Chris and Izzy. Best buds.

I met Chris over a year ago through my running group. Being around him brings out positive energy and after you have left his sight, his energy lingers. He is calm and collected and has an open heart. (Izzy, his dog is the very same way!) I am constantly amazed that Chris has lost 75 pounds of weight. One day he made a decision to change his life for himself. Along the way, he decided to never to look back at that 'other person' he used to be. What impresses me most is that he changed who he was on the inside, for the better. Chris is inspirational and what's so great about him, is that he doesn't even know it. His dog Izzy knows it though.....

...just look at that face!!!

When Izzy sniffs his eyes disappear, how cute is that??

LOVE it.


Chris loves photography and does it as hobby, so I let him take his own shot of Izzy. Great eye Chris!

love the laugh!
one of my favorites.

Dreamy eyes.

Best buds.

Chris, I enjoyed talking with you and adored meeting your snuggable Izzy. Happy 30th birthday!!! High five to you! Hugs, Sarah

Tanner Campbell is gonna graduate!

Tanner Campbell walks into my studio and the first thing I notice about him is his six and a half foot tall stature quickly followed by his perfectly white teeth. Later I found out that he has never even worn braces! Tanner has many loves of his life.... one of which is his car (and possibly driving his car to the Melting Pot with Sam, his girlfriend....?) There was this 'all American' feel about Tanner. I learned about his camping trips with his dad, I witnessed the way he treats his mom with respect. He talked of his friends with a smile drawn across his face and Tanner stands tall claiming all six and a half feet of himself and the man he is becoming. As he should!


Look at those perfect teeth!!
Model material right here.

I love this shot of Tanner!


Too cool.

To Tanner's parents: Roxanne and Gaylord, between Juliette and Tanner (and even little Dottie and Paradise) you have every right to be proud of your outstanding parenting. Now that Tanner is going off to college your house may be more quiet, the meals a little spicier but the entire time you can burst with pride knowing that somewhere in this world are two amazing human beings because of you. Oh and Tanner, HAPPY 18th BIRTHDAY!

Leigh Luna + my new LOGO!

You may have noticed the pink fotobug logo at the top of my blog..... it's the coolest thing EVER! The very talented Leigh Luna custom designed my awesome logo just for me! I also had the opportunity to see some of Leigh's other drawings that she has created and wow... this gal has mad skills. (Is it okay to say 'mad skills' Leigh?! lol) She showed me an intricately drawn butterfly that blew me away! I am proudly (and as quickly as possible) trying to incorporate my new fotobug logo on everything I can. It is even a piece flair on facebook now! Heck, maybe next year in Vegas it will be a tattoo....? So, to say the least I love it, I love it, I LOVE IT!!!

In between designing and logo talk, I took a few pictures of the stunning Leigh.

The fotobug has a history that is very special to me. Me and my dad (mom helped too) used to work on my car every week building, repairing, tearing out the old and replacing it with pretty shiny parts until one day......it was transformed into 'the fotobug'. I get so many inquiries about my car, that I will have to dedicate a whole blog post just for the story behind it! I will be sure to include before and after photos! <3

Opal is gonna graduate!

Now that Opal is getting ready to graduate I can't help but think of the time we were playing in my bedroom with our freshly painted fingernails. She was 6 years old and we started playing with my tape recorder, which I often used to record myself singing to. (I can't believe I just admitted that!) As I pressed record and placed the recorder up to Opals mouth, her impromptu song flowed from her lips, 'Hey pretty lady don't you ever stop just go, go, go.... hey hey pretty lady don't you ever stop just go, go, go....... you can't be stopped.' (I will have to find the tape for you one day so you can hear it for yourself!)

Opal was a miracle angel from the moment she arrived on earth. She was born premature and I remember my mom describing baby Opal as the tiniest baby she had ever seen. My mom told me that Opal's head was no bigger than a small tangerine and that her hands were as tiny as a porcelain doll and even smaller were her itsy bitsy fingernails, like a delicate speck of paint. I remember mom searching through my Cabbage Patch Dolls clothing just so Opal could be properly dressed until she left the hospital. Opal's mother, Lucyann, was born with her own challenges. Lucyann was born with muscular dystrophy and at only the age of one and a half she developed rheumatic fever. Opal has closely watched her mother go through two open heart surgeries and countless trips to the ER. Something a child should never have to see her own mother go through.... the constant worry of her own mother's life always on Opal's mind. When Opal was ten years old, I remember her asking me how old she had to be to get a job so she could help her mom 'get money'. It was what she most looked forward to doing. Most ten years old girls look forward to rollerskating and slumber parties and wanting cute hair ties. Opal looked forward to helping her family survive. And she did just that.

She has a perfect laugh.

When I saw this stop sign laying on the ground... it made me think of her song and I got goosebumps all over.
Lovin' the hair!
Stunning lady.
I love love LOVE this image of Opal. She is beautiful inside and out!
My sweet cousin Opal, you were born as an angel and placed straight into 'the real world' for a reason. Together you and your mom are true survivors and I am bursting with pride and feel so privileged to say that you are my family.Congratulations on your graduation!
Hey hey there world, there is a pretty lady named Opal and she can't be stopped...

.....just go, go, go..

.....you can't be stopped.

Rachelle's portrait session!

One of my awesome photogs, Guadalupe, had a session with Rachelle this week. Here are some interesting facts about Rachelle. She llloooves to ball room dance! She started ballroom dance a little over a year ago with Bill Zimmerman at Enchanted Ballroom and after only 5 months of training she was lucky enough to receive top scores in her age division!! Her dancing feet have taken her to places like Phoenix, Vegas and local competitions. She attends UNM where she is studying many languages.... Spanish, French, (ASL) Sign language, Latin and Japanese!! Oh, one last little thing: She is beautiful!

Look at those eyes!

Lovin' her attitude!

Sassy.

Rachelle and her gorgeous and powerful dancing legs.

We wish Rachelle much success in her goal to become a teacher!