CATEGORY baby

Two months old, and already looks so different from a typical newborn session! While it followed the same pattern of awake, fussy, hungry, happy, tired, screaming, deep sleep that newborn sessions always have, it was odd to be able to make funny faces and kissy noises during a “newborn” session and have him actually respond with smiles and eye contact! Still, while most of the important photos were made while deep in sleep, we got more than the usual share of smiling happy shots.

I loved using mom’s crocheting and dad’s music equipment to really show some personality. Congratulations to Sam and Melissa on your first beautiful baby after so many years of waiting, and he is a beauty!

Baby M is 10 days old welcomed by a very excited family! He is the spitting image of big brother, and is often spitting ON big brother! This was a team effort with another local photography friend, sharing props and ideas.
Mama was so calm and laid back, but I think it’s a requirement of being Hawaiian, and let us fold and curl and comfort all we liked. Shooting newborns is great birth control because I get to try and not buy! I’m up for a snuggling fix anytime!

A year goes by so quickly, and it’s incredible to watch baby McD grow from a wriggling newborn to a laughing, running toddler! Babies grow so fast, it’s like watching mold in a petrie dish (except a lot cuter!) This family shoot was the culmination of a year’s portfolio from maternity, newborn, holiday card, 6 month, to 1 yr. Happy first birthday little man!

Hard to believe that just a few days ago this little guy was inside mama’s belly! They seem so tiny, yet considering from whence they came, it’s one enormous miracle! Congratulations to the S family, and welcome earthside, newbie. With brothers A, B, C, D, and now 5th little son E has arrived!

Baby A has made her arrival to join her sisters. I love children, and I love babies, (I have 5 of them myself!), and while I do not yearn for more, quite the opposite, I absolutely adore my “play dates” with these precious newborns. It’s a miracle every time. Ranked up there with weddings in the privilege and “don’t screw up!” factor of capturing this fleeting, never-come-again moment, I am honored to share in such amazing pieces of others’ lives.
His red hair is really coming out now! I was surprised to learn today that his mama’s hair color is naturally strawberry too because hair this gorgeous usually comes out of a salon: he definitely got a good deal on  genetic roulette!



When will I learn that newborn shoots are a painful marathon with the sweetest moments at the end? The general pattern seems to be arrive to a sleeping baby whom I promptly wake up while trying to photograph sleeping while mom gets her make up on because I forgot again to warn her that she’d likely be in the the photos. Then the wriggly baby gives me some weird faces and postures before turning into screaming baby who nurses despite not really being hungry. For just a bit, I get active baby who makes great eye contact with the camera, or at least the appearance of it, for the “money shot” for the birth announcement. Then wriggly baby returns and swaps place on and off with screaming baby, who finally gets very hungry, and while stressed mom lamenting that her newborn won’t “cooperate” settles in for a long nursing saying, “We should have something decent by now, maybe we should call it a day?” But I persevere and assure her this is where it finally gets good, hours 2-3. Nursed and relaxed baby falls asleep and allows all sorts of prodding and repositioning. Finally, we’re shooting nothing but net! Thanks for putting up with me hanging at your house, even if we nurse and talk as much as shoot!

Uncle L and little nephew N catching some outdoor activity together. Can you see the family resemblance?

An addition to my own family, and I can attest that the most challenging newborn photo shoots are those for our own children! This baby is exactly 1 day old and wide awake! My husband took all the kids out, so with 2 hours alone and the baby in a good mood, I thought, “Why not?” Her hands are so young they’re still a tad purple, and all her wrinkles not yet filled out with chub.

This announcement is created as a standard 4×6 print using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. The small mouse hiding in the vines is symbolic of her Chinese zodiac sign in honor of her 08 08 08 birthday, and the 5 symbolizes her birth order in the family.



An uncooperative dad and an uncooperative baby requires a creative solution: no faces! After I got him to relax a bit so he didn’t look like he was palming a basketball, this sweet shot speaks volumes, and no one can tell the baby is shrieking! And because it was my husband rather than a client, I wasn’t exactly in the most patient mood either! But patience and endurance always pays off in the end!


My new “baby” arrived a few days before my baby arrived: a Nikon D300! I am officially a geek photographer carrying 2 giant cameras around because “They both do different things!” I was able to squeeze in one session with this adorable six-month-old little guy before taking an extended maternity leave.

Often photographers report that capturing non-walkers is the most fun and easy stage because they stay put! But I just love walking after a newly land-legged toddler exploring her world from a completely different angle. This photo conveys that sense of curious discovery and motion, of life happening in front of the camera rather than for the camera. The biggest challenge is finding a location with enough beautiful backdrops to allow free wandering with no cars or strangers corrupting the shot!

Scrapbook pages or photos enhanced with digital graphics make a big impact in an album or on a wall, and are a great way to display multiple photos in one space.
Custom Portraiture Packages
families, babies, children, grads, engagement, bridals, head shots, etc
We create custom packages to suit any schedule and any budget

All packages include
sitting fee
1 hour travel
all images individually edited
select images digitally enhanced
$25 print credit

1/2-hour Mini Session $75
suitable for individual head shots or 1 location and limited poses
2-hour Standard Session $200
suitable for individuals up to 3 clothing changes and 1 location, families up to 5 with group and individual shots, group shots only, or real estate
3-hour Extended Session $300
suitable for large families up to 10 with large group and individual shots, or groups/reunions with small group shots

A la Carte Services

Printed Invitations (available with my photos or another photographer’s with release)

all cards include custom-designed graphics, white envelopes, identical design for each batch of 50
call for bulk pricing over 50, or wedding invitation extras like foil envelopes, double envelopes, full-color front and back design, etc

25 4×6 flat $50, 50 $85
25 4×6 folded with interior design $75, 50 $140
25 5×7 flat $100, 50 $180
25 5×7 folded with interior design $125, 50 $225
colored envelopes, add $25 each 50
return address printed envelopes, $25 each 50
recipient address printed envelopes, $50 each 50

Prints & Enlargements

4×6 $10
up to 300 4×6 proofs from session, $75 (included free in wedding packages)
5×7 $15
8×10 $25
11×14 $35, artboard $50
16×20 $45, artboard $80, canvas wrap $150

Montages and Scrapbook Layouts

8×10 or 11×14 custom photo montage $100
12×12 or 8.5×11 scrapbook page $50

Albums and Frames (available for my photos or another photographer’s with release)

4×6 proof sleeve album $10
4×6 frame album $30
4×6 keepsake box with all proofs from session, $100

5×7 bound album $45
framing $35 up to 8×10, $40 up to 16×20, $50 20×24 with 16×20 mat
10×10 10-page (20 layouts) bound, hardcover album $200

DVD’s and Keepsakes (available for my photos or another photographer’s with release)

DVD photo-music slide show $150
all images 4×6-quality high resolution on DVD $250 w/ personal reprint rights
up to 100 images enlargement-quality high resolution on DVD $350 w/ personal reprint rights
100+ images enlargement-quality high resolution on DVD $500 w/ personal reprint rights
all images enlargement-quality high resolution on DVD $1000 w/ commercial reprint rights

Sitting fee due at time of session, remainder due at ordering consultation.

Print prices are honored 90 days from portrait session. Digital negatives are stored for 90 days from portrait session, and 2 years for negatives selected for prints.