Sara P + Greg are a family!

When I think of Sara P, I can't help but think of the petite little girl sitting in the front row in my 7th grade English class. She wore glasses, carried her over sized back pack and spoke only when spoken to. Always polite. But could dish back sarcasm to the 8th grade boys, if need be! Because our parents named us the most popular girls name EVER, we once shared the same name with four other Sara's in our classroom. It could get really confusing in class so all the Sara's had to add-on our last initial to our name. That's how Sara Passariello became 'Sara P' and I became 'Sarah E'.

The day Sara P called me to tell me that she was going to have a baby, I couldn't help the flashback of all of our memories together. As teens we used to baby sit together, talk on 'three way' constantly, randomly call people out of the phone book for corny prank calls (gasp!), have sleepovers, pass each other folded origami heart shaped notes during passing period and whisper secret crushes about cute boys. After high school we became roommates. We roller bladed together, went running by the mountains, took advantage of our quiet apartment gym and met weekly for tea. All the while talking about life, family, guys, love and the stray cat we eventually adopted! We were still up to our pranks even then though! There was the water balloon attack on David from the balcony....and the Vaseline covered doorknob! HA!

I couldn't help but smile all day long when Sara shared her baby news with me. My petite little friend was going to be a mother... she was all grown up! Then when I saw her baby tummy I squealed with joy, I had never seen a cuter pregnant belly than hers! After Alec was born, I watched my dear friend stare at her sleeping baby boy on the couch with a love that I believe only a mother can relate to.

The belly.

Sara + Greg are so cute!



I love love LOVE this one!

I really like this perspective of the belly.

Sara is gorgeous!

Aweeeeee!

This was at the baby shower. Look at all those gifts!!

I adore this shot of Sara and her grandma at her baby shower! They were measuring her belly.
Baby Alec, fast asleep....

and dreaming.

Alec is very loved!

A quiet moment in the nursery, one of my favorites.

And......just for old times sake. Here we are in our homemade Halloween costumes, 2004. We took first place at the bowling alley Halloween costume contest!!

I am so proud of you Sara P for all the great choices you made in life. Like following your heart to be a teacher. It must be so special for you to walk the halls of our old middle school as Ms. Passariello and working along side our old teachers!!! And ever since our baby sitting days together, I always knew you would be a wonderful wonderful mother.

Love always, Sarah E.

Eliya + Craig are MARRIED!

Eastbrook Studios has had the pleasure to photograph several weddings at Grace Church. Out of all the weddings we have documented there, Jonathan Schmidt has always performed the celebration of marriage. This time was no different. Well, maybe almost. Jonathan, like many times before, spoke of promises and commitment, love and faith. As usual, he spoke highly of the beautiful couple standing before him. However, this time, with this couple he would stop briefly every few minutes to exchange smiles with the bride and groom. As the ceremony drew closer to the presentation of husband and wife, we noticed Jonathan taking longer pauses between words. A little more smile exchanges took place. Possibly to remember this moment with more intent this time, for today the bride was his very own daughter. He smiled playfully teasing, trying to capture another moment in time as daddys little girl, before allowing them to finally kiss! As Craig and Eliya walked down the isle together, Jonathan watched with pride knowing that Craig will keep his promise to love his little girl forever.

Eliya and Craig chose to see each other before the ceremony for a 'first look.' We love it when couples choose to see each other because it allows us to take more romantical photos of the couple and they get some of the pre ceremony jitters out! The blue New Mexico sky is fantastic!

My assistant, Cece captured this lovely moment! Gorgeous!

As photographers, we end up laying on the ground a lot to get just the right angle.


Eliya is gorgeous inside and out!

I love the look on Eliya's face in this one. She is loved!

Photographers call this kind of light 'God's light.' It's the moment right before the sun sets. I love love LOVE this image!!


Craig's guys have his back.

The parents prayer was so touching!

Love is when your in a crowded room and the only person you can see is the one you love.

Thank you Eliya and Craig and both sides of the families for including us in your special day! We felt welcomed and honored to share such a relaxing day with all of you. Our favorite part of the day was feeling the love during the prayer with parents. My eyes got teary just knowing that all the love in the room for Eliya and Craig was true!

