I was working on a project for the blog with Abby the other day and just as I was about to put my camera away, she hit me with this laugh. Can’t you hear it? I can still hear it. Music to my ears.
Archive: ‘Children’
last shots…
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012Why I love photographing families…
Sunday, December 18th, 2011Maybe it’s because I, myself, am a part of a young family. Maybe it’s because to me, there isn’t anything more important than family. Or maybe it is because of the cuddles I get at the end of the photo session from the tiny subjects. I love knowing that they had a good time, that they weren’t scarred for life by the photographer lady (which I know happens all too much in mall studios where they just need to get on to the next paying family). I love seeing how other moms and dads parent their kids and the ways they have fun together. I love being a part of their family, just for an hour or two. I love being let into the children’s little personalities and the challenge it brings me to sweetly break through those little walls that some children put up when a camera is close by. I happen to love photographing shy children, I love seeing their hearts open and by the end of our session they are holding my hand and helping me take the pictures :)
My last family session of the year was with close friends. My little family joined our session and I loved how it changed the atmosphere of our time together, six kids all having fun together just warms my heart to its core.
I admit, this little one is right in the middle of my favorite age, 2 years old. She’s the baby of the family, the only girl with two older brothers. Life is fun, exciting, new and big. Her little vocab is so precious, her sentences would jump out of her mouth and take me by surprise! She is truly a precious gift to her family.
simple beauty…
Saturday, December 10th, 2011…that’s it…she just is simply beautiful. She’s going through a very intense independent stage, the last photo for example…I took let her hair down and that was not acceptable to her :)
Girlie…
Thursday, December 1st, 2011That’s who she is…my girl.
Quinceañera…part 1
Wednesday, November 30th, 2011On Saturday I had the privilege of photographing this young lady’s Quinceañera. It was a lot of fun and she looked so beautiful! But last month her Quince session was first. I admit I gasped a little when I saw her get out of her car in her gorgeous dress…and her shoes…wow! She is a beautiful girl who is celebrating a very momentous occasion in her life.
I think I had a little crush on her shoes…since there is no way I could ever wear them and not fall on my face :)
photographer kids…
Tuesday, November 15th, 2011
Tonight, it was oreo cookies…
Friday, September 23rd, 2011We were driving home from going out to dinner, just the three of us, Daddy, Lily and Mommy. The big kids were away and we always count any time alone with Lily as precious. The light shone through the car windows and I immediately wished I had my camera with me. I’m not in that habit anymore, of taking my camera with me everywhere. I need to get back into it.
We got home, I rushed to find something cute and whimsy for Lily to wear…no luck. We went outside and the light was gone. I had promised her an oreo cookie and couldn’t go back on my word, we spent 5 minutes in the front lawn, watching the darkness settle.
I’m satisfied…but tomorrow night I think we’ll try again…I still have some oreo cookies left :)
ps. These images were processed with Amanda Keeys photoshop actions, “Bliss” and “Soft Blue” from her Journey set. I use Amanda’s actions 99.99% of the time. Come back to the blog on MONDAY for a super fun announcement!!
Summer Baby…
Thursday, September 8th, 2011I’m convinced she was made for the summer. She’s danced around in little skirts, tank tops and bare feet all Summer. Some days I wouldn’t get her out of her pajamas, and her bathing suit was just her Minnie mouse undies. The kids started school at home and she’s right along there with us. At times she is interested in what we are doing, other times she is more happy to play with her “Hello Kitty” dolls or torment the dog to no end. Even though I have all three kids at home with me this year, I still feel happy that she is “home with me” while the kids are in/doing school. That may not have made sense at all, but she is still my baby that gets to play with toys all day, needs me to guide her little voice in how to not yell over every little thing, she isn’t required to learn her ABC’s or know what the number 2 looks like. She’s just a baby…my Summer Baby.
8 is great…
Thursday, August 25th, 2011On the 15th my first born turned 8 years old. Eight…wow, that actually makes me feel old.
I seriously thought that raising little kids was tough (which in my opinion the first 6 months of a baby’s life is THE TOUGHEST time a mom will ever go through in her child-raising career…but I’ve only been doing this for 8 years…so my opinion may change:) ). When the kids were babies, I thought I was overwhelmed, I thought I was dealing with tough situations and crazy decisions to make…and I was. But for me, nothing compares to the gut wrenching difficulty of talking to an 8 year old about her first crush on a boy, or why she isn’t allowed to watch “Hannah Montana” like the other girls do, or why some behaviors were cute at 4, 5, or even 6…but now at 8 they just aren’t acceptable anymore.
It’s confusing. To her and to me. She’s asking extremely personal questions and I full well know that she needs the answers, but as I speak the honest words to her, inside I’m saying, “No! You don’t need to know this right now! Stay a little girl for as long as possible!” So I pad my answers and tell her as much as an 8 year old needs to know…which isn’t much.
I have been told that I shelter my children. Yes, I do thank you very much for noticing! :) Every parent needs to raise their children according to how that child needs to be raised and loved. I have always taught her that each family is different and she gets to do things that maybe other little girls don’t get to do and vice versa. She is happy with that answer, although I know it may not keep her content for much longer.
I am so thankful to have other mommy friends who are either going through this coming of age with their girls right along side, or have gone through it not long ago and can help me relate. I’m so glad I can call upon the name of the One who knew Abby before she was even a twinkle in my eye. Wow I would be so lost without a husband who believes in the way I want to raise our children and stands behind me a 100% united front.
I’m so very thankful for this beautiful ball of endless energy, she makes my heart happy and puts smiles on my face.
It almost wasn’t…
Saturday, August 13th, 2011This little sneak peek goes out to this precious boy who in the beginning wanted absolutely nothing to do with me or my scary camera! By the grace of God though…a little tiny white ladybug landed on his arm and it broke the ice between he and I. He thought it was funny when I screamed like a girl as the ladybug crawled to my camera’s viewfinder. Hey buddy…I’m scared of bugs…ok?? :) :) This guy ended up being so fun I could have spent another hour photographing him. Maybe in a few months…right Mom? