Relaxed & Natural Family Portrait Session | Upland, Ca | Lifestyle Portrait Photographer | Mikat Family

Over the years I have been a long-distance fly on the wall watching/hearing snippets of Zac & Stacey's journey as parents, business owners, servants in the church, mentors, a safe haven, an open home; open book. Even from another state, their story of faithfulness has made an impression on me. Stacey has even let me pick her brain about living in a small space, getting toddlers to help with chores, and even being a mom to each child as a person instead of just seeing "mob" "herd" "people", etc.

And speaking of their kiddos, they were incredible for this shoot. They were attentive, responded, listened and laughed. They were also silly, crazy and willing to crank out some super funny personality. I had no real agenda..though I knew  wanted to get a bit of the craziness. A bit of the maneuvering. The "herding" as well as the "loving"...I asked Stacey for some feedback after the session. I'll let her describe the experience for herself!

Wow! Looking through the pictures from our recent family photo shoot with Laura Moore brought tears to my eyes. She captured our family so beautifully and brought each personality to life through her pictures. She was so much fun to work with and kept all of the kids moving and having fun - not always an easy task with six little ones! (LKM) helped us feel natural and comfortable throughout the whole process. She didn't seem to come with set in stone ideas, just let us be ourselves, and then captured our family dynamics in her photos. Her reputation for excellence is well deserved, and I would not hesitate to use her again or refer her to friends. Thanks LKM for providing us with a way to remember a fun age and stage of our family! 

*glowing* 

Enjoy! | LKM

An Ethiopian Coffee Picnic / Desert Engagement Session | Tucson/Phoenix Wedding Photographer

We woke up early one Saturday morning, the fog was thick and there was a nip in the air. I arrived before the sun was awake and helped Rahel with some last minute wardrobe details, a few hair/makeup touches, gathered the Ethiopian coffee set, picnic blankets, a red rose, met Brandon and headed for Sabino Canyon--a local state park where they often hiked together.

This blend of opposites is a beautiful thing to watch. Rahel is a close friend of mine. We started meet up together once a week RIGHT around the time she and Brandon started dating. It was slow. Full of caution. Questions. Self-investigation. And then affection and wonder and respect blossomed slowly into this bud of romance...and now they laugh and love so freely. 

Enjoy these images. They really are a window into a love story that makes my heart smile a LOT lately. | LKM

i love you guys. so much! Can not WAIT to PARTAY in JULY! 

 

HAPPY APRIL! Announcing Spring Sessions 2014!

I still remember my first spring here...i wasn't in a very good spot. 2011 was wrought with painstaking drudgery and the last place I wanted to be was in the desert. And then April hit and I was driving down in a borrowed car on North Houghton, kids cranky in the back, my heart hurting and hating all things dead and brown. Suddenly i passed over a wash and nearly slammed on my breaks. There, for miles, were Palo Verde trees exploding into shades of yellow and happiness. 

It really is incredible. Even on a few unfortunate streets around town, these unsuspecting trees take center stage and remind me that life and happiness are here. You just have to patient for it. 

So Happy April! Take your family out and enjoy the perfect weather. Embrace a little life. And possibly, just maybe, I can meet you there. (And if you're on the fence, go to my FAMILY PORTRAITS page and maybe i'll convince you there. ;) 

Go to my page with SPRING PORTRAIT SESSION DETAILS here.

Downtown Tucson Urban Family Photographer | Appleman Family

This family is so much fun. 2 years ago we did family pictures in a more earthy setting (go here to see that family portrait session at Agua Caliente. Boy have those girls grown since!) So this time around they chose to go urban, fun natural. And boy oh boy, did those little girls crank up the charm! Scott and (whom he affectionately calls) his "Appleman Chicklets" just giggled a whole bunch. I pretty much want to print a HUGE version of that picture of their whole family laughing at each other in the alley. Like Kitchen-Table Huge. Hear that Janice? K, good.  | lkm

Backyard DIY Vintage Wedding | Pasadena, Wedding | PART THREE

Jeff & Abby // Backyard Vintage DIY Wedding

PART THREE // THE FINALE

The day after Jeff & Abby's wedding day they called me. I know. I was as weirded out as you are right now. What are they doing calling me the day after their wedding? Im in big trouble. I just know it.  I picked up the phone tentatively, wincing, waiting....

"Laura, we're sitting here remembering yesterday's details. And we have come down to one thing. And we needed to talk to you about it."

I'm in SUCH BIG TROUBLE. (pause)

"Well, we've just decided that our most favorite thing about the whole day was taking pictures at sunset. It was perfect. We loved it. We would have had it no other way. We would have had no other person. You were perfect." 

Speechless. Perfect. Whelp. That's as good of a customer feedback as you can possibly get. Excuse me while i beam for 3 months afterwards. Carving out time to have pictures together on your wedding day can be a super beautiful thing. Whether it's before or after the ceremony...it just allows for THIS kind of beauty to happen...It was the finale--the beauty after the prep. The patient lull before the evening party. The time to defuse and be alone in the foothills with sunbeams, butterflies, evening gnats and an over-zealous media cohort was bliss. 

We returned to a victory tunnel and a whole mess of eager guests ready to eat, drink and be merry!

So thankful I got to be part of this amazing day! :) | LKM

If you missed J + A's downtown pasadena engagement session go here. 

