HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Time seems to move faster towards the end of the year and before you know it… it’s January!  Between all of the fabulous holiday sessions, prepping for the holidays, and traveling to Oregon and Seattle to spend Christmas with my in-laws and New Years with friends, I found it impossible to find a minute to blog.  So I wanted to press ‘rewind’ for a hot second and take a look back on our 2016 holiday photoshoots!

In 2015, Dustin and I couldn’t find any time to take our own holiday photos, so we made sure to squeeze it in this year (taking them in October!).  Be sure to scroll to the bottom to see some of ours!  Thank you to my friends, mentors and our wedding photographers, Casey and Andrea Figlewicz of Figlewicz Photography, who captured our little family this holiday season.

To all of my clients, thank you for trusting me to capture your 2016 moments and I can’t wait to see what 2017 has in store!  I am so grateful for all of you and your encouragement, love and support.  Thank you for welcoming me into your lives; it is a privilege to be part of your special moments.  I love working with each and every one of you, and I am so grateful to call many of you friends!  I couldn’t do this without you.

I’ve selected one image from each of my sessions (that was a task in and of itself!) and had some fun customizing them to each family.  Let’s scroll!  Enjoy!!

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Little M couldn’t have been cuter in his little vest, and the sunset created this warm haze that wrapped these three up like a blanket!  We played out on the beach until the sun kissed the horizon and then some.  They traveled far for this session and we’re so thankful they did!

I’ve known this family since they were a family of four!  I love, love, LOVE watching families grow, and during our shoot, they announced they are expecting their fifth!!  I love that my clients, some who don’t even know me very well, allow me to capture and be a part of some of their biggest life announcements.  Thank you for your trust and that special honor!

Dylan, the adorable mini in the middle, is a rockstar and probably a future model!  I kind of want to name our first born after him.  I especially loved that they went black tie formal for their photos!  We had so much fun playing around the Urban Light display at LACMA, and the light – the light was gorgeous.  It was also a weekday, so we almost had the whole space to ourselves which was awesome.  

Kristen planned my wedding in 2014 and the fact that she still wants to hang out with me is AMAZING!!  I might’ve driven her bonkers with all the DIY details from our wedding.  I loved their energy and could’ve hung out with them all day!  Davia really mastered the “surprise hug” during our shoot, and I think I might need to bring her long to future shoots to show other kiddos!

You might recognize this family because they were on some of the marketing materials for my holiday sessions!  I’ve known Donna since I was 18 (gah, where does time go?!).  I love watching these two kiddos grow up – they are always so positive and up for anything!

This was my FIRST official holiday photoshoot of the season and what a way to kick it off!!  I’ve been taking anniversary photos for these high school sweethearts for a couple years now and when Noelle came to me with this idea, I couldn’t wait!  Holiday shopping never looked so good.

Genevieve found me through Instagram!  She’s a photographer too (check her out!!) and we live super close to each other!  I’m so thankful she found me.  Sometimes it’s so nice to chat with someone who’s living the entrepreneur life as well.  Can we also talk about how freaking adorable her mini-me is?!  Our shoot day was super eventful — we almost got washed away by high tides at the beach and while driving from one location to the next, she jumped out of the car to save a puppy in the middle of the road, and returned it to its owner.  #heartofgold

Would you believe I’ve known this family since I was 11!?  Fin (far left) and I have been friends since 6th grade when we used to play Snake on our Nokia phones and write in notebooks that we’d leave in each others’ lockers.  I was super excited to hear her mom wanted me to do their holiday photos! 

Eeeek!!  Look how stinkin’ cute baby D is in that sweater and matching pants?!  He also donned a Santa hat and a big ol’ smile towards the end of the session.  My families were on-point with their outfit selections this year (NOTE: Jennie wins best shoes!).  I only did a handful of morning shoots, and this was one of them.  It’s an early slot but I’m really loving the light that time of day.  I mean, can I look this good in the morning?

Reba and Marc just bought their first home and there’s really no better way to announce it than on a holiday card!  In-home lifestyle sessions were hot this year, and I hope it sticks around.  This is also the first time I’ve seen mini M since her first few months in this world – she’s now over a year old!!  Love that she’s matching her mama in those amazing Lularoe leggings!  (Congrats on the new home guys!!)

