How many of you like to sit down at the end of a year and try to reflect on some resolutions for the next year to come? I know I like to at least change a few things I do and try to make life a bit more organized than in the previous year. It’s almost like spring cleaning in my desk area and in my digital filing system. As I have been storing digital files of weddings, family & senior sessions, and even personal photos I meant to blog about; I realized that MANY sessions ended up in the I’ll-blog-about-them-tomorrow pile, and that that pile became ever so high! The main reason I justify this lack of blogging is probably best illustrated by this Mercedes Benz ad, perfectly illustrated by Gil Aviyam and Lena Guberman

Lets’ just erase most items on the left side (especially anything that has to do with writing) and that might as well be my brain! But since I know that many love to see updated blogs (myself ironically included), I decided that one of my resolutions of 2012 is to keep my blog updated. I may need your help by commenting on some of my posts and ask me questions like “where did she get that dress?” or “I need one of those dreadlock hats!”. Or you can just flat out tell me that should have had my husband edit my Puerto-Rican spiced blog post so everyone can read what I am saying without all the extra fluff!

Anyway, in honor of my new year resolution, I will not consider myself as seriously keeping my blog if I still have that mile high pile of unwritten blog posts, so I am going to sum up some of our 2011 experiences here on the eve of my resolution. They are not in any specific order but I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed capturing them!

On a personal note, another New Year resolution I made is to eat at least 3 salads a week… and I’m not counting green Jell-O!!! What are some new year resolutions you made?

‘Tis the season to be together and enjoy each other’s company. I enjoy this time of the year since it is the best chance both Josh and I can relax and have fun with family that visit from out of town those who are in town. Our son for sure LOVES having all his cousins nearby. Recently I have had several families request lifestyle photography sessions rather than portrait sessions. The lifestyle approach has become a personal favorite of mine since it is not always posing and looking their very best. Now, I am not saying that my clients do not look their best, rather I am saying that through the eyes of Mojica Photography, family pictures can include real life experiences that we create together to best capture normal, every day life they want to remember. Let’s face it, our children are growing up all too fast and are learning to leave childish things behind :’( ; this is when I try to pick up one of my cameras and look at what my son likes to do and just follow him and capture the moment. Here are a few family photo sessions sharing memories together as they were really hanging out and doing what they already like to do.

These hospital pictures will always amaze me because of the moments just before becoming a mommy are usually the most painful, before the epidural of course! Pregnancy and delivery is probably the most sacrificial moments a mother can give to her child. You’ve heard them all, from 2-72 hours of labor (one of my sisters included), moms share their pain to their children to remind them that they went through a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to bring them into the world. This to me is pure love. And having photos like these are small reminders of such moments to share with generations to come.

A couple of months after having a one year old session with Avery, her mom asked me to come back for more. This time with her parent’s family and their spouses. I had so much fun with this family and this day worked out perfectly for them. Their bright red and blues showed off their true colors in college sportsmanship and the lighting of the early evening was perfect that day for showing off all the green surrounding the lake. I truly loved this session, not only because it was a perfect day, but it was also the perfect session with a fun and amazingly beautiful family.

When I was pregnant with my son, I felt like I was the most beautiful woman in the world. I really can’t identify with the sentiment that the extra weight and bloating makes you feel unattractive. For me it was an enhancement, not a hindrance, to my self-image. The last maternity session I shot really took me back to that time.

The mother was positively radiant. I met her and her husband when I took their wedding pictures last year. I loved taking their pictures then, and loved taking their pictures now. They are such a fun, down-to-earth and beautiful couple! And now, they have their little one in their arms, the now have the added glow I notice on new parents. Who, in spite of the reduced hours of sleep, just beam of excitement to have their family grow with love.

Couldn’t get enough of the cuteness? Watch their video. Now the lyrics may not match this couple much ut the rhythm of the music was just perfect.

I shot this family a few months back when the new kid on the block was just two weeks old, now she recently just turned six months old (time flies!) She has trades her wrinkly newborn features for a true photogenic beauty. It was funny because she seemed to be teething, thus not as smiley as her beautiful self, but wow- did she wow me with her eyes and occasional spurts of laughter that mom and dad managed to get out out her in spite of her sore gums! Oh how she proved me to be a gem! And her eyes, in some of the pictures, just make your heart melt.

Curls, blue eyes and tons of cuteness! Girls will drool over him in years to come! What a fun session! Although he wasn’t too happy in the barrel at first, he made wonderful pictures just by being his adorably handsome self!

There are many events in life that almost demand having a photographer present to capture and frame the memories for posterity: a wedding, the welcoming home of a newborn child, graduation. But many don’t realize that sometimes, the every-day moments at home, like sitting around on the sofa or cooking in the backyard are just as important to preserve as the momentous occasions in life. That is why we do all of our family and newborn sessions in our clients’ homes. Some of our most fun photography jobs have been centered around capturing the ups and downs–the unscripted moments at home. When I started as a photographer, I would practice at home, using my family members as guinea pigs. My first real ‘session’ featured my son and a bowel of spaghetti. He was only one your old at the time, and got marinara all over his high-chair and himself, but it made for beautiful and colorful images. So, next time you catch your child making a mess and she looks at you with her innocent, puppy-dog eyes, instead of sending her to her room, take a picture, or call me and I’ll take a few for you!

There is something soothing about looking into the unique grey-blue shade found in newborns’ eyes. I remember waiting with anticipation for my son’s eyes to mature, and hoping that he would keep the same baby-blues that my husband has been blessed with. This baby got to keep hers, luckily, and my lens loved them!

At 7 months many children reach certain milestones such as sitting up, lunging forward (to crawl), and standing while holding on to something. Here Weston proved to have an additional milestone: cuteness all session long. What a fun little tyke!