kam and fam

June 1st: A Really Cool Thematic Announcement

2009-06-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

I am afraid of change. I hate it. Big time. In fact my parents bought me this book a long time ago called Who Moved My Cheese, that was supposed to help me embrace change through a moldy cheese analogy. It was clever and I liked it, but I still fear the big C word. Not today. Today I am excited for change.

In honor of my little business and it's growth, in honor of June 1st and thematic me I am launching...drum roll please...a brand spanking new blog. (The crowd goes wild!) HOOORAYYYY! It is time to upgrade to kameejune 2.1.

Blogspot has been a great start for kamee june photography, but it is starting to feel a little too homemade for me and for the goals I have for my business. This blog will still stay live, but not active.

My personal and professional journaling will now be found at...wait for it...http://kameejune.com/theblog/

A sneak peek of what is waiting for you at the new blog.

Want to see more? Go on... click the link... there is a present waiting for you...http://kameejune.com/theblog/ This moment, right now, we celebrate change...

join me.

Baby D

2009-05-29T01:26:00.000-07:00

This baby is 6 days younger than Larkin; if I have my way the two of them will go to prom together!

Just a few highlights from my shoot with Davis:

Gunnar was doing his best to help. He was asked to blow some bubbles towards Davis. He took it literally and blew bubble juice ON Davis. Sorry D! Couldn't help posting this one:

Note the bubbles on his head. ;)

Baby smiles, from any baby, are one of my favorite things:

I actually really liked the softness of this one and thought it was symbolic of so many baby things:

Something for Father's Day. SO FUN!!

Baby D, May you continue to bring happiness to all of those you meet; you are such a sweet baby!! I loved being with you and your mom! Can't wait for the next date, Kam

And a sneak peek of a fabulously beautiful senior...on the brink of graduation. More to come:

Chemistry Class: A Sneak Peek

2009-05-26T23:51:00.000-07:00

I never, in all my years of schooling, took a chemistry class. I don't know how that happened, but I am glad I slipped through those cracks. Just because I never took the class, however, doesn't mean I don't know what it is when I see it.

I met two of the most enchanting people this evening, and they are chemistry... personified.

Laura and David are getting married.

No Bunsen burners or scientific experiments necessary... these two have already got some serious sparks...and that was just the sneak peek. Stay tuned for more in a lesson on Chemistry...

Laura and David, I LOVED meeting you today!! I could have stayed and talked on the corner all night long. I think you two are comparable to Health Bars and frozen Junior Mints, for sure. ;) Thanks for the opportunity to shoot such a special time in your life. xoxo Kamee

Splash

2009-05-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

Guess who took her first dip in the pool today?

Why can't rolls like this be cute and acceptable in a swimsuit at my age?

She loved it.

So did her brother.

And her cousin.

And her other cousin who she has become quite attached too. (Thank goodness she is staying for two weeks; I am going to have a nanny for a while.)

I remember thinking that it would take a long time before she fit into that swimsuit...she won't wear it again. Too small. My kids are going to grow this summer like the weeds in my garden...can't wait to watch them grow. My kids. Not the weeds.

More from the weekend and graduation soon... xxx K

Dirty Laundry

2009-05-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

None to air...only some to wash...every Friday.

I do laundry on Fridays. I mean, I start it on Friday. And if I am lucky I get it done before the weekend is through.

(I left the bbq sauce on his face because it made me smile, and went along with the dirty theme. ;))

Usually, however, it lasts until the next Friday when I am starting laundry all over again for the existing week.

This boy doesn't need a delicate cycle. He usually needs a heavy duty wash. ;)

I know, Baby. I feel the same way about laundry day.

I want to get laundry done today;tomorrow can't be an extension of laundry day because it's graduation day!! It has arrived. My family is in town. Tomorrow I don the cap and gown. Everyone will have smiles, no frowns. I'll stop because this is going... down...;) Happy long weekend everyone...Keep on folding...

Folding their clothes does make me smile...sometimes...;)

And sneak peek from a mini-session I had with a baby who is growing way too fast. More of these to come:

Happy holiday weekend! May it be filled with family and fun!

p.s. Anyone else as excited as I am for So You Think You Can Dance? In my next life, I am going to be a dancer. ;)

Redefining Maternity: A Few Definitions For You

2009-05-19T14:35:00.000-07:00

When I was teaching, my students had weekly vocabulary assignments. They hated them at the time, but now, I hope they realize that they did do some good. ;) I'll admit, they were grueling and a bit tedious, but necessary and compulsory; they were required by the state, so we complied. The thing that I think is cool about vocabulary lists and words in general is that knowing them and being able to use them correctly is cool, and makes you smart. I have had several students thank me for those redundant weekly vocabulary and spelling assignments and quizzes; they tell me they used the words on the SAT, in a paper they had to write, in conversation, etc. It makes me smile, and feel happy.

Each week there was a list of 25 words. They had to write the word, its part of speech, the definition, and then use the word in 2 original sentences. In an effort to redeem myself for the years of vocabulary agony, I am going to attempt to complete a vocabulary assignment in this post only because I recently met a woman who I think completely, totally, and utterly redefines pregnancy.

Resplendent: adjective

shining brilliantly; gleaming; splendid

A week ago I met a resplendent person who is anticipating the birth of her second child. She has been on bed rest for the past few weeks; (Our shoot was the first time she had been out of bed in a while; she was such a good sport though and such a trooper!!) her spirit was high and she was excited to document a few moments from her pregnancy; I was excited to meet her and listen to her story.

Siren: noun

A seductively beautiful or charming woman, esp. who others find attractive

Kristen is so amazingly beautiful and her peaceful demeanor and quiet approach make her so attractive; in Greek mythology her beauty would have paralleled that of a Siren. She seriously redefines pregnancy making it look so simple, so splendid, so sublime.

Mindful: adjective

attentive, aware, careful

Kristen is mindful of the members of her family; not just her unborn baby.

She isn't new to this mothering gig.

Tribute: noun

a gift, testimonial, compliment, or the like, given as due or in acknowledgment of gratitude or esteem.

She and her husband Dennis are parents to a delightful daughter, Caprianna. (I love that name. It's Italian: a tribute to Kristen's roots. So cool!!)

She is "this many".

Elitist: noun or adjective (I am using it as an adjective)

consciousness of or pride in belonging to a select or favored group.

Tenacious: adjective

pertinacious, persistent, stubborn, or obstinate.

And as a member of the elitist "3" club she has full rights to be tenacious and spunky.

Loved these next three:

Over It: a phrase

to be finished, tired, done, kaput, etc.

Transparent: adjective

easily seen through, recognized or detected

It is pretty transparent when kids are over it; their frames start looking like this. ;)

Prodding: verb and noun (I am using it as a noun ;))

the act of prodding; a poke or jab.

It took major prodding from dad to get them to look like this:

Puppy Eyes: noun

A facial expression used to get whatever the heck she pleases. See below for example.

Caprianna could get just about anything with those puppy eyes.

Extraordinary: adjective

Far beyond what is usual, normal, or customary.

Kristen and Caprianna have an extraordinary relationship. Spending time with them was something special; proof to me that all children are destined to come to the families they are born to.

Connotation: noun

Something, such as a feeling, thought, or idea, associated in one's mind or imagination with a specific person or thing.

A few connotations of what type of baby they are having next.

Dynamic: adjective

pertaining to or characterized by energy or effective action; vigorously active or forceful; energetic

I am so excited for this little family and the cool boy/girl dynamic they are about to experience.

Affinity: noun

a natural liking for or attraction to a person, thing, idea, etc.

I have an affinity for the following pictures. I think Kristen is such a quietly beautiful woman. She is so peaceful and serene which makes her so alluring and attractive. She is carrying her pregnancy so gracefully; I was so inspired by her attitude and willingness to do whatever her doctor asked to make sure her baby would be born healthy.

I brought the red wagon because I thought it would be a perfect prop to use for a pending little boy. I think red wagons sort of define little boys. ;)

LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS IMAGE! Especially the way her eyes communicate so many things:

Timeless beauty:

Concur: verb

to accord in opinion; agree:

I have shared this before, but I really do love how more women are documenting pregnancy now. I think it is important to also photograph faces and expressions, moments and details, not just the bump. The baby will love to see what mom "looked like" when she was pregnant with him. Kristen made a comment at the end of our session: We were talking about how business has been lately due to the economy. Dennis and I am both concurred that we had been lucky and blessed during this time. I shared that people are still finding funds to document their special times. Kristen said, "It is so important." I agree with her. ;)

A few not so much about the belly, but about how radiant she is:

And two all about the belly and her stunning way of carrying it! ;)

Facetious: adjective

not meant to be taken seriously or literally

There is absolutely nothing facetious about Dennis. Nothing. At all.

:) HA!

He is the kind of person you want to be with because he is so funny!! It was interesting that he and Kristen

didn't care much for each other at first. Funny how they ended up connecting.

Dennis was very good to both of his ladies:

Loved this image:

A few of the family, before they need a table for four:

I really liked this one:

Kristen, Dennis, Capi, and Baby Carter,

May your lives always be defined by your sweet, kind, jocular, and genuine family. Thank you so much for sharing some time with me; I enjoyed it tremendously!!

Grandma's Garden

2009-05-16T06:45:00.000-07:00

It is unfortunately fortunate. I grew up all over the world; that's the fortunate part. I didn't get to spend much time with my grandparents or have a solid relationship with them for that matter due to the distance between us; that's the very unfortunate part. My parents did try really hard though to make sure that we visited with our grandparents whenever we were state-side; the memories I have of them are few, simply because we didn't get that much time together, due to our circumstances; that's unfortunate. My thoughts of my grandparents though are bright and crystal clear; they make me smile when I recall them; that's fortunate. I only have one grandparent still living, unfortunate. I plan to see him when I go home to Utah in a few weeks, fortunate.

The majority of my girlfriends live close to their moms, like walking distance close. I feel a pang of jealousy when "pop" over to their "mom's house" or "drop the kids off at grandma's for a bit". Jealous on a few levels: that they get to "pop over", jealous they get to see their mothers for a few moments whenever they wish, and jealous that their children are growing-up close to grandma and grandpa.

Last Saturday I meet 10 cousins who are so lucky to have each other and to live close to their grandma and grandpa.

I visited a most remarkable place: acres of beautifully landscaped garden. There was a main garden, a rose garden, a secret garden, an athletic area for basketball and tennis, a pool, and a play area that had small playhouses for each grandchild. It was similar to Hearst Castle, on a smaller scale and without a zoo. :) It was breathtaking for the obvious reason of its beauty, but also because of the reason it was built and because of the people it helps to gather.

Bill and Carol designed and built their home and garden with the objective to gather their family, to give them a meeting place. They wanted their grandchildren to have a safe place to flee the cares and worries of this world. They wanted a place where imagination could grown, a place where life's weeds wouldn't sprout, a place where the air would always be fragrant, and a place where the memories will always smell like roses and fresh cut grass. Their home and its gardens act as a refuge for their children and their grandchildren. In the short hours I spent with them I sensed such a strong sense of belonging, from everyone, but especially the cousins. I loved how they interacted together, kissed each other, held one another's hands. I loved their shared giggles, dreams, dances, and unspoken yet powerfully understood language that only family knows how to speak.

This garden is a blessed place.

The people it was built for are more beautiful than the flowers growing there.

There are 10 grandchildren, soon there will be more, but for now they are some of the tightest cousins I have ever met.

Matt is the youngest, right now. (You might recognize Matt and his brother Ryan from the spring chick shoot) I am sure he will adapt nicely to a new sibling, especially with everyone around to still love on him. He was easily enticed for pictures by a little candy.

He was easily enticed for pictures by a little candy. Note to self: next time don't bring m and m's they resemble tooth decay in pictures. I left his teeth unedited purely for the memory of it...

They were both laughing at this really great monkey thing their dad was doing; I might hire him for my next couple of shoots. :)

Ryan is a super mellow and easy-going kid. Did what he was asked. When he was asked, and didn't ask why. He didn't even need candy, just did what he was told. I would like to purchase that behavior please and shoot it into my son somedays. ;)

He was super chatty too; I love super chatty kids!

AND he is handsome. Nice AND handsome. That is just lucky.

We tried to get all the littles photographed first since their fuse usually is the shortest. Next cousin: Tommy. I am warning you right now. If you don't believe in love at first sight, that is all going to change in seconds.