Obviously these three win the most stylish, I-need-elbow-patches-and-a-hat-and-those-shoes, wish-I-was-as-cool award!  We took them to my new favorite spot, Shoreline Aquatic Park in Long Beach, which has this amazing wooden boardwalk.  They were so sweet and brought some incredible light with them that day.  We stroller-ed around the boardwalk and the lighthouse, just like three friends and a baby hanging out in that California sun.  It was awesome!

The West family are brand new clients of mine.  They are so sweet, and their little girl is adorable!!  I was obsessed with her name… Florence.  SO. DARLING.  The other thing I loved about Florence is her love of trees.  As most kiddos do, she dictated the shoot, and that’s cool with me, I love seeing the world through a child’s eyes.  And she only had eyes for trees.  She wanted to hug all of them and we chased her around the park hugging each one – it was awesome!  

 

Again with the outfits, amirite?!  So well-coordinated, guys!!  Big thanks to the Aloma fam for bringing the Gonzales fam into my life!  I planned to photograph the Aloma family (next one!) at their amazing community center, and their friends (these four!) happened to be visiting that day, so we photographed them as well!  It worked out perfectly.  They were such a blast and Noah and Isaiah are the CUTEST – squeeeeeze!  Thank you for sticking it out with me even when it started to sprinkle towards the end!

Okay, this is one of my favorite pictures from this beautiful family’s session, because they all (Camila included) look like they’re having a conversation!  We originally planned to do this shoot at Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park, which is a gorgeous park, but we switched it up to be at their new community center which really couldn’t have been a more perfect choice!  There was a farm, a modern barn, a bridge, walking paths – basically all photoshoots moving forward with take place here haha!  They were so sweet and patient, and incredibly photogenic!  Side note: Dustin and I totally drove around the entire community looking for a new house.

This fun family of four took part in my first weekend of back-to-back minis down at the beach.  I felt like I knew Jeanette when I finally met her because we’d been chatting through Instagram for a while.  It was almost Halloween, and as one of my favorite holidays, I had to know what they’d planned for costumes.  A group costume!  They planned some stellar Star Wars costumes, little Kera as Rey of course!

I’ve only lived in Long Beach for a couple years now, but I find myself almost always shooting in PV.  I do have a few spots out here that I like and this is one of them – Gum Grove Park in Seal Beach.  A very popular spot for holiday photos!  This sweet, sweet family came to me through NextDoor.  If you don’t use this app, you should!  It’s an awesome neighborhood app similar to Facebook, but connects you with neighbors discussing all the goings-on in your area (i.e. coyote watch, best trick-or-treating houses, community updates, etc.).  Anyway, they were so easygoing and great to be around.  Noah is awesome, and we may have caught a few photos of him dabbing! 😉  Also, how could you not love meeting people in your neighborhood?  Especially being a newbie like me!

Ohh you might know these four!!  I photographed Stephanie’s maternity which was a fan favorite!  I have a special place in my heart for Stephanie because she took me to my first *NSYNC concert.  First thing you should know about me – my life would be MADE if *NSYNC reunited.  I digress.  It was so awesome to see all of them again and meet baby Sloan!!  Asher is such a little stud with his faux hawk, and he’s always keeping me on my toes.  I’m also pretty obsessed with their big family hugs!  

Another beautiful family at the Two Sisters Farms mini session!  This was the last back-to-back mini session and we went out with a bang at the cutest farm in Temecula.  Charmaine is one of my best friend’s friends, and it was so great to finally meet her in person.  Her sweet boy, Callan was so smiley and wore this adorable, knit onesie with baby moccasins that reminded me of Max from ‘Where the Wild Things Are’.

Omgoodness baby Jude in his Christmas plaid, and just look at his little baby kicks!  I couldn’t get enough of his cuteness!!  These three musketeers were so down-to-earth and affable as we walked around taking photos.  I’m thankful to have met them and for sending the Czaban family my way as well!

Big thanks to this pretty lady in red for spreading the word about my mini sessions with her mommy and me group.  I met so many amazing clients thanks to her good word.  The last time I saw them, we were photographing Victoria’s baptism, so I loved seeing them again in their gorgeous jewel-toned ensembles!  Cherie and her mini-me V even matched in lovely scalloped dresses (check out those gold shoes!)!!

