She knew what she wanted. She knew even before I walked through her front door. She told me which side was her best side, what she didn't like, and the "look" she wanted. Mind you, all of this was said even before I took my camera out.

We started in her back yard, which is absolutely beautiful and has great spots for great images as well as killer sweet light. Then we drove downtown and shot at this brick wall she wanted as a background and finally we ended up at the Mission Inn.

Lisa is one of the many reasons why I love doing what I do. Once we started getting in the zone, we just couldn't stop!

Lisa: You are so great! I had the best time capturing you, being you. Thanks for all the great laughs! You rock girl!

Grab a snack and relax because there are a ton of photos for this post!





This one is my ultimate favorite of the whole day:





and of course I had to get her jumping!
**and a very big thank you to Lisa's brother for being my assistant for the session :)

I met Liliana in my advanced photojournalism class last fall. We sat next to each other the whole semester getting to know one another better, after all, we did sit in a class once a week for two and half hours.

I found out that she lives in Temecula, which is only a 25 minute drive from my house. I learned that she came from Mexico when she was 10 years old and last semester graduated from college.

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of hanging out with her and her boyfriend of almost two years to do a shoot. We met in Old Town Temecula a couple hours before sunset, when the sweet light presents its magnificent self.

I had fun walking around and exploring and getting to know them better.

Okay, now the beautiful couple:



Don't you just love this sign pointing to them:






I love how they're laughing here:


Isn't that clock just perfect! I had to get some of them in front of it!



Liliana & Victor: Thank you for the fun and thanks for having me take your pictures. You two are too cute and I hope to go on a photo trip with you soon, call me girl!

Yep...I finally made it a point to go. I've been to the LA County fair plenty of times growing up, it was pretty much a family ritual a couple weeks before my birthday, and now, I can say I've gone to both :)

I went with my good friend Lizet and there we met up with a good friend of hers. We had a blast walking around and seeing all the cool things. I did snap a few pictures and so did she so here's a photo montage of us at the fair :)

"You'll never walk alone."

That was our motto. But it was more than just a motto, it was a way of life. It kept us going for the 10 hours a week we spent sweating at practice. It made us do our best at the football half time shows and it won us the 2003 regional championships my senior year. It made our 150 members strong and united. We were the Blue Star Regiment, my high school's marching band.

Lindy was a part of the dance team at my high school. For four years we practiced on the same field and competed together. Last Sunday was the first time I had seen Lindy since high school and it was a blast.

Lindy: thank you so much for giving me full creative control and reliving all those band memories; I had a great time.

This was their first family portrait session they have ever done. Talk about pressure!

I arrived exactly on time and even though it was 9 o'clock in the morning, the sun was beating down hard.

The park was beautiful and full of lush green grass along with beautiful pathways and a fountain...all of which were in the sun! So we found a bit of shade and began the process. I asked a million of questions and began capturing this wonderful family.

Vanessa, Tom, Mike, and Harry: I enjoyed every minute with you and had a good time capturing all of you as a family and I hope this isn't the first and last session we have!

When I think of high school and the people that I met, I always wonder where they are and what they're doing with their life now. It has been 5 1/2 years since we threw our caps into the sky as our valedictorian said the words "...class of 2003."

We didn't necessarily hang out in the same circles, but we knew each other. My high school graduating class was interconnected and every one knew every one, that is just how it was. No crazy fights, or shootouts, or anything super crazy; just a community of friends all intertwined.

Last Saturday, I had the great pleasure of shooting Analicia's daughter Presley. She is such an adorable 6 month old and has a personality all her own, even though she wears her mother's gorgeous blue eyes proudly. I also had the pleasure of talking and conversing with some one I was connected with all those years ago.

Thank you Analicia! I really had fun doing the shoot and Presley is just so cute!

Alright, alright, enough mambo jumbo...onward with the pictures!!!


See what I mean...those eyes!



She has many faces:


Sweet light and two beautiful woman equals:

A special thanks to Presley's grandma for helping us find cool spots and for helping me get Presley to look at the camera.

I photographed the cutest 6 month old today! I couldn't wait any longer so I just had to post a sneak peek!

More to come later!

Lately, I've been posting a lot about my sister and my family in general. I am close to my sister, extremely close. We share because we want to. It's very much like that quote you see on picture frames in the frame aisle at Target:

"sister's by chance, friends by choice"

We share our dreams, no matter how big or outlandish or strange, we never prejudge each other. We're honest and up front with each other. In each other's faces. And we like it that way.

So when she told me that she wanted to push her make up & hair styling business forward, I offered to work on her business card designs. She wanted something that was very her. Something that she would be proud to hand out and feel like it was an extension of her self.

After four or five very different designs, we finally reached one that is truly her and she received a box of 1000 cards last week.

Here are the cards with the final design. Sister, you rock! I hope that people call you like crazy and I know you're just going to be super!!!

Oh! Don't forget to visit her blog, In Your Face Beauty. She does make up & hair for weddings and other events.

Now that I have show cased my ever so talented mother, I have the pleasure of showcasing my equally talented sister.

She is a make up artist and hair stylist. She does many a weddings every year and is just a pleasure to have on your wedding day. Not only because she does a fabulous job but because she is just so darn funny! She is funny, wise, kind, and will make you look and feel your very best on your very big day.

I don't say this because she is my sister, I say this because she really and truly is a great pleasure to be around. So if you are in need of a great person to be there on your wedding day, why not have it be your make up artist?

Anyway, we were able to have sister time last Saturday that somehow got transformed into a make up & hair session. We had so much fun and the look was just fabulous!

Here are the pictures I snagged from her blog ;)

As many of you might know already, my family is pretty talented. We are a mixture of creatives just waiting to make a debut.

My sister is an awesome, awesome, make up artist and hair dresser. My aunt is a fabulous cake and pastry chef. My dad is a great contractor and designer. I am a photographer. And then there is one person that just surpasses the definition of creative, and she would be my mother.

No matter where we go or what we're doing, her mind keeps spinning its creative wheels. Her house is decorated, painted, and arranged just how she envisioned it. So when she decided to get into floral design, we all knew she would just shine.

My mother, Sara, is the sweetest person you can meet. She is a sensational floral designer and last weekend I was able to shoot two bouquets she made for her portfolio.

If you'd like to contact my mother, shoot her an email at srhrys@yahoo.com


Here is a more traditional bouquet that was absolutely beautiful:

With a little bling for the bride:


A more colorful and fun bouquet:



Mom you are soooo talented and I'm glad that I was able to shoot these two beautiful designs for you!!!