In love yet? Tommy was busy. I had to chase him around to get these, but he was so happy the entire time; I love anything that is happy! ;) I can tell Grandma and Grandpa are pretty taken with this little man too. ;)

Loved this moment:

This garden was cultivated for several things, mostly just family time, but also with hopes that someday it would be a place for weddings. There are several ladies in the family that would make lovely garden wedding brides!!

The youngest of this sister-hood, Missy, told me she wasn't sure if she wanted to be married in the garden. I'm sure she will change her tune. ;)

This gal was made to be surrounded by flowers. These were some of my favorites:

Due to the fleeting light I didn't get to spend as much time with the kids as I wanted one-on-one, but in the short time I had with Christa I learned that she doesn't like bugs, living or dead, and that she doesn't like being or really seeing any kind of dirty.

She stepped lightly in some of the places I asked her to stand or sit, and kind of grimaced at some of the places I was standing or sitting in.

It was sweet and endearing.

I think she is lovely.

Missy and Christa's older sister Anna, was also a pleasure photographing. She is adventurous and brave, great qualities in a big sister.

Loved this shot!! I thought the framing was ultra cool and distinctive:

I thought this was whimsical, another reflection of the secrets they tell in the garden.

A sweet big sister:

It is hard to call it, there were so many, but this is one of my favorite images from the shoot.

I would like a picture just like this of my daughter every year of her life...

Sarah was a natural with the camera, completely at ease, and moved her pose with each click I made. She too was a joy to photograph.

Sarah and her brother, Ben, a handsome pair.

I was so impressed with how well all of these kids listened. That is such a tribute to their parents! They were all such a pleasure to be with and spend a little time with.

Ben is so darling.

Finally, the oldest of the bunch, Priscilla and Natalie.

I LOVE this image. I want one just like it of my sister and me:

That was something else I loved about all of these brother/sister, sister/sister combos: they hugged each other without being asked, held hands instinctively and genuinely cared about each other. That is really special.

Natalie is full of imagination and dreams. The garden is a perfect place for her to pretend and make-believe.

Another nice portrait of a very pretty person:

Priscilla is the oldest, and is a really great example to the rest. She is way mature for her age and is totally grounded and smart. I would have really enjoyed having her in my English class.

She was really calm and engaging too; I liked her immediately.

Like I said there is an area in the garden called the "village". It is filled with play equipment, a merry-go-round, old vintage coin rides, and playhouses. I think there was one for each grandchild. All different, all colorful, all wonderful. It took a lot of tries but we finally got everyone squeezed into one for this shot:

Grandma and Grandpa's house comes with different rules: jumping and rough housing on the bed are perfectly acceptable and it is totally alright to eat all the cookie dough and not bake a single cookie:

Loved this moment and their little stuffed mouths:

They are lucky to have each other and to have Grandma and Grandpa's garden as a place to grow together.

Bill, Carol, and all the kiddos, may the garden always be a place to find solace from the world. May the smell of roses always remind you of childhood, a happy place where your heart could dream, and people whose love for you was deeper than an old oak tree.

Thank you for sharing some time with me in such a magical place. kj

A Quiet Miracle: A Sneak Peek

2009-05-12T23:22:00.000-07:00

A quiet moment

before a new miracle.

Thoroughly enjoyed myself at today's maternity/family/soon-to-be big sister session. Looking forward to sharing more highlights; stay tuned. They will be delivered before Baby...I promise.

The Secret Garden: A Sneak Peek

2009-05-12T00:38:00.000-07:00

I still am not sure if I was really there.

I visited a garden on Saturday. A beautiful, rich, lush, and magical garden. So exquisite it plays in my memory like a perfect dream.

It is a place where children's giggles echo, where love speaks through the fragrant blossoms, and where safety is found in the arms of grandma or grandpa.

Just a peek of a secret garden...

filled with so much joy.

Many more flowers to come...

To My Babies

2009-05-09T23:39:00.000-07:00

You are the brightest colors on my palette. I love the vibrancy you splash on each day of my life.

Now, let me have a nap today, alright? ;)

xoxo Queen Mommy

May You Always Feel What You Might Not Hear

2009-05-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I want to find Gunnar's batteries and pop them out. The boy moves constantly. He is motion and energy, personified. Sometimes my head spins with his questions and boy noise. I will take all the repetitive din however for the quieter moments when he is still and we are snuggled in his bed at night discussing his 4-year-old philosophies on life. I love to hear his anti-climatic stories that always make me laugh due to their ridiculous nature. I love his childish banter and innocent reflections on the day's occurances. I love to hear him say, "Mom, what do you want to talk about?" AND I would endure days of interminable boy sounds for the three words I never tire of hearing, "I Love You!"

My heart aches when I consider parents who never have that tender moment with their children.

I have a friend named Josie.

We met at a party and I knew immediately I was going to really, really like her; I have been interested in her and her story since that evening. When Laurie, her mom, contacted me for a session, I couldn't stop smiling. I was so enthused to be able to see her again and spend a little bit of time with her great family. I feel honored when any family chooses me to immortalize their moments through portraiture, but I felt especially humbled to be able to formally photograph Josie, her new sister, Jocelyn, and her parents Laurie and Eric.

Josie has Rett Syndrome, a childhood neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by normal early developments but then is followed by distinctive hand movements, slowed brain and head growth, gait abnormalities, seizures, and mental retardation. It affects females almost exclusively.

As the syndrome progresses, the child loses purposeful use of her hands and the ability to speak. I want to know what Larkin is thinking all the time. I look forward to the day she will finally be able to tell me. Laurie and Eric, Josie's parents, look forward to the day too. Hopefully there will be a break-through with studies, and her voice and thoughts will come soon. They have found ways however of understanding her cues, sounds, and facial expressions, and like any mother Laurie, knows her daughter. They are indescribably connected to one another.

I think if she had the words she would be really funny. There were so many moments when she got so excited about something; her eyes lit up, her hands shook; I chuckled because I could tell she was trying to say something that would make us all smile and laugh with her.

Eric has a very special relationship with her; she was all smiles for him.

Jojo (as her Daddy calls her), has got personality alright! At one point she decided she needed a rest. So she laid down on the concrete, and I decided to lie down with her and rest a bit too.

I think she is beautiful:

Josie has a little sis named Jocelyn. (Josephine and Jocelyn. I loved that!) It was sweet to see the two of them interacting together, like regular siblings do. I really liked the interaction with them here:

I wanted to squeeze Jocelyn. She reminds me of another baby I know! I love squishy babies!!

She didn't want to be too far from her mom, but I couldn't help holding her for a second. That's about all I got: one second. She made me want to run home and hold my squishy baby! ;)

Their dynamic as they grow will be interesting, but I am sure they will always know the other is someone special in her life.

I loved the colors in these family shots. So earthy, natural, and comfortable. A true reflection of this family.

Loved the light and angle in this one:

and the color in this one:

I am fascinated by Laurie and her capabilities. Before Josie's diagnosis Laurie was a school teacher. Once they discovered how extensive her care would be she decided to leave the classroom to be home with her baby. Each day, Laurie's life is filled with labors of love for her children. Being a parent of any child is tasking; I am sure that being a parent of a child with special needs is even more daunting, especially when the rewards aren't as frequent. I was so interested in Laurie and the endurance she musters each day to tend to the needs of her little ladies.

Laurie deserves much praise and attention for the selfless sacrifices she offers on behalf of her girls. I would love for her to see herself as I do: as a strong, brave, understanding, compassionate, and tender woman.

Loved the framing:

Someone needs to write an article on this mother, on all the mothers with children with disabilities, revering them for all the efforts they make on a daily basis. I want to write that article. Mostly because that would require talking to Laurie more, and I would really enjoy asking her more questions and learning more about how she handles the daily requirements while still remaining so positive and energetic.

I love the way the wind caught her hair:

and I loved this expression:

Eric is a good man. He mentioned to me several times how he does the best he can to get home early to help take care of the girls and to offer a hand to Laurie.

He told me pictures aren't his thing, but I am so glad he humored me:

One of the two of them together. Eric has a way of making all his girls smile:

Josie, Jocelyn, Laurie, and Eric,

Thank you for the time together; it was so nice seeing you again. Thank you for choosing me and for humoring my many questions. May the closeness you are required to have always feel like a blessing to your family. May the moments of silence be filled with powerful sentiments and emotions that only whisper to the heart. May you always feel that which you might not ever hear, that she loves you so very, very much!! May you always love being together and may you know that others admire your courage and bravery!!

Thanks again so much for touching my heart, Kam

p.s. Laurie, Happy Mother's Day! You deserve a great one! May it be filled with smiles and love and maybe even a nap!! ;)

It's Done.

2009-05-03T13:58:00.000-07:00

I finished grad school. It is over. I am done!

HOOOORRRAAAAYYYYYYYYYYYYY! YIPPPPEEEEEEEEEE!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!!

I am so happy right now I can hardly contain myself!! My graduate work is complete; I am a Master of Education!!!!

The weight of a 300 pd gorilla and all 18 of her babies is completely off my back. I am breathing so much easier now!!

I am not the only one who earned this degree. I had a few others in tow:

My family has made several sacrifices during this time to help me through. I couldn't have done it without their patience, support, encouragement, and undying love. (Jaren, didn't want a picture with the cap; party pooper. But he earned it too!!)

I am so grateful to my mom once again for taking 3.5 months away from her life to help me through the semester I had Larkin (Thanks to Dad too for sharing her.), and to all of my girlfriends (Vickie and Joanna especially) who watched Gunnar so willingly and thoughtfully on countless occasions so I could get to class on time. I am especially thankful for Jaren who believed in me for every paper, project, and assignment; he always reminded me that I was smart and that I could do it. I also appreciate how willing he was with the kids, to take them and then shut the door and keep them out so I could research, write, or read in quiet. I am grateful for my brilliant sister who kept such good tabs on me the whole time and would send me any article or idea I needed two seconds after I asked for it; she is a genius, and I love her. I am thankful for the support of another sister, Kim, who has been going through this exact experience the same time as I have. It has been nice to have someone who understood my feelings perfectly and could relate wholeheartedly. (One more week for you Kim! ENDURE!!) Thank you to everyone who believed in me and encouraged me to work towards this goal.

Several of my friends have asked why I was getting it. I am not currently teaching. What's the point if it isn't going to help me with a pay raise? Good question and sometimes I had to ask myself the same thing. A masters degree was always something I wanted to earn. When I finished my under grad I knew I wasn't going to be done there. I wanted this because I love academia, I really enjoy learning new things and writing about them. I like feeling smart. ;) I also wanted to do it as an example for my kids: you can do anything, no matter how daunting it might appear, if you really try. As cliche as it sounds, it's true! I know they won't remember much of this time, but I do hope someday it inspires them to seek education, have inquisitive minds, and become lost in books. I hope they always find joy in learning something new; I do believe educated people have every advantage in this world.

There is one more step before I completely close out this chapter in my life:

What's next? My friend Deanne and I always joke about how this time next year I will be working on a PHd. NO WAY!! I am done for a long long time. I am content with this. ;) I do have big plans for my photography business! Keep your eyes on kamee june photography...there are going to be some really cool things happening in the next month!! I am so excited about all of that I can hardly contain myself!! I am going to put all of my energies into that business now instead of spreading them between grad school and the biz. I also plan to play a little longer on the carpet with my children and read them extra books instead of rushing off to hit mine; I am going to talk a little more and listen more carefully to Jaren (instead of allowing myself to be writing the paper in my head while we talked); I am going to exercise a lot (I think that will be my new grad school. ;)); I am going to read books and magazines that have nothing to do with curriculum development or educational theory; I am going to breath a little deeper, and enjoy more free time.

Right now I am smiling because it's done, and because I DID IT!! (Oh, and I am smiling because I am graduating with honors!! I earned a 4.0 all 5 semesters! How that happened I have no idea, but GGGOOOOOOOOO KKKKKKKAMMMMMMMM!!!)

Just Booked my Flight: We Are Headed to Utah

2009-04-24T13:16:00.000-07:00

It is time for a visit with family. It's time for a swim with my nieces. It's time for some rest with extra hands to watch the babes. It's time to reconnect with old friends. It's time to meet new friends through my camera.

I am booking Utah sessions now. :)

I will be there the 8th-20th of June. I will be staying in the Pleasant Grove area, but am willing to travel as far as Bountiful and clear to Nephi. (If you are just barely out of these areas we can totally work something out!) Give me a hollar at kamee@kameejune.com if you are interested in family, maternity, baby, kids, engagement, or even your wedding (if it falls during that time)photographs. I would love to meet you and spend some time with you too!!

