Rachel Clare Photo - RSS http://rachelclarephoto.com/ en Copyright 2012 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:05:35 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Your Valentine's Day Gift :: (for newer posts, scroll down)

webValentine2012.jpg

]]> http://rachelclarephoto.com/2012/02/your-valentines-day-gift.html http://rachelclarephoto.com/2012/02/your-valentines-day-gift.html news Tue, 14 Feb 2012 16:05:35 -0800 January 2012, in iPhone photos

1. January 2nd was spent at the beach. Elias and JT actually swam, but make no mistake, the water was frigid!
2. Maura, beach dirty-- the best kind of dirty.
3. Rowan roasts marshmallows after a day on Balboa.
4. Rowan, wearing Emeline's hand-me-downs, at the beach.
5. Disneyland! E and the Queen of Hearts. (We don't normally pose with characters, but no one else was around, so he asked.)
6. Rowan, accessorized to the max, at Downtown Disney.
7. The kids and Mrs. Claus-- apparently Santa and the Mrs. vacation in So Cal after the Christmas Holiday. We got to see all of his reindeer too...
8. Maura rides a carousel.
9. CA Adventure, at night.
10. This is what happens, every time, on the way home from Disney.
11. Rowan turns 5! We made cupcakes for her little school class.
12. Her Nonna sent her a new pair of keens. She digs 'em.
13. In lieu of a party, she got to pick a friend and Build-A-Bear. We had a fun girls-day-out.
14. Birthday lunch at the Cheesecake Factory!
15. Row & Maura. Love the glow-in-the-dark glasses!
16. Sunset at Balboa.
17. Daddy taught seminary one morning (substitute), and Maura waited and waited for his return.
18. Rowan, flamenco dancer complete with fan.
19. Cartoons are on downstairs, and Maura's reading a book. *love her!*
20. Molly routinely strikes puppy yoga poses.
21. Rowan tries to imitate the puppy yoga.
22. Sunrise-- this is my view most mornings when I leave to exercise.
23. Mr. Bean before school-- we don't normally have 3 extra boys, but I had to do something to keep them entertained before classes started!
24. E & R make shrinky dinks on a rainy afternoon.
25. Maura- the grocery helper. Or destroyer. Whichever way you choose to look at it...
26. Dad & kids watching LOL cats after dinner. You should've heard the laughter!
27. Happy January to me!! I got a new bike! Is there a tri in my future?
28. Maura helps JT put together the new trailer.
29. Maura, purple shirt.
30. Perhaps the most exciting thing last month-- we hired a wonderful woman and her son to help clean. This, dear friends, is an extraordinarily clean kitchen. I'm already looking forward to her return in 12 days.
31. Elias has become an expert hoola-hooper. Truly, I've never seen it done this good, or this many ways.
32. Maura, purple tutu.
33. Rowan made her own bed, then asked me to take her photo. ]]> http://rachelclarephoto.com/2012/02/january-2012-in-iphone-photos.html http://rachelclarephoto.com/2012/02/january-2012-in-iphone-photos.html personal Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:02:14 -0800 Craig & Nicole :: A Corona, CA Beloved Session "Love is the emblem of eternity; it confounds all notion of time; effaces all memory of a beginning, all fear of an end."
--Germaine De Stael

Corona_CA_Wedding_Photography_Rees1.jpgCorona_CA_Wedding_Photography_Rees2.jpgCorona_CA_Wedding_Photography_Rees3.jpgCorona_CA_Wedding_Photography_Rees4.jpgCorona_CA_Wedding_Photography_Rees5.jpgCorona_CA_Wedding_Photography_Rees6.jpgCorona_CA_Wedding_Photography_Rees7.jpgCorona_CA_Wedding_Photography_Rees8.jpg

