Monroe Family | Orange County Family Photographer

Hello there blog world!

Yes, I know I sort of disappeared for a while, but I didn't stop working!  I kind of lost the urge to blog, and well, I gave into that urge!  So, I have lots of catching up to do, and lots of gorgeous images to share!  So, stay tuned for more frequent updates on this old blog!

This cute family won my FB fan giveaway, and we got together this summer for a quick mini-session.  I am in love with their color scheme and cutie-pie little girls!  Thanks Monroe family for a fun session!  Hope you love your images :)  xoxo

I'm still booking Fall Mini-Sessions, and would love to photograph your family! 

Contact me for availability!

Baby Bear | Orange County Newborn Photographer

I'm so pleased to introduce baby Baron, aka "Bear," my sweet cousin Kay's new baby.  He's so scrumptious, I just get all mushy inside looking at these!  I even got a little teary eyed as I was editing... there is just something so purely magical about newborn babies!

I have really enjoyed the few times I've been able to come shoot new babies while they are still in the hospital.  No, it's not the same as a birth story, but honestly, it's almost as good!  They are usually only a day or 2 old when I come and FRESH from heaven.  I can't say it enough, PURE MAGIC.  And I want to be completely honest...I didn't miss all the props and poses and blankets, etc that newborns shoots usually consist of!  Simple and natural - seriously those new babies are the most beautiful things on the planet and do not need any accessorizing to make them cuter.  Am I right?

Thank you Kay and Matt for letting me come photograph your sweet baby boy.  I love you guys!

If you're pregnant and considering having your birth story photographed, or if you're interested in some hospital photos like these, I'd love to hear from you!  (psssst...photography makes a great baby shower gift! I offer gift certificates in any amount!)

Kerr Family | Orange County Photographer

 Kristie is one of my besties...and she is also my go-to girl for my hair!  She's got magical powers when it comes to hiding all my "blonde" (aka WHITE) hairs that have been sprouting out of my head for the last 10 years...

I love her dearly and love even more that she loves pictures so much!  She has three sweet little boys who I have had the pleasure of knowing almost all their lives!  (Pssst...baby girl is currently baking in the oven!!!!)

She and Grady have been married for 10 years...and when we took these pics it was kind of celebrating that, as well as little Gavin's 2nd birthday...I loved their grey and yellow color scheme and especially love Gavin flying around in his Superman cape!

Lil Blue Boo | Product Testing

I recently had the opportunity to do some digital product testing for Lil Blue Boo, and although I don't normally use overlays like these, I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun I had with these!

This set is only $6.00!  Click on the above image to see it in their shop!

Here are a few examples of how you can use these overlays:

Lil Blue Boo has some darling products in their shop! 

Click HERE to go check it out!

Happy Weekend!

xo, Shari

Lyme Disease really TICKS me off!

I've been campaigning for signatures on a petition to change how insurance companies will cover treatment for people with Lyme Disease for the last week or so on Facebook, Twitter and even sending emails to celebrities who also suffer from Lyme begging for their help.  

Why?  

Because of this story about my cousin Justin:

Lyme disease is the 2nd fastest growing infectious disease in the world. But it gets no attention.

I showed classic signs and symptoms for 4 years. I was finally in a wheelchair before I got a correct diagnosis.

 

They predict it will take 4 years for me to recover to the fullest amount my body will allow.

Lyme disease mimics and can cause permanent diseases; Type 1 Diabetes, MS, ALS, CFS, IBS, CHRONS, CELIAC, FIBRO, RA, MIGRAINES, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, all of which I have been diagnosed with. 

The Center for Disease Control will not allow doctors to treat patients longer then two weeks with antibiotics for this chronic infection;  yet, they will let doctors prescribe years of antibiotics to people for acne. 

The CDC says Lyme is cured with 2 weeks of antibiotics. 

That is just a blatant lie. 

(I am getting better slowly, after months, and coming up on my first year of taking antibiotics everyday).

The disease is commonly known to be spread by a tick, but it can be spread as a SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE. I know... I gave it to my wife. I try not to remind myself of that EVERY day. We had been married two years before she, my sister and my dad diagnosed me, and then she tested positive about 6 months after me.The CDC denies that it can be spread this way... like they denied AIDS was an STD in the late '70's.

