it’s not a myth….we’ve all seen those expecting mamas with that pregnancy glow. that little something extra that makes them sparkle and look oh so gorgeous. their faces just appear brighter and prettier then anyone else in the room.

this was no different for meghan, expecting her first baby in a few weeks. she had a tiny belly and looked amazing in her chic wardrobe. but what added to her beauty, was that she was truly in love with her handsome hubby, russ. you could see it. you could sense it. you could feel it. i had so much fun meeting them and sharing the morning at san felasco park. what a lucky baby girl to be born to such lovely parents

here’s their sneak peak….

thanks for reading,
mikifoto by mallika malhotra

twenty one years of marriage with four wonderful children. one son already in college. two high school teen beauties. one elementary school daughter with a love for dance. all well mannered, comfortable with each other and easy to smile. now this is one full house!

it was a HOT day at the park during our shoot, but the duncanson family were troopers. they endured the sun and humidity with a natural happy attitude. i could sense they enjoyed being together and that family was truly important. and with the kids going in all sorts of directions, mom was eager to capture them as a family. and what beautiful images they made. here is just a sample….

thanks for reading,
mikifoto by mallika malhotra

i just returned home from a 3 week vacation in new york and new jersey. this is my home away from home so it was a wonderful time spent with family and childhood friends. one of the best parts was visiting my cousin, neha in southern jersey. she has two spunky boys, naveen and ajay, and a beautiful home. we had so much fun watching the boys play together, like we did when we were younger. and she spoiled me with her expert indian cooking - dosa, samosas, pani puri, YUM! what a blast! here she is (isn’t she gorgeous?!) with her handsome men….

thanks for reading,
mikifoto by mallika malhotra

over the top smiles. hearty laughter. silly faces. dancing feet. these are all words in the universal language of childhood.

so when the Min family arrived at our photo session and informed me their daughter did not speak english, i had to stop and think about how i would communicate with her. i spend a ton of time talking to the kids to elicit natural expressions and smiles and eye contact. if little chloe couldn’t understand a word i was saying, how were we to interact? so i relied on my inner child….i made crazy cartoon like faces. i balanced water bottles on my head. i played peek a boo behind my camera. and i relied on the rest of the family, especially big brother danielle to translate. and luckily, it all worked out. because honestly…
kids are kids in any language.

here are some images from their family photo session at kanapaha park….

thanks for reading,
mikifoto by mallika malhotra

today is my darling husband’s birthday. the big 3-8! and although he’s (i should say we) getting closer to the big 4-0, he still reminds me of that twenty something cool cat i met on the dance floor. he still has me laughing. he still has me smiling. he still has me dancing. and now we have three beautiful beastie boys to join our journey. happy happy birthday sunil!

thanks for reading,
mikifoto by mallika malhotra

have you heard of american heart heroes? or camp boggy creek?

they are two amazing programs here in florida that invite kids with heart disease to enjoy the summer camp experience.  they provide a place for kids to be just kids and make friendships with other children sharing similar obstacles.  there is swimming, horseback riding, sing alongs, fishing and more.  all on 232 acres of tall pines, majestic oaks and nature trails.  and did i mention that paul newman was one of the founders of the camp?  and what is more amazing is that there is no charge to the children or families who attend.

i met many of these young heroes at their send-off this past weekend.  with their luggage packed, the kids were welcomed with face painting, arts and crafts and breakfast.  i saw emotional reunions with doctors, camp counselors, nurses, old buddies and families.  but mostly, i felt their happiness and excitement.

here are some images taken on that fun-filled morning…..

thanks for reading,
mikifoto by mallika malhotra

do you have a daughter or know a girl in 3rd through 8th grade? if you do, you’ll want to learn more about this wonderful new program called Girls on the Run.

Girls on the Run is a life-changing after school, character development program for pre-teen girls. they use the power of running and exercise to help girls discover the confidence they need in the critical pre-teen years and beyond.

this past saturday, our local chapter of Girls on the Run held their first annual 5K run on U F campus.  two of my good friends, pam hess and jennifer bleiweis, are the directors and asked if i could help document the event.  event photographer i am not, but i did my best to capture the spirit of the day.  i loved watching the young girls get excited to run and seeing their proud faces at the finish line.  and with over 100 people registered, it was a successful first race!

here are some of my snaps from the day….

thanks for reading,
mikifoto by mallika malhotra

look colorful and cool in katydid’s new spring/summer collection!  the perfect dress for your little girls aged 6 months - 14.  everything is handmade, versatile, affordable and most importantly ADORABLE.  i personally love the smocked dresses in the fruity colors.  and there are mommy and daughter options too for double the fun. check out the gorgeous models and the fabulous new line….plus don’t forget the 20% off coupon until june 30th (just mention mikifoto). what fun it was to have these lovelies in front of my camera!

thanks for reading,
mikifoto by mallika malhotra

our extended family is filled with boys. but soon enough, a baby girl will be joining the crew. my sis in law is pregnant and we are all soooooo excited for this lil gal’s arrival. she’s due in late june. and finally, we can all dabble in pink and tea parties and princess dress up and twirly tutus and all that fun girly stuff. this auntie cannot wait!!!

thanks for reading,
mikifoto by mallika malhotra

meet calla, a young lady who wears many hats. a santa fe college student studying anthropology. a future documentary film star. a part time worker bee in a local law firm. and now an aspiring model.

she’s been on my blog before and my camera completely loved her. what fun it was to see her again and run around downtown gainesville taking images to build her portfolio. she has incredible eyes and luminous skin and great lips. reminds me of a young liv tyler. this session was totally different for me….i tried to create images that were edgy, fashion forward and magazine worthy. all while showing calla’s range of looks. she is quite the beauty and i definitely a rising star. good luck girl!

thanks for reading,
mikifoto by mallika malhotra