]]> http://rachelclarephoto.com/2012/01/craig-nicole-a-corona-ca-beloved-session.html http://rachelclarephoto.com/2012/01/craig-nicole-a-corona-ca-beloved-session.html Couples beloved Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:54:22 -0800 Jordan & Danielle :: A Beloved Session in Laguna
"One of my favorite things to do is look at Jordan. When I'm sitting in the passenger seat and he's driving. When we're attempting yoga in our living room. When he's playing with our cat or helping me with the dishes after dinner. It's not because he's so handsome that I love looking at him (he is!), but because it amazes me that I can actually love someone as much as I love him. I look at him and every time it occurs to me, all over again, that this man that I love more than anyone is mine forever. And he will love me forever! He is my best friend and all of the normal, mundane, things we do together are so much better because he's next to me. Not everything we do together is exciting, but they are always little reminders of what we promised each other the day we were married because when I look at him, I am filled with joy and an inexpressible love."
-Danielle

 Laguna_CA_Wedding_Photographer_Beasley01.jpgLaguna_CA_Wedding_Photographer_Beasley02.jpgLaguna_CA_Wedding_Photographer_Beasley03.jpgLaguna_CA_Wedding_Photographer_Beasley04.jpgLaguna_CA_Wedding_Photographer_Beasley05.jpgLaguna_CA_Wedding_Photographer_Beasley06.jpgLaguna_CA_Wedding_Photographer_Beasley07.jpgLaguna_CA_Wedding_Photographer_Beasley08.jpgLaguna_CA_Wedding_Photographer_Beasley09.jpgLaguna_CA_Wedding_Photographer_Beasley10.jpgLaguna_CA_Wedding_Photographer_Beasley11.jpgLaguna_CA_Wedding_Photographer_Beasley12.jpgLaguna_CA_Wedding_Photographer_Beasley13.jpg

]]> http://rachelclarephoto.com/2012/01/jordan-danielle-a-beloved-session-in-laguna.html http://rachelclarephoto.com/2012/01/jordan-danielle-a-beloved-session-in-laguna.html Couples beloved Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:44:25 -0800 family portraits, '50's style When Marni called and talked to me about the idea of a family session straight out of the '50's, I didn't hesitate. This was somewhat out of the box for me, at least in terms of processing, but I felt it was appropriate for these images and the look we were going for.  Their Christmas cards were so darling, and I loved the vibe from that evening!

I've claimed for years now that I was meant to live in the 1950's... shooting this era made me believe it even more!
 WebHoopes01.jpgWebHoopes02.jpgWebHoopes03.jpgWebHoopes04.jpgWebHoopes05.jpgWebHoopes06.jpgWebHoopes07.jpgWebHoopes26.jpgWebHoopes08.jpgWebHoopes09.jpgWebHoopes10.jpgWebHoopes11.jpgWebHoopes12.jpgWebHoopes13.jpgWebHoopes14.jpgWebHoopes15.jpgWebHoopes16.jpgWebHoopes17.jpgWebHoopes18.jpgWebHoopes19.jpgWebHoopes20.jpgWebHoopes21.jpgWebHoopes22.jpgWebHoopes23.jpgWebHoopes24.jpgWebHoopes25.jpg

]]> http://rachelclarephoto.com/2012/01/family-portraits-50s-style.html http://rachelclarephoto.com/2012/01/family-portraits-50s-style.html children family Sat, 07 Jan 2012 15:41:38 -0800 My word, and affirmations for 2012
2012.
A new year and a new chance to be better.

In lieu of a long list of personal and professional goals (neatly written and categorized),
I'm taking a new approach to New Year's Resolutions.

This year, I have one word which I will live by,
and a small list of affirmations which I will repeat and believe and allow to resonate within me.

My word is NOURISH.
 
I will nourish my spirit,
I will nourish my body,
I will nourish my mind,
I will nourish my marriage,
I will nourish my individual relationship with each of my three children.
I will nourish the relationships with those closest to me.
I will nourish the virtue of gratitude, and count my many blessings.

I will let go of those things which bind me and weigh me down, those things which are unimportant and unfulfilling.

