Coralily Photography

Swaddle Design Shoot – Los Angeles Commercial Photographer

coralily — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 08:19:28 +0000

I had the great privilege of photographing triplets Erica McGraw and her sisters Jaclyn and Nicole along with their super-cute baby girls – Avery, Chanel and Charlize – for Swaddle Designs. The triplets have their own designed line, called Triplets Paisley. What lovely line of products- there are the great swaddle blankets, of course, as well as a nursing cover and a sleep sack that is designed with the zipper at the bottom… so you can change your baby while they are asleep…. YES!! Awesome! I know a lot of Mommies who will LOVE this little feature.
I had such a great time working with Erica, Nicole and Jaclyn and the baby cousins… they are really sweet and the babies were AMAZING.
I’ve been waiting patiently to share this with you all, and finally, the images are now up on the Swaddle Designs website! Yay! Here are some screenshots… but you know… you should go visit the site. The blankets and other baby items are really awesome and would make *perfect* gifts for a new baby. You know what, even though this isn’t technically a “Coralily Loves” post, I think I may just have to call it that! Swaddle Designs? Yup. It’s a going down as a Coralily Loves product line.

Swaddle Designs at the ABC Trade Show | Los Angeles Baby Photographer

coralily — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 07:45:25 +0000

I was happy to hear from Lynette Damir – the visionary behind Swaddle Designs – that they wanted to use some of my images of little Avery McGraw wrapped in her Triplets Paisley pink swaddle blanket, along with her parents, Erica and Jay, at the one of the biggest trade shows for babies and kids fashions and goods – the ABC Kids Expo in Las Vegas. The Swaddle Designs booth was just gorgeous, and they introduced some exciting new products, including an lovely adult throw that now I’m officially in love with (Christmas present, anyone??).
Lynette kindly sent me these photos of their displays and I’m pleased to share them with you here.

close up of Avery's poster in the Triplets Paisley booth

The awesome Lynette Damir in the Swaddle Designs Booth at the ABC Trade Show (I have little blue rectangles around Coralily images

Triplets Paisley display wall featuring Coralily images of the McGraw family - at the Swaddle Designs Booth, ABC Trade show, Las Vegas

and here that lovely family portrait:

Introducing: sweet Avery | Beverly Hills Newborn Photographer

coralily — Thu, 06 May 2010 13:00:39 +0000

How about I let her grandpa do it? {This video was taken before Avery arrived.}

When she arrived, proud gramps Dr. Phil McGraw wrote on his blog:
“I’ve shaken a lot of hands over the years, but the most powerful handclasp I’ve ever experienced in my life took place a few days ago when Avery Elizabeth McGraw, my new granddaughter, wrapped her hand around my little finger. When she was delivered, I quickly tweeted that this was going to be a game changer. I was way off the mark. This is such a life-changing event that I don’t even know where to start.”

And now she’s here! And in lovely perfection. I had the privilege of spending some time with 11-day old Avery and her Mom and Dad, Erica and Jay McGraw, in their lovely home. She is *every bit* as sweet she looks. Here are the the images that air today on the Dr. Phil Show.

Thank you, Erica and Jay, for allowing me to document this very special time for you! I wish you all the best for the future!!

coralily loves: nesting shoppe

coralily — Thu, 06 May 2010 06:16:10 +0000

OK, I love this particular CORALILY LOVES post! I truly enjoy finding fabulous things and this find is so awesome, I’m incorporating it into Coralily Photography’s product offerings!

May is a great month for me…it heralds the coming summer months, it marks my husband’s birthday and the anniversary of our honeymoon in Kauai, and it marks the month I purchased my first DSLR a few years ago. So May marks all things “New” and special for me.
So…for the lovely month of May, I’d like to tell you guys about a really special discovery I made last month. It’s perfect for a “New” May move because I am actually making a big switch in the business because of this discovery!

OK. So here goes.
Nesting Shoppe.

‘Nuff said.

Ah forget it…anyone who knows me knows I love to talk, so I can’t stop there.

