Summer’s not quite over, but the holidays are already approaching! Labor Day marks 114 days of shopping left until Christmas, and you can bet you’ll be seeing holiday displays popping up soon.

Cross one big to-do item off your list in September or October- your holiday cards! Send personalized portrait greeting cards to friends and family. Available in flat postcard or folded designs, these press printed cards are sure to make an impression.

Holiday sessions focus on capturing your family’s personality and run 45-60 minutes in length. Within two weeks of your session, you will be shown 10-12 images from which to choose.

Book your holiday session for September for $495 and receive:
(1) 11×14 mounted gallery print
(2) 8×10 gift prints
(16) Wallets (same image as the 11×14)
(24) Custom designed press printed flat holiday cards or (1) digital file

Or book for October for $750 and get the above, plus a full set of proofs in a keepsake box.

All print orders over $500 will also receive a 5×7 accordion album ($350 value).

Dates to Remember
Holiday sessions should take place on or before Monday, November 10 for guaranteed holiday ordering. Sessions scheduled after this date are not guaranteed for holiday delivery, although every effort will be made to get your order delivered prior to the holidays.

Print orders must be placed and paid for in full by Wednesday, November 26 for guaranteed holiday delivery. Custom products such as canvases, coffee table books, and session albums must be ordered by Monday, November 10 for guaranteed holiday delivery.

Session availability is limited and weekend sessions book quickly, so be sure to reserve your preferred holiday session date and time soon!

My heart is breaking for the Dexter family. Their daughter Makayla, 18 months old, was recently diagnosed with brain tumors.

In high school, I volunteered at the Loma Linda Children’s hospital in the cancer ward playroom. It was a powerful experience to spend time with toddlers and young children fighting this difficult battle. I remember the first day I learned of a patient passing away- she was a little girl not much younger than Makayla. A toddler full of enthusiasm despite the constant pain and suffering.

Now that I have my own children, stories like this cut even deeper. I cannot imagine what her parents are going through right now. My thoughts and prayers are with her family as I hold my children a bit tighter.

To help raise funds for her family, and to honor the special bond between a mother and child, I am offering a limited number of Madonna mother & baby portrait sessions. This will be a session for you and your baby, age 12 months or younger. $300 includes the session fee and 3 8×10 mounted portraits of your choice. Your session can be held at your home or on location at the beach or park, and you will be shown approximately 12 proofs to choose from. 10% of the package and 25% of additional prints purchased will be donated to the Dexter family.

Makayla in June, photographed by a family friend. Image used with permission.

<b>Update 8/13:</b> I have just learned that Makayla passed away today. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.

This gorgeous couple has been married 7 years and their love keeps growing. In a few short weeks they’ll be welcoming their first child.

Baby girl’s nursery is a soft, pretty shade of lavender.

Despite the heat, M was glowing and looked so comfortable and relaxed.

Special thanks to my friend and fellow photographer Anne for inviting me along to assist at this session, and many thanks to M and K for being such good sports and having a wonderful sense of humor!

This handsome little guy came over to celebrate his first birthday with a Tiny Moments session. He started walking early, so we had to find lots of fun things to keep him entertained. These vintage blocks held his interest for a little while.

His family loves his “stinkface” and wanted me to capture it. He had the best expressions!

Lastly, what’s a birthday without the cake? He had more fun fingerpainting (and footprinting!) than eating it.

Happy birthday, little man C!

Our new prop arrived today! Lucky for me, I had not one but two willing models to test it out. My oldest is enthralled with heroes and fascinated by fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars. We pretend to put out fires and rescue people all day long. We work as a team- as he says, “Teamwork FOREVER!”

This sweet little one is the younger sister of one of my first newborn clients, so I could hardly wait for her Tiny Moments session. She looks just like her sister!

Poor Dad is really in for it, with two little girls who can pout like this:

She was happiest in mama’s arms:

Thanks again, G family, for sharing sweet baby A with me!

When I first saw this location, I knew I’d have to bring my boys back in overalls. This image was created for a contest entry. I’m a member of several online photography communities, and one of them held a theme competition requiring a child, a cupcake, and a gardening tool.

Of course, his favorite part was getting to eat the cupcakes afterward!

I drove all over the island looking for the shave ice cups for the “flowers”. Nobody on the Windward side has them! I ended up at CJ’s Shave Ice in Kalihi. Sometimes when I try to explain my photo ideas to people I get the feeling they must think I’m crazy, but thankfully the kind folks at CJ’s not only patiently explained their location five time over the phone (I really did drive right past them about five times!) but also sold me a colorful assortment of plastic shave ice cups. I think I’m going to have to rent one of their shave ice machines to use up the other 47 cups, though!

When you’re pregnant, you don’t always feel your best, and you’re a bit suspicious when people tell you how much you’re glowing and how fabulous you look.

Well, I can definitely say that Lisa shouldn’t have those worries! She is absolutely stunning, with a perfect round belly:

These two are among my favorite maternity images I’ve shot:

This session was a collaboration between myself and two other photographers, and we kept the ideas coming. Lisa was so good natured about all our crazy ideas! Here we had her sitting on an abandoned dryer by the side of the road, and posing with a motorcycle (not hers!) we spotted in the parking lot.

Lisa, thanks again for modeling. I can’t wait to meet your little one in the next month!

These two cuties were so much fun! I spent a couple hours at their house playing with them and wow, did I need a nap afterward.

A is full of curiosity and mischief. He loves to bang things and play the piano with his feet- how’s that for a talent?

W is a happy, smiley little guy who enjoys rocking out to music.

Getting them together for a photo or two was no easy task. I showed up just in time- Mr. A started crawling the day after our session! Even so, all my dancing and singing and general silliness was a bit beneath Mr. A’s sophisticated sense of humor. I’m grateful for his - and his brother’s - patience with me!

Thank you, G family, for sharing your wonderful boys with me. I don’t think they could possibly be any cuter!