San Diego Photography presents Random thought time...

So, I haven't shared my random-ness in a while.. and I just know that you have been sitting there on your computer, biting your nails in anticipation of my next post. Thanks for waiting. ;)

- I think the Barefoot Contessa and her husband are the cutest thing since chubby puppies... She cooks for him.. he happily enjoys the offering. They stand so close to each other and she giggles... I bet they "cuddle" every night... ;)

- My daughter turned 7 this past week. Words cannot express the vast emotions I go through when I watch my children age. I will post about that soon...

- I shudder/cringe/die a little every time my son gleefully, and with wild abandon, shoots someone on Halo 3...

- I love this salad or any variation thereof.. and would eat it every day if I could afford the sashimi. It's expensive yo...

- My husband and I just finished this series and I am utterly and profoundly sad about it.. I feel lost not knowing if Rory and Logan ever got back together, or if Luke and Lorelai ended up married... *Sad sigh*

- I have never been so thrilled to get an email from Kaiser about test results... because I am anxiously, feverishly, hopefully awaiting a diagnosis of the pain that has been plaguing me for a few years...

- I have a deep desire to learn how to play the guitar and my rockstar husband who has played for over 20 years will not teach me... So I am probably going to figure out how to do it myself...

- This site is SO.MUCH.FUN... My husband should be very glad I am not the spender in the family...

Post some random things about you in the comments! I love learning new things about people...

Love unplanned..

San Diego photography presents A girl turning 7...

If you have read any of my blog... You must have heard me moan and complain a time or two about the bittersweet-ness of birthdays... I love the celebration of the day.. I love baking favorite goodies and taking the birthday person out for a special dinner. But, my kiddos getting a year older.. that I could do without. Each year marks another milestone closer to when those little babies of mine fly the coop... Dang! I wish I could freeze time.

But I can't.. so I will just tell you that I love this little girl of mine so much it hurts. She turned 7 and is full of joy, sass, and attitude. It is a daily effort to teach her how to say what she needs nicely..

Also you need to know that she has the softest cheeks I have ever felt, and I caress them every single night.

Happy Birthday baby...




A shot of the two my my squishes...




Love hurts..

San Diego Photography presents A Little Italy Session...

I had the absolute pleasure of taking this family's pictures back in December. We all went to college together and it was so fun to get re-connected with old friends... It didn't hurt that A and J's kiddos were just the sweetest little peaches! They made my job super easy! J works here.. so if you live near there.. Check it out. :)








Be still my heart... Isn't she precious??? She said she wanted to go home with me..And I would have taken her in a heartbeat..


Look at this little munchkin face..


She's a middle child. I sooo get her.


Seriously.. I cannot be held responsible if by accident, I pick this kiddo up and squish her sweet little cheekies...


Thanks guys for letting me capture you and your sweet girlies...

J.. I want a tour soon. ;)

Love together..

San Diego Photography presents A belated Christmas Session..

So this little one had nothing but serious faces for me. Her mamma and I were singing, and dancing and playing the tamborine to no avail. I was even down on the floor with her on my sprained knee, and she had no sympathy for me... I caught one smile at the end, but Little Miss wasn't cool with me that day! :) I still loved how the pictures turned out, and so did her mamma...

Here's a collage of favorites. And Y, thanks for the homemade enchiladas girl.. Delightful!!




Love sweet cheeks..

San Diego Photography Presents Portland Part 1

I had such fun on my little getaway a few weeks ago, and with the busy-ness of the holidays, I haven't been able to post these!

So here are a few from our first full day there. :)

My beautiful sis and bff with her cute beanie!


Where we had a beautiful luncheon...


Pumpkin Risotto with Fried Sage... I die!


French Onion Soup with about a mile of cheese on it.. (it was my sister's)


The best dessert ever...


All of us after lunch.. And I didn't take the picture, so don't blame me for the blurriness!!


And finally.. some really cool textures and scenery that I couldn't resist taking a few snaps of..


>

Stay tuned for more Portland Wedding pics.... :)

Love family..

San Diego Photography presents A few things...

2008 taught me that...

God knows, even when I do not.

Giving is awesome.

Running away from something I am scared of is stupid. (unless it's a tiger or predatory animal.. and then, I think, running is ok.)

A journey back to health isn't immediate.

My children will continue to grow up whether I like it or not.

I am loved just as I am.

A year (of growth, struggle, success, failure, hurts, healing) can make a big difference.


