As I experience motherhood the second time around, after a long 19-year hiatus, I’ve come to realize how precious each milestone is and how quickly these little humans grow up. It’s like one minute I’m bringing home a newborn baby and the next minute, I’m chasing a little one wearing converse on her feet just like daddy 🙂

Children are such incredible gifts and each milestone should be beautifully documented and celebrated, so when Judy and Gene asked me to photograph their adorable daughter Elise’s First Birthday Party aka Korean Dol, I knew it would be special celebration.

THE LOCATION: DUKE’S MALIBU

The family held Elise’s first birthday party at the famed Duke’s Malibu restaurant — a wonderful eatery located on the coast of Malibu that provided the picture-perfect setting for her Dol.

A Dol is a Korean tradition that celebrates a baby’s first birthday, complete with a table full of amazing food and colorful cultural attire. Aren’t they such a beautiful family?Part of the Dol celebration also includes a ritual where the baby is placed in front of different objects that foretell her future success — the first object she touches represents the path she’ll take. And in Elise’s case, she picked up the stethoscope signifying a career in medicine — just like Mommy who is a successful doctor 🙂Aren’t these crafts featuring the cute little birthday girl amazing? They were personally created by Elise’s uncle Joe, who happens to be one of our past grooms!This festive celebration also featured facepainting for the kids (and adults LOL)! And the super-talented facepainter happens to be my brother, Eugene aka Ace of Faces. 🙂 I always say, he took all the natural artistic talent from our family — he seriously can draw/paint anything you ask him to. He’s pretty amazing!!!I love this photo of Elise seeing her face-painted creation for the first time — isn’t she precious?Three generations — the birthday girl, her mom and both her Grandmas! I adore this image 🙂

Happy Birthday Elise! And thank you once again for letting be a part of such a special day for you and your family — best wishes for a lot of wonderful days and beautiful milestones ahead!!!