Sisters make the best of friends! I’ve been photographing these two for four years now and each shoot is better than the last. I love how their personalities tend to fall into the traditional categories of sibling order. First is a little bit cautious, maybe shy. Second is the wild child, with silly as her middle name. They play off each other and draw out the best in one another! Sisters are the best!
I’ve been feeling the itch to do something different with our TV. As much as I hate incorporating the TV into the living room decor, it actually is a big part of what we do in that room. Whether it’s watching movies after the kids go to bed, playing games on the wii or hosting a Monday Night Football party…it’s a part of our life.
So, right now the TV sits on a media console. I love the console itself, but there’s not much room up there for anything except the TV. I pinned a few ideas for wall units that might work around the TV, but I was also remembered some photos I took of my friend, Allyson‘s house last summer. She’s a crafty girl…so of course her and her husband put this together themselves. She also made some wallpaper while she was at it. Did you read this post?
I love the way she layers things…nothing looks too cluttery, which is my biggest pet peeve.
Thanks for letting me share your house Allyson! I’m inspired to put together something that will work my TV and hopefully be a bit stylish in the process!
Every year I look forward to the spring mini-sessions at Rascals to Rebels. It’s a parade of sweet dresses, gingham and bow ties. It’s so much cute that my cheeks get tired from smiling so much! This year, I decided upon a variation of the moss wall that I’ve made in the past. It’s a lot of greenery with sticks and little sprouts of leaves mixed in, to give it a bit of a whimsical feel. I’m also bringing along this antique green velvet chair for those that want to use it. Don’t forget to go by the store to sign up….these spots go quickly!
This year I want to bring you more of my favorite spots. Even if it’s a little hard to get to or a little bit further than I’m used to going…I want to spend time on the things I love. This beach in Laguna is a recent favorite and I’m going to be offering extended mini-sessions on Saturday, February 23rd. Here are the details: $150 for a 40 minute session and you get a free digital image with your purchase. There is a bit of walking over rocky coral, so I wanted to allow some extra time. But, this is such a special place…you won’t be disappointed. A few of my favorite highlights are a succulent trail on the way to the beach, tide pools and a mysterious old castle! **These sessions can be just the kids or the whole family.
Available times are: 3:30-4:10 4:10-4:50 4:50-5:30
Call me 562-980-6480 or email info@kristineldridge.com to reserve your spot.
The internet is a big place. It’s big and it’s full of very talented people. Sometimes one can get lost admiring all that talent. Every once in awhile it’s good to just take a tiny internet break and focus on what’s right in front of us. And try not to feel so tiny in this big ocean of talent.
Hopefully this doesn’t read as a pity-party, because it’s not. Just a gentle reminder to myself and anyone else who feels just a bit intimidated every once in awhile. I’m so blessed to get to work with awesome people…and hopefully I’m doing my part to contribute beautiful things to the big ol’ internet!
//child and family photography taken in Los Angeles County parks
PLAY DATES are back! Here’s how it works: invite 3-4 friends to meet at the park with their kids. I show up with my camera and capture priceless moments of each of the children. No posing, no ‘cheeeese,’ just kids being kids. Each family will be presented with an online gallery of images of their child/children from our time at the park. The approach will be photojournalistic…truly showing who they are at this stage of life. This isn’t a time to get all gussied up and take them kicking and screaming to a ‘photo shoot.’ This is a time to play with friends and be a kid!
**If you prefer to be inside, I will happily come to a home instead of a park. Also, I love to incorporate the play structures into the photos, but we can keep it simply green if you like that better.
The details:
You choose the park that your children love to go to…I will stay for approximately one hour photographing the children.
This is for weekdays only…during the day or after school for children that are school aged.
Your friends each pay $25 for the session. Your session is free.
Your will receive access to special digital packages if orders are placed within a week of proofing. Please email me to receive all the specific details.
Offer is valid until March 11. Email info@kristineldridge.com or call 562-980-6480 to reserve a date.
Cortés told his men to ‘burn the ships.’ I’m sure you’ve heard the story…he was on the final leg of an ocean voyage that was to take him from Cuba to the shores of the Yucatan in search of treasure. He was up against the impossible with the treasure being hoarded by the same Yucatan army for 600 years. But, when they were ready to invade, he told his men to burn the ships. There would be no going back. They were all in.
I heard this story yesterday in a message at church as an illustration about being more bold in our faith…what we believe. It was so inspiring. I want to live without regret. If you’re interested, you can listen to the message here.
It also made me think about other areas of my life where I live passionately. In 2007, against better judgement I dropped a few thousand dollars I saved on camera and lens to become a photographer. There was no back-up plan. It was go big or go home! So, thank you for helping my leap of faith become my job. I’m really blessed to have clients, that I call friends, that hire me year after year. Thank you!
//child photography taken in Huntington Beach, CA
Devin is an aspiring photographer, so she came prepared with hats, suitcases and the like! I told her it was like having an assistant on the shoot. She knew the ins and outs of what I’d need and was right there to pitch in. The result: amazing photos. I’m just swooning over Devin’s third baby! And what a fantastic big brother and sister she has!
//newborn photos took place at my studio in Long Beach
Looks like we’re going to make it out of the 50 degree weather this week. 70’s here we come! To celebrate, I want to take you to a new favorite location. These abandoned tracks are so charming, you wouldn’t know it’s in the middle of the city. There’s plenty of greenery, so you’ll get much more than just the railroad tracks.
To sweeten the deal, I’m including a free digital image with your order. As always, the 20 minute mini-sessions are just $100 and the pricing for prints and digital images (as well as details) are found on my website under pricing.
I’ll be doing the mini-sessions on February 2 and will start with 4 openings… 4:00-4:20, 4:20-4:40, 4:40-5:00 and 5:00-5:20.
To reserve your spot, you can call me 562-980-6480 or email me info@kristineldridge.com and payment is required to book. You’ll get all the details about location (Long Beach area) when you reserve your spot.
Photos are such an important part of life. It’s a way to show we lived. And a way to look back on the way we lived. Because, as you know, things don’t stay the same for long. Especially when babies are new and life isn’t the same today as it was yesterday. This documentation is so meaningful.
//newborn baby photos taken at a private home in Newport Beach
