F. Family :: Homecoming

3/1 had multiple homecomings this week at Camp Pendleton, so I have many homecoming photos to share in the next few days. I was privileged to be present very late on Friday night when this returning Marine met his daughter, Fallon, for the first time.

Welcome home, SSgt. F! Thank you for your service.

Amy & Casey :: Family Shoot

A few weeks ago, I met up with Amy & her husband Casey, in Encinitas for a mini-shoot at sunset. Amy is a close friend of mine, and her husband Casey is currently deployed to Afghanistan for 13 months. He was able to come home for 2 weeks of R&R, and we wanted to get at least a few photos of them together during that time.

Here's a few of my favorites from their sunset shoot on the beach. They were just so happy to be together that it made my job easy :)









Casey, it was so good to meet you after hearing so much about you! Looking forward to your homecoming in a few months, and I hope the time flies for you both until then.

Baby Scarlett :: Newborn Shoot

Here's a sneak peek from baby Scarlett's shoot this morning! She was amazing and barely cried once the whole session.

Unfortunately, the southern Cali weather Gods did not decide to give us much light to work with, but we made do. Hopefully the sun will decide to come out here sometime soon!

How adorable is she?!

Tara & Corey :: Homecoming

Earlier this week, I met Tara on base at 2 AM to help welcome home her husband, Corey. I was pretty excited for this homecoming, because I shot their maternity session last December, before he deployed. Luckily, everything worked out well with timing and Corey was able to meet baby Trenton before he left - but Trenton still grew quite a bit in the past 7 months :)

Here's a few of my favorites from that night.













Welcome home, Corey! Enjoy the time with your family :)

Brandon & Alli :: Maternity Shoot

Last weekend, I spent an evening with Brandon and Alli up in San Clemente for their maternity session. They were such an amazing couple to work with, and were super comfortable in front of the camera.

Here's a few of my favorites.

















Brandon & Alli, it was great to meet you both! Good luck with the new arrival next month :)

Jake & Michelle :: Homecoming

Earlier this week, I shot Jake's homecoming with CLB-5's Advon party. Jake would have been meeting his son, Caiden, for the first time - except that he came home on emergency leave only a few weeks into this deployment after Caiden was born with serious complications. Michelle is a strong and amazing wife & mother, and I can only imagine how hard that must have been to say goodbye again after everything. I am so happy that your family is back together again!

Here are a few of my favorites from their homecoming.

She's got him!
















Welcome home, Jake!

The R. Family :: Family Shoot

I had the opportunity to meet up with the R. family (Michael, Jennifer, and their daughter Kaylee) on the beach a few weeks ago. Like many of the other families I am photographing right now, Michael will be deploying shortly. This is such a special and important time to get those memories documented before they are apart for an extended period of time. I can speak from firsthand experience that it is definitely comforting to have photos of happy time all around your house.

You can also see a few more photos on my Facebook.

Kaylee was just adorable, and so accommodating of having the camera in her face :)





Love this one.





"Surprise!!"




Michael and Jennifer, it was great to meet you both. Hope the time apart passes quickly for you, and stay safe, Michael!

Mark & Christie :: Engagement Shoot

Last weekend I met up with Mark and his fiancee Christie down in Point Loma. Despite some pretty high winds, we managed to get some pictures that didn't look like the couple was going to blow away ;) I had previously visited the lighthouse in Point Loma on my husband's post-deployment leave last year, and it was great to get back there and have a fresh place to shoot.

Here's a few of my favorites.





Mark is in the Navy, and Christie is a nurse - so this was one of the specific images they wanted at the statue in San Diego.







Thanks, Mark & Christie! Congrats again on your engagement, and I hope the wedding planning goes well!

Mike & Heather :: Homecoming

Tuesday the 21 of September was the day Mike and Heather had been waiting for for almost 7 months - they were finally reunited after Mike's first deployment to Afghanistan.

This homecoming was even more special than normal for me, because Heather has been one of my closest friends throughout this deployment. I met her literally the day after my husband deployed the first week of March, and countless dinner dates, bottles of wine, tears, and laughs later, we finally got through this deployment (well, I'm almost there!).

Here's a few of my favorites - and of course you can see more on my Facebook.

It seemed like they were in formation forever, and as hard as Heather tried, she couldn't find Mike in the sea of Marines.



First hugs!











Welcome home, Mike! I am so happy that you & Heather are back together again.

The S. Family :: Family Shoot

I met up with the S. Family last weekend in Del Mar for a portrait session. I have to say - I don't have kids yet - but if my husband and I do end up having kids, I would love it if the child is just like Jessica and Jon's 12-week old baby, Samantha. She was so easy-going, and didn't cry until sunset, 2 hours after we met.

They also brought along their lab mix, Becky, who was a pleasure to work with as well.

Here's a few of my favorites from their shoot!











Thanks, Jessica and Jon! It was great to meet you both.