Anyone interested in a shoot at Cafe Rio? OR the Purple Turtle? OR SONIC? ;)

Until then...some highlights from my trip to Ut last summer.

I am thinking about entering a few of these in a kids summer competition in Laguna Beach this year. I think they personify summer:

This year there will be one more face to add: Little Larkee.

I can't wait to see these girls and love all over their sweetness!

And this guy can't wait to get his Barbie-on! ;)

And spend some time with the girl cousins.

We are so looking forward to a nice, long visit with the fam.

Give me a shout-out if you are interested in meeting up for pictures!! xoxo Kam

My Favorite Things

2009-04-21T10:41:00.000-07:00

A long, long, long, really long, long, long time ago my girlfriend Bec tagged me in a post and asked me to share my favorite things. I was swamped at the time with grad work and photography stuff so I wasn't able to respond to the tag. (I am still swamped with said endeavors, but wanted to incorporate some answers into this post....)

If I was Oprah I would create a basket for all of you filled with my favorites; since I am not the talk-show goddess with pockets the deep as the world's banks, this metaphorical basket will have to suffice.

Favorite Things, Currently, In no Particular Order:

My favorite part of the day is when Jaren walks in from work, kisses me like I am a rock-star and then loves on our babies. OR when Jaren walks in from work whacks my bum and says, "Good Game!", and then loves on our babies!! ;)

My favorite current Hollywood celebrity. My favorite Hollywood Celebrity. Period.

Favorite way to pass time. Favorite way to pass more time.

This lip-gloss ,for sure my fav right now!

This fabric softener. I want to shower in it and bathe my children in it.

This restaurant will always be a favorite. TRUE STORY. California is getting one. A real one. In Lake Forest in 2010. Prayers really are answered.

Favorite Lens...EVER!

Favorite thing in our garage, and there are a lot of things out there, believe me...

Favorite secret thing I like to do right now: Dance while driving...not a secret any more!!

Favorite drink: A Diet Coke Big Gulp size from 7-11 with extra cherry syrup. I mean so much extra that it tastes like Robitussin.

Current Favorite TV Show. (No teasing allowed!) Summer Favorite TV Show. (Can I get a WOOT WOOT for May 21st?) Will always love this TV Show.

A lot of those things don't even fit in a basket, and the list could go on and on, but now I want to introduce you to a new favorite Megan in my life, and she is sporting my favorite pregnant belly.

What belly? You are probably asking. I had the same question when we first met. I thought she was like 4 months along...she is 8, almost done and is so, so tiny. In fact it was tricky in a few of her shots making it look like we were shooting maternity. I had to tell her to push her stomach out...not kidding...

Don't hate ladies; we can't all be ethereal creatures when we are pregnant. That pregnancy is reserved for a few choice individuals, and New Favorite Megan is one of them.

Megan's hair and make up are brought to you by the letters K and H. The ultra, insanely talented Katie Hoffman gave Meg a little extra pregnancy glow with the perfect coif and awesome face paint. (She was totally right Meg; see how well it photographed! Always trust the stylist!! ;)) If you are in the San Juan Cap area or close to it book a session with Katie today. You will leave feeling like a million bucks; she really is a great stylist who will become your instant friend!!

We can't give all the credit to Katie however, New Favorite Megan has so much to offer in the gorgeous-to-look at category!

Love this one:

Megan was in town this past weekend for her baby shower. I was honored to be a part of her agenda. We clicked immediately and started telling each other all our stories right away. I felt like we could have been slumber-party friends. Our likes were so similar it was crazy! I love it when you meet someone that is so like you in so many ways. It is refreshing to me, to feel so understood so quickly. I also am fascinated by how two strangers can feel like they have known each other for a lifetime after minutes of meeting. Very surreal. Ultra cool.

SO pretty Megan, in such pretty light! I know, right? Where's the belly? ;)

She smiled a lot; I LOVE PEOPLE WHO SMILE A LOT! They are just good and nice, and the ones you want to be around. I think a smile says so much about a person and her perspective on life and living.

New Favorite Megan seeks joy, finding it and sharing it.

Not so much about the belly, but a beautiful portrait of Meg. I love how more and more women are choosing to immortalize pregnancy through portraiture. One mom I recently photographed told me, "One day she [the pending baby] is going to love these pictures." I thought that was so true. Our children really do love to look at pictures and yes, they will love the memories of what mom and dad looked like before they arrived.

Meg wanted a few pictures with her mom. I thought that was so sweet. No one loves you like your mother, and at a time like this the best person to rely on for empathy is that one woman who carried you and delivered you to this earth.

It was obvious their relationship is something they both hold close to their hearts.

I found some toile that was in the box for the shower; I thought it would add some color...and clue you in to the type of baby she is having.

A BOY!!! HAHAHAHAHA! I am killing myself here! She is expecting a baby girl: Elle Scott. (LOVE, LOVE THAT NAME! Elle because Megs loves it and Scott after Baby's Daddy; isn't that cool?)

The most perfect pregnant belly EVER. See why it's my favorite! ;)

A hug for Baby:

Little pink detail:

I usually don't go to a shoot with a concept in mind. I just arrive, scope things out, and let the picture taking cards fall where they may. I met up with New Favorite Megan with a concept. I wanted to get pictures of her doing things that she would eventually do with Baby. I ran it by her and she was totally up for the idea and was such a good sport. (I also thought it would be so cool to shot them both again later, back at the same places, Mom and Baby that time instead of Mom and Belly...)

They will read countless books together:

Blow innumerable bubbles together:

Hard to see the belly here...but LOVED these images:

Grandma will play too.

Once again, loved this:

They will shop the mac counter together and shoe shop together:

They will shop the Barbie and baby aisle together:

So fun:

Megs, I think you are going to need a bigger "baby-pusher" than that. ;)

They will shop Forever 21 together. (New Favorite Megan will fit in those clothes and be eternally hip to wear them even when her baby is old enough to sort through the racks.)

They will laugh and giggle and love being together while riding the carousel:

(Meg was a GREAT sport. I made her ride it twice. The first with me, the second alone. I had to get off, you know me, I get sick on the swings at the park.)

LOVED THIS IMAGE! Possibly my favorite from the shoot even though that is hard to label. It isn't about the baby at all but about her sweet, kind, fun, good, loving, and gorgeous mother! I also thought stylistically it was cool and the framing of the Megan was fun and distinctive.

Loved these two. New Favorite Megan is so photogenic and was so good with the camera. She worked it for sure!! There needs to be an America's Top Maternity Model. NFM (New Favorite Megan) would win.

She and Baby Elle will play at many a water park together and make and eat many a cupcake together:

Loved the framing on this one too:

Most importantly they will love and learn and grow together. Megan, you are someone very special. Baby Elle is going to change your life in so many ways, all of them bright and beautiful, and you will be the most important and revered person in her little life from the second she is born. No matter what you two do together may it always be time spent making memories. May you enjoy the last few weeks of time just you and Scott; that too is precious, sacred time; you will never get it back. May you look forward to turning the page on this chapter of your life and starting a new one with one of your life's greatest accomplishments. May you have an epidural; may it come the second you ask! ;) May you drink in your baby's every breath. May you hold her a bit longer, rock her a bit slower, and love her a bit deeper than you even thought possible. May you bottle up every moment you have watching her grow, and may they all be filled with smiles and laughter.

NFM,Thank you for spending the afternoon with me; I like you very, very much! I could have spent the entire weekend with you laughing, sharing stories, talking about our favorite things, and would have been entertained the entire time. Until our next slumber-party, xoxo Kam

Blue Belle

2009-04-20T23:58:00.000-07:00

It's good exercise for her to lift those flowers and bows that I insist she wear; it works her neck muscles! ;) We love you Larkee.

She is 7 months this month; don't turn your back, right? Where did my little, little 6lbs 9oz baby girl go? Now she weighs 17lbs. 17lbs. of pudding; I love it!! Squishy babies are the best.

Way Too Excited: A Sneak Peek

2009-04-16T22:05:00.000-07:00

I met a new friend today! We talked for hours like we had known each other for years! Got in from her shoot an hour ago and couldn't wait to get something up to show her! Megs...something sweet for you!! I loved the stillness of this moment! MUCH more soon...Kam

p.s. It was so good meeting you today!! May your party this weekend be filled with magical pink things!!xoxo K

Spring Sprite: A Shout-Out to my Home-Corn

2009-04-14T22:01:00.000-07:00

I have known this angel since she sat in the front row of my honors English class and occupied the back bank of computers in the publications class I advised. Now, she resides fondly in my heart, my facebook, my twitter, and my text messaging!! ;)

An ethereal creature for sure!! (Ethereal: that was a vocab word your sophomore year. Remember Whit? That is so ironic. Another topic of study that year! I am killing myself here!)

I first met Whitney when she was 15. Now she is 21 and is doing what all 21 year-olds do: spend countless hours studying theories, poetry, and theorems, lose themselves researching in the University library, take on extra units to occupy their time so as not to waste it idly waiting for graduation, travel abroad to find self in the fields of Europe, sip lattes while studying Tolstoy, Frost, and Keats... amongst other things. ;) In my mind Whitney, and the rest, will be eternally 15 (that makes me eternally 26 ;)) year-old sophomores in high school. I have memories of Whit sitting at my desk sharing her high school heartaches and drama. Memories of us laughing so hard in the back of room 903 about the most ridiculous "home-corn" stuff that we thought was so funny. Memories of yearbook camp, WWII, war brides, and baby fascinations ;). Memories of making Caitlin run around and do silly stuff; sorry Cait.

Memories of a girl who touched my heart and grew up, to leave an indelible mark on my life.

I do love how many of my students have become my friends. Individuals I enjoy having in my home and sharing time with. (Isn't it funny??...How many of you would have thought you would have enjoyed time with me and my family after the first day of school routine? ;))

I always knew I was going to hold Whitney dearly. Wherever she walks, roses bloom. When she talks, laughter permeates.

If you are hurting, she will carry you.

If you need to feel funny, she laughs at your jokes.

If you need a friend, she is present.

If you need quiet, she is still.

If you need to feel like the only person alive, she focuses on you.

If you need to feel loved, she loves. Sincerely and deeply.

Her depth of character is profound, and her understanding of people and their needs inspiring. It is impossible to spend time with her and NOT want to be a better person that leaves a stronger mark on this world; it is impossible to NOT want to be like Whit.

She sent me a text a few days ago: "I love who you are." It made me feel so special and loved. I hope Whitney knows and feels the same when she is with me. She deserves to feel the same amount of love that she shares with this world.

Whitney knows no guile. She loves all people, cultures, religions and ideas. (If you are not following her on twitter...you should! She is hysterical. Follow whitneylaw. She recently twittered about her interest in Native American Cultures. She is good stuff. You can also follow her on her blog; she has an awesome eye for photography and is coming into her own quickly. I saw that coming a long time ago...She is so creative it blows me away!) She has a special affinity for individuals with special needs and in her usual Whitty style shares her heart openly with them.

Her life hasn't been completely easy, even though her beauty would make you think it has been. She lost her dad at an early age, had a terrible accident in college that broke her hip bone and forced her to leave the college of her dreams, was in a relationship that crushed her spirit on many levels...Her perspective on these events is enlightening: someday, someone is going to need her compassion and empathy. She is going to be able to say, "I understand how you feel." and really mean it. Her limits of compassion are endless. Her current boyfriend's, (His name is Grant. He is good and nice! Jaren and I happen to think he is a total rock-star and we can't wait to have him back to the house.) mom suffered from cancer. To walk closely with this woman and her heartache, Whitney shaved her head when Grant's mom was faced with that moment, just so she wouldn't have to do it alone. That is compassion, personified. That is a very good person. Whitney, is a very good person.

Grant , waxing philosophical.

Whit, seeing right through it.

It is so cliche, but Whitney truly deserves the best this world has to offer. She is humble and accepting of what others tell her because she wants to be better; that is inspiring in itself.

She is one of my favorite people because when I am with her she makes me feel so loved, accepted, understood, and funny! (She has always laughed at my jokes. Thanks Whit!)

Whitney is going to do great things with her life, and all of her loves. She is a survivor and a shining light! I am blessed to know her and have her in my life.

Now Whitney, follow this link. Fill out the paperwork and enter the competition. Seriously. Every time I clicked the shutter she slammed me with a new, inventive, genius pose. Not to mention those eyes, killer legs, and the spunk she exudes! She is made for this show!! Anyone else think she has a really great shot at America's Next Top Model? Leave her some love in the comments below; she deserves it!!

