Surprise! Bradley Family Homecoming. Camp Pendleton Military Photographer

May
12

I was SO beyond excited when I got asked to help document this amazing homecoming! The kids didn’t know daddy was coming home. What they thought was dinner out with family at Joe’s Crab Shack, turned in to something so very special for them! The looks on their faces were priceless! Daddy played their waiter and while it took a few minutes for them to recognize just who it was, seeing them jump to their daddy is something I certainly won’t forget! Bradley Family, thank you SO much for letting me be part of this! <3

I sat at a table just across from their group, so that I could see when dad was coming out, and so that the kids wouldn’t notice me. Here is their surprise homecoming through my lens! Enjoy!

Mom and dad, before the kids arrived with the rest of the family.

Here comes dad as their waiter!

Little man realized who it was! It was precious! <3

This is where I couldn’t help but tear up!

The whole gang!

I couldn’t help but smile! ;)

Launder Family Session. Southern California Maternity and Family Portrait Photographer.

May
10

I was SO glad I got to work with this family again! They have so much love and you can just feel it when you see them laughing and playing together. I photographed their homecoming when Mario returned home with 3/5 Kilo and Weapons last April. Their little family is growing and baby number 2 is due in July. I can’t wait to see that sweet baby girl and photograph her after she makes her arrival. I loved getting to see you again, Launder family! I hope you enjoy your sneak peeks!

 

Dads face cracked me up in this one! It did mom and little man, too! ;)

The oranges were a lot of fun =)

She is such a gorgeous mama!

Happy 7 yr Anniversary!

May
08

My husband is the most wonderful man I know. The night we met was absolute fate and I thank God for being in the right place at the right time and agreeing to talk to him! Most know how we met, as I tell our story every chance I can. We met on the internet, in a chat room on April 3 2005. Crazy right?! =) His little “Hey. Wanna chat?” message started it all! He was 19, I was fixing to turn 19. He had just returned home from his 1st deployment to Iraq and was almost at his 2 year mark in the Marine Corps and I was in college full time while working. We talked non stop after he got off work and between my classes and working. We connected on an emotional level that was so amazing and we just knew that we wanted to be together. So he bought me a plane ticket to Yuma for my birthday to visit him. On May 7 I stepped off the plane and in to his arms and I never left. On may 9 2005, we went to the little courthouse in Yuma and got married. Yes, you read that right. We got married a little over a month after meeting on the internet, and being over 2000 miles apart.

We have had one heck of a journey in the last 7 years. We have two of the most amazing little boys in the world that make our lives so much brighter, 3 duty stations that had us jumping from coast to coast to coast, countless field ops, deployments, missed birthdays/anniversaries/holidays, reenlistments in the Marine Corps, starting my business, getting diagnosed with Lupus, and so much love and laughter that makes every thing all worth while.

Justin, there is no way I can thank you for all you do and have blessed me with. God knew that I needed you. You are the reason I am here, you changed my world for the better. Seven years ago I made a promise to be with you till the end of our days and it was the best decision I will ever make. I love you more now than I did then, and I will love you more tomorrow than I do today. You make me laugh with your crazy jokes, being a goof ball, or just when I need to. I feel the safest and happiest when I am in your arms. Seeing you be the amazing daddy that you are to our precious little boys makes me fall even more in love with you. Hearing them laugh when they play with you, or seeing their faces light up when you come home after being gone for extended periods of time are what I cherish and am thankful for the most. You are more than I could have ever imagined. Thank you for finding me and for loving me the way you do. Happy anniversary babe.

May 9, 2005. Taken right after we got married. We were SO young!

 

Time to celebrate! And the winner!

Apr
28

It is crazy to think just how fast time really does pass us by. I feel like I just graduated from high school, yet here I am turning 26. Twenty six! I have been married for almost 7yrs (in less than 2 weeks!!), have 2 amazingly gorgeous little boys, and have my own business. I am beyond blessed!

