A few weeks ago PJ, Maylie (my niece) and Lucy (a fellow Zuri Model and Talent kiddo) were lucky enough to model for another one of Jay Reilly's "Shooting Kids Workshops". In between wrangling my bossy kiddo, who decided that SHE was "art director" for the day and was non-stop telling Jay what her ideas were, etc....I snapped a few shots. Sorry Jay, she did the same thing at a Paul Frank shoot in February and they all were laughing, using her ideas, etc (I even received an email from them a few days later that said "PJ was so great to work with, she has such a precious little personality! The next day we kept saying "what would PJ do??" while shooting the adults!") ....so now she thinks she's the photography shot guru - hahaha.  So anyway, here are some shots of Lucy and Maylie. Both girls are gorgeous inside and out. So sweet, awesome to photograph, smart, beautiful...you name it :) 

 

Oh and Lucy....here is your bubblegum shot you asked me to send you ;) 

No, not the store.......but this amazing family looked like they could have just walked out from it! I've mentioned it before, but i'll mention it again....I LOVE urban shoots.  I could shoot the same locations multiple times a week (and in fact...I just might ;) hehe)...and still not get tired of them. With urban shoots, you don't have to worry about snakes/bugs/etc in fields, extreme UV rays/sand/crowds/cold water/etc at the beach, crowds/bugs/etc at parks.....yadda yadda yadda. I love the variety and it's also easier to find shade (because of buildings, etc) when it's extremely hot or bright. So yes...bring on the urban shoots! :) 

Kelly booked me back in June of last year.....and like I mentioned in my last client shoot post, getting booked by another photographer always brings a big smile to my face :) They drove down from LA for the shoot...and just as I expected.....they were awesome! :)  Super cute, willing to try anything, dressed frickin' awesome, etc, etc.  Ok, ok....since it seems that most people rarely read what I write anyway....let's get to the pics! ;)  I'll start with my favorite. I told them all to do their model/serious faces....and are they working it or what??

 

 

Ian is 15 and hilarious. At one point, I was talking to him about how they were lucky because they could go jump in the hotel jacuzzi after the shoot.  He looked at me with "The Rock" (you know, the one eyebrow up?) look and said "Ehhh....there's not gonna be any girls there anyway". HAHAHAA. I told Kelly she had herself a "ladies man" on  her hands ;)  He also busted out this "Nixon pose" out of nowhere....

 

Kade is 5...and stole my heart. Kelly told me that he would be my "biggest problem" during the shoot.....and just like 98% of the time parents say that.....she was wrong ;) Honestly....I would have taken him home. He did everything I asked, helped me carry a skateboard back to the car (and no, I didn't even ask!)....handed it to me and said "Here you go!....THANK YOU!" :) Really? What 6 year old BOY thanks someone after having their pictures taken??  I love him.....

 

Kaia is 2...and is a little doll. From the eyes, the hair, the cheeks, the little smirk, etc....I just wanted to pick her up and squeeze her (and luckily I got that chance at the end of the shoot when she was actually ready to let me put her in my car and take her home ;) haha). As Murphy's Law would have it, Kaia fell asleep just before they arrived to the shoot, so she wanted mama most of the shoot....but it's ok....we still made it work :) 

 

This one cracks me up because this was just a few minutes into the shoot. Kaia was still not happy about being woken up for pics. Mom and dad are looking at her like "oh please just stay there" (since she had run back to mom a few times already)...and Kaia is looking at me like she wants she wants to backhand me ;) HAHAHAHA....

 

I'd imagine this is how life in the Mendoza family is daily.....all over the place and in all different directions :) I love it.....

More to come next week :) 

Michael, Michelle and Mason, that is.

This shoot was actually supposed to happen this past October, but between my back going out on me, spider bites (from a shoot in the woods) on my (shooting/editing) hand that got infected (meaning I couldn't use my hand for a while), etc....on top of it being my busiest time of year, I had to ask Michelle if we could postpone our shoot. I felt terrible, offered to refund her deposit and help find someone else to do the shoot, etc, but she so kindly replied "In all honesty, I can't think of any other photographer I'd rather have do our family photos.  I've been dreaming about our shoot for months now.  You are quite literally my favorite photographer.". As if that wasn't already flattering enough, Michelle is a photographer as well.....so it's always extra special coming from another photographer. 

After this shoot, I couldn't help but to be secretly (well not so, now - haha) glad that we did this shoot in April instead of October. The weather was perfect, the fields were green, it wasn't too hot or too cold....and because of that....the B family was dressed perfectly coordinating in their spring best. All in all it was "picture perfect" :)  

 

Mason is a crack up...and has these awesome eyes that have a sparkle to them......

At the shoot a few hours ago, mom mentioned that she doesn't have many pics of her and Mason together. So I quickly skimmed through the pics from today and this was one of the many that caught my eye. Happy Easter Michelle!.....and PJ says "THANK YOU" to Mason for the Easter goodies! :) 

More from this session will be posted this upcoming week :) I will be taking tomorrow OFF, so HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE! :)