Brian and Diea are ENGAGED!

Brian and I go way back, way way back. Our friendship began in the cereal isle of Jewel Osco, isle 3. I was 15 years old and had just retired from my paper route job deciding to upgrade to a 'bagger' at the local grocery store. Being short in height and just inches from being able to reach the top shelf of the highest cereal shelf, I hear a wise crack make a comment to me about my short stature struggle. That wise crack would be, yup, Brian. His cheeky comment made me laugh! What I didn't know is that Brian would continue to make me laugh for many more years to come, becoming the best of friends. That wasn't the first time we encountered a memory with cereal either! Brian I know you know what I am referring to.....the weevils!! hahaha! I got to know Brian's family over the years and being raised with three brothers myself, I fit right in with Brian, his brothers and the constant playfully/rude teasing. (Although, I am sure they still probably think I am a crazy hippy! Nevertheless, they welcomed me like family.) And after all of these years, through ups and downs, several moves, college and time, we remain friends.

As soon as Brian told me that he and Diea were getting a dog, I knew Diea was the one! When Brian emailed me inquiring about engagement photos I was flattered! I have ever only heard great things about Diea and meeting her solidified my support for such a wonderful relationship. After their session they invited me out to dinner, I felt so special! Over dinner they spoke of common beliefs, gave each other secret flirty looks and shared pasta off of the same fork. They are in love! I sat there feeling overwhelmed with happiness for my old friend Brian and my new friend, Diea.

Here are Brian and Diea looking stunning!


This one rocks my happy little world!

Diea is the real deal! Gorgeous!!

A miracle... Brian did not blink in this one! HA!

Now this one is a personal favorite from their session. A car happened to speed by and I just happened to point my camera in the general direction of where they were standing and without looking through the view finder I made a split decision to press the shutter. Through the speeding cars window I captured Brian and Diea holding hands. This is just proof of the way love works. It's unpredictable and can find you when your most off guard.

I love the position of the glowing sun close to their hearts.



I wanted to send Diea and Brian back to Florida with a bit of New Mexico.

Today my doorbell rang and FedEx drove away leaving behind a box. Enclosed I found beautiful flowers and a card that read: 'Sarah, Thank you for taking time out of your day to take our amazing engagement pictures. You will never know how much it meant to us. Lots of Love, Diea and Brian' My goodness, I feel so special!

Brian, it was really great to have finally met Diea!! She is sweet and smart (just as you said she was) and I totally support the love that you share. :o) I was actually really nervous to take your photos just because I always feel so much more pressure while taking photos of a friend rather than a 'normal' customer. All I think about is hoping that my friend will appreciate the way that I see them through my lens.... and for me that can be difficult. Thank you again for trusting me to document your love! Oh and I love the flowers and card that you sent! :o)

Just for today...

...I am going to tackle my new years list with a realistic attitude.

For me, it's easier to think of life in a smaller sphere of time. When I go running I simply place one foot in front of another. I can't just start running thinking that I will run 20 miles. But I know that I can run 5 miles easily. I will just run 5 mile increments four times. You see, I suffer from (self diagnosed) fourteen-a-phobia. Anytime I have to run a distance farther than fourteen miles I feel fear. I am afraid of many things that might happen during the run but, mostly I fear that I won't be able to finish the distance. A couple of weeks ago I completed a fifteen mile run and the reason I got through it was thinking about taking each mile, one at a time. I went through 'my lucky list', which is where instead of thinking about the physical pain or negative things (ie.; it's too cold to be running, my knees hurt, I am hungry, I can't do this...) I choose to concentrate on the things I am thankful for, like how my AWESOME running coach will be waiting for me with hydration or how I am thankful to have family.... or cheese.

I truely believe that all big things were once something very small. So, this year my list will consist of all things small in hopes that in the end it will have become something much greater. Here is part of my 2009 list:

Just for today I....

will talk less and listen more.
will think before I act.
promise to ignore the person who will cut me off in traffic.
will make a better effort to let the elderly go before me in line at the grocery store.
will ignore the pile of laundry on the floor.
remind myself about the little things in life that really matter.
will laugh at myself.
will pray for someone who is suffering.
call someone just to let them know I was thinking about them.
remind myself that perfection is unobtainable.
try something new.
let go of something old.
pick up litter.
won't text message while driving.
donate my time selflessly.
will sleep in an extra 20 minutes, maybe 25.
make more time for my handsome hubby and my family.
will try to accept the things I cannot change.
am going to stand up for something I believe in.