I normally design my own birth announcements for my clients, since I figure, hey, I should put my ol’ graphic design training to use at some point, right? But lately, I’m finding that I’d much rather be behind the camera, instead of in front of my monitor designing, designing away.
So I went on a hunt for some amazing personalized announcements that would blow me away and that I would feel good about suggesting that my clients use.

And people, I found ‘em! When I did, I tell you, the heavens opened up and angels started to sing. Heheheh.

Nesting Shoppe’s team of designers (led by owner, Jessie Preza) ROCK the shizzles, and I love, love, love their aesthetic. So much so that from now, it’s IN with the NEW…. I’m eliminating my own announcement designs from my offerings and recommending Nesting Shoppe announcements and cards wholeheartedly to ALL my clients. I will work directly with Nesting to make sure that they gets the perfect images for your announcements – and she will even customize announcements for you. Check out Nesting Shoppe’s creations, cos they are just bee-yooo-ti-ful!!!!

You won’t regret it. In the short time I’ve worked with her, I truly enjoy collaborating with Jessie and her staff, and they truly have some of the best designs on the planet. I trust that my images of clients are in good hands and will be presented beautifully!

So now… watch out, at our shoots, I will be looking for inspiration and ideas I can pass on to Nesting… even if the bun’s still in the oven!

And here’s the best part! Nesting Shoppe has a FABULOUS Mother’s Day giveaway! You can enter to win a free set of announcements or stationery set. Trust me, you’ll love them!

Get thee over to their website pronto and enter, enter, enter! She’s also got a great coupon code that’s good till May 9. Enter HEYMAMA and get 15% off your order!

Giveaway details are at: Nesting Shoppe

Meet Holden | Los Angeles Newborn Photographer

coralily — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:16:40 +0000

Remember Cherub? I had so much fun photographing him. He was 12 days old in these photos, leggy and sleepy, not fond of swaddles and tight spaces and taking every opportunity to stretch his legs. Even in his sleep. Yup…his long legs were not to be contained, even in a cozy comfy cocoon (which was exquisitely made by Click Knits.) His mommy said one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever heard. She told me, “I knew I would love him… I didn’t realize how much. Now that he’s here, I can’t believe how much love I have inside me.”
Welcome, sweet baby boy!

Irresistible you: Taylor with the cheeks | Los Angeles Baby Photographer

coralily — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 11:35:14 +0000

I have the happy pleasure of living next door to irresistible Taylor. I mean. Seriously. It should be a crime to be this cute. Every time I see her, I have to pause and goo-goo and ga-ga cos I forget how to use words, she is so stinkin’ cute! I can’t resist her dark eyes, long lashes and those chubby, chubby cheeks! She was five weeks old during our shoot and actually was really, really good for most of the shoot! Of course, she was awake for most of it, but really was happy to look adorable for my camera! Her lucky mommy and daddy are both busy doctors and have already told me I can babysit anytime. Um, yeeeeeeeess please!! Methinks me and Taylor have some Dr. Seuss read-a-thons in our future. I mean, we gotta get her ready for med school or law school, you know!

I keep thinking I couldn’t possibly fall in love with every baby I photograph, but aaahh, the heart makes room!!!!

Beautifully pregnant: Cherub | Los Angeles Maternity Photographer

coralily — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 12:12:01 +0000

Cherub and I had fun at her session just weeks before her baby boy arrived. She and her husband was in the middle of moving into a different place, preparing for the baby, and doing a million things… and with all that going on, I can’t believe she still managed to look this gorgeous! Again, I feel lucky to spend time with amazing women during a really fabulous time in their lives. I think pregnant women positively GLOW, and Cherub is no exception! This session made me so glad to be a maternity photographer. Pregnancy portraits are just so fun to shoot.

