happy day a happy 2-days at the lovely Sycamore Springs Mineral Resort.
Their intimate ceremony of 15 felt like 150, with the amount of love you just couldn’t help but feel, especially from their parents and sisters. The bride and groom each come from such close-knit families, and after that morning, they created a new one. After some alone time at one of their favorite places, Laeticia Vineyard & Winery (alone time with their photographers, that is), they hosted a happy hour that same evening with friends and relatives who were in town, and the next day, they hosted a cocktail lunch with all the reception trimmings, including speeches that had everyone laughing as well as crying.
Thanks so much, Jesse and Angelina, for letting us be part of such a fun and special weekend!
Anna Gonda Photography 