double the fun, double the cuteness...

i have been dying to post these photos since i took them, but time got away from me and although easter has come and gone these two little ones are too cute not to post!

double the trouble, but double the cuteness!

but... before i do, i want to give you a little history of how i know their mom. raina and i attended local catholic elementary school together from 1st-8th grade. growing up in a small school we share many of our childhood memories--- pie fights, school dances, walks along the walk of fame, Mr Oakley and the list goes on. we truly did grow up together but after "graduation" we all went our separate ways in high school. i have always had mixed feelings about Facebook but one of the greatest gifts it has given me is the opportunity to reconnect with old friends...

ok so not the best photo but it is a trip down memory lane 

what is so great about twins is you get double the cuteness...

these two seriously melted my heart! they were such dolls and fun to work with. what has been great i have been able to see them grow up through the facebook pictures their mommy posts and i even had the opportunity to capture their 1 year birthday party. i can't wait to post those pictures! but for now i will leave you with one more photo of cuteness...

xoxo

lis

btw i seriously started this post a couple of months back and after a move and organization of photos i found the old camp photo i had been dying to post!

i want to have...

a mommy and me session contest!!!
(please feel free to share the link on Facebook, email, etc)
contest "rules"
there really are no rules. you can nominate your mom, grandma, friend or even yourself! don't be shy- all moms deserve to be recognized, even yourself! everyone has a story so please share the story of an amazing mommy that you know. to nominate please send me a brief paragraph about the person(s) you want to nominate along with the their name and information so that i can contact them if they are chosen.

what should be in the paragraph? how many little one(s) they have (and their children can be grown); and why you nominated them. why do they inspire you? what makes them special? this seriously can be a couple of sentences or if you write like me a short story. no story is too little, really it can be as simple as -- "this mommy helped raised her brothers and sisters"; or "she finished college while being a mommy"; or "she works full time and never misses a ____ practice/dinner". you get the idea. like i said EVERY mom deserves to be recognized!

please email entries to leilapiephotography@gmail.com

the entries need to be submitted by Friday, April 22nd at 6pm (PST). the nominated individual needs to live in orange county or willing to drive to orange county for the session. they need to be willing to be featured on the blog with their pictures from the session. it will be their personal decision if they want to share their story.

oh and last "rule" you (the nominator) must like LeilaPie Photography (click on direct link) on Facebook. for an additional entry share the link on your FB page. once you've shared the link on FB please leave a comment under this blog post or in your email to me. for another entry share this post on your blog and link back to this page. once you have done that please leave a comment under this post (or in your email to me) saying that you shared it on your blog and a link to your blog. that means you can earn up to 3 entries for the person you nominated! i know it's a shameless plug but this contest really is very easy and it is a way to get others to learn about it.

here is more exciting news! since i truly believe every mom that is nominated is deserving the winner will be randomly chosen therefore everyone has an equal chance of their nominee of winning. the winner will be announced on FB and contacted by April 26th.

what they will get
30 minute mommy and me session
on location of photographer's choice
1- 8x10
cd of 5 edited images of their choice from the session

and here is the best part! if the person you nominated is chosen you will also win a session. it is my way of thanking you for taking the time to recognize that special mom!
30 minute mommy and me session
on location of photographer's choice
1- 5x7
cd of 3 images of your choice from the session

and here is more exciting news i will be having

mommy and me sessions! $60 these are great presents
30 minute mommy and me session
on location on photographer's choice (trust me it is gorgeous)
*1 5x7
1 digital image of your choice (same as print) 

*if you nominated a mom you will receive an additional 5x7 as a thank you for taking the time to nominate someone special

who inspired me...

my mom of course but i wanted to tell you why, so please bear with me during this post.

i have really debated how much about my personal life i've wanted to reveal in this blog. sure i want you all to know who i am, about my family, what i do, and even some adventures i've been on; but i wondered if some things should stay personal. i have had an idea for the past couple of weeks and have been conflicted just how much i wanted to share- i know that it may reveal some hurtful things and may even hurt some people but this is the hard truth and sometimes the truth hurts. in an effort to protect my everyone i will NEVER use names. also some of you who read this have known me practically my whole life and NEVER knew this part of my life. so i finally decided for you to truly know who i am and why i came up with this idea i wanted to share my story.

as you know my name is lisa. i am a mom of two little ones and like any mom love them more than anything. for the past 9 years i have been teaching children with autism for a local orange county school district and truly love what i do. this year, after years of wanting to stay home with my little ones, my husband and i decided we would take the leap and have me stay home part time. most of you who read this blog, know me personally so you already know this fluffy stuff. so now i want to tell you where i came from....

