California Dreamin.....

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I moved!

Took the kiddos and moved to Encinitas, the last "real" surfing town left in California.  (Don't argue with me, it's true.)

We survived our first two weeks.  Brought the kitty, our surfboards and our wits.  I couldn't be prouder of my kids.  They are AMA-ZING.  They took the challenge and ran!  They love their new school and are digging the cool weather.  There is so much I forgot about on the mainland.  Hummingbirds, skunks, deer, fog, farmers markets and TRAFFIC.  :)

Here's a splash of what we've been up to.  Cole's best friend Max also moved here.  Pretty convenient....  I'm about six months behind on blogging so forgive me!  I'm catching up!

Lost Boys Hana

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My FAVORITE style of photography is fine art portraiture of children.  My icon is Sally Mann.  Google her and you can see why I'm in love with her style.  Real.  Raw.  Black and white.  Amazing.  She inspires me daily.  You can see her influence thru out my career.  I was commissioned by a Sally Mann collector to photograph her three sons in black and white "Sally Mann" style in Hana, Maui.  I did this TWO YEARS ago and am finally blogging it.  It's my favorite shoot to this day.  I can't wait to do more.  I'll post the full post soon.

 

Maui Child Photographer. Sort of.

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Sometimes everything can line up perfectly for a shoot.  The weather is sparkling, the people amazing......yet they are children and don't want their photos taken.

Surf kids, aged 8,9,10,11 and 12.  Photos?  Ick.

 Justforgettaboutit.

They hid behind leashes.  They hid behind boards.  They ran away from me.  Oh well.  I tried.  Eventually they will learn to love it when a nice gal like me wants to take their photo.  Until then, we get this.

Kudos to the grom's awesome surf coach Nakoa Decoite.  Nakoa is a sponsored surfer here on Maui and can be contacted here.

More next week on surf coach Nakoa.

Groms featured here are Conan, Cole, Jackson, Izzy, Payce, Kai and two random Stand Up Paddle dudes I didn't know.

What I hate about being a parent.

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Seeing your child in pain is of course awful.  But what can you do?  You can't say no to everything for fear of them being injured.  Parenthood is all about the slow letting go moments.  From watching Cole jump off a boulder at 2,  to letting him surf in double overhead waves (for him at least) with the big boys at 10.  It's hard.  And my hair is not getting any less grey.  Or silver I should say because at least that sparkles.  The stakes are bigger now.  He's 10.  He's stronger.  He wants to be a ripper surfer which means bigger waves, stronger currents and injuries.  Owies.  Boo-boos.  And people laugh at me when they hear that he still sleeps in my bed.  (Shhhhh don't tell his friends.)  He can be there as long as he wants.  It's not weird.  He's my baby.  And I only have these moments for a little while and then he'll be a teenager and want nothing to do with me.  And then he'll be a man.  Poof.  Gone.  Childhood is quick.  I'm holding onto every moment I can.

Anyway.......

Cole's home from school today with a really sore back from his afternoon session yesterday at his good old homebreak of Hookipa.  He was shivering.  He was scared.  He got slammed.  Luckily he's going to be okay.  But I would be lying if I wasn't terrified when I saw the look on his face coming in from the waves.  Be safe buddy.  And here's to getting better so you can rip at this weekend's contest.