Gallery September 7, 2016 by tbppaige

Featured Photographer

This gallery contains 4 photos.

Paige Donahoe featured Photographer for 2016 Corona Chamber Guide Here is the cover of the Corona Chamber Guide shot by Paige Donahoe.

September 7, 2016 by tbppaige

Back at it!

Oh My Gosh – I neglected this blog for EVEHHHH. I have been doing all the social media – but didn’t post here. So I wanted to update it and let you know that even though I neglect this thing sometimes – I am still very active and taking photos all of the time.

January 15, 2014 by tbppaige

Some family photo sessions aren’t all smiles

We have all been there…at least I know I have. You get ready for your family photos with your little kids and once you step foot out of the car and start shooting, things get unpredictable. But when the unexpected happens, it is better to just roll with it because you get some great, unexpected pictures! So at this shoot, we just kept improvising and ended up with some of the greatest, fun shots of all time!

Family Sessions with little kids are unpredictable!

So knowing that with little kids, the time window is short – I went in order of importance. We got the all family photo done first. The kids were all smiles

Great Family Photo © Paige Donahoe

Then we got the individual pictures done – everything was working great! The twins went first to give the littles a break.

Big sister by the lake © Paige Donahoe

Next Big Brother

Here is big brother

Next – the littles. These guys are fun 🙂 Creativity is the key when photographing little kids

I started calling her “MIss Sassy Pants” this is why 🙂

As I worked with Miss D I started getting some fun shots

Miss D.

Miss D. was quite the Diva…she was having a lot of fun, BIG smiles and lots of giggles, and a tiny amount of sass! I got a lot of fun pictures of her!

Here Miss D…had been mad and tired of having her pic taken…I talked her into just a few more!

Then one last effort with the little man yielded this fun photo of the little Mr.

All smiles for Little B!

So we were mostly done – but we decided to try a couple more shots of the whole family …..and then ……well this happened!

Family Photo Kid Melt Down © Paige Donahoe

THE KIDS WERE DONE! – So we decided to go with it and this wonderful photo came out as a result.

Here is the last shot – we tried to get all 4, this was the result. Priceless 🙂

So then this happened

And that was a wrap ….it was a fun time actually, we got some unique photos. As we headed back to the cars Miss D., who was a little overtired just sat down to pout…she should know better to act up when I am around with a camera 🙂

Miss Sassy Pants melt down

Then she noticed me and frankly I was a little scared. Miss Sassy Pants – was no longer sassy – she was simply not happy! But I got a hug anyways 🙂

Miss D so scary! © Paige Donahoe

And that is it…It started out great and then as the kids grew tired or hungry and then we got different shots – but all together memorable and fun!! You never know what you are going to get at a photo shoot with kids and at this one I think we did pretty good with some fun littles!

November 12, 2013 by tbppaige

Family Reunion Photos

Family Reunion’s are a perfect time for photos

As families get older and people get jobs and families of their own, it is harder and harder for them to get together and when they have a member of the family that lives half way across the world, those times that they can get together are precious and often few. Such as the case with the Knappe Family. One of their son’s lives in Germany so when he came home for a visit with his mom and dad, it was a perfect opportunity to have family photos done. So without further adieu here is a sample of their family photos!

Here is the immediate Knappe Family.
©Paige Donahoe

Families within families

There are always families within families! Here is one of them!
©Paige Donahoe

These two started it all when they got married over 50 years ago! This is their family!
©Paige Donahoe

More families within familes ©Paige Donahoe

More families within families
©Paige Donahoe

Kellie and Rick
©Paige Donahoe

The crazier the better….for pictures that is!

Individuals make up a family and when those individuals like to have fun, then everyone has fun! These guys LOVE to have fun…suits me fine, makes my job easier!

This group is always fun..here is why!

Bob’s wife couldn’t be there….so he improvised!
©Paige Donahoe

These siblings are a fun bunch!
©Paige Donahoe

We put them to work!
©Paige Donahoe

The boys hanging out with their aunt!
©Paige Donahoe

If you or anyone you know would like to have fun, hang out and take some pics – please drop me a line!

October 7, 2013 by tbppaige

Help Raelyn Beat Leukemia!

