Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills is located at:
6300 Forest Lawn Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90068

I have been asked to display my military photo project during the program and I am honored to do so. I am very honored to have been in the presence of the military families who I photographed for this project.

We Americans tend to think of Memorial Day as a day off from work, but I do believe that we need to remind ourselves that this is a day of remembrance of those who serve and who have served, and those who have put their lives on the line for our freedom and those who have lost their lives so bravely.

Please read more about my military photo project here.

The children who’ve stood in front of my camera have conditions including autism, Asperbeger’s syndrome, high risk infant development delay, craniofacial deformity and attention deficit disorder. I was simply blown away by the strength, determination, courage and love that these families share. Listening to their stories moved me in a way that is hard to describe, especially as a mother of three healthy children.

The fine art portrait exhibit will be on display at the final destination of the Steel Magnolia’s Home Design Tour from 11am to 4pm on May 17th, 2009. Below is more information about the Home Design Tour.

The Stramski Children’s Developmental Center, under the guidance of the Center’s Medical Director Dr. Gary Feldman, include Behavioral Neurodevelopment Programs, The Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Center, High-Risk Infant Follow-up, Sleep Disorders and the Stramski International Adoption Program.

I chose to submit a fine art nude series of three art pieces which feature a woman posing nude on a dance pole. In the images, I captured her in a sophisticated way performing erotic “pole dancing” moves which she does regularly as part of her fitness regimen. The fitness phenomenon which incorporates yoga, Pilates and other strength building moves helps women build their self-confidence by giving them the freedom to be their naturally sexy and erotic selves without social restraints. The series of images captures the beauty, joy and strength of a woman empowered by her own sexuality, and I love that she exhibits grace and strength through what has historically been perceived as a demeaning and degrading activity.

Art Gallery Show dates are from March 1st – April 17th, 2009

Come join me at the

Special reception:
Thursday, March 5th from 5pm-10pm during San Pedro’s first Thursday art walk.

and Formal reception:
Saturday, March 21, 2008, 5pm-10pm
Light hors d’ouvres, wine and music by DJ CEE-BO.

at Gallery Azul
731 S. Pacific Ave.
San Pedro, CA 90731
310-831-2116

See more nude photography which has a elegant, sophisticated edge on my website www.LinneaLenkus.com or my new nude website at www.FineArtNudePortraits.com

I have so much to be grateful for and so I want to say thank you to all of my wonderful clients and to the people who are on my team. Being a photographer means I get to be a part of so many families and I love knowing that I can create something that reminds you of your love for them. Each moment is priceless and we all need to stop once in a while to capture those moments for posterity to remind us what adds true meaning to our lives.

I recently received the sweetest Thank You card from one of my favorite people, Brooke Burke. She sure warmed my heart by writing in her note: “The Photography Book you made for my family is Incredibly Beautiful! And Priceless! It has become a Ritual during story time. The Kids call it our Family Book. What a generous gift that we all enjoy!”

Thank you Brooke. Thank you to all of the wonderful people in my life. Here’s to a new year and a new era. Here’s to creating beauty and love everywhere.

I’m a photographer and my photography website is at LinneaLenkus.com

And I still can’t get over what an incredibly fit body she has. I’m looking forward to having Brooke back into my Pasadena studio to photograph her whole family, especially her son who is growing so fast! I can’t wait to congratulate her. My whole staff is so excited because we all love her so much.

This is Brooke Burke just 8 months ago and look at her today!

It’s been such a joy doing pregnancy and newborn photography for Brooke and David, and I can’t wait to see her perform tonight! And remember if you want to see how Brooke got that beautiful figure after four children go to her website BabooshBaby.com where she shows you how to get a tight tummy after pregnancy.

For more Brooke Burke photos that I created of her family, go to Los Angeles Photographers.

This family portrait titled “Serving Double Duty” features a husband and wife who are both on active duty in the U.S. Navy. In the portrait the father is cradling his 9-day old daughter, while his wife gently kisses her on top of her head. This artwork is one of 12 from the “Images From the Homefront” collection, a project I proudly worked on with “Operation Homefront,” a non-profit organization that provides emergency assistance and morale-boosting programs to military members, their families and our nation’s wounded warriors.

“Serving Double Duty”
Both serving in Navy combat teams, this dynamic duo has been on several deployments – each at least 6 months in duration as a result of the on-going wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over the last four years they’ve been physically apart for more than two years. Their daughter was just nine days old when this portrait was taken.