my mom and dad married over 35 years ago. so for those of you who don't know my age go ahead and do the math (yes i am over 30). i would love to say that they are still happily married, but as most of you know not every marriage has a "happily everafter" ending. as a matter of fact i was the one who begged my mom to leave my father. why? well here we go...

my father was less than an amazing father, dad, heck even man for that matter. he was physically and emotionally abusive. he cheated during their marriage and was rarely around in my life. as a matter of fact i have not seen or heard from him in almost a year, which truly saddens me since my own little ones will not get to know one of their papas. but this post is not about my father but rather my amazing mom!

i am not sure when the abuse started but i do know that at least once while she was pregnant he hit her. six months after i was born we moved from sunny southern california to washington d.c. for my fathers work. so my mom packed up her life, left her family and traveled with her family to a new life. as all of us moms know raising a little one is hard enough but imagine living somewhere new with no family and friends for support and having to learn a new way of life (snow!). moving out there didn't make things any better, they only got worse. a few times my mom had to prepare us for tornadoes while my father was no where to be found.

eventually we moved back to california but this time to martinez (close to san fransisco). at one point my mom tried to leave and actually came home but was not welcomed by her family, since to my grandmother it was a disgrace to get a divorce. remember 25 years ago divorce was a taboo. later in life when i was old enough i remember hearing my grandmother say "well it takes two in a marriage" as if the cheating and abuse was also my mom's fault (but there is more to my grandmother's story and i truly love her unconditionally). my mom's parents were the typical "hispanic catholic family" and if you have ever read "divine secrets of the ya ya sisterhood" the grandmother/mother relationship really hit home.

it was some time in martinez that i started to figure out the cheating and remember telling some of the women who called to "leave my daddy alone". shortly after we move back to sunny southern california and settled in for good. i was getting older and the abuse was more evident to me. it was so bad that a doctor who was taking care of my mom said "take a gun and shot him". was it ethical of him to say? no! but after the years of abuse and the bruises he would treat he was tired of it! a few times i stepped in and once i got hit as a result. this is when my school stepped in, my grandparents took us both in, my dad left for good.

when he left my mom was there to pick up the pieces and my grandparents were there every step of the way (i told you i loved them unconditionally). she was there not only to pick up the emotional pieces but also the financial pieces. she sacrificed everyday to send me to St. Joseph's Catholic School in Placentia and to provide a normal life for me. every holiday had special touches: a cabbage patch for my Easter basket (i am sure you can guess what was at the end of the hunt); valentine candy trains, etc.

my mom has always been my rock. she has been my cheerleader in life and has never left my side. to honor all that she has done for me (and others) i want to pay it forward and give away a free mommy and me session!

xoxo
lisa

can i just say...

absolutely stunning!

meet Alex, a senior at a local high school. isn't she absolutely gorgeous? well not only is she gorgeous but she is also sweet and has a fabulous personality.

 

her smile is truly contagious...

and her self-confidence is evident in the way that she carries herself. after getting to know one another and a few jokes from her mom (who is hilarious) Alex was truly a natural at this.

 

i had such an amazing time with Alex and wish her the best of luck in the future!!!

xoxo

lisa

what do you get when...

you have big balloons; cotton candy; fabulous lighting; stunning outfits; a well prepared and thought out mom; and two of the cutest kids?

an absolute adorable photo shoot!

meet Ry, the quiet and reserved older brother. but doesn't he have the most fabulous smile?

and Ja the outgoing and enthusiastic little sister! isn't she precious?

we met early in the morning but the little ones were such troopers (despite Ry having a cold) and they did a great job on the shoot. these are just a sneak peek from one of today's shoots. they were such a joy to work with!

xoxo

lisa

hop, hop, hop...

on over to see the cutest little one all ready for spring!

this is B! isn't he the cutest? I had the pleasure of photographing his family this past winter, but today B came over to take some spring photos with our resident bunny, Oreo.

