Baby Willow... 6 days old || Fallbrook Newborn Photography

I adore babies! And little itty bitty 6 day old newborn ones.. make my heart incredibly happy. Last week I was lucky enough to spend a morning with sweet Willow. We decided to go for a super simple, clean feel to the entire session and I was so happy to do something out of the norm.

Welcome to the world Baby Willow!

 You are so blessed with a beautiful family!

4 Month Old... Baby Brylee Sneak Peek || Fallbrook Baby Photographer

My goodness.. big blue eyes, blonde hair and dimples. I had no chance against her cuteness and instantly fell in love. Just a little sneak peek of four month old Brynlee.

Click It Thursday... Guest Posting Over at This Mama Rocks

Today I put cleaning down in my calendar. Seriously, cleaning??!! And scheduled??!! An entire morning of it.  Not like a housekeeper is coming to do it for me, but that I am doing it. Ugghhhh... Well, the good news is nothing makes me happier than a clean house {and super steam cleaned beautiful Italian Marble Tile floors}, the bad news.. I had to do it myself. Oh how I pray for Cleaning Faeries to visit me weekly in the New Year {can someone share that with Erik??}

Something else that made me happy.. I am guest posting over at This Mama Rocks today and sharing a tip for Holly's new Click it Thursday feature. So check it out and leave some love! You'll love the site. It's full of awesome tips, reviews and giveaways. Holly is also an amazing photographer herself! You can check her out HERE.



My Life... Funny Faces, Crazy Days and Sweetness

I gave my website a little face lift this morning and looked through about a bazillion files and pictures. I get lost looking at past sessions and reliving the moments that led to a particular instance, a look or smile. I feel truly blessed to be able to do what I love, create and preserve moments for others. As I scanned through the million folders, it hit me today that I am also doing that for my family.

I think my style has changed dramatically since I began this journey two and a half years ago. I have grown and defined my style in ways that I couldn't have imagined when I first started and hope to keep doing so as we go forward.

I was lost looking at some images of my babies over the last year. They amaze me in so many ways... and make me want to freeze time. They are not always super cooperative when I want to shoot them {remember our Christmas Card take 1 fiasco??!!}, but they are mine and I love them more and more every day between the funny faces, crazy days and sweetness that they fill my life with.  

Class of 2012... Paris Huntington Beach Senior Photographer || Sneak Peek

I am beyond excited to kick off the Class of 2012 Seniors Reps with Miss Paris. Not only is she gorgeous, sweet as honey and a complete braniac.. she's also an amazing athlete. We headed out to The Lab for a killer urban senior session and I have never been more in love with trailers in my entire life!

This is just a sneak peek of this amazing girl! She is going to rock 2012! More to come this week!

Photography: Nicole Benitez Photography

Hair/ Makeup/ Styling: Stephanie Boardman {she is a-mazing!!}

Location: The Lab {Costa Mesa}

Meet Newborn Baby Willow ... 6 days old Sneak Peek || Fallbrook Newborn Photographer

Last week I met the sweetest 6 days old baby girl. Willow was an angel for our entire session and didn't make a peep! Here's just a little sneak peek of the itty bitty cutie.

The Twinsers turned 6 today... Happy Birthday to Harley and Liberty!

Such a bittersweet day for me. I always have a mini tear session when the kids turn a year older . It makes me stop and evaluate our lives and question if we are leading them down the path that God has laid out for them. Am I living up to my responsibility to God and my children? Am I spending enough time, working less, loving more. Ruling with an iron fist {when really I am a spaghetti noodle} and making them feel special? I would love to say that my answers are always yes, but they aren't. If I am being completely honest, birthdays help me reflect and make me stop and evaluate what I need to do to make sure they are getting every piece of me that I can give.

Happy Birthday to my big 6 year old twinsers! I pray that I can lead you in the right direction, love you and your brother and sisters unconditionally and with all of my heart and that you grow in God's grace.

Sorry for the respost of the black and whites from their Sneak Peek HERE. I love their little faces and the first one of them together might be my favorite ALL time picture of them!
And a last huge thank you to Kait Emerson Designs for the custom designed Owl Knot Dresses!! I **heart** them sooo much!!

Kristin and Donovan... Marbella Country Club || Orange County Wedding

You can see the love in their eyes. The way one watches the other move. The way their gaze lingers just long enough to be caught. The way their bodies melt into the other as they dance. The quiet whispers of love and the smiles that are ever present in the presence of the other. That is Kristin and Donovan. It's the way they are together, and you can see the love in their eyes.

Their wedding took place at the beautiful Marbella Country Club in Orange County and it was the perfect place for an intimate gathering to celebrate.. I fell in love with their ceremony that included a moment for their parents and gorgeous evening of dancing, laughter and love.

Thank you Kristin and Donovan for asking me to document your day. I am blessed to know you and call you friends, and even more blessed and honored that you asked me to be by your side.  I know that you have so many amazing things to look forward to in 2011 and I cannot wait to see how they unfold.

oxox,

*Nicole

A wedding with cupcakes..YES PLEASE!! Yummy!

A huge thank you to Harmony from Harmony Loves for coming out to shoot with me!