Zach & Cleo: Life Session | Sunset Cliffs, CA | Analisa Joy Photography

Any day now Cleo is going to give birth to her first little girl. Who knows, maybe she’ll go into labor today. Actually, the baby isn’t due until May 27th, but my brother and his wife were a few weeks early so you never know. Cleo and Zach were nervous before our session because they have never had their pictures professionally taken, but it only took a few minutes for them to become complete naturals behind the camera. We met at Sunset Cliffs and I positioned the couple near the edge of the cliffs to get that Little Mermaid effect where the water is crashing up behind them. However, every time they would get close to the edge the water became more calm than a lily pond. We would move along the cliffs and once we would leave the edge a big ol’ wave would come crashing against the rocks (almost in mockery). The ocean and I were not in sync that day. Cleo and Zach are so excited to have their first child. They said they can’t wait for their first day/night with their baby because the moment will be so surreal. I can’t wait for them to welcome their little girl into this world… Congrats Cleo and Zach!

Brayden: Senior Session | Mission Beach, CA | Analisa Joy Photography

“That was sooo fun! If any of you haven’t had a session with Analisa schedule one RIGHT NOW!
Why aren’t you doing it… Stop thinking about it… Gooo! Call her now!”- Brayden

Time to introduce CHS’s newest graduate and my soon to be brother-in-law, Brayden. When Trent and I first started dating, Brayden was only in 5th grade! I have loved all of our memories we have experienced these past eight years. Beach days, family reunions, holidays, zoo trips, dinner dates, and our favorite– game and movie nights. It seems like only yesterday I watched him graduate elementary school and now I can’t believe that within a few short days I will be in the stands cheering him on as he walks across the stage to receive his high school diploma. Absolute CRAZINESS!

Brayden loved high school and he especially loved his senior year. He found senior year exciting because everyone is always celebrating “the last.” The last football game, the last homecoming, the last banquet, and the last week of school. Brayden had an amazing high school journey and even with his busy schedule he found time to play football, wrestle, participate in drama, be on homecoming court, sing, compose music, and learn how to play the guitar (self taught). My favorite part of our session was when Brayden started serenading the beach crowd with his guitar playing skills. I thought the guitar was only going to be used as a prop, but once I put it in Brayden’s hands he couldn’t help himself and he started playing… That was a treat!

After high school, Brayden is going to pursue his passion and work his way toward becoming a Pastor. He looks up to Pastor Miles McPherson at the Rock Church and he is hoping to one day become a leader of a large congregation. Brayden was blessed with a passionate and loving heart and I can’t wait to see how God is going to use him after high school. I am so lucky to have him be apart of our wedding and I can’t believe we will officially be related in less than 2 months. Congrats Brayden!

At the end of our shoot, Brayden and I were walking along the jetty and where we were surprised to find my fiance Trent. Trent just wrote a novel and wanted me to capture a few pictures of Bradyen for his book. It was cold, windy, and the sun was just about to go down, but Trent wanted to take advantage of our time and have Bradyen emerge from the ocean. All I know is that if my brother told me to go into the ocean around 6:00pm for a few pictures I would NEVER. I guess I’m not as sweet as a sibling. Here are a few sneak peeks from Trent’s novel, Adventure.

I know Brayden and Trent will be mad at me for posting these next pictures, but it’s only appropriate that I conclude this post with a few pictures from memory lane.

Don’t forget to like Adventure on Facebook!

Jacqueline: Senior Session | Mission Trails, CA | Analisa Joy Photography

“Thank you so much! I had so much fun with you!” - Jacqueline

Check out SDSU’s soon-to-be graduate, Jacqueline. Jacqueline and I attended the same middle school and when I received her email regarding senior pictures I was so excited. We had random encounters when I attended SDSU, but were always racing against the clock to get to our classes on the opposite side of campus. It was great to have two hours set aside to take pictures and catch up on life. After college, Jacqueline is going to continue working at US Bank. Being the hard worker that she is, she was promoted as a co-manager within her branch and after she receives her diploma she is excited to put aside the books and put her focus into her career. I can’t believe all my seniors that I have photographed this year have graduated or are days away from graduation, but I couldn’t be more excited for them. Congrats Jacqueline!

Kylie Elizabeth Rowand: Personal | San Diego, CA | Analisa Joy Photography

This was my response when I found out that my sister-in-law was going into labor!

When I hear about people getting pregnant or read about celebrities having their babies I always feel like their pregnancies fly by. It’s like, Angelina Jolie is having a baby and then bam she has a child AND twins. I didn’t even have time to reflect that she was pregnant a second time! When my sister-in-law Bree got pregnant I was ready for the same experience. I wanted to photograph her baby bump and then have the baby come right after. However, the anticipation of this little girl seemed like FOREVER! Holidays came, birthdays came, showers came, and still the baby still had months to go. We were all anxious for this little girl to come into our lives, but toward the end of Bree’s pregnancy we realized the importance of the nine month development process. About two months ago, Bree was put on bed rest for premature labor. For over a month she had to stay in bed in order to keep her baby from coming into the world too soon. It was a nerve-racking time knowing that this child could be born into the world at less than five pounds, but we prayed and prayed that she would stay in just a little longer. Days passed, then weeks, and then a month and as Luke and Bree’s little girl got stronger, Bree was finally allowed to get off bedrest. At 37 weeks the pressure of Bree’s baby started to intensify and she realized she was ready for this little one to come out. She bounced on medicine balls and did every trick in the book in hopes that she would go into labor. Well, it worked and the next day she was emitted into the hospital. She arrived at 7:00pm and nine of us quickly followed. We brought snacks, energy drinks, ipads, cameras, video cameras, blankets, and pillows all in preparation for our nighttime adventure. Our nurse laughed as he came into the room in the middle of the night and saw us all sprawled out on chairs and on the floor. We were lucky to get an hour of sleep, but the adrenaline energized us when we discovered that Bree was fully dilated around 4:00am. Initially, I wasn’t going to stay in the room during the birth because I get queasy when I watch people get their ears pierced at Claire’s, but I decided that I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to capture a miracle. I’ve watched multiple birth videos in high school (and felt like passing out), but experiencing the birth of this child in real life was totally different. It was such an amazing and indescribable experience to see this little girl enter the world and I loved watching every moment of it. It was an emotional and tearful homecoming when she came and I am so thankful I was able to photograph those precious moments. Kylie Elizabeth Rowand was born at 6:48am on May 11, 2012 and she is going to be the most loved (and photographed) child. She has such amazing parents, grandparents, cousins, uncles, and of course aunts (woo!) and I can’t wait for all the new memories she is going to bring into our lives. Congrats Luke and Bree and to all you mother’s out there, happy early mother’s day! I love and appreciate you all.