Brodey and Gradey.  Brothers and probably bestest friends.  Two of the most adorable boys you will ever meet and as sweet as they are cute.

The boys and their mom & dad met up with me early one beautiful bright morning over at the railroad tracks in Bakersfield (because who doesn’t LOVE a choo choo train!) for some pictures (and some hat tricks!). They were both in great moods and loved seeing the trains.  I think they loved the rocks more though – I promised that if they were good, we could throw rocks between takes….and they were good….and we threw rocks!… Between takes, Brodey, the younger brother, wanted me to hold him.  So I’m sure I was a sight with two cameras slung over my shoulders and this 25 lb. (I’m guesstimating…) hunk of cuteness in my arms. Mom and Dad also brought along their toy jeep so we hit the streets for action pics  of them driving the jeep.  Even Brodey got to drive at the end of the session….though I’m not sure he knew where the brake was…needless to say, no one got hurt, nobody wrecked a jeep, and the pictures, as you’ll see, are absolutely adorable.  It’s too early to tell if these two will be hellions or not but they are going to be heartbreakers…and both are going to “big” brothers to a sister whose “flight” arrives at a Bakersfield Hospital in May. (Hopefully, I’ll get to take her picture, too, one day)…..

Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever….Like Stephanie’s decision to take that particular Genetics class in college.   Or Kyle’s decision to be a T.A. in that same class…Kyle and Stephanie met in their college Genetics class…he was her T.A….little did they know that they’d soon be on their way to sharing genetics one day (literally).

I met up with Stephanie and Kyle one beautiful afternoon in sunny Las Vegas at the Boneyard – the Neon Museum – where the iconic neon signs of the past are placed to refurbished and preserved.  This place has special meaning to me because it was at this very place that my life changed one day in December a few years ago with one small decision…and I began to see the world and my life differently.  And this day was very similar to that day….

These two are so perfectly matched for each other….A teensy bit shy but not when it came to showing affection for each other.  And you could tell by the way they look at each other that neither regrets that one small decision that will change their life forever next July…  Here are a few from that day…

Bowie Yorkdust Frampton McCartney Carlyle.

Bowie was well rested, and bright-eyed when he showed up for his impromptu “Barkdoir” Session….The place:   The Westin Casuarina, Las Vegas…a plush, off the strip, and very Bowie friendly hotel.  The room:  504 (of course).  His motivation:  To impress girl dogs with his boyish figure and show off those beautiful batty eyelashes.

Bowie was shy at first, but as with all my boudoir clients, he warmed up quickly.  We played some Goldfrapp and some Flo  Rida on the iPod (Specifically, “Low” because he relates with the ‘Boots with the Fur’ lyrics)  and he indulged in dog cookies as he rolled and panted for my camera.  And my camera loved him as you will see from a few of the pictures from the session.  We finished the session with a long walk and some breakfast for dinner…He, of course, ate the bacon that came with the Omelette…Bowie had so much fun that he promised to tell all his friends at the Balboa Park Dog Park, Dagney’s downtown, Zanzibar on G Street, and all the rest of his hangouts about how great the session was and how they should hire me to take their picture….well, I’m still waiting for my phone to ring…maybe I should rub some bacon on it….

“The important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what we are for what we could become.” – Charles Dubois

Change.  Embrace it.  With this said, big changes are happening within Holly Carlyle Photography in the next 4 weeks.  Look out for website changes.  Look for tons of updated sessions of real people, real weddings, real photography.  Model sessions are great but like I said about Jacob  in my last post, I think most of the world would like to have the REAL DEAL- which includes real love, real emotion, real life people in real life pictures….No gimmicks, just real good photography.  And I’m excited.  Time to keep it real.

[No models were harmed in the making of this blog]

“Promise me you’ll always remember that you’re braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think” - Christopher Robin to Pooh – Winnie the Pooh.

My friends.   Sometimes it’s hard to distinguish which of those people are actually friends and which are passersby in our lives.  Sometimes it’s not so hard to distinguish between the two.   And sometimes the realization can be heartbreaking.  And sometimes the realization can fill you with joy and amazement.  Stephanie and I have been friends since High School.  And actually, we were each other’s “date” to our sophomore prom as there didn’t seem to be any boys with which we wanted to spend 3 hours of our valuable 15 year old time.

When I moved to San Diego, she was one of the first people to reach out to me and make me feel good about being here.  So I was more than happy to hang out one weekday afternoon at Petco Park 2 blocks from my loft and take some pictures of her gorgeous son, Jacob.  Jacob is quite the kid.  I’m pretty sure he’ll be breaking hearts all over the San Diego area in another 13 to 15 years…(If his mommy lets him).  And if he turns out to be anything like his mommy, he won’t be a passerby.  He will be the real deal….He already is.  I was at his house today and he yelled from his bedroom in the cutest 2 year old voice, “Holly…let’s play with this good game….”  Sharing is caring.

Here are a few from the afternoon.  He came, he saw, he conquered, he cried…

And if you have been a client of mine or know me, you’ll know I’m all about rolling around in the grass or dirt to get a good picture…

…and so are they…

I met up with Natalie and Michael last Sunday in Malibu, California.  The weather couldn’t have been better.  A typical Southern California fall day – 70 degrees and sunny.  And Natalie and Michael really were happy to be in Malibu at El Matador State Beach shooting their engagement session.  It always seems like nothing makes the fact that a couple is actually engaged more real to them than having their engagement photo session done… They will be married next March at the gorgeous and quaint Inn of the Seventh Ray in Topanga, California.  And I can’t wait….and I’m sure they can’t either.    Here are a few from that beautiful day….

“Love is our true destiny. We do not find the meaning of life by ourselves alone-we find it with another” – Thomas Merton

Chris and Katie.  Destiny.  If you ask their parents and all their friends, they will tell you that these two were always supposed to be together.   And one beautiful fall day, they lived their destiny and married each other in front all those people who knew it was their destiny to do so…  I’ve always been a believer in destiny.  You can try avoid it or try to outrun it,  but Life eventually takes you exactly where it should.  And there’s comfort in knowing that on our journey through this life, with all the twists and turns and upheavals, that no matter what  you do, Life will make sure that you end up exactly where you meant to be.   Which makes me think of a time a few years back when I took a long drive up Highway 1 to Monterey and listened to a CD that I fell in love with by the band, Lost Ocean, as I pondered my own destiny.  Chris happens to be the drummer for this great band.  Little did I know or imagine that I’d be photographing their wedding and becoming a small part of their destiny…

I always feel honored to be a part of all that – destiny and watching two people end up exactly where God and Life wanted them – with each other.    …Here’s a few pictures from their day…