San Francisco Photographer – Bay Area Portrait Photography » Portrait Photography by Rosaura Sandoval

18 months

March 5, 2009 ~ personal

Today we had Gemma’s 18-month checkup. I can’t believe it is already a year and a half! She doing super well and we are really happy about that. In the past 3 months she’s gained over 5 lbs and had a growth spurt in height. Her weight is still 70% but her height jumped from 70% to 90% and her head still remains at 90%. Scott is very proud of that fact.

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And in general, she is a very happy and healthy little girl. But here in this waiting room photo, she’s looking a little suspicious about the whole thing.

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Fully unclothed and waiting for the doctor in the exam room. Scotty is talking to Gemma and keeping her warm with his jacket. He is such a wonderful father! 🙂

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Gemma is such a delight to be around. And the more she learns the communicate, the more exciting it is becoming. Here are the words she uses:

Agua (water in Spanish)

Food (sounds like ‘pooh’ and she does the sign for it)

Mimis (short for ‘dormir’ which is ‘to sleep’ in Spanish)

Melmo (she _Loves_ Elmo!)

Cracker (sounds like ‘caca’)

Uvas (grapes in Spanish)

Fruta (fruit in Spanish – sound like ‘booba’ in Gemma-speak)

Apple (this is really clear)

Banana (Gemma speak is ‘nana’)

Ya (this is ‘all-done’ and does the sign)

Pee-pee (she’s interested when I go to the bathroom… she’s doing the sign for this now)

Poo-poo

Peekaboo (she does this with a Spanish accent and I just love it)

Please (sounds like ‘peeeas’)

Thank you (sounds like ‘tunku’ and does the sign for it… sometimes)

She does the sounds and sign language for the following:

Bird – pio-pio

Airplane – shuuuuu and points to the sky

Dog – gua-gua and pats her leg

Gato – gaaa

Cow – mooooo

Duck – quack-quack

Flower – she pretends to smell a flower

Car – she pretend to drive a car and goes beep-beep

And the dreaded, MINE! I know she learned that in daycare. Oh well.

She understands everything I say to her in Spanish but somehow she is tending to produce words in English. I’ll still speak to her 100% in Spanish since I know she is getting it. The best I can do is give her a framework for the language and hope she continues it in her life. I’m just so happy that she is learning and communicating and feeling confident and loved. 🙂

by Rosaura

3 comments

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Wilma Bailey - Loved the pictures. She is growing so fast and is so cute. Nancy shared pictures from the trip so we have updated the old ones and are keeping up with her. Wilma

Isabella - i love u! love cusin

Carmen Sandoval Jr. - Hi Rosie, In the first image Gemma has the "Who are you looking at Willis? Face. Too Cute! Thanks for posting!

The Year of the Ox, part 2

February 18, 2009 ~ personal

After a little sun, thank you for coming out for us, lunch and a fun fund-raising auction, it was time for some more shows!: ycis_blog171

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Here comes the dragon!:

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Nerissa Wong-VanHaren, parent-volunteer and friend of mine, was in charge of decorating the auditorium and she did a fantastic job. ycis_blog99

Here she is with her family after a successful celebration.
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NOTE: To view the complete gallery of photos and order prints, please click here.

Tags: Chinese New Year, Palo Alto, YCIS

by Rosaura

3 comments

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lin chao - They are beautiful. I remembered her. She has good equipment and has a good eye.

carol underwood - I love the photos - great people shots of the students and children alike.

helen te miguel - These are excellent pictures. Please extend our thanks to the highly capable photographer.

The Year of the Ox, part 1

February 15, 2009 ~ personal

I was invited to photograph the Chinese New Year celebration put on by the Yew Chung International School. I was thoroughly impressed by the organization, parent involvement and especially the children. Wow, the children were so adorable, talented and well-behaved! The majority of the show was in Mandarin and I didn’t understand a lick of it but I still enjoyed myself none the less.

Photos before the event started:

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Adorably and patiently waiting for the show to begin:

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As soon as the doors opened, the auditorium was filled with representatives of 300 families with cameras! 🙂

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The kids were just too cute!

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After part 1 of the show, it was time to go outside for lunch and the school’s fundraising auction:

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Back inside for more shows! Another post coming soon.

NOTE: To view the complete gallery of photos and order prints, please click here.

Tags: Chinese New Year, Palo Alto, YCIS

by Rosaura

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MLK Tribute Concert

February 7, 2009 ~ personal

I had the great honor and joy to attend an amazing concert in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. This is a yearly event, entitled “In the Name of Love” organized by RCI, creators of community music events such as Jazz Camp West and Jam Camp (for teens). Each year, 1,400 adults, elders, children and families from very diverse communities come together and share the hopes, teachings and dreams of Dr. King through the joy of music (and this year dance too!). The event, now in its 7th year, had even more energy as we were all looking forward to Obama’s inauguration just 2 days later.

