More of the Felix family.... {Big Bear Lake family photographer}

Here are some more of the awesome Felix family!! Enjoy!

The Felix family grew by one.... {Big Bear Photographer, newborn, family, child}

And I got to capture them all together!
I just have to start this post by saying that I wish I would have been able to get to know this family sooner. They are moving {moved} across the country and we did this session just days before they were set to leave. They have the best sense of humor and are just a joy to be around. I laughed and smiled the whole time with them cracking hysterical little jokes back and forth. I know that we would have had a great time hanging out with our families together!
I loved this session, did I mention that already? I got to take them out to the forest after a little bit of studio time and got some really great images that I can't wait to share. This is just a little tiny tiny taste of what we were able to get during our session and there are a few special people missing from this post... Grandma and big brother too. But don't worry I will post more in just a few days. I just didn't want to leave the Felix family hanging in suspense any longer. Besides, I'm sure there are some lucky relatives that haven't got to see the new arrival yet so I hope you all enjoy! Thank you Felix family for coming out and spending some time in front of my camera, I loved every minute of it!

Catching Up....Utah Workshop Pictures {Big Bear Photographer, child, newborn, family, wedding}

Last week I took a journey out of my mountain bubble and went to Utah to learn some creative use of artificial light from an awesome photographer. I use mainly natural light but my passion for photography drives me to want to learn all aspects. I just love everything about it, especially the science involved with the light. Without light what would the picture be? The workshop was AWESOME. I learned so much and am so thankful to Nichole and her husband Dave for sharing their talent, business knowledge, and home with me. Oh...and it was like..the best food EVER! Ever.
I got to put my new knowledge to work yesterday on my own with my model Allie and I can't wait to post some of those.

But for now here are some from the workshop.....

Catching up......Miss Teagan {Big Bear Photographer, newborn, child, family, wedding}

A few weeks ago I headed over to the cutest little boutique in town, Paisley, and borrowed Miss Teagan from her mama, the store owner. I had in mind to get some really great shots that could be hung HUGE in the store. But I forget sometimes that i'm not superwoman and it quickly became apparent that the situation wasn't going to work. I was by myself, I had my camera, a bag of clothing, and a few props in tow along with Teagan on my hip. The odds were against me that day so I'll have to wait until I can snag her mama away for a few hours for a real hearty session. But in the meantime I was able to get just a few of Teagan's precious face. This girl is the cutest!







Big Bear photographer

Catching Up....My Little Man {Big Bear Photographer, newborn, family, child, wedding}

Ahhh, really? Should anyone's kid be this gorgeous? (I'm his mom...I'm allowed to say that! LOL!)
A few weeks ago when I took Ava out for her shoot I also took Connor to get some headshots. I've been submitting his photo to TheCuteKid.com recently and he got a call from an agent on the first try. (that reminds me, I need to call her back. Oops!) So I knew that it would probably be a good thing to have a great stash of headshots laying around. Connor has been my most difficult child to photograph. He looks everwhere BUT the camera. He thinks he's looking at the camera which makes it even harder to get him to ACTUALLY LOOK AT the camera. But something has changed and boy am I glad! He works the camera now. I tell him to look happy, cool, "GQ" (he knows what that means!), and other emotions and I'm really impressed with how his eyes seem to speaking for him so of course I had to show him off. It's my motherly duty right?

So here he is the GQ little man Connor. We will be having an autograph signing at the lemonade stand on the corner of Alta Vista and Mcalister later this afternoon...Just kidding!

And yes, he really is that pale. I think it's the Norwegian blood. :0)





{Big Bear Lake CA Photographer, newborn, family, child, wedding}

Catching Up.....Baby Wearing {Big Bear Photographer, newborn, child, family, wedding}

For those who don't know I'll give a little history.
A few years ago when we got our adoption placement with our daughter Ava, my friend Summer told me all about a special thing called babywearing. At the time I have to admit that I thought she was perhaps a little, errr...over zealous? She told me about a website called thebabywearer.com and so I checked it out and before long I was learning about the benefits of babywearing and wanted to give it a try. We had gotten Ava when she was 7months old so when I learned of the bonding value as well as the developmental value I was sold. I immediately starting buying and trying out different kinds of carriers. I found a very talented maker in Norway so I decided to write her and order something custom and special. I was so sad to learn that she wasn't selling them to the US yet. But somehow amidst our conversations back and forth, and in my journey to create bonding with my new baby daughter I was also bonding with a special girl all the way across the world in Norway. I don't know exactly how it happened but I knew that every time my inbox showed a letter from her I smiled from ear to ear and my heart smiled even bigger. We were just meant to be friends I think. Over the course of our friendship in the last couple of years we have sent eachother fun packages and she has made a few custom carriers for me. Ava is so small and so my toddler sizes were just a bit big to wear and so recently I asked if she would make me one last baby sized carrier. So a few days ago I tore into my package from Norway and almost fainted when I saw THREE new baby sized carriers. I couldn't believe that she took all that time and talent to send me all that love contained in one little box. I am overwhelmed by her friendship constantly and can't wait until the day when I fly out to her beautiful country and knock on her door. Thank you Carina! I love you!!

If you are interested in learning more about babywearing and all the benefits it offers check out The Baby Wearer

And please stop by Carina's site and drool at her talent....by the way...she now sells to the US so you can have one too!
BEBINAR

Yay for perserverance and Bribing! {Big Bear Lake photographer, child, newborn, family, wedding}

Oh my gosh. OH MY GOSH. If you could see me at a session with my kids you would either think it was hysterical OR swoop them up in your arms and take them far from the mean lady with a camera. NO.JOKE. It has literaly sucked every time I've tried to get them to work for me. They are obstinate and they know it. They will look everywhere BUT the camera. This session is proof that giving up isn't a great idea. For all you photographers who hate taking pictures of your own kids don't give up! You really can have an Andrea Joki child model-offspring! (Disclaimer: eventually, maybe. Baha!) So a few days ago I took them out and BOTH of them worked it. Connor's little photo shoot still needs to be edited but I'll get his little GQ face up pretty soon. I hope you enjoy these! I know it made my whole flippin' year to finally get something of Ava that I 10000000% love.

P.S. My very very special Nana "Banana" is staying with us and I couldn't be happier taking care of her. So I want to give a shout out to all the awesome Grandparents out there! Your role is sooooooooooo important in the life of your Grandchildren that God has blessed you with. Enjoy it!






These 2 were edited differently because they were so fun!