Capturing the memories -MY family style!

Sometimes it might be handy having a family member who's a photographer....

(Like when I drove to take photos of my sister's vacation for her.... HERE)



Other times, things might get a little strange!

We did a 'normal' family portrait during our little Christmas Gala - but I'd had this idea and wanted to give it a try, so I pulled out my fisheye lens and kicked up the silly factor just a notch.  :-)



'Course we capture a regular ole, sit on the couch portrait, but how much more fun is it when you tell everyone to hug?



My camera is always nearby....so I had it to capture the impromptu family dog-pile!
(And my sister was kind enough to add some fun and flare to the shot!)





Looking just a teeny bit squished, don't you think?  lol



"Uncle Steve, wake up and play ball with me!"



Families are like fudge... mostly sweet with a few nuts.
-- Author Unknown  
[I'll let each family member decide which they are...hee hee...I already know I'm a nut~!]


Happy New Year to all!   I hope 2012 brings you a year of blessings!

Merry Christmas from the Barre Studio: Scripps Ranch, San Diego Corporate Portrait Photographer

You might remember that I've been enjoying a ballet style exercise class, and that I did some photographic work for them last month.  HERE



So I was really excited when I was asked to capture some portraits for their studio Christmas cards!



The owners and teachers gathered with their festive attire to make a few fun portraits!



Not only are these ladies talented they are so gorgeous!



I think everyone who receives their Christmas card will enjoy it!




"Christmas is a good time to send cards to those who are special.  You’re one of the people I wanted to send a card.  Merry Christmas to a very special person." Anonymous

Tea for Ten

Each year I invite my close friends over for a quiet afternoon tea.  Nothing too fancy- we don't do pinkies in the air while we hold our tea cups or anything like that.  :P

I have my beautiful Christmas china that my mom gave me....and the wonderful Christmas teas by Celestial Seasonings (if you haven't tried these -RUN and get a box!)  

(I love the Candy Cane Lane so much, I buy 6 boxes each December to last me the rest of the year!)



Of course you must serve cucumber sandwiches...



And cute little PB & J's...



And a delightful chicken salad with cranberries and pecans (YUM!)



And for dessert this year, Baked Alaska Cheesecake!



Christmas is a perfect time
To stop and reminisce
About the many hours we've spent
Discussing that and this-

The laughs, the smiles
That we have known
The wonderful things we've done
That make the friendship that we share
A very special one!

Have a very special Christmas, my friend

My Trip to Sweden.....NOT....(Around the World Potluck Club)

So how did you celebrate St Lucia's Day?

What? You didn't? [gasp!]

Well, it was December 13th and my friends and I celebrated...

First let me give you a quick bit of history on this Swedish holiday: On this day, the eldest daughter in the family wears a white gown with a red sash and a crown of candles on her head. The candles symbolize the fire that refused to take St. Lucia's life when she was sentenced to be burned. She then delivers special buns to the family in their beds....

[...sounds a bit dangerous if you ask me...]



Only we didn't wake up in the morning and don robes and candles, instead we met for a really fun Swedish potluck dinner!

We started everything off with Lisa's amazing ham and Chive mini muffin appetizers...

It was Wendy's turn to bring the drinks, and after some research, she discovered that hard cider is a favorite drink in Sweden:



Then our lovely hostess, Shelly, brought out our main dish of Swedish meatballs -- DELISH!



She prepared a cream gravy and a meat gravy so we all had the chance to try both!



I brought a Swedish Cucumber Salad - which I thought was amazing, and will definitely serve again.

Recipe is HERE in case you want to give it a try!  (I added a 1/2 teaspoon of salt though and suggest you do as well.)



Robin brought some very tasty baked potatoes...



And Betsy served a very yummy Almond Tart.  Recipe HERE if you want to give it a try!




Swedish Cuisine: Historically, in the far North of Sweden, meats such as reindeer and other game dishes were eaten, fresh vegetables have played a larger role in the South. Many traditional dishes employ simple, contrasting flavours, such as the traditional dish of hearty meatballs gravy with tart, pungent lingonberry jam
On Christmas Eve, a large dinner or smorgasbord is served. Desserts include a rice pudding. An almond is hidden in the pudding. The person to find the almond is said to be the next to marry in the next year.

N Family: San Diego, Poway Portrait, Family and Child Photographer

November and December are some of my busiest months.  I have so much fun meeting new people and making new friends!



The N Family was interested in some gorgeous portraits for their Christmas card and to use as artwork for their home.



We had such a good time together - little Luke was having the time of his life!

Except for wearing a hat.  He was DEFINITELY not in the mood to wear a hat!

Let me show you a fun little series.

First - the final portrait with his adorable hat and gorgeous sweater....



That was the final portrait, but I have to share what lead up to that.

We started by slipping the hat on and distracting him with some leaves...



But before the leaves had fallen, he was grabbing that hat....



And....



Throwing it as far as he could....!  :-)
(I think every mom can relate to this!)



Luckily mom and I persevered and we came out with that beautiful HAT portrait!

Course we made quite a few other gorgeous portraits as well....







"Why do you always wear a hat?" " 'Cause it fits my head." (Robert Redford, in "The Horse Whisperer")

Sea World fun!

Well if you are at Sea World, with a goal to take some fun photographs, I think you'd better start at the Shamu show.



I'm calling that series "The Progression of a Splash"



We met some other interesting characters as well...




Guests were invited to buy fish to throw to the sea lions....unfortunately for that little fellow, things weren't going quite as planned....



Fish throw!

BUT...



The sea lion's fish was caught in mid air by an egret!

Then Mr. Egret proceeded to sit down on the edge of the enclosure to gloat and wait for his next treat...geez!



Today's quote goes out specifically to Mr. Egret:  


"You shall not steal” - Bible

Sea World's Christmas Celebration...and ELEVEN self portraits!

First of all, I wish you a very Merry Christmas - and I hope you are enjoying a house full of fun today!  (That's what I have planned...if my teenager would just get out of bed so we can start the festivities!)



Lucky for me I have an annual pass for Sea World.   And even luckier for me, Wendy has one too!

So we grabbed our cameras and headed for a day of fun and photography!

BTW: There's a great deal going on right now at Sea World - before the end of the year, buy one day ticket and get all of 2012 FREE! If you have AAA, you can save more.





We found so many lovely, and UNIQUE Christmas decorations!

So unique that Santa's reindeer stopped by to check them out!



Also saw a cute "little" gift wrapped package walking about:



(That's Water Monitor Lizard by the way -- this one was about 6 feet long, but they can grow to almost 11 feet!)



We LOVED how the decorations were unique and colorful!



And some of the gifts were pretty cool too!



They had a 'Christmas Tree Lot' maze of pines for the kiddies to play in...



And look at this beautiful Kingfisher -- you might think I had to stalk him to get this lovely close up:



But NO!  He was stalking me - during our entire lunch!

(I took that photo with my cell phone camera!)



And lastly, as promised, ELEVEN self portraits!



I love Christmas, not just because of the presents but because of all the decorations and lights and the warmth of the season. Ashley Tisdale


“And so I'm offering this simple phrase, To kids from one to ninety-two, Although its been said many times, many ways, A very Merry Christmas to you.” 


 Hugs and Blessings, Pam