If I can put a smile on someones face, I am a happy girl. And that my dears, leads me to the winner of the canvas! It is MY birthday, but I would much rather give and make others happy! =)

The winner of the birthday canvas, with the most votes is…………..The Woody family! Congratulations guys! <3

 

I have decided, there will be 2 other winners as well! =) Miss Caitlin came in a *very* close 2nd, and will win a 5×7 desk print of her image. I also let my 2 little guys pick their favorite photo out of all the ones that were commented on, and they chose the photo that the awesome Mr. Victor said was his favorite! =) That photo also gets a 5×7 desk print! Thank y’all SO very much! My clients and fans are beyond amazing!! Thank you, thank you!

Today has been such an amazing birthday. I only wish my husband could have been here for it. I spent the whole day with awesome friends, got flowers, was taken to lunch, got an awesome cake that looked just like my Nikon D700 camera, and then was made an amazing dinner with cheesecakes for dessert. I am such a lucky girl to have such wonderful people in my life!  Happy birthday to me! Here’s to many more!

Ashley & Victor: R&R Session. Camp Pendleton Couples Photographer

Apr
14

Remember this GORGEOUS couple that I photographed last summer?! You can see their predeployment session here. In January, after Victor and Ashley spent some time in Hawaii for part of his R&R, they came home and I got to do a mini session with them! I just love these 2! I could seriously photograph them all day and never get tired of it! They are just amazing and I adore them and their love for each other! I can’t wait for their upcoming homecoming, engagement session, and then wedding! =) I hope you are doing well Victor, I will see you at homecoming!

My all time favorite photo! <3 You can just feel their love for each other. And, they are GORGEOUS!!

Their smiles, their laughter, their love. It is contagious! See why I just love these 2?!

Docherty Homecoming. Welcome Home 1st Recon BN! Oceanside Military Portrait Photographer.

Apr
14

Caitlin is so very sweet! I am so glad she contacted me to photograph her homecoming! My 2 little boys just loved her when we met up. This homecoming was short and sweet. I just love watching families reunite with their loved ones returning home from deployments! Welcome home 1st Recon BN!

I pulled her to the back of the gym so that we had plenty of room. She stood on the chairs so that she could see when he walked through the doors! ;)

<3

They just hugged and held each other. Those hugs of relief and being whole again are the best feeling in the world.

The end of the night. Welcome Home Marines!

Turpin Homecoming, Welcome Home 2/4! Oceanside Military Portrait Photographer

Apr
05

Kristy and I have emailed back and forth about Ryan’s deployment, since before he even deployed last year! How awesome is that? Totally love her for it! She is an absolute sweetie, and I am SO glad I got to be there with her and her 2 beautiful children to welcome their Marine home! It was late at night, cold, and got really foggy, but it was amazing seeing their beautiful family become whole again! Welcome Home Ryan, and the rest of 2/4! I will be seeing y’all soon for that family photo session! ;)

This is how daddy was going to spot them in the crowd! Three red balloons and one Disney balloon =)

The Patriot Guard. LOVE them! Amazing group of people! I love watching them lead our Marines HOME!

The Woody Family Session and deployment.

Jan
22

I love this family! We have known each other for years and they have very much became family to me! We met right after Matt returned home from his first deployment, and Bella and my oldest son were just babies. I was with Bri the day Matt left for his 2nd deployment, and went and took a few photos the day he came home. I was ecstatic when they came here to Camp Pendleton! I was there when Matt left for deployment #3, and I’ll be there again with them when he comes home in a few months! I just love them! =)

Bri has been waiting for these to be blogged since December. I’ve been crazy busy with sessions, the holidays, traveling to NC, and just getting all caught back up. I hope you enjoy!

This one makes me smile! =)

Deployment day…

Love you, Bri! Don’t kill me! ;)

Sweet Bella waving bye, and daddy waving right back to her! <3

Sweet babies…

Jan
21

My precious babies, my whole reason for living, the most amazing little boys I know. I am so very blessed to be their mommy. Little man isn’t feeling well and big brother was being so sweet with him. I just had to take some pictures. This was one of the moments that absolutely melted my heart and made me cry. I love these babies so very much!

Holloway Family Session

Jan
15

 

I enjoyed getting to meet and work with this sweet little family! We met in November to do this session, just before they moved back home. These were also a gift for family, so I had to wait to show off more than the small little sneak peek that was posted on facebook! Enjoy! Holloway Family, I hope y’all are doing well! <3

Isn’t she beautiful?! I just loved her!