It is with a sentimental heart that I say farewell to my little studio on Nieto and 2nd and with a full heart that I say...folks we are growing and we have a new Belmont Shore studio! :) I'm so excited to share with you that in just one short week our new studio at: 4720 E. Second Street #5, Belmont Shore, CA 90803 will open to continue to serve you and your family's photographic needs.   Stay tune, I promise to soon share images of our new Belmont Shore studio.

However, before we say goodbye to our current space I thought it might be nice to honor it  by highlighting some of the things I have loved most about it. Allow me to share with you a few of my favorite things.....

As some of may already know the little birdie in my logo comes from the scripture Matthew 6:25-26 Reminding me to be like the birds, free of worry, for if God takes care of them how much more will He take care of me whom He values in even greater measure. Take a look around you may notice little birds around the office.  This one in the cage I love because it is a super old vintage find and you all know how much I love old things with a story.

This rug, this rug....this amazing 45 year old rug that once supported the feet of my beloveds childhood family memories and then sometime in the 80s (got to love the 80s) found its way from Kuwait on a boat...I'm so grateful that it now serves to bring comfort and color into my home away from home and its one part of this space I'm very proud of for its rich history. Thank you mama Hayek for allowing this gem to live here!

I must share with you my office desk....it was made especially for me by my loving brother Ambrocio with help by my friend Debbie. When planning the use of this space it was important to me that I was able to edit here but also have enough room to see clients and showcase our product line. Therefore, the desk had to offer enough surface space to work on YET take up minimal floor space. Isn't this an awesome desk?! Perfect for my needs...and knowing that my brother and friend made it with love especially for me makes it incredibly special. This is where I admit that as much as I hate Apple....I love my work computers, they are fast and two serious work horses but the thing I love about them most is that my friend Dave who is such an incredible tech genius built them for me.  He took into consideration everything that was needed to run an effective workflow and then rocked my world!   Oh and down below (not pictured here) is a cute vintage orange crate that serves as a camouflage home for the Synology back up system. It sits upon the rich expresso colored flooring that Dave also installed for me.

I love being in the mix of second street...the shore offers so much to do and see....my clients LOVE coming down to the area and always make visits to the studio an extension of a great day or night. I've really enjoyed the abundance of food choices, the climate and the people.  I mean come on...who doesn't love Jim in front of  McCarty's Jewelry who waves at every single person that walks by and says hello?!  Not to mention, I got so lucky that both the current and new space are super old, dripping with history and dating back into early century.  As I mentioned before I LOVE all things old so being in a space with so much character has been absolutely divine!   If you haven't visited the shore in a while...you much come down to visit us in our new space.  We will be planning an open house on Saturday Dec 5th...which also happens to be the day of the Christmas Parade...plan to join us for some fun!!!

These simple yet effective gallery shelves were also made by my dear friend Debbie and they have been a great way to display client art...they are super easy to make and have not only allowed me to showcase art when clients come to visit but also have served as inspiration for clients to replicate in their own home. If you have many beautiful images but have a hard time committing to one arrangement...these shelves may be a great way for you to create a family story wall in your home.

If you may have noticed at the top of our door reads "Design Studio"...we have intentionally called this space a design studio vs. an office or "shooting space" reason being, our main goal is to create beautiful wall and heirloom art pieces for your family to treasure for generations to come.  Its so much fun for clients to see and touch the many beautiful and earth conscience fabrics and materials that will be used to create their special one of a kind pieces.  We love to design art...but what we love most is designing art with and for you!  These hand cut leather wraps below are some of my favorites!

If may just look like a nice pretty light fixture, but it wasn't always this way...when we moved in, this fan was covered in dirt, brown and starting down upon us with some pretty bald light bulbs.  With a little TLC and the help of a few friends it was painted (thank you Jeff) and given a proper lamp shade to to shine down upon us warm soft light.  The thing I like most besides the texture it adds to the space is that it doesn't take away from the beautiful cream colored ceilings and gorgeous white molding.

Big white pillows and 12 foot long billowy sheer curtains....yes its what makes me say awww.  I must confess I have taken a nap or two on these huge soft pillows that have also been comfy rest spots for my little clients that stop by to visit with mommies and daddies.  The curvy whimsical frames above add the perfect dream touch that one can envision in a child's nursery.  Thank you Denise for helping hunt for these extra long curtains!

I came across this creamy white mirror in an antique store...its so heavy!  But I didn't care...I saw it and pictured it once reflecting the image of a local long beach beauty.  I can't imagine that before finding its way to the antique shop that it didn't once belong to someone's grandma, mother or daughter...and that maybe just like it does in its current location it might have been used for last minute touch ups for a bride on her wedding day. The bookshelf below it with its antique flare is a perfect home for our handcrafted heirloom keepsake boxes.  As we like often say, these boxes are antiques that just aren't old yet.
This little camera on the shelf above was a gift.  I've never used it...but couldn't resist displaying this adorable mamiya camera with all its charm.  It even came with magnificent lens in sweet leather pouches.  I'm certain it must have belonged to someone that LOVED photography as much as I do and for this reason I will continue to display it in the studio to remind us all that time stand still for no one....make blissful memories!

And with that I leave you little studio...may you bless the next tenants to come to you as much as you did us and may this transition be but only the beginning of something even greater!

"Thank you for all the memories!"

~Miranda

PS....Yes, those are taylor guitars on my wall and NO I do not even know how to hold them.  But if you really want a music treat you must come visit with Lina in our space and her new adjacent recording studio!  In the meantime, enjoy her sweet tunes at: www.livemusicplease.com