I really feel so blessed to do what I do.  I so enjoy creating with people, capturing moments and bringing out beauty… My most recent high school senior, Kaitlyn, made it easy.

She was such a joy to create with.  She’s laid-back and bubbly at the same time, her interests are well-rounded, she loves to help out in the community, and of course, she’s gorgeous, as you’ll soon see.  (With a list like that, it’s no wonder she was crowned Miss San Jacinto this year!)

She exudes such grace.  Her demeanor reminded me of Audrey Hepburn in the black and white portrait below.

And of course, a country girl’s gotta wear her cowboy hat with her tiara at least once!

The wind was LOVING Kaitlyn the day of our shoot.  It gave her natural beauty even more depth.

We visited the goats.  It was super cute to see how much they loved her – she has worked with goats for years in continued service with FFA.

There were SO many great portraits to choose from; I had a hard time deciding how to narrow it down for the sneak peek here on the blog.

Again with the ethereal grace – she looks like an angel!

Kaitlyn, thank you for allowing me the honor of capturing this fleeting chapter in your life.  Life is beautiful – I can’t wait to see what God has in store for you next!

Cherish, Love, Remember Always,

Andrea

I have known Leslie for over 5 years now, and I am blessed to count her a dear friend.  We’ve walked through some very challenging times together, and I’ve seen her blossom to become more and more like Jesus.  When I got the call that she was engaged, I couldn’t wait to meet Richie.  God reached down to give them the gift of a marriage founded in Christ!  I knew this would be the beginning of a fresh new work of God in their lives, of something truly beautiful, a new creation.

Leslie, thank you so much for allowing me to join you on this most special of days.  The purple and blue was so lovely; it suited you, friend.   You were the belle of the ball .

Richie and Leslie chose to have their first look before the ceremony (but saved their kiss for the pronouncement! .  It was beautiful.  Richie was stunned and Leslie was beaming as they set eyes on each other for the first time that day.  They prayed and asked God’s blessing on the day and their lives together.

Richie, thank you for cherishing Leslie.  Thank you for loving her and the kids with true love that sets its own aside to guide and protect the ones it loves. You have a beautiful bride who loves and respects you very much!

It touched me to see how very full of joy the reception was.  So many happy tears from the bride and groom, family, and friends!

God’s richest blessings upon you, friends.  May He be glorified in all you do, in the new creation He’s made in you, and in the sweetness of your unconditional love.

“Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.  Love never dies”

~ 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a, MSG

Cherish, Love, Remember Always,

Andrea

The inspiration for the title of this blog comes from two sources: my dear friend and 2012 Senior Clairence, and 3 John 1:4 – “I have no greater joy than to hear my children walk in truth”. Clairence is a source of joy to so many. The Lord has entrusted her with more trials than most of us will ever experience, yet she has allowed these to mature and refine her. She walks in truth, and exudes joy. You are a blessing, friend.

Thank you for allowing me to try to capture even a hint of what makes you… you.

She made my job so easy – no matter the pose or lighting, every time she laughed or smiled or reflected and I saw the real her, it was beautiful.

What a natural beauty.

We shot some at Lake Hemet, and though it was overcast, the glow of the winter pastel colors was inspiring.

I was bursting with excitement when we rounded a bend and found this stunning field.  With the emotive clouds and trees and mountains, it was perfect for Clairence – but it was COLD!!

Clairence’s heart beats for sharing the reason for her joy, and she hopes to pursue a career in full-time ministry.

“LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD…” Habakuk 3:2

An elegant (but fun) portrait from our time in Idyllwild…

I know so many agree: You are a special young woman in so many ways, Clairence.  Continue to love and honor the Lord – I can’t wait to see the amazing plans He has in store for you!

In closing, here’s a little French-inspired atmosphere in honor of your love of all things French, Clairence!

Years ago, I had the privilege of being a youth sponsor for the junior highers at our church when Miss Birkley was in the group.  Times have changed, lives have changed, and Birkley has grown up!  What a beautiful girl she is, inside and out.  It’s no wonder she holds the current Miss Hemet title!

We had such a great time creating together at Laguna Beach.  Birkley has such an innocence about her, a natural loveliness, a humility that comes from being blessedly naive about not knowing the power of your own beauty.

I wanted to catch as many candid moments with her as possible.  Below right, I love the way she is going to sweep the hair from her face as the wind gently moves it.  So delicate.

See the natural beauty I’m talking about?!

She, of course, is not TOO delicate though – this girl can have FUN!

This next set would be a great magazine ad for… um… what brand are you wearing, Birkley?  Whatever it is, you make the dress look stunning!

As the sun began to set, we booked it up the (insane amount of) stairs back to the car so we could head to the pier for some shots in San Clemente.  You all were such troopers!  I think it was totally worth it.

