Each year nearly 200,000 children are born with severe cleft conditions-often making them unable to eat, speak, socialize, or smile.  In some places they are even shunned and rejected. Life is hard enough as a child when  you look normal.  Maybe kids mad fun of your hair, freckles, braces, glasses, or weight.  Whatever the case can you imagine how it hard it would be with a facial deformity?  It breaks my heart and if your a parent how would you feel if you never saw your child smile.  A smile from my kids can make my whole day. You might be asking How can I help? You can help a child with their smile by commissioning me to capture the smile of your child.  In September a proceed from each sitting will be donated to Operation Smile, two smiles for the price of one.  Since 1982 Operation Smile is a great organization that helps heal thousands of children each year with facial deformities.   These medical professionals donate their time in over 50 countries world wide.  Many parents can’t afford to pay for the surgery themselves and that is where this organization is in much need.  Because of the dedicated medical teams free surgeries have been supplied so that children can live a better quality of life.  To find out more about Operation Smile click here and see what your donation can do to help these kids. You don’t have a child you want photographed that’s ok.  You can donate to Operation Smile by clicking here.

I can honestly say that the Hoyer family were troopers. From the time our day started and by the time we got to our shooting location I think the temperature went up 15 degrees. They did a great job since we ended up shooting on one of the hottest days this summer. I had a lot of fun photographing the kids in their house and in their rooms well Tia worked on hair, make up and warddrobe for mom and dad. We ended up with some wonderful images. To see more from their shoot check out their slideshow by clicking here.

There are 120,524 children in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties who are at risk for experiencing hunger during the summer months.  Summer is the season of childhood hunger.   The Share Your Lunch campaign is committed to collecting food and raising funds that will be used to feed children during the summer months when they do not receive free or reduced-price meals at school.  The need is great.  The Summer of 2010 will be one of the most difficult seasons for local families to endure. Second Harvest is partnering with the community to help stave off hunger for thousands of children who don’t know where their next meal will come from.  Statistics along from summer of 2008 to summer of 2009  increased by 30% for the demand on the local food bank.   To meet the increased need, the Share Your Lunch campaign has a fund raising goal of $1 million and collection goal of 100,000 pounds of food. Reaching these goals will provide food to approximately 85,000 children each month this summer.

Flamingo and I will be hosting “Flamingos Family Food Drive and Potluck Mixer” along with some other talented and giving individuals in the wedding community.  The event will be on June 22 at Edith Morley Park in Campbell.  This will be a very laid back and family fun mixer with some of the greatest people in the wedding industry.  A potluck dinner/picnic and a lot of activites for adults and kids.  Yes, I said kids! We encourage you to bring your families and  your dogs as long as they are on their leash.  In fact, dress your dog up for the “hottest dog” contest.  It’s a picnic you have to have HOT DOGs.  They can literally be dressed up as hotdogs or as HOT DOGS your choice.

How can you help with the fundraiser

· Bring a minimum of 10 food items or a minnimum donation of $10. Each $10 feeds abut 20 kids.

· Bring a dish to pass for 6-8 people.(Salads, fried chicken, sandwiches, pastas, veggies, fruit, etc) (preferebly in a disposable tin so we don’t have to worry about them)

· BYOB Bring your own beverages (not allowed to sell anything there)

· Bring a blanket or chairs-some tables are provided.

· Gas grills are allowed but no charcol grills

·Below is a great video where you can learn more about how Second Harvest Food Bank and how they help children and schools.  There is also a link for food request that you can bring to the food drive.  If your not able to make it there a link and directions are so you can donate online to Flamingo’s Food drive.

