Did I get your attention?

Well here is the chant in its entirety. “Underwear, underwear, pee, underwear.” Sung over and over by Ryan on my shoot with him and his brother Luke. It was a great ice-breaker. By sessions end all of us, Mommy included were singing the song. Quite frankly it was stuck in my brain for the next few days as well. I don’t know what to say about these two boys except for the fact that they are two of the cutest things I’ve ever seen. Ryan, aka Bubs thinks he’s five just like his older brother Luke, so anything Luke can do, Bubs can do too. Such as, throwing rocks at cars, jumping across haystacks, climbing on top of mailboxes, dodging cars on the blacktop, running aimlessly across a private golf course, and spitting water.  What “typical” boys!   

I didn’t stop moving the whole time.  Luke and Ryan were on the go from the second they got out of the car. “Hey, Ms. Katie,” they both said. I love hearing that. Ms. Katie is definitely a name I won’t ever tire of hearing.  In the past “Bubs” has been so serious with me and really up to this point had never spoken a word to me. Perhaps out here on his own photo shoot with his big brother by his side he was more in his element. Luke was in his element too. I can see he enjoys being a big brother.  We finished up with a few more rolls in the dirt , said our goodbyes with a few high fives, and I walked back to my car smiling the whole way. It was a good day! 

Well, for that matter so, is my friend Lindsay. I totally embrace my inner dork and it definitely came out as we both approached  the gates to the pumpkin patch with wide eyes and big smiles. Besides the fact that we were the only ones there without kids and the three inch heels worn by Lindsay, I’d have to say we fit right in. I think the two of us were having more fun than some of the kids there. As two photographers we had to take advantage of the setting and decided to disregard the signs posted around the patch. Oh well, it made for better pictures. Of course pumpkin patches have changed a great deal since I was a kid. The rides and games and mazes and ponies were definitely not around when I was a kid. It was more like pick your pumpkin and leave.  But every once in awhile it is fun to relive your childhood! 

I hope everyone has a happy Halloween!

Every ten years! Every ten years Dale and her son, Loyal get together to take family photos. I’d say I was pretty lucky to be the photographer they chose for their ten year portrait. Dale is a co-worker of mine and was so excited to get together today down in Seal Beach to take some overdue Mother/Son photos. As a gift to his mother, Loyal agreed to this session, and by the look on his Mom’s face I know she was so happy. Oh course, now he has some leverage over her and I’m sure he will figure out something good to collect on. Dale asked me after our session was over what makes me the happiest in being a photographer? I told her it was meeting new people and getting to interact with them. How cool is it that I get to meet new people everyday and am privvy to a small glimpse into their relationships! There was love here, and I feel pretty lucky to have been there to capture it! 

I accomplished one of my lifetime goals yesterday. I finished my first MARATHON! 26.2 miles! How crazy is that. My training lasted for 5 months and I ran with an awesome group named Team in Training. An organization that takes normal people like me and turns them into marathoners, all while raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. My coach Noah helped me tremendously during the day and seeing my teammates along the race was inspiring. 

My family and friends were out there to support me yesterday, all strategically placed throughout the course. My parents and two sisters, Jackie and Marie, had flown down from San Francisco, Saturday night, to be up by 6:30am Sunday morning to see me run by. My cousins Dave and Shannon provided me with gummy bears, frozen sponges, goldfish crackers, and lots of cheers on the course as well. By mile 19, I was hurting.My hips hurt, my feet hurt. I was stuggling.  But when I turned back onto Atherton St, coming out of Cal State Long Beach I  heard my name from across the street, “MAHONEY!” My friends, Debbie, Elle and Hannah were there for a much needed push. Suddenly I had a surge of adreneline. I could do it, I could finish, I didn’t have much further to go. With that two more friendly faces appeared. My close friends Shiela and Lindsay were shouting my name. I think I jumped up and down like a crazy person, not looking like someone who had just run 19 miles, my smile was from ear to ear. I planted a nice sweaty hug on Lindsay and Shiela took photos. 

I can’t tell you how much the family and friends support pushed me to the end. By mile 26 I said to myself, you did it, you did it. I looked to the left saw my parents and started to tear up. Down the hill and toward the finish line I heard my sisters cheering for me. They took photos as I neared the finish and I began to cry. All the hard work had paid off and I was about to cross the finish line. I heard the announcers say, “Katie Mahoney from Huntington Beach, Katie, Katie, Katie,” they chanted. I started at 7:05 am yesterday morning and finished exactly six hours later. I am proud to call myself a marathoner. 

Thank you to Shiela Hizon for all the wonderful and animated photography! You’re the best! Thanks you to all who supported me by donating money and for those who came out and cheered me on. I appreciate it more than you know. Love to all!

