Saying Goodbye to Toys R Us: The End of a Generation

Looking back on my childhood there are moments of time that are frozen and preserved and cherished. Summer lemonade stands, trading Halloween candy with my sisters (give me all the Kit Kat bars!), Lisa Frank, riding my bike to the park, and going to 'Toys R Us' with my dad. I can recall the excitement I would feel as my dad and I would walk up to the store together, how he would release my hand at the door and how I could just run free down the aisles of this magical place! The wonder and awe of seeing all the magnificent, colorful toys was such a monumental part of my childhood. From before my son was born, he was already a 'Toys R Us' kid! His baby registry was through 'Babies R Us', and it became a fun place for us to visit on rainy days, or boring days, or days we just felt like having fun!

Chasing my soon to be three year old up and down the aisle of the toy story was such a full circle moment for me as I flashed back on all the trips my father and I would take to this store so many many years ago. I can still recall how excited my dad would get as he would throw toy after toy into the cart, as I stood by telling him thats too many! Still, he would grab more until he found EVERY. SINGLE. CHARACTER. from a film or show ( at the time it was Toy Story and Lion King) and then he would buy the whole lot! He said, 'you cant have just one character!' Those are the moments that made childhood special. 

Fast forward 20 years, and getting to share that same excitement with my own child felt like a right of passage!. Seeing his eyes in wonder as his feet flew past the swirling lights and sounds of rows and rows of toys was one of the greatest joys as a parent. What was even better was being able to witness my son with his best friend, my dad, exploring 'Toys R Us' together.  It truly saddens me to know my son wont remember these moments, and that a little more of the childhood I grew up in, is dying. Ill be forever grateful for the memories my family and I have made over the years, in the aisles of 'Toys R Us' stores across the country. We will miss you!

Forever a 'Toys R Us' kid !!!!!

Baby Curls and Gray Skies

Its rare that I get a photo of my wild, rambunctious and ever curious 2 year old, Atticus looking at the camera. From the moment he wakes up, to the second he falls asleep he is a tornado of toys, snacks and giggles. I have given up on trying to get that perfect photo of him and as a result I have learned to embrace and love the authenticity of lifestyle photography.  I love that Ill have these images of my son, to remember him as he is, at this age, forever. I have grown so much as an artist, as I document his development and our day to day life. 

Last week, California had some unexpected and very welcome cooler weather resulting in some amazing cloud patterns. Its rare that we get these amazing clouds so I had to take Atticus out to explore in our favorite little field behind our house. I put him in a vintage Sears Winnie the Pooh edition blazer that I found at a thrift store for $3.99 and his trusted and worn out Vans and we hit the dirt running. 

Wild.Carefree.Unleashed.Childhood

AAaaaaand with any photo series I do with Atticus, there are tears...always tears lol. We gotta remember all the moments

Mother(Nature)

When this momma to be came driving up the mountain in huge 4X4 pickup I knew it was going to be a good session, and when she stepped out in this dress I knew it was going to be an AMAZING session! Jaime was so easy and FUN to work with, she admitted to feeling silly at first but she was a natural in front of the camera and ended up owning 'The Princess Walk'. 

This momma has 3 more weeks to go before her baby boy is her in arms. Wishing you a safe delivery Jaime! 

golden organic

I met this stunning momma soon after I moved to California,  a little over 2 years ago now. I hosted a picnic and invited a ton of people, and cooked a ton of food and only one person showed up haha and that person was Dorothy. She and I instantly became friends and attempted to keep in touch, but life gets so busy sometimes and when you throw in motherhood and being an entrepreneur well, the social life really goes out the window.

It had been a year since we had spoken, so I was beyond delighted when she reached out to ask if I could do a maternity session for twins!  When she told me she was making her own dress I almost died with delight! We really had the best time capturing these images and I am so excited to meet the newest additions to their family!