happy new year

so, it doesn't take long to realize I LOVE faces...more love...lots and lots of love.
iheartfaces has a photo challenge this week:
best face of 2010. Can that be done?
totally overwhelming so so so many faces I love this year....
This got me thinking...(warning warning warning, deep thoughts ahead)

I have so many images that I love... that say LOVE that don't have
a face...and yet, you get the point... right??

love. love. LOVE! enough said...

happy new year.
nik

flower power

well, it was better than "flower girls rock" or some other nonsense...I really don't try...
all this claptrap just kind-of bubbles to the surface naturally...



kids are a wonderful to photograph. Truly truly! and those who know me, know for better or worse,
I very very very rarely say things I do not wholeheartedly mean...
I have not photographed a kid that I don't like...kids are crazy fun...
I love it...my experience photographing kids has been amazing.

I love their ability to quickly connect, their openness to try new things,
and their complete lack of self-criticism in front of the lens.
Perhaps, this is total narcissism on my part, but so far I also haven't
found a kid who doesn't like the photo I took of them...LOL (:

In general, the response to looking at themselves on the back of the camera
goes something like this:

"yeah, I'm cute...
yeah, I look adorable....
yeah, everyone tells me I am good looking all the time....
oh yeah, did you know? I am also the smartest in my class."

You know what I mean here...no nitpicking...
just the facts...
"I'm awesome," and it's really cool of you to notice, crazy camera lady...

gosh I LOVE doing this.......love love love
nik

tranquil silence

the beautiful Mrs. M.

funny how weddings are so fast-paced...and yet, there are moments in slow motion ...
like slightly blowing palms and reflective brides....

just a thought while I was working....blame it on the rain....(:
nik

tolkienlitis

it's a real disease....Lord of the Rings was on during e's session...therefore,

I am blaming all my latest fairy elf nonsense on it...it's highly contagious...(:
nik

nisser

Dear Mr. Neighbor,

I am very sorry for loitering around your house at night. In all fairness,
you did put up the decorations...and they do cover ever inch of
your property. It is very difficult not to sit and admire the blink,blink,
blink of the lights...ok, well part of the sitting had to do with the fact that my second flash wasn't firing, but I digress....

During my session with your unsuspecting elf...at least a dozen or so cars slowly drove by to look at the beautiful lights....side note,this made me seriously second guess my decision to wear shorts.

oh yes, ummmm...I also, took some artistic liberties with the elf...hope you don't mind that either.
sincerely,



Families in Norway have a tradition, one family member will dress up as a “nisse”, the "nisse" will knock on the door and ask, "Good evening, are there any good children here?" Most children will say: "Yes, I am good."

Toys for the good ones....just thought you should know...
nik

bellezza classica

miss E.





nikapedia definition: would have been considered beautiful in the past, and will be considered beautiful as time goes by...

nik

the not-so-christmas christmas card.

So sometimes when Bruce comes home and asks me about my day...I just want to show him a picture...yep, and that explains it...not that I am trying to box anyone in...I promise you...some kids just arrive that way...straight up, day one...just like that

I am telling you the sociologist in me may deny it...but this one is NATURE not nurture...seriously.

it's all Bruce's fault. seriously.

nik

meet little miss g.

oh my goodness.
darling.

darling.

darling.

thanks for having me Bianca, it was a pleasure.
nik

sweet

if you've got em'...flaunt em'....really, it's just about me...cracking myself up...sad really...lol

nik

deep

my suggestion, 5x7 folded, pearl w/ uv coat...sweet.
nik

muy unida

the way family should be.

tight. close. protective.

and a joy to shoot.