I don't do resolutions. If I see one more New Year's diet on a magazine , I might just scream. Or maybe just rip the cover off of the front. :)

But I do go into the beginning of every year with fresh hope and a new perspective.
I have hope that I can love better, live with more intention, laugh louder (that might not be possible) I am excited to see what 2009 might bring...

What do you hope for this year?

Love people..

San Diego Photography presents The Winners!

I had a very difficult time choosing which nominated family will get the free photo session.. so I made an executive decision to pick the top three. It is way easier that way. :)

The winners of a free session are....

The Orona Family

The family Vicki G. nominated (I didn't get their names...)

Alan and Jerrilynn Sweat

If you nominated these wonderful people, I need you to email me with a contact email address for the family. I will be back in the office January 10th and we can schedule the sessions at that time. :)


For now, please visit Here to view my family's virtual Christmas card! Merry Christmas.


Love giving..

San Diego Photography presents A few reminders....

1. I will be out of the office until Monday, the 15th. If you need to get a hold of me before then, please email me at tolsonhouse4@hotmail.com

2. Please keep sending in your deserving nominees. I have loved reading the different stories, and will have a hard time making a choice!!

3. You all rock.. Have a great rest of the week!

San Diego Photography presents When our family had nothing....

When we didn't have grocery money, people gave it...

When we didn't know how we would buy our kiddos a gift or 2 for Christmas, people gave it...

When we weren't sure we could pay our rent, people gave it...

And the Tolson family doesn't ever want to stop giving... ever! So, I am asking for you to nominate a deserving family for an absolutely free Portrait session with me. Because my Christmas portrait season is nearly over, this will be done in January. It must be someone who doesn't have the ability to use my services at this time, and you can't nominate yourself. Shoot me an email and tell me their story.. hurry though.. the nominee will be chosen on Christmas Day! :) (I have been known to give the nominating party a free session as well.. hint, hint...)


Here are a few more people who are listening to the true meaning of the season and giving to those who are in need....

She gave a goat...

They are donating cans galore for every comment they receive... Go!


So.. do you know a family who has nothing, and is in need. I am here willing to help them catch a memory..Please email me at contactme@sarahtolsonphotography.com and tell me about them. :)

People...Give it!


Love Blessing..

San Diego photography presents A renewed tradition...

Last year was a weird holiday season for us. We were unemployed, had nary a penny to buy things for our kiddos, and my husband was not with us for Christmas time. His dear grandma was in her final days and he went out to be with that side of the family for Christmas. I wanted to go, but we didn't want to leave our kiddos without at least one of us. My husband and I are excited to put that sad, but necessary part of our lives to rest and renew our annual Christmas traditions. :)

So you can imagine our gratefulness at being able to put a tree up... we didn't even get one last year.... And we blasted Pandora Swinging Holiday Mix, made some hot cocoa and tea, and just enjoyed being together. The kiddos did a great job decorating our little tree and we just feel so blessed. :)

I know life is hard! Trust me.. our family has been through a heck of a lot in 11 years, but I hope that you will create your own traditions. Listen to music, sip on some peppermint tea, don't spend more than you make, live, laugh, love, and make this season special for your family.













Love Restoration..

San Diego Photography presents WindandSea at high tide...

I am not an expert in beach photography (She is!!) and I have never claimed to be... but living in San Diego with gorgeous weather makes clients long for photos on the beach. I am happy to oblige. :) But I have had to learn a few things along the way too.

One thing I was taught was to always check the tide charts. Yep.. I agree.. that is a good idea. Because if you don't check them, or even maybe check them and ignore them (like I did) you will get to the beach, and there won't be much of it. And if you have decided to take portraits on a sunny day at the beach... umm... a million people will have decided to enjoy that sun with you.. Dangit!

It is only with creative angling and photoshop that I was able to take some of these pics for my dear friend the other week. Don't be like me!! Use the almighty tide chart.... ;)


Just a few of my faves of the day...












Love Rules..

Advent Conspiracy

I saw this video last night, and thought it was well put together, and really summed up the way I feel about the Christmas Season. Take 2 minutes to watch it, and then go here and do it !! :)

San Diego Photography presents Our Thanksgiving

My sweet momma wasn't feeling well, so I took over the cooking duties.. at 2 separate houses with 2 separate turkeys... I was a busy girl. Here are my favorite snaps from the day...


After snapping about 20 with her hands in front of her face.. I finally got this.


What is all this about?? Keeping it real...

I am not particularly fond of Thanksgiving food.. but since I cooked it all.. I wanted to document the occasion!


