If you had told the girl who spent hours flipping through the pages of Professional Photographer magazine twenty-one years ago that her work would one day grace its cover, she probably would have cried. Honestly? The adult version of me is crying tears of absolute joy right now, too!
I am beyond thrilled to share a massive milestone that is quite literally a dream come true: I made the cover of Professional Photographer Magazine!
Of all the awards, titles, and accolades I have been honored with over my 21 years as a professional photographer in Temecula and Murrieta, this particular moment holds a sacred place in my heart. This magazine has been my textbook, my inspiration, and my professional North Star since the very beginning of my journey.
The Story Behind the Cover Image
Every single newborn session has its own rhythm. "Every session, you figure out pretty fast what your baby likes. Maybe it’s a little rocking, some patting, soft humming, or that steady hush in their ear. You start to learn their rhythm," Dawnelle says. "And almost every time, there’s a smile. You just have to watch those little settling expressions and be ready. Inevitably, it will happen while I’m still in the wrapping process, and I miss it. But this time … I got lucky."
That exact split-second of luck and intuition is what you see featured in the file on the front of the magazine. A perfectly peaceful, smiling newborn swaddled beautifully in a soft, monochromatic mauve wrap from our exclusive studio client wardrobe, topped with a delicate floral headband. It requires no extravagant props or distracting backgrounds—just the authentic, breathtaking bliss of a new life.
The Evolution of My Art: Finding Balance
It’s a running joke among my photography friends that they can see my work from a mile away. My style has always remained fairly consistent, focusing largely on a monochromatic aesthetic and deep color harmony.
In the early years of my career, I was incredibly rigid about following the strict *12 Elements of a Merit Image*. I wanted to master the rules perfectly. But as I have gotten older, I have learned to loosen things up a bit. Today, I feel like my work reflects a beautiful, healthy balance of artistic creativity and technical rule-following. Seeing that philosophy celebrated on a global scale by the Professional Photographers of America (PPA) is incredibly validating.
Alongside this cover, I am also incredibly proud to announce that I was named a 2026 PPA International Photographic Competition Silver Winner! This recognition pairs beautifully with a long history of serving our Southern California photography community:
PPA International Competition – Silver Winner (2026)
IEPPV Children’s Category** – Photographer of the Year (2017)
PPA National Awards– Photographer of the Year (2010, 2013)
PPSDC Regional Awards – Photographer of the Year & Children’s Specialist (2010–2012)
PPC & PPSDC Senior Portraits– Senior Portrait Photographer of the Year (2011)
Why I Long for the Permanence of Print
As digital files took over the industry years ago, I started noticing a heartbreaking trend. Clients would look back and tell me they hadn't even printed the images from their last family session. Or worse, they completely lost their digital files, or the prints they ordered from a basic consumer lab didn't look right.
I have decades of experience to compare, and I can tell you with certainty: the true satisfaction of a physical, printed heirloom artwork brings families so much more joy. Because of this, my most popular custom collections now beautifully include both the digital files and heirloom prints. This way, I am positive that my clients will be enjoying their photos the best way I know how to create them—as art that lives on their walls, not trapped on a screen.
Thank you to every single family in Murrieta, Temecula, San Diego, and beyond who has trusted me with your milestones over the last 21 years. You are the heartbeat behind every award, every camera click, and this dream-come-true magazine cover.