Raelyn Beckler is 4. She was diagnosed with Leukemia when she was 2. I don’t know Raelyn, but I felt compelled to help her family tell their story – so here I am. I wrote this press release for them. Why? It is what I do. Along with Photography I am a PR and Marketing Consultant and I felt that I could help…somehow…anyway to save their daughter. I certainly hope that after reading this that you might want to help too!

Paddle for her Battle benefitting Raelyn Beckler.

What is Paddle for her Battle? It is a fundraiser benefitting Raelyn Beckler, a 4 year old girl from Dana Point, CA. Raelyn’s father is going to cross the Pacific Ocean from Catalina to Dana Point on a Paddle Board. That is 45 miles in the open ocean from Avalon to Dana Point. This is no small feat. The ocean waters of the Pacific are cold and can change rapidly from calm to choppy with a slightest change in the wind.

Raelyn Beckler in the hospital receiving treatment

Why a fundraiser? Raelyn is critically ill. It was discovered she had Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (A.L.L) when she was all of 2 years old. The day the diagnosis came in, was the day their family’s lives turned upside down. Located in Orange County, CA, she was immediately transferred to CHOC for emergency surgery and to commence on going treatment. CHOC is the best place for her, but battling Leukemia for an adult is a big uphill battle; for a child it is worse; for the parents it is gut-wrenching. Raelyn is a fighter in a pint-sized body. She inspires Greg and his wife daily to fight on; but this fight takes a lot out of them. The daily Raelyn Beckler in the hospital receiving treatmentbattle is so exhausting mentally and physically that just getting through a day is a trial. Due to the side effects of her medication, she has developed a steroid psychosis which has to be treated in addition to the treatment of her disease; that along with the stress of on-going treatments, Greg decided he needed to be there for his daughter 24/7 and put his job and life on hold. This meant also putting their finances in jeopardy. Now 2 years into this fight, Greg and his family are in need of help. Their financial resources are running out, they do not qualify for aid due to the fact he made a decent living prior to all this; so with no other options available to him, he decided to create a fundraiser to help pay for Rae’s treatment.

When? October 26, 2013 is when Greg will be taking his epic ride. He will start in Avalon and begin paddling his way towards Dana Point. 45 miles, paddling the whole way. He has been in training since June and as the time nears for his epic ride; he is short of his fundraising goal. A.L.L. is a strong disease, but Rae and her family are stronger. However, they can’t do it alone. This is where you come in! YOU can help! We need your help! We need to increase the awareness of the ride and increase the sponsorships. Greg and his family need this money to help pay for the co-payments, gas and whatever else it takes to heal their daughter. Won’t you step up and help anyway you can? Together we can help and save a little girl worth saving. Your donation won’t go to pay a salary or a fundraising campaign, it will go to pay for treatment, period. Isn’t that worth it?

For more information and donations please visit http://paddleforherbattle.com/

Media and corporate sponsors please contact Paige Donahoe at paige@pdinspired.com

September 19, 2013 by tbppaige

7 Tips to a great family photo shoot

Brother and Sister fun

You have done it. You have scheduled your family photo session – Finally! You can already envision the pristine beautiful pictures hanging in your house of your beautiful smiling kids and spouse and maybe even the family dog…all sitting, smiling, happy. You can’t WAIT until you get to your photo session.

The day finally arrives…eeeek! You get everyone up early. Shower, do hair, make-up, dress everyone’s new matching outfits. Brush the dog, and off you go. Oops you forgot to feed them, and you forgot the dog! Oh well, AFTER you are done, everyone gets to go to lunch, dinner, ice cream, whatever and the dog…well he will survive. This is going to be great!!!!

You arrive at the designated location. It is perfect. Then the kids, who you think look great, say “Where are we? Why are we here? I don’t like what I am wearing, I’m hungry, etc” You remind them that it is family picture day and it is going to be fun!

Family Shoot!

