Family Portraits with a High School Friend - Liz & Family

When I received the call from Liz for her family portraits I was quite honestly surprised. Liz lives across the country now and I hadn't heard from her in around 20 years! Let's just say I was amazed and proud to hear from her and believe it or not I actually recognized her voice. She's just got one of those charming and sparkling personalities that everyone likes. Things haven't changed since high school and she looks just as wonderful as she did back then! Despite living across country, Liz still visits wonderful sunny San Diego with her family and wanted to get some new portraits. She did a google and found out that I photograph people around Chula Vista and other parts of San Diego. She put in the call to me and all the fun started from there. We spent some time on the phone discussing what options there were, locations, outfits, fun ideas and all the other good stuff that goes into one of my mini adventures. So we ended up photographing in Chula Vista on the ocean front so we could feature the beautiful park and the wonderful coastline with a sunset. I had an amazing time getting to know Liz again and all her family. It really made my day to spend sooo much time bonding and playing with her two daughters and her son. I really didn't want to give up playing with them but sometimes you gotta call it quits so everyone can go home and eat dinner! Well you can see some of the magic of the day here showing from the beauty of her family in our photos together. I would really love to thank Liz and her husband for taking the time to work with us and making it such an enjoyable afternoon and also for my dear friend Serena for being part of the fun and helping us out with all the kids and the project. Thank you to everyone!

Ieshia & Brien Burley's Wedding

I really truly have had the pleasure getting to know Ieshia and Brien Burley very well. I can say it was an honor to photograph their wedding in Torrance at South End and their bridal session in Palos Verdes. Its been a great time getting to know each other since our first meetings and our engagement shoot in Redondo Beach. Brien and I took it a little further and had a great time at the Torrance Elephant Bar a little bit before the wedding date. We discussed details, shared some drinks, food, and great laughs. One of the first things you cannot miss about Ieshia is that she really is a pretty girl. On top of that she has such a tender heart and one of the prettiest and most vibrant smiles. I know they make a wonderful couple. They are a Gung Ho fun couple who knows how to enjoy their life together. I wish them a lifetime of happiness and success. Here are some of their bridal photos of the radiant couple for you all to enjoy.

Alba's (Ninoska) Headshots - A Classic Latina Beauty

I was quite surprised and pleased when Alba first met me to inquire about getting some glamorous photos with style. She wanted to help remember an important time in her life and to share them with her friends and family. That's why she came to us over everyone else because we are well known to deliver those high quality stylistic, dramatic and classically gorgeous photographs with great prices too! During our meeting we shared some coffee, tea, good laughs and figured out our options and locations. It was an instant hit. On the day of our session Alba brought her sister Analicia with her to help out. That was awesome. She really increased the fun factor and we all contributed ideas that helped make the magic of the photographs. We had an fabulous time working with the last magic hour of light which is really the best time of day to photograph. There is no substitute for the early morning and late afternoon light. Please see how that light is used to portray Alba as that classic Latina beauty in our photographs. Thank you again Alba (Ninoska)... It was a total pleasure!

(ok originally the sign read HOT ASH ONLY but a little humor was involved and enjoyed!)

Maricela & Frank's Wedding Photos at the Los Verdes Golf Course in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

I am proud to say that I had the privilege and pleasure to photograph Maricela & Frank's wedding on the Los Verdes Golf Course on March 25, 2011. It was day of skies filled with clouds that yield those awesomely dramatic photographs.The ceremony was beautiful. Immediately following the ceremony, their bridal photographs led us out on a golf cart adventure racing to the horizon over bumps, hills and sharp turns where we wondered if we would tip over! It was a challenge for all three of us. We made it to "The 19th Hole" at the absolute very last moment of light available. To further add to the memory and challenge of this little adventure, the coastal winds were blowing to the point of creating icicles upon our noses. Yet despite the quickly departing light and the freezing winds that could lock up all your fingers, we were all troopers and captured those once in a lifetime awe-inspiring images!! It really was a pleasure to work with both Maricela and Frank. They are both wonderful people. Please enjoy my favorite images from their Bridal Photographs on the "19th Hole." Thank you Maricela & Frank!!

Donations for Memorial Service for Helen Todd

A reposting for my assistant Kristine...







I write this with a heavy heart. My closest aunt passed away this Saturday. I have some solace in knowing she is now with Christ in heaven. Our family should be celebrating the resurrection of our Savior, but with so much grief looming over us, we are finding that extremely difficult. My aunt was a very amazing woman and helped raise me. After my mom passed away in 1995 she helped take on the burden of raising a young tee...n. She had no children of her own and no spouse. Her only family nearby was her sister Carol and myself. She meant the world to us. Her sister Carol is devastated and besides herself with grief. I am doing what I can to help her through this very trying time.Sadly Helen was on SSI and left no benefits behind for any type of services. As her beneficiary I am left with the difficult task of finding a way to provide her with a respectable memorial service.



None of my family has the money to provide her with a proper service and cremation but we really want to have a service of some sort to honor her life. We don't need anything lavish. Just enough to show our love and respect for her with our family and friends. I hope there is someone somewhere willing to help us. We are asking for donations, no matter how small, for her services.



Any help you have is more than welcome and I am quite grateful for. I know God will provide for my family in this time of need. If nothing else, please pray for us and her safe passage into Heaven to join our Creator.



Cards, flowers and donations can be sent to :



Carol Angell

12301 167th Dr. NE

Arlington, Wa 98223



Or PayPal to

Kristinedillon@eriksoto.com



The service will be held May 4th at 6pm in Granite Falls, WA at the Baptist Church.





Thank you all and God Bless you!



"He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man." ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Debbie and her beautiful girls... Cara & Kaylene!

Recently I had the privilege of working with Debbie and her two beautiful daughter Cara & Kaylene. I met Debbie while providing a consultation to another customer of mine. We hit it right off. I would like to add that it really took off during the shoot as well. It was a fantastic pleasure to photograph Debbie and her daughters. We all had such a great time I was really wondering if I was working. I mean of course the photos were awesome but we were laughing and having such a good time it just so grand for everyone! It was an experience I won't forget. I have to thank Debbie, Cara & Kaylene for such a wonderful experience. I look forward to next time ladies!