Here’s little Abigail, she turned 4 in December. My heart is aching every single time in see her in some of my Images.. it’s proof, she growing. I know I say this every single time, but maybe it’s because she is my only child that I can’t stand the fact that she is growing up. She loves South Africa, the wide open spaces… warm sun, and non stop attention from all of my family members has her hooked on Africa.

I will be back in the US on the 22nd of February. I have some big news coming too.

Please stay my little girl forEVER.

Mommy loves you so much.

Thank you for stopping by today. I am really excited to now offer Gift Certificates. I believe giving someone the gift of a professional portrait session is high up there on the list of awesome gifts. It could be a birthday gift, a baby shower gift or just a “i love you” gift. I am really happy to now be able to provide new and old clients with this neat little personal gift. If this is something that you are interested in, please contact me for more information on how this works and please share this with friends/family.

Thank you, Adele  XOXO

To my Mom in South Africa. I miss you so much, I am so happy that we’ll be able to see each other soon. Thank you Mom for everything that you’ve done for me in my life, what you’ve done for Abigail. I am so grateful that even though you live on the other side of the world, that we have a way to stay connected every day. I love you Mom.

I took these Images in our home beginning of this week. I love how Abigail is not turning away from the camera anymore. The blanket my Mother bought for me in South Africa and it’s hand made by a group of Women in a rural village in Africa. I love it and hope to pass it along to Abigail one day.

Anyways, here are a few of Abigail while running around with the ball in her hands more than actually kicking it. My little monkey, she has grown so much. Sometimes I wish I can hit PAUSE. I am sure all mom’s feel this way. Some of our friends Diego and Gabriel are in the pictures too. They love Abigail and are always so so sweet to her. If you are wondering why Abigail is crying in the last image, it’s because we had to pack up and go home, she gets really sad when the fun playtime is over. All these images were shot with Canon 85F1.2 lens, I was surprised at how well this lens shoots into the sun. Anyways, my little geeky moment there.

Just the other day I posted this on my Facebook status. ” I realize more and more that I have everything to be truly happy”. Now let me explain.

Photography is such a big part of my life. There is not a day, minute or second that passes that I don’t think of something photography related. But being a full time photographer can be really hard too, at least for me. I am really very hard on myself. I am a huge critic of my own work. I always want to be better, work harder and come up with something different. It has taken me years to realize that “my style” is my style. I can’t shoot different, I don’t see different. I will come across many people that won’t like my work. ( And i’ve learned to accept that, instead of trying to change to please them.) I have realized that it’s OK not to come up with something new, something different everyday. The only thing that really matters is that “I” am happy and that “MY clients” are happy.

We moved to WA state a little over a year now, and moving here has brought new challenges. I’ve become used to shooting in overcast weather. Just a short year ago, I would reschedule a session because of overcast weather. Now If I reschedule those, I might just never shoot. (true fact).We bought a house, a beautiful house which I vowed to keep spotless everyday… yeah.. maybe not spotless. It rains A LOT over here. It’s overcast A LOT. It could become really difficult to stay positive and creative in yuk conditions like that. But I’ve managed to deal with that too. I’ve faced so many new different and difficult situations that made me SO SO appreciate the good and positive ones.

This is why I am happy though.. I have finally accepted that I am who I am. I shoot the way I shoot. I have a beautiful and supportive Husband, the most amazing Daughter. I have a beautiful House that is our HOME. I have met some great people, made some amazing friends. If there was ONE or two thing I wish I could add is to have my family closer to me. I miss them everyday. I miss speaking Afrikaans, I miss having a braai with friends.

Here are some Images I took of Jenny while visiting her in Puyallup a few days ago. Jenny you are gorgeous inside and out. Thank you for snapping a few Images of me and Abigail too. They are truly the best gift. Please take a look at Jenny’s work HERE.

I recognize how my work has changed and I’m learning from mistakes I’ve made. Being a Photographer for the past 5 years has had some enormous ups and downs. I honestly LOVE what I do, but I am also my worst critique.. and delivering products that I am proud of is my first priority. I remember way back in the day in one of my many biographies on my many different blogs I wrote that: ” I would not be happy giving a client a product that I, myself am not 100% satisfied with and proud of. ” This is still my goal today.

It has taken many years and many mistakes to be the person/photographer I am today.

This is how I speak, this is my language. I am fortunate to have visited, resided in many different states, different countries. I’ve realized that each state has it’s own “language”… I don’t always speak the right language, I am not always able to express my true feelings, my true meaning. I am thankful for photography. I am grateful for a talent that I’ve come to realize is so precious.

Please feel free to leave a comment.

I just wanted to let you all know I now have a Wedding Blog Adele Cabanillas | Weddings separate from Abigail Reese Photography. I would like to keep Abigail Reese Photography for my Children and Family work. So if you are in the mood to see some of my Wedding work head over to my other blog HERE. Please stop for a second and say hi, I am always curious who peeks in.

Thank you,

Adele Cabanillas

My baby is going to be 3 years old in 11 days. Secretly I love it when she complains for me to carry her upstairs/downstairs. I know the time that I can pick her up and hold her in my arms is running out.

I love when she asks me to tickle her and the giggle that emerges as I comply.

My little girl. Not many words can explain my love for you. I adore your strong Will. I am amazed at how confident, outgoing you are. I LOVE that when you want something you say Mommy instead of Mamma. My favorite part of the day is when I put you to bed and you say. ” I love you mommy”.

I love you. Love,

Mommy! XOXO

I hope to raise Abigail to know where she was born, to know where her Mommy was raised. I love South Africa, I miss my family every single day. I am so grateful that I got to spend to some time with them, especially my grandfather.

For now, enjoy this cutie face. Can you believe she will be 3 in December. THREE! amazing.