Julia & Javier: java chip latte kind of love.

Javier had a sparkle in his eye when I asked him how he met Julia. “When I first saw her, I was walking by, and I had to stop. I went back. I asked, Who is SHE?”

Javier met Julia on a construction sight job where she works. Julia said that she vividly remembers Javier’s obnoxious flattery when they first met. Knowing that Julia was special, he kept asking her out, and wanted to get to know her more. But, it was Julia’s love of horses that granted Javier to gallop into her heart.

My favorite part about this story is that love can show up at the most unexpected places. For me, it was in front of a big lots while wearing my Ampm uniform. For them, their chemistry and passion for each other is as steamy as a Java chip latte.

THE REDMOND FAMILY— freezing moments in Coloma.

This weekend I had a chance to hang out with my family, and I found myself reflecting on the concept of time more than ever before. I’ve become painfully aware of how fast time is going in my life, and I’m trying to do my best to cherish each minute I have with the people that I love. But even minutes feel exhausting. When you think about it, when children are at a really young age it’s different than it is when they’re 18. They’re obviously a completely different person at that point! So, in a sense, 18 years is really only ten years of being with that person. I wish time would SLOW DOWN, you know?

But luckily for me, I have a superpower— I have the ability to freeze time. Haley and Caleb’s season has just begun with their sweet toddler crew, and their newest addition to the family, Wilder. Sometimes it feels like the minutes and days last FOREVER when you’re a new parent, but the weeks and months are FLYING by. I was so excited when Haley reached out to me about doing their family photos because she wanted to freeze time while Wilder is still in his “first season” of life. Haley said that her kids really give her purpose in life; they make her look at the world differently.

Haley and Caleb just got engaged. Caleb took her on a fun day out in the forest off-roading. Caleb had the perfect spot picked out to propose to her, but she got tired earlier than he expected and wanted to turn around. But Caleb didn’t give up. He proposed to her right then, not wanting to waste another second. This just goes to show that this family values time so much, and they don’t want to see another second slip away.

Haley and Caleb, thank you so much for trusting me to photograph your family’s season in life! It was such an honor freezing time for you guys, and I hope you love your images as much as I do!

Location: Coloma at North Beach

Danny Oliver foundation: disturbance in the force.

In the span of a single moment, a hero can be brought down— leaving a heavy flood of pain for his or her family and loved ones.

In a single moment, it feels like the villains in the world can win—and sometimes, it feels that the world moves on too easily, despite how heavy it really is.

But this doesn’t have to be true.

“It’s not how these officers died that made them heroes— it is how they lived”

On Friday, October 24th, 2014, our community lost a hero named Danny Oliver. Oliver was a deputy sheriff who was shot while investigating a suspicious vehicle in the Arden area. One of the subjects was arrested on sight, while the other was arrested several hours later after barricading himself inside a nearby home.

The life of Oliver has lived on all because of his wife and his two amazing daughters. This family created a foundation specifically to bridge the gap in our community and the grief of lost law enforcement families.

The Danny Olivier foundation proudly creates free events to bring the community together, and remind everyone of our lost heroes. They do raise money for scholarships specifically for students that emulate the characteristics of Danny Oliver, and other lost law enforcement that our community is looked up to and respects.

The latest event showcased, “lightsaber training” with Ray from StarWars. She began pleading that every Jedi in training must use the teachings for self-defense and knowledge only. After she taught the young Jedi masters some great moves, there was a disturbance in the force, as Darth Vader made an appearance. Every young Jedi got the chance to fight him off using their sweet new light saber training.

I love this so much because it is so relevant as our sherrif’s and CHP get more involved in training and education. Hopefully, with more support, we can prevent any more heroes from falling. I feel like I should add that even with all of the training in the world, it will never be these heroes’ fault.

A special shoutout to frontlinefirst.org, www.star6.org, fairytale town, and the CHP for showing their support!

If you want more information about this foundation, and want to get involved please check out https://dannyoliverfoundation.org/ for information!

Flattering your body to love the way you feel!

One time I had a really important job interview, and I really felt the pressure of wanting it to go well. I studied really hard for the potential question. I went shopping for clothing to hopefully impress them. I even brought a friend along to help me try on outfits. But, you can only go through so many clothing racks of expensive blazers, before you realize how ugly and expensive everything is. I was feeling pretty exhausted from all of the running around.

But that’s when my friend said something that changed everything for me. She grabbed me, kind of shook me a little and said: “Willow, it’s not about the clothes. It’s about YOU. Just go in there, show them how bubbly and classy you are, just by being it.”

I didn’t get the job.

But, I still remember what my friend said because I realize how common it is for wanting things to go well. I know I’m not the only one who spends some extra money just to feel like everything will suck if not! There’s nothing wrong with it— clothes do have a way of symbolizing class and can give us confidence.

I think the trick is to love the way you look in such a way that you love the way you feel. That’s why I’m very strategic in my style guide. I coach my clients on how to look their best so that they feel their best. But my true goal is that they will only notice is how happy they look in their photos!

