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!

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.

Here is an update to the work that was done for the National Model Search.  I was very happy to participate and help raise money for Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep.  I recently had the opportunity to assist on one of these shoots and it’s a very emotional ride.  But what drives the photographers to volunteer for this cause is a greater purpose.  To help grieving parents move through a very difficult time and I was glad to be part of it.
The contest was a huge success, 2,000 model’s images were submitted to the contest, and most importantly, the competition raised $164,775 for the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS) foundation.click here.

The competition was so much fun.  I was thrilled to enter some of Los Angeles’ cutest kids into the contest.  The feedback from clients has been overwhelmingly positive. People were enthusiastic about my philanthropic efforts to partner with NILMDTS. So many folks have experienced the loss of a child or know someone who has. Raising money for NILMDTS was an effort everyone supported.
 
The 50 finalists have been selected. Photography and modeling industry experts will select the grand prizewinner, which will be announced on May 1st. The finalist gallery is available for viewing – just

This has been such a positive experience that we plan on participating in the National Charity Model Search next year. I hope that just as many of you step up to partner with me in this fun endeavor, and that we raise even more money for NILMDTS in 2010.

I photographed this session a little while back but I just have to post some of the pictures because they are too stinking cute. This first one is my favorite. But they keep getting better This one with the dog needs a title.  If anyone has a good one post a comment.  If I choose your title I’ll have to give you an award.  How ’bout a gift certificate to The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf?  That’s my favorite place

Two toddlers and a bottle of “beer” and we had a little drunkn’ show down…. (they walk like they’re drunk anyway right?) 

 On another note, I’m heading out to assist portrait and fashion photographer Matt Haines on a shoot this evening for a sunset beach model shoot.  Sounds glamorous doesn’t it? 

I’ve also received some updates on the Now I Lay My Down to Sleep model search.

There is still time to enter models!  We will accept submissions through March 25th, 2009 and voting will continue through 11:59pm on April 2nd, 2009!  Get your votes in soon because the top model of each city will be asked to do a live model shoot during the city tour happening March 18th for Los Angeles.  Then the top votes for each city qualify for National Judging later.  So get in and vote and there is still time to enter your son or daughter between 18 months and 14 years. 

I’m getting geared up for the Spring YAY! So start booking your outdoor shoots! I’ve already got plans to shoot at the Huntington Library again which is one of my favorite places.  So start thinking about family pictures or spring pictures for your little darlings.

On another note I am always looking to learn and grow as a business and as a person and I had the priviledge of meeting Dane Sanders face to face at one of our CIPPA Meetings last week.  I have read his book Fast Track Photographer and I was delightfully suprised it was more of a self help/self discovery type of book to help understand my own personality and how to be true to myself.  And I was delighted to find that face to face he is a genuine person who makes an effort to take an interest in the people around him.  So Dane, I enjoyed meeting you and your presentation was empowering and ever since I have been working on stopping automatic and not talking myself out of stuff.  And I will make strides in my business one step and a time and enjoy the journey.  Thanks Dane!

Here are a few of my favorites from my session with Asa.  He’s three and we had a very *active* session to say the least! We had so much fun. 

His picture was added to the National Model Search contest benefiting the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep foundation.  The are the other images taken during that session.

Yes, some of these images may seem to be calm and still.  He was actually in perpetual motion.  But that’s why I LoVe photogrpahy.  To catch a fraction of a second and freeze it forever.

Actually we spent the majority of the time chasing eachother in the backyard while he tripped over his ball.  Very funny.  This one is going to hang in the family’s front room. Awsome!

And this was litterally the ONE second he stayed still on the grass.  His expression is just so REAL! I *LOVE* THIS one and the parents are getting a 20 inch print of this for their house! Too Cool!

Sometimes all you get are feet… but I just LOVE IT!

Sometimes you just have to catch them where they fall!! Here he is after a tumble and I was ready. I can see my sillouette in his eyes. That so cool!

The reason I love these last three is because he was becomming impatient so we switched gears and decided to play with bubbles. Then he started showing off to me.  That’s when I really caught the real Asa.  I get all giddy inside when I see these *hehe*

This image is also my favorite. It will hang in my studio space one day.

*Wink**Wink*

Well? Have you voted yet??? Here’s another opportunity if you haven’t had a chance.  I bring you adorable Asa Thomas, 3 of Studio City.  He’s a boy in constant motion, not unlike my own son. But I was able to freeze a few brief moments of stillness!! What do you think? Could he be America’s Cutest Kid? Or maybe it’s time to add just a few more votes to your already favorites?

Here’s a reminder on how to vote:

Go to the site http://sandypucvotes.com

Look for Los Angeles, California and select View Gallery or just click [ here ]

Slect F-H or T-V to access the thumbnails.  or just click [ here ]

And here’s just a litte more on this Charity.  Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Because I would hate to mis-quote or mis-represent I will just quote directly from it’s website:

“The Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep Foundation is there for parents and families to help aid them in their healing, bring hope to their future, and honor their child. It is through remembrance that a family can truly begin to heal.”

I’m honored to have this small part in spreading the word for this important organization. 

And if you’ve been thinking about portraits for your kids this a great opportunity to book a session with special pricing just for this event. Call soon as session dates are limited and this contest is over at the end of March!

If you’ve been keeping up with my newsletter then you know about the National Charity Model Search benefiting Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep.  Click [ here ] for more information about this fun opportunity.

Well now it’s your turn to take part.  Come vote who you think is America’s cutest kid. Each vote is only a dollar and goes to this very unique charity organization.  Here’s how:

Go to the site http://sandypucvotes.com

Look for Los Angeles, California and select View Gallery or just click [ here ]

Slect F-H to access the thumbnails.  or just click [ here ]

Who should you vote for? May I suggest Akane Gonzalez, 2 years old from Van Nuys Ca?

Or Ashton Hallock, 4 years old from West Hills, CA?

There’s still time to enter your child into the modeling contest.  And if you’ve been thinking about getting portraits of your kids this a great opportunity to get prints at a special rate just for this event.  Don’t wait! Contest ends in March!

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.