Happy Holidays!

I'm pretty sure not everyone got the 80s Awkward Family Portrait theme we were going for this year. We didn't want a traditional family portrait for our holiday cards this year even though we do need a decent portrait of us.

Juku and Kami nailed it though. Amado was owning the "very clueless, staring off into nothing while awkwardly excited" look. Me on the other hand, let's just say someone (Amado) was impatient and didn't want to coach me or give me directions. I wish at least had a funky sweater on to tie up the whole theme together but I was not about to pay for one unlike someone I know who drove around to every used clothing store looking for the perfect ugly sweater over the weekend, ahem Amado.. He said, he "needed" one for his company party.

Like have a

totally gnarly Christmas

and

a bitchin' New Year!

Zivalic Family

After shooting Ryan and Holly's holiday family portraits last month I sent a text to Holly - I feel like you guys are complete now. It might not make sense to others but she understood exactly what I meant by it. Sully now a little over 2 years old, has the combination of Ryan and Holly's personality. Her sense of humor might be more on Ryan's side. I'm basing that on the last video he sent me of Sully potty training. She did however picked up being affectionate from Holly. Amado and I are still enjoying Marley as a baby. We can kind of see a glimpse of  how she'll be a year or two older but I'm not ready for her to grow up yet.

Espinoza Family

I got an email from Chuck early October with the subject "Family Portraits" which isn't out of the ordinary since I assist him once in a while for some portraits. But the content of the email wasn't the usual "Are you available on …. to assist?". This time it was "We'd like for you to shoot our family portraits." which made me really nervous more than usual. You can ask Amado and he will not deny it, I'm always nervous before a shoot. It's gotten to the point where I'm not able to differentiate excitement and nervousness.

But what's the big deal, why be extra nervous with this one? Chuck was the very first photographer I assisted and 2nd shot for. Since meeting him at my cousin's wedding, he's been my go-to person for any photography related questions. Let's see if I can apply the things I've learned from watching him work. There's more to photography than camera settings, light and location (still working on those btw). How you interact with the subjects whether it be a solo portrait, a couple or an entire family and things you say can affect the turnout of the shoot (especially with kids). I've witnessed him handle those situations with ease and now it was my turn to practice it with his family. I knew him and Robin just wanted a good photo of their family but in my head it was like an exam.

Set aside the mini panic attacks I had in my head, their shoot went really well. It also helped that he was a photographer himself and his family is so used to being in front of the camera.

Macadaan Family

Family portraits with the Macadaan Family at Abbott Kinney on a Saturday afternoon. Stephanie was looking for something different for their portraits this year so I suggested meeting her and her boys at Abbott Kinney. It's the only place I know that has cool spots for photos, good coffee and where you can play table tennis, all in one block.

Lindsey and Travis - Maternity

February is just around the corner which means there will be another Zivalic added to the continuously growing family. This time it's Lindsey and Travis who's anxiously waiting for Baby Logan. Although it's their first baby, they've had a chance to see what to look forward to while spending time with their nieces Sully and Marley. We're all very excited to meet Baby Logan.

Getting ready for Christmas

This year Amado and I felt a little bit more festive than usual. Stockings are hung on top of the fireplace also known as our TV. I just have to fill them with something. Windows are trimmed with garlands but it's still missing something. I might add more ornaments to it this week. We both agreed to include ourselves in our Holiday cards this year. Kudos to USPS for next day delivery! This is the first time you'll hear me praise USPS publicly.

We tried to be a little funky with our Holiday cards. I hope people get that we were going for the Awkward Family Portrait theme. Amado's expression in our photo is priceless. He had the "too happy while gazing off camera" look pinned down while Kami (wearing reindeer antlers) was clearly not having it.

Made our very first gingerbread house. Trader Joes have some really cool and easy to put together kits. I kinda wish we bought 2 because we finished decorating the one we bought so quick. 

We also got a Christmas tree, well kinda. We have Ikea to thank for our glow-in-the-dark Christmas tree curtain. I didn't realize it was glow-in-the-dark until I was shutting down everything before going to bed. They were sold out at the store closest to us and online so Amado insisted that we drive all the way to Costa Mesa that same day or else he wouldn't have been able to sleep.

Solvang

Sometime last week, Amado woke up early and really hungry (no surprise there). We could have just walked down the street and grabbed some bagels and coffee but we thought why not go for a drive.

That hunger lead us all the way to Solvang. Yep, Solvang! I've never been there before and was curious enough to see what I've been missing out on, so why not drive for 2 hours for some Danish adventure.

I was stalking this house. Nothing special about it but I love that it was all white and just highlights everything thing with color around it.

If Eggs Benedict is on the menu, I'm getting it. I might make it a home for breakfast one of these days specially after seeing Ree Drummond (Pioneer Woman) make it.

They were not happy with our next destination. We thought it would be a fun one since we've never seen ones before but the girls just growled, barked and jumped the whole time.  

Instead, Amado and I took turns holding the girls while the other one walked around the ostrich farm. That's a lot of Birkins and Kellys, just kidding. But those giant birds are really aggressive.