Whitty-Woo, Chino loves you! C-town does too.

May you always know how much you are loved. May you know that I admire you on so many levels. May you always drink your diet coke with extra cherry syrup. May you always dance to your own voice. May you listen to the sound of your heart whispering the directions you should follow. May you always find the beauty around you. May you always inspire those you meet to be better people, just like you. I love you so much Woo! xoxo Nuz ;)

And because it was so pretty...the sneak peek...one more time.

p.s. Being with you made me homesick for the old days. So homesick that I think we need to have a reunion. What say ye? If you are following this blog and were a member of the yearbook/newspaper staff at Tesoro High School during the years 2002-2007 let's reunite. What do you think Whit, Caitlin, Brittany, Amanda, Leon, Alyssa, Ashley, Kara, and anyone else who was on the staff who is following silently? Let's do it!! Get on your phones or facebook and see how many people you can round up. Anyone interested in being the coordinator? I will provide the house and the food...I would love to see everyone again and get us all together.

Grant, Checking-out my blog every hour is, well, a little weird. Love, Kam

2009-04-14T01:00:00.000-07:00

Whitney, These are for you. You know why. xoxo Me

Now, no more sneak peeks Whit! Leave me alone so I can work on your real blog post! It is going to have a lot of pictures; I promise! I love your face, Kam

Blooms and Paper Eggs

2009-04-11T23:28:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter and Happy Spring!!! May it be full of color!

Cheep Cheep: Something Springy

2009-04-08T21:05:00.000-07:00

I love spring. It is one of my favorite times of the year. I especially love the re-birth on all the trees and in the earth, the balmy fragrances that fill the air, and the promise of summer on the horizon. I also really enjoy Easter, the holiday and its sentiments.

I had a shoot last week that personified spring and its youthful connotations.

My new friend Amanda asked me if I would be willing to shoot pictures of all of the children in her moms group. I thought that would be a really cool opportunity and a fun chance to do something I had been thinking of for a while. I knew I wanted to incorporate the blue bench since it exudes spring, but I also wanted to include something that would keep the kids interested in the shoot.

How can you go wrong with live animals? Especially ones that can be mauled, I mean, held and loved. ;)

My neighbors pointed me in the direction of a great hay and fee in the neighboring community and the rest is photo-shoot history. I loved meeting these children. Their spirits were spring. They hearts, sunshine. Their smiles, honeysuckles. Their laughter, night jasmine.

Lena didn't say much except when her mom was close by. Then she was all smiles.

Lena is going to be a big sister soon.

A chick and one still incubating:

Allison, Logan, and Emma came in the perfect apparel! I loved their colors and their personalities.

Love this image. Would you believe I did nothing to those eyes in photoshop? True story. God photoshopped those babies!! Amazing, right?

I have seen those cheeks before; my baby has the same ones. ;) I have an affinity for chubby cheeked babies.

Brave Logan. ;)

Mateo's turn came with some beautiful light. I don't think there could have been prettier light. Super symbolic of an Easter shoot. ;)

He was so pensive and interested in them; it was sweet to observe him.

Some really soft light:

I thought this image was the perfect moment. Curious boy meets live chicks in a basket.

And loves every minute of it.

Baby Gianna wasn't so sure about those little creatures, but we managed to get a few snaps of some chicks with a 6 week old chick.

A very handsome face in some gorgeous light.

Matthew wasn't so sure of me, but his brother, Ryan, was an excellent conversationalist.

Loved this moment with the brothers:

I have never seen a more well-behaved brother sister combo than Julio and Jessica. Such kind-hearted and mild-mannered kids.

Julio kept saying, "CRAZY CHICKEN!", when the chicks tried climbing up his shirt. It was a crack-up...pun intended! ;)

Sweet Jessica:

Speaking of crack-ups...this gal, Presley, was personality...plus!

Dying over this expression:

Going in for a kiss...

I have to say though that I think this shoot was made for Lola Jo:

She walked around on tippy-toes gathering chicks, putting them in her basket, counting their heads while sitting leisurely on the bench. It was idyllic; she was idyllic.

I really liked the story-telling aspect with this image:

Easton: darling name, darling boy.

I thought the conversation he was sparking here was sweet:

LOVE that smile:

And some brothers and sisters that were so good to each other and the to the chicks. I was very impressed with how kind they were to one another and the baby birds. ;)

I really liked this moment:

All these kids were such good listeners. That is so nice to see!!

Once again, I liked the story telling aspect here:

LOVE THESE BOYS and THEIR MATCHING CLOTHES and THEIR MOTHER!! Cole, Caden, and Carson:

And another set of boys who have my heart, and who have one of the coolest moms EVER, Christian and Preston:

That chick got nice and cozy in there. He had a good thing going for a while.

Seriously. So mellow. All. The. Time.

Loved this one because it is the perfect reflection of both of their personalities:

Working with live animals and small children can prove to be quite hazardous. I now present to you the blooper reel:

"I'm going to get you chicken..."

"I got you chicken..."

"Now, I am going to eat you...Alive..."

"There's nothing in my hands mom. What feathers are you talking about?"

"Oh, you mean this chicken? The one I am holding on to by the wing. Yes, that one. I have him right here."

"If I close my eyes, maybe Brother won't see me and he will stop talking."

"Wonder what would happen if I turned this basket upside down?" (note the chick falling out of the frame...;))

"Listen Chicken. I am the boss of this bench, and if I tell you to stay in the basket I mean stay in the basket. Geez! I am going to have to hold you by the neck until you take me seriously and listen to what I am saying."

"aaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!" (I loved how the bird's face matched Presley's. Presley loved the birds a little too tightly; her dad had to do a little mouth-to-beak...I am proud to say though, that ALL of the chicks survived the ordeal. I thought I had lost two, but I had myself a flock of survivors. Good birds.)

"These chickens are attacking me...somebody help...quick!!"

New Game: Chicken Bowling

Easter Egg: Ball

Chicks: Pins

"Here I come Chicky, Chicky, Chicky!!" Take a look at his hand...

"I said STAY. Don't make me grab you by your head one more time..."

"Ooppsie. I dropped one."

"Sanctuary. Please!!" Poor birds. If there were such a thing as bird therapy they would have needed it!!

To all the moms and kids, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to photograph such loveliness!! May your spring be filled with continued joy and light! May you always see it in the faces of your children and in the world around you!

Katrina and Vickie, You are true A-listers!! Thanks for being there; I couldn't have asked for better wingmen!! ;)

Happy Easter and Spring everyone!! xoxo Kam

Gunnar James

2009-04-07T07:12:00.000-07:00

is 4 today. That's a good even number. :)

We love you son. May all your days feel like your birthday. Now, stop growing. Or go and get a job so you can help out around here with the grocery bill!! Happy Birthday, Bud!! xoxo Mom, Dad, and Sister

Since birthdays should be filled with laughs...here's my most favorite Gunnar post ever (be sure to watch the video!!), maybe my most favorite post ever!! I filmed this when he was 2. He can say Ostrich perfectly now! Bummer!! We used to make him say it when we needed to have a good laugh. Now it sounds the way it should; not so funny these days. Good thing we have it immortalized; enjoy the laugh!

Just the Eyes: A Sneak Peek

2009-04-05T23:18:00.000-07:00

I CAN'T WAIT TO SHARE MORE FROM THIS FABBITY FAB FAB SESSION! I am blown away from her beauty, grace, spirit, compassion, and joy. MUCH MUCH MORE to come!!

I love you Whitty Woo; it was so great being with you today!!

Laughter

2009-04-04T14:48:00.000-07:00

This family was full of it.

Last weekend I got Newport sand in my shoes, under my shirt, in my hair, and I think even under my contacts (ouch!!), but it was totally worth it to be able to spend some time with a family who knows how to laugh and enjoy being together.

A while ago my friend Eva bought me as a gift for her mother-in-law. (I thought that was such a GREAT idea! What do you give a person who has everything? Family Pictures!! Such. A. Great. Idea! Besides, what are grandparents always asking for? New pictures of the grand-babies!! ;)) Pam and Fred have such attractive grandkids that it is no surprise they would be interested in having more pictures of the kids' darling faces in their home.

I met Grace and Izzy first. Sweet girls. Grace was a perfect model, and Izzy was enchanted by the sound of my camera's shutter; that was GREAT because it helped her hold really still! ;)

I loved the light in this image, and how it innocently kissed her hair. It made her look even that much more ethereal!!

Sherry, Grace and Izzy's mom. I really liked this picture! Moms don't get to be the focus of a picture all that often; I think every mom should treat herself to pictures...just of herself! ;)

Pretty isn't she?

Her husband, Gator (cool name huh?), was a good sport, but like most guys he burned out pretty quickly on taking pictures. I had to smile when I saw this one. ;) Don't be mad Gator; I couldn't help myself! I loved all the expressions in this shot and how honest and genuine they were. I also loved how Izzy is really the only person in focus and how sweet her expression is.

A family shot:

Shortly after I met Bailey. She and I have an affinity for music, namely Lady Gaga! :) Bailey, every time I listen to her songs I think of you now. ;)

I loved the coloring of all three of these images.

Bailey's brother G. He kept the family laughing for sure!! (You know what I am talking about G! ;)

I will never look at the "moon" the same way again.

They pretended to not like each other but I could tell under the rough exterior that they were friends.

I liked their mom, Jennifer immediately. She was so playful with both of her children and knew what to say and do to get them to laugh or smile. I also really liked their dad, Brian, he was humble and kind: two traits I am so magnetized to.

And last but certainly not least, Ellie and Ruby! I think Ruby will be pulling the same shenanigans as G when she's older! Watch out G! She has got the spunk to run with you someday!

She is flashing me here. Need I say more? ;)

I loved this moment and how fascinated she was by her shadow or is it the crack in the sidewalk? Whatever it is, I loved how it made her stop and notice something new.

A moment with her stunning mom.

And here is big sis, Ellie. Who is one of the most mellow kids I have ever met!! Who has some of the most beautiful peepers I have ever seen! Check out those eyes!

Loving on Nick, her dad:

Eva and her girls. Like I said, pictures like this are so rare, since mom is usually the one taking the photo. It is so sweet to have a moment like this with the little people that matter the most to a mother's heart!

Their family together. LOVED their expressions in this shot.

The two that started this gorgeous offspring, Pam and Fred.

AND the entire fam damily. ;)

Pam, Fred, Brian, Jennifer, Bailey, G, Gator, Sherry, Grace, Izzy, Eva, Nick, Ellie, and Ruby: May the beach always be a place for you to remember one another. May your family time and memories always be filled with laughter. Thanks for sharing some time with me!!

Cheep Cheep: A Sneak Peek Peek

2009-04-02T00:56:00.000-07:00

Don't fly too far; there are more golden eggs where this came from! Coming to a nest near you... Until then ruffle your feathers over this...

Feeling Homesick:Arizona Recap

2009-03-29T17:44:00.000-07:00

We have been home from Arizona for a few weeks now. I have felt terribly homesick for the AZ family since we came back. Perhaps it is because it was so nice to be away for a while an not have the responsibilities of home to manage. Maybe it is because Gunnar and Larkin loved spending time with their cousins, and running in the AZ sunshine. I think I mostly have been homesick because I feel so completely understood, validated, accepted, encouraged, inspired, and loved while there, with those people!!

There is so much to share about all the laughs we had and the moments of connection, but I will just let the pictures of these gorgeous faces do most of the talking!! No crying, ok Grandma Nuzman? ;)

My sister in law Kim has become a really good friend over the past few years. She and I have worked through our master's programs together and I think our perseverance has been each other's strength at times. She is one of the best listeners I know and shows such compassion and understanding for others; a quality I wish I had more of!

Stunning! Seriously. (Now, get your bangs out of your face Kim! ;) HAHAHA! Sorry, couldn't help myself!! ;))

Kim is one of those people who will drop you a line or an email out of no-where but it is always when you need it the most. She is generous with her gifts and her words of encouragement; I always feel so lifted and supported after a visit with her!! I would love to offer her the same amount of encouragement someday...

Be sure to leave her some love in the comments section reminding her how wonderful and gorgeous she is...AND if anyone has an awesome brother or friend...Kim, believe it or not, is available. (hard to believe looking at her huh?) BUT, that brother or friend would have to make it through me first because Kim deserves the very best!!

Here a just a couple of my lemon-drop girl...who loved all the attention from her cousins and misses their faces in hers...;)

And a couple of G-man who asks to play with his cousins everyday or asks me to play the "Mason/Stacy" game where he plays Mason and I play Stacy; that's good stuff!

