Commencement….graduation….you can smell the anticipation in the air…it starts months before the actual ceremony and you get into a “mode.”  It’s similar to when the high school kiddos start to lose focus right around May, knowing that their last day of school is around the corner.  It’s the same with the hubby, a teacher…he goes into “summer hubby” once June begins and then, there’s no turning back.  Summer takes over and we’re in full summer mode.

One of my favorite corporate event clients is the crew from the UC Irvine Graduate Division.  I have worked with them for a few years now, helping them document their events…from symposiums to last Saturday’s Graduate Hooding Ceremony.  As I walked through the blue doors of the Bren Events Center, my graduation day memories flooded into my mind.  I too, was feeling the anticipation of walking down the center aisle in my cap and gown, to the “graduation march” song.  I looked around at these graduate students and they had so much to be proud of…getting a Masters or PhD degree is a huge achievement in life and I was proud of each and every one of them (despite not knowing a single soul there!).

So, CONGRATULATIONS to the Graduate Class of 2010!!  To much success in your futures!  Cheers!

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When you meet someone for the first time, you instantly can tell if you’re going to just absolutely love a person.  Four words came to mind when I first met Alyson…beautiful, funny, charming and positive.  When I met up with her for the second time, I just had to add one more description…sassy.  And these five words are what made me fall instantly in love with her!  We met up for a photo shoot, to work on a marketing project for stem cell research.   The minute the camera was pointed in her direction, I just knew this project was going to be absolutely fabulous.

Alyson is originally from Atlanta, Georgia (the cutest, slightest Southern accent!) and found her way to Orange County, California a few years ago.  Before graduating college, in 2000, she was involved in a near-fatal car accident that left her with a spinal cord injury and paralyzed from the waist down.  After graduating from college, Alyson taught music in private and public school and then joined the Free Wheelchair Mission in 2007.  Free Wheelchair Mission is a non-profit organization that distributes wheelchairs to 71 countries around the world to the poorest people with disabilities.

But wait…Alyson’s story gets even better. Alyson recently made history as the first woman with a disability to surf in the U.S. Open of Surfing on July 26, 2009.  She was also crowned “Ms. Wheelchair California” on April 4, 2009, and placed 2nd Runner Up at the “Ms Wheelchair America” pageant in August.  To read more about Alyson, check out her website and her blog.

Alyson is such an amazing woman…a true spirit, she brings joy and laughter to all who cross her path and get to know her.  Truly an inspiration, I had to blog about her.  Alyson, thank you for being so awesome and thank you for being you.

Check out the awesomeness that is Alyson…

My favorite part of a portrait shoot is when I have a sassy subject and Alyson is all about the sassafrass!!

I met twins, Jack and Samantha, at the cover shoot for January’s Parenting Orange County Magazine – we met up at Katie Wheeler Library, in Irvine and had a blast running around the grounds.  It was a pleasure to work with the kiddos and to also work with Cindy, their mom, a writer at the magazine too. Jack and Samantha are 8 years old and they are at that fun age where sitting close to each other is an “ewwwwww” followed by tons of laughter and elbow-jabbing.  So, after hanging out for about an hour, I was exhausted!!  Who knew they would tire me out like that??!!  They were packed full of energy and their laughter was infectious.  Looking forward to watching these two grow up reading Cindy’s monthly “2 Kids & a 20.”  Check out all the fun and stay tuned for the January 2010 issue of the magazine!

Remember Nathan, the cutest little cover winner a few blog posts back?  I got to work with him for the November cover of Parenting Orange County Magazine and here’s what the magazine chose for their cover image.  It’s just a little sneak peek…the November issue doesn’t hit the stands until next week so for now…check it out!

As wedding season slowly comes to an end this year, I really get to enjoy the off-wedding season by using this time to do holiday family photos and kid sessions!!!  It has definitely been the week of cute babies for me.  Today, I spent a few hours with Nathan at the Heritage Museum of Orange County.  Nathan, 9 months, was all about dancing through his entire session (and eating leaves, but what 9 month old boy doesn’t like eating leaves??).  Nathan is being photographed for the cover of Parenting Orange County Magazine, hitting the stands in a few weeks!  So, here are a few sneak peeks of Nathan in his debut magazine cover model role.  Check back in a few weeks to find out which photo of Nathan made the cover!  Believe me, he worked it for the camera…you’d think he was born to do this.

Here are a few teaser pics…

I have been blessed by the magazine gods this past year! Sitting on my coffee table a few nights ago was the daily mail pile.  Most of the time, this pile consists of bills and junk mail.  But this time, as I sorted through the pile, I noticed a big, white envelope containing what I knew to be two copies of Orange Magazine.

I worked with Fairmont Private School a few months ago, photographing some students in their “daily school life” for future advertisement opportunities.  They mentioned that Orange Magazine would be using one of the photographs for the cover of their Fall 2009 issue.  Fairmont showed me some love by using the photos on their website, while also submitting the cover image and an editorial piece with additional photos to the magazine.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to show off some of my work!

Check it out…  :)

I seriously la-la-LOVE fashion…I love reading about it, trying it on, buying it and photographing it.  So, when I was asked to shoot the fashion spread for Parenting OC Magazine, I was so excited!

I know, I know…Parenting is a family magazine, but I didn’t mind.  I figured I’d take notes for when the hubs and I decide to have kiddies, but for now, I’d concentrate on how to make these models look fierce…and fierce they did look.  It’s amazing how kids under the age of 10 were able to do fashion justice by posing just like adults do. It was a great experience and there was much fun to be had.

Check out some of the fierce future contestants of America’s Next Top Model…

I just finished wrapping up the fashion shoot for the magazine’s August issue and let me tell you, it was SO much fun!  Here’s a little sneak peek of the cover…the fashion spread will be blogged soon!  Check it out…

Check out this month’s issue of Parenting Orange County Magazine!  Katie, aka Alice in Wonderland, is on the cover in all of her Mad Hatter glory!  Way to go Katie!  Pick up the latest issue on newstands now!

It’s happened again!  Published, YAY!!  Check out the Calavitta Family in the April issue of Parenting OC Magazine!  These were some of the images used for the feature story and the cover.  It’s such a delight to see the photographs in print and the Calavitta Family looked like they had as much fun as I did at the photo shoot!  Stay tuned for more magazine covers from Parenting OC Magazine!