I had FUN fun fun! I was out of control...as usual...something about shooting...I just have so much FUN...I so enjoy it...I am like a shooting energizer bunny...
I could just keep going...and going...
I love it...

thanks D-family for having me!
til' we meet again...(:
nik

Regier-Galpin Farms

it's december...

the grape vines are still beautiful...

breathtaking actually...in almost an eerie restful way...

the stone fruit have dropped the majority of their leaves...

seems like nothing is happening...yet, the trees are pruned, which strengthens the tree and encourages growth for next year....

some growers measure “chill hours”-(the temp. below 45deg)

nikapedia definition: when trees "chill" it's like sleep...and helps a tree prepare for next seasons fruit. Here is the interesting part, some varieties need to "chill" more than others...

hmmm if I were a fruit tree I guarantee I would need more "chill" time....
I really do need to get good rest....
I think I would be a very high demand variety of fruit...

but wait...drama drama...

the mandarines offer a feast of orange and green...

when we need our vitamen C during the winter cold season...

harvest is here...

yum! pure delight...

and one of the cutest farmers daughter ever. (:


always fun on the fruit farm...this informaion provided by CalState PPN, for a wealth load of more information on California's peach, plums and nectarines, visit...

www.eatcaliforniafruit.com

nik

Whooooshhhhh!

Big deep breath. I think...I think, I am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...a couple more custom card orders to go...
I LOVE what I am doing...have I mentioned that before?? I LOVE painting cards!
love love love. LOVE! I love painting on images...I love taking images...just feeling a lot of LOVE today...

so many things have been on the back burner through this season...
can't wait to get more hats posted!!! can't wait to get my custom Thank You
and Monogram card series up....hmmmm and a few more projects....
oh, and can't WAIT to change my home page...way way to long...

ok, nice breathing for a few minutes...
but back to work...(:
nik

happy tuesday.

yesterday, not so much...coffee didn't help, lunch didn't help, diet coke didn't help...nor did chocolate, pizza, more diet coke, or, prepare yourself for this one.....photoshop....soooo shocking!!! (:

today...happy tuesday...whew...much better...



by the way...little miss k deserves to be smack dead center of my frame...adorable.

nik

brrrrrrr!

Outdoor sessions have been ccccold!!!

lots of jumping required...

warm smiles...

Corey and Jennifer...May the Lord answer you, protect you, help you and support you...(psalms 20:1&2)

blessings!
nik

meet Hannah Gruenstein.

my niece...her name in Hebrew means...
She Who is Blessed by God.


Grace of God.

and Favor/Grace.(Hannah was also the name of the Mother of the Prophet Samuel.)


Sweetness.


Well, I couldn't go down to Bako without also enjoying a small photo op. with one of my favorite obsessions...Rye Pie!

Honestly, she is just a cute as a button...holds her own with my boys...and has a pair of the cutest front teeth I have ever seen.

I'm not partial...at all...(:

nik

happy happy thanksgiving...

I am happy today that I am not making a turkey...thank you mimi for our non-traditional, tradition of non-tradition....Swedish meatballs and nana's green bean casserole...I am in heaven.

meet master kirby...is he not a doll? literally. total doll...and bright eyed the majority of the session...hello world...I'm Kirby!


a rare moment...(:

... a first grand baby...and the most beautiful Ciara...two weeks after giving birth...amazing.


have a blessed day...
nik

meet Karen and Fernando.

Saturday, was a beautiful cold fall day...warm warm warm friends and family.
it warmed my heart...to be a part of it...
thank you Karen...
thank you Fernando...

congratulations to you!


point.set.match. 11.20.2010


celebrating love. love. at the charming....
Fig Garden Swim and Racquet Club...www.fig-garden.com
...it is everything you expect of a private club...and more...

the atmosphere, while not at all obnoxious, is so very haut monde...
I seriously felt the urge to don some tennis whites...
thank goodness, much to Bruce's disbelief, I don't act on every feeling I have...
nik

i adore

last years photos...this years hand painted cards...



love em'...the kiddos...and the cards.
nik

Vintage Glam Collection.

Shop...www.nikolaidesigns.com click Bonjour belle fille to purchase.












honestly, I wish I could claim them....they are so divine! (: thank you for sharing Adrienne!
nik