To Pin or Not to Pin

I joined pinterest a while back, but it's taken me time to add the pin it button (big suprise there!.... just like it's taken me this long in 2012 to post to my blog).  I love pinterest.  It's an obsession.  I have to monitor the time I spend on there each week because time flies by and before I know it my day is gone.  Anyhoo, I don't even know that I followed the instructions for adding the pin it button correctly.  I still need to put it on my website (like in another 4 months - ha. ha. ha.).

If you want to show me some love and pin my stuff go for it!  I think it would be one of the greatest compliments to my work.

Christmas Family Newsletter

This year has been full of new beginnings.  We welcomed our first baby earlier this year. We named her Deseret Olivia.  Deseret is a name we chose from the Book of Mormon which means honeybee, and at 10 months old she certainly is proving to be a busy little bee and full of sweetness.  Deseret is very silly and mischevious.  She is walking, clapping, and loves showing mommy and daddy new things she learned - like how to squeeze through barriers we put up.  We have enjoyed watching her learn and grow.  Heavenly Father has blessed us with the most perfect baby girl for our family.  We love being her parents.

Abraham has been working hard to get through school.  He's relieved to have another semester of grad school under his belt.  He got his first taste of being 'in the field' with an internship for a human resources company.  He's currently serving in the Elder's Quorom at church, and all his free time is spent playing with his daughter and making his wife happy by giving her time to catch up on sleep.  And now that the NBA is back in play any extra time he finds will be watching his favorite teams play.

Julie is loving her role as a new mommy.  She gets to stay-at-home with Deseret all day and they have grown attached at the hip.  Julie has taken tons of baby pictures and tries desperately to capture every precious moment (impossible of course).  Photography is still her passion and she's had the privilege of working with some new clients this year.  She is currently working on her genealogy and super excited since learning of a family line that has been traced back to Adam (Yes! You read correctly -- I know!!!). 

From our family to yours, we wish you a merry Christmas and joyful New Year.

XOXO,

The Cruz Family

Thanks to Dianna L. Hall Photography for all the wonderful family pictures.
You can check out her artistic photography at http://dlh-photography.blogspot.com/2011/10/league-city-family-photography.html

Talitha • Maternity Portrait • Clear Lake • PART I

I love maternity photography because there is truly something very amazing about that growing bump.  Talitha looks so beautiful.  She's going to be a first time mommy by the end of this month.  We can't wait to meet the precious baby girl.

All images © Julie Cruz & j.cruz.photography

I made the next image shown first in a crisp light & then in a soft light.  To me they are equally as beautiful, but I'd probably go with the second if I were to mount this image & hang it in my home.  It just has that soft angelic feel to it, you know? Then again....?  It depends on the pictures surrounding it.

Seth + Erica • Engagement Session • Houston • POST II

More image variations from this photo session!  I had to share these posed images in their many dramatic aesthetics.  I find each small change leaves a new imprint on how I feel when viewing the image & how it appeals to the eye.

I'd like to know your opinion, whether you're a friend, follower, or just a passerby.

All images © Julie Cruz & j.cruz.photography

warm-toned w/dramatic lighting

Deep shadows w/dramatic lighting

b&w w/dramatic lighting

b&w w/G&B color pop

b&w w/G color pop

b&w w/G&R color pop

b&w w/ R color pop