I had the pleasure of meeting Paola and her family at the studio recently for a family shoot.

Aren’t these the most gorgeous pair of kiddos?

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When you’re a photographer – and a mom – you’ll know this too well.

And so it begins.

Every January, I do a personal project where I will take a snapshot of each day. January is generally a slow month so this will help keep my skills up.

Today’s jaunt: A lazy Sunday New Year’s Day hanging at home with the kiddos and my sis and her boyfriend, who came all the way from Sydney, Australia to visit with us.

Happy New Year, everyone!

And what a year it’s been.

This year was the first year I got myself a studio, which turned out to be one of the best decisions I’d made to grow my business. While it’s been a scary milestone, I am so proud of this space that has come to represent my “style”, if there ever was one. When someone looks at a picture I’ve taken and is able to recognise it as my work, it is because of this space. It has allowed me to develop this “brand”, if you will and for that, I am truly grateful.

This was also the year I invested in my journey back to film. In that, I made so many new friends through Film is Not Dead. This was a pivotal point in my career as a professional photographer, the decision to incorporate this beautiful medium into what I truly believe now represents the soul of what my work has become. While I won’t ever give up on digital, I am arriving at a happy fusion of the two that not only is magical but makes me happy. And that has become essential to keep my going for art is a passion that burns fierce and too hot sometimes for me, so much so that I am easily burnt out (forgive the deluge of metaphors!). It is hard to stay genuinely inspired in a market saturated with the same ideas. However, each time I get a scan back, each time I commune with my fellow film shooters, this passion is reignited. For that, I thank my dear friend Catherine. Thank you for introducing me to your world, without which I would forever been content wandering idiotically through a wasteland of tacky mediocrity. And thank you, Jon, for being so REAL about it all.

Thank you to my family for enduring another year of half-assed being-there but always backing me 100% without fail because for SOME reason, you still believe I am capable of so much more because I AM.

Most of all, thank YOU, JTPA friends, new and old. I must also apologize for having sometimes been overzealous in my desire to please and to be perfect, and in that, succeeded miserably in achieving neither. I’m afraid the passion is also the poison.

Auld lang syne, 2011 and hola 2012.

Surprise me

Get ready for the happiest little twin boys in the world – because they have the happiest pair of parents. Figures

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On days like this (gloomy, cold), I like to dig through my family pictures, while nursing a hot cup of coffee, with the kids happily installed in front of the TV on the first day of winter break.

And what did I find? Warm, sunny pictures of our last summer vacay this year.

We visited Mazama, stayed at a farm house, strolled through the kitschy cowboy town of Winthrop, waded lazily in one of the lakes and braved our first hike through the scarily named Cutthroat Trail, which was actually pretty tame.

The perfect, lazy end to a pretty crazy summer.

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There’s nothing quite like having a new baby. And a first baby.

The daily surprises (good AND bad). The constant wonder. Nothing else in this world changes your world from one second to another quite like having a baby. One minute you’re just plain Andre and Jessica. The next, you’re parents.

Welcome Baby Brooklyn. Your family is so happy you’re here.

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I met Tim when he was three months old, a cute, cheruby little thing that was the apple of his family’s eye. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of watching him grow into a precocious, happy little boy with the cutest little locks and a smile that can light up the whole room.

What’s more, Tim is going to be a big brother to a little sister soon! Congratulations to mommy Muge and dad Ozgur! Can’t wait to meet her next year

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Two beautiful girls – dad is in trouble!