How I have neglected you! I know I've waivered a bit from blogging this month but June will be a whole new story! I have some exciting shoots coming up and can not wait to share!

This month has been a little crazy because I graduate in 5 days. WHOO HOO!!!! I have waited 6 years for this day and finally, it has come. I could have done with out the dorky cap and gown which are too big for me but I will be proud to wear it on Sunday.

And a lil' shout out to all the graduates, high school and collegic: WE ARE OUTTA HERE!!!

Oh and this post would definitely not be the same if I didn't include my dorky cap and gown portrait.


Happy Wednesday!

This past Thursday I had the great pleasure of having my cousin and her boyfriend model for me. I need to turn in 10 images for my final studio project and we were instructed to shoot what we felt was the direction we wanted to go in photography, at least in studio anyway.

I like shooting people, bringing something out that may just be waiting to break out. Something that is only signature of that person, something uniquely them. I like to bring the Tyra out of them! Well, let me tell you...there are sooo many more great shots of these two but I had to narrow it down.

Thanks Yessenia and Charlon for being great models. And thank you to all of my models from this semester!

Today's sneak peek is Rayhanah. Soon to be a graduate of Cal State Fullerton! Congrats girl!

I'm short on words as I have been keeping busy with studying for the final two weeks of school left! And a quick shout out to all the graduates!!!

Sundays are always great. Especially during the Spring when birds are chirping and the sun is just bright enough to sit out on the porch and drink a lemonade. I love this weather.

And because I love Sundays, I have a nice sneak peek for this beautiful day. Hope you enjoy and there are definitely more to come!

Okay time to catch up. This post is going to be quite long since I had the fortunate luck to have three wonderful ladies model for me in the same week. All three of which worked it and made Tyra proud!

Both were for the assignment to shoot a subject full length, from head to toe in a studio setting. All I gotta say is that good music and models who just have it go a long way and make for the best photos.

For these below, my wonderful sister was able to come out with me and do the make up. She did a fantastic job on Santia and Nea (sisters!)





And here is beautiful Linda who was patient with me as I tried out a lighting set up I had seen once.




Also, stay tuned for tomorrow for I have more goodies to post!!!

My studio class keeps surprising me. I will be honest, at first I thought this class was going to be nothing but still-lifes and boring, even lighting. Oh, I was so wrong! This weeks assignment was to shoot a model in the head shot format with two different types of lighting. The lighting set ups were high key, mid key, and low key lighting and we are to choose two of the three kinds of lighting set ups.

I am really excited because up until now we have only been using the steady model lights and with this assignment, we were told to actually fire the strobes. My very reliable model, Andrea, who is also a good friend of mine, decided to help me out by giving me her America's Next Top Model looks and fierceness!

Here are the best shots we got out of our 1 hour session in the studio.



This one here is low key lighting...which I think came out pretty neat.

Kids grow up so quickly it is unbelievable! My neighbor, Leslie, who has been a family friend since she was two came over yesterday to hang with us. She is going to be 8 this year and she is growing up right before my eyes!

In lieu of this growth spurt I decided to take a few photos of her at this wonderful age of exploration. She is quite the stylist as well ;).

Here are my faves :). Have a great Tuesday!

I can't believe I completely forgot to update you all on my midterm project for my Comm 321 studio class!

Well, since the studio is at CSUF and I live in Riverside, I decided to make myself a light tent a few weeks ago out of cardboard and fabric and two reflector lights.

The Assignment:
Create a series of 5 images that have 5 different objects that all relate to each other in some way. Objects must be lit with studio lights and have different light set ups.

My Images:


I enhanced the color saturation in camera for this one:




This image below didn't come out as I had hoped. I wanted something more dramatic and eerie.

*All of the fruit and eggs except for the orange were fake.

It was a tough critique because there were so many other projects that were executed just amazingly! Some played on the idea of color, other played with the idea of different states of a particular object, others tried to convey a meaning or story, and others played with light.

When Judy called me and told me that she was pregnant back in 2007, I couldn't believe that with in 9 months, Sabbastin would forever change her life and by extension, my life as well.

Judy and I have been friends for 4 years and even though she lives in Las Vegas we write letters to each other and send pictures through out camera phones. We keep each other updated to the "T" and try to be there for each other. The last time I saw Sabbastin was for his baptism over 9 months ago. He walks now and has grown so much!

I was very lucky to be able to photograph his first birthday party last Sunday. That little guy is amazing and I am sure he will continue to amaze me because I know that Judy and I will always be friends.

Here are a few of my favorites of the birthday boy and just a quick sneak peek for my best friend Judy. I hope you like the photos girl!







Judy and Sabbastin

It is not very often that I get to shoot little ones where they are the main star. These past few weeks I've had the pleasure of photographing a newborn that is in every way special, both because she is now a bright and beautiful human being who will with out a doubt make a difference in this world and, because she is my cousin's daughter.

Daisy & Jesus, thank you for allowing me to photograph your first baby girl!