Our Winter 2011 Trip to NJ

After careful stalking of the airline sites and discussion, I was able to snag somewhat reasonable tickets to NJ for the family and I.  We spent the weekend before Christmas there, for my big family holiday dinner party.  This party has been a family tradition for a very long time.  Its been going on for so long, I can't remember us not doing it.  I had to be around 6 when it started, so thats...... 26 years now.

It started with everyone gathering on Christmas Eve for dinner and games.  I think it was started to keep us kids calm and entertained in anticipation of the morning to come.  I remember putting chick legos together, searching for the pickle ornament in the tree, board games, and loads of food.  As my cousins and I have aged, the nightly events have changed, the fun and hysterical things that my mom and aunts came up with got even better.  We started with 11 of us, then us kids added spouses bringing the total up to 16.  My grandma now attends, and now there is a whole new generation, as some of us kids have had our own kids, which means we now have to fit a whopping total of 25 - which is sure to grow as we are waiting for 2 of my cousins to add little ones.  Luckily, not everyone can always make it.  This year, we had 22 in total.  We officially doubled our numbers, yet have not doubled our space.

 

some of the table is hidden under my camera!

Some years its crazy sunglasses, some years - shoot I can't even remember! - this year, crazy hat contest. Reily didn't really enjoy this game too much.

He even won!

My two cousins come from a long line of very tall individuals on their father's side.  Both of them are at least 6' 5", if not taller - I lost track when I got shooed to the end of the line for the short people.  Jon's son Nathan is only a mere 2 months 10 days older then Reily, you would never guess that when they are next to each other!

My Beautiful Mom, Grandma, Aunt Connie, and Aunt Billie - the masterminds of this tradition and the pillars of the family. We all love you!

Grandma (aka Great Grandma now), Connie, my mom, Billie

It was total mayhem when the little one's tore into their gifts! But it was a lot of fun to watch!

I'm not sure if we will make it next year, I sure hope so.  I am hoping our upcoming move will be to the East Coast, which will make it a lot easier to attend.  I even hope to take over the reigns one year and host it in our own home.  Course, I guess we need to plan on buying a place that has a very large great room to fit all these people!  That's my family, we are quirky and a whole lot of fun!

OpLove Already Gone Maternity Shoot

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of photographing Kristin for an Operation Love Reunited Already Gone session.  She wanted to document her pregnancy, with twin boys!, for her husband that is deployed and will be missing the birth.  I know how sad that will be, having been there myself.  But I know this birth will still be very special, and I can't wait to see pictures of the little guys - so Kristin you better post some to my facebook page!

How cute is her bump?! Not a stretch mark in sight and she is due in early March!  

Miss Dixie was the super model of the house, I could not focus on anything without her sitting right in the middle of the frame! So I opted to cuddle her in my lap, which she was cool with. Such a sweetie!

One of my favorites!

Elf on A Shelf Days 6 - 9

Big Boy has been having loads of fun here!

Hanging on the Christmas Tree for a good view of my daughter.  Boy was she surprised to find him here! Do you see me? ;)

A night of play dough sculpting and all we got was a partial snowman! 

Chilling in my daughter's Christmas stocking, sneaking little guy!

Think Big Boy is over indulging just a tad with that monster size muffin! On top of my desk no less, good thing he didn't leave crumbs on my computer.

Elf on A Shelf First 5 days

I so was not going to get this Elf on A Shelf, thinking my 4 year old would not be interested in the slightest.  And I have been in such a funk mood this month, I just didn't want to be bothered.  But I am trying to work past this funk, push my photography, and just expand myself.  I really need to stop being such a hermit, because it is so easy to be one!  I made my husband go out at 7pm one night and get this Elf.

We read the story that night to our daughter and introduced her to her new Elf.  Which she named, Big Boy.  (she is obsessed with being a big girl and not a baby!).

That night, Big Boy rode a giraffe to the North Pole and back.

I'm trying to go for a super clean look with these photos.

Night 2, he went into a Lucky Charm coma after visiting Santa

Night 3, He took a snooze in the freezer with a tissue pillow and blanket. Guess he was missing the cold of the North Pole

Night 4

This time Big Boy really made my daughter mad. He was riding her small piggy bank and wearing the pig's princess crown. 

Night 5 (wow, has it really been that long already!)

Boy, my daughter was not too thrilled Big Boy was in her tub since she isn't allowed to touch him. Big Boy mackin it to the mermaid

OpLove Pre-deployments

Over the past few months, I have had the honor to photograph some great families through OpLove Pre-deployment Sessions.  These sessions are for service members that are deploying in effort of Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom and their families.  The session is free and I send an album of images directly to the service member while deployed.  The goal of these sessions is to honor the service member, boost his/her morale, and say Thank You.

I have opted to show a collective few of my favorite images from some of these past sessions.  I had a lot of fun photographing these families, and am honored to have spent the time with them and their families.

All of these sessions were photographed on Camp Pendleton.

Welcome Home 2/11!

Welcome Home 2/11 Fox!  Hope you have been having fun with your family, friends, and buds!

This homecoming has been the funniest one I have had!  It was so quick, I almost missed it!

A typical homecoming is usually a lot of waiting around and then some more waiting around, especially when it comes to the Marines - the motto of 'Hurry Up and Wait" exists for a reason!  And yes, I can comment and complain of this as I am also a Marine Wife.  I think the longest wait was 6 hours.  I arrived around the projected time, which I try to arrive at least 1 hour before the estimated arrival of the troops.  I think I got about 5 'waiting around' shots before her guy walked onto the parade deck.  Just him.

I even almost missed capturing the initial moments of reconnection, luckily I am use to chasing for that image.  Watching that reconnection was so special, a lot of fun, and infectious with smiles.

