The Lucky Ones

Cari Plachy Dinglasan has one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard. If you don't believe me, you can check it out here on her youtube video of Chicago a cappella. Her husband Raymond Dinglasan doesn't sing professionally, but I have a good feeling that he can find his groove with a karaoke machine...afterall he IS Filipino and karaoke is in our blood.
Their home is filled with music. iTunes is a constant in this household and it played everything from Glee to Sandra Boynton to Katy Perry. But the soundtrack to their lives is heard in the perfect voice of their 2 year old daughter Penelope.
I first heard Penelope's voice when she woke up from her nap and the monitor boomed with her sweet soprano. She didn't cry or yell ..she was talking to herself or perhaps an imaginary friend..."You're done sleeping..You're not tired anymore...Time to wake up now". Her language astonished me and I couldn't get enough of the stories she told, the songs she sang or the way she kept saying my name for no apparent reason..."Lara...Lara...Lyra".

Their family photoshoot was not typical at all. We weren't in any rush. We did not have a schedule to keep. Cari didn't fuss when Penelope pulled out her barrettes. Instead, I was just invited to observe a day in the life of this adorable family of 3. It was the kind of day that made me realize that I could do this for the rest of my life... To be with a family for a few hours and capture the essence of who they are and what they mean to each other.

To show them the spring in their step when they take a walk together...

To show them what their family dance party looks like...

To show them how lucky they are to have one another...


Cari, Raym and Penelope made that so easy. They just went about their afternoon as if I was not there to impose, but rather to document all the things that make their life so beautiful..so perfect...right now. And of course at the center of that perfection is Penelope Grace.

Penelope told me that one of her favorite artists was Michael Buble...so I pulled some strings and made sure their movie contained his music! Penelope here is MY favorite Michael "Bluebay" song..and it's all for you!