One Camera. One Lens. One Photo a Day.

Reach Up and Touch Someone…

I had to drop a couple of notes in the mail last this afternoon so we headed over to AIM here in Ladera (our usual spot).  We actually call it Mario’s, since Mario and Sara and the family own it.

Earlier in the day Nicki had been in and they were kind enough to hang our newest Kids Wanted poster for the Kids of OC project.

On it is a photo of Kate from Africa in March and it’s one of my favorite photos that I’ve ever made.  Period.  It just totally captures her, where she is now, and tells a story about her life.  That’s exactly what I want to do for my clients.  And if they fly me to Africa to do it, that would be great !

This evening I had a family portrait session down at the Montage and I loved this frame of Max as he was trying his best to scale the wall of sand.

What really makes this image for me is that dragon (I couldn’t have color-coordinated it any better) and the gesture.

The beach works well when we’re there late; and today the light kept getting better as the day progressed.  Nice to get back in the groove of the KOOC sessions, too.

Flowers in late afternoon light…

While dashing over to the store (a common thing around here…living so close makes it easy/convenient for us to just head over).  I didn’t have much time to photograph today, and was sure to bring the camera when I went there…I needed an image and it always helps when the light is great — and it is late in the day.

Sparky’s First Balloon…

Nicki and I took a mid-morning break over to Albertsons (all of 350 feet) and brought the Spark with us (while Kate was at school).

Ann, who works in the floral department always gives Kate a balloon, but this was the little guy’s first balloon and he went nuts when he saw it.

Ann was saying while watching it:  “It’s too bad Paul doesn’t have his camer…”

Then she realized that I did, and again, glad for it.

He’s now crawling forward…

A bit tough to show it in stills, but today Sparky started crawling FORWARD….up until today he would only scoot backwards.

And here he looks like he’s either doing a belly flop or imitating Pete Rose doing a headfirst slide, but he wasn’t hurt and was able to get to the toy keys..

Nicki and Kate made these homemade birthday cupcakes for me yesterday while I was photographing an event.

And these were the ones that were left this afternoon as I photographed them (Kate had a few throughout the day as did I)

When I had another milestone birthday ten years ago, it was beyond any thought or comprehension what my life would be ten years later.

It was such a great birthday and I feel profoundly fortunate for my wife Nicki and our two amazing kids.

My favorite flower is starting to make their appearance…

I simply love the beautiful Agapanthus flower like this one that are starting to appear on the hillside in front of our home.  These flowers are simply beautiful and remind me of spring and early summer and always remind me of the time we first found our home and purchased it back in 2003.

So these gorgeous flowers just are that signal of my favorite time of year.  As an extra bonus, we transplanted a few flowers given to us by  Doff and Boris (Nicki’s cousins) last year and those are planted by the fence line closer to the house and it looks like they’ve taken root because they’re getting ready to bloom as well.

I love love love spring…

Our little actress…

Nicki got Kate some more face paints yesterday and of course she had to put them on her face early this morning.

I’m sure it’s all parents’ lament and I apologize if I sound like a broken record — but I can’t believe how fast she’s growing up…just seems like two minutes ago she was as old as her baby brother (who is 8 months old today).

Off to pick up Kate…

Nicki and Sparky head for school to collect Kate from class today.  She got a bit of a workout as she was a little late leaving and had to make up some ground to get to school on time.

Luckily it was mostly downhill on the way home…the addition of Kate in the wagon would’ve made going uphill that much harder.

Sean and his girls…

This afternoon I stopped by my friend Sean’s home in Dana Point and caught up with him and his family.

I hadn’t seen him for a long time — his previous job kept him on the road (to the tune of over 120,000 airmiles last year alone) constantly and I hadn’t seen his little ones for, well, I’m shocked to say for years.

When we first met Sean and Rebekah Kate was in the womb and Dillen was about 3.  They had Roxy just about six weeks before Kate and I hadn’t seen her since she was a year old.  And today was the first time I met Piper.

It just drove home the point just how fast time here has flown — and how important it is to make time for friends.

We all decided we’re all going to get together in the next couple of weeks and see how the kids all do together — now THAT should be fun, too!