I actually didn't see much of Gun the week we were in AZ. He stayed pretty close to his cool cousins.

Mason, the cousin Gunnar idolizes (he kept wanting to follow him around, do everything like him, and when he forgot his name kept calling him, "the one with the glasses.";)), is an accomplished pianist; he has even written his own music, that for his age and standing as a musician is really, really good. He will be the musician that we all travel to Carnegie Hall to listen too. All I know is that he must keep it up; chics dig piano playing guys. ;) Gunnar will play for sure! ;) He also writes exceptionally well; he shared one of his stories with me and I was so impressed. I wanted to publish it here...maybe another time. Mason has a strong will that I believe someday will help him accomplish really great things. I enjoyed being with him immensely because he has such a fun personality, can laugh at himself (in most cases), works really hard to be good at things, and is a good brother, son, and friend. I love you Mae.

Parker is going to have his face on a Wheaties box someday! He was born to play sports. I wish I had just a little bit of his athleticism in my body. He is so coordinated and good at every sport, but especially football. He is one to watch... seriously. He is also very nurturing and kind-hearted. He would sit in front of Larkin for minutes on end just staring at her or talking softly to her, like she was the most fascinating thing in the world. If she made a peep he offered her a toy or his hair to pull on. ;) He was so sweet and good to her. I have had a huge crush on Park since he was born. ;) I have a thing for babies that cry... a lot! ;)

Love this one:

You will see Parker's face on posters someday...for sports not for crimes. ;) Parkie, I love you so much!!!

Casey is the final bro in this trio. He too had an affinity for Lark, and consequently melted my heart. He unfortunately came down with pneumonia while we were there. One morning, while on his death bed he said, "Where's Yarkee?" Stacy said, "What did you say?" He said adamantly, "I SAID, WHERE'S YARKEE?" His only concern on the first day of his wretched sickness was his cousin. Casey too is such a sweet boy. He loves to chase after his brothers and will play anything with a ball, bat, hoop or net. In fact a few times I caught him looking at Gunnar a little funny when Gun tried to get him to play pirates or make-believe. Apparently if it doesn't have to do with a bat or a ball it is not accepted play for this AZ boy! It was quite funny actually. I loved how close Casey wanted to be to me and to Lark. It was fun to visit with him about school and baseball and to listen to all the fun thoughts running around his little mind. If he comes up missing, Trav and Stac, check my house first! ;) Casey-Kasum, I love you so so so much!!

This is the only picture I have of my bro-in-law, Travis, that doesn't slightly resemble an escapee from a mental institution. You know what pictures I am referring to, Trav. :) We all do!!

A few of all three together. I loved their expressions in this one:

AND this one:

I don't have any of my sister-in-law Stacy. Which is a bummer because I think she is one of the most beautiful women I know, on so many levels!! She just got a new camera and spent a lot of time behind it during our visit! Next time we are together I will get some of she and Travis looking fab- not like mental patients (that comment was for Trav, Stac. You could never look like that!!)

When I am feeling blue I try to remind myself of everything great that I have in my life in attempts to cheer myself up. These are just a few of the faces that usually change my grey skies to blue. It's my people that usually make me smile and feel happy and balanced; I am so glad to call them family.

Thanks for a great trip; already looking forward to the next one!! Love you all so much, Kam

p.s. How many tissues did you go through Grandma?

Coupling

2009-03-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

Having children is a gift, and I am sure those of us who have them wouldn't trade them or the experiences they bring for anything. I think the majority of us with children would, however, admit that the focus shifts a bit from the needs of the original couple to the needs of the littles after they come. It can be hard because of life's responsibilities to stay connected to the person that used to make you giddy with excitement at the very thought of him. I love my children with all of me and would never trade them or return to the days without them, but I do think often of the time Jaren and I had together, just us, and the closeness we shared before their were others to share the love with.

There really is something so sublime about being a part of a couple without the responsibility of anything except understanding, respecting, and loving that one other person who makes your heart sing and your life feel complete.

You will recognize these faces from previous posts. My neighbors, Pat and Jen, are quickly becoming some of my favorite people.

They are coming up on their first year wedding anniversary and the are still so jovial and still so in love; it was so refreshing to be a part of their banter and play.

So pretty, Jen.

So handsome, Pat.

Ahhh!! The moment before a kiss. The next time you are in this second of time whether it be your first, fortieth, or four-thousandth kiss try to capture the way your heart beat meets the cadence of your breath. Try to freeze the anticipation you feel before your lips meet. Try to bottle the emotion of being so close to someone so dear.

One of my favorites from the shoot:

They are so good together, and have such a great relationship; it is inspiring.

Pat and Jen do have some kids, I guess. ;) Here are their babies, Duke and Kahlua.

Pat and Jen, May you always remember the original couple, and may your relationship always be full of flirt and fun! xoxo Kam

Some Cheeks: A Sneak Peek

2009-03-24T00:53:00.000-07:00

Just a sneak of a little something cheeky...pun totally intended and planned! ;) More to come from a fresh and flirty session...

and more from my fabbity-fab-fab AZ trip. We are being kicked out of our house for a bit due to all the repairs. I will get back to the blogging world as soon as I can...

This Equates

2009-03-18T17:37:00.000-07:00

This equates to finding the perfect pair of shoes at the Nordstrom half-yearly; this equates to a new gloss from mac that makes my lips plump and my face glow; this equates to an unexpected delivery from FTD from the man in my life who loves me the most; this equates to St. Patricks Mint with Oreos from Golden Spoon, size: grande; this equates to sleeping in, to eating out, to feeling so loved.

Jess, you are back in my good graces(you hadn't fallen too far...;)). Thank you for the metaphorical make-up bouquet!! ;) xoxo K

Water...Damn-age

2009-03-17T09:45:00.000-07:00

Our trip to Arizona was just what we needed. Some time away filled with family, laughs, and lots of love. On the way home Jaren told me that he had discovered something while doing some cleaning... Apparently we have had a water leak for quite some time now. A leak that left 1/4 inch of water under our hardwood floor and in our drywall. This is what I can home to on Sunday:

That is our kitchen, under all that plastic. The damage started next to the fridge but traveled into the family room and clear to the front door.

That's the front door...it traveled a long way.

Remember the gorgeous dining room my man built me a few years ago? Damage in there too...

A lot of the drywall has been removed...

And HUGE pieces of the most beautful hardwood you have ever seen have been taken out...

These fans blow constantly to help remove the moisture.

This is where our built-in is supposed to be. Jaren told me on the way home, "Good thing I hadn't started it right?"

(I have been begging for it for years now..., but yes, it would have been removed had he started it, and his work is so amazing

it would have broken my heart to have seen it destroyed.)

This is the entry to our upstairs. It reminds me of the film ET. Remember when they found out there was an

alien in the house and the quarantined everything?

Remember how they had zipper doors on every room? Oh yeah, we have ET doors. ;)

The silver lining? It is all under warranty and will be back to the way it was soon. ;)

The other super silver lining?

Our home-builder is providing us with all of our meals until the kitchen is restored.

So I guess I can thank the water damage for that. ;)

Here's something much prettier to look at. Just a peek from our trip to AZ. More to come of those soon, K

What Flavor Are We Today?

2009-03-13T15:30:00.000-07:00

If it weren't for the heat I would move to Arizona. Seriously. I love the family that is here, the shopping and dining that is here, the most delicious Sonic that is here, the Cafe Rio that is here, and the happy way I feel while being here.

I also love the new friends I have met here.

Joy and I met, like many of you, through the blogosphere. I know that if we lived closer we would be great friends (not that we can't be great friends through blogging. I mean like, shop for shoes together friends, go for golden spoon together friends, show emphaty when the kids are crazy friends). After meeting her on Saturday I knew I had found a new great friend. Joy told me a while ago that she and her sisters use flavors to describe their children's moods for the day. Isn't that great?! The day of our shoot I emailed Joy to finalize details and asked, "What flavor are we today?" This was her very articulate response (that I totally loved by the way...with a very English teacher sort of love. ;)), "I'm thinking pink cotton candy today: pretty, covered in shades of pink, but has a tendency to come apart & get sticky if I'm not careful!" Isn't that so awesome? Her girls were covered in pink, totally pretty, and there was absolutely no falling apart from my point of view. ;)

Rebecca and Madison are total opposites. In fact Joy called them the "odd couple."

One is a warm snickerdoodle the other fresh popcorn. Can you guess which flavor goes with which cutie?

These two are darling friends. Opposites do attract, even when it comes to sisters.

I loved dancing with them, giggling with them, and getting them all hyped up on my sugary bribery.

They are delicious, sweetie-pies to their mom,

and candied apples to their dad (They are the apple of his eye, it was obvious!! ;))

There is someone else who has Trevor's heart. This gorgeous cupcake right here:

I think she is such a radiant woman.

She is smart too! That is really beautiful to me. She is a lobbiest and has worked in Congress on Capitol Hill in DC. Rebecca and Maddy are so blessed to have a super, ultra-gifted and intelligent mom.

Trevor, is sugar and spice! His personality has got all sorts of yummy flavors!!

He is Irish. I could have listened to him talk all day. Joy, is very lucky in that aspect: her man sounds like Gerard Butler; that's all sorts of delicious.

Together, they were like cinnamon rolls and chocolate-covered strawberries.

A few of everyone together:

Thank you all so much for the sugar-covered afternoon. May all your afternoons together be delicious. Joy, your personality, ambrosial. Trevor, your spunk, delightful. Rebecca, your spirit, delish. Maddy, your charisma, scrumptious. Our time together was one of my new favorite flavors.

This was one of my favorite images; I had to post it. It makes me happy. Can you tell who is the popcorn girl now?

Miss You Dad: A Postcard from AZ

2009-03-12T23:50:00.000-07:00

A quick shout out for Dad. We miss you. Love, Gunnar aka Super Trampoline Man (since we got to AZ he has been glued to it) and Miss Yarkin as her cousin Casey pronounces it.

Having such a nice rest with family...

Cotton Candy Girlies: A Sneak Peek

2009-03-08T23:47:00.001-07:00

This photoshoot will be a highlight from my trip to AZ.

Everyone deserves a sibling to dance with.

More to come; stay tuned...

2009-03-05T10:35:00.000-08:00

When I was little my sister and I were infatuated with Annie. You know, Little Orphan Annie, the movie that was a hit circa 1982. My sister, Kori, and our two friends, Meredith and Cinnamon, and myself had all the songs and the routines memorized. We used to perform the show in our living room together. My favorite part of the movie is when Grace Farrell (Daddy Warbuck's lady), and caretaker to Annie, has the approval to take the papers needed for Annie's adoption to the appropriate authority. She sings the happiest little ditty because she is so elated to know that they "Got Annie." Remember the number I am talking about? If not I have embedded it here for your viewing pleasure. Anyone else love this song the best? Sing it with me...

Last Saturday I had the tremendous pleasure to meet and photograph a new family who

is singing, "We Got Lucy!!"

I am always fascinated by adoption stories. (I think TLC should have those in addition to A Birth Story. Don't you think Adoption Story

would be so endearing and special to watch? I digress...)I am interested in the idea that someone's "mistake" can be someone else's greatest blessing.

My sister and brother- in-law have one biological child and two adopted children.

The stories of their two adoptions is the content you find in great novels.

My sister teaches high school mythology.

She was telling her students during one lesson how sad she was that she wasn't going to be

able to bring any more heroes to the world (it related to the lesson she was teaching).

At the end of the class one of her students approached her and said, "My boyfriend and I made

a mistake; we are having a baby, and we want you to adopt it." That was the first adoption.

The second happened in a flash. Kori took several students to Greece for a study abroad

program. While she was there she was telling a chaperone about how they adopted Bethany.

The chaperone asked if she would be open to the experience again. Kori explained that they

would love to adopt another child. Long story short she came home on a Monday and they

had a new baby on Friday. (The chaperone had a friend looking for a family to adopt her baby.)

These two little girls are gifts to our family. In fact, it feels like they were supposed to always

be a part of us. I think that is all part of God's plan. Bethany and Sadie were supposed to be in

our family, they just had to get to us through other people.

Same thing with Lindsay and Mario. Lucy was always meant to be theirs. She just had to get to

this world through someone else. I asked so many questions during our shoot. I was so

interested in their story and how everything had happened and all the feelings they had.

