Feeling Completely recharged after spending most of last week chilling at Jalama Beach on the central coast with my Family. We had a long caravan with My brother Danny and I fully loaded with both of our tent trailers in tow, for the slow drive up the coast. We spent the majority of the week playing with our kids and hanging out chilling on the beach. Jalama Beach is a little off the beaten track. Rolling amber hills with sparse oaks standing guard meet the rocky cliffs of the pacific. It is truly spectacular to see! I had the opportunity to sneak off for a couple runs along the bluffs. There were Hawks, deer, cows, lizards, seals, great white sharks……..okay no great whites, but you get the idea! Nature was everywhere. So different from my typical runs around signal hill in Long Beach.
We also had the chance to stop bye the Buttonwood family winery just outside of Solvang. We had a great time Wine tasting, and picnicking in their gardens for an amazing family lunch.

Chris

Bike Thief

Bike Thief II

SPACEBOY G

My Mom Showing us how its done!

Danny and Katie

Wine Tasting/ Picnic at Buttonwood winery SO Tasty!

A Couple of my favorite People.

Terror on Wheels!

Orange County family portraits,

What an amazing time to walk into someones home/life to help them remember the little moments that change so fast.  Gotta say Thanks to the canon family for having me out to make these special images of their family.  Definitely not your typical Orange County Portrait Session!

Enjoy,

Chris

Lets welcome my latest Nephew Ari Klatzker into the world!  Born 8 pounds even & 20 inches long!  This baby Session has waited long enough to be posted on my blog!   I really love these New Life Sessions.  It’s just such a massive idea…concept…situation, when you bring another life into this world.  It really brings me back to the birth of my sons.   Incredible!  I can’t wait to design Ari’s Birth Announcements.

Enjoy the Images,

Chris

First Bath…may be used to blackmail Ari in about 10-15 years;-)

We kept it mellow this year, and decided against having U2 play for Gideons 3rd Birthday party. Just a little down home fiesta with family and a few friends. I really like the idea of just following kids and photographing them immersed in their own little world. Here are some playful images that I hope you enjoy!

Cheers!
Chris

Giddy Pops!

Grammy Goose

Arianna Enjoyed the party in her own way

Cousin Ian was absolutely dying to lick the frosting off one of the candles

A moment when time stopped & Nothing Else mattered.

Memo and Poppy Barry Always festive

Goose and my Mom

Testing out the new Golf set from grandma

I had the pleasure, and pain of running in my 4th Pacific shoreline 1/2 marathon Starting at the Huntington Beach hyatt regency on superbowl sunday. My training was decent, but my 3 month old Graham did have something to say about daddy getting out for every training run. Most importantly it was a blast until mile 10 or 11, when it turned into a bit of a slog. I always forget how tough Half Marathons get in the last third of the race. The amount of effort it takes to maintain a hard pace just starts to skyrocket around mile 9 or 10. I always like to set challenging goals for myself, and this was once again very tough. However, the pain will soon be forgotten and replaced with dare I say anxiety. The distance I have been skirting since my running inception 4 years ago. Da dah dah dahhhhhhh.
The big daddy i.e. LA MARATHON in March. Next summers clients Pray my legs don’t fall off:)

Here is the statistical skinny from the race

My Goal was to run 13.1 miles in 1:35. I found it was much easier to write my splits on my water bottle than actually hit the tape that fast:)

Chris Griffiths Long Beach, CA
Total time 1:41:12 pace of 7:44 per mile
81st place out of 645 Men 30-34 years old.

I’m super wiped out at the moment. I promise to write more about the last 24 hours very soon. My beautiful son Graham has finally arrived, and I can’t be more happy.
Chris

How does that old saying go? “Never let them see you sweat” Okay I must admit I was sweating a little. Had a fun, but hot session in a park in Irvine with baby Pilar and Family on her first Birthday. We decided to shoot around Pilar’s nap schedule to get the happiest baby possible…….It worked. The images look incredible! It was also fun for me to challenge myself and shoot in noontime sun.
Enjoy the results.

Chris

Well my best buddie finally crossed over. That is Crossed over into fatherhood. Dave and Christine gave birth (well actually Christine;-) to Andrew Patrick on Friday In Fountain Valley. Let this be the official iblog welcome for Andrew! Ilana and I are so happy for you guys! Looking forward to watching Andrew grow.
Here are a couple images from visiting hours. Enjoy the pics.

Chris

I was really happy to hear from an old friend living in Italy last week. We ended up connecting for a fun family session in Seal Beach under the pier. It was a blast chasing Christian around trying to capture some great expressions!

Enjoy the images!

Mom and Dad were ready for a couple photos also!

It has been a few months since I have photographed a little ones birthday party. That ended last weekend when I had the opportunity to capture Little Noah’s first birthday in Huntington Beach. I really don’t have to say it, but I will. Noah is crazy cute! You will probably think so too. Kids crack me up. They all react to their environment in different ways. Noah cried when it was time for cake with the group watching and singing happy b-day, but the images are priceless.
Hope you like them too.

Chris