Birkley was very patient as we moved my lighting around to create sunset shots under and around the pier.  It was such a gorgeous evening – not too cold or windy, and the sunset burst the sky with color!

David and Jimea, you have an amazing daughter.  Encourage her as she spreads her wings and seeks the Lord.  She’ll really fly!

Birkley, you have a precious family.   Times and lives will continue to change; treasure them and they you.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to get to know you better, to create with you, and to help you remember this amazing time in your life.  I’ll see you soon for your View & Order Session!

Cherish, Love, Remember Always,

Andrea

Ok, I just have to say that I haven’t had this much FUN shooting in a while…   The light was great and the action intense; the senior guys were in their element; even the buggy ride to scope out the dunes for shooting spots was incredible.

I’d not been out to Glamis before.  When we lived in Oregon, we went to the dunes there quite a few times, but Glamis is different.  It’s like… an entire world of dunes all spread out before you, calling your name, enticing you with every next hill and valley.  It’s stunning visually; and being a very visual person, the play of light and shadow, textures and swooping lines was like eye-candy for me.

This shoot was a combination of Tyler and Nathan’s Senior Portraits, as they both love to tear it up at Glamis.  But, since I already dedicated a sneak peek to Tyler and his awesome Idyllwild portraits, this post will be mostly for Nathan.

(BTW Tyler, I’m BURSTING to show you the amazing shots we got of you out in the sand – let’s schedule your View & Order Session asap!)

I found it really challenging to visually capture the perspective of how massive the dunes really are.   Not only do they go on for tens of miles in every direction, but every hill and valley is significantly larger than it appears. (Which, of course, makes it significantly more fun to climb, jump, and descend at massive speeds )

I’ve been told Nathan is not a huge fan of having his picture taken.  But let me tell you, he was in his element in Glamis.  Watch out, this boy can rock the shot.

During this next set, other people were riding all around us, watching as the guys prepped their jumps, watching us set up for the shots, etc. Some wondered if we were doing a shoot for Sand Sports Magazine.

We did some fun things with my wireless lighting and I’m super excited with the results.  My husband Josh thinks this next one of Nathan looking toward the sun in his sunglasses would make a great Oakley ad .

The sky just about lit on fire as the sun was setting.

I’d like to give a shout out to my amazing (and patient) “assistants” Cathy, Matt, Liz, Emily, and Helen for showing me the Glamis ropes, driving me around, and holding my lighting in what was I’m sure awkward positions for extended periods of time.  Couldn’t have done this shoot for Tyler and Nathan without you!  Thanks again.  You all are so blessed to have each other .

Enjoy, friends.  Can’t wait to show you the rest on my 50″ plasma .  What an amazing time in your lives.

Cherish, Love, Remember Always,

Andrea

I had the privilege of taking Victoria and her boyfriend John out to Vindemia Estate Winery last Friday – it was the perfect morning.  A little fog to diffuse the light, vibrant fall colors… While others were out battling the harried crowds of Black Friday shoppers, I watched the sun rise over the vine-studded hills of the Temecula Valley.  It’s a hard life, I know.

Victoria is a senior at Hemet High this year, and I’ve had so much fun getting to know her.  From the time we met at her Consultation, I knew she would make this shoot easy.  She has this amazing blend of self-confidence, gorgeousness, intensity, and a bubbly personality.

Then there’s John, who seems like such a great match for her.  He’s easy-going and strong.  What a sweet (not to mention amazingly good looking) couple.  (Hey, you know where to find me if you ever need a wedding photographer!

John, I think you need one of these in a large wall portrait.  Wow, that’s some intensity.  “Yes, that’s my girlfriend!” you can tell everyone .

It always kills me to have to choose which images to put up here on the blog for my clients’ sneak peeks… Especially with a shoot like this, it’s SO HARD to just pick a few!  I think this next one would make a good magazine cover .  Can you believe she has never done any modeling?

The house below is where Victoria grew up, amongst the trees of Idyllwild.  I think she carries a lot of the beautiful,  free mountain spirit with her still.

And a little retro beauty for ya…

I’ll leave you with one last shot from the top of the mountain – at The Point in Idyllwild.

Victoria and John, thank you so much for spending the morning with me.  I had a great time, and I can’t wait to show you all your images – everything in my attempt to capture the beautiful life God has given you.

Cherish, Love, Remember Always,

Andrea

Yesterday I met with Tyler and his mom Cathy to create some custom senior portraits.  We had a great time; we even had snow on the ground in some spots this early in the season!

When I pondered what to title this post, I was just struck by Tyler’s quiet strength.  Not the kind of quiet that never speaks, not the kind that’s insecure or timid, but the kind of quiet that runs deep and strong.  It seems to me that Tyler has quiet contentment all wrapped up in an outdoorsman’s dedication.  It’s quite a unique combination, and one that, if God has it in His Plan, will make a great Forest Ranger some day.

