Sunday Post {Milano Photography | Riverside Photographer}

{Luke}

It's been a few weeks since I posted into the Sunday Post spot, so I thought these were appropriate for today and I could introduce the latest member of our family, LUKE. It's very rare I can capture stolen moments from my son, but he was sooooo excited to get this new little guy into our family that he let me take a few....Luke and Nicholas are the best of buds, it's so awesome to watch Luke follow him around like his best pal. It's your typical "boy and his dog" relationship......We Love it, and we have had such good luck with this little guy he is an amazingly good puppy :)

Sunday Post {Milano Photography}

{Five}

Well...it's been some time since I sat down and submitted a Sunday Post. I had to take some time out today and look back at our trip to Disneyland for Mia's 5th Birthday. I find that I get so preoccupied with work, which I absolutely love BTW, but I do forget to remember what started my photography in the first place.... capturing my ever-so-quickly growing kiddos, or trying to catch and savor their every darn moment. So needless to say, I had to take a moment and reflect on them and give some hugs and kisses......When I look at them, I just loose my breath at their innocence and youth. They are truly a gift and a blessing to me.....
We had a super time that day...and Nicholas, who we thought would never enjoy Disneyland, but begged us to go because he wanted to be with Mia on her birthday (AWWWWWW sweet huh?) actually had a great time and went on all the rides he would normally say "No Way" to. But of course, NO PHOTOS for him....I guess I am just happy he had a good time....



First thing's first, a birthday hat and goodies!!!! and some hat help from Nicholas (My FAV)






Grandma went with us and treated us to a lunch with the princesses.....;)

















Wowza I cannot even believe she's 5.....

Sunday Post.

When Mother Nature Comes To Call....

I have never had to reschedule a session......until yesterday. The circumstances were not pleasant. I am sure you have all been watching the news and how Horrific the conditions are throughout Corona,Anaheim Hills,Yorba Linda,Chino Hills, and now Diamond Bar. It is just terrible. What started out to be a morning of dance with Mia, then back to drop her to Jim then off to my session with the Hite family, then Sunday, a session with 5 sweet little boys and the Macias family. Well, no.  I headed out via the 91 fwy and was dead stopped almost immediately....I wondered what in the world would be causing traffic on a Saturday morning....SMOKE ahead is what I saw...it looked bad. An hour and a half later, and only traveling about 6 miles, I called the dance studio then went back home.  Thinking it would be under control, I decided to drag the fam along for carpooling, to the session and have them drop me off at the location and let them hang around shoreline village while I worked with the Hite's.  Well, we  were shocked and amazed at the site when we got back on the freeway. Unbelievable traffic.  Fire trucks from various locations sirening for us to move aside through bumper to bumper traffic, media vans surrounding the lanes, then paramedics, the the CDF, it was unbelievable. We were listening to the news on the radio and hearing that the freeways have been shut down and traffic was being diverted, homes are being lost, flames are jumping the freeways and the fire is rapidly spreading.  My sister-in-law called from Chino Hills while watching the amazement on the News, and stated we better divert and get off asap.  We were diverted at the 71 which leads straight to her place, so that's where we landed.  The smoke was unreal and what we saw from her doorstep just left us in AW.  In the 3 hour time span that we were driving, the fire had moved so rapidly from one city to another in a matter of hours.  We finally left her house around 8:00 and when we reached home, we could see the flames all the way in Chino Hills, from our own backyard in Riverside....that's the last photo.

It is just awful....so, this Sunday's Post is in honor of those firefighters, families, homeowners, and everyone who is currently being effected by mother nature's fire that is ripping through your areas and threatening or destroying your lives, your hard work, and your memories.  I pray that everyone you know has reached you and is safe. My heart goes out to each and every one of you., and special thanks and honor go out to the firefighters who are risking their lives to protect all that we love......Please keep these families and firefighters in your thoughts tonight and days to come.....

.Sunday Post.

.Ms. Mia on Being a Photogs Daughter.

Hi everybody!!! Yep, another weekend passes by and the time change has definitely thrown us off. But, nonetheless, I have a little post. 

So I get these crazy whims to drag my family around with me scouting out new locations for great photo sessions.....I mean what kid wouldn't just LOVE being the photogs daughter and model LOLOLOL

Well, normally I don't get too much argument from Ms. Mia.  She has fun being the photog's daughter/model, and my hubby, well he goes along with it and is a great sport, but

Nicholas, forget about it, UH-UH, NO HOW and NO WAY.  

But......this day, this little one just had NO desire to participate, couldn't even bribe her.  I really wanted to share that even when they aren't interested, we still get great photos.  Your little one's don't have to LOVE getting photos taken because EVERY moment can be beautiful.....just simply spending time together can present the most amazing photographic opportunities that can be cherished for a lifetime......

.Sunday Post.

.Homecoming.

