prose for portraits/ the nitafan family ~albuquerque, nm family photographer

meet the nitafan's.

i chose them during our prose for portraits contest back in february.

we've been waiting for the weather to warm up so they could enjoy a warm, sunny, outdoor shoot with their boys and awesome new dog, chloe.

the nitafan's have been through a really tough time these past couple of years.

two years ago, elaine's mother was diagnosed with terminal glioblastoma (brain cancer.) 

as they cared for her in their home during her last year of life, elaine's younger brother had a continued battle with alcoholism.

soon after elaine's mother passed away, she learned she was pregnant--which seemed to be a silver lining for her family.

a few months later, on the day that the nitafan's learned that their unborn child had died, they also got news that elaine's brother had died too.

how much pain can one person bare?

i just don't know.

they have been through such an intense grieving process these past two years, i knew they deserved a ray of sunshine--as small as it may be.

despite all of these hardships, this family is closer than ever. i wanted these pictures to represent the joy that they all are to each other.

God and family are the nitafan's loves. 

oh! and chloe! chloe is their newly adopted boxer.

she has become elaine's dear friend and has been instrumental in the family's healing.

we chose a park that allowed chloe to be a part of the fun, too.

this next picture has to be one of my new favorites. i love it. i love that each child is encompassed in an activity that they love and dad has the pitch stance. it's the perfect candidness.

this little guy is an award winning jump roper. he was too cute showing me his jump rope skills. with one missing tooth and one yellow tooth (from a fall) in that big smile---how can you not just love him!

the nitifan boys are also extremely talented in karate. i love this shot of them showing me a routine. (is it called a 'routine'?? i don't know...i'm karate lingo inept. sorry.)

and we ended with the boys rolling down the hill a few times.

perfect.

not only did i meet a beautiful, godly family....but i walked away with new friends.

elaine has to be the most friendly, kind, most gentle beauty i've ever met.

her hugs are beyond special.

i can't wait to grab a mojito, sister;)

XOXOXOXOXO

dylan/ class of 2010 ~albuquerque senior photographer

(*afterthought* Q: how do you know you are getting old? A: when you refer to teenagers as "kids". OH MY GOSH, i never thought this day would come. didn't I just graduate from high school yesterday?! apparently not.)

where do i begin about mr. dylan, here?
THIS GUY AMAZED ME.
from his phone call booking his shoot, all the way until i took the last photo--i was in awe of dylan's personality.
he's driven, kind, polite, well spoken, outgoing, charming, one of the best big brothers i've ever seen in action (i should know, i have one who is anything but...) and just an all round NICE GUY.

when we were talking about his shoot on the phone he said, "i have one request..."
me: "sure, what is it."
dylan: "well, i have a two year old brother who i just love to death. he is my world. i can't imagine taking senior pictures and not having some with him in them..."
me: "DONE!"

did you just melt? cause i did.
A TEEN WHO LOVES HIS SIBLING ENOUGH TO REQUEST HIM IN THE PICS???
really?!

dylan has 2 loves: his family, and baseball.

i want the recipe for raising such a great kid.
i'm holding dylan's pictures for randsom until his parents give it to me....




...and dylan was super stoked to wear these tie dye shirts that his mom and aunt make. aren't they cool? i thought they were PERFECT for these pics with his brother. fun and colorful, like these guys...

another great idea of dylan's was visiting his favorite barber shops downtown that he's been going to for several years. here's a few from ace barber shop .

baseball.

i told dylan, i am so selling these photos to the highest bidder when he becomes a famous baseball player. i'll start taking bids now. email me:)

XOXOXOXO

spencer/ class of 2010 ~albuquerque teen photographer

isn't 'spencer' the coolest girl name???
i love it.
i love that she even looks like a spencer.
what does a 'girl spencer' look like, you ask?
spunky, way cute, laid back, fun, and a little mischievous.
that's a girl spencer to me.

i loved meeting spence and her awesome dad--who is also the baseball coach at her high school.
what impressed me most about spencer was that at one point in her high school career, she went off the road a little...but was now back on track with great grades and ready to graduate in may.
that impresses me--and resonates with me--because that was ME in high school.
i really took a detour from the 'right way'--and it wasn't until after high school that i was able to get my act together. i know what it's like to have everyone in the family think you are doomed, but to somehow find the strength to make better choices and surprise them all.

at one point i heard her dad say, "i never thought we'd get here, buddy." and i almost cried.
i'm sure my dad has had that same thought from time to time.
the moral of the story is: 'naughty' teens can turn things around. it happens. don't give up hope, parents. and when they do get their act together--celebrate, just like these two....

fyi--this was all spencer's idea. "do you want me to stand on my car?" she asked.

response: HECK YES!!!!!

congratulations miss spencer.

can't wait to see where life takes you:)

XOXOXOXO

mia and the cherry tree ~albuquerque photographer

this is sweet mia again.
her mom is a huge fan of baby as art (so am i!) and sooooo badly wanted a picture of her cherished baby girl hanging from a cherry tree.
i was scared to even attempt it.
i consider myself a lifestyle photographer through and through and this isn't the kind of photography i know too much about-- but jayme has been a loyal, supportive client and so....after MUCH convincing on her part, i was game.

i have to say that i am THRILLED with the outcome.
these are going to look absolutely precious hanging in mia's beautiful, pink nursery.

jayme gets all the props for cutting down the branch, hot gluing the blossoms on, and dying her own cheese cloth the perfect color pink.
i was just lucky to be invited over with my camera.

magic.

p.s. and DAD, christian, gets major props for coming home from work to hold the cherry tree branch in mid air for these!!!

XOXO

american idol fans ~albuquerque photographer

this is how my boys set themselves up every tuesday and thursday night.
they are american idol fans to the core.
and as you can see, even the dog is one.
me? not so much.
but luckily i have a view of my favorite people-- watching their favorite people--as i work on my other favorite people (my clients) and their shoots.

xoxoxo

isn't she lovely ~albuquerque family photographer

when i grow up i wanna be as happy and as joyful as mia.
this baby is a dream.
she has to be one of the most easy going gals i've ever met.
she let me mess with her for hours the other day. HOURS.
you couldn't pay any of my kids to let me take their pictures for hours. no way.
so, like i said, she is a dream baby.

here she is in all her 6 month old glory, sitting up.
(and that is mama's dress from when SHE was 6 months old. perfect.)



now off to a whimsical little spot for some whimsical pics. this was so fun.

mia, you rock:)
XOXOXO