Just for today, I will not suffer from fourteen-a-phobia.

Phong + Trang + Khang.... my extended family.

I met Phong and Trang several years ago when Eastbrook Studios was just getting off the ground. Many of my customers know Trang as my 'floating bride'. Trang is like a petite doll and just as lovely as one too! Over the past several years we have become more than customers to each others businesses. We have become friends and recently, with the birth of one of the most handsome babies EVER, I feel like we are family. Trang and Phong own Cafe Trang located off of Louisiana and Central, around the corner from my studio. Cafe Trang offers healthy traditional Vietnamese food that is addictive. Ohhhh and the fresh coconuts are scrumptious!


The famous 'floating bride' image. It was displayed at the state fair a couple years ago titled, 'She's a Keeper!'





Phong + Trang = the very gorgeous Khang

I just love how Khang is looking at his cousin in this image! So funny!

My extended family. :o) I had made a comment about how I think Khang looks like his Auntie Sarah.... really though I just like to think that he does!

Trang and Phong (plus baby Khang) have been very accommodating to my Eastbrook Studios family and also to my parents and brothers.... I really cannot thank them enough!

Stocking stuffers and the little things that count.

It's a quarter til' six and I am already up and rifiling through my stocking looking for the walnut!

As a child, I could hardly ever sleep on Christmas Eve knowing that Santa was bringing me goodies. I liked how all the tiny hand wrapped trinkets fit into the stocking. I loved that we were allowed to open them before mom and dad got outta bed. I remember one Christmas morning my younger brother, Daniel, opened his stocking pulling out all the goodies and then his hand revealed an orange and a few walnuts. Holding the orange and nuts, he very seriously whispered, 'Why does mom put these in here, it's not like we're gonna eat these.' Being younger than me, I didn't know that he knew that mom and Santa were close! Slightly stunned I started to giggle. With that, we both giggled. We tried to hold back our giggles but once we get started, it's always hard to stop! What made our giggles turn into a full roll of laughter was when our oldest brother, Mark, inquired from the back bedroom, 'What are you guys dooooing?'

Every year Santa brought us oranges and nuts. Every year after that we got oranges, nuts and giggles.

We didn't have a lot of money growing up and I feel blessed looking back knowing that other poor families may not have even had stockings. I am so thankful that we had stockings filled with trinkets and candy every Christmas. I am most thankful for the walnuts though.....thank you Santa for making each Christmas morning with my brothers the little things in life that count. Thank you for the nuts. :o)

Giving is AWESOME.

You know someone. You know someone who's experienced a tragedy, is struggling to stay afloat, is raising kids while holding down more than one job, or is volunteering selflessly despite extenuating personal circumstances. You know someone who can't afford custom photography, but who would cherish it this holiday season. You know someone who deserves a year-round reminder of their family's spirit, love, and beauty.

You know someone. I guarantee it.

I want to know who they are, and I want to give them the chance to experience complimentary custom photography, Eastbrook Studios style, valued at $650. Whether it's canvas or albums, prints for Grandma, or a slideshow to watch over and over, it's in your power to give them the artwork they deserve this holiday season.

Oh, and the best part? The person who nominates the winner receives a prize valued at $350. What better reason to show some love could there possibly be, people?

The rules:
* You cannot nominate yourself, and the person nominated must sincerely be incapable of purchasing my services. (Being unable to make mortgage payments for a two-million-dollar-vacation-home in Paris does not qualify as sincere financial need.)
* The nominee must reside in New Mexico. Tell me who you know, what they're experiencing, and why they deserve my artwork. Please include a way to contact both your nominee and yourself as well.
* You must e-mail me the full story : sarah@eastbrookstudios.com

The winner will be announced on Christmas Eve -- get nominating! I can't wait to read all of your entries!
Open your heart to someone this holiday season -- and thanks for giving me the opportunity to open mine.

With love,
Sarah...... aka 'fotobug'