I also wanted to be able to tell their story in correlation with their photographs. When I started

driving home after the shoot I thought that I just wouldn't be able to do it justice. I emailed

Lindsay and asked her to write it out for you.

Here it is, kamee june photography presents,

"An Adoption Story."

"Here's our story. I hope it inspires others who are thinking about adoption to consider fost/adopt:

People often think that adoption was our back-up plan. In our case, adoption was THE plan. We've always known that we wanted to adopt we didn't know how or when, that was the part we gave to God. When the time was right, we knew instantly that fost/adopt through Riverside County was the route for us. With our careers in law enforcement and education, Mario and I have come across foster children and social workers from the county, that was a big part of the decision.

We had an interview, they put us through weeks of parenting classes, had background checks, credit checks, medical checks, home inspections, and homestudies. We were initially told that the process would take about a year to a year and a half. Two weeks after our home study was approved, we received a phone call that a baby girl, 14 months of age, was available for adoption and if we wanted, we could come and meet her. Lucy came home 4 days later, 8 months after we first called the Department of Social Services and inquired about the process of adopting through the foster care system.

Having Lucy home was a miracle, there is no other fitting way to describe the joy we felt, it was a miracle. Instantly, we became parents to a toddler, and we were in love . . . head over heels in love. The first week was tough, we were scared, she was scared, she cried a lot. It was a big adjustment, but we got through it and that trust began to build. The first time I heard "mommy" was surreal, I still get goose-bumps thinking of it.

One of the rules that the county had was she had to be placed in our home for at least 6 months before we could petition for adoption. This was the most difficult of the process, as her birth-mother's parental rights had not yet been severed. Although her birth mother had never requested visitation or had any intention of being reunified with Lucy, I was still very nervous and scared. Mario was not, he was completely confident and was not worried, maybe he was just telling me that so that I wouldn't have a nervous break down. But with our faith, the grace of God, and support from our family and friends, everything fell perfectly in place.

We finalized our adoption 10 months after Lucy came home. It was a day of celebration, but it was not the day that marked us as a family. We became a family the day I got that phone call from our social worker saying a baby girl was matched with us.

Fost/Adopt is not talked about too much. When one thinks of adoption, people often think of international adoption or private adoptions. There is not one avenue that is better than the other, it is up to the particular family. From personal experience, people don't often know much about fost/adopt and are scared by the idea that the children may be abandoned and abused. I cannot say enough good things about the Riverside County Social Services department. Our social worker truly worked to make sure that Lucy was a good match for us and that we were a good match for her.

We are a proud adoptive family. Being Lucy's mom is indescribable, the joy I feel when she holds her arms out for me, when she calls me mommy, when she makes silly faces, it is all so amazing!

She is our baby, she is a gift from God, just as other babies are. She didn't grow in my tummy, but that wasn't God's plan for us. Lucy was God's plan for us."

Pass the Kleenex, please.

Lindsay didn't tell you that Lucy's birth mother gave birth to her in prison...

Another Kleenex, please.

Having been able to meet this little girl and see the family dynamic that has been created, I can say without hesitation that this little girl was truly meant to be with Lindsay and Mario.

Lindsay and Mario have such a great connection. They have known each other since they were sixteen.

It was evident how much respect they had for each

other and how comfortable they are being together. That is a great relationship to welcome a child into.

I hadn't met Lindsay and Mario previous to our shoot; when she got out of her car though I thought, I hope that is them.

I would love to get my lens on her. I think she is a stunning woman with an incredible personality.

We had a lot in common (both English teachers, both yearbook and newspaper advisors, both prolific readers, both foodies.)

She is the type of person you would want to have as a friend. Lucy is lucky to have Lindsay in her life.

This is called the "We got Lucy" smile. I LOVE this image!!

Mario told me he didn't want many pictures of himself. He warmed up to the idea after a while and I was able to get a few of him solo.

He is an outstanding father who is so attentive to his new daughter.

There was one moment when they were walking down the street and he was playing tenderly with Lucy's little curls as she walked closely to him.

Kleenex, please.

He is in law enforcement like Lindsay said; I would not want to mess with him.

What I found so magnetizing about him though is that he has a very humble nature about him.

He was interesting to talk too and had a lot of great stories; I could have asked him questions about his work all day. ;)

I loved this moment.

He was very attentive to Lucy and looked after her, perfectly.

And the girl of the hour, Miss Lucy.

She is such a tender hearted baby. She kept giving me hugs and kisses. I loved it. She was also very curious, like all 2 year olds.

We went into an antique shop and she was mesmerized by this area filled with pink and feathers.

She is a gift to Lindsay and Mario and to this world.

I felt so humbled to be able to have the first photo shoot with this new little family; it felt like I was making history for them.

Thank you for thinking of me and for granting me such a special opportunity to immortalize this time in your life.

Lindsay, may you never tire of hearing yourself be called, "Mommy." Mario, may you enjoy holding a little hand and

keeping a new someone close.

Lucy, may you always be as happy and as spirited as you are now.

Lindsay and Mario told me that they will adopt more; may all your adoptions go smoothly and may they all be as blessed as this one.

Congratulations again; I am so happy for your family!

Please leave this new family some love and encouragement in the comments section.

Lindsay and Mario stepped into parenthood with a 2 year old; they jumped right in, didn't they?

They deserve all the best and well wishes possible!!

Once again thank you for the opportunity to photograph such a memorable time. kj

Also, if any of you are interested in knowing more I am sure Lindsay would be open to answering your questions. Fire me off an email at kamee@kameejune.com and I will get you in touch with her. ;)

Arizona or Bust: Baby's First Road Trip

2009-03-04T09:53:00.000-08:00

We are leaving for Arizona on Friday. I have been preparing myself all week: for the packing and the drive. The packing could very well be a two-day process. With all of Larkin's gear...I might need to rent a U-haul, just to get us there.

I am feeling a bit nervous for the drive. She hates her car seat...need I say more? Arizona was Gunnar's first road trip too and he faired well. Hopefully she follows suit.

I still have a few days open for photographs if anyone is interested. Those of you who are penciled in let me know asap if I can magic marker you in so I can finalize all my plans. Fire me off an email to kamee@kameejune.com and we will make something happen.

Until then wish me luck with the packing and the "traveling with two children" mental prep. ;)

I actually am so excited about the trip. Her Aunt Stacy is going to spoil her. Her Aunt Kimmy probably will never put her down. And her cousins and brother are going to maul her...bring it on...

Arizona here we come!!

Jumping For Joy: A Sneak Peek

2009-03-03T10:47:00.000-08:00

Just a sneak of a family who truly has reason to jump for joy. Stay tuned for more of their inspiring story; get your Kleenexes ready...

Can't wait to share more, kj

Baby, They Are Just Jokes. Now, Stop Crying.

2009-02-27T09:45:00.001-08:00

Larkee, When your dad and I say we are going to sell you to the gypsies because you cry a lot, we are only joking baby.

When Dad and I say we are going to put you up for auction on ebay because you cry a lot, we are only kidding baby.

When Dad and I say, we could get a lot of money for you because you are a gorgeous child, we ain't jokin'! Those blue eyes and plump cheeks are worth millions on the baby market. ;)

When Dad and I say we love you, we genuinely, sincerely, truly do.

Lark, we would never sell your sweet face (Your stinky brother maybe, but you, never! :))

You're stuck with us baby!!

A Tiger

2009-02-24T10:34:00.000-08:00

Deep in the jungles of our backyard, (or the dirt lots close to our home) lives a very ferocious yet ever so handsome tiger...

He waits patiently for his prey...

When nothing comes he settles for a few nibbles of the neighboring flora.

This tiger is a rare species of the cat family: longlashicusfelinacus. Very rare indeed.

It is an unknown fact that tigers are actually really pensive and thoughtful animals. No joke. ;)

Tiger, Larkin, and I have been exploring our local jungles lately; I have really been enjoying our walks together.

We found this cool rock pile: I love the texture it gave this picture.

I love the blue dumpster in this one:

And, my sweetest boy in some pretty light...

Te quiero, mi tigre!!

When You're Smiling

2009-02-18T21:13:00.000-08:00

I just went up to check on my babies, to see the rise and fall of their chests, to listen to their consistent breaths, the rush, swirl, and billow of life entering their lungs. My babes are sleeping. One dreams of Transformers the other ultra absorbent diapers. They are safe. They are sound. The house is quiet, and my heart is full.

I have been pondering the trust children have, especially babies. Trust you will do what is best for them. Trust you will nurture them. Trust you will never put them in harm's way. Trust you will love them and give them what they need unconditionally. Trust you will be there when they wake.

I love Jaren because our spirits connect; we promised to make a beautiful life built on commonalities, shared passions, respect, laughter, and understanding. I love him because has become a tremendous part of who I am.

I love my children because they are literal parts of me.

The love I feel for them transcends all boundaries of the heart; it flows and runs into every thought I have of them, every dream I wish for them, every breath I take for them.

I am inspired when I am in the presence of a mother who feels the same way about her children as I do mine.

I was witnessing something sublime:

Amanda sang sweetly, "When you're smiling, when you're smiling, the whole world smiles at you." Her baby, in some indescribable way, recognized her mother's voice and smiled tenderly, knowing it was someone she could trust, someone who would love her forever.

With bright eyes, Gianna followed her mom's every word and motion. The relationship between a child and her mother is something so delicate and divine.

On Valentine's I spent some time with a new baby and a family that is truly in love with life's beauties and in love with each other.

The main purpose for my visit was to meet this new baby. It's a wonder I don't have more children; I really do love babies. Maybe if mine were as easy as Gianna...

LOVE THIS IMAGE. Possibly my favorite... I just thought the moment was so peaceful, so still, so perfect.

She was very attentive and alert. Awake without crying? There are children out there like that? WOW! What would it be like? ;)

The trust is so evident...

Gianna, is Mike and Amanda's second child. Their first is a darling son, Nico. He welcomed me with a hug and then immediately invited me into his playroom.

Handsome, isn't he?

Word up! Gangsta!! ;) Actually he was telling me to come play with him. ;)

He is a very good boy who loves to snuggle and read. I couldn't resist the quintessential nose-picking picture. ;) These are always good for posterity.

I loved the reflection in both of these:

He is a love and is very sweet to his sister. It is a gift to have a big brother in this life.

Like myself, Amanda is enjoying the change from trains, planes, and cars to softer things.

Pink things...

A few details from Gianna's room:

Hello, Doll-Face!

Although he says he isn't a "good baby person", this picture says otherwise. A moment with Dad:

There was a white bucket in Gianna's room. Amanda was up for any idea I had...

We put the baby in the bucket. :)

At first she wasn't sure. Then she settled in nicely and was content for a long time...

Out of focus, but I LOVED this family shot. It is so true to life; there is constant motion.

I really liked this family image too. For lots of reasons: Baby Gianna is the only person really in focus (stylistically I thought that was cool), Nico is moving which is so true to his personality right now, and everyone is happy, enjoying time together. AND I like how Nico is tickling Dad's feet. ;) Cute!!

Amanda, Mike, Nico, and Gianna, I left your home on Valentine's filled with love. Thank you for sharing the morning with me. Amanda, May you enjoy the time you have at home with your little ones. May you continue to sing happiness into their lives and the hearts of others. Mike, May you see you are an outstanding father! Nico, May you always be filled with child-like love! Gianna, May you always trust those closest to you and may you continue to bless this world; welcome to it baby!!

Paint

2009-02-18T16:48:00.000-08:00

It has been raining here. Today was the first day we were really able to get outside to play. Needless to say, Gunnar and I have gotten creative with our fun. The other day we had exhausted all of our playful outlets: trains, pirates, blocks, transformers, coloring, playdough, a swim in the bathtub, even a dance party to Mama Mia. We finally settled on some painting. When I wasn't looking G swiped my face with his brush and a new rainy day game was invented.

I did some damage on G-man.

We were laughing so hard; it was a really great moment.

This one makes me think of Lord of the Flies circa 1969.

And to illustrate my son's photography prowess I have left these pictures completely un-enhanced:

The crispness and clarity here is unbelievable:

It takes years for masters to develop composition like this:

His talent is just so raw and moving:

Gunnie, I would paint anything with you. Thanks for the colorful afternoon. xoxo Mom

Love: A Sneak Peek

2009-02-15T21:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I met one of the sweetest, most mild-mannered babies ever. Here's just a peek at her...

The Valentine session was filled with a darling baby, an energetic brother, a great family, much laughter and a tremendous amount of...

Can't wait to share more of this delicious treat!! Stay tuned...