B and Oreo hit it off from the beginning and there were lots of smiles, laughs and even kisses!

he was so gentle with Oreo

B is just so adorable and his laugh is precious-- capturing these special moments are priceless! i truly enjoy playing with him!

this is just a sneak peek of the spring sessions! call to book your session and hop over before Oreo returns to his home (which is going to break my little ones heart)!

personalized cards can be made for Easter...

xoxo

lisa

spring forward to new adventures

what is a blog? well, for a photographer it is a way to express themselves. we do that by posting our works of art, glimpses of what we are working on. it is also a place to document any changes and growth in our work.

well here i am springing forward into a new adventure in my work- editing! we all struggle with what we want to define us, but like i mentioned on LeilaPie Photography i love color! all kinds of color- bright and vibrant, soft and muted and even the lack of color (every shade of black and white). trust me i am getting somewhere with this!

since it has been beautiful outside i figured i would take my little ones out and capture them enjoying the spring weather.  i went on our adventure knowing i was going to try out some new looks and i have to say i am in love with them!!! btw- check out the chair, there is a story that follows...

i have proof that they like each other ;)

yep it's the same chair

like the chair? here is the story- a fellow photographer friend of mine Ami (Clickable Moments) and I have been on the search for the perfect wing back chair for shoots. well she found this one in San Diego. i thought- hey why not drive down there with the kids for a quick trip to Sea World and then to pick up the chair. when i called the lady she was super nice and mentioned that she was in San Diego county and was no where near Sea World. so my next idea was to make it a trip for my absolutely fabulous husband and i to the wineries in Temecula. the nice lady mentioned that to get to the wineries it would take 45 minutes from her place. i should have gotten the clue this was going to be a far drive when she mentioned that she literally lived in the middle of orange groves and 30 minutes away from any grocery store.

so off we are both my husband and i on an adventure neither of us will ever forget. we left that evening after my mom came to watch the kids and we told her we would be 2 hours. in my defense the nice lady said it would only take an hour to get there and anyone who knows me knows i have ABSOLUTELY NO sense of direction. about an hour into our drive and as we see the blinking bubble (the destination) on our GPS and we are no where close to that bubble my husband looks at me and asks "what did you get us into? it truly is always an adventure with you!"  well here is the answer to his question-- almost 2 hours later we were in Pauma. ever heard of it? didn't think so. most people haven't and how could you this is what the "city" has--- one school, one post office, one restaurant,  a golf course and an airport (probably since that is how some people get there). i didn't get a real look at the city but we passed through orange groves and the scent was fantastic. and the two families we met there were super nice (another long story- ask me next time you see me it is one for the books).

well enough of "the story" there are so many details i am leaving out but i would end of writing a short essay if i told you all of it! besides you are here to see pictures so here are more...


he looks so innocent until he...

picks up some bugs and shows them to his sister

my princess after her brother mentions bugs

but like any loving sister who absolutely adores her big brother...

she checks out the bugs!

for all of you who may not know there is a special on LeilaPie's Facebook page for Spring photos. There will be live bunnies and a spring set-up to capture moments of your little ones. for all who mention "chicks" when they book there is a special surprise so call to book your session before the bunnies hop away...

XOXO
lisa

times are changing...

back when i took my senior photos (i won't mention how long ago that was) i went to a studio for my time slot, wore the black drape with pearls and the traditional cap and gown. well that has all changed now and boy am i jealous! senior photos are all about on location- what a dream!

let me introduce Brittny- she is a senior at a local high school and not just any high school. she attends middle college where high school students not only graduate from high school at the end of 4 years but they also graduate with college units. just recently i met up with Brittny at a local park and we had a blast! she brought her mom and little brother along and the three of them kept me laughing. her smile seriously just makes you want to smile! just take a look for yourself...


                                                  

doesn't she have the best smile?

and here is another radiant smile to prove it!

and of course we had a "serious" shot

 she looks great here too!

Brittany truly does have a fantastic smile that i know will take her many places. she is such a smart and fun young lady and i wish her the best for her future!

LeilaPie Photography

New Year --- New Beginning---New Marriage

i know that this post is late but i still wanted to share...
how did you spend your first day of the new year? well i spent it with an amazing and talented photographer- Diandra Ann of Diandrann Photography (check out her link http://www.diandraann.com/) i was blessed to tag along with her on a very special wedding shoot. the groom Sgt. Chris was Diandra's fiance's army recruiter. have i lost you yet? i hope not!

so here is the most amazing part of the wedding (other than their love for one another) the groom planned it all! yep that's right he planned the whole wedding. we all know the stress of planning a wedding but here this groom did it all by himself. you see while he was here in los angeles his bride to be, Kassy was enlisted in kentucky.