Reach for the Joy: Meet Karen and Zaiden | Los Angeles Family Photographer

coralily — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 17:40:00 +0000

While on our journey on the road of life, things happen that make you pause for deep thought and action. Karen made me do that. I met Karen years ago and we lost touch when she moved away from Los Angeles. We were just acquaintances then. Then one day, I heard that Karen had cancer. And it stopped me in my tracks. She was blogging about it (here), so I read her journal and quietly sent good vibes her way. And then suddenly the blogging stopped and I panicked. Was she gone? I never reached out! I need to find her! Through a mutual friend, I reconnected with Karen on Facebook and finally, I emailed her. As we chatted via email and got to know each other all over again, I learned that her cancer had gotten worse, and she was seeking alternative treatment. I sat in Los Angeles, feeling helpless, puzzling over what to do – how to make a difference – and then it hit me. Karen’s baby girl, Zaiden, was turning five and I wanted to document moments between her and her mommy. Like this one:

Before I knew it, I was on a plane to Denver and I was aiming my lens at little Zaiden – who by the way – is a surprising little girl. She is strong, she is smart, and she just adores her mother beyond belief. I now take this time to share with you some images from that shoot.

Karen has recently blogged about “surrender” and it has been a tough, difficult thing for me to accept. And yet she remains hopeful, and she still talks of joy. What an inspirational message that is: Reach for the Joy. The day she emailed me to “manage her blog when she is gone”… was a very teary day for me. I DO respect and admire her choice. I pray that a miracle will happen, and her choice to surrender will actually heal her. She is a Rare and Beautiful soul…and she has touched my life forever. I will always owe Karen for many things spiritual. I hope you will take the time to read her current blog, and if it moves you, leave her a comment or donation.

Here is an excerpt from Karen’s latest blog entry:

Sing Your Song
I am feeling as though the end of my journey is near. I am truly surrendered.
This is to be rejoiced. I have completed many of the missions I set forth to accomplish in this current body. I thought there might be more. And perhaps there is.

I have thought and prayed a great deal on this. At one time I thought my mission was to act- to share human emotion in a theatrical bent- to create joy, laughter, contemplation through the words of Shakespeare and Shaw and lesser playwrights.
Still other times, I thought it was to write the great best seller.
I believed that it was to make a big “SPLASH” in one way of other.

What if it was all for Zaiden? What if my nearly 42 years was all to prepare me to prepare her for her greatness? What if it was all for the people whose lives I have touched and effected in some way? What if it was nothing more than learning to love? And to forgive? Is this not a high calling? I am beginning to see that it is.

If all our lives amount to is loving those we reach, isn’t this a great accomplishment? To love and be loved is the highest of all callings.

Click here to read more on Karen’s blog…
More photos from our weekend: here

guest artist: tiffany bordelon-walsh

coralily — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 07:35:24 +0000

No, friends, I didn’t suddenly become a blog about quilting and crafts. However, I thought it would be neat to take a break from photography once in a while and feature another artist. Every form of art contributes in a large way to the way I see the world, and I couldn’t resist the opportunity to introduce you guys to one of my favorite artists! I blogged about her fantastic Li’l Bumpkin quilt creations just a couple of days ago, but I wanted to tell you so much more! Then I thought – hey, Tiff should tell you herself!

Tiffany Bordelon-Walsh on the Art and Love behind L’il Bumpkin

Li’l Bumpkin started by accident. Sewing has been passed down through the generations of my Mom’s family, the Stuarts. Both my Grandma and Mom are accomplished seamstresses. My Mom made most of my childhood clothes and every dance and prom dress. They are two of the most creative and talented women I know. They instilled in me the passion of creating art with fabric and thread.

So, when all my gal friends started popping out babies right and left, I wanted to give something extra special – a little Lagniappe. So, I started sewing. It began with receiving blankets. Now, I admit, I used some cheesy fabrics in the past – then I learned all about fabric designers – and I was hooked! Now I only use the classiest of designer fabrics for my creations. After a few blankets, I was ready do more. And I wanted remind the new generations of the craftsmanship, history, and sacrifice of our ancestors. That’s how I started making rag quilts; or fuzzy quilts as some friends call them.

