Daily Inspiration

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 ...