Grateful | Personal Photography

I recently started a daily grateful journal. I keep it in my night table, and I try to write on it every night before I go to bed. Somewhere I read that being grateful for things in life, makes you a happier person. 

While waiting for my new baby to be born, literally any minute now, I want to share today's journal entry with you...

Today, I am  grateful for my favorite time of the year: Spring. For blooming flowers, birds signing by my bedroom window, longer days, beautiful light, and the green in the hills. 

I am also grateful for friendship. Even though I am far from family, I have found the most incredible group of friends, and boy, I am ever so thankful for having them in my life. In times when you are ready to have your third baby, and face the reality of being a mother of three kids under 5, they are there to support you every step of the way, spoil you, plan meal trains, and throw you baby showers. And it's not only the friends here, but also those ones checking on you from far away.  

Lastly, I am grateful for my in-laws and my parents. For being there when we need them the most. I am so privileged to have them in my life. 

Cheers to Spring, friendship, and family!!!

Happy 1st Birthday Cora | Kids Photography

I have had the privilege to photograph this little gorgeous baby girl since she was a newborn; and what a treat it has been to see her grow into this beautiful toddler.  Happy  1st Birthday Baby Cora! Here are some of the  pictures I took last week to celebrate her first year. Talk about cuteness!

Tamara | Intimate Portraits Project

It had been a while since I have been wanting to work on this specific photography project. It was the beginning of a new year, and the prospect of having a new baby, what pushed me to make it real. 

When I dived into this project, I had no idea it was going to be so rewarding in so many different ways. I was not only doing my "thing": being creative, experimenting with film; but also, I was making a difference in these women lives. They came to participate in a photo shoot, and they left feeling pampered, empowered and beautiful;  and that made the experience that much more especial for me and them.  Keep checking for more blogs about this project in the future. 

Tamara's photo shoot was everything I dreamed it could be. The moment I spotted her in a crowd in the last wedding I shot, I immediately asked her if I could take pictures of her. And the good sports she is, she said, I am in! Then I got to meet her, and loved every aspect of who she was as a person. She is beautiful, fun, laid back, down to Earth, and an artist herself. She is the kind of person I could be friends with. She did photography back in the day, does landscape design, was a ballroom dancer; and is a house restorer. On top of that, she loves and collects vintage clothing and accessories, a very important element for the styling of our photo shoot. She currently lives in a house that she is restoring herself in Boulder Creek that made for the most beautiful setting for her session. 

The hair and make-up was done by the very talented Naima Morgan. Naima, you were amazing!

Now I will let you be the judge of Tamara's shoot. I am so proud of the results... 

All images are copyrighted © 2013 - 2013 Cyntia Apps Photography

Brotherly Love on Film Part I | Personal Photography

I just got film back, and even though I keep to myself most of the images of my kids, I wanted to share the world these photographs, because they represent what I am proud of. I am proud to be the mother of these two loving boys.  For those of you that don't know, I expecting my third boy in 7 weeks (warning, my boys always come early). And I already can't wait to see my new baby boy. And I can't wait to see how my older boys will interact with the baby. Yes, I will be a lot of work, and my world will be shaken up one more time; but these images are a reflection of their love and their lives, and they make it all worth it. 

I decided to make a series of Brotherly Love Blogs about my boys this year, as much as time would allow me.  I will make it my personal project for the year. So I encourage you to keep coming back for more!!!

 All images are copyrighted © 2013 - 2013 Cyntia Apps Photography

Happy 9th Anniversary | Personal Photography

Today, on Valentines Day, my husband and I celebrate our 9th Wedding Anniversary. There is not a real romantic reason why we got married on this day. And even though we got married 3 times within a period of two months (one civil ceremony, one big church wedding, both in Panama; and one wedding in Canada), we still celebrate on this busy, hard to find reservations, and baby sitters, day. 

We celebrate on Valentines Day because perhaps it was truly one of the happiest day of our lives. And that is romantic about it! In these past 9 years, we have celebrated our anniversary in 4 different countries, and I have been pregnant 3 times out of 9. 

These past 9 years have been a real adventure, and a rocky roller-coaster at times, but we stand strong with a beautiful growing family, and I can't wait for what the future has in store for us. 

You, the subject of many of my pictures; my biggest supporter; the best father I could ever ask for my kids; my rock, the creator of music in our house.  Happy Anniversary, I love you more than ever!

Images from our 2012 South Africa trip. 

Bye Bye 2012... A Year in Review

Last year was certainly an amazing year for Cyntia Apps Photography. The year 2012 was a year for growth, both in a personal and professional level. 

Among other things, I participated in one of the most amazing photography workshops out there: T & T Dynamite Art of Directing; made my first appearance in WPPI in Vegas; I launched my website - www.cyntiaappphotography.com-; I got to photograph wildlife, people, and the most wonderful nature settings in South Africa & United Arab Emirates; I had the opportunity to second shoot weddings and shot my first wedding ever; my pictures went on a cover of an album and soon to go live on iTunes; in-love couples became my favorite subjects to photographs; and finally, I got to shoot many beautiful new and returning families. 

With that said, I can't thank enough my family and my clients for supporting my art. I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for us! 

Here are some of my favorite images from the year 2012 with in no specific order, or chronology. 

                  All images are copyrighted © 2012 - 2012 Cyntia Apps Photography

Here is to beautiful light, images full of emotion, and a year of new adventures... CHEERS!