Karen's Photo Journal

Bangs...

... it is the question all women go through at some point in their lives. Should I?  Shouldn't I? Ladies, you know what I'm talkin' about! Well, my nine year old decided a few days back that she wanted to cut her hair and get bangs. Just like that. Just blurted it out. "Mom, can we go get my haircut? Right this minute? Now? Pleeeeeeeeeaaassssssse???" Ummmm.... okay.  

Maybe that's the way to do the bang thing. Spontaneously. With no drawn out dialog or concern. Because when you do it that way, look how cute it turns out! And those eyes...

Family Portrait - Malibu State Creek Park

Last week I had the opportunity to do a photo shoot for this fun family. They were the winning bid at a silent auction for this event here. And it turns out we live three minutes from each other. And it turns out that we know some of the same people! Love small worlds! 

After a consultation we decided that something with some local mountains in the distance sounded good. We ended up in the Santa Monica Mountains and endured a bit of heat and some pesky flies to get some some fab late afternoon shots. These guys were so great and playful with each other. Thank you!

A few of my artsy favorites... I think this pano would look awesome over their couch!

 

Fourth of July Sweetness

Ya know those soft sugar cookies the grocery store bakery sells? The kind with the yummy, sugary frosting with different seasonal themes? Well, I decided it would be great to make my own from scratch for our fourth of July weekend. I found a recipe online that said it would taste just like those. Soooo, my daughter and I set out to make these yummy treats. However... that recipe lied!  Our cookies are the blandest things I've ever made! And the edges are all dry... boo. LOL They look cute however:

Does anyone have a recipe that really does taste like those cookies in the store? One that you have made and tried and confirmed to be soft, sugary heaven? Let me know! Oh, and Happy Fourth!

Things I Love!

Baby portraits - Isn't she scrumptious?

My BFF from when I was 13 showed me some baby photos of her friend Ann Marie's newborn, only hours old. The gorgeous creature had a full head of reddish hair and the face of an angel. Fast forward four months and here she was calling me to do Baby "O"'s first official photos! I was so excited and couldn't wait to get the darling to myself. Baby O was just up from her nap and we had so much fun playing in her room, especially when their dog Sierra wanted in on some camera lovin'. I usually have a hard time narrowing down blog photos and this one was really hard:

 

This little chair used to belong to her big brother...

Sierra getting in on the action...

 

Big brother love...

The whole fabulous family...

And of course Sierra's close up!

iPhone Pics

Any camera you have on you is the right camera. I take photos everyday. I can't help myself.  And often, the closest one to me is the one in my iPhone. I am so loving the imagery I get with that little two megapixel (I haven't up-graded), non focusable box.  Just point and shoot.  And although I have learned a few tricks and found some really cool apps, it is as basic as just pushing the button.  

Recently I submitted a few of my favorite iPhone pics to a contest. I follow an amazing editorial photograper Chase Jarvis who was having a little giveaway. He did up-grade his iPhone and he decided to give away his old one. The rules were simple: send in some of your iPhone pics and his favorite will win. I had planned to give the phone to my son had I won, but alas, no...  

I am excited, however, that he picked one of my photos (out of 3,500!) to make his top 100 honorable mentions. When another artist you respect notices your work, it's a big deal! Here is the image he liked:

This is also one of my favs.  Here are a few more iPhone pics that I love...

I often post iPhone photos on my twitter account. Follow me there if you'd like to see them.

Ten

Ten years ago today I married a man I had known for only four months. Was it craziness, infatuation, love, excitement, stupidity, lust? Yes. But what else do you do when you meet someone that you know will love you to the end, no matter what? Someone that loves your children, no matter what? Someone that will rub your feet any time you stick them in front of him, no matter what? Someone that puts up with your quirks, no matter what? Someone that supports all your crazy ideas, no matter what? Ya gotta marry them, right?

And to all the people that had bets on us that June day ten years ago, we win so pay up!

Photo of the Day

My Sister's Dog

This is Lunchbox, my sisters dog.  This is the closest I am getting to her having babies right now, so this is like a furry little nephew to me.  Isn't he cute?  I would however, prefer a real, human-like nephew... or niece... come on sis, no pressure!  ha ha

 

This was taken with my kids little point and shoot camera.  Not bad, eh?

Children's Portrait | Los Angeles Photography

Okay, I feel safe posting these photos now.  They were commissioned for a Fathers Day present and I didn't want to chance the dad seeing these before he opened his gift.  Of course my favs are the ones on the skateboards!