I like to include outtakes in my blog.  Often, the pictures that touch me most, is the goofy, off-the-wall or just private moment captured on film.  If you’d like to see some of the best official photos from this session, you can at this link, but a lot of the ones I’m showing really capture the essence of this family, on this particular day.

This lovely family wanted to do a beach family photography session.  Not only was it a lovely, overcast day, but the beach was fairly empty. Malibu is a gorgeous beach community and a great place to hang out.  We encountered a couple of surfers and a few locals walking their dogs on the beach. The youngest boy was 5 and he wasn’t terribly interested in having his photos taken.  He was, however, interested in having a good time, so it worked out.  I photograph him having a good time, everybody’s happy. They also love candid, real life shots, so I got several good ones of the kids just being themselves and the boys playing.

These were taken shortly before the Fourth of July.  You don’t need an excuse to take photos, but if you did, there goes: a holiday. LOL.  So we did some patriotic themed stuff.

Photographs can allow you to reimagine yourself, or better, recognize your own existing beauty and strengths.  Women bustle so quickly through life that they don’t often have a chance to appreciate or explore themselves.  So boudoir photography is an avenue to explore that side of yourself so often reserved for someone else.

Here are some shots from one of my latest boudoir shots.  The woman below, who so kindly allowed me the rights to show her photos on my blog (most clients choose to keep them private, which is more than understandable), is a fabulous, younger woman.  If I had a body and sensuality like hers, I’d share it with the world too.  I’d always thought that women’s sex appeal was some sort of weak crutch.  Watching this woman spark without a man in sight, totally in control of her own body, her own sensuality, her own sex appeal was  amazing. It made me realize how powerful a woman in charge of herself is indeed. There’s not much weak about women in general.

I often suggest to women who are pre-childbearing to take photos of their body before having children.  Although the female form turns into a different something beautiful, it is just that, DIFFERENT.  Pictures are the only way to make a temporary state permanent.   And years later, it’s lovely to remember what you looked like once upon a time, while still honoring the beauty of the phase you’re currently in.

Mothers and Daughters have a super special relationship. Although some are not the mini-me’s we were expecting, they still are often mirrors, good or bad (LOL) of ourselves. But there’s always this special feeling of recognition, seeing parts of yourself in another body.

I did a shoot for this family right before the 4th of July, and I was so touched by the relationship of the mother and daughter that I thought they deserved their own special blog post and gallery. Like former mermaids, broken from a spell, touching land with their feet for the first time (I know, it’s a little much, but they really did seem quite mermaidish and magical), they danced and leaped through the air.  Here are some imperfectly perfect shots.

13 days left!

If you were considering buying Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac, it costs $59.99 alone (from B&H Photo).  If you have a previous older version of Parallels, the upgrade is $49.99 alone, so this bundle is a no brainer for you.

Included are 10 apps, my favorites of which are:

• Parallels Desktop for Mac – run Windows on your mac
• Winzip for MAC – advanced file compression archiver
• LEAP – a file organizer/viewer/search tool
• SnagIt – this is also worth the price of admission.  One of the best screen video capture programs, allowing you to make tutorial videos, recording your onscreen action and mouse movements to various movie formats to be shared or streamed online.
• Typinator – predictive text shortcut typer – much like how your cell phone can predict what you’re likely typing

I almost exclusively buy Mac software only in bundles, and have been waiting for a Parallel bundle for the last 4 months.  Unlike some of the other software theat seems to be perpetually in some bundle (Leap and Yep  are currently in 2 bundles simultaneously, yet never DEEP (can find photos by color – great for graphic designers and photographers) by the same company.  I’ve been waiting on that one forever and have yet to see it offered.), Parallels and Snag It don’t normally go for discounts often.  So if you’re interested, go grab a copy.

I lost my phone a couple of weeks ago. It wasn’t on silent, but it was on the lowest volume level – even worse than silent because it didn’t even vibrate when called.  We had to resort to waiting until dark and hoping that we’d see it when it lit up.  Great idea, but didn’t work since the phone was buried under clothes in the laundry!

Enter the free app Android Lost, available from the Google Play Store. It can do everything but wash your dishes, including:

Features:
* read sent and received SMS messages
* wipe phone
* lock phone
* erase SD card
* locate by GPS or network
* start alarm with flashing screen
* send SMS from web page
* message popup
* forward calls
* remote install
* phone status: battery, imei, etc.
* remote SMS alarm
* remote SMS lock and unlock
* remote SMS erase SD card
* remote SMS wipe phone
* remote SMS APN control
* start/stop GPS
* start/stop WIFI
* hide from launcher
* email when SIM card is changed
* get call list
* take picture with front camera
* take picture with rear camera
* make your phone speak with text-to-speech
* SMS message command
* SMS speak command
* lock timeout
* restore settings on boot
* record sound from microphone
* start and stop data connection from SMS
* start and stop WIFI connection from SMS
* content browser prototype

I’d originally tried “Where’s My Droid“, another free app, but it didn’t work for me. In theory. you text your magic phrase to your phone (from a friend’s cellphone) and it will make your phone ring, screen and/or light up. But I lost my phone in my house earlier and have about 9 text messages with the magic phrase and it didn’t do a single thing. Then I went and tried Android Lost and fell in love.  What a great app!

The Apple equivalent free software is Find my Iphone, available from the Itunes app store.

My kids have big heads.  I mean, big.  My oldest son can wear hats that are mine, or at least were mine before I got larger hair.

Here’s mon petit fils for my entry into the I Heart Faces 30 day challenge, themed hat:

#iHeartFaces

In the launching of my boudoir and pin-up services, I decided to do a couple of mini-sessions to entice some people who were interested, yet scared of boudoir to try it.  Lower initial investment, and once they see the photos, a full service session ensues.  Here are some of a very pretty lady to remain unnamed.  Thanks for letting me display your photos – you know who you are. LOL.