My personal affirmations are these:

I am a daughter of a Heavenly Father who loves me, and I love Him.
I am strong and capable.
I am determined.
I am happy.
I can do hard things.
I can make myself better.  I will make myself better.
I am grateful, for my life is richly blessed.


Welcome, 2012.


]]> http://rachelclarephoto.com/2012/01/my-word-and-affirmations-for-2012.html http://rachelclarephoto.com/2012/01/my-word-and-affirmations-for-2012.html personal Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:21:02 -0800 My life in Instagram Photos - Dec. 2011 I'm starting a new project. It's one that won't take hours of my time, nor is it one I think I'll fail at doing.

Two months ago, I purchased a new personal assistant/entertainer/camera/running partner/personal trainer/weather man/alarm/library (I just keep thinking of things!). It's called the iPhone 4s. I've loved snapping pictures and taking video with my new device because it's easy, it's always around, and the quality of the images is relatively good.

My new project can be found in this post-- I will combine, at the end of each month, a collage of my instagram photos detailing my life, along with a brief description of each photo. I hope this will appease those of my far-away family members who have insinuated some displeasure at my lack of personal blogging lately. :)

Here's how our December went down, more or less ::
 Dec2011Instagram.jpg
1. Paco, the Portuguese Elf came to our doorstep on Dec. 1st and watched us carefully, reporting to Santa each night on our behavior.  No one can touch Paco, or he'll disappear.  On Dec. 24th, we found him in the Lucky Charms box on the counter.  We think he was picking out all of the marshmallows.
2. The weather is finally cool enough that I have to wear shoes.  Sometimes.
3. Rowan and I took an afternoon during the holidays and had our toenails done... red with white dots (snow) and a star.
4. Rowan dressed herself.  She does this often, but I don't always capture the end product on film.
5. Elias got an award at school for Academic Achievement. 
6. Molly the dog has taken to doing Puppy Yoga.  I have no idea how this pose is physiologically possible, but she does it all the time.  Crazy animal.
7. Maura & Elias enjoyed candycanes.
8. Maura's first candycane.  It ended with her screaming (literally) for more.
9. Rowan, dressed with fairy wings, sparkly shoes and the mandatory helmet, goes for a bike ride on a sunny December day.
10. My folks came to visit!  The kids with my Dad.
11. Nonno gets a hug from Maura.
12. Nonno & Nonna with the three littles.  I hate living so far apart.
13. Crazy hair day at school.  And missing teeth.
14. Rowan the baker.
15. Homemade marshmallows (courtesy of Martha Stewart-- thank you Marci for the tutorial!)
16. My folks gave Rowan my old cassette collection (minus the Bangles & Wilson Phillips... where did those go?) and an old RCA tape player.  She is IN HEAVEN.
17. Elias makes a craft at his school's Christmas party.
18. JT and I rock the ugly sweaters at the Ugly Sweater/White Elephant party.  (The gift I ended up with is a brown t-shirt that says, "I pooped today." with a little star on it.)
19. Watching the Smurfs on the projector.  Lots of lovely, lazy evenings this month.
20. We surprised Elias and I took him to a matinee of Wicked on Hollywood Blvd.  He loves the soundtrack and kept asking to see the movie.  As there is no film of this production, we decided it was time to introduce him to the theater.
21. E & I inside the Pantages Theater.
22. The LA LDS Temple lights. 
23. JT & Rowan on the train.  We bundled up (yes, it was actually chilly one night!) and rode through a small light set-up.  A fun new tradition.
24. Elias, Maura and I on the train with a creepy guy behind.  I never saw him get on, I never saw him get off.  The ghost of the small light set-up??  Hmmm.
25. Can you say, "leftovers"?
26. Santa brought Maura a rocking horse.
27. Santa brought JT a new bowtie.
28. I make pasta.
29. Maura and Peyton, 5 days apart in age, figure out a smartphone.
30. Elias plays the Wii (a gift from Santa)... we have yet to teach him how to play while sitting down.
31. Elias looses another tooth.  Four current holes in his mouth, 2 more loose.  Oy.
32. All the holiday fun finally makes Maura melt down.
33. It was too dark for the camera to focus, and yet it produced my favorite image of the month.  Rowan and the Christmas tree.

