photography by victoria | los angeles . orange county . california | marenity . newborn . child . family photography » blog

spring break in san francisco | photography by victoria

admin — Sat, 26 May 2012 23:56:36 +0000

I had grandiose ideas of shooting pictures on our vacation to san francisco and as per usual, i fell short of documenting it. Two kids will do that to you. Here are a few I did take though, all was not lost!! I went with b&w, which is pretty unusual for me, but I am so happy I did!

Thanks for looking!
Contax G2 | 45 2.0 + Kodak BW400CN

expecting | newport beach maternity photographer

admin — Thu, 24 May 2012 06:57:12 +0000

I love new, soon to be parents!! So full of excitement – I can remember that feeling like it was yesterday! I had the pleasure of meeting up with Bria and James and their first baby, Tucker, down in Newport a few weeks back, they were so sweet and I am so excited that I get to photograph their baby boy in just a few weeks!!

Tucker was much more interested in the squirrels and birds and waves and other dogs than he was me (i don’t blame him) but I did get his attention for a few seconds! Going to pat myself on the back for these as that is MAUNAL focus!

Little costume change!! Adore Bria’s flowered dress!!

Techie Info | Mamiya 645 AF + 80 1.9 | Portra 160

so much love | los angeles newborn photographer

admin — Mon, 21 May 2012 17:37:17 +0000

A few weeks back I had the pleasure of photographing this new family. Baby G and his mommies. He was a doll baby and even at 10+ lbs curled right into position for me and all his little newborn details, not helping the baby fever!! A new favorite session to date!! Enjoy!

Thank you so much for allowing me to capture this time for you!!
Enjoy!!
xo

Tory

Techie info: Mamiya 645AF + 80 1.9 |

imperfect | los angeles film photographer

admin — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 23:01:35 +0000

So I don’t know if some of you know or not but I run another blog with a photographer friend of mine, Wendy Laurel (she’s AMAZING and lives in one of my favorite places, Maui, HI). It’s called Let the Kids Dress Themselves and is a blog devoted to creative HONEST photography, we are geared towards the photographer, as well as, people looking to see what REALLY good portrait photography should look like.

Earlier this week I ran a post called Ok with the imperfect and since it really summed up what I am all about I thought it would be a good thing to share here too, since well…..you’re the people that are going to hopefully hire me to take your family pictures and it is important that we are on the same page – a good fit so to speak! It is important that you as a consumer are on the same page as your photographer, whether that be myself OR anyone else….the last thing you want to do is open the yellow pages and blindly choose, these are your memories you’re dealing with.

For me, my favorite images that make my heart sing….are usually the imperfect (but in a sense perfect) shots. This is what I want to print on canvas and display……because it represents a snippet in time. Of course your gallery will include all sorts of perfectly posed images from me too…everyone smiling at the camera…but as an artist what I really want to give you, what I want you to get out of our session is a blink in time, a piece of art. AND, most of the time, for me, these are the “imperfect” shots on the roll.

Here are a few from my last few personal rolls.

In my hearts of hearts I hope you agree and will hire me to be your family photographer, to capture your moments….but if I am not what you are looking for I urge you to find a photographer that you connect with, not just a random person in the yellow pages.

xo
Tory

Techie info: Mix of Ektar 100 . Fuji 400h . Portra 800 | Contax G2 + Mamiya 645

what we do | redondo beach children’s photographer

admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 22:38:40 +0000

This is pretty much us everyday. From the time they wake up, to the time the sun goes down, all they want to do is ride their scooters up and down our sidewalk.
Pierce goes super fast and his sister tries her hardest to catch up…one day she will.

Mamiya 645 AFD + 80 1.9 | Testing out some Fuji Reala for the first time |

baby emmett | pacific palisades newborn photographer

admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 01:36:49 +0000

Sweet baby Emmett came exactly 4 weeks early, the day before we were to do maternity pictures of his mommy. He is the sweetest thing (I am not baby crazy, I am not baby crazy, I am not baby crazy) and born into an awesome family, lucky little guy!

a test roll with some willing subjects | redondo beach child photographer

admin — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 23:54:26 +0000

I traded up cameras last week as I will be moving towards mostly medium format now, for those who like techie info I sold my Mamiya 645 Pro TL and got a Mamiya 645AF, basically for the shutter speeds….a Mamiya Pro TL will only allow you to shoot up to a shutter speed of 1000 and if I am going to be shooting in bright sun I needed the capability of a faster shutter. Make sense? I’ll be shooting a little 35mm too, but I am excited to be making the jump over to medium format.

Of course I had to make sure the camera worked so I threw a roll of Portra 800 in it and begged Leighton to let me take some pictures of her!! To my surprise she was very willing and Pierce even jumped in a few. I think Pierce is ALMOST past the looking at the end of our nose phase….one that I will definitely NOT miss

I could not be happier with the camera, a roll of 15 and I got 14 in focus and some new cute pix of the kids in the process! That is success!

Thanks for looking!!

Mamiya 645 AF + 80 1.9 | Portra 800

wilson is a BIG brother, literally | hermosa beach newborn photographer

admin — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:07:39 +0000

It’s funny thing writing blog posts, sometimes I sit down and I am all over it…I feel witty and the words flow….and then the next day I read what I wrote and I’m like “WOW, Tory…..you aren’t funny” LOL. SO I am probably going to look at this title tomorrow and shake my head but for now….I’m pretty funny

Little Miss Frankie made her long awaited arrival a few weeks back and I had the pleasure of spending a morning with her family…including her BIG brother Wilson…who could not be bigger or cuter…and who VERY much wanted to be included in his new sisters pictures. Who can blame him, she’s quite the looker.

Welcome Miss Frankie! You were born into the best family I know and I cannot wait to watch you grow up!! xx

Mamiya 645 Pro TL + Nikon f100 | Portra 400 + 800

two down + some changes | redondo beach child photographer

admin — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 23:01:00 +0000

We’ve had some exciting things going on in the O’Leary house, Pierce lost TWO teeth!! Well actually they were hanging on by a thread and mommy (that’s me) had to put her big girl pants on and pull it out…..seriously so gross!! Of course I took advantage of this opportunity to play with some black and white film and my macro filters, because you know it’s all about the picture right?!
He’s getting so big and I love his dimples and big toothless smile, although i REALLY hope that those two grow in before the top two fall out or I’ll be digging through the baby stuff in the storage to find that baby food making kit!

Some other changes are coming over here too…..a bigger and better new Blog-Site for one!! That’s a website AND a blog in one! Woot! In theory this sounds simpler and I think in the end it will be but for now I am neck deep in learning a new software….which is probably the least fun thing ever, Ha! But it will be worth it in the end!

Anyhow that is what’s been going on with me! I have some shoots to share and I promise to get better at this blogging thing!!

xo
T

Mamiya 645 Pro TL + Kodak TMAX 400

sugar + spice | huntington beach newborn photographer

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:45:17 +0000

It’s been all about the baby girls lately!!
Here is sweet baby o, we hung out a few weeks back – she was so alert but I finally had my way in the end.

Nikon f100 | 50 1.4g + Portra 800