The Birthday of G & L : 2012

This is my fourth consecutive year photographing the birthday of G & L -- where does the time go?!   I'm always flattered to be asked back every year to document this event.  And more importantly, I think the two guys still enjoy having me around.  I was greeted with a big welcoming hug at this year's celebration, and I wasn't even dressed up as their favorite superhero or video game character.  G & L have grown completely comfortable with the camera, and I think me being a dad now affords me with refreshed way of seeing as well.

 

G & L's parents never disappoint in their party planning.  This year, they reserved a cabana at Pacific Park, Santa Monica Pier.  Cake + high speed rides + best friends & family = how can you go wrong? The theme for 2012 was Skylanders Spyro's Adventure.  I'm sure someday I'll know exactly what that is.  And though no costumed characters were hired or harmed for this celebration, we did cross paths with Inky, the park's official mascot.  Purple calamari.  Eat your heart out, Disneyland!

 

 

The pier is a great place for a photo session.  Plus, I love the overdose of color.  Check out the blue wall.  And with all of its alluring distractions and energy, there's plenty of opportunity to capture everyone in the candid moment.  Post-session, I hung out on the pier for a bit and photographed a few slices of the nightlife.

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

El Dorado Family Session

As a photographer who primarily shoots on location with natural light, most of my sessions are held later in the day, a couple hours before sunset.  Late afternoon light is wonderfully soft and warm, and a favorite of many portrait and on-the-go lifestyle shooters. But for this family session, we took a different approach, and scheduled the session for early in the morning.  The family had to catch a flight by noon, so shooting later in the day wasn't an option.  The good news is morning light is just as cozy -- it's gentle and has a waking quality to it, minus the caffeine.

 

 

   

We rendezvoused at El Dorado Park, Long Beach -- which I love for its sprawling grounds, tree cover, turtle ponds, and oasis of natural beauty in an otherwise urban sprawl.  Little "K", age 14 months,  was such a great sport throughout the session. With a little one this age, I can usually snag a few good stationary shots while they're still curious about my camera, and then after that -- ZOOM! --  it's catch-me-if-you-can-photographer.  The session will last about an hour, and with the child taking an enthusiastic lead, I always walk away with a fantastic collection of candid moments.

I want to thank "K" and family for taking the time out of their busy Sunday to meet for this session.  It was a warm morning -- 80 degrees and humid -- that's unusual for Southern California, so kudos to everyone for braving the temperatures and giving 110%!

More sessions to come!