PFC Robert D. Lovato - Marine Corps Graduation Ceremony

On July 9, 2010, Private First Class Robert D. Lovato, graduated from the Marine Corps. After three months of boot camp, and completing the Crucible at Camp Pendleton, my 'little' cousin is a changed man.

Rob has always been funny. Rob has always been sharp and quick witted. Rob has always been the cousin I knew could do anything he put his mind to, and has done that anything again and again.

And he's still all of those things. However, he now walks a little taller. He's now got a confidence to his stride I'd never seen. His conversation is a little smoother and focus has shifted in a way most guys his age couldn't yet imagine. It's remarkable. It's humbling. And it's proof to me that Rob has stepped into the solid man that I always knew he would be.

It was a proud couple of hours at the MCRD San Diego for we Lovatos (and Endicotts and Nilson! ;)). As soon as the marines were released, we all scurried down to hug Rob and take him home.

Proud parents and sister...then a group shot with all of his fans...

Then, back at my home, he dumped his bags and showed us all his new gear...
and the Lovato RD stamp of approval...

Love the Most - Lovato Images

Please forgive my lack of blogging the last week or two. I had family in town (which I'll be blogging about soon!) which kept me away from my computer. Then, the day they all left, a tragic accident I witnessed left me completely lost. It was all I could do to keep most of the appointments I had last week. So please, forgive anything or anywhere I was lacking last week. I haven't exactly been myself.

So, to step back into this, I thought I'd reflect on a question I get a lot. People often ask me what I like to shoot the most. I do shoot a LOT of different things and while it might be stretching some of my efforts more than it should, I'm going to keep the diversity going for now. Because. Really. I do enjoy it all.

There are MANY things I love about photography and being a photographer and working in this fantastically creative field. But one of my favorite things about my shoots, is that I'm able to step outside of myself, and immerse myself, my work and my heart into the stories I'm shooting. I might be having a really rough day, but I show up to shoot, and the energy and the chemistry of the people in front of my lens warms me up, wraps me tight and takes all my cares away. Seriously.

So thank you. For all of you who have been in front of my lens, for all of you who have let me into your stories, into your lives, into your energy and love...thank you. I've taken a part of you with me, and taken your story and shared it my way. And I appreciate the experience and the memories we'll keep forever, one digital file, one print, one click at a time...

So to answer the question, 'what do I like to shoot best...' my response is...wherever I am able to feel, share and showcase the most love, I definitely love the most.


Lindsay and Drew during their engagement shoot in Anaheim Hills, July 12, 2010.

Picture of the Every Couple of Days Caption Contest

"An ice cream truck in Orange is hijacked by drunken locals disguised as Saved by the Bell characters. Later the truck was found on fire in a middle school parking lot emptied of its cargo. A reward has been set for any information leading to the arrests of the

Saved by the Bell Bandits."

Thank you all who participated in the Picture of the Every Couple of Days Caption Contest! What fun I had reading all the submissions!

For those not familiar, I asked people to come up with a creative caption for the image above and the winner receives a gift certificate for a 30 minute massage with Brandi Sky Brady, RMT. The winner for this first contest is Christie Naill (most creative caption listed above image). Woo hoo!! Christie, please email me for details on how to redeem your prize.

Because it made me laugh so hard, I had to choose a Most Honorable Mention/runner up prize, which is a 25% off coupon to her next massage booked with Brandi Sky Brady, RMT. Congratulations to Cynthia Karim for the FUNNIEST caption:

"Come and get it...condoms and ice cream....ding-a-ling-ling"

And because there were so many good ones, I copied some here. Enjoy! And thanks again for all who participated!

"Even as adults, Ricky and his girls still go bananas for the ice cream truck."

"80s Polyester Zombies attack west LA ice cream truck."

"We can totally afford all this ice cream."

"Sugar Rush."

"Ever notice how the Icecream man always drove extra blocks away? Well on this particular day he had made a couple of laps around the block just to see these dorks run after it. He saw them coming, he saw em and sh*t, but he was in that truck with his friends and said to em: Watch me, let's see how fast I make these motherf*ers run."

"rock n roll ice cream"

"Soft serve??? I asked for a Big Stix!"

"Breakin' 3: Popsicle Boogaloo"

"Air Guitar strikes when you least expect it!"

"The 80's just aren't what they used to be."

"Years go by but youth will never die."

"I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin by. All my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy."

"Find your inner child."

"Good times are here again!"

For those of you not yet recipients of the Picture of the Every Couple of Days, please, click on the link and sign up so that you can be included in the next contest.

Independence Days - Lifestyle Photography

Several years ago, while I was in college and working for an event photography company, I took a job on the Fourth of July. A big fat amazing party in Corona del Mar at this big fat house with a big fat guest list of all of the hosts' friends and family. It was a killer party.

And I was in a killer physical state. To make a long and disgusting story short and tasteful, it was a really rough couple of hours. Being sick, and being at this awesome party with all of these awesome friends and family of the hosts', I vowed to never work on the Fourth of July again. I've spent it with my own awesome family and friends ever since.

This year, however, my parents are out of town at a huge family reunion that I had to miss due to shoots today and Monday. So this year is a little different, in more ways than one.

Now here I sit, the day before our country's independence day, and I can't help but think of my own independence. I'm still far from where my vision will take me. I'm still far from where I want to be. However, I've come to a point as an artist where I am excited and honored to stand on my own. My clients trust me and value my work. My friends and contacts appreciate my work. My family is proud of my work. And some are moved by my work.

There is no better way to celebrate independence day this year than to reflect on the freedom I have in my work and the way I fit into myself and my goals more each day. I belong to myself. I am true to myself. And my family, friends and clients allow me that.

So let music swell the breeze, and ring from the trees, sweet freedom's song...let freedom ring!

Have a great weekend, everyone. Be safe. And be free.

(one of my first ever self portraits pictured, 2003)

Daymaker Bradley Sandstrom - Portraits

I got a really rad email today that started with the subject line 'daymaker.' I opened it with curiosity to read a sweet note: 'Thanks so much for all your posts! And the compliments! You turned my day from a borderline stinky to a super super yay day!! What an amazing thing to do. Thanks!!!' And that feedback made MY day in return! Positivity is contagious, people. Truly!

And one of the most positive daymaker types I know is Mr. Bradley Sandstrom. I met Brad in college and we've remained friends as the two of us have traveled and grown through one fantastic adventure after another. And to Brad, and to me, a fantastic adventure can be a 15 minute cab ride or a walk through an arboretum at night. He's a beautiful person, and makes my day almost every time I talk to him.

So! How excited was I when he hit me up a few months back before I traveled to Manhattan to take some portraits of him in that big apple-icious city?! He is there trying to make a go of his acting and/or music career. And of course, every actor/musician MUST have some solid head shots, right? Especially the super cool ones. So naturally, I jumped at the job opp.

I posted a few of the head shots before, but here are some more of the fun ones. Daymaker style.