The photographer is ready, so you guys head out and start your session. Then it all starts to fall apart. The kids, whom you forgot to feed, are now hungry, whining and not cooperative. The spouse, who is trying to calm the kids down, is now getting irritated. The photographer is trying to get everyone to smile, but there are distractions on top of hungry tummies and you start to loose it. You curtly tell everyone to “Smile! BIG! BE HAPPY for crying out loud!” You bring out the bribes, stare down your spouse and try to pretend your blood isn’t boiling…and thus begins the family photo session melt down. There it goes, your visions of that perfect family photo hanging above the mantle have dissolved into praying the photographer can get just one good shot of everyone smiling and not looking mad.

Grace was done and over the shoot. I got this great pic of her off in her own little world.

How do I know this scenario so well? Well I am a photographer, so I have seen it play out; BUT, I also have had my family pictures taken, so been there done that! Having lived on both sides of the camera, let me tell you this – THIS happens all the time. I have planned the perfect photoshoot of my own children – all gussied up, on location, with props no less; the prefect plan for the perfect pictures. We arrived all happy and smiling, the kids were running around skipping and as soon as we met with my friend with a camera in hand… POOF – the cooperation, smiles, anything symbolizing a worth-while picture adventure vanished. I have lived the parental nightmare of a family photo shoot gone wrong. I have shot the family photo shoot gone wrong – so I compiled a list of helpful hints to arm yourself with prior to the shoot.

How to prepare for a family photo shoot:

Go with the flow. Kids are kids. Simple as that. They do not have the capacity to reason. If they did – parents wouldn’t be so tired all the time.
FEED THEM! Please make sure everyone has eaten. There is no getting around a hungry child. They are grumpy. Period. Also bring snacks, treats, candy anything they like – BRIBE them! IT WORKS.
Use their personalities to get the shots. When I take pics I try to incorporate as much fun for them as possible. I have to do this with mine. I simply tell them “Look, I need to get some good normal smiling pics, once I do that – then just be yourselves. Be silly – I don’t care, do whatever.” I get GREAT photos by doing this. I do it for clients too.
Let them take breaks. Kids, dads, dogs, they need a break here and there. It makes for a longer shoot but smiling gets old.
Be open to ideas. This isn’t a fashion shoot, with models, hair and makeup and tons of lights, it is your family. Let everyone be involved with the shoot and participate. This gets everyone actively involved and you might be surprised at the results!
Get the shots you really want early. Get the family, kids shots you really want first. Often times the kids are cooperative for the first round of photos and that is the best time to make sure you get the pics you want. After you get the shots you “need” then let the photographer and you and your family get creative and see what you come up – it is fun and often rewarding in the end!
Participate in the shoot. Don’t think that the photographer has all the answers – provide suggestions.

Other than that have fun, relax and have a great shoot.

Candids make great photos!

I took the picture above when getting ready to head out for the day. I thought it was cute the way my kids were sitting waiting for me – however once I pulled the camera out they became uncooperative and grumpy. I went with it anyway and ended up getting a great picture of a brother and sister!

I’d love to photograph your family and see if they are as wacky and wonderful as mine! Please contact me at 951-254-2805 or at paige@twistedbranchphotography.net. You can also send me a message to my facebook account https://www.facebook.com/TwistedBranchPhotography or leave a comment here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Paige Donahoe

Twisted Branch Photography

September 17, 2013 by tbppaige

Trying WordPress

So here I am trying to figure out how to make WordPress work like Blogger does and I am failing miserably at it. So needless to say I DO have a wordpress account, as you can see since you are infact reading it – BUT I cannot figure out how to get it to do, what I want it to do…so I gave up on it.

I know, I know – Quitter. Well I am frustrated so I figured it was safer to walk away than sitting by myself yelling at my computer.

So that is all – I just wanted to see if I could successfully post something, anything without a photo not loading – so I decided to use a smaller photo from my phone rather then the larger professional photos that I am trying to promote via this blog. It seems counterintuitive to me to do it that way, but oh well.

I will forge on with trying to figure out this program – however until I can make it bend to the way I want it to – I will coyly ignore it – until it meets me in the middle 8=)

That is it – I am out..for now!

Until I get this working you can visit:

My blogger account at http://twistedbranchphotography.blogspot.com/
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TwistedBranchPhotography
Website (which I am redoing but the old one is still up) at http://twistedbranchphotography.net
Drop me an email at paige@twistedbranchphotography.net

Paige