    

 

 

 

and they lived happily ever after...

say it with a card...

i absolutely love cards and i save almost every card! i even have them organized by sender(s), and to keep the dates straight i date them on the back. a card tells a story- sometimes it is one of love, humor or comfort but each one has a special meaning.

a card can record history... years ago, growing up my mom used to sing to me "you and me against the world".  that was our saying because we always knew through thick or thin we would always be there for one another. every card she gave me she would always sign "you and me against the world" at the bottom. we even danced to the song together at my wedding. on my wedding day the card that my mom gave to me had the usual quote but with one addition "you and me against the world + scott". he was now apart of our family which meant we would always be there for one another. well over the years my mom still continues to sign "u & m. a. t. w + s + p + l " at the bottom of each card (my little ones were added). as you may notice it is now abbreviated but the meaning is still there and it has recorded history as we add to our family.

a card can record milestones... as each occasion passes and the years go by i notice my son's writing changing. his first card to me was nothing but cherished scribble that only a mom could understand but now i have printed letters varying in size with his name signed across the card and a backwards C. i know one day that signature will be of a grown man but i will always have the sweet memories recorded in my cards. and not to forget my daughter although her cards have the scribble of a toddler i wonder to myself will she grow-up to have the same child-like print that i still have to this day?

why all of this talk about cards? well it was only natural for me to start designing my own cards. here are a couple of custom cards that i have started. LeilaPie will now start offering custom cards. i hope you like them!

 and with Valentine's just around the corner I couldn't resist...

where i get this love of cards? i am not sure but i have a feeling my mom had some influence on the matter. she has been known to shop for hours for the perfect card.

xoxo
lisa

All Aboard...

for some fun and exciting pictures...

it is a new year and what better way to start off the blog than with a new family? 

isn't this family beautiful?

(FYI- both inside and out)

 and their little one is just precious!

 P.S. this definitely is one of my all time favorite pictures!!!

he loved the choo-choo train so of course we had to pretend we were choo-choo's...

which only made this shoot that much more fun! i had such a blast with him running up and down the tracks.

but the best part of this shoot--- 

the family love between them...

a boy's hero 

and a mother's love and laughter

it is moments like these that make this so enjoyable and inspire me!!!

XOXO Lisa

New Year- New Beginnings

I started out on this adventure capturing moments, first of my little ones and then those of my friends. When I started I didn't know where this was going to take me but I always knew I loved taking photos of beautiful things and people. Whenever we would go somewhere you would hear from me "just one more minute" as I was snapping away.




sunset on the westside of Maui


Years ago, before even I recognized this passion my mom bought me a Nikon... I carried that thing everywhere! As time passed and my path took me in the direction of teaching and marriage I packed away that camera but still had the memories it had captured for me. As another dear friend says "if there is a picture of it- then it really did happen".

A couple of point and shoots later, the birth of my son, and our five year anniversary brought the first DSLR camera (Nikon D40x) into my life. After several months on bed-rest (6 to be exact) we were so excited to welcome our son into our lives and of course needed to capture every minute. Well, after developing our pictures and getting blurry images of my husband cutting the cord I nearly broke down in tears (I blame the hormones).

So on the eve our 5 year wedding anniversary as we were preparing to take a trip to our favorite getaway (San Diego, CA) with our newborn I heard a a sniffle from him. The panicky mommy that I was, would not leave until we saw the doctor the next morning. We had his blessing to take him on the trip (which was less than a 2hour drive away) but I just couldn't go. As we were canceling the reservations we were heading to the store to buy the D40x. How there is a correlation between the two, beats me; but this action alone set me on the path I am on today.

Three years later, an active preschooler and a new addition to the family (our daughter) had us heading to the store for another DSLR (Nikon 90). My daughter who was already one and spirited (a kind way of saying a pistol) and my son who is a baseball loving little boy were growing so quickly and moving at such a fast pace I didn't want to miss anymore moments. So my husband bought our next camera which would gave us more speed (I didn't want to miss those pitches or hits). He also gave me my Christmas present early (the 70-300mm lens).

This time around I decided to learn everything there was about the camera. What did that mean? No more shooting in automatic or presets! Day after day I read, practiced and learned how to shoot in manual in different conditions at various locations. As I started posting pictures on Facebook and getting feedback I started to realize maybe this could be just more than a hobby?

Well here I am a little older and a little wiser and the lesson I want to teach my children is to listen to their hearts and to follow their dreams. My dream is to capture those special moments for others. To see the happiness of moms, dads, families once they see their memories gives me happiness and peace. I can't wait to see that same happiness from brides and grooms but that is another adventure and post for a later date. We lead by example so here I am taking my dream to the next level- LeilaPie Photography.

here is my other inspiration...

thank you for visiting and taking the time to read about me. i hope i get to meet you and capture those special moments for you!

XOXO
lisa