Tyler is a hunter. It was fun to hear how just yesterday morning he was up before dawn tracking coyotes at his grandparents’ property… Yeah, up before dawn… On Thanksgiving Break!  Like I said, he’s focused!

We tried to be as inconspicuous with the gun as possible, but… Did get a few strange looks!

The light streaming through the trees from under this bridge was SO cool.  What a handsome guy, huh?!

We went a bit further up the mountain into the COLD to create some portraits up by my favorite wintery gate.  Don’t know who it belongs to, but it always reminds me of winter in Narnia .

Tyler got his BIG truck from his grandparents, who are very special to him (and he to them, I’m sure!).  This portrait is one of a set that is especially for them.

Thanks so much for allowing me to capture this point in your life, Tyler.  I know God has great plans in store for you!

Talk with you soon,

Andrea

The leaves were vibrant and the air crisp… We weren’t exactly prepared for it to be quite THAT crisp, with a dusting of snow over everything and drips of freezing rain falling on us from the dewy leaves above.

Our time was filled trying to stay busy and distracted from the cold, but when you look back on this stage in your family’s life, Michael and Rebekah, I hope these images help you remember how precious it is…

The scrunching of little noses, gentle touches from pudgy fingers, tiny arms that wrap you up in bear-hug squeezes, love and laughter, even distracted glances from eyes eager to take every bit of world in… Memories buried deep in the soul.

Your sweet family is just beautiful – I always enjoy shooting with you. Thank you for the privilege.

Bekah, your laughter is such a gift.  Never stop .

May the  two of you be blessed with decades upon decades of enduring love, held strong by the One who loved us first!!

And may your daughters always bubble over with His joy.

Thank you, friends, for allowing me to play a part in helping you remember these treasures.

With sincere gratitude,

Andrea

PS – Oh, and a sneak peek of the way I can show you your portraits up on your wall to scale: (Don’t forget to bring to your View & Order Session pictures of the spaces you’ll want to put pictures up in your home!)

In my best theater voice, “I am happy to introduce the fun, the outgoing, the ever-beautiful and talented… Erin!!”

Erin is my Senior Rep for Baptist Christian School this year, and I couldn’t be more thrilled.  I first got to know Erin when I created drama head shots with her a couple of years ago, and since then, I’ve had the privilege of catching a few of her shows.  Great acting and intuition, and let me tell you, what a voice!  I know she’ll go far as she pursues a career in dramatic theater and performing arts.

Well, without further ado, here are the portraits we had fun creating together around the University of Redlands campus, where she plans to go to college next year:

Seriously, she’s gorgeous.

We were given permission to shoot in one of the retro-style classrooms on campus.  I thought Erin did a great job channeling a (modest) pinup vibe, while still making it her own.  Love the dress and shoes!

Here she is on her shoe phone.  She’s a crackup, always fun in her randomness .

This next spread is one of my favorites from the day.  I wish I could show it to you all in person on the 50″ plasma I use for View & Order Sessions.  The black and white image is really intense.

The bright colors she chose for the following outfit look amazing with her skin tones.

She has spunk…

She has grace…

She’s not afraid to be a little wacky… (Her FB posts are always entertaining)

And she loves Jesus.
I’d say that is definitely a winning combo .

Thanks so much, Erin, for applying to be my BCS Senior Rep for 2012.  I am honored that you’ve allowed me to create with you, and can’t wait to show you all of your portraits!

Cherish, Love, Remember Always,

Andrea

Meet Stephanie, my 2012 Senior Rep for Hemet High… Friendly, fun, ambitious, beautiful Stephanie. It was SO hard to narrow it down to just a few for her Sneak Peek here on the blog.

As I edited her images, I seriously kept thinking to myself, “She looks like someone…” .  I figured out later that I kept seeing glimpses of Reese Witherspoon pop through… in her smile, or the way her laugh brightens up her beautiful cheekbones… I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it’s there!  Do you see it too?

We had a great time working our way around a few areas in Temecula & Oceanside, shooting and chatting and enjoying each other’s company. If you see Stephanie around, ask her about the $50 Gift Cards she’s handing out and how you can book a WTSS Session – you’ll get a great deal, and her referrals could earn her an iPad 2!!

The Harbor at Oceanside had some super fun colors to work with – this whole laid back, bright, fun seaside theme reminded me of something you’d see in a magazine spread.

Isn’t her smile gorgeous?!

Thanks for your excitement about being the WTSS Rep for your school, Stephanie .  I can’t wait to show you the rest of your images!!

~Andrea

Cherish, Love, Remember Always… When Time Stood Still