You see, a quilt posses power and magic. In addition to sewing, my grandmother, Mawmaw Bevie, is an avid quilter. I grew up surrounded by quilts, so you can imagine, quilts have always had a very special place in my life. Some quilts were painstakingly planned out; others were literally scraps from clothes and household fabrics thrown together. No matter their origin, they were USED and LOVED, just as they should be. For me, quilts have been there to add warmth on a frigid day, to be a protective layer from darkness and fear, a sheath of shelter as a roof in a living room tent, a little bit of home on vacations and travels. I cuddled in them on the sofa during a favorite movie or TV show, they’ve been havens for my kitties, a disguise for young love holding hands (hee), a comfort to soak up my tears and ease the pain of trials; but most of all, they have been vessels of love and a reminder of the legacies of my family that have come before me. As a quilt is passed to the next generation, the stories and history pass with it. The bond lives across time.

That is what a quilt is to me.

As I create each one, I think of the child who will be its keeper. I picture the nursery and parents as I choose the 6 fabrics I will combine. Which patterns and design will sooth and excite? I think of the joy, laughter, and comfort the cozy fabrics will bring him or her as I cut and sew the 30 fabric and batting squares. And as I’m clipping the edges that will poof once the quilt washes and dries, I hope that they will love their quilt and allow it to accompany them throughout their life and then pass it to a loved one so it can continue to spread its magic. I pray my quilts will never be hung on a wall and never loved. They are mean to be loved, cherish and passed on. Just as my family has shown me.

Tiffany Bordelon-Walsh is a Los Angeles based artist who specializes in hand-sewn, custom-designed designer quilts and other hand-sewn boutique items. She owns and operates Li’l Bumpkin.

Isn’t the story behind her quilts fantastic? Order from her Etsy Store. Mention Coralily Photography and get $10 off if you place your order by April 30 2010.

Photos by Tiffany of another of my favorites “Elementary, Dear Watson“:

coralily loves: li’l bumpkin baby quilts

coralily — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 07:11:55 +0000

OK. So I’m a a pretty big girl, and it’s time to admit to the world: I have a blankie. Yes siree. I do. See, I married a Canadian and he’s pretty comfortable at around 62 degrees. To a tropical girl like me, that’s just….(insert bad word here)….cold!
Still, I can’t blame it ALL on him. I’m cold if isn’t at least 74 degrees! So to keep things nice and cosy at home for BOTH of us, we keep it at 68 degrees for Kevin, and I’ve taken to carrying around and wrapping myself with this throw that I picked up at Bed, Bath and Beyond. At first I just liked it because it was soft and fuzzy. But then…I started to really miss it when I didn’t have it. Then I started to really like to sleep with it. So now, folks, just like my 2-year-old nephew… I have a blankie!! Now my husband actually asks me – right before we settle in to watch a movie: “Do you want your blankie, honey?”
So, now that that slightly embarrassing confession is over, let’s move on to my inaugural “Coralily Loves” post!
I have been friends with Tiffany Bordelon-Walsh for a couple of years now, and only JUST found out about a year ago that she is a master quilter! She makes these amazing baby quilts from gorgeous designer fabrics. They are just SO lovely, and Tiffany often will custom-design a quilt based on nursery colors or favorite colors or gender – or whatever you like. I got a good look at some of her creations lately and I just fell in love! Who wouldn’t want to wrap their baby in this??!!
So without further ado, I introduce to you…my first “Coralily Loves” item: Li’l Bumpkin Baby Quilts! The one pictured below is Ocean View – (oh, I so ::heart:: this one) Not only does it make me think of my favorite weekends in Monterey…my Kauai honeymoon…and the sound of the waves pounding the beach… it has such relaxing and soothing colors!
If you are wondering what on EARTH this has to do with my blankie story, you should know, I’m seriously (seriously) considering BEGGING Tiffany to make an adult-size version of this for me… (seriously, it’s just so yummy).

Tiffany is offering a special to Coralily peeps! Get $10 off one of her handmade custom-designed quilt if you order by April 30! You can order by visiting her Etsy store here…and tell Tiffany I sent you.

photos by Tiffany Bordelon-Walsh at Li’l Bumpkin Baby: