dec 8-13: a month of charitable giving -- greater good | sf bay area photographer

no matter your preference, the greater good has a charity for you.  do you love animals? then you can donate to animal rescue organizations.  pets not your thing but instead want to make a difference in people's lives? then you can donate to fight hunger here, through operation sandwich.  or maybe you want to help our planet -- you can do that too, all through greater good. we like this organization because it simplifies giving, and they have donated over $30M to charitable causes over the past 7 years.  with a simple click, you can donate (sometimes for FREE) to organizations that really make an impact on peoples' lives around the world. 

for this holiday posting, we are sharing another one of our LA families, who we have known for years. they were one of our first wedding clients, and we have watched their family grow -- we love seeing them every year.  they just welcomed a new little boy and we were thrilled to meet the little guy.  this was taken at will rogers memorial park, in beverly hills.  love, love, love the navy and green, so fabulous.

happy holidays,

dani + james

dec 7: a month of charitable giving -- the breast cancer site | sf bay area photographer

this is a really cool and super easy way to give this year, it is FREE!!! yes, all it takes is a few seconds and a click of the mouse and you can give a woman in need a free mammogram.  visit the breast cancer site here and click your way to giving.

today's family photo was taken at the hotel del coronado, a fantastic hotel in san diego that provides a great backdrop for photos or is fabulous for a little r&r.  love how the colors pop here, and love the leather sassiness, fierce!

happy holidays,

dani + james

dec 6: a month of charitable giving -- drivetoendhunger.org | sf bay area photographer

every year glamour magazine does the 31 days of giving, and this year, we are stealing some of their ideas.  like today's donation, to the drive to end hunger. this is an aarp organization that helps seniors to make sure they don't go hungry.  according to their website, "Nearly 9 million Americans 50+ are at risk for hunger every day – a staggering 79 percent increase in just 10 years." with only a few dollars donation, you can help end hunger for struggling seniors in this country.

and today's family shoot is from balboa park, one of our favorite places ever.  it only took a little coaxing to get the little one smiling and posing, and then we couldn't get her to stop :) love how everyone has their own personality in these photos...just adorable!

happy holidays,

dani + james

dec 5: a month of charitable giving -- ASPCA | sf bay area photographer

 

so many of you who know us also know our little dog, foxy.  yes, we have become those people who take our dog everywhere, and it is because of the ASPCA that we even have our cute little sidekick.  about 2 years ago, we went to the peninsula humane society instead of going to the puppy store, even though there was the cutest and fluffiest puppy in the store.  after reading more about the cruelty that many of these puppies endure, we went back to the humane society and found foxy. 

 

every month we donate to the humane society, to help dogs get their vaccinations, microchipped and just generally ready for adoption.  you can donate by clicking here and there are plenty of opportunities for you to adopt a cute little foxy of your own at your local shelter. 

here is a little collage of foxy after a long day at play, she is absolutely soaked...

happy holidays!

dani + james + foxy

dec 4: a month of charitable giving -- toys for tots | sf bay area photographer

 

in honor of james, whose birthday is today, we are featuring toys for tots, a fantastic organization that you surely have come across in years past.  the toys for tots program was started by the marines and is another organization that is super responsibly run.  we love that most of the money donated goes directly to the children to buy toys and gifts.  

you can donate by clicking here, and make a child's christmas super happy this year. 

and today's photo is another one of our san diego family, at another one of our favorite places, old poway park.  love, love, love, especially the cute little puppy...

happy holidays,

dani + james

dec 3: a month of charitable giving -- USO | sf bay area photographer

as many of you know, james is a former marine, so military-focused charities have a special place in our hearts.  for years, we have been donating to the USO, which provides care packages, entertainment and support to our troops overseas. 

it is amazing how little you can donate and still make a tremendous difference in the lives of the soliders who are away from their families for months at a time.  from phone cards to magazines to basic toiletries to snack foods, the USO provides it all.  and if you want to get more involved, you can volunteer with the USO and provide much needed help welcoming our soldiers back home or assisting in putting together care packages.  you can also check out their facebook page here.

for today's holiday photo, we are sharing a session from balboa park in san diego, one of our favorite locations EVER.  this little guy is so personable, and loves to rock it out with the camera.  thanks holden for being such a little rockstar!

happy holidays,

dani & james

dec 2: a month of charitable giving -- Second Harvest | sf bay area photographer

 

when we look for charities to support, we love finding ones that have a big role in the local community.  so when we moved to the bay area, we found second harvest food bank, which provides food and meals to people who are down on their luck.  we also like that they have a high score for fiscal responsibility, meaning that the majority of our donation goes right to buying food and goods. this month, you can donate a turkey to help a needy family or you can volunteer at a local food bank. 

and for today's holiday photo, one of our favorite families in san diego, taken at crystal pier in pacific beach. 

happy holidays,

dani & james