Annnndddd here’s little Gem-Gem as a not so little babe anymore!  She is two and as cute as ever! Chit-chatting and interacting and she LOVES to show off her little tongue.  We got some holiday pics, family pics and of course a ton of Gemma and her little girl antics.  See you again in 6 more months!!!

It’s been an amazing journey with the M family, one that is not completely over yet.  I’m banking I will hang on until both Toni and Bianca get married!!!  From photographing their mom and dad’s wedding four years ago to photographing Toni’s first year milestones and now completing Bianca’s first year milestones, I honestly have become a part of their family.  Not to mention that mom and dad are pretty darn fun to just hang out with and we always find ourselves laughing together.  I cannot believe what a little lady Bianca has become and she is indeed the ringleader of all the antics between her and older sis’ Toni.  I just love the way they interact and of course I am in awe of how gorgeous and well spoken little Miss Toni is now at three years of age!  Of course not that I expected any less from her parents!  Now I will have to find excuses to see them every few months instead of just waiting until the annual portrait session.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for entrusting me to creating your photographic memories for so long!!!

I love photographing newborns.  They’re so sweet and sleep part of the session and you can pose them pretty easily.  I had previously photographed Mom and Dad’s wedding in 2010 and now I am back to photograph their lovely new addition, Adelyn.  She was indeed a very sweet subject for her very first Metropolitan Imageworks portrait session.

Marc and Cynthia are some of Metimages original wedding clients from 2001, back when I was operating as Rachael Silvers Photography.  They were married in June and while I had photographed a handful of weddings and special events in the years prior, their wedding was particularly special since they had been good friends of ours for a few years and I knew a lot of the cast of characters through other photographic projects.  Fast forward a year and a half later and Marc and Cynthia were two parts of the brass quintet that played during my own outdoor wedding ceremony.  Funny how life happens, jobs change, people move, families grow and it’s often a full circle.  Marc and Cynthia moved from Illinois to Southern California in 2004, and my husband helped them drive a huge moving truck across the country.  Now since our migration to Orange County, California earlier this year, we are only about an hour and a half apart from Marc and Cynthia rather than half a continent!  I met up with them at La Jolla Cove last weekend for some fun family portraits and of course loads of goofing off and fun portraits of their darling daughters.  Some say there is no place like home.  I say there is no place like being near friends.

Once again I had the pleasure of photographing my little friend Zoe.  If you haven’t figured it out, she is the darling daughter of my college friend Kira, also a photography major.  Kira is also happens to be one of the talented Metimages associate photographers.  Zoe is totally a Metimages baby and when I met her as a newborn last October, I did get all choked up and emotional to witness my friend moving into this next chapter in her life.  So amazing.  I love my photo times with Zoe because it’s also time to hang out with Kira and get all caught up on each others lives.  Fortunately, mom has her camera out on Zoe often so she is used to being a subject and she totally rocked this session!

He came, he saw, he smiles, he scooted and of course he cried. Little man Caleb had a very busy schedule the day before our portrait session – his first birthday party, errands with Mom and Dad and an unfortunate allergic reaction that earned him an ER visit.  Going on lots of excitement and little activity is never easy. But I am so pleased with so many of the great moments of him smiling and posing and just being his little self.

Even Gus the Puggle put on his best model face.

I love that he’d rather poke his big fur-brother in the eye than smile for my camera.

Our star Coby is back again.  You may recall seeing his Milestones from October 2009-October 2010, with mom’s maternity session as a preview and then Coby’s 1st birthday party pumpkin celebration.  It’s time for another portrait session as Coby is growing by leaps and bounds and has the cutest little personality.  Mom and dad are expecting again and Coby will be a big brother this fall and I just know he’ll do a find job!

I found a few images that were sizzling, but not too hot to blog about!  The weather was humid and sticky and while for the most part lent itself to the outdoor IM theme, I am very glad I thought to pack my own swimsuit so I could have a break and cool off halfway through the session.  Nothing says Intimate like your photographer yelling, “Cannonball” and jumping into the water!  Seriously though, my subject was phenomenal and being outdoors didn’t phase her one bit. I cannot wait to work on the album and hear all about the recipients reaction.

Maddox is one of my 2011 Milestone babies and her family joined me at Disney for her 6-month portrait session!  Maddox’s mom and dad are avid Disney fans and I am sure Maddox is following in their footsteps.  We met up at the Grand Californian and started with Maddox posing in their room. Then we headed out onto the lush grounds and had ample time of a happy baby for some family shots as well.  Grandma and Grandpa recently celebrated 50 years of marriage in the area and were able to tag along for the session.  Little Maddox sits up like a champ and is in love with a silver baby rattle that her grandma gave her. And of course, what teething babe doesn’t love having a Sophie around during portraits?