2012 March » Eva Marie Photography

Monthly Archives: March 2012

What Makes Me Happy. Meee. Palm Springs.

March 23, 2012

Life is complicated. It usually isn’t complicated because we have difficult situations. Rather, life is this way because we “think” it is. We imagine, we assume and we totally take people’s actions or non-verbal cues the wrong way. We often over analyze things people have said or not said and done or not done, so far beyond it’s actual meaning, that we get lost in the intensity of our emotions and it can destroy our perception of reality or the situation. I just hate when this happens. I can’t stand when I start to over analyze. Whether it is in work, family, love, or friendships, I go through a process that I’m sure most of us all do too (well at least us girls). Eventually anger leads to frustration, which leads to more anger, then resentment and finally sadness. Recently I’ve been trying to focus on just accepting that it’s not me. It’s my thoughts that control my life and I need to whip those babies into check. I am in control and what I say goes. So I say, Be happy! Live life as it’s your last (but really). Enjoy what make you happy. Appreciate the good in everything (work, love, family, friends). Instead of giving up on something or someone I’ve decided I’m going to put more love and effort toward those things. Waving that white flag is just weakness and shows lack of character, lack or self-worth and total lack of kindness.I am not that. I am strong, caring, and motivated. A complicated life is an unhappy one. I’m posting this quote that I found on Pinterest because I think it sums up what I’ve rambled on and on about into a perfect little blurb. And what makes me happy besides my family and friends is photography. I love capturing the present. Photography does not complicate things, it only makes me happy that I can share my talent with others.

Below are photos taken from our little trip to Palm Springs last weekend. I love me some Palm Spings!:)

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Sood & Patel Family. Family. Simi Valley.

March 19, 2012

Young couples turn into Mr. and Mrs. Mr. and Mrs. have children. Children grow and become adults. Then press repeat. Families are like wine, they get better with age. As time goes on, families grow and celebrate all the love and joy they have for each other. The Sood and Patel families wanted to capture just this. Mr. Sood (father) and Priya (daughter) shared a wonderful moment this past month. Mr. Sood turned sixty and Priya turned thirty on the same day. How awesome is that? They wanted to express this celebration of LIFE with a family photo shoot that would honor both of their special occasions as well as the new addition to the family tree, Vikram and Sangini’s Baby Sid. Priya and her brother, Vikram thought it was perfect timing (especially since they live hundreds of miles apart) to capture their family, right now, in the present, loving each other and celebrating another year of life together. I think every family should photograph as many special occasions as possible. I’m glad the families know life is too short not to take advantage of freezing moments like these so they can share them with the generations to come.

I had so much fun getting to know both of your families. You made me feel confident and kept me laughing. That is all I need to give any family a thumb’s up! Thank you for allowing me to help you celebrate your birthdays!

Here, they were laughing and I was laughing. Basically all of us were trying to keep a straight face because grandpa Soodwas just too darn hilarious when he was trying to carry (without covering his face) his prize possession, Baby Sid.

Beautiful on the inside and outside!

One of the best kind of love comes from a mother.

They love their dad. They love to make him laugh too!

Happy sixtieth birthday! Anyone would be blessed to reach sixty and share this kind of affection!

Every mother should have a photo of her taken just like this one. One that represents the pure happiness of motherhood.The Sood’s and Patel’s getting silly. I love it!

Priya and Kavit

You make thirty look amazing!The other Sood couple:)

I heart her eyes! Just beautiful!Vikram, Sangini and Baby Sid
Those cheeks and that outfit…ahh!The family had mentioned to me that Mr. Sood had a picture taken like this when he was a young man. They wanted me to help them recreate it with his first grandson and then son to show the family’s three generations. Priceless and precious!

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Emmett’s County Fair. First Birthday. Whittier.