Heart Breaker

2009-02-13T22:11:00.001-08:00

Dream Taker, Love Maker...Don't you mess around with me... Yes, I have been teaching Gunnar the words to that song. It's actually pretty good how gravelly he can make his voice on the "Heart Breaker" part.

Yesterday, Gunnar had a HUGE playdate. His friend, Christian, was coming over for the afternoon, and Gunnar's girlfriend, Kyle, and her sister, Emmi, were coming for a sleepover.

I had big plans to get all the kids in on a Valentine shoot. Then we were going to make Valentine's for the mommies with some fun pictures. I told all the moms to bring the kids in Valentine apparel hoping to realize the grandiose plans I had constructed in my mind. (You know...perfect order, kids lining up to have their picture taken, sitting still, etc.)

I got these before everyone came...

Then once the party started the backyard and the mud were way more fun and my shoot ideas were completely thrown out the door along with everyone's clean Valentiney clothes!

I still think I got some great play date pictures though...that can be used for major embarrassment when Gunnar isn't allowed to have co-ed sleepovers anymore. Don't you think Katrina?

Gunnar invites all of his dates in for a shower. ;) (Seriously, they were so muddy I had no other choice!!)

May you all have a happy, healthy, clean, :) and kissable Valentine's day!!

Pick Me; I'm Sweet

2009-02-13T19:19:00.000-08:00

Yes, Larkee you are!!

I would pick you any day!!

p.s.Thanks for the new shirt Tracy.

Big Brother's Room

2009-02-10T21:20:00.000-08:00

When I was little I used to sneak into my sister's room when she was at school and eat her lipgloss. True story. No lie. She had all sorts of edible things hidden in her room.

Today Larkee and I snuck into Gunnar's room while he was as school. We found all sorts of, umm, inedible things: dirty underwear, stinky socks, and a sippy cup with a week of curdled chocolate milk, all lurking under the bed.

Stinky, stinky boy.

We didn't stay in that room long.

We went to the green room and had girl talk.

I love you my delicious and un-stinky little girl.

Converse and Asphalt: A Big Brother Story

2009-02-08T21:08:00.000-08:00

This big brother

loves his kid sister.

He loves to make her laugh;

she is full of smiles for him.

When she is awake he wants to be close to her,

and she loves the attention he showers.

Last week instead of baby waking sounds coming from the monitor in my room, I woke to the sound of brother's voice. I snuck into her room to find them both snuggled in sister's crib. Gun had covered them up to their eyes with his train blanket, and was reading to his sister.

He chose these books, because he says he "knows how to read them". I loved that.

Larkin was so content next to her sweet bro.

We have been telling Gunnar that he is too big to be in sister's bed (The kid weighs over 50lbs.), but when I saw them cozy together I didn't even consider the bed breaking, but the memory Gunnar and Larkin were making.

They won't remember, but I will.

Big Brother and Little Sister, May you always enjoy being together!

I love you more than you will ever know, Mom

Dear Tracy, Lots of Pictures. For You. Love, Kam

2009-02-05T14:17:00.000-08:00

I got an email a week ago from a blogging friend who had some photography questions for me. Her last one was, "How do you choose the pictures you put on your blog?" My response? I choose the ones that make me smile.

Or the ones that make me happy I was a part of the moment.

Or the ones I feel illustrate their personal resplendence.

I met Tracy, like many of you, through the world of blogging. She and I have gotten together on occasion to talk shop and play around with our cameras. Last weekend I had the very cool opportunity to meet her family; they are all such special people. We walked around one of my favorite cities and enjoyed ourselves tremendously. They are a very playful and fun family and their interest and concern in others is so endearing. At the end of our shoot Tracy pulled out a bag of baby clothes for Larkin, all freshly laundered and pressed. I was so touched by that. Goodness in people really does it exist; I am grateful to see that in my life. This family is very, very kind!

Their personalities are all so genuine; I smiled and felt completely comfortable our entire time together.

The focus on their family right now, as it should be, is Olivia who just recently turned 1.

I loved the newspaper/magazine quality of this one almost as much as I loved the smile it put on my face.

She was such a sweet baby the entire time. She stayed still (for the most part), smiled when a cookie was dangled in front of her, and sat wherever we put her.

Vincent is from France; you can imagine how enchanting his accent is. I loved hearing him call her "Mon Sherie" (excuse the spelling.) It was so darling!!

I think she is the perfect mix of her good looking parents.

This one might be my favorite of her from the shoot. Such spirit and energy!!

A sweet, quite, still moment.

Loved this one of Tracy. She looks exactly the way she is: motivated, driven, confidant, sincere, and kind.

Loved the light and genuine expression in this one:

Vincent is from Paris. (They go to Paris each Christmas. Poor, poor Tracy! ;)) He is a professional tennis player and has made the sport his career. In fact he was recruited from Europe to play at UCLA, that is where he met, fell in love and married Tracy. Such a cool love story. He too has such a kind demeanor. He was so good to help with Olivia, and offer a hand to Tracy.

I told him to smile like he had just won the world cup. The world cup. That's tennis right? Maybe he is smiling because the world cup has nothing to do with tennis and I was making a complete fool out of myself. Either way...he has great smile!

Loved this one of the family:

At the end of our shoot we headed into a Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory for something delicious. It was the sweetest way to end an already GREAT afternoon!!

Tracy, Vincent, and Olivia,

May your Saturday afternoon's always be filled with each other. May the world have more sincere people like you. May your family be blessed with another Olivia, and may you invite me to photograph your family next Christmas in Paris! ;) Thanks again for the opportunity to photograph your sweet family, AND thank you for the pretzel dipped in chocolate, caramel and pecans that I still dream about!! Tracy, can't wait for our next visit!! xoxo Kam

Rain Cloud

2009-02-04T21:13:00.000-08:00

This week feels like I have the proverbial rain cloud above my head. You know the week; the one when nothing goes right. Your hair is limp, your clothes are decades too old, your children spit up and poop on you, every word out of your mouth is unbelievably incoherent, and everywhere you go it feels like people stare, like there is a scarlet letter across your chest. Know the week? Anyone else having it? Or is the rain cloud mine and mine alone?

It has been a bummer and I have been blue.

THEN...I got this and this.

Coleen, thanks for the nod. You made me feel so happy!

Micha, thanks for your thoughtful words. You pushed away some of the grey!

The sun will shine again, but until I get out of the funk...where's the ice cream? ;)

Dear Tracy, Some Flare. For You. Love, Kam

2009-01-31T23:40:00.000-08:00

She wanted some pictures with flare. This ought to do for now... ;)

Just a sneak peek from one of the sunniest shoots ever. Can't wait to share more!

p.s. Tracy, so glad we canceled the other day so we could get images like this! I had such a great time today. Off to bed now to dream about that delicious treat: a chocolate, carmel, and pecan covered pretzel...yum-a-licious! Thanks again!!

The Honest Truth

2009-01-30T00:06:00.000-08:00

As you know from previous posts Larkin was a tough infant. She cried, a lot. It is difficult to hear a baby cry all the time. Even more difficult to be the mother of that child and not be able to offer anything to quell the cry. We fed her. She cried. We changed her. She cried. We shushed her. She cried. We did everything we could possibly think of. She cried. It made for a very tough and physically and emotionally draining time. I loved her because she was my child, because I helped make her and bring her to this world, but I had a hard time liking her, to be perfectly honest.

My girlfriend Paige, called me a few weeks after she was born to check in. After telling her what was happening she immediately started to empathize. Her son was exactly the same. After I shared my feelings she asked, "Do you feel like you have had a hard time bonding with her." I hesitated with my response. I wanted to be able to tell her that of course we had bonded and we were close, like mother and newborn should be, but I just couldn't tell her we were, because we weren't. I didn't feel connected with her yet, that's for sure. She was tough. She made me anxious because she was a time bomb; I never knew when she was going to blow but she always would and the explosion would last forever and it wears on a person to hear a baby cry day in and day out. It was really hard to bond with her because she was work. She was mine and she was perfect, but she was hard work.

Four months later she has mellowed and I see her true personality.

Now, I am unquestionably,

incandescently,

wholeheartedly,

completely,

thoroughly,

and entirely bonded and in love with my little girl.

And that's the honest truth.

Good Morning Sunshine!!

2009-01-27T23:10:00.001-08:00

Gunnar, much to my dismay, doesn't sleep in. He is an early bird. I hate it. Actually, I wouldn't hate it that bad if I was getting enough sleep. In fact I wouldn't mind being up early to get a lot of things done, but when your nights are like mine, being up with the dawn just isn't that appealing. Gun on the other hand loves to get up in the morning, and believe me, there is no warm-up time. The second he is awake he is ready for action. The kid is energy from sunrise to sunset. I tease him at times that I want to find his batteries and pull them out...just for a moment...so I can breath...or close my eyes for 15 minutes when the baby is asleep.

He's busy.

That's just the way he is, and that's cool.

But this morning something different and miraculous happened.

The boy slept in!

Until 8:30! I actually had to wake him (Which I hate!! I strongly subscribe to the "never wake a sleeping baby" notion. I think it is sad to wake anyone from a good sleep...)to get him ready for school.

I knew he was in a deep sleep when I started getting ready in the bathroom and he didn't even budge. He was sawing logs.

There needs to be an audio caption for this shot. There was noise coming from every orifice.

"Awwwww Mom! Go Away Mom! Five more minutes!" He seriously kept telling me he wanted to stay in bed. I almost checked for fever. Stay in bed? He has never asked for that.

It is painful looking at these. He was in such a good sleep. I seriously hate to be woken from good sleep.

There was some gnarly dragon breath coming from his mouth; believe me, the little boy's got it in the morning!!

Finally, some life. Even though it was the evil eye, which I expected to get, he was coming-to.

He tried one more time to fall back to sleep, but I just couldn't let him.

He started licking off last night's toothpaste in a feeble attempt to rid his mouth of the stink bugs.

Two seconds after his eyes were good and open guess what he said, "What doing today, Mom?" Translation? What are we doing today, Mom?

Gunnar, May you learn to appreciate the beauty of sleeping...through the night...and in. I love you sleepy head!! xoxo Mom

Dear Tracy, Some Magic. For You. Love, Kam

2009-01-26T21:52:00.000-08:00

It has been a year since I launched my little photography business. In that time I have learned a great deal about myself and my capacity to grow as a person and a professional. I have also been able to meet several really intriguing and admirable people all because I decided I liked photography and wanted to share the way I see things through my lenses with others. I can't wait to see where this year takes me, and my camera. ;)

I got together with one of my new photography friends last Saturday. Tracy and I both share the same affinity for picture taking and we have met a couple of times to discuss equipment, taking a good picture, and even photoshop. She asked me to post a few of my pictures, before and after.

The difference is, well, magical.

I shot this picture of Larkee a few weeks ago. It was taken in my house with some really great natural light. I positioned her towards the light and with my 5D, 50mm 1.4 shot this:

Details: f/1.4, 1/160sec., ISO-400. This is SOOC(straight out of the camera)

Tracy asked me to give a play by play of what I did with the picture. I didn't save it as a photoshop file so I don't have all the steps. I cropped it to get in closer then I know I cleaned up her little snotty/droolly face and nose, and her birthmark on her forehead with the clone stamp tool. Then I sparkled her eyes, touched up the color with curves and the Oh Snap! action from this set, and then I ran the Lord of the Rings Everyday action from this set. I made her eyes crisp by following the directions on the action, then I sharpened it and almost kissed the screen when I saw this...

pretty amazing, huh?

I am in love with the following image too. I shot this one recently. It was taken outdoors with some great afternoon light. My subject had to duck a bit to stay in all the even light but I was so pleased with the color. You will remember this image from my shoot with Jennifer. This is what it looked like SOOC. Once again I shot this with my 5D and my 50mm 1.4.

Details: f/1.4, 1/2000, ISO-250.

Once again I didn't save it as a photoshop file, but I remember doing minimal work to this picture. I lightened the overall exposure with curves, cleaned up her eyes just a bit, made them sparkle with this action, then I enhanced the color with Oh, Snap!, I played with the curves a bit more to make it "snappy" as my #1 photography muse would call it, then I sharpened it and wanted to enter my subject in the next America's Next Top Model competition when I saw this:

I used to think,"How will I ever get my images to look like that..." when I saw something I really admired or was inspired by in the arena of photography. I still do say that...often, but now I am realizing that it is more than just having a good eye, great equipment, and an understanding of light and exposure. It also takes a little bit of photoshop magic to give noteworthy images a little extra eye appeal.

