KELLEELASER / photographer

Head Shots for Laguna Beach cutie patootie...

This cutie patootie is gearing back up for Hollywood and needed some updated head shots... "C" is an only child... and would love siblings :) so I brought my kiddos along for the shoot.  They got along great and were running all over the place... which is my favorite kind of setting.

Here are a few favorites...

 

 

 

I told Zoe to get in there... get close... she would have nothing to do with it (she does look a little smitten though doesn't she :)

And of course... I had to take a few of her...

(I'm hoping "ROXY" will call and want her to do some print work :) I think she looks like a ROXY girl :)

 

Gray jumped in a few shots with "C"... I will post some of those tomorrow... the goofing off ones of all the kiddos :)

 

And for all of my workshop attendees (past and upcoming)... this is what amazing soft evening light looks like... LOOOOOOOOOOOVE IT!!!

And this is how our day on the west coast ended... gorgeous...

Good night... more coming tomorrow :)
 
 

 
 
 
 

Laguna Beach Photographer / North Carolina Family...

Love, love, love this family...

They come out to Los Angeles every couple of months and the last time they were here... I introduced them to Laguna.  They loved it...

Here are a few favorites from yesterday's session... this little one is just darling...

 

 

Thanks so much "C" family... it was such a treat to see you guys... :)
 
 
 
 
  

Santa Monica Photographer / Ohio Family / Happy New Year...

I didn't have the words yesterday to write anything.   It was an emotional day.  I think the culmination of this year's events finally hit me.  I spoke with someone who knows me better than anyone at 12:13 a.m. last nite EST... and we talked about the conversation we had last New Year's Eve... wherein last year at 12:13 a.m. I confided in her that I wanted to change my life... change my situation.  It was a scary resolution for in order to do so... I knew I'd have to walk through fire.  And indeed... this year I did.  I've thought many times about writing specifically what occurred judiciously (and if you were to read transcripts and rulings... your jaw would drop).  Ultimately... having my kiddos here with me... I feel as though I prevailed... but the things I had to give up and agree to... really would surprise you.  Now that it is a couple of months later, I feel only indifference to those events and people involved in last year's fire.  I'd like to forget about all that happened in 2009.. but I know that in order to move with the momentum needed... I do have to remember everything and learn from it.  

I woke up this morning feeling stronger... I ran 5 miles... fast... faster than I should have physically been able to as I haven't worked out since my abrupt move in July.  Between August and October... I weighed less than 100 lbs... and really had no desire or will to push my body.  During the month of September... just putting one foot in front of the other took an incredible amount of effort... and me being a bit ADD :)... that was unusual for me.  This morning though, I printed out my Triathlon training sheets from last year (designed by Joe Marino from the St. James Club... this guy will kick your tooshie)... and started my first workout.  I'm hurting now... but it felt good this morning. 

Professionally... well... my files are now backed up not once... but twice (feeling a huge sigh of relief)... thank you DAD :).  My Outlook is almost updated for this year.  Obviously I am anxious to build a successful business here in California... but I am happy to have an excuse and travel back to photograph people that make me so happy.  I've said it a million times... I HAVE THE BEST CLIENTS.  I love that they email me throughout the year and share their stories with me.  I believe it helps me photograph their kiddos/family better... knowing about them and what they are experiencing during the year.  One of my clients emailed me yesterday saying that she had lost her mom a month ago.  I just wanted to get in the car and drive to her house and give her a hug... I am terribly homesick for Toledo and the people.  It's not the same here... and time won't change that.  UGGGGH... knot in throat again thinking about it...

Yesterday in the morning... I drove up to Santa Monica to photograph this family... They are from Ohio... HUGE OHIO STATE FANS here to watch the Rose Bowl.  I had to park about a half mile away and as I was walking towards the pier... I saw a sea of red shirts... ALL OHIOANS :)  It made me feel better... I wanted to scream out... "I'm from Ohio too"... and I really feel that way... so much more an Ohioan than a Californian.

In any event... this year I want to produce more pictures like the one above (and below)... a new all time favorite image... (this is the same dad you see larger than life at the desk at Sunforest OB/GYN)... Miss "S"... just a newbie the last time I photographed her is now 9 months old.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS PICTURE :)

This family is so incredibly laid back... LOVE IT... they just let me do my thing...

Here are few more favorites from yesterday...

This little one wasn't feeling 100%... but she is just beautiful... :)

And this little guy (who absolutely dotes on his baby sister)... I could photograph him all day...