March 18, 2012

Better late then never, right? Sorry for the delay, but I’ve been caught up with just about everything. Work, photography, being a mother, and you name it, takes up little chunks of my short day. No worries. It’s almost a month later but I’m finally posting the pictures from my son’s “Big One.” Yes, sir-eee! My son turned one last month. Most parents will say time flew by, well not me. I couldn’t wait until he turned the ripe ole’ age of one…he he! This is the truth. I loved when he was cooing and sleeping the day away but we also had our scares within the first year of his life. Our son was diagnosed with GERD, which is a reflux problem. He would spit up way more than I had burp cloths to clean up the mess with. At times, he would choke on his spit which made it difficult for him to breathe. This totally freaked me out. Being the paranoid mother that I am, I just longed for the months when doctors said he would outgrow this issue (and the risk of SIDS as well). I couldn’t wait until his first birthday. Now, we are blessed with a wonderfully healthy one year old and we couldn’t be happier. To celebrate this momentous occasion and our own personal victory of surviving the first year, we decided to go a little overboard on his very special birthday!

Of course I started planning and pinning ideas for his big bash after his half birthday. My son gets totally giddy when he is around animals, especially mangy mutts. So, I wanted to incorporate animals into his birthday party. The wheels in my brain started turning and I got it! I decided on a county fair theme where we could have a petting zoo for all the kids. The theme grew from there and with much support from my super creative family and friends…Voila!

Welcome to Emmett’s County Fair

Since a county fair is a very neutral theme I decided to spray paint most of the farm animals blue so people could tell is was a boy’s birthday party.

Piñata bags and place mats for the little ones.

The center pieces were all decorated by moi. The pictures came from his monthly photo shoot.
These pie pops were to die for. Made with love by my sweet friend, Charm.
Also made with love and excuisite detail by my dear friend and creator of Miss Fancy Nancy Cakes. Dada and birthday boy.
We also had a few games for the older kids to play.

Instead of creating a photo booth I thought it would only be fitting to have a classic photo op with some painted animals…just like at the real county fairs.
Some of our friends from the petting zoo.
Custom designed piñatas also fit the theme perfectly!
Okay, okay I sort of created a photo booth but it was only for his smash the cake pictures.
If you couldn’t tell by now we were going for a 1940’s county fair theme. Sort of like in the Notebook (my favorite move of all time). We love our little guy so much!SMASH THE CAKE!

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Diana & Ario. Baby Shower & Photobooth. Whittier.

March 15, 2012

Time is ticking before Baby Noah to enters into Diana and Ario’s life. They have been planning and preparing for the arrival of their first son since earlier this fall. I feel so honored to have experienced this creative journey by joining them in their maternity photo session and baby shower photo booth. I also gave a little input here and there for the shower’s decor. However, when we started designing the photo booth I never imagined that it would match so perfectly to their pen and paper sketches. Everything from the fabric to the sign just came together. The colors at this event popped! A perfect combination of lime green, wood brown, and a little mustard yellow added even more of a sunny feel to the already gorgeous day. Let me just say that Diana is one lucky lady. Not only did her sisters envision an adorably cute owl-themed baby shower but they made everything by hand. That is like WHOA! Great job ladies!

Once again Diana and Ario you have enthralled me with your love for one another and made my job easy peasy with your infectiously sincere smiles!
I’m crazy about these buttons!

I adore pennants, whether big or small, triangle or square, but especially when the patterns and colors are mixed just perfectly.Okay I’m a little envious of this idea…I wish I would have thought of it! Hellooo cuteness! Mommy & Daddy sweetheart table.
Love the tie.
This is the first candy table I have ever seen with a big hunk of chocolate ready to devour. Ummm, don’t mind if I do!
Sisters with style!

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Me. Charlie & Olivia Design Session. Long Beach.

March 12, 2012

I’ll take two pink roses, a side of pale purple fabric and a dash of design. It was major fun working with the extraordinarily creative ladies from Charlie and Olivia, Elvira and Dawn, and the sweet and stylish event planner from Velvet Events, Jacky Ibarra. This group of girls worked together to create a modern-colored Valentine’s event. Please visit their blogs to view more of their awesomeness!

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Diana & Ario. Maternity. Malibu.

March 6, 2012

Have you ever noticed that whenever you’re around a happy person, they seem to infect your world with so much joy, that you just can’t help but to be happy too? Well this is exactly how Diana makes others around her feel. From her bright smile, all the way down to her sunny colored perfectly pedicured toes, she exudes happiness. I first met Diana when I created a custom-made photo booth for her sister Emily’s wedding. Shortly after that, she announced that she was pregnant and asked me to take maternity photos of her and her husband, Ario. Yes, please! I knew she was going to make a beautiful mother-to-be!

