I was excited last week to be featured on one of my favorite photography blogs, Lemonade and Lenses. The session was with Kylie, at a special little spot where no one goes. Probably the only secluded beach in Southern California. She was perfect for this spot with her long mermaid hair. And she’s comfortable enough with me where she just looks at me, I don’t have to pose her, which I love because when it comes to telling people how to position themselves I feel clueless. I love it when they just look at me, I say that to them when I’m shooting them, “look away, now just look at me.” http://www.lemonadeandlenses.com/stephanie-matthew-photography/

This is what summertime looks like around here. These two crack me up.

Caden is turning five! And his mom wanted a session that was pure little boy. Five years is a big deal, he’s about to start kindergarten and he’s starting to play with bigger boy toys, super heros and transformers. So it was important to include all his trains and cars. We wanted to capture that little boy essence- little round tummy, running wild, getting bad guys…. This was fun for us too. We got together one evening and while our hubbies made the teepee and the sword mom and I shopped for fabric and put it all together.

A sneak peek of a family session from a couple of days ago. Busy editing the rest of these. Love the sunflowers and this family is absolutely gorgeous!

My wild one has an all things India obsession lately. At her preschool there were a couple of kids whose mothers would pick them up dressed in beautiful colorful Saris and bindis. She would watch these women walk by with big eyes and one day told me, “Mom! Did you see those girls? They are beautiful! And they have jewelry on their face!” She was in awe. And this has started her obsession. The highlight of her week was having a sweet little teenager give her a henna tattoo. With a peacock even!

From a recent session for a special little project I’m doing. It was the most beautiful day at the beach. I have so many sweet images from this shoot but I kept coming back to this one. It’s funny when I come home from a shoot I have to sit down and look at all of them immediately and I always have one that I fall in love with. One that is my absolute favorite. And I don’t think it’s the one the parent will necessarily love but maybe it’s all part of realizing my style. I’ve noticed it’s not always the smiley shot, it’s usually the one in between the posing, where I’ve told my little model to take a minute and then they look away or look down but I’ve kept my camera up.

I love this shoot. I planned on showing one shot as a sneak peek but I couldn’t choose! Caden’s fifth birthday is coming up and his mom wanted to show him with his favorite toys, just being a little boy. He had his cape and sword and his favorite trains and cars and he had so much fun playing and it’s so cool too because his mom will always remember him like this…. before he is a big boy kindergartner, before he turns five. And the teepee! Our very talented hubbies made it for the shoot. They are now our official prop makers.

I’m trying to get better at documenting the little things my kiddos do, those little moments in the backyard, dirty faces and hands. Right now as I’m getting busier and busier it’s so easy for me not to pull out the camera during these little moments, most of the time I don’t want to lug the giant camera out or I’ll have to white balance, blah blah…. pretty lazy excuses actually. So I’m going to work at it. Especially during these crazy times the little things are what I don’t want to forget. This was from the other day. The babes would not put this little stuffed cat her auntie gave her down, it was the sweetest thing. She carried it with her on her tricycle, gently pushed it down the slide, have little baby talk conversations with it, asking, “gin? gin?” dirty face and all…….

Brought back the suitcases for a little project but I can’t decide which look I like better. Dusty road boho chic or more urban glam?

And of course the babes had to get in there too….