While we were in Los Angeles a couple weeks ago, we had the pleasure of photographing this adorable family!  The mama, Janica, saw on twitter that we were heading out there for a few days, and wrote me immediately about wanting to do a family session.  You see, she lives in Texas, but her husband is currently working in LA.  She and their adorable two kiddos (Parker and Bailey), happened to be planning a trip out there at the exact same time we were visiting.  :)

Janica is a photographer herself, which translates to, she is never in any photos with her family ;)  Well, we remedied that up right quick!  It was an honor (and big fun) to hang out in such a beautiful place, and just photograph a family enjoying each others company.

Parker and Bailey are adorable.  Bailey was singing “Veggie Tales” on repeat.  ;)

I think Bailey was telling everyone to scoot away from her.  Girl needed some space!

We had to make sure and get plenty of shots of just the two of them….Janica, you are a strong woman to be without your man for so long!

To all you SoCal photogs out there….it must REALLY get boring to shoot in such luscious, luminous light…..EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.

{ok….I am letting my jealousy go.}

I just had to snag a shot of Brett, you know, doing his thang.

(P.S. My husband’s hot.)

Janica and Matt, thanks so much for sharing a bit of your {precious} time together to shoot with us.

Tell Parker and Bailey HI for Brett and Jess, and the “mans”  ;)

Last week we went to LA for a few days.  If you have been visiting our blog for a while, then you know we make the trip out there a time or two a year for photo sessions, and for fun with Brett’s brother Jason.  :)

This go round we had the pleasure of going to a super awesome workshop too.  BONUS!

Most of our time spent in LA revolves around food.  The variety of food out there blows my mind.  AMAZING.

Here is one of our breakfasts….which is my favorite meal of the day.

We went shopping on Melrose, and checked out the Vader Project, where artists’ customized replicas of the actual Darth Vader helmet from the STAR WARS™ films.

Some were cool, some funny, some….um, interesting.

Back at the house the boys geeked out on the cube.  J was trying to teach Brett “the technique.”

Later that night we went to the hotel cafe and my heart {nearly} exploded.  Not only was it my first time there, but we also were able to see Greg Laswell and Brian Wright. 

After the show we went to dinner and as we were walking back to the car we hear someone AMAZINGLY playing the piano.  Jason knew it was Brother Sal, whose music he had introduced us to just a few months ago.  Jason makes a year end compilation (click here to listen to it) and Brother Sal was on that compilation.  We got to hear the song “I Will Tell” live….

….in a piano bar.

And it was flipping GOOD.

{I walked back to the car on cloud nine….”only in LA.”}

Next day….

We gathered a few friends and after another amazing meal at another amazing LA restaurant (I can’t say amazing enough on this topic people), we went on a little photo exploration.

We had a shoot scheduled while out there which was taking place that evening, so we did some scouting around.

First up is a place I have wanted to visit since I first saw it up close and personal in “500 Days of Summer”……remember this building at the end?

This is the Bradbury Building…and it is such a beautiful architectural work- built in 1893.

We explored some tunnel near the Los Angeles River.  It was pretty rad.

As we set up this shot with a timer, we see 3 police officers on bikes racing down the tunnel towards us.  We were standing there hoping it would take before they got there.

They were very nice- advised us to scram unless we wanted to hang out with gang members that frequent the area.  We moved on.

We went over to the Los Angeles Union Station and decided….this is where our shoot should begin. 

The shoot happened (and will be blogged SOOON!) and then we went to dinner at this swanky place.

The macaroni made me cry. I do not lie.

Bacon Banana ice cream with jalapeno fudge sauce anyone?

The next day we had to say goodbye to Jason and move south….

We ended at a hotel touching the Pacific coast, and I felt like the waves were going to roll right in.

We did a ridiculous amount during the 4 days we were in California.  We had an amazing time.

I am a California girl at heart.

{ThE EnD}