Thanks so much "H" family... it was such a treat to be able to photograph you guys out here... as well as see familiar faces :)
   
 
 

Thank you "J"...

One of my favorite clients did a HUGE favor for me right before I moved... no questions asked.  Fortunately I was able to take her kiddos' pictures in November (always SO MUCH FUN) to thank her.  A couple of days ago... out of nowhere... I received this note from her.  It brought tears to my eyes. 

"I know you said not to do anything for you... but I wanted to do something and thought this was a special way to honor you.  Since my favorite National Park is in California where you are (YOSEMITE) and since photographing outdoors at awesome places like that is what you do... I thought it was a good fit.  I'm not sure if you and your kiddos venture to the National Parks at all, but regardless, to me, your name and work are synonymous with the beauty of nature and family.  All of our best to you for health, family and new beginnings in 2010..." 

She made a donation in my name to the National Park Foundation.  Funny thing is... I plan on taking my kiddos to Yosemite this summer (and hopefully the Grand Canyon as well).  "J"... you are the best.  Thank you, thank you, thank you...

Celebrating MY NEW DIGITS with THE NEW YEAR MINI :)

It's official... I have a new California number (no worries... I still have my Ohio number as well).

To celebrate... I am extending THE HOLIDAY MINI through the month of January... and I'm calling it THE NEW YEAR MINI :) :) :) (this includes the Los Angeles area as well)

I am so excited about 2010...

THE NEW CALIFORNIA DIGITS... (DRUM ROLL PLEASE)... :) 

949.444.4534

Thought I would end this post with this picture... What is it you ask?  Oh... just a coyote running by... just down the street from my house. This little guy jumped a 6 foot fence right in front of us into my neighbors' stable... and ran right by the horses.  (This is why you can't leave small dogs or cats in your backyard).  I was on my way to the "generation" luncheon... and took this while driving.  Unfortunately I only had my wide angle.  Wish I would had my zoom. 

 

 

Christmas 2009

Someone (who is special in my life) saw the b/w picture below with my mom, sister, niece and Zoe and said I looked peaceful... and I have to say... despite the last few months... I am.  It was wonderful being home for Christmas (I think Gray was just 8 months old the last time we came for Christmas).  My family is BIG on tradition... I love their decorations... I love Christmas morning, Christmas breakfast...  My mom's best friend does a big Christmas Eve every year (although she had to switch nights this year... and did it the day before Christmas Eve).  She hires a Santa Clause for all of the kkiddos... and childhood friends of mine and my sister are there... girls that we played with growing up.  My parents and their best friends are there as well. 

If you follow my blog... you know I rarely, rarely post pictures of me... but I decided when I turned 40 that I was going to try and post more (I am terribly phobic of getting my picture taken... you'll find me clenching my hands in every picture... not even aware I was doing so until now :)

Here is the goofy family picture with Santa :)  Me on the right (deer in headlights look :)

UGGHHHH... gastly of me... but I'm dealing with it :)

This year my mom and her two best friends (best friends now for almost 40 years :) decided it would be fun to have a "generational" lunch with all of the daughters and granddaughters.

Here are the "three old broads" (I don't call them this... this is how they refer to themselves :)

My mom is in the middle... :)  Karen lived around the corner from us growing up (we grew up in Valencia... just north of Los Angeles)... and Deedee (on the right)... lived almost directly across the street.  My family moved away to Orange County in 1980... After Karen and Deedee's kiddos went off to college, they moved within walking distance of my parent's house again... VERY COOL.  

Here are some pictures from the luncheon...

The little girls provided entertainment throughout lunch... :)

And of course... they all have attitude :)

Here is a picture of my niece (who is going off to college next year YIKES... it seems like yesterday that I held her... just minutes old) and Zoe... love these two pictures (can you tell that Zoe idolizes her cousin :)

Here are all the girls in my family...

And finally... all of us... 3 generations... VERY COOL...

Yup... fist clenched AGAIN...

More coming :)
 
 
 
 

 
  

 
 

San Clemente Photographer / The "R" Family...

Meet the "R" family... and their cousins...