Here is a link of most requested food items

http://www.shfb.org/ffdmostneededfoods

You can RSVP and let us know your coming a:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=134211689926484

If you can’t make it but would like to make a donation go to the following link.

https://donate.shareyourlunch.net/

Donor type: Family and Friends
Organization: Flamingos Food Drive

The beautiful Maya has entered from her highly decorated mother’s stomach and she’s a beauty. She is quite the little Diva and really didn’t not want the paparazzi shooting her very much.  But finally she gave us a few short minutes before she got some more beauty sleep.  You have to love baby shoots because you just never know what will happen but I think we got some lovelies of this little one.   I’m looking forward to photographing her some more because she will only get more beautiful.  For those of you who missed her mother’s maternity session please scroll down.

I love photos like this when you can really tell how small they are.  Look at the size of her daddy’s hand next to her little noggin.  It really is amazing how fast that changes.  Her head is only that size for a couple of weeks and will soon be bigger then daddy’s hand.

We had so much fun shooting Teresa in her last couple of weeks of pregnancy.  She wanted to do a classic beauty shot but she also wanted to try something a little different. She mentioned that she had heard of getting henna on your belly when your around 8 months pregnant.  Well, I went on a search and was referred to a wonderful woman, Ravie Kattaura (510-453-4393).  Her work was amazing and she was one of the fastest artist I’ve ever seen.  I’ve seen Henna done before but never from such a talented artist and never done on a pregnant belly.  It was really beautiful and I loved the colors and glitter she added to the design.  I also loved how Joe, the dad, was all excited about getting his henna done on his arms.  We asked about the blessing and was told that the  patterns used are acknowledged to bring health, protection, and luck to the new mother and her child.  I just know that we were blessed to be part of it all and to be able to create some beautiful images of their first pregnancy together.

As always this turned out to be a fun and adventurous shoot as Tia and I lugged the bed and headboard out in to the grassy field, caused only a slight traffic jam as everyone was interested in what we were doing, and I didn’t even mention that little case of trespassing.  But the field was just to pretty to pass by.   Better yet, a client of mine drove by and yelled my name out. I had to laugh that someone even recognized us because it really wasn’t a part of town that I frequented very often.  She called later and said I saw someone with furniture in a field taking pictures and thought it had to be Jill Johnson.

These days you don’t see many large families so it was so fun to be able to shoot this crowd.  Yes, they are all siblings ranging from 6 months up to middle school age.   Being the youngest of 6 myself it was great to see the different dynamics among the siblings and how each of their personalities came out during the shoot. We kept busy trying to keep their attention but it was a lot of fun.  One of my favorites is them walking on the hill.  It shows alot about a big family.  I love how the one boy is making faces at the baby, the other two are occupied with each other and big sister overseeing it all. You know this house if full of fun, laughter, and I”m guessing a few disputes once in a while.

Welcome baby Grace! What a fun day I had getting to know little Grace.  I’ve had the privilege of photographing her parents for their engagement, wedding, maternity, and now the beginning of their family.  She was a little doll and was fantastic for her session.  She cried at the very end but we worked her hard and she was so hungry and sleepy.  I just love it when they are this tiny.  It is so hard to believe how big they get.  I just love photographing the size comparisons of her feet with her parents and how precious her little head looks like in her daddy’s strong hands.  Moments like these just make me happy.

I love when I have a chance to go up to Sausalito.  The weather is almost always perfect and the views are amazing. There is something about seeing the skyline of San Francisco across the bay.  It is simply breathtaking.   One of the reasons I love visiting the town is one of my favorite jewelers is up there Sam from Sausalito Jewelry.  So, when Sam called me to come and photograph the newest addition to their family how could I pass it up?

I had a great afternoon getting to know Serene and her parents.  Serene was a doll and she did  well being the center of attention.    When photographing newborns I love the interaction between them and the parent.  Even if you only see a small portion of mom and dad.  There is just something special when you see a baby in her daddy’s arms or her tiny little finger wrapped around her mommy’s finger, or lips just tenderly touching her forehead.  On photos like this you can just feel the wonder and amazement a baby adds to your life.  Plus, it just reminds you how precious, innocent, and small they are when they come in to this world.  How can you not just want to squeeze her?