There is so much to learn about photoshop. I will probably only know a fraction of its capabilities when I die, but for now I am grateful for the photoshop fundamentals I do know and can use to help me create a little bit of photo magic!!

Hope this was kind of what you were looking for, Tracy!! ;) (and anyone else out there who was interested in some before and after action!!)

The Last One

2009-01-25T09:31:00.000-08:00

You know that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach at the end of a really great weekend and you have to go to work the next day? Or the feeling you used to get as a kid when Christmas break was ending and you had to go back to school? I am feeling that right now. Tomorrow is the first day of my LAST semester of grad school, and I have ZERO motivation. Zero, zip, zilch, zada (that's nada with a z; I wanted to continue that z alliteration I had going but couldn't think of another one, so I made one up.) My motivation has run dry...I used it up last semester. Remember that semester? The one when I had the baby...yep...used up all the drive and motivation I could muster to get me through. Now, I am feeling apathetic and completely blaze (that should have an accent over the e...(blah-zay)) about the whole school thing. I know I made the choice myself so I need to just bit the bullet, buck up, what other colloquialisms can I use to tell myself to just jump in?..., but honestly, I've got nothing. I am tapped out, drained.

QUICK!!! Tell me I can do it! Help me get 'er done!!

I do want to be the master, but right now I would rather stare at this beautiful profile

and eat fruit snacks for breakfast with my son.

Someone out there...please...remind me that I am smart, clever, and a super hero!

My Girl

2009-01-24T22:13:00.000-08:00

Cute.

From top...

to bottom.

She is so, so, so sweet.

Breakfast

2009-01-22T10:54:00.000-08:00

It is safe to say that I was not cognisant of my son's choice of breakfast foods this morning.

Found these while I was making the bed; found another empty wrapper behind a picture frame on the nightstand. That's four, count 'em, four bags of fruit snacks for breakfast.

At least I know he can feed himself...right? ;)

Have a great day!

I forgot one...

2009-01-20T15:05:00.000-08:00

How could I do such a thing? Sorry Jennifer. One more for you...

Blogging: Modern Pen-Pals

2009-01-19T11:01:00.000-08:00

Remember when you were in 3rd grade and your teacher said "Ok kids, we're are going to make special friends with kids that live across the world. They are called pen-pals." Then you started writing a girl in Zimbobway who, through your letters, became one of your best friends. She was your maid of honor at your wedding and is currently your children's God-Mother.

Blogging, is kind of like that...kind of...

I have been blog-pals with Jennifer for over a year,

I finally met her last week. When I started my blog she was one of the first to comment on it and we have been blogging friends ever since. She is much better at keeping in touch than I am. In fact, when I get a comment from Jennifer I feel super validated, appreciated, even understood. I look forward to her feedback, thoughts, and love. When I was sick a year ago she left the most thoughtful comment that helped me smile, almost as much as the antibiotics did. She got in touch with me a few months ago telling me she was coming to CA to pursue some interests, me being one of them. That boosted my ego big time; she made a trip from out-of-state for me to take pictures of her. I was totally flattered and at the same time felt like I was meeting someone very special, someone that was real to me only through words and pictures but not tangible flesh. When I saw her it was one of those moments like, is this really happening? I am really meeting Jennifer? I have an affinity for this woman and I only know her through blogger-land and an occasional email.

Her blog is a treat. If you are not already following her add her to your blog roll immediately. In the world of blogging she really is quite a celebrity. She has even been ask to teach classes at the university close to her home about blogging and the role it can have in society. I thought that was really interesting and a bit crazy at the same time...blogging and society... another reason her blog is so fresh is because she is a really talented and intelligent writer. She is a published poet and is currently studying English Literature. She does some free-lance work, and has goals to publish more someday; I know she will. Occasionally, she will publish her poems on her blog (I wish she did more often ;)); they are engaging pieces that will touch your spirit and make you think. I also really like publishing poems on my blog (not my own), and seeing what Jennifer has to think of them. Her thoughts are always enlightening. She is smart, intelligent, and a real thinker- all traits I love to see in women. She is also tough and has overcome a great deal this past year.

She came for pictures, like I said, to attach with her bi-line for anything she has published in the future. She also wanted to have pictures taken, just of herself, just because. I LOVE THAT! How often do women elect to have pictures taken of themselves? Why would I do that? Where would I put them? Who would want them? All questions women present when thinking of a self-photograph. I thought it was such a great idea. It reminds you of your own personal beauty, that you are an individual outside of your work, home, children, etc. It reminds you of the determined look in your eyes you never notice or possibly forgot you had. It reminds you that you deserve to feel famous, with the cameras flashing- just for you. Having your picture taken can be such an empowering experience.

Especially when you look like this:

and this:

The past year has been tough for Jennifer. She has experienced a few things that she never imagined would happen to her. Listening to her share some of her devastating moments only reaffirmed to me the strength I knew this woman already had. She is currently raising 4 boys, on her own. She deserves much more than a photo-shoot. She deserves fresh cookies and cupcakes delivered to her door each day with personalized affirmation-messages on them. She deserves a new pair of shoes from Nordstrom, also delivered to her home each day. She deserves free passes to Disneyland for the rest of her life. She deserves a massage whenever she wants it!!

She deserves to be loved, honestly and truly loved, and to have lasting happiness.

I was deeply inspired by her depth of character, her drive to overcome, her ability to find the most colorful umbrella when the clouds pour with rain. The year has been rocky, but the sun is starting to shine...at least from what I could observe I think it is safe to say there will be blue skies, soon...

Love the light in both of these:

Love the light she has:

She was so fun to photograph. She was totally confident, but had a few moments of shyness...

Two more black and white favorites:

I really liked this one:

Jennifer, May we continue to be pen-pals! May I be your maid of honor at the next wedding! May I be your children's God-Mother!! :) May you continue to show me and the world that life, regardless of what it offers, is worth living! May the next year be full of many riches!!!! Thank you so much for coming to see me and for the opportunity to photograph such a beautiful, strong, and sincere face!! Until our next chat, xoxo Kam

The Admired and an Admirer: A Sneak Peek

2009-01-17T23:42:00.000-08:00

Today, I met a celebrity. More, much more to come from one of my favorite shoots...

For Fun

2009-01-14T23:44:00.000-08:00

Just playing around with my kids today...

Guess who has two bottom teeth? She isn't even 4 months yet. That happened fast. She is going to be our way advanced and accelerated child...;)

Have a great night- Kam

Handy Manny

2009-01-10T16:29:00.000-08:00

Gunnar loves to build things. Anytime J has a project Gun wants to be a part of it. Last Sunday he put together a new tool belt.

Hysterical.

It's amazing his "belt" stayed up with the weight he was packing.

We promise these "tools" have been steralized; no worries when we invite you to dinner. :)

because: arizona photoshoots

2009-01-10T15:25:00.000-08:00

* This post will run as the header for a while. Scroll down under it to see updates!

Because this sister-in-law is great therapy,

because this sister-in-law knows what I am going to say before I even say it,

because this brother-in-law makes me laugh uncontrollably,

because this nephew has a huge crush on me,

because I have huge crushes on these nephews,

because Gunnar loves his cousins like they were his brothers,

because I love these people so much,

and because my camera has been asked to do some traveling I am going to be in the Mesa/Gilbert area during the week of March 7th-14th. I have some time still available if anyone is interested in family, maternity, baby, kids, or whatever pictures!! ;) Just drop me a shout-out at kamee@kameejune.com and we will set a date, time and place. I am looking forward to the time with family and the time photographing new friends in Arizona. I look forward to hearing from you!

Something Sweet

2009-01-09T17:04:00.000-08:00

she is edible...

know how some moms will dress their kids the same way? i wish i could dress like her. ;) why don't they sell these things in my size?

she is out of her fussy stage. (praise all things good and nice!) we are all enamored with this little piece of cake.

Hood Rats

2009-01-07T08:32:00.000-08:00

I had a friend in college named Brad; he was good people. Brad used to call the people he especially liked, "hood rats".

Last weekend I meet these hood rats. ;) (Lauren, Gunnar is a nose picker as well. It is a 3 year old right of passage! He tells me his boogers taste good. That is seriously so gross!!)

I met this girl named Lauren many, many years ago in a place far, far away called Ecuador. We were serving a mission for our church and landed up in the same house for 3 months (I think it was 3, right?) November 1997, the worst month of my life, was only salvaged because I lived with Lauren. For three months she was my savior. I looked forward to returning home to our apartment at night because I knew she would help lift my spirit, remind me of my purpose, make me laugh, and then share some of her Bath and Body lotions (which were a real treat in stinky Ecuador) that her mom had sent in a care package from home. "Yo, Man! You can have the stuff. I don't even know what it is or where to put it." ;) She's good stuff. When she was transferred to a different area I felt a significant void in my heart. I even, it is silly to think of now, told the incoming missionary that she was going to have"big shoes to fill" that it was "going to be hard to replace Guzman." I needed Lauren in my life for specific reasons; I am so glad to have met her and to have had her influence. She is from California, but lives in the East right now while her husband finishes his residency. Whenever she is home however, we always get together for a visit, and I love it.

Lauren is the type of person that you want to be with because she makes you feel so good about yourself. She is genuinely interested in people, their talents, and their lives. I appreciate her perspective and after we have spent time together I find myself wishing I was more like her, that I was more relaxed, more open-minded, and more understanding.

She has two boys, Jacob and Spencer, aka Pence, they are very, very lucky to have her in their lives. She approaches all things, especially motherhood, with humor and wit, taking things a day at a time and never being too hard on herself; that is refreshing and admirable. She is raising two individuals (maybe more) who will grow up to accomplish great things because of her example and influence on them. It is people like Lauren who make the world and everything they touch for that matter, a better place. I am humbled to know her and have her as a friend in my life.

The holidays brought Lauren home. I met up with her and her family for a bit at a park to get a few pictures of all the grandkids.

The eldest, Alyssa. She was so personable and such a pleasure to talk to. Hearts will break when this gal starts dating...

Her brother Isaac. Super photogenic and sweet. Such a good kid.

and their sister, Roxie, who is spunk and technicolor!

They were all very good to each other.

I love this one:

This guy, Daniel, was feeling super sick, and wasn't too sure about me.

Then I started speaking his language, "Optimus Prime, Bumble Bee, Megatron..." and he perked right up.

Transformer, I mean, Daniel, has a brother, Tyler. He wanted to stay close to Dad.

He only stepped away for two seconds when there was an opportunity to play ball.

The newest grandchild, Daphne, won my heart instantly.

Love this one. Daphne wanted to be close to her mom. I really liked this moment.

A pretty baby in some pretty light:

And Lauren's two hood rats, Jacob and Spencer:

Jacob is very connected to his mom. I don't blame him for wanting to be glued to her. She is that cool.

His younger brother Pence, is a crackup! This kid is personality plus!!

Lauren, thank you for being my friend; I am grateful for you. I have always considered you a blessing in my life.

Thanks to all of you for the fun day at the park. May you always be filled with happiness...even if you are from the hood. ;)

A Sneak Peek

2009-01-03T17:31:00.000-08:00

I have a girlfriend named Lauren; she is one of the people I admire most in the world. While home for the holidays she rounded up her family for some pictures.

She jokes all the time about where she is from, that it is "ghetto" and "the slums". Here's just a sneak peek of a little something from the hood...pun intended! ;) More to come of some of the cutest kids ever...

A New Year's Wish

2009-01-01T16:49:00.000-08:00

May you listen more closely to the whisperings of your own heart; may you follow them.

May you stand a little taller for the things you believe in; may they bring you true happiness.

May you enjoy the colors of your life and the people who put them there; may there be more vibrancy this year.

May you eat as you wish; may you walk a little farther the next day. ;)

May you smile more, laugh more, love more, and judge less.

May you see life's glitter as it reflects off the ocean's waves.

May you have a resplendant new year. xoxo kam and fam

Book Club

2008-12-29T12:47:00.001-08:00

I have a whole month with no school work! QUICK! Give me a book recommendation, and make it fast! What have you read lately that you LOVED? (No Twilight, please. I just can't get into them...) ;) What should I read that you couldn't put down?

Baby's First Christmas

2008-12-26T19:14:00.000-08:00

She slept through it...;) I snapped this at the end of the day!

Gunnar on the other hand ate it all up! The stinker crept downstairs before the rest of us. We missed his face when he saw all of his loot, but he was still surprised at his other presents!

It was magical. Hope the same of yours- Kam