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
Photographers everywhere love the Golden Hour… that last hour before sunset, when the light is golden and makes everything look magical. This savvy mom requested the Golden Hour… and I was happy to oblige last weekend. The Kennedy family is very near and dear to me… 5 years ago, they were my very 1st paid shoot as a professional photographer! And I’ve shot for their family every year since… birthdays, Mother’s day, Christmas cards, new babies… and I couldn’t be happier. This mom, Monica Kennedy, is responsible for a great deal of my success… I have never advertised because her referral is trusted and carries far and wide. I’ve nicknamed her my MVP-VIP, and she has free sessions for a lifetime.
So make sure to stay tuned for tomorrow’s post!… a highlight of my favorite moments from that very first professional shoot with the Kennedy family.
Here’s how it all began… Monica and Joe – can’t you just feel the love?
Here is my favorite threesome: Ryan, Coco, and Stella… Playing in the park… throwing leaves and getting giggly on the park bench…
The boys…
The girls…
One of my signature shots… The Secret..
Aw, shucks mom – stop embarrassing me!
I adore the Kennedy family… they are sweet, fun, thoughtful, generous, and gorgeous! They are my number one fans, and I’m their’s!
Stay tuned for tomorrow’s post of my very 1st professional shoot 5 years ago with the Kennedy family.
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
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
It’s holiday picture time!… and I am busy busy shooting family photos all during the fall. Here is quick peek from a shoot this past weekend – a photo party in the park with the beautifully blonde, all-American, sweet Benson family.
Love a good close-up…
One of my recent favorites… It just says DAD to me…
And let’s not forget how all this craziness started…
These pics make me feel good. They are a reminder for what’s important in life… being silly, loving, playful, comforting, and connected to the ones you truly truly love.
xoxo – I’ll try to blog more soon!
Christa
Jack and Samantha are two of the sweetest siblings I’ve ever met. These two are thick as thieves! They have a unique bond, which is apparent the moment you meet them… They adore one another, and I don’t say that lightly. Just look at the sepia pic above – how their hands are gripped tight, Sam’s foot on Jack’s foot, her hand on his arm, his arm around her – it’s my favorite shot, it speaks so much of their relationship. Sam looks up to her big brother with total love and abandon, trusting him to take her into the water, hold her up high, hug her tight, and follow her when she shouts “Jack, come with me!” And in return, Jack absolutely worships Samantha – can’t get enough of her! – he’ll even jump on the bed listening to a Katy Perry song, even though he hates it, just because it’s Sam’s favorite.
Here’s just a glimpse of this brother and sister in action…
Oh my goodness – how cute is this?!
Protective eye 🙂
Late summer sun… Popsicles… Playhouse rooftop… Childhood!
Wow, this session makes you feel so happy and nostalgic right?! Well that’s the beauty of my job, photographs, and kids 🙂
xoxo,
Christa
Nothing like hanging with your little brother in the backyard gettin into trouble! After capturing some beautiful moments playing and cuddling in the master bedroom, the Coleman family and I ventured out into their backyard, and boy did we have fun! We fed squirrels, played chase, picked flowers, bounced balls, climbed on garden sculptures and toy cars, held hands, hugged, and just plain out exhausted me!…
I love photographing siblings – there’s no other relationship like it. Here’s a peek of Part 2 in a series of the Coleman family, who were fabulous hosts of a Photo Party, and received major coverage by me as a big ole Thank You.
This one of the little guy on the right is absolutely my favorite shot I’ve taken recently – I just love how he went to smell the flower and it tickled his face instead! Don’t you want to just eat him up?
Families just do not get better looking than this! Or easier to shoot…
Hey, this is what big sisters are for!
Cheek to cheek – so beautiful, it hurts.
