BEST.HUSBAND.EVER. ~ Oregon Coast Photographer ~ Rachel Clare

February 26, 2009 | Filed Under Mine | 10 Comments

This is an old picture, taken with my old camera. It’s not the best quality, but it’s my very favorite picture of him.

I love this man. For so many reasons. Shall I list them? He’s funny. He laughs at his own jokes. He’s a good father. He’s a hard worker. He makes the best cookies. He does dishes. He knows how to organize. I don’t. He’s a great travel companion. He’s helpful. He supports me. Always. Like, in every hair-brained idea I’ve ever had. He’s my biggest fan. He’s honest. He’s got integrity. He’s strong when I’m weak. He’s okay with being wrong. But he’s not wrong very often. He asks for directions. He deals with all things “cars”. He planted a huge garden in our backyard. He loves every part of me. He’s never weighed less than me, even when I was 9 1/2 months pregnant (and I love him SO MUCH for this). He tickles my feet. He’s totally handsome. And this morning, after the worst week EVER (he loves it when I exaggerate… ha!), he surprised me with a day at the spa & hot springs. A day complete with a mineral bath, a mud bath, “The Grotto”- being painted with a rich moisturizer then sent to a hot underground cave to let it soak in, a fabulous lunch, a roman bath, and a long massage. Oh, and he sent one of my very best friends with me. What a guy.

Why do I love this man so? Because he is good. And he is mine. And I will forever be grateful.

Thank you, JT, for this day. I love you. xoxoxo.

Button Contest! ~ Southern California Child Photographer ~ Rachel Clare

February 23, 2009 | Filed Under Announcements, Contests | 4 Comments

I’m having a contest. Thanks to my friend Jen, I learned how to make myself a button. I know, should have been easy, right? I don’t have the time or patience to figure this out on my own. I had to ask for specific instructions. But, it’s done! Who wants a button? Here’s how this works…
Put my button on the sidebar of your blog, send me an email (rachel@rachelclarephoto.com) and direct me to your blog, and you’ll be entered to win. What’s the prize, you ask? A free 11×14 print, mounted and lustre-sprayed for protection (worth $125) with an upcoming session. So get to it! I’ll randomly choose a winner one week from today- Monday, March 2nd. Tell your friends to do the same, and you’ll get your name submitted to the pot twice! (They have to tell me who referred them!)
Good luck!!

(To add my button to your blog, simply copy the HTML code below, go to your layout page, then click on “add a gadget” then select the “HTML/java script” link and paste the code below in the content box.)

She’s Used To Rain ~ Inland Empire Child Photographer ~ Rachel Clare

February 20, 2009 | Filed Under Children | 10 Comments

While visiting the rainy city of San Fran last weekend, I was able to photograph this little beauty:

Isn’t she GORGEOUS?!

Getaway ~ Southern CA Lifestyle Photographer ~ Rachel Clare

February 18, 2009 | Filed Under Just Because, Mine | 4 Comments

So………….

We took advantage of the long weekend and headed up north for a little R&R (note: going to San Francisco with two children promises NO rest & relaxation, by the way).

Truth? Ever since riding “Soaring Over California” at CA Adventure, I’ve wanted to hit every one of the places featured on that ride. My dear friend Jen started this great thing with her family called “Discovering Arizona” (and they’re from Arizona!) — they choose a new place from time to time to “discover”. So, we’re going to discover California, because there’s so much here to see! We decided that a trip to the Bay Area would be a fun place to start.

Not only did I want to enjoy some chill in the air (So. Cal is much too hot for my taste) and rain, I wanted to see a cousin of mine who lives in Berkeley, I wanted some really great Italian food (hello North Beach), I wanted to ride a street car and cable car, and I wanted to see Alcatraz.

Why Alcatraz? Because I’ve got a strange connection… My grandfather used to live there. Not permanently, by the way. He spent a couple of summers there (from ‘34-’36) because his stepfather (my ~~great-step-grandfather… step-great-grandfather…~~ my great-grandmother’s second husband) was the Electrician there for a number of years. Cool, right?

It was really interesting to take the tour anyway, but knowing that my Papa had spent part of his youth playing on the Parade Grounds made it a more special experience for me. And check this out: Al Capone carried his luggage from the dock one summer! Seriously- so cool. My big claim to fame. (Besides the claim to fame that came with having my Mom’s older sister work as the live-in nanny/ nutritionist for Bing Crosby’s kids! … okay, I’m stretching now…)

I’m posting pictures (mostly for my Papa to see) of our trip- Alcatraz and a few from around San Fran.

It was a lovely weekend, but next time I go to San Francisco (or Chicago, or Seattle, or NYC or anywhere, for that matter), I won’t be taking children.

(he looks thrilled, right?)

Behind us is what they call the “Parade Grounds”- where the families of those who worked on Alcatraz lived.

This big patch of green is where the white houses stood that my grandpop lived in for a few summers.

14 February ~ Southern CA Pancake Photographer ~ Rachel Clare

February 14, 2009 | Filed Under Just Because | 5 Comments

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! from our kitchen to yours.
(yes, i do love making pancakes into shapes- initials, hearts, Mickey Mouse, etc. and my kids get an absolute KICK out of it.)

Updates ~ Southern California Photographer ~ Rachel Clare

February 12, 2009 | Filed Under Announcements, Mine | 1 Comment

I’ve got some updates, housekeeping, what-have-you.

First off- the aforementioned Teen Model Search has been extended until the end of March. The new deadline for anyone who wishes to be considered is March 23rd, and we will be shooting the following Saturday- March 28th. Again, this is a teen model search for boys and girls, ages 14-18. Please send a photograph along with a name, location, and phone number to rachel@rachelclarephoto.com and include “model search” in the subject line. I’m excited for this project to get started!

Next- I’m finally getting onto a project I’ve put off for a while- a quarterly newsletter! Newsletters are set to arrive in your inbox soon! If you’re not on our email list, and would like to be, please send us a quick email with “newsletter” as the subject and tell us your name and which email address you’d like us to send your quarterly newsletter to! We’re gettin’ ORGANIZED!

Third- Unfortunantely, we’re having to mention, again, that the images on this blog as well as on the website are copyrighted by Rachel Clare Photography. It is NOT okay to copy and save images from our blog or site. If you’d like to purchase digital files, we’ve got a package for you! Be nice. Don’t steal.

Bleah. I hate that. On to prettier things.

Here is how I enjoyed Super Bowl Sunday…

Model Search ~ Southern CA Teen Photographer ~ Rachel Clare

February 7, 2009 | Filed Under Announcements | 1 Comment

Expecting ~ Redlands CA Maternity Photographer ~ Rachel Clare

February 5, 2009 | Filed Under Maternity | 27 Comments

I appologize in advance for the lack of detail… I’m swamped tonight but really wanted to get a sneak peek up for this sweet couple! They’re expecting a handsome (hopefully not 9 lb., right Sarah?) baby boy in the next couple of weeks. I’m thrilled for them! Thanks to Tim and Sarah for a really lovely Tuesday morning session. I had a great time getting to know you both, and am anxious to meet your little bundle when he comes!
(Note: I’m going to gift the R. family a lovely print if they get 25 comments on this blog post! So leave them some love!! …. And READ: to comment, click on ‘leave a comment’ ABOVE.)