First off, does anyone think the week went by super quick?  I feel like I was just putting up last Sunday's post LOLOL :)

I absolutely cannot believe how fast these kids are growing up.  This is my nephew, Tyler and I'm telling you it was just yesterday he was the ring bearer at our wedding.....He is a Freshmen at Chino Hills High and they had their homecoming last night......The GORGEOUS girl at his side, is Carolyn, a long-time friend way back from kindergarten.  Her mom was telling me stories of photographs she has of them at like the age of 9.....Now that's a history!!!!  It's cool to see them now in High School and it was even more cool that I got to take some photos of them before they left for the dance.They looked awesome all dressed up.  Oh, and did you guys get a look at those shoes!!!!! Those are AWESOME!!!! Tyler has a GREAT group of friends, and every single one of them looked fantastik.  I hope you guys all had a blast last night, and I hope you all enjoy making memories in your first year of High School :)

.Sunday Post.

.Bebe "L" 

.Santospirito.
"Holy Spirit"

I am dedicating this Sunday's Post to one of my clients: Mr. and Mrs. Santospirito. They have the most GORGEOUS name with the most BEAUTIFUL meaning......"Holy Spirit"
They are an incredible family with an amazing little baby boy. He will be having open heart surgery this month to repair his heart. I really wanted the Santospiritos to know how AMAZING their son is and I wanted them to know this little guy is in my thoughts each and every day, he is just so special.
I was fortunate enough to spend the morning with them in their home, and what I found when I arrived just touched me. There was just something so magical about their baby, with his soul full of warmth, smiles and happiness....with such a beautiful soul, I can't even imagine a heart like his needing any repairing......
This was honestly the happiest baby ever. As much as his mommy wanted some quiet intimate moments, he was just sooooo playful and happy and fun. You couldn't STOP him from smiling and laffing..
We were fortunate, though, that we were able to really capture the best of both worlds.....sweet and intimate and fun and loving. The Santospiritos have been through so much over the past months worrying over their little man, and I just can't imagine how hard it must be. The amazing thing is you would just never know it.....they are such a strong, caring and welcoming family and so FULL of love for their baby.....Their session was soooo fun and awesome, and I will be posting some other favorites in the next couple of days!!!!!!




My thoughts and prayers are with the Santospiritos........

.Sunday Post.

.Cowboy Day.

This is Mia's last year in Pre-K, so I am really trying to take advantage of these "parent help" days at the school.  You know, they grow up sooooo fast.  I used to think that the more photos I took, the longer the moments would last.  Like it would slow the clock down or something......I just always found myself taking THOUSANDS of photos because I thought it would preserve every last moment, but ya know what?  They are still growing up just as fast.  Actually, that is one of the main reason's I started Milano Photography.  I found that the photograph of that fleeting moment may not "STOP" the hands of time, however it gave me something to cherish FOREVER....and, it forces me to slow down and take value in the moments that we have. 

 I really wanted to be able to do that for all of you.....Capture those fleeting moments that time steels away from us.  Hence: Milano Photography was born :) 

On that note, last week was Cowboy Day at Mia's preschool.  I went over there in the morning to take some photos for the teacher of the kid's in Mia's classroom, they were soooooo darn cute.  I wanted to share a couple of Mia.  They all made these hats and bandanas and had a cookout.  

Cole is the little boy....isn't he a QT??? Cole's mommy was gracious enough to allow me to post this picture of the two.  Mia and Cole were in the same class last year, and are in seperate classes this year, but it is sooooo cute to watch them follow each other around during their recess time.  She just LOVES Cole......LOLOLOL......If Jim or I ask her about anything or anyone at school, it's always Cole's name that comes up.  They even make pictures for each other, how cute is that.  It was so funny, I was in the room packing up my gear, while the kids were on the playground, and I hear Cole come into the room and ask the teacher, (not knowing I was in there)

"Have you seen Mia, I just can't find her anywhere"  

Ummmm trouble down the road for us???? Yes, Perhaps.....LOLOLOL

.Sunday Post.

.38 FEET.

so, i spend my Sundays behind a fence............watching this.  

And, it's AWESOME!!! I cannot explain the feeling and emotion that occurs watching my little man throw those 38 feet....

It's 38 feet in this division, from the mound rubber to the strike zone.

This year Nicholas moved up a division in baseball...from Shetland to Pinto, and it's been tough....there were a LOT of changes:  new coach, (ummm awesome coach BTW), scoring, 

3 strikes and "YOU'RE OUT", kid pitching, a new field and then there is that small little "protective" piece of equipment that must be worn for safety....and really, the list of changes for Nicholas this year could go on......BUT  in moving up to a division that has "kid pitch, his coach has been playing him in the pitching position, and WOW what a cool spot to be in...and Nicholas LOVES it!!!  We are really, really fortunate to have such great coaches, and great team players.

(yes, i am a bit proud)

so, nonetheless, this is my Sunday Post for the week...