I hope you've all had a happy and meaningful Christmas Season!  Happy New Year's Eve eve!
]]> http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/12/my-life-in-instagram-photos---dec-2011.html http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/12/my-life-in-instagram-photos---dec-2011.html personal Fri, 30 Dec 2011 12:32:34 -0800 My "Why?" I've been thinking for the past couple of weeks about why I am a photographer, and why I love it.  I've spent countless hours and thousands of dollars in equipment and workshops honing my craft, often staying up very late at night to work on things so as to not take away time from my family during the hours that they are awake.  I've made some wonderful self-discoveries along the way, and have learned that it's okay to say no, that it's okay to do things a little differently, and that I don't have to appologize for certain things.  I've learned who I am as an artist and I've finally realized, in the past year or so, why I do what I do.

There are a lot of things that come to my mind when I think about my "why?", but I'm going to focus on just one- the big one.

Here's the Reader's Digest version:

I've been married for almost 12 years.  I have three beautiful children.  The four most important days of my whole life are these: the day I got married, and the day I delivered each of my babies.

It makes me weep to admit that I have almost no photographs from any of those days.  It's a fact that haunts me every day, and will only become more painful as the years go on.  It is my single biggest regret.

We eloped.  Well, we essentially eloped.  We told immediate family and three mutual friends.  We had dated for a while and were engaged for three weeks.  I borrowed a friend's dress.  He wore an old suit.  It was sweet and simple and intimate and very much "us".  I have no regrets from that day except for the fact that we didn't hire a proper photographer (oh, and that whole doing-my-own hair thing?  That was a big mistake too... but I digress...).
 
So there's that.

Then there's the lack of me-and-my-children photos.  I know people who look amazing after just giving birth.  I've seen their pictures. (You know, the ones on Facebook where the new mother looks like she just had brunch with her girlfriends at the Nordstrom Cafe?)  I'm not one of those people.  I'm the kind of new mom who looks like a Chocolate Lab who just had 10 puppies.  And while at the time, the last thing I wanted was a camera in my face, I now mourn the fact that I have no pictures of me and my babies in the hospital.  These are things that can never be replaced. 

Never, ever, ever.

I studied photography in college when I attended Northern Arizona University in the late-90's.  At the time I studied landscape photography and only shot film.  At some point, it just didn't fill me as much as it once did.  But as I learned more about myself and my own style and emotion, I started to develop in my art.  I realized that I could be more than a picture-taker.  I could be someone who gives others a gift- the gift of memories.  It started to dawn on me that I can't go back and change my own past.  I don't have the precious images that I long for from the most important days of my life, but I do have the ability to give that to others, and in doing so, bless their lives. 

This is what drives me.  This is what excites me.  This is where the "passion" comes from that so many photographers claim to have.  I have passion about my art because I pull it from a place inside of me that is raw and tender and emotional.  I give to people a gift I can never have, but that I long for.  I would pay any amount of money to have four missing albums on my shelf today.  I can't ever have that, but I can give it to others.

And somehow, in a way I still don't understand, that kind-of makes it okay.

 

]]> http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/12/my-why.html http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/12/my-why.html personal Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:04:15 -0800 Avery
Three little words:
They are smitten.
 
(Who wouldn't be?)

 Orange_County_CA_Child_Photography_Jarvis02.jpgOrange_County_CA_Child_Photography_Jarvis07.jpgOrange_County_CA_Child_Photography_Jarvis03.jpgOrange_County_CA_Child_Photography_Jarvis09.jpgOrange_County_CA_Child_Photography_Jarvis05.jpgOrange_County_CA_Child_Photography_Jarvis01.jpgOrange_County_CA_Child_Photography_Jarvis08.jpgOrange_County_CA_Child_Photography_Jarvis04.jpgOrange_County_CA_Child_Photography_Jarvis06.jpg

]]> http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/12/avery.html http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/12/avery.html children family Mon, 05 Dec 2011 21:46:37 -0800 Shara & family I know the most amazing woman. She is strong in a way I'm not sure I could ever be. Shara has too many admirable qualities to list here, but more than anything, I love that she is consistently happy and optimistic. This year has started a new chapter in her life, and I've been so blessed to witness the joy that emanates from her family.