Ario and Diana planned this perfect-like maternity shoot. We traveled to Malibu and basically had a private beach to ourselves. How did we get so lucky? Ario’s childhood family friend lives on a secluded private beach in a “famous” Malibu community. How famous? Let’s just say one neighbor was pretty much Mickey Mouse’s manager while another is a model that has a very distinguished mole. I’m just sayin’. This beach was Ah-mae-zing!

After drooling over the beach, I finally got to really meet and hang out with Ario. I had first met Ario at Emily’s wedding. He seemed like a super chill and easy going kinda guy. It wasn’t until the day of this photo shoot where I found out that Ario IS super chill, a total sweet heart who is truly in love with Diana, and kind of a goofball when interacting with Diana’s siblings. Diana had a small entourage there for her make-up, wardrobe changes, and moral support. And every now and then, Diana’s brother snuck an instagram update from the session. During the afternoon, I got to know more about Diana and Ario’s relationship, their baby boy’s name and their plans for parenthood. This super sweet couple fell in love a little over nine years ago at church. It was love at first sight for Ario, while Diana felt more of a yin and yang connection. She claims to be an introvert and he an extrovert. So an opposite attraction created a real chemistry for these love birds. Two years after they met, they married and decided it was time to create a family. As most planned pregnancies go, getting pregnant is harder than it seems. Doctors, prayers and even lifestyle changes sometimes don’t seem to help after a year of trying. But, just like love hits you smack in the face when you least expect it, BAM! Ario and Diana were expecting. I guess the body just knows when it’s ready.

Diana, Ario, and I had a blast hanging out. I felt as if I was one of their entourage members. I can’t wait until their “Owl” themed baby shower! Congratulations on your son, Noah! I can’t wait to meet him.

A contagious smile I tell ya!

My favorite!

Diana told me she got this fabric idea from me…aww. I love love love it when I can inspire my clients to craft for their own props!
Just hanging out.
Gilligan’s Island? Ya, this boat seemed to be perfectly ship-wreked here.N is for Noah and Diana’s expression is too cute!
Diana claimed she wasn’t “good” at taking pictures…right.
Come on…you are one photogenic mama!

Okay this one is my ultimate favorite!
Mothers-to-be look absolutely gorgeous in this light! Diana you rocked this light and that red necklace!

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Samantha. Sweet Sixteen. Whittier.

March 3, 2012

Did you ever sneak a peek at the MTV show, My Super Sweet 16? When it aired in 2005, I was in grad school and watched it during my study breaks. This was a guilty little pleasure of mine for sure. It was fun watching these mini-weddings unravel from the preparation to the day’s execution. The best part was admiring all of the girly bling bling. Recently I was contacted by an El Rancho High School student to help capture her Super Sweet Sixteen memories. Not only was I thrilled to photograph all of her girly gear, but I was in a way going to take part in this Sweet Sixteen, just like on MTV! Rad, right?

Samantha’s Sweet Sixteen’s itinerary was booked solid from early morning make-up, to mid-day photo op’s, and concluded with ball-room like festivities. I couldn’t wait! As soon as I met Samantha I knew she was my kinda girl. She loved pink, was going to rock some glitter Toms, and is a well rounded student (She’s in color guard and I heard her skills are no joke!). Samantha is also super duper sweet and loves to laugh. But behind those sweet smiles she masks a mournful past. While getting to know Samantha, I learned that she has overcome some difficult times in her life for being a mere sixteen. Samantha’s father had passed away when she was younger, so to honor him, Samantha and her mother dedicated some time and photographs at Rose Hills, where her father is buried. Samantha’s family and friends also wanted to make her day extra special so they spent the entire day treating her like a Sweet Sixteen princess.

Samantha I love that you are a true girly girl. Your positive attitude reminds me to always keep smiling, even during rough times. You are a champ! Happy Birthday and happy Sweet Sixteen!

The flats before the…

…grown up heels.
She looked fancy!The details on her gown are sweet!
Remembering her father.Prayer.Speaking of her hardships and giving thanks for all of her blessings created a few tears.
That pretty smile quickly turns into laughter…so cute!
She has the best girlfriends!Samantha used bright punches of aqua color and sprinkled glitter everywhere for her winter- themed decor.
Candy bar..holla!!!

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