I've known hubby Jack since I was 22 years old (YIKES)... we were even "roomies" for about 6 months one year.  He watched over me when I was young and stupid... pretty much the big brother I never had and always wanted :)

Then, one year he sent me a Christmas card with his beautiful (and VERY TALENTED) new wife... same name as me :)  I first received a Christmas card with Kelly, Jack and their adorable puppy named "Puppy Love" (is that not the greatest name for a dog)... and after a year or so, I received a Christmas card with their first born... and then their second born... and we've stayed in touch via email and Christmas cards ever since.

I finally got to meet Kelly in person this summer after I moved back to California.  She is an AMAZING singer ... and I've gone to see her sing on several occasions.

Well, today I finally got to photograph her kiddos... and her kiddos' cousins.  SO MUCH FUN...

Here are just a few favorites from our beach session today :)

This of course was my all time favorite from the session... :)

 

and here are a few of the cousins...

Thanks guys... Happy Holidays :)
 
  

Maddox's Holiday Program...

The entire Kindergarten class (all 64 kiddos)... partook in a holiday program yesterday.  It was adorable... and truly the teachers that organized this on such short notice really did an amazing job... going above and beyond the typical singing 10 holiday songs.  They split the kiddos up into groups of 6 to 8... and each group took their turn going up on stage... all dressed in different costumes. Some danced, some sang... A. D. O. R. A. B. L. E.  And all 120 parents crammed into the tiny amphitheatre would agree.  I hung in the back standing with my BIG LENS (70-200mm 2.8) and took my pictures.  

Here are just a few from the program.

I saw Maddox looking for me in the crowd.  

He knew the crazy lady in the back... jumping up and down waving was his mom... He kept his cool :)

Here is my little man on stage... I just love this kind of stuff :)

I'm not quite sure how Zoe got out of class (they attend the same school this year)... but suddenly I saw her across the room... she avoided the crazy lady in the back jumping up and down waving to her :)

But after the program was over... she made her way over to her brother... and told him how proud she was of him...

The drama that took place the day before this program... well, it went like this...

Maddox came home on Tuesday and said,

"Mom... I need to have a holiday shirt tomorrow."  

Hmmmm... holiday shirt? 

I said to him, "holiday sweater?"

"No mom... I need a holiday shirt... with a reindeer on it.  Sweaters make me sweaty."  (and I had to agree... 60 degree weather is not condusive for sweaters)

Hmmm... so we jumped in the car... and walked the entire mall... and let me tell you... THERE ARE NO HOLIDAY SHIRTS... they didn't make them this year... at least not for 6 year old boys.    

Sooooo... what to do, what to do...

I scanned a Paul Frank monkey to a piece of blank paper.  Then I drew reindeer antlers on the monkey... and then scanned the entire thing again onto the one last piece of iron-on transfer paper I had left in my craft box.  And then I cut the whole thing out carefully... and ironed that monkey / reindeer onto an old grey t-shirt...

And this is what we got...

wa-la... a monkey/reindeer holiday shirt that didn't make him sweaty... :)

He was happy... and that is all that matters :)
 
 
 
 
 

KK girls... growing up as well...

I take this shot/pose every year of KK... I can't help it... her eyes are something else :)  I think it's because she looked at me this very way when she was 3 years old and didn't know me, and asked if she could come over to my house :)

And here is little sister "K"... who was just 18 months when I met her.  She would cry at the screen door when I picked up her big sister for playdates. 

And while I'm at it... here is TK... the BIG BROTHER... ugggh... I barely recognized him :)

 

Everybody just needs to STOP GROWING UP :)
 
 

Christmas card pictures...

It's that time of year again... ordering Christmas cards... and the big step before that... TAKING THE PERFECT PICTURE to put on it.

In my GIRLS ONLY WORKSHOP... I talk about taking "sibling shots".  Don't get frustrated... let your kiddos wear what they want... let them "pose" the way they want to... if they want to bring props (like their favorite toy, blankie)... let them!!!.  MOST OF ALL THOUGH... DON'T GET SOME PRECONCEIVED NOTION ABOUT WHAT YOUR PICTURE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE BEFORE YOU TAKE IT :)

Well, I can't say that I follow all of those rules with my own kiddos :)  (and I am sure the neighbors heard me raise my voice a few times :)  I envisioned my card looking something like what my clients have been sending me.  Gray also had something completely different in mind... like being under Zoe's legs (ugggh)... which didn't suit Maddox... he wanted to be under there as well :)  Zoe was just happy to wear a sparklie hat and her black and white striped socks :)

Here are two more that didn't make the card...

 

I'm off to make dinner (or maybe I'll just order in... I'm exhausted :)