Kaela- Missing her Mom

This is a look back at a very special session I did last year of a beautiful young girl, Kaela who had an equally beautiful personality. It was about this time of year and it was chilly.  Carla, her grandmother, recently contacted me and I thought I would show off the portrait session we had at the beach.  I also wanted to share the touching note Carla wrote:

Kaela is a 9 yr. old child of Autism, she is bright, loving, and funny in her own kind of way. Her Mother is in the Navy, and at the time the photos were taken she was in Bahrain and had been for almost a year. I wanted these photos taken and made into an album to be given to her Mother for not only Mother's Day, but as a Homecoming Gift as well.


Monica,

I really appreciate what you do for the Military, it is such a Wonderful way of giving back to them.

THANK YOU!!

Carla

Carla,  thank you for allowing me to capture these moments!

"The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera."

                                    -Dorthea Lange

Two Girls and 1 Mom - Missing Dad!

When I say too cute, I really mean it! Mom and these two girls were so fun to photograph. They called me to do a session so that they could send some portraits to Dad who is on a very long deployment. Although, to every military family facing this, what deployment isn't long?

I am so excited to get this beautiful wall portrait, that you see above, to mom. I just love how it turned out and makes a great example of a composite or collage.

We even got a little bit of a fun attitude showing up during the photo session! It's always welcomed and makes for a great shot! They both have one of Dads hats on. Makes me smile every time!

The older of the two was great at posing here. We did get quite a bit with her wearing the hat then we tried pulling it away from her for this sassy picture under the pier.

The younger sister had no problem posing for the camera either! She has such a beautiful innocent look with her adorable braided pigtails! I soooo love it! You know me, I have all boys, so all this cute girlyness is so much fun!

No beach photo session is complete with out a walk along the surf! They made it extra special by taking advantage as a moment to have fun together. I know their dad is going to truely adore these with so much of their personality showing through!

Full of giggles and grins!

And even mom joined in for the shoot! I'm so glad she did. Dad will appreciate it! I hope you enjoy your portraits and my prayers for you and your family will continue until he is home! Thank you for becoming a Cocoa Bean Customer!

I ♥ LOVE ♥ My Clients!! And Amber's Homecoming Preview

I just want to say thank you to all my customers. I really do love what I'm doing and I hope it shows! Cocoa Bean Photography Customers are the best! I wanted to post Amber's comments(My client while shooting the Iwo Jima's Homecoming).

She was so sweet to send such lovely remarks! Love it!

"So, It's almost midnight & I happened to think, hey I should check out the Cocoa Bean sight. I happened to stumble across this blog & wanted to let everyone here know how amazing you are! Words can not express the appreciation I have for you & what you did for my family that day. I never expected to see you stay past the first delay, let alone tough it out with all of us crazy, soaked Navy families. It means the world to me to have those images forever in my heart and to be able to share them with my daughter and family. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything. And thank you to your friend as well! I can not wait to see the photos. I know the will great!ps... My husband says thank you too!" ~Amber

Amber- Thank you and here is your preview!



Amber and her daughter waiting anxiously for her Daddy to come in! She was so ready to see her favorite guy, and so sweet dressed in an adorable little sailor dress. Amber and all her family waited it out patiently.


...but as you can see waiting is not easy. If you happened to catch the previous blog explaining how long we had to wait you would already know- 6 extra hours is tough!

Even tougher in the cold, drizzley rain!


It is always a grand moment to watch the ships come in, but to be a sideliner watching the crowd of wives, children, and friends wait it out is heart wrenching!

Even with all that wait there is nothing that beats the happy ending! For me to get to record these happy endings is truely a pleasure and honor! Congratulations on your sailor coming home Amber and the rest of the families on the Iwo Jima.

Mercedes and Steven

I can't believe I have not posted a blog about this family. Steven and Mercedes' little girl was so darn sweet and so fun. I think every one who knows me knows I get all excited around little, adorable, pink, girls. No, it's not because I some wierd girl stalker! It's just one of those things about having 4 boys and a husband that I feel a little need for pink once in a while. So when I get the chance for fluff and ruffles I have a blast.

With this family, it was no exception. I stopped by their home and set up for their session. Steven is in the military, so we incorporated some shots that centered around that spirit. Perfect images to enjoy when he's on deployment.

Thank you Steven and Mercedes.
I hope you all enjoy the preview.

This one really filled the pink, fluffy, lacey girly need. I love this one and want to get a big display of it.

The patriotic baby! Raising the flag for her Daddy!

The girl who can really melt the tough guy!

Both beautiful mother and daughter, Gorgeous Girls!