Here is a great opportunity for some truly unique family portraits and make a tax deductible donation at the same time. I’ve joined with Jennifer Wilson along with some wonderful photographers for a day of shooting to benefit The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Jennifer has been tirelessly fundraising for this organization and is putting herself through a TRIATHALON!! on behalf of a young boy named Tyler who attends her sons school.  She tells his story here.

So you can get the full story here but here is the short of it.  Participating families will have their portraits taken by four fabulously unique photographers and receive a total of 20 digital negatives from the sessions.  Imagine getting 4 different prospectives or “takes” on your family and receiving something truly unique for your family AND benefiting The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in the process.

Please visit her blog to get the full story. I’m honored to be participating in this unique fundraiser and to help out a friend.  Jen you’re the BEST!

Here is a family I have photographed from the very beginning. From there wedding and down to their first child.  They are great friends and I’m happy to give them family portraits they will treasure for years to come. Here is the beautiful family now.

It’s time to start placing your votes for the cutest family in the International Charity Model Search.  Here’s the link to get started:

Click Here To Vote

Click on the Gallery menu on the right to view the entries:

You will see in the lower left the link to browse for your family of choice:

 You will need to select Los Angeles to browse for your family: (wait a few minutes for the thumbnails to appear and then just click to vote)

Remember votes are $1 per vote.  100% of the proceeds benefits Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep.  More families to come! And there is still time to get your family in on this.  Remember sessions are only $45 so it’s a great opportunity to take advantage of this special event!

It’s almost time to start voting for America’s cutest family!  When? you’ll have to keep reading to find out! The link to start voting will be reveled very soon. 

 Do you want a chance to win a car for your family and support a worthy cause? There’s still time to get your family portraits done and participate in the event.  I’m here to set out a challenge.  The first 5 people to comment on this post and answer this trivia question receive a $100 print credit on their session! Are you ready? Here we go:

Because I’m such a huge  JJ Abrams fan (and LOST is just around the corner!) here’s the question, and it should be easy (Google people!)

Name just one of the DHARMA stations found on the Island.   Easy right?

For more information regarding the charity Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep please visit http://NILMDTS.org .

Last year the charity raised over $164,000 by online votes alone.  Let’s make it bigger this year!

Join us this weekend for the Grand Opening of Belle Bottom Baby located in Tarzana (click for map) when we will reveal the images for the winner of the Belle Bottom Baby model search.  The new images will be on display in the store this Friday and Saturday December 4th and 5th.  Many things will be on sale 40-50% off.  There will be refreshments and activities for the kiddies while you shop and share a visit.  Visitors to the store will also receive a gift certificate for your next portrait session valued at over $280.

I am once again sharing in the International Charity Model Search benefiting the charity Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. This year we are photographing Families so start thinking about updating your family portraits.  The winning family receives a new car! This is a great time of year for getting the whole family together and making some memories so make your appointment for your family portrait today!  For more information on the charity and the portrait event just see this link. http://imagesbydesiree.com/blog/?p=664

I’ve come across some good online resources for moms lately.  Here’s where I’ve been visiting.  Mamasource.com It’s free to join and you connect to local moms with the same questions you have.  I love that it’s local so if you’ve got questions on local schools, doctors, activities… it’s nice.  I have it email me updates and I can scan the latest discussions.  I’ve also been turned onto Jen’s List. It’s a free newsletter.  This girl is so smart.  She has become the center of what’s up around town.  She sends an email everyday with local info useful to moms in and around the Los Angeles Area.  Recommendations for babysitters and nannies… handymen.. activities and for kids and special offers.  Worth a few minutes of your time.

Once again I am very happy to be taking part in the (Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep) NILMDTS now “International” Model Search. I had a great time doing this last year. I had the privilege of one of my boys be the top model for my city. Here’s a little about last years contest.

This year we are looking the the cutest FAMILY to represent for Los Angeles and North America.

Are your loved ones North America’s Cutest Family? We’ll give you the opportunity to prove it! Many exciting prizes will be awarded, and the grand prize winner receives a new car!

Model Search Special:

$45 entrance fee includes a 90-minute model session and one image submitted to the national gallery.

