i can't imagine our life without this little doggie. now he's a big brother to HONEY GIRL and showing her the ropes around the house. he shares his food with her (and she shares his food with him) and still asks to snuggle near me. 

yes, i sound like the crazy dog lady, but he has been the light in our lives these past 10 years. he has given us unconditional love and affection. 

so happy birthday, POPO! we love the POPO!

It's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. - ABRAHAM LINCOLN

i'm an avid listmaker. i love lists! i love getting all my ideas, thoughts, tasks, and appointments down because i love checking off boxes and crossing things off. i get a feeling of accomplishment and it makes me feel good. geez. did i just write that? but y'all know what i mean. there's type A people out there that feel me. 

so it's no surprise that every single year i make a list for CHRISTMAS and the things i want to do to get in the spirit. however, i always feel disappointed in myself that i don't cross everything off, sometimes not even half the stuff on my list, because life gets hectic and the next thing you know, CHRISTMAS season is over. 

but this year, i'm not doing that. i'm not making a list this year (gasp!). this is big for me! 

the last few months have been, for me, practicing to be kinder to my self. i don't know if you feel this way but it's so easy to be harder on ourselves than we are with other people. we have compassion for others but save none for ourselves. why is that? 

that's been a question i've been asking myself (among others) this year. 

so this year, i'm going to be present. i'm going to relish the season. like, really enjoy it. 

THANKSGIVING this year had to be the most low stress, low-key, lowest expectation for me. it is one of, if not my most, favorite holidays of the year. i really had to practice chilling out. wow. i didn't realize how much stress is caused by me. little ol' me! for example, i'm a photographer. i picked up an old tradition that my dad had to take our  family portraits during this time of year. like all of my clients, i stressed over lighting, location, outfit coordination, the doggies camera ready, and happy (not hungry-for-turkey-are-you-done-yet))faces. it would cause so much stress (for me) and almost ruin my THANKSGIVING. but this year, i didn't care about all that. i reframed my thinking and said to myself, How does it get better than this? How did I get so lucky to be with the people that care about me the most and the people that i love?

let's be kind to ourselves this season and continue onto 2017, my people. you are doing your best. you are enough. 

hope you had a wonderful holiday week! 

without further adieu, ALBERT and MELANIE and kiddos!

to view the highlights from their fun session at the pier, click here, or scroll below!

~another one for the books, AL & MELANIE! i'm so glad you are documenting all this for your children, and for your wedding anniversary! thank you for choosing me to be your family photographer! can't wait to meet #3!

here are some faves from the last two sessions!

~GREG & SARAH, the producers of two of the cutest baby brothers i've photographed! i look forward to watching them grow up. you are inspirational, as parents, to both J. and i. bless you and your family. thank you for your friendship and kindness. i know you could choose anyone else to document your growing family, so, thank you.

GJ SPILLER PHOTOGRAPHY | lifestyle portraiture for fun, modern couples & families

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but we're still here. 

our lives and workload changed. our lives were filled with meetings, and returning phone calls, and speeding to school, and rushing to practices, and shooing scarecrows from under the bed. our plates were full. so, hats off to parents. parenthood. no joke. 

we had some tender, good moments, too. like watching a TV show as a family that EVERYONE liked (THE FLASH), cheering from the bleachers, preparing snacks on game day, getting cards and crafts from school or daycare, nicknames, karaoke in the car, being called "mommy", the "i love you no matter what", hugs, kisses, and joyous laughter. these are the moments i want to cherish and remember for the rest of my life. i was a mother. 

so here i am. 

finding my way. 

i realized how much i missed writing. how i've always wanted to paint. how i like catching up with friends. so i'm taking time out to come back to me and my wants, needs, and taking care of self. 

i've been meeting a lot of new and interesting people along the way. i am having interesting, inspiring, heartfelt conversations with these people and finding a new and improved G. along the way. i am a G. that i is kinder to my self, more nurturing, and more curious about me. 

thank you for still being here on my journey. 

by the way, here's the new addition to our family, HONEY GIRL! she's a chihuahua + boston terrier mix. POPO's half sister from another mother. she's brought a little light to our lil' family.

it's times like these that bring people together, create memories, and celebrate our lives in the loudest, liveliest, unforgettable way. it's times like these that will, hopefully, live forever in MIA's memories, and remind her of the love and pride of her family.

here are some highlights from that day or you can just scroll below to view her slideshow!

~MIA, wishing you the best that life has to offer. always keep that youthful spirit, that winning smile, and remember how special this day was to you and your family.

GJ SPILLER PHOTOGRAPHY | lifestyle portraiture for fun, modern couples & families

to book your next family portrait or event, contact me!

NASSRIN and her family have been just that. her family is always welcoming to me and so kind. our last session was a multiple family session and our time together was fluid and spontaneous. when i packed up my equipment, so they could enjoy the rest of their day, NASSRIN and her family asked me to stay and chat, and sip on lemonade, talking stories about family, children, mothering. it was exactly what i needed that day.

here's a link to their highlights or you can just scroll below my faves.

~NASSRIN, thank you once again for opening up your home and asking me to photograph you wonderful family. i appreciate you and my heart is full of so much gratitude. mahalo nui loa!

GJ SPILLER PHOTOGRAPHY | lifestyle portraiture for fun, modern couples & families

to book your portrait session, contact me!

626-376-9501

their family portrait session was a peaceful walk on the farm, so many picturesque backdrops to choose from. it was nice to photograph in peace and quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of regular life, somewhere new. but i'm not surprised. our first session was at a railroad museum! and we had a wonderful, fun time.

it was nice for us, as a family, to get away and experience something new. i love that we had the opportunity to create new memories with our new family. so thank you JANINE and SANTOS for allowing our family to attend. 

if you would like to view the highlights from their session (and you should if you want to check out this nice location), click here to view in another window or scroll down below. 

~thank you SANTOS and JANINE for asking me to photograph your family again. it's always such a chill time with y'all. can't wait to see the next location you pick for our next adventure!

to book your next family portrait session, contact us!

GJ SPILLER PHOTOGRAPHY | WEDDING & LIFESTYLE PORTRAITURE FOR FUN, MODERN COUPLES &  THEIR FAMILIES

MELANIE and ALBERT and their cute kiddos are always camera ready. they are one of the cutest, fashionable families i know, and am always eager to photograph and document their journey. MELANIE and ALBERT know that the family that plays together, stays together. well, add "run together" to that saying because they got the whole family running races. 

for MELANIE's birthday, they did a DISNEY HALF MARATHON and the kids did their own FUN RUN. paired with matching shirts and medals, they are just TOO adorable! what an aspiration!

here are some of my faves. if you want to see highlights from their session, scroll below or click here.

~MELANIE and ALBERT, always a pleasure to be asked to photograph you and be part of preserving your family history. family is love and you are saturated with love. may many blessings continue to shower your ohana. mahalo.

to book your next family portrait, contact us!

GJ SPILLER PHOTOGRAPHY | lifestyle portraiture for fun, modern couples + families

the most memorable thing about this session is that we photographed them at a frisbee golf course and a mysterious bridge near an old dam. if that's not unique, what is? 

here are some of my faves. if you want to see more highlights from this fun session, scroll below or click here!

~GREG and SARAH, always a pleasure. keep loving each other. you are blessed.

to book your next family portrait, contact us!

GJ SPILLER PHOTOGRAPHY | lifestyle portraiture for fun, modern couples + families