Haleiwa Family Photographer | Novy Family | Haleiwa, North Shore, Oahu Hawaii

This gorgeous group spent a few days here on Oahu checking out colleges for their eldest beauty.  Such a sweet, sweet group!  They braved the rain and we ended up with a beautiful sunset!  Mahalo Novy Ohana for the fun; we hope to meet you all again soon!

Oahu Family Photographer | Nguyen Ohana | Waikiki, Magic Island, Oahu Hawaii

We spent a fun evening at Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park with this sweet family!  They came back for a visit with Grandma and Grandpa and took the chance to update their family portraits in Hawaii.  Thank you Nguyen Ohana for letting us hang with you; you all were a pleasure to work with!

Tucson Family Photographer | Garcia Family_Miracles Do Exist | Tucson, Sierra Vista, Arizona

 We recently met and photographed a very brave little boy and his sweet family - only his mama can tell his story:

"When we learned we were pregnant with our second child, we were ecstatic. Within a few weeks, however, that excitement began to fade as severe morning sickness set in and visits to the hospital began. Before the first trimester was over, we had already had a miscarriage scare and multiple ER trips for rehydration since I could barely eat or drink and what I managed to get in rarely stayed down. At a 7 week ultrasound, we learned there was a blood clot between the baby’s forming placenta and the uterine wall. We were assured of good news: in most cases, these clots fix themselves and cause no problems to the pregnancy or baby. Bad news: we were not most cases. Bleeding began at 11 weeks and continued with more and more frequency, joined by contractions at 15 weeks. I would take Tylenol and curl up in the shower until the water ran cold praying desperately that our little baby would survive, or at least that the misery would end.

                At our 19 week ultrasound, we were anxious to learn how everything was looking. I had begun feeling better in the past week with the nausea subsiding and the bleeding slowing down.  Our initial excitement was return as we guessed if we would have a boy or girl, who it would look like, what it would like. Again, the excitement was short-lived; there was what appeared to be a cyst in the baby’s belly and the blood clot was still there, causing the placenta to tear away. A visit to a specialist confirmed two things: one, I would not be allowed to be pregnant longer than 34 weeks (if I made it that far), and two, we were having a little boy. 

                Then, as if we had not had enough, my water broke at 22 weeks. I was sent to University Medical Center in Tucson where I spent 19 days in labor, on and off, getting medicine to slow the contractions, medicine for pain, medicine to prevent infection…I spent weeks listening to my son’s heartbeat and seeing him on ultrasound, monitoring how he was responding to all the stress and if he was continuing to develop correctly. Many doctors came by to have somber, serious conversations about “the outcomes”. He could have physical delays, mental delays, he could have cerebral palsy, feeding problems, breathing problems, he could be born alive and die shortly after, he could be stillborn – the list went on and on. Every day I remained pregnant was an improvement on these “outcomes”. Each day was a small victory for him. 

                But, as hard as the doctors tried, finally, he couldn’t be stopped. Our son was born at 25 weeks and 4 days, weighing 1 pound 10 ounces and 13 inches long. He cried once before his face was covered with an oxygen mask. Doctors and nurses surrounded my newborn, blocking him from my view. They moved quickly, in a sort of dance practiced too many times, on too many preemies. We were allowed a brief look at him, snuggled up in his incubator, with a nurse breathing for him. He was tiny, almost see through. He looked like what he was: a fetus who should not have been facing this world yet. He was the most precious thing I had ever seen. 

                Our little fighter lived in the NICU at Diamond Children’s Hopsital for 121 days. One of his lungs collapsed. He needed a tube down his throat and a machine to breath for him for months. He was not able to eat on his own for three months. There was a liver failure scare, problems with his heart, his intestines, a bleed in his brain. He had an infection in his blood stream, problems gaining weight, and many other minor (in comparison) setbacks. But through it all, he fought. He won over the hearts of nurses and doctors. Family, friends, and strangers prayed for him and God worked through the amazing staff in the NICU to make him strong. There were many dark times where we questioned why this had happened. Why should our son have to suffer and struggle when others did not? Why did he have to fight for every breath and heart beat? What kind of a God would allow this pain for him and our family? It was difficult to reconcile. It made us stronger as a family, more grateful for small things that are sometimes overlooked. We learned to lean on those around us and trust God to carry us through. In the end, we have a healthy toddler who laughs at life and proves to all that miracles exist. 

                One verse stood out during that troubling time the hospital: John 1:5 A light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. 

Our son is a light that shone strong and bright through the darkness of uncertain future, fear, loneliness, and sickness. 

His name is Luke. "  A. Garcia

Ko Olina Family Photographer | Lopez Ohana - 3 Generations | Ko Olina, Kapolei, Oahu Hawaii

A Lopez Hawaiian ohana vacation means everyone comes and how fun is all that?!  Grandma and Grandpa and all their babies and all the Grands, it was pretty special to see all 3 generations come together - the bonds that bind them were so obvious and even though there are many, they all are very, very close.  What a neat momento of time together!

Tucson Family Photographer | Burnett Family-First Things First! | Tucson, Sierra Vista, Arizona

The Burnett family photoshoot was our first family session after relocating to Arizona this summer and this maiden session sure set the bar high for our new digs! Becky and JL and their trio of sweethearts couldn't have been easier to work with and the camera loved them all, I mean, aren't they gorgeous?!  Oh and they brought along their super cool dogs Molly and Baymax too! BIG thanks to this beautiful crew for extending us their AZ hospitality...we think we'll stay for a bit!

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Haleiwa Family Photographer | Hale Ohana | Haleiwa, North Shore, Oahu Hawaii

One of our favorite realtors here in Hawaii bought the nicest house warming gift for her niece when she purchased her first home: a photo session for her sweet family!  We spent a beautiful morning with these three on the north shore of Oahu at Haleiwa beach park.  They had so much excitement with the new house and their sweet babe turning 1, it was time to relax and get some beautiful images for their new walls!  Such a gorgeous trio!

Ko Olina Family Photographer | Mednick Ohana | Ko Olina, Kapolei, Oahu Hawaii

Mama's just wanna have pictures!!

No better place to lasso your family into a family photoshoot than on an island, I mean they can run but, where will they go?!  This pretty mama knew it was time for some current family pics so she made the plans, laid out the clothes, and walked her guys out to the beach!  And after only about 4.5 minutes into the session everyone was having a blast!  You can almost reach out and touch the fun.  And the love.  And somewhere in Georgia, this pretty mama walks by her pictures hanging on the wall and they touch her memories of this vacation and her sweet family at this very moment.