It’s the last day of 2010. On the last day of the year, we often look back on how the year went. And I have to say, this has been a great year! I have been able to turn a dream of owning a photography business into a reality and have had so much fun watching it become something that is pretty awesome.

2010 was marked with some really great shoots. I put together some of my top favorites that I think really show off my style and photos that make me happy. There are a lot of stylish seniors, some happy families, some beautiful newlyweds in love and lastly some couples who have been married for a while that remind me that love does endure.

This shot from Chandra & Noelle’s shoot is one of my ultimate favorites from the year. Chandra is my senior portrait rep from Rosary High School.

Jerrica graduated in June and I just loved this young lady. She seriously had the best sense of fashion and wasn’t afraid of truly being herself. Oh, Sara! You are so beautiful! Sara has such a grace about her, that her confidence shined through in every shot. There were so many favorites from this shoot, that it was hard to pick a favorite, but this random art display served as the perfect backdrop that I had to choose it as a top pick. Sheri is the cutest girl ever! She is John’s sister and is about to graduate from Biola University. I love my sister-in-law and her darling freckles. So I think Nicole wins the award for the most fashionable senior I had for 2010. Every outfit she had on for this shoot, I wanted to borrow. Kristen should be modeling for Teen Vogue. Seriously! When I first saw her beautiful face, I knew the camera would LOVE her. I love photographing best friends. These graduating seniors were stars of their cheer leading team, so it was super fun to spend the afternoon photographing them. I had the privilege as having Hannah & Richard as my models while leading a photography group focusing on Senior Portraiture with the So Cal Photog Shoot Out group.  I had a really hard time choosing my favorite shot from that shoot, but I decided to go with this one, because I love when my seniors get to show off who they are and really express themselves while being totally silly. I had the privelage to accompany Jessof Blackbird Portraits on this super fun shoot and I just LOVE  this last shot we got. I think it really shows off the preciousness of friendship and being young. Photographing families is so important. We have photos to remember the special chapters in our lives that help us remember where we came from. I love this shot of the Yoon family, because the backdrop really speaks of the beauty and love this family has for each other. I LOVE this family! The couple on the right are some of our very best friends and it was such an honor to photograph this family. I had so much fun with them and we had a blast using all sorts of fun props for the shoot. I did a few weddings this year, and I have to say, this is my favorite shot of a couple in love. James and Laura are awesome and the most eclectic wedding complete with homemade beer and fake reindeer. I especially loved the location that Monica & Ryan got married at. Orcutt Ranch is a place not too far from my parents house, that I used to spend many afternoons walking through with my mom when I was a little kid. So as I shot this wedding, I was filled with all sorts of wonderful nostalgia.
And one of the most delightful surprises I found out last year, of what I just love to do, is to photograph couples that have been married for over 10 years. There is a sweetness and deep love that a couple has when they have been happily married for awhile that is just inspirational to me. This shot was from the Israel family shoot, but I think it really captures the love this couple who has been married for over 25 years has for each other. Lisa & Randy were  a joy to photograph and these shots remind me of how much fun Lisa’s laugh is. I love this last shot of John’s parents. They love each other so well and have been such good models to John as to what a marriage should look like, that I have been especially blessed by a hubby who knows how to love me. When I photographed John and Linda their love was just overflowing and normally they are not this affectionate in front of the kids, so it was super fun to see them so in love.