Baby Kozolchyk {Love Kids: Charley}

So my last post was about the Kozolchyk family a few months ago and if you remember Deta was pregnant with her second child, this time a girl. Well Charley was born and I got the pleasure to take new born pictures of her. I never really got into newborn pictures because newborns make me very nervous. I know that sounds silly considering I am the mother to a 3 year old, who YES was once a newborn. But even then I was really scared. They are just so fragile. I don't mind holding them but I get scared when it comes to arranging them for photos. I have a few friends that are photographers though and they take amazing pictures of newborns and make it look so easy so I thought I would give it a try. Although I was still scared, It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be :))) Charley was so precious and tiny. Deta was a lovely help though. The shoot took place at her home inside and in teh backyard. The sun was going down so we got some lovely lighting in the backyard.

As Deta was feeding Charley before we got started I saw this seat she used at her computer and I noticed the vines and leaves covering her back wall outside with pretty flowers surrounding, I thought it would be perfect for our first shots. When Charley was ready we got her nakie and started out shoot. She did amazing!!! She actually posed for a while before she even let out a peep. She was a tad antsy, as I would be if I were her, so she was moving around a little but we managed to capture some good outside pictures of her. The one above was actually the very first picture I shot of her outside. It was perfect.

 As it started to get colder outside, we decided to move the shoot indoors so she could stay warm. As Deta was changing her outfit I managed to snap a cute picture of her laying on her blanket which actually ended up being used as her announcement picture! Her adorable little face just made me smile.

When I first got to the house I noticed this huge Teddy Bear that I thought would make for a good photo companion. I was determined to use him at least once during the shoot. We got a little setup in front of the window but Charley wasn't feeling laying with the stuffed animals. Again, can't blame her right? But crying babies are still so cute so I still love the picture!!! This is the first time I got to take pictures of the baby before she was born and then again after she entered the world so this was a ncie moment for me. Thank you Deta for letting me have the opportunity to work with you again and shoot your new edition, Charley. I will always remember this photoshoot!

xoxo

Kozolchyk Family {Love Family: Calabasas Lake}

I hadn't taken family portraits in a while so I was excited when I had a free photoshoot give-away on my facebook page and Deta won and wanted family pictures. The ironic part was that I had not had pictures of me and my boyfriend and our son since my son was three months old and my dad was in town and he is pretty handy with a camera so we found a spot in Calabasas at the community lake that was perfect for my family pictures and Christmas Card. I immediately text Deta and changed our origina location to here. So I had my faimly portraits taken and then a few hours later went back to take pictures of Deta's family.


Deta was a friend of some friends I had met while in a mom's group a few years ago. When I had mentioned the free give away on my fb page, a friend of ours had immediately mentioned Deta should get it. The give away was going to the first response to the status. Our friend immediately told Deta and  she was the first to officially comment showing interest. What was cool was that I guess she was just telling someone she wanted family pictures but couldn't afford to get them done, so I felt very good being able to get these done for her free of charge. She was pregnant too so I got to do a mini maternity shoot while we were at it too. A two in one for both of us. The pictures were also right before the holidays too so she got to use one for a holiday card. This was so meant to be. I love when friend refer new people to me. No better way to build clientel. Thank you Deta and Family for being a part of the Love Always family. xoxo

Katie & Frank {Love Us Session}

So yayyyy another power couple that is dear dear dear to my heart. One of my bestest friends in the whole wide world and the love of her life. Again, so honored to be apart of such magic unfold. This time, I was in the actual wedding so I couldnt be the photographer for that but of course I was chosen to take the intimate engagement photos. Katie and Frank are very special people to me so it was fun getting to experience their  love for each other. While they are both very strong people it was nice to get this experience this soft lovey dovey side of them.

After a few pictures near the general store we went out towards the main road and found this big wooden gate that made for a wonderful backdrop. The moment was so wonderful that Frank got on one need and proposed again. ;)

I love the way these pictures came out. They show pure love and I am excited to be involved as they continue on their road to a beautiful life. They were married on November, 12th 2011 in Pleasanton, Ca

Love you bestie xoxo

Sandra & David {Woodland Hills Country Club}

So I was there when this power couple first laid eyes on each other and it was such a pleasure to be able to work with them for their engagement pictures and their beautiful wedding!!!

I first met Sandra and David about 5 years ago when we all used to work together and I actually remember the first time they got together. Sandra had a house warming party with some co workers and her and David connected and now here they are married. And I am a witness that they are the best together.

I was so excited that I was a first thought for them to photograph their wedding. It excites me that although I had never done a wedding before (at the time they asked me) they still trusted me and liked my work enough to have me capture one of the most important days in their life.

We shot their engagement pictures at a beautiful beach in Malibu. {You can see more pictures on my website.} When you are around this couple the one thing you can count on is laughing a lot and having fun. Sandra is the more rambunctious out of the two while David is a little more on the quiet side and the compliment each other very well. They both love laughing and making other people laugh and have fun.

The wedding took place on October 9th, 2011 at the Woodland Hills Country Club. I arrived at the country club and Sandra was getting ready in the back room while the reception room was being set up. Her colors were this bright green and a dark purple which looked so well together. When I laid eyes on her bouquet, I was in love. It incorporated her colors very well. The black Dhalias and the black Calla Lillys were breath taking. I did not even know black Calla Lillys existed.

As I wandered around the country club taking pictures of the setting and arrangements, Sandra was getting ready so she could make a first appearance to her parents and David's parents. They were not able to see her until she was ready so it was fun getting to catch their expressions as they laid eyes on their beautiful daughter for the first time.

