You would never know she is battling cancer. You see, almost 3 months ago now, Tracey (now affectionately known as MIGHTY MOM) was nominated for the Mother’s Day Giveaway. And with nearly 2,000 votes, she won a family portrait session AND digital negatives. After reading the story and seeing just how much her friends and family were willing to do to make sure that she won, I was more than a little excited to meet this amazing woman.

And, may I just say, I was not disappointed. Tracey’s not only a fighter, she has a WHOLE FAMILY of fighters too. After meeting her former-marine/policeman husband, her daredevil-Wipeout-star son, and her two gorgeous-athletic-talented daughters, I am no longer surprised by the number of votes. She is one incredible woman with one heck of a support system around her.

She’s headed into her round of treatments and I am sure she’s already kickin’ butt and taking names.

Umm. Yeah. Can’t tell he was a Marine AT ALL….

We were visited by a little mommy duck and her ducklings while we were shooting…

Tracey, you totally inspire me. Truly. Thank you for letting me be a part of documenting this part of your lives. Your family is beautiful!

Sometimes, when I’m booked for a wedding, I’m excited because of the chance to document an incredible love story. Sometimes it’s a venue I’m dying to get to capture through my lens. Occasionally, it’s the details and the vendors I’ll get to work with. But rarely is it because I can’t WAIT to get the chance to document the joining of two incredible families. But that is definitely the case with Mandy & Bryan.

I may not have known Bryan much before this particular session. And I may not have met much of his family yet. BUT I can tell already exactly how epic this will be. Because I do know Mandy. And I do know the Branam family. I spent much of my teenage years wanting to BE a Branam. So knowing that a) Mandy totally digs this guy, b) the rest of the Branams like him too, and c) Mandy says things like “His family might actually be as cool as mine” and I know I’m in for one heck of an epic party. This might just be the greatest coalition since the joining of the words “shoes” and “sale”. Nay, since the world-changing combo of chocolate and peanut butter. It’s going to be that good people. Needless to say, I was beyond excited when Mandy & Bryan booked with me. Beeeeeeeyooooooooond.

So when Mandy & Bryan said something along the lines of “Oh hey, we want to do our engagement session at Dodger Stadium”, two things came to mind: 1) That’s like, oh, I don’t know, the PERFECT place for Mandy (she’s a sports journalist and a crazy Dodgers fan) and 2) How in the world are they going to manage that? Because, last time I checked, Dodger Stadium was one of those places in LA that gets used a lot. Cue Bryan’s crazy-awesome connections. Like knowing the head electrician for the entire stadium (who has keys to EVERYTHING). Cha-ching! We literally had the entire stadium to ourselves. That just might be the definition of awesome-sauce.

Gorg.eous. Whether or not she knows it…

Look at Bryan rockin’ his inner stud-muffin.

And just to finish off the start of this chocolate+peanut butter+shoe+sale+epicness union, we headed over to the Griffith Observatory too. Ahhhh yeeeeaaaahhhh….

I don’t know what made Mandy laugh (as much as I would like to pretend it was me, it was probably Bryan…), but I am forever grateful to whatever it was. Because it makes for some super adorableness.

We had to break rules and go under the off-limits rope for this one, but I think it was worth it. There’s just something charming about it for me. Of course, I stayed safely on the non-rule-breaker side of the rope….

Ahhhh sunset goodness…. No post of mine is complete without a little sun-flare now is it?

Mandy, Bryan, I simply CAN’T WAIT. Bring on the epic. I’m ready!

:: abigail : one month and counting :: from Brienne Michelle on Vimeo.

Oy.

But one of the most recent “Wow, I’m getting old” moments for me was working with the stunningly beautiful McKenzie. Because I seriously remember her from when she was like, oh I don’t know, 7 years old. And somehow, while I was busy thinking I was just moving forward with life, I was apparently getting old because now she’s a grown woman with a college degree.

She really is beautiful and clearly very intelligent. Plus she’s totally charming with her adorable smile that makes her eyes disappear a little bit. And she’s releasing an album soon to boot. The “total package” I’d say.

RAWR.

I think these next three are a tie for my favorites.

Despite how old it makes me feel, I’m excited to see where McKenzie goes!

At least Alan Rickman is 64. Which makes me feel younger for a few minutes. Until I realize that I remember when he was in his 40’s. And that he was born in 1946. Double oy.

Remember this guy? He’s growing up faster than either I or his mother (Lexi) would like to admit. Somehow Brandon has turned 9 years old.

He’s just as sweet and adorable as ever. But he’s marching closer and closer to that line where a “little boy” becomes a “young man” right in front of our eyes. He has flashes of goofiness and that silly little guy who was a toddler just yesterday. But it’s quickly followed by the serious side. You know, the side that says things like “Mooooo-ooooomm” in that embarrassed-teenager-voice.

He still has one of my favorite smiles ever. The kind where his eyes pretty much disappear. I love that.

And lucky for him, he’s got a new manly influence in his life to teach him all the cool things.

Because his mom not only has a son morphing into a man right in front of her, but she has an awesome friend-turned-boyfriend-turned-fiancé in her life now too.

And to put it mildly, I think Brandon is pretty excited about it too.

Congrats on the engagement you two (well, three I guess!)! I’m excited to see your awesome family growing!

In the meantime, here’s a few sneak peeks from a fabulous family I worked with a few weeks ago!

Remember all the way back to, oh, I don’t know, MAY when I promised more coming from this engagement shoot? Well, I’m finally posting some of the images. I can’t believe this one slipped through the crack, but I’m making it right now!

I met up with John & Kristin at Vasquez Rocks just before they closed to get some red rock magic before we headed out to Lancaster to the Poppy Preserve. Unfortunately, though the poppy preserve area itself was sadly lacking in California poppies, we did find some off the side of the road. And, even more awesomely (it’s a word in my language, don’t judge), we ended up pulling off the road right by an awesome little ranch/farm. Not only were there like 10 broke down trucks and tractors, but some beat up old semi-abandoned grain silos too. Photographer heaven.

John & Kristin didn’t even batt an eyelash when I got all artsy-fartsy on them.

Goodness gracious, they’re cute together.

See what I mean? Photographer.Heaven.

I love sunset light….

John & Kristin – I can’t wait for your Tuesday wedding this August! You guys already rocked it once, I can’t wait to see what the wedding holds!

:: b ::