Here’s the hall as it filled up:

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Our fabulous emcee was none other than Clifford Brown Jr., of KCSM, KDYA and KDIA fame:

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Up first was the incredibly adorable and inspiring Oakland Children’s Community Choir. There was about 150 2nd graders singing their hearts out and it was a great way to start the show. They sang about unity, peace, Obama, hope and sang several chorus’ of “yes we can”. I was moved and I know everyone else was too.

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Next up with the very classy and hip Marcus Shelby and the Marcus Shelby Jazz Orchestra. They performed some amazing arrangements from his commissioned body of work celebrating the life of Harriet Tubman.

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Marcus for sure is a sharp dressed man!

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Accompanying them was an amazing line up of vocalists: Nicolas Bearde, Jeannine Anderson, The Dynamic Miss Faye Carol and Kenny Washington.

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Faye brought the house down and gave me shivers when she sang!

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Destiny Arts Youth Performance Company performed for us too. These young folks co-created their origianl performance art pieces with professional artist, combining all form of dance and expression. What a treat!

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This is a community event and every year they give out the Citizen of Oakland Humanitarian Award to someone who has given back to the community in extraordinary ways. This year the award was given to Kevin Grant for his work with troubled teens on the streets. He used to be one of those teens but found a way out and now goes back to the streets to seek out those who probably wouldn’t seek help otherwise. Because he’s been there he knows how to reach them and is very effective. He was very honored and touched to receive the award. Oakland is lucky to have someone like this in the community.

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To end the show, the 60-voice Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir got us inspired, sining and dancing in the isles. It was the only way to end such a wonderful night of love, hope, music and community.

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Terrance Kelly wanted to hear more form the audience and we happily obliged. 🙂

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by Rosaura

7 comments

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Valerie - Love the black-and-white ones of the dancers!

Marcus Shelby - Hello Rosaura Your pictures are wonderful and really captured the excitement and beauty of the MLK celebration. Thank you for your incredible work! Peace-Marcus

Brenda Bailey - What a blessing you are! Thank you for taking and sharing these wonderful photos of OIGC and all the performers that evening! The children are just adorable! The clarity, sharpness, and color of the pictues is great! You really captured the spirit of all the performers. Thank you again Rosaura!

Karla Robinson - Hi Rosaura, Your photographs are phenomenal!!! Is there no limit to your talents?!!! Karla (your Jazz Camp roomie)

Isa S Chu - Hi Rosaura, those are wonderful pictures! I copied the pictures will post them up on our myspace website: www.myspace.com/oaklandinterfaithgospelchoir. giving you credit of course =) Thanks so much! Isa S Chu httP://OIGCLoveGrams.weebly.com

Wanda Sabir - These are great Rosaura! I really like the ones of the children, the awardee, and OIGC! Peace, Wanda

Rocio - this was a magnificent concert and i'm so glad the pictures captured it! i love the B&W of the dancers. man, they were on fire!

natalie + scott = married!

January 27, 2009 ~ love stories, wedding stories

Natalie and Scott had been dating for 10 years and finally decided to tie the knot! Their love, friendship and tight family bonds were inspiring to see and I was so happy to be part of their celebration. They were such a fun and sweet couple to photograph with Lindsay. Here is part 1 of their special day.

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by Rosaura

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Maria - Beautiful pictures!

Sophia, Sophia, Sophia

December 17, 2008 ~ personal, portraits

During Thanksgiving, I went home to LA to visit my family. I have a HUGE family – I’m the youngest of 6 and my niece Sophia is the 2nd of 6 from my sister Maria. I wanted to spend some time with Sophia and do a little impromptu shoot with her.

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Sophia is super smart, funny, a bit of a prankster but she’s also sensitive and shy. I think you’ll be able to see that in the photos. Some things about Sophia – she loves to read and do math (is an excellent student) but she especially loves to play soccer. I already have her next shoot in mind and it will be all about soccer! Her favorite color is pink and she’s got long gorgeous hair that has never been cut. Never! Sophia is also my god-daughter! Enjoy the photos! 🙂 Sophia is also my god-daughter. When she was little, I used to say the line from ‘The Color Purple’ to her: Sophia, Sophia, Sophia… sure is a pretty name!’ and she would laugh and get all shy. She’s such a sweety.

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We hung out by abuelita’s rose bushes.