The mother in this portrait wrote:
“The strains on dual military marriages are tremendous because we’re apart so often. We keep our marriage strong through constant communication whether it’s through e-mail or letters – as long as we have each other’s words. It’ll be very difficult when it comes time to say ‘goodbye’ to our little baby girl, but we proudly wear this uniform because we know we’re an important part of what it takes to keep our nation free.”

This portrait photography features one of the nine military families I took portraits of for “Operation Homefront” which has become a traveling photography exhibit to increase awareness about the issues facing our country’s military families and to help raise money for the organization. Other images in the exhibit include a maternity portrait, newborn photography, family portraits and pair of desert combat boots which serves to represent our nation’s fallen.

On Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 I will also be Click here to see more of this unique family photography.

I started as a commercial photographer so it’s a hoot to return doing something that’s a challenge combined with something I photograph often. The vision I had when I discussed this with Morry’s team was a combination of my brand of tasteful nudes combined with glamorous “Ava Gardner/Veronica Lake” inspired photography at my Long Beach portrait studio.

The great fun about this contest is that it’s a popular online vote – no judges. So you too could help decide who I’m going to photograph, voting goes until November 7th, 2008 at midnight. The winner will be crowned at the “Morry’s 70th Anniversary Soiree” on November 9th to benefit our local Historical Society of Long Beach. Yes, that’s right, Morry’s is a local wine store and wine and cheese bar that has been here in Long Beach for 70 years.

For more information and to vote on which beauty will be crowned Miss Morry’s see Morry’s website (navigate to the contest on the left).

When she recently did a Viennese Waltz with her dance partner to the John Mayer song “Daughters” I started to sob when she kissed her daughter Neriah while the words, “So mothers be good to your daughters too” because I know how important family is to her. She’s a very “hands on” mom and I know it’s probably hard to be away from her family while she is doing this show. I sent her one of our new custom coffee table books of all of her photo sessions with me to remind her of her wonderful family while she is away from them.

Brooke Burke with Her Older Daughters Neriah and Sierra

Brooke has been to my Pasadena portrait studio on several occasions – pregnant and not pregnant –and I’ve seen first hand just how incredibly in shape she is. She’s very dedicated to fitness and the way her body looks and the way she moves it on the dance floor is proof of her commitment to having a fit body.

Brooke Burke came back to my photo studio post pregnancy for baby photography shortly after her fourth baby was born. I asked her to show me her belly, and I have to admit my admiration for how great she looked was sprinkled with a bit of envy. I mean, really, can you imagine looking so good after being pregnant for the fourth time?

Well if you want to know one of the ways she does it, go to Brooke Burke Baboosh Baby at www.BabooshBaby.com to find out one of her biggest secrets to her wonderful figure – her belly wrap or tauts. As a key eyewitness, I’m here to tell you they work!

So vote for Brooke Burke on Dancing with the Stars while you watch the show (Google Dancing with the Stars 2008 website for the phone number) because she’s certainly going to be this season’s winner!

Go Brooke go!

You can see some of the family portraits that we created together on my website LinneaLenkus.com

Operation Homefront is a non-profit organization that provides emergency assistance and morale-boosting programs for family members of our military, especially those who have a family member deployed overseas. My friend asked me if I’d be interested in taking photographs of military families as a way of saying “thanks” for their service. Over the course of a month, I had the honor to photograph nine military families from the Southern California region. In addition to donating varied family portraits to each of the families, I also donated several portraits to “Operation Homefront” which they will use in a “traveling exhibit” titled “Images From the Homefront.” The purpose of the exhibit will be to help increase awareness about the service of our military men and women and their families and help “Operation Homefront” in their fund raising efforts. The exhibit will debut in San Diego, California.

Each one of these families I photographed has a story of strength and courage that’s hard to put into words, so I set out to capture them visually. I was amazed and moved deeply to get to know a group of people who too often are associated only with war, and unfortunately, with politics. I saw and experienced them as people who proudly and dutifully serve our country when called upon to do so.

I have a profound respect for these honorable Americans who daily define grace. I personally want to thank all the members of our military services and their families for their service and sacrifice. I look forward to the day when all of you are back home safe and sound with your friends and families. I also want to thank “Operation Homefront” for helping me to find these incredible families and for the wonderful support they provide military families across the nation.

I want to thank my staff for their incredible patience and devotion to this project with me, and to my friend, who continually enlightens me.

I am a portrait photographer, just one Los Angeles photographer, and hopefully I have done my job right.