My first family of 8!  I love this photo featuring Randy and Elizabeth, respectively the patriarch and matriarch of the family.  It reminds me of one of my favorite TV shows, ‘Parenthood’ (anybody?).  I make it a point to make sure I’m familiar with everyone’s names before a shoot and we put it to the test here.  Randy even quizzed me a couple times, and I passed!    

I know I say it a lot, but it’s so much fun reconnecting with people I knew from high school.  These two are high school sweethearts and I remember seeing them in the hallways at PV High, and now they’re the cutest family with an adorable new addition in a cardigan and baby jeans – Lyla!!  Thank you guys for choosing me to capture your first Christmas as a family of three!

The Bergs have been by my side since the VERY beginning.  They’ve known me since I was 18, ah the younger years.  But several years ago, when a young Tracy Rinehart received her first DSLR (before either of these cuties were born!), they trusted and supported me, and I’ve been taking their photos ever since.  Thank you guys!!

I met Cindy through one of my friends and was super excited to meet her and her squad.  I loved watching her and Randy with Michael and Madison, they are so relaxed, kind, funny and gentle.  It was adorable.  Speaking of adorable, look how cute Madison is with her ringlet hair, pink Converse and matching dress and bow.  She was so spunky, I loved her spirit!

I’m always so impressed when family’s can fill open spots at the last minute.  This beautiful trio came perfectly dressed, hair and makeup to perfection, and ready to go!  Baby A gave me some crazy cute smiles in that Santa hat and I’m hoping one of them made it to their holiday card!  Thank you, Finch fam for joining me in Santa Monica at the last minute!!

I’ve known Bretagne since high school, and since starting my photography business, I’ve loved reconnecting with old friends – they’re no exception.  Baby Emi is hopefully getting used to having me and Dustin around to capture some of her milestones, including her baptism, six month milestone, and soon-to-be one year milestone (Where does time go?!).  Something we learned during this session is that Dustin has to join us for every shoot.  He makes this noise that sounds like a mix of a Velociraptor and Chewbacca, and without fail, she mimics it and gives us a laugh or smile every time!  

Here’s another sweet family who found me on NextDoor.  I photographed A’s 5th birthday party back in July.  In case you missed it, it was the cutest kitty-themed party, equipped with a ball of yarn piñata and kitty-eared headbands.  I couldn’t get enough, and lucky for me, they came back for more!  We visited Gum Grove Park in Seal Beach for their holiday photos – lots of cuddling, giggling, swinging, and loving!

Because there was more interest, I added an extra mini session day in Santa Monica!  I saw three awesome families that day, including the Czaban’s!  We walked around Temescal Gateway Park and had a blast with this little heart stealer – and I don’t mean my heart – I mean, Dustin’s heart.  Sweet baby Max was so good and we may be recreating his outfit for our holiday photos next year lol!

First of all – my mind was blown when this fantastic four walked up to me.  Let’s just take a minute to appreciate their perfect coordination.  That fur vest – GENIUS (Does that come in my size?).  They were pros – it’s like Beyonce came on and said “now let’s get in formation, cause I slay”.  We enjoyed walking around one of my favorite spots, and they even experienced some light rain, but again – PROS.  We used it and came out with some stunning, Christmas-y shots surrounded by some fog and mist – it worked!

I follow Nancy on Snapchat, and her stories of Caleb are perfection.  I feel like I’ve watched him grow up through the greatness that is social media.  But I didn’t meet Caleb until the day of our shoot, so it was great to finally put a digital face to a face?  He’s even cuter in person folks.  Nancy even did some investigating into what my favorite candy is before the shoot, and gave me a goody bag after our session – what?!  BEST. CLIENTS. EVER.  I know this image is darker than my usual work, but sometimes a darker/more moody edit just looks better given light, location, etc.  If I ever feel this way, I will let you know beforehand as I did with this family.  

My BFF and her hubby wanted photos at a Christmas tree farm and this one was full of perfectly coned trees and the farm was surrounded by gorgeous mountains.  Their outfits were perfect (notice how the color of Zach’s pants match the accent color in his shirt, I notice these details – call me crazy!), and they just followed the first rule of posing – just love each other, and don’t be afraid of a little PDA.  Definitely hoping some of my families want Christmas tree farm photos next year!!

That’s all, folks!!  From my little family to yours, thank you and happy 2017 from Pine & Sea Photography!

Lots of love,

Dustin, Tracy and Kona Rinehart

(Photo Credit: Figlewicz Photography)