The ceremony took place right before the sun was going down so it made for great lighting during and after for the formal pictures. A fun quirk to the ending of the ceremony was everyone in the crowd were given bubbles, instead of the rice, to blow at them as they walked back down the aisle. It made for fun pictures. Again, this wedding did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen so I was able to focus entirely on the couple as they spent literally their first time as husband and wife. There was a little race against the sun towards the end of the formal pictures but we used this to our advantage. Everyone loves sunset pictures anyways, right?

The couples entrance was by far the most creative I had ever seen at a wedding. They came in to an upbeat song and immediately started dancing and getting the guests involved. This was different yet it worked out very well. The guests immediately got on the dance floor and started their evening out with a bang. Usually guests have to wait before the wedding, then they are watching the ceremony, then waiting during cocktail hour and in most cases it can be a few hours before guests actually get to start dancing and letting loose. With this wedding they were immediately involved so it created an outgoing atmosphere for the rest of the night.

There was lots of dancing, beautiful speeches, and lots of yummy food. The cake was cute and of course with this funny couple, the first cutting of the cake was an enjoyable moment and they smashed it all over each other. I had to leave before the wedding was over but I am glad I got to be apart of such a fun night. Thank you Sandra and David for having me shoot your wedding and including me in such a big part of your lives. I appreciate it and I am so happy that you two are finally married and just beginning your wonderful life together. Can't wait to get together again!! love you both xoxo

Whitney & JD {San Diego : Berkeley Ferry}

So my first wedding was a SUCCESS!!! It was a beautiful day in San Diego. Everything went perfect, except me thinking that I lost my purse and making the boys look for it all over the hotel and stressing out bc it had my money and ID in it then finding out later it was stuffed in the side of my camera bag the whole time. :))) I loved every moment of it and to have the pictures done with a happy bride and positive feedback makes me feel great!!!

So the morning started for me quite early considering I slept in the bride's hotel room bc i threw her a girls night in sleepover bridal shower the night before with her friends and family. We woke up early and started the BIG DAY!!! The pre-game was taking place at the beautiful Hilton Bayfront which was right on the water in downtown San Diego. The view from the room was breath taking and made for a  wonderful backdrop.

The ceremony and reception was being held on The Berkeley Ferry, that now stays docked, and was used back in the early 1900's and was particulary known for transporting people around after the 1906 San Francisco fire. It was amazingly beautiful and carried all types of artifacts. the lower level is a museum and gift shop while the upper level is commonly used for events. The style and naturally simple beauty of the ferry definitely mirrored that of Whitney. She has got to be one the easiest people to work with. Especially for a bride planning a wedding in just 6 months. I helped her out throughout the whole journey and it was so funny at times witnessing myself try to influence her with my own colorful vibrancy while she held her ground convincing me of the 30 different shades of white. HAHA. It was definately something we were and have been able to laugh about.

Staying with the ferry/travel type theme she decided to be creative and instead of place cards for the guests to find their tables she provided a little gift of having a message in a bottle. Each bottle had a rolled up picture of the bride and groom inside with a number directing the guest to which table they would be seated. Very unique and fun! Also instead of a typical guest book, they set out a cool breifcase filled with lots of "San Diego" postcards and pens allowing the guest to fill out a message of love for the couple. There was a nice vintage birdcage next to the suitcase where the guest would leave their cards/postcards and with, the help of a friend, the postcards will be mailed out to the couple over the course of a year until their first anniversary which makes for fun surprises. I loved it!

The ceremony took place on the deck where the sun was set perfect in the sky for great natural light. It was short and sweet and as the guests moved inside for cocktail hour, the nervous part began. This is the part where I have to POSE the couple and move them around and find some way to capture their natural love in pictures they can keep and frame and show to their grandchildren one day. ahhh such pressure. I'm sure the one part that makes everyone nervous. I spent months checking out wedding pictures, looking up ferry pictures to get ideas and of course the second this moment comes my mind goes blank!!! But then, the adrenaline kicks in and i just start out of nowhere coming up with different ideas, and the best part is they work and perfectly with our ferry backdrop. YES!

After our formal pictures, the party begins and I can start to take my job a little less seriously. I was of course a guest and it was time for me to relax a little and rely some more on my second photographer. Not fully of course but enough to eat and dance a little {maybe have a drink or two as well}. We all moved outside after dinner and got ready for group shot, toasts, and a lovely sunset first dance on the outside deck. It was PERFECT!!! We moved back inside and the real celebration took place. Father/Daughter dancing, and Mother/Son dancing. There was a cute moment during the Mother/Son dance where the groom started to shed a tear. If you know the groom, this is probably a rare occassion yet it was so romantic and beautiful. His boys jumped in, being that they all have a great relationship with his mom, and the dance turned into a big family hug. We all tried to get the bride in there but she being the sweet girl she is, she didnt want to take away a moment away from his mother. We encouraged her to jump in there and it was like a passing of the torch moment. JD started hugging Whitney and his mother passed her boy off to his new woman!!!

We all danced and were merry and before we knew it, the party was over. My first wedding was complete and it couldnt have been better with any other couple. I love you JD and Whitney. Ive known JD since high school and I met Whitney since they started dating before she was legal to drink and back then who would have ever known I would have been able to not only share this special moment with them but doccument it for them to LOVE ALWAYS!!! I feel special and appreciate this opportunity and little do you guys know, you have officially jumpstarted my dream! Thank you and of course I wish you nothing less then the best and a long happy future! :)))

Now for pictures:

i had more pictures i wanted to upload but it was taking too long!!! but be sure to keep up with my website www.lovealwaysphoto.com and my facebook page