It’s officially a highlight! I was in San Diego photographing a wedding with Chaz Cruz on June 14 when I got a text from my sister. A while back, I wrote that I was going to be an aunt, times three. Well, it’s finally complete. Garrick (Dec 30th), Maribelle (Jan 22nd) and last but not least, Jasmin (June 15th). My younger sister is the youngest of six siblings. My new niece Jasmin is the youngest of six grandkids. It’s pure serendipity.

Congrats to all my siblings on their beautiful/handsome babies. Father’s day was even better than we anticipated. :o)

The Avalon in Hollywood is a must see! It’s been quite a while since I’ve been there, but as soon as I walked into the event venue, I was dying to take photos: who can resist a dressing room decorated all in red and white? Check out my Feature Gallery: Portraits. The rooms were my inspiration but so were the people. It’s wonderful when the environment and the people connect and when I see the image from start to finish.

A big thanks to the individuals in the following photo for not telling me to get my camera out of their face. You guys rock.

Have I said how much I love photography? It’s such a wonderful medium for catching and capturing people’s personalities. Unique, fun, natural, lively, beautiful…

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It has been a while since I willingly got in front of a camera and allow another photographer to photograph me. Katie Mahoney will tell you how I was not the poser. Seriously, I felt what some of my clients must feel: shy, don’t know what to do, don’t want to smile and look cheesy, awkward, etc. Like most sessions, the start was slow. But with the confidence of the photographer, he/she rubs off on the ‘model’ and before you know it, you’ve got some memorable images.