this is #yeahfieldtrip.

Three weeks ago I attended Photo Field Trip in Santa Barbara, CA for the 2nd year. It's a 5-day photography workshop /camp /gathering, and it's one of the most amazing things I've been a part of. Last year I learned so much that it actually launched the photography portion of my business. I knew nobody, and had to push my comfort zone so hard so that I could meet new people. This year I took more wonderful classes, was less overwhelmed and a lot more comfortable, and made new friendships a priority. As a result, I feel like I found a little creative haven where I actually fit. This is #yeahfieldtrip. Where you learn through play. Where you stay in cabins and tents and wake up early and go to bed late and learn from your favorite photographers. Where you laugh and love so hard it feels like your heart is going to explode. Where 400 photographers flood the beach at sunset and don't even get bothered by the crowd. Where you find your people, the people with creative heartbeats who understand yours. Where you talk about where you live and what you photograph, but then immediately start talking about life stuff and there are no walls up like when you're in the rest of the world. Where photographers are finally sometimes in front of the camera. Where you're encouraged to do what you love and do it the best you can. Where you are reminded of why you love to do what you do and feel inspired to keep doing it, no matter how hard it is. Where you feel like it's all worth it and that what you do is really important in the big picture of life.

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And now a couple of my favorite SmileBooth photos with friends...

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I'm so happy to be a part of this. I'm not really a joiner, so to finally find somewhere I genuinely love and fit is so welcome in my life. 

To the people who made Field Trip a home, thank you for welcoming me. Kindness is the most beautiful thing. And the power of a familiar face should never be underrated.

[some friends pictured who you should check out because they do beautiful work: yan palmer | anna naphtali | jenna kutcher | megan gielow | alicia white | posy quarterman | becky earl | simone anne ]

You can see my post from last time here.

I'm working on a watercolor piece to remember this year, because I loved making one last year. So you'll see that soon :)

xo, Michelle

Follow me @maryandluna on your favorite social media: InstagramTwitterFacebook. See my art in my Etsy shop or on maryandluna.com

if you’re interested in a low-rate portfolio-building session with me for you and/or your kids in OC, visit my website or email me! maryandluna@gmail.com

last of the holiday photoshoots!

IMG_2847*023_edit_watermark In the insanity of the holidays, I didn't get a chance to post favorites from every shoot! I had a couple more, but I'll make this the last. I would love to share some new art, but it will have to wait another week while I finish up a bunch of other business tasks I'm in the middle of. I love this January hibernation. I've been organizing 2014 and planning for 2015, and my little introverted spirit is at ease :)

So here are my favorites of my friend Nicole's family session back in November. You'll remember her cute little diva baby from many other shoots I've done! She's hilarious and wild and you have to catch her before she gets her "over it" attitude haha :)

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xo, Michelle

Follow me @maryandluna on your favorite social media: InstagramTwitterFacebook. See my art in my Etsy shop or on maryandluna.com

if you’re interested in a low-rate portfolio-building session with me for you and/or your kids in OC, visit my website or email me! maryandluna@gmail.com

photoshoot: the mama + son bond

IMG_3793*001_edit_watermark I'm trying so hard to get back into the swing of things after being knocked out by a bad cold that is still lingering- 2 weeks of this! Rough start to 2015.

I thought I'd share a session from mid-December that resulted in some of my favorite photos I've taken. This mama and her tiny son at a little cove in Laguna Beach. It was so sweet. His little feet & legs got hit by a wave at the very beginning of the session and he was traumatized for most of the shoot! I had to be super patient and gentle with him so he would be comfortable, and eventually he was. I focused a lot on just how tightly he was clinging to his mom, and capturing that bond. There's nothing else like it.

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That golden light, right?! :)

xo, Michelle

Follow me @maryandluna on your favorite social media: InstagramTwitterFacebook. See my art in my Etsy shop or on maryandluna.com

if you’re interested in a low-rate portfolio-building session with me for you and/or your kids in OC, visit my website or email me! maryandluna@gmail.com

holidays + a recent photoshoot

I can't believe Christmas is only a few days away! This has been my busiest season ever, and my first really full business holiday season. It's been a little nuts, and this week I finally got to relax, watch Christmas movies with my family, drink hot chocolate, go to The Grove in LA & Disneyland, write cards to friends, burn yummy smelling candles, and listen to lots of holiday music. All the special holiday festivities that I love so much. IMG_8353* edit

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I participated in the Santa Ana Patchwork show last month, where we got rained poured on! I'm now finishing up just two more photoshoots this year, and then I'll be focusing on planning 2015 (also, I can't believe it's going to be 2015. I need a pause button).

my table at Patchwork show

my table at Patchwork show

Here are a couple favorite photos from my session with a family friend's cute little family. I really love toddlers.

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I hope you are all having a lovely December filled with lots of love and fun. 

xo, Michelle

Follow me @maryandluna on your favorite social media: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook. See my art in my Etsy shop or on maryandluna.com

if you're interested in a low-rate portfolio-building session with me for you and/or your kids in OC, visit my website or email me! maryandluna@gmail.com

photoshoot: my little buddies

IMG_1241*007_edit_watermark I've been babysitting these kids since the oldest was 1, and their mom was my babysitter when I was really tiny! I'm so close with them and they are the ones that got me into childhood photography because all the little things they did inspired me so much.

So now they're 5 and 7 and I still play with them a lot, but it was fun to do an official family session with them! Challenging though because they're so comfortable with me and they couldn't really figure out why we were only taking pictures instead of being able to play WITH me and boss me around! :)

Here are my favorites from our time together:

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Something I've been thinking about a lot as I build my portfolio is what I want to say with my photography. I'm not trying to change the world with it. I want to capture the spirit of childhood that is so fleeting. The years go by so fast, and if I can capture this moment in their early lives in a storybook, idyllic way, then I think I'll have done what I set out to do.

And now I will go prepare more inventory for my upcoming Patchwork show NEXT WEEK. oh my goodness, so much to do!

xo, Michelle

if you're interested in a low-rate portfolio-building session with me for you and/or your kids in OC, visit my website or email me! maryandluna@gmail.com

Follow me @maryandluna on your favorite social media: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook. See my art in my Etsy shop or on maryandluna.com