If you missed PART ONE and PART TWO of J + A's wedding day, go there.

Oh! And one last SUPER important thing....SHOUT OUT to ShaunPaulCreative (videography team) for their cinematic artistry. You can go HERE to see the final wedding video from Jeffery & Abby's wedding day. I may or may not have watched in 100 times now. 

Backyard Vintage DIY Wedding | Pasadena, California | PART TWO

Jeff & Abby // Backyard Vintage DIY Wedding

PART TWO // THE VOWS

They stood back-to-back, porch door between them. The moment he grabbed her hand it was that cinematic moment where the buzz hushed, giggles muffled, mom sniffed, flower girls peaks around the corner. They giggled. They were awkward. Abby fought back tears. Jeff couldn't stop smiling. It was one of my favorite moments of their day. And the way he prayed for his bride; surrendered their expectations and their party; honored and anticipated his beloved...Guests started to trickle in and there was a cranky ring-bearer in the room, something about somebody's hair wasn't done, a mason jar broke somewhere outside, the flurry picked up once more....but something had been diffused. All was right in the world.

Abby's laughter was the centerpiece of the wedding ceremony. Jeff literally fist-pumped his way through "you may kiss the bride." Afterwards, family meandered to the front yard to catch some formal pictures followed by a good chunk of time navigating the wedding party, their ravenous hunger, the beer in mason jars, cheese and crackers, reminiscing, sillyness....so. much. bonding. 

And then the bride and groom pulled away for their sunset session in the foothills...

Backyard Vintage DIY Wedding | Denim, Burlap & Lace | Part One

Jeff & Abby // Backyard Vintage DIY Wedding   

PART ONE | THE PRELUDE 

Fresh spring air rose up over Pasadena's foothills. The private residence was quaint. Decorated with nostalgia, family heirlooms and frosted with more make-up and DIY favor remnants than we knew what to do with. Chickens clucked on the trampoline, tablecloths waved in the fresh morning breeze and the laughter of long-time friends sprinkled throughout last minute responsibilities, anticipation and the emotion of, "FINALLY." 

My highlights from the very beginning were the way her girls took care of her. They tended to details. Painted vases in their PJs. Put Abby first. And then there was the bride herself.  Abby's up-do was one of the most beautiful i've seen. Her one simple jewelry choice was this perfect blue stone on a gold chain. The denim jackets, the flower girls and their boots, the tosses of babies breath against these perfect bridesmaid dresses...

And then she put that dress on...and her girls were laughing and her mom was crying and all Abby could do was LAUGH. SO. HARD....

Meanwhile Jeff waited in the foothills with his merry men...

More from this Pasadena Backyard DIY Wedding tomorrow!

LKM GIVEAWAY RESULTS

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

In case you missed the announcement on facebook on Saturday,  the #LKM GIVEAWAY finished up with 134 total entries!

The 3 winners are: (1) Christe L. (2) Emily N. (3) Tami S. Emails have been sent. Gifts have been received. Happiness has been oozed.

I realize you might be bummed you missed out this time around. In fact, you might even feel like this:

Bridgette Bassa | Los Angelas Headshot Session | Spring 2014 | Outtakes 

Bridgette Bassa | Los Angelas Headshot Session | Spring 2014 | Outtakes 

Purely understandable. But i highly recommend you follow @laurakmoore on twitter and "like" that Facebook page. We have a few more things up our sleeve this spring and those would be good #lifechoices.

New Site. New Brand. Sweet GiveAway!

To celebrate the launch of the new website, 

I'm throwing a giveaway contest! 

LKM-photography-giveaway-SP14

It's easy. really, It is easy. Here is the "How," the "What," and the "When."

HOW: Answer a question & do a Facebook like-dance and you get points towards one of three prizes. There is a TRICK *ahem, once you're done with the question and Facebook portion you will have the chance to earn more points...

...Follow Me on Twitter, Tweet about the give-away, Facebook Shout-out

          Remember, points equals good. You want more points. Except Calorie points, those           are bad

WHAT: Three prizes, three winners. 

  1. First Place wins a $500 LKM Signature Wedding Photography Credit
  2. Second Place wins an LKM Signature Mini Session Gift Certificate
  3. Third Place wins a $50 LKM Print or Session Gift Certificate

WHEN: You have till Friday, March 21st Midnight to get your points. Results will be announced the following day, Saturday.

Disney Acrobate and Hollister Model Engagement Session | Padua Hills Theatre | Claremont, CA

Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0002{Lillie & Aaron | Disney Acrobate & Anakin Skywalker Engaged | Padua Hills Theatre, Claremont, Ca} So much giggles during this engagement session earlier this past summer! Anakin Skywalker (cough), i mean Aaron, dotes on his little lady and she gets equally googly-eyed. The whole time we shot he was strutting his model curves and she'd kidney-shot him from time to time. We were in stitches by the end of the day!

These two are getting married today! And I'm pretty sure there is nobody more giddy on the face of the planet than they are....wait. (time lapse). nope. i checked. | LKM Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0001Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0003 Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0004 Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0005 Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0006 Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0007 Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0008 Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0009 Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0010 Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0011 Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0013 Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0014 Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0015 Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0016 Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0017 Claremont-Engagement-Session-Los-Angelas-Wedding-Photographer-Laura-k-Moore_0018