I remember walking up the steps to the Kennedy home for the first time feeling incredibly nervous… it was my first shoot as a “professional.”  This is about five and a half years ago… I had a Rebel, one less-than-stellar lens, and I felt like I had no idea what I was doing!  But… I also had confidence in my resourceful nature, creativity, and high-energy personality to make it work.

When I look back at my photographs from this very first pro shoot, I see a lot of what I’ve since become known for…  classic pictures of emotional, playful, intimate moments.  I also see shots that have become my trademark…

Such as the double profile portrait…

…extreme close-ups…

…playfulness…

…and my Bed Portraits…

I’ll be totally honest with you – I shot this session completely on automatic and spent about a week in post!  Hahaaa!  Things sure have changed a lot since then, and I have been so blessed, but take a peek at my most recent shoot HERE of the Kennedy’s 5 years later, and you’ll see some similarities 🙂

xoxo,

Christa

It’s always a good time at Santa Monica Pier, with lots of adventures, activity and emotion!  Take Miss Sticky Miller here… she’s my good friend’s daughter and my favorite 4 yr old on the planet.  I adore her little voice and her phenomenal personality — she’s such a ray of positive energy, friendly to everyone, and quite the cutie 🙂

She was so excited to take a day off of school yesterday and go to the Pier… where she knows you can cradle exotic animals…

…Act like a true NYC cab driver…

…chase some pigeons along the boardwalk… and have a really good time!  Until….

…you have to share your bag of sweeties with your mum…

…it’s okay – you can wipe it on there…

…but I know something that will cheer you up!

…and pretty soon you’ll be swinging that bag around, pointing fingers at people, and earning the name “Sticky Miller” …

…you’ll even start dancing to a beat belted out by plastic buckets… lol! and you’ll dance like no-one’s watching 🙂

I adore this little girl!… and all her up/down/silly/around moments between this…

…and this!

Stay tuned for Sticky Miller’s second half of the day, involving red balloons and a red dress – two of my favorite things!

xoxo,

Christa

There was a whole lotta screamin going on at the Pier this past weekend. You may remember these two wild things as the “Betty Butter” girls from our shoot earlier this year “Dancing in the Park.” Well they outdid themselves on Sunday… dancing, running, squealing, screaming…  The above shot is them hollering on the way up…

and shrieking on the way down!!…

Aw, a pause in the action a moment for a good luck hug…

Devilishly competitive, this Mom is the first in my history of shooting at the pier, who actually won the prize and didn’t let the kids win… lol!!  Just look at the intensity:

So I bounced Mom to the sidelines and told Dad to keep her busy…

Y’all know by now that this is one of my signature shots… I love the total joy and movement in this one…

A good squeeeeeeze high above the ocean…

Being chased by Dad and an anatomically correct Homer Simpson – don’t ask, but you would run too.

A hoot and a holler…

…and sometimes, the screaming just gets to be too much…

…until the next time 🙂

xoxo,

Christa

Nothing like a cutie in blazer offering me a flower! This is my third shoot for this family, and I am completely charmed by this little guy every time.  Just look at those eyes!

Pouting because he couldn’t get the flower to stay in his lapel… ugh, so cute!

This little songbird stole my heart.  How can you resist?

I’ll post more pics of this gorgeous sweetheart and his family soon….

Once I recover from heartbreak 🙂

xo,

Christa

Ashli Marino is one cool girl. She is super sweet, easy going, affectionate with her parents, loving with her friends, and has a way with animals.  So it’s only natural that she celebrated her Sweet Sixteen birthday on Friday with family, over 200 friends, and a few furry beasts: an African Lion, a Mountain Lion, an African Monkey, and a Wolf.

Pre-party, getting ready…

Peeking out of the dressing room as her friends arrive…

Ashli makes a grand entrance with a wolf, and the paparazzi swarm!

This African Lion is named Romeo, and we weren’t allowed to get too close.  Romeo’s trainer told me to stand back up when I had crouched down for a shot, warning me that Romeo may try to fire pee at us.  Seriously? Yes.

The African Monkey is also “very dangerous” according to the trainers, and no stranger is allowed to hold, pet, or interact with him… Until he met Ashli and was completely won over by her.  Look at him – he’s practically coo’ing in her lap.  (Do monkeys coo?)  And yes, even though he’s wearing a diaper, he still looks scary to me.

The dance floor was packed the entire time…

The party was held outside at Mountain Gate Country Club.  My second shooter for the evening was the amazing Shani Barel – who’s presence on Friday night was a Godsend.  I recommend her highly!  I am so grateful for her enthusiasm, positive attitude, and generosity.  Here are a couple of Shani’s shots…

It’s all about the shoes, until —

Cupcakes and a cocktail of milk – perfect.

Happy Sweet Sixteen, Ashli!

Thank you for a memorable evening, and I’m looking forward to geeking out with our camera’s together soon 🙂

xoxo,

Christa

Busy Busy!… I’m so fortunate to be booked solid every holiday season with family portrait sessions, and this year is my busiest.  I’ll catch up with postings this week.  In the meantime, here’s a quick sneak peek of one of the most fun shoots this year.

Little 4 yr. old twins, Sarah and Aaron at Santa Monica Pier yesterday.  It does not get any more adorable and sweet than these two…

More tasty cuteness on the blog tomorrow!

xoxo,

Christa