Vanessa Honda Photography

I love it when a family feels so comfortable around me that they can let their guards down and just be themselves during their session. Such was the case this year with the “R” family.  Of course, it helps that this was the fourth year in a row of taking their family portraits – they know how I work and aren’t afraid to ask things like “can I take some pictures with your camera now?”  I wanted to find a different kind of location, having done two beach portraits and a park in the year’s past.  So I thought of one of my favorite new locations near Coto de Caza as being a good choice.  When they all showed up in flip flops though, I realized I hadn’t clearly communicated my plans of tramping through the brush to get rugged look I was going for!  So we stayed on the trails for the most part, and still had a great variety of shots to choose from!  All in all we had a fun time (in spite of the bugs and the stickers) and some gorgeous light and ended up with some memorable images. What made the occasion even more special was that it was the last week before their oldest daughter Grace was leaving across the country to go to school (our loss, Wellesley’s gain).  So we made sure to get some special pics of just Grace with her parents and siblings!

I couldn’t think of any other title to sum up this post. So many beach sessions, and all very similar locations, but so much fun to meet so many different people and learn their stories!  This was an aunt whose niece and nephew were coming from out of state to visit.  And she planned a photo session with them, so they could have beautiful memories of their time shared and Christmas gifts for the parents.  And each one of them was truly beautiful, on the inside as well as out.  I am so lucky to have so many beautiful clients!  I know they’ve been eagerly waiting to view their images – thanks so much for your patience as I attempt to get caught up!  Enjoy your sneak peak!

This was another fun new family visiting from out of state.  They had 5 delightful and well-behaved kids.  We met at Wood’s Cove and stayed until well past sunset,  just talking and watching the kids play in the waves. In between there somewhere we got in a few shots of the family and the kids (and even a few of mom and dad).  Enjoy your sneak peak “S” family!

I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful evening, and more perfect location, or a more fun family for this session!  This was another family that came back to visit Sunny Southern California this summer and have their beach portraits taken by me again!  I am so lucky!  We had a great time last year, and an even better time together this year!  It is so much fun to see my repeat clients year after year and see how the kids have grown and how everyone is doing!  And I so look forward to next year as well! Enjoy your sneak peak “G” family!

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I have a love/hate relationship with my computer. I certainly spend plenty of time with it!  I couldn’t do what I do without it. In fact, I can’t live without it.  But sometimes things go wrong, and then, because of my computer, I hate my life!  That was the story for the last week and a half, because I caught a very nasty virus on my image editing computer.  Fortunately, I had everything backed up.  Unfortunately, it took several days of unsuccessfully trying to fix the problem so that I wouldn’t have to format and reinstall (because it takes forever to get things running the way I need them to be to edit), and then when that didn’t work, it took several days of reinstalling all of the software, plugins, actions, filters, brushes, fonts, etc. and getting things just the way they need to be.  So, I truly apologize to all of my clients who have been waiting to see their images. I am on a roll playing catchup now!

And this is one of those families who have been waiting patiently!  Fun family get together at the Balboa Pier in Newport Beach and grandma was so proud of all her adorable grand kids (with good reason!)  So here is your long awaited sneak peak, and I hope to have many more up very soon for those of you still waiting!

I met Hallee and her sister on a warm summer evening as they were down visiting their grandmother in Huntington Beach.  Hallee wanted some beach portraits for her Senior Portraits, and she couldn’t have picked a better place than the Balboa Pier at Newport Beach.  It was a beautiful day, and Hallee’s natural beauty shone through as the evening wore on.  We snuck in a few with her grandma and sister as well.  I was so impressed with both girls and had a great time getting to know them!  Enjoy your sneak peak!

Another beautiful family on another beautiful beach with beautiful light… what a fun job I have!  And the love this family has for each other shines through in each and every image!  Trying to keep things short so I can get more posts up, but the pictures sort of speak for themselves here anyways.

Time for a “sneak peak” for the P family – they have been waiting patiently to see their images, and I am finally starting to get caught up  – so here you go!  Lots more sneak peaks to come…

This was such a fun and loving family (not to mention photogenic) – so narrowing down the images was the most difficult part!  The kids were so great to work with and everyone was beautiful.  I hope you enjoyed your stay here guys – and hope you come back next year!

For now, enjoy these pics while I busily finish getting your gallery ready to view!  Thanks for a great session!

I had a great time a couple of weeks ago, snapping some shots for some friends of the family.  Karl and my husband were roommates from freshman year in college and have kept in touch ever since. We have spent many a birthday party, 4th of July, and blessings and baptisms together.  As well, as many nights staying up late and playing games.  They had family in town for their son’s baptism and took the occasion to get some family portraits taken at the beach by the pier in Santa Monica, where they live.  It was the peak of busy season at the beach there on a hot July day, and a little bit crowded, but the weather was perfect and the light was lovely!  Enjoy your “sneak peak” you guys – we should have the rest of the pics done by the time we see you this weekend!

First, I have to apologize for the tardiness of this post – and many others. This has been a super busy time of year as always, with sessions every day (and sometimes more than one a day).  And to top things off, I had a little medical emergency that sent me to the hospital for a bit this week and that set me back even further. So I appreciate everyone’s patience as I get the blog updated and your sessions online!  As I am playing a bit of catchup, I will limiting my “sneak peaks” to just a few pictures.  That way, I will hopefully get everyone’s portraits up all the sooner!

This was such a fun family!  Little “E” was in my daughter’s preschool class this year and they became quite the little friends.  So it was a joy and a pleasure to have the opportunity to photograph their family!  Enjoy your sneak peak, and know that your session gallery will be up in a matter of days!