Daily Inspiration

Vintage Hidden Treasures at Walton Portrait Gallery

When I was young, I would visit family in Atlanta, and my favorite thing in the world was rummaging thru musty old antique stores looking for hidden treasures.  Old rolled up vintage prints, dull silver pieces, crystal pieces from chandelieres, tin boxes that could hold an endless number of things.... all treasures to me!  Now, when I drive by an antique store or thrift store, I can’t help but want to just pop in to see if I find something - I know, I have some girlfriends who understand and some who are overwhelmed by the junk and can’t get out quickly enough. LOL!

So ... at the new Studio location, I really wanted it to be me and what I love, from the portraits I display to the abusson rug on the cement floor.  Then an epiphany - what if I used a little room at the entrance (that I just didn’t quite know what to do with) as a gift shop full of vintage finds and repurposed treasures?  It's a room I’m calling Hidden Treasures at Walton Portrait Gallery.  In the room are cool things that I would have in my home - I love the history and the comfort that somehow they seem to bring.  So please stop by! and take a look at the sweet little gifts that I have - for yourself or a friend. And, then I’ll have a reason to tell my husband why I have to go to one more flea market!  

 

Family Portrait in Thousand Oaks at the Park

The Rosen family knew it was time.  The children had gotten older and it was perfect timing to have their family portrait.  We went to the park and had so much fun, laughing and relaxed, we captured wonderful images!  Here are a few of their favorites.

 

Summer Family Portrait at the beach

What a whirlwind couple of months in the new Studio location!  I am loving it here, with the open lofty feeling and bright walls.  And, what perfect weather we’ve been having! I have been blessed by some lovely families that I’ve gotten to create portraits for and can’t wait to share some of their images. The Poutier family had just a small window of time before everyone was going different directions for college. We had the perfect evening!  The weather and light was beautiful and the love they have for each other was so apparent to me and I think comes out in their portraits.  Here are a few of the images they chose.

 

Westlake Village award winning Studio

Whew! I'm in!  I'm so pleased with the new studio and wanted to share some images of it.  It feels much more lofty and industrial than the old studio and it's really inspiring.  I love having a studio space - to show sample portraits, be able to project my client's sessions and have a camera room to shoot in.  It's great for Senior Portraits, Publicity Headshots, babys and even dogs!  I'm next to Paw-fect, a great Dog Groomer and have seen amazing dogs come from there :)

New Studio Location in Westlake Village

I am soooo excited! I'm opening a new (and totally cute) studio location in May. It's just down the street at the Via Colinas Design Center (with the green awnings). And, by the way, the stores there have the absolutely nicest people I've ever met working there and I can't wait to move.  It is really fun to design a studio and get to choose new colors and style and decide where to put walls and displays. So, I'm posting my current studio picture and a "before" picture of the new location, so that you can appreciate what I'm starting with. Everyone has to come and visit and see how it turns out!  Can't wait!  

Family Portrait Outdoors in Thousand Oaks

The weather has been beautiful and with the past rains, we have wonderful fields of grass dancing in the breeze.  I have been photographing these teens, since they were small and loved creating portraits in such a fun, vintage inspired, natural way!  Nate and Kendall were great and it was really hard to pick only a few to post.  

 

Westlake Village Portrait with Vintage Camera

So I was going thru my garage and there was a box that I hadn't unpacked from moving 6 years ago (anyone else relate?) and what do I find? My collection of old cameras!  I love those vintage cameras and totally need to display them again. The one that made me smile, was my first wedding film camera that I used in the 1990s, and was made in the 1970s!  What a workhorse! It never wore out.  I don't shoot film or photograph weddings anymore, but wanted to play with the camera, so my son, Drew took these portraits of me ... and my camera :)

Sweetest Days Newborn Portraits - Thousand Oaks

Another thing that grabs my heart and totally inspires me, is capturing the very first portrait of a newborn. I call the sessions, The Sweetest Days, because the time really is just days.  I remember wanting to stop time when mine were new.  When Megan was first born, I remember putting her in my lap with her feet towards me and just gazing at her perfect little mouth and hands and swirls of hair ... I just could hardly stand to put her to bed, even after she went to sleep!  That is what I love to photograph - sleeping, precious, breathtaking newborns.  I want to share some that I photographed recently, enjoy!

 

Vintage inspiration in the New Year - Calabasas family

Every New Year, I take some time off to renew, relax and think about what I want to do in the year to come. So, I asked myself, "Why do I want to take portraits and what really inspires me?"  Well, I took some time on that question. It could be answered quickly or I could let it simmer and stew and really think about it. Well this is what I came to know:  I love the moment that expression, composition and environment come together perfectly. I just get that feeling deep inside, click the camera and smile.  I love light and how it wraps around and gives emotion to a portrait.  I love the joy in a mom who can't believe that I got such amazing portraits, because during the session, she just didn't see it happen. I really still love taking portraits after all these years!  Here are some portraits I recently created.  I love the brightness and joy, the movement and especially the vintage feeling in the finished portraits. More to come ...

 

Publicity HeadShot Portraits

Great Business and Publicity Headshots are imperative in effective marketing.  You want to have the viewer get a true impression of you.  How do you feel about your current headshot? Do you feel that it represents the best of you?  That is why this summer I am offering to my clients great Headshots at a value price - $35 off!  Give me a call and we'll create an image that will be an outstanding first impression.