I have been encouraging my friends who have been chronically ill to get tested. 9/9 have come back positive for Lyme disease! 

You can get this disease anywhere, and sometime in YOUR life, someone you know, besides me, whether closely or distantly, will suffer from this.

It is inevitable. For my age group, this is our generation's AIDS. 

Let's CHANGE this. I am fed up with all HELLTHCARE (Health care)! 

I have experienced the socialized medicine in Canada  and was losing two pounds a day to diabetes for weeks before I was taken seriously! My companion had to carry me into the ER!

Ask yourself how you would respond if someone you loved had a problem like this?

  

Do a good deed for the day, it ONLY takes about 2 minutes. 

1. Create an account (your name, email, and zip code)

2. Click the link sent to you in your email.

3. Sign the petition. 

Please help spread the news!  

We still need nearly 16,000 signatures by TOMORROW, February 10th.

These are the things we should be bringing awareness to. 

Click HERE to sign the petition.  THANK YOU!

Pep Talk

Source: susanfitchdesign.blogspot.com via Shari on Pinterest

I love this quote!  I would like to add "Do not dwell on unkind things that YOU may say about YOURSELF" because we all beat ourselves up WAY too much! I have a lot of goals for being productive this week...at home, and with my photography business...  So when I saw this quote, it was exactly the little pep talk I needed to get me movin!

Happy Monday y'all!

xoxo,

Shari

p.s. are you on Pinterest?  I am!  Come find me!  http://pinterest.com/sharibeth/

an independent eater

I've been struggling with keeping up 2 blogs - my personal blog and this photography blog - for quite some time.  So, every now and then, I will be posting some personal things on this blog... in an effort to share more of my life through pictures, and also to help my readers/clients get to know me better.

Among the all the busy things happening in my life as a mom to 4 boys, is that I am learning to "let go" of my control issues (never thought I had control issues until I became a parent!) when it comes to meal times with Aleksander.  He is nearly 16 months old, and so badly wants to be an independent feeder/eater.  He is starting to have very strong opinions about what foods he will and won't eat, as well as putting his foot down on who does the feeding -- NOT ME.  This means lots of big messes...squishing food between his fingers...sticky table...sticky floor...sticky hair...etc. etc. etc...

What's the big deal?

Exactly.

That's what I've finally settled on.

What. Is. The. Big. Deal?

Why am I not letting my little guy enjoy the experience of feeding himself?

So...I decided to document breakfast today...because seriously, he is just so darn adorable!  I want to remember him learning to feed himself and delighting in mess making.

It's the small things that matter most, friends...

At the request and smart suggestion of my friend Kristen over at Capturing the Joy (a super fun blog! go check it out!) I am attempting to get into more pics with my kiddos...even early in the morning, with bed head and no make-up.  This is real life!

If you're on Instagram, look me up:  @sharibeth78

I'd love to see what you're posting too!

Happy Thursday!

xo,  Shari

Baby Brecken | Orange County Newborn Photographer

This is my sweet neighbor and friend, Amanda's new baby boy.  (see their family pics HERE)   Well...he was brand new when I took these photos back in October!  He's HUGE now in comparison to how tiny he is in these images.  Darn time!  I wish it would stop whizzing past!  I absolutely, 100,000% love, LOVE, LOOOOVE newborn babies.  There is just nothing that compares to a sweet new baby, fresh from Heaven.  Being the awesome friend that she is, she agreed to let me invade her peaceful hospital stay to capture some images of her new little one...just shy of 36 hrs old!  Enjoy...

Steve and Amanda, congratulations on another beautiful baby!  Thank you so much for letting me intrude into your life with your new little guy...  Love you guys and hope you love these images!

Friends, one of my photography goals for 2013 is to learn the art of birth photography.  If you are pregnant (or know someone who is) and are interested in having your baby's birth documented (tastefully!) please don't hesitate to call or email me for more information!  714-865-3885 or sharihansonphotography@gmail.com

Not quite sure you want the actual labor/delivery documented, but interested in photos like these?  email me! call me!  Let's do it!  These are the moments that deserve to be documented...and so often are not.

xoxo,
Shari