Thank you Sabrina and Taylor for allowing me to capture these moments for you!  I hope we get to reschedule the couples session for the near future.  Welcome Home Taylor!! 

K Lilian Chance Photography is a volunteer photographer with Operation Love Reunited and a Family Portrait Photographer located in San Clemente, CA.

150 Fan Giveaway Winner!!

Thank you to Jill and Stephanie for entering my 150 fan Giveaway!!

I truly appreciate it!

With a 50/50 shot, the winner is....

Stephanie Robnett!

CONGRATS!

Please email me with your 15 image choices.

K Lilian Chance is a freestyle family portrait photographer located in San Clemente, CA.

Welcome Home ACU-5!!

This homecoming was a very early morning arrival.  A 3am wake up, to arrive on site at 4am.  I am so glad I woke up that early and attended this one.  I got to see the hovercrafts appear out of the black night and dock on the beach, How awesome is that?!  Their estimated arrival was a bit after 5am and they were exactly on time.  I could not believe it!  As many of the homecomings give one time and then its usually hours later that they actually arrive.

This homecoming was reuniting engaged lovebirds, Anna and Ben.  And boy, seeing the excitement on her face when his hovercraft docked and he called her from just feet away.  We had to wait for all of the hovercrafts to arrive and get unloaded, so it was a bit of a wait till the actual meeting.  Luckily by then the sun had risen, making the reuniting photos so much nicer!

The anticipation out in front of the building, unable to see the guys and what they were doing was total torture for all the families.  But finally that white bus pulled up, filled to the brim of the men coming home.

It was a swarm of blue as all the Navy guys unloaded.  I am use to a sea of tan, so it was nice to have a new color :)

I am so thankful that I have the opportunity through Operation Love Reunited to share these amazing moments with these couples and families.  I don't get to do homecomings too often, but I sure do treasure the ones I can document.  

Thank you Ben and Anna for allowing me to be there, and for your sacrifices.  Welcome Home Ben!

K. Lilian Chance Photography is a lifestyle (with a flare for freestyle) Portrait Photographer in the Southern Orange County, CA area (San Clemente, Oceanside, and surrounding areas)

Welcome Home Alpha!

I am a little behind in getting the blog updated.  Life has been all over the place.

I had the honor to photograph the homecoming for two special ladies.  Ciara had contacted me last minute, and luckily I was available.  These girls flew in from Texas just to welcome their husbands home the moment they touched down.  Even though, they are actually stationed in Texas and just here in California for a short time.  That is dedication and love!

It may have been dark, with the worst lighting conditions, we still had a lot of fun.  These girls were a blast and it was an honor to meet them.

Little Skyler was just a bundle of cuteness!

Welcome Home Tyler!

Welcome Home Greg!

Welcome Home 1st BN 1st Marines!

Last night a smaller group from 1st Battalion 1st Marines came home from a 7 month deployment.  I had the honor to photographer a young couples reunion.  Welcome home Dan!

The infamous White Buses of returning Marines

Excited and super joyous Alli, awaiting the arrival.  And to introduce their new baby, little 4 month old puppy - Darcy - to Dan.  Poor puppy was so nervous, she was just a bundle of shakes.

I love that first look of the anxious wife when they first see those white buses pull to a stop and the men start unloading.

And that look when they finally see their man

This was a very sweet homecoming.  Full of fun, happiness, joy, and strong emotions.  In between shooting my couple, I was able to watch numerous dad reunite with their kids, meet new babies for the first time, get surprised by moms, and hug wives they haven't seen in 7 long months.

WELCOME HOME

100 Fans Giveaway!!!

Welcome and Thank you for joining me on my facebook fan page!!! 

I am so excited to have hit 100 fans! 

Its Giveaway Time!

Up for Grabs:

A deck of cards!  

With a photo from your session OR one from my stock images in my Etsy Shop 

(this allows everyone to enter)

OR

A $25 Gift Certificate 

Good towards portrait sessions, prints/products, or for my Etsy Shop

To Enter:  Just leave a comment here on which item you would love to win.

Each comment will be given a number as I receive them and I will use a random number generator to pick the winner.

Contest starts now: Wednesday Sept. 14th 840am and will run till Friday Sept 16th 9am (CST)

Welcome Home RCT-1!

WELCOME HOME RCT-1

Here they come!!

Welcome Home USMC RCT-1 and Robert!  Unlike most military units attached to Pendleton, RCT-1 was handed a 12 month deployment (the usual is 7 months).  These guys were more then ready to be home with their families, probably more then their families were to have them home again.

The amazing Patriot Guard escorting the men home! These riders are true heroes

I had the pleasure to be there for a very sweet family.  Jessica was very excited to have this moment documented, as it was their first true homecoming in all their years in the military.  Though her husband is part of a Marine Corps unit, he is actually Navy.  It was a fun twist to the day.

Grandma and Trinity dancing it out during the long wait

In tow with Jessica was their daughter Trinity, Robert's mom - which he had no idea was there!, Robert's favorite stuffed cat from his childhood, and their newest baby that is still a'cookin.

Trinity having some fun, letting off some anxiousness

Jessica was a bundle of nervous energy, just wanting the wait to be over.  Though she knew it was way worse for the guys on the bus.  That bus drive must be the longest moments of their lives.  New dads that have never held their baby, young men itching for that first beer in a long time, seasoned dads that have missed an entire year of milestones with their kids, some seeing their pregnant wife's belly for the first time (gotta love those R&R babies)!

And finally after all those buses came in, the formation was completed, and those magical words "Fall Out" were said, that one moment of joy, relief, and the missing piece of the puzzle was found......

Getting in that welcome home touch, kiss, hug can not be matched

And for Robert, hugging the special women in his life and getting that "I'm really here and its over" moment... 

Welcome Home