My Dad... He was in the middle of telling us what he was thankful for and just looked so handsome. :)

Gloria (soon to be new family member), Me, and my Momma. :)



Thanks for letting me share our day with you! I hope your holiday was amazing. :)

Love Family..

Hopelessly behind....

This is every portrait photographers craziest season. Everyone wants family pictures for the holidays.. and I am more than happy to oblige. But that means my blog has been sadly neglected.. I am sorry dear blog. I will try to do better! :)

So, a friend, of a friend, of a friend, of a friend called me to have their Christmas pictures taken. I love how that works. :) I met this beautiful family out at Balboa Park, on what was, I think, the busiest day they have ever had.

For one, it was a beautiful Sunday with temps in the high 70's, so all the dogwalkers, baby strollers, mimes, didgeridoo players (oh,you don't know what that is... here) tarot card readers, et al.. were out in full force. Secondly, it was a day for thousands of women to don on their pink and walk for Breast Cancer.. a noble cause for sure... but it makes it hard to find a parking space. :)

I digress...

So, the B family showed up ready to go, and I am not kidding you I didn't have to pose these girlies one bit. They had curls in place and smiles in tact, and boy I loved this session!! Here are just a few to tide you over on the holiday!

Happy Thanksgiving... Mrs. B.. your email will be in your inbox soon! :)
















Love Sweetness..

San Diego Photography presents A tried and true pose...

I have so many Christmas sessions to blog, but I am still editing away... I wanted to give you a hint at some pictures to come.

This is one of my favorite poses for a mom and baby. Some may say it is overdone, but my clients are mothers (mostly) and every mother I have ever met would die to have a picture like this to look back on. Me included. :)







Love Babies..

What they were...

Yes, I am late to the party.. but that is not new. This is really posted so grandmas and aunties can take a look at my bubbas decked out in Halloween glory. :)

My Ninja and my Bumblebee....







Love Family..

San Diego Photography presents No longer awaiting Nathan... :)

Look who I got to meet!! It's Nathan. Remember when we were all awaiting his arrival. :)

I had such fun holding this sleeping, warm, soft little bub. When our session was done.. I didn't want to leave. And I said so too.. But then I remembered how I used to walk around in a daze, waiting for the little person to finally go to sleep.

And then I would walk ever so carefully into the room to place them in their crib.

And then I would hold my breath...because as every young mom knows, one wrong breath can lead to the destruction of the napping procedure..

And then I would pray as I have never prayed before..."Please let them sleep so I can shower, and sleep for a minute, and brush my teeth, and maybe have a meal... Please!" But really, even if I got one of those things, I considered naptime a sucess.

And then I would back out of their room, still walking as quietly as I could...

And then as soon as I shut the door, the angels would begin to sing a sweet beautiful sound like none other (in the baby monitor, of course)... the peaceful, slumbering breath of your tiny one.

So, I remembered those wonderful feelings, and scurried out of there so Jess could have a little nap. But, can you blame me for not wanting to leave??

I mean really...











Love Newness..

Overheard Conversations..

My two children.. in the kitchen...planning to sell some tea to our neighbors.

"Brother, you have to put more agave in the tea so people will buy it..
Can I stir it??"

"Hannah, I am good at stirring it."

"Oh yeah, wait, you're the business dude."

"I hope we can make 5 dollars a day, and Mom, you get 25% for being such a good mom."

"Brother, don't drink all the tea because it is for our customers."

"This is the goodest tea ever."

So, my heart was melted, but then I looked at my kitchen, and it is destroyed. I need some prayer so I don't ruin their business venture with my yelling. :)

I am all about being real...

Sneak Peak... Balboa Park Family Session..

A tiny glimpse into my latest family session.. more to come later tonight! :)

This was one good looking family!!





Love Siblings..

A Heritage Park Wedding...

You might remember this beautiful couple from their engagement session back in April. They got married last week at Heritage Park, and the day couldn't have been more perfect. Olivia called me on Monday and we both were concerned that her entirely outside wedding would be a soggy mess, according to the weather prediction. We needn't have worried. The sun was brightly shining the entire day... Lucky us!!

Her colors were vibrant green, black and white. She spent a gazillion hours making sure everything would be just as she planned. During pictures, Olivia kept telling Joe how perfect everything was turning out... I think she was pleased. :)

Their reception was at the gorgeous Old Venice Restaurant in Point Loma, and my twinkle light obsession was soothed that night... They were everywhere.

Olivia and Joe.. thanks for letting me in on a piece of your history. Your wedding was the stuff of dreams and I hope this helps that memory live on. :)






















Please visit here for a slideshow of my faves from your day!!