Finalists will be determined by online votes. Each vote is $1 (no limit on the amount of votes you can cast), and all proceeds from votes benefit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS.org).

Grand prize international winner will be determined from the 52 city finalists. The winners will be selected from the finalist gallery by photography and modeling industry experts.  The winning family also receives a session with the renowned portrait artist Sandy Puc’ and international recognition.

Call 818-585-1621 now to enter your family in this exciting contest.

*Contest open to residents of the US and Canada. For more information, visit http://sandypucmodels.com/.

So all you families out there thinking it’s about time to update your family portrait it’s time to Seize the Day and take advantage of this perfect opportunity.

I’ve been a bit behind in keeping up on portraits of my son but I had a chance to capture just a few. My precious boy is growing up!

My blog needs some love! I’ve been away from my computer quite a bit lately.  The OS on my poor old Dell took a dump.  But I had a backup computer already loaded so I just had to transfer my data drive and my burner and all my applications… and the whole sh-bang… not so fun but could have been a lot worse.  Although I think I am realizing that I didn’t backup my Photoshop actions and Lightroom presets!!!!! AAAAHHH!!!! I know I must have them somewhere! Lesson Learned!  Adobe puts them in such a funky place it’s easy to forget to back them up!

 I’ve also been busy assisting on weddings and shooting weddings of my own and now I can finally sit down and sink my teeth into the editing processes.  I’ve also been busy meeting new mommies taking part in the Prego Mommy Model search. I have met some really beautiful women just glowing with mommy-hood. I can’t wait to start showing off some of the results.  I’m excited about what we will be doing!

Our affiliate [Channel Islands PPA] just had our quarterly print competition last night. We had some great judges which turned into a Simon, Paula, Randy match which made us all laugh! It was a great comp night.  My entries in the children’s category scored only an above average but I learned a few things too so it was worth the humiliation .

Here’s my little cutie.  He’s helping dad wash his Mercury Monterey.  He felt so important.  This weekend my little baby (not such a baby now) fell on his face off his little ride-on car.  You know how it feels when you have something brand new and you hate to have it scratched or messed up… like a new car or something? Well… that’s sort of how I feel because he chipped his front tooth!! It’s just a little chip and he got right back up to play again! But still, kind of sad.  His front baby tooth will never be the same.  I have to say though that at this age I LOVE that I have this special mommy power over him whenever he hurts himself.  If he gets any scrape at all he says “mommy kiss it” and it’s all over like it never happened.  I will be sad when my special mommy power will stop working. I love that a little kiss really makes it all better.

Comming soon!! Gabo and Gooch and the Rock-a-billy wedding of the year! WooHoo!

Blog Announcement:

Is your child America’s Cutest Kid?

 I’m very excited to be participating in the National Charity Model Search to select “America’s Cutest Kid” and to raise funds for charity.

 We’re looking for cute children ages 18 months to 14 years old to model for a portrait to be entered into the contest.

 Models Search Special:

$50 entrance fee, which includes a 45 minute model session and one image submitted to the national gallery.

 Finalists will be determined by online votes. Anyone may vote. Each vote is $1, and all proceeds from votes benefit the non-profit Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. (NILMDTS.org)

Grand prize national winner will be determined from the 50 city finalists. Winners selected by photography and modeling industry experts.

 If your child is selected the national winner, you’ll receive many prizes, including a $5,000 US Savings Bond and a Canon PowerShot G10 digital camera.

 If you’re interested in entering your child(ren), please call the studio at 818-585-1621. For more information about the contest, go online to www.sandypucmodels.com.

This charity is directed at families who’s babies are terminal. It is a charity created out of a labor of love and I’m happy to have a part in it.

http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org/about_us/

For families overcome by grief and pain, the idea of photographing their baby may not immediately occur to them. Offering gentle and beautiful photography services in a compassionate and sensitive manner is the heart of this organization. The soft, gentle heirloom photographs of these beautiful babies are an important part of the healing process. They allow families to honor and cherish their babies, and share the spirits of their lives.

ok, two Brewer families in a row!  No relation!  I got to photograph Mike and Angie’s adorable kids Nathan and Mikayla in their home in North Hollywood.  We played in their bedroom, we had a tea party we made faces at the camera.  We had a blast.