As she had 4 of her 5 kids together for Thanksgiving, we took advantage and had a photo-date. Cameron, we missed you and your cute wife! Hopefully soon, we'll get everyone, all together.

And now, though a little off-topic, I want to wish Shara well as she heads to Hawaii next week to run her first 26.2.
I'm so proud of you, friend! xoxo!

Corona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau01.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau02.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau03.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau04.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau05.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau06.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau07.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau08.jpgJordan is known far and wide for his ability to quote movie lines. He's phenomenal, and the following are just a snippet:: Corona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau09.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau10.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau11.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau12.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau13.jpgJordan! You slay me! Corona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau14.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau15.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau16.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau17.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau18.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau19.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau20.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau21.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau22.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau23.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau24.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau25.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau26.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau27.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau28.jpgCorona_CA_Family_Photographer_Martineau29.jpg

]]> http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/12/shara-family.html http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/12/shara-family.html family portraits teens Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:09:32 -0800 Bob & Laura :: A Temecula Creek Inn Wedding
"A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person." -Mignon McLaughlin

I have no doubt that these two will do just that.
Bob and Laura, your day was beautiful!
Thank you for allowing me to be a part.

 Temecula_CA_Wedding_Photography01.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography02.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography03.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography04.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography05.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography06.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography07.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography08.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography09.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography10.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography11.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography12.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography13.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography14.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography15.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography16.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography17.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography18.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography19.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography20.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography21.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography22.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography23.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography24.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography25.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography26.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography27.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography28.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography29.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography30.jpgTemecula_CA_Wedding_Photography31.jpg

A huge thank you to my friend and 2nd shooter, Lori Hull.  I'm so grateful you'd be willing to work with me the night before Thanksgiving!  You're a gem.

Also thanks to the Temecula Creek Inn for the beautiful location, delicious dinner and fantastic service.
]]> http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/11/bob-laura-a-temecula-creek-inn-wedding.html http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/11/bob-laura-a-temecula-creek-inn-wedding.html weddings Tue, 29 Nov 2011 19:41:22 -0800 A boy and a bridge My favorite shot from our trip to San Francisco last month ::

 web_7996BW.jpg

]]> http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/11/a-boy-and-a-bridge.html http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/11/a-boy-and-a-bridge.html children personal Sun, 27 Nov 2011 20:08:17 -0800 It's Black Friday!
I'm not a Black Friday shopper. That is to say, I don't get out of my PJs on the day after Thanksgiving. That said, I do love good internet deals!

Here's your deal today:: Book a 2012 portrait session TODAY, Friday the 25th, and your $250 session fee will be credited toward your order!

Fine print- Portrait session must take place between Jan. 2nd and Nov. 1st, 2012. The session fee must be paid by midnight TODAY to validate this offer, and an email with the intent to book is also required (use the "contact" section above). After your session, upon placing your order, you will be credited $250 towards your total.  This offer good on regular sessions only. Not valid for use on mini-sessions.

Click on the button below to pay your deposit.

]]> http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/11/its-black-friday.html http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/11/its-black-friday.html news Fri, 25 Nov 2011 00:01:01 -0800 I'm Thankful :: Day 24

]]> http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/11/im-thankful-day-24.html http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/11/im-thankful-day-24.html personal Thu, 24 Nov 2011 20:54:04 -0800 I'm Thankful :: Day 23

]]> http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/11/im-thankful-day-23.html http://rachelclarephoto.com/2011/11/im-thankful-day-23.html personal Wed, 23 Nov 2011 20:53:08 -0800