My oldest friend Elena, was only here in Southern California for 5 hours this past Monday, but it was just the  right amount of time to catch up. Her flight was an hour late out of New York into LAX, but I love the airport. Not necessarily for the flying part of it, but the people watching is the best.  There were disgruntled workers and travelers, cranky kids, all kinds of people waiting the arrivals of  friends and family, business people, common folk like me, and the funniest and most interesting was this gang of middle-aged men wearing suits holding up signs for the people they were there to pick up with their town cars and limos. They had earpieces on, clipboards, and airport carts armed and ready for their customers. They spoke quietly amongst each other and were laughing as if they spoke their own language. It was funny.

Lunch was on the agenda first. I came to find out that most food places in Seal Beach are closed on Mondays. We found a little Mexican shack off Main St. for some grub. The rest of the time was spent sitting on the beach chatting as only girls really know how to do. I decided to take some fun shots of the two of us and some of her alone. Nothing fancy, just having fun. She told me of her wonderful vacation to New York, the Empire State Building, Ellis Island, the Brooklyn Bridge, etc. Life back to the real world was not something she was looking forward to. Soon it was right back to LAX so she could journey back home to San Francisco.  It was short, but sweet.

Elena and I have been friends since first grade, although we live so far apart, she is the kind of friend that when we get the chance to get together it is as if no time has passed at all.  I love ya! See you soon!

My friends gathered with me last night to celebrate. I had a housewarming party a month after moving into my new digs. As a first time party planner I was a bit nervous there wouldn’t be enough food, my music would suck, and no one would be talking. Well as guests arrived they could hear us down the street so they knew they were at the right house, the food and sangria was a hit and gone by the end of the night, I had my friend Rynae burn me a CD of “cool” music, and the talking and laughing didn’t stop till the last guest left. 

I had a blast. Thanks to all “my people” for enjoying this night with me. Love you all!

I was invited to swim lessons with my nieces and nephew. How ridiculously cute it was. Swimming lessons are so much different from when I was a kid. Blowing bubbles underwater, oh no that’s so remedial. They can dive. Dive, seriously.  I don’t even remember liking the water at age four much less knowing how to dive. It was pretty adorable. My nephew, Alex is in the toddler swim class and they  walk on a foam board like they are surfing and at the end they jump in. He is pretty fearless for he just walks into the water off the side of the  pool. It terrified me and his mother, but he loves the water. I can’t believe how fast they all grow!

It’s official..my cousin Katie is officially a Brown today! I had the honor of being a part of her Adoption Day this week! Daddy and Mommy, Dave and Shannon were elated. I think they had smiles plastered on their face the whole day. A late afternoon trip to Nordstom the night before had both Mommy and Daddy looking very snazzy! Katie, of course looked adorable. We were first on the docket and the proceedings took less than 10 minutes. Our nice Bailiff John allowed me to photograph on the judges side of the table and even offered to take a group shot afterwards. 

The day was quick but very emotional. Amongst smiles, tears were flowing. Tears of joy, of course!  The day was a long awaited one, but worth every minute. We headed over to Fridays for a celebratory drink afterwards and while opening presents my cousin Dave made a very keen observation. All the children’s books written about pregnancy or adoption lack a father character. And it is so true. They always are written from the mother’s perspective and how she could not wait for her little one to enter the world. Well, seeing how in love Dave was with Katie today, all you children’s authors out there, don’t forget Daddy’s can’t wait for the arrival of their little ones too! 

Congratulations Dave, Shannon, and Katie! 

Hello everyone! Can you believe we are only days away from the beginning of October! The holidays are approaching very fast. Take advantage of my 2009 Christmas Special!

Appointments are limited so book your session right away!  

I grew up with all sisters and when I wanted a taste of what is was like to grow up with brothers all I had to do was hang around my twin cousins Dan and Ben. They were merciless with the teasing, but it was all in fun. As tough as they wanted to appear to me, I knew deep down they were stand-up kind of guys. I learned quite a few lessons from them, that I could never of learned from my sisters. For example I learned  how to throw a dodge ball, how when playing cops and robbers you  always wanted to be the robber, it was much cooler, how to play cards and be strategic, that there is a way to give a good headlock, wet willies are always an alternative, that loyalty and family are the most important thing, and as we grew older I learned I wanted to find someone for my life, that had many of the same character traits as them. 

I photographed three brothers just like my cousins this weekend. Quinn, Miles, and DJ. Not many years divide them, and although they were as rambunctious as any brothers should be, they were very polite to me, cautious, and quite protective of each other . They looked out for one another and made fun of each other all at the same time. As an observer it was just a moment when Quinn helped his younger  brother DJ up onto a ledge that made me stand back and smile. It’s these simple things that make me  happy to be a photographer. It is funny how you can sometimes relate people to situations from your own past. I saw my cousins in them so much and it made me very nostalgic.

My favorite part was when I showed their Mom the photos and she replied, “Oh my gosh-I have looked at the pictures about a thousand times now-your photography is magical-you captured their personalities to the tee!!” This makes me so happy. We had a great time. The weather was a bit hot, so orange slices came in handy, and what better way to end a session with a bunch of boys then with some silly string. Quinn, Miles, and DJ..you’re the best!