To you Mom, Yiayia, and Friend

Mom this is for you. You see one year ago today my mom, Peri (Paraskevi) Sarganis, was called home to the Lord.

Mom, that day was the hardest day of my life, only comparable to losing dad 22 years ago. You were so brave in the hospital, even when you knew it was the end. Remember when I asked you if you  were ready to go? When asked if you wanted DNR enforced how you screamed, "Yes!" for the whole ICU to hear. We all knew you had enough pain and wanted to reunite with dad and to meet God. I can picture your smiling face upon seeing your loved ones in heaven. I pray that I may be that brave in the end.

I know you saw me cry every day for the first six months and felt you there comforting me. Thank you for that.

You taught me so much about family, love, devotion, Greek heritage and how to be a mother in return.  I couldn't have raised my kids without your help. I hope I told you often enough how much I appreciated you dropping everything when we needed you. How you made your home open to all. I loved the holidays because I never knew who would be there, who needed a place to call home for the day. Your door was always open.

Mom, you will never be forgotten. How can we? You were larger than life. Always smiling, singing, and making us laugh. You know some of that laughter was by accident but mostly on purpose.

You were funny without even trying. Like how every piece of your clothing, shoes, and accessories that you wore were a Different Bright color. You sure loved your bright colors and your "Glorious" flowers.

Every flower in your huge garden was "Glorious".  That was your favorite word. I remember your love of Gardening, Singing, Cooking but mostly being with your loved ones. I have so many favorite memories. I always felt loved by you, even when you were hard on me. I know you were doing it to make me grow as an adult. I know I wasn't an easy daughter at times. You told me often enough. :-)

Like the time I told you at 19 years old I was engaged. Thank you for not freaking out. I now know how incredibly young that was to be married. Or how you would get so frustrated with me because I liked to go out on the weekends in high school and never seemed to make my curfew.

How about the time I came walking down the stairs for my prom to meet my date (now hubby) and you started singing the Miss America Song, "Here She Comes"?  I know I was the color of a tomato.  You Always trying to be funny and in the meantime embarrassing me like crazy.

Or when Hooters was the only restaurant still open  and you suggested that we go there and we asked you if you new what Hooters was. You replied, "I promise I won't dance on the tables".  Thank you for always making us laugh.

Thankful every day we captured this image of our Big, Fat, Greek Family.

See your big smile on your birthday. Always smiling.

You with your dear friend Joyce. Thought you would like this one.

One of my favorites of you, your high school senior pic

Best parents ever!

This video is how I will always remember you. Singing the craziest songs that no one has ever heard of. You know to this day it doesn't feel like my birthday until you would sing me the birthday song.

(Thank you Liddie for videotaping my mom. You captured her being my crazy mom.)

Well mom, we all miss you and love you. I know you are reading this letter and I hope it brings a smile to your face. Give dad a hug for me.

Wood Fairy

My two daughters and I recently took a girl's trip to Seattle and Portland and had a wonderful time. We all are in love with the Pacific Northwest, so beautiful, peaceful and serene.

These were photographed just outside of Forks, Wa. at the National Park. Yes, this is the town where the Twilight Movies are set.

I set out to capture a soft, back lit wood fairy images and I am so happy with the results. This is my adopted daughter and absolutely adore her. Thank you Jenny for posing for me. You are amazing.

Smiley Face Matt!

Matt was a referral from one of my favorite clients in Texas so we had never met before in person. The second I meet him he had a smile on his face and it never left. Hence, Smiley Face Matt!

See what I mean? We just had to add these images to his album. This is who he is.

Matt session was a cake walk and a joy to photograph. How do I get so lucky to have absolutely the best clients? I had a great time photographing Matt and his good friend Chris together in a combined session. You both were troopers throughout the many hours of shooting and I couldn't be happier with the results.

Here is my favorite close up of Matt. Interesting that it is a serious expression. But, that is me. I love that serious look.

And, that was one of the few serious images I captured. Here is the proof. lol This is the very next image. Besides, isn't the whole point of the portrait session is to capture who they are?  Like I said, that's Matt.

A few more of my favorite album pages from our session.

 I love extending the session past sunset and capturing some moody night images. I'm drawn to the dark shadows and enchanted with the completely different emotion night time photography emits.

I was doubly blessed to meet Matt's parents and I found Melissa and Perry quite charming and wonderful to work with. Again, how lucky am I? Thank you all for allowing me into your family. I hope you enjoy these images for years to come.

Four out of Four

Every so often I'm blessed to find a wonderful family that has adopted me as their family photographer. This particular family is the Hoegger's. I love them all and enjoyed photographing all four of their children's high school senior sessions, their family session, and Steve's Hotel Renovation business.

The mom, Kim is a fabulous Interior Designer and owns a beautiful shop in downtown Rockwall, TX called Kim Hoegger Home. The shop carries a nice mix of gift, home, furniture, clothing and jewelry. And of course she offers her creative interior design skills. She is charming, creative and what I love most is how family means everything to her. After five minutes of talking with her it's obvious how much she loves her kids. And after talking with her kids it's obvious how much they in turn love her.

She first called me to photograph her oldest, charismatic Corey, for his senior session in 2009. Here are some of my fav collection from his album.

In 2010 I was privileged to photograph Child #2, the sweet and beautiful Kelli.

Next was Child #3 in 2014, the adorable Cara.

So many favorites I'm getting carried away here with posting images.

Well, in 2014 we left Texas and moved home to California. I told Kim that we were moving and if memory serves me correctly she shouted, "What about Chris?" You see, child #4. Later she told me that even Chris was upset that I wouldn't be in town to photograph him and stated that it wasn't fair. 

OMG, I loved hearing that and you know I jumped on a plane and flew back to Texas this past spring to photograph  Child #4 2015. I just couldn't imagine not coming back and thoughts in my head were swirling about with jealously that another photographer would be called in to take my place.  Nope, their mine! lol

Here is the handsome Chris with a huge heart.

Did I mention the day I'm ready to fly home and Kim calls me in the morning and asks if I can photograph all the "girls" in the blue bonnets before I leave? That's another blog post. lol

Thank you Steve, Kim, Corey, Kelli, Cara, and Chris! You ALL put a smile on my face and so grateful that you trust me with recording a little bit of your family history.

Brandan 2015

I'm so honored to have photographed Brandan several times over the years, but there is something extra special about a High School Senior Session. I feel it tells more of a story then a regular session as we travel to several different locations with wardrobe changes.

His passion's our playing the guitar, baseball and race car driving. Well, that sounded like a good mix to me. Take a peek.

Thank you Brandan, you rocked this session and I'm so honored to record this right of passage. God Speed.