In my experience, every woman (regardless of her size or shape) has an area of her body that she’s self conscious about. Recognizing the areas you’re self conscious about when selecting your outfits is key. Choosing flattering silhouettes and colors that complement your natural features is the best way to ensure you’ll love the way you look in your photos. Three-quarter length sleeves create an awesome slimming effect on all arms, so be on the lookout for an option with a longer length sleeve. If your dress has shorter sleeves (or no sleeves) consider bringing a cute jacket, blazer, cardigan or pashmina to incorporate into your look. Skinny straps or strapless dresses have the opposite effect on arms on camera. For most women, skinny straps actually make arms look BIGGER. So I recommend avoiding those whenever possible if your goal is slimmer-looking arms. If it’s colder outside, I suggest bringing a warm coat (the longer, the better!) to wear when we’re not shooting so you don’t freeze in your dress.

For shoes, keep in mind that heels elongate women’s legs and force constant tension in the calves –– which makes them look more toned. Closed-toed heels, in particular, look great on camera because they carry out the line of your leg all the way down to your toe. You can never go wrong with a pair of neutral pumps! If your toes are showing in a peep-toe heel, you might want to schedule a pedicure before your session so you don’t regret letting your toes show. If your shoes don’t show at all in the dress you’ve selected, you could always choose neutral ballet flats to make your session more comfortable. Lastly, make sure to bring a pair of flats/flip flops to wear when moving from place to place. Your feet will thank you later!

Make a statement:

Pairing an accessory or two with your outfit can really help bring some extra dimension to your images. Whether it’s a necklace, belt, bracelet, earrings, hat, or scarf, bringing an accessory or two can bring great visual interest to your photos, so choose one or two that don’t compete for attention when paired together. For example, if you go with bolder earnings, you might want to choose a more humble necklace, or maybe even no necklace at all. Fresh florals in a crown or bouquet can be a really romantic touch as well! 

Skip the spray tan— Although it might seem counter-intuitive, I recommend that you do not get a spray tan before your session (even a few days prior) because it tends to photograph orange even when it’s applied subtly and by a professional. Your actual skin tone will photograph most beautifully.

Go Pro— Professional hair and makeup is on the top of most of my clients’ portrait session checklists because it looks amazing on camera and removes the stress of getting ready on your own. You’ll have these photos forever, so this is the time to pamper yourself! Whether it’s lash extensions or blown-out hair, professional hair and makeup will give you an extra boost of confidence in front of the camera, and it always photographs like a dream. If you’re working with a makeup artist, have her apply your makeup in natural light (if possible) so that it looks fresh and not too heavy. Plus, that’s the type of light we’ll be shooting in, so it’ll give you the best expectation of how it will translate on camera. Most of my clients feel like their makeup is “too much” at first, since it’s more than they would wear on a normal day, so if you feel that way at the beginning, don’t worry! Good makeup artists know how to get it just right for the camera — and my clients always love the final result.

More tips to come soon, but the main thing is to stop worrying and just be your beautiful self!

The magic of family sessions

In the famous words of ferris builer, “life moves pretty fast…” and if you don’t stop and taking pictures once in awhile, you will realize that you can’t get that time back.

My litter brother has a beard now. When did that happen?! I swore he had baby cheeks not that long ago.
My second littlest sister is starting college. Well, actually, she’s already on her third semester. I vividly remember her learning how to spell her name.

You always think that you’ll have more time. But the truth is, time slips through our fingers too quickly. I hate it. But this is why we photograph: to document the way we feel about each other, and remember things that you hope you won’t have to have documented in the first place.

Family Photography has a magic that is so important. It brings people together. And when you think about it, that is REALLY hard to do! Getting everyone in one place, at one time, and INTERACTING with each other? Not on the phone or watching TV? How many times do you get that? It’s kind of funny because in a sense, family photos are memories in themselves. The experience is fun, lighthearted, and full of laughter (not just awkward laughing either). And sure, the guys might snarl at first, but they understand why it’s important. And they’ll be pumped to see the pictures when they’re done. Most importantly, family sessions remind you of what’s important. (insert heart-melting awwww). But it’s so true!

Here's the list that I give all of my clients for stress-free family sessions:

1. When dealing with littles, make sure that the kiddos have eaten and had their nap time, and bathroom, before arriving at the session. This prevents any crying or torture tantrums! (Which are very common.)

2. Bring the kids’ favorite toys and snacks! This helps comfort them when they’re stressed or scared of the camera/ new environment.

3. Plan outfits a week in advance, and have all hair and makeup scheduled right after you book your session! Finding cohesive outfits can be a treasure hunt, so it’s best to knock it out as soon as possible! Hair and Makeup artists book up quickly, so book them as far out in advance as possible.

4. Bring any props that you want to be photographed. Think about what makes your family unique, and bring anything that’ll help convey it. If you’re a military family, you can show up in uniform. Or if you’re a fishing family, bring your rods! Adding personality to the session is what makes it yours.

5. Laugh off the punches that will get thrown your way! Tell your kids and your man, that it will be a fun and easy-going time! It’s really important to be patient with your kids and not get stressed out about any of the little details. Trust me, they don’t matter. At the end of the day, the kids are going to be the boss in this I will work around anything that gets thrown our way! It’s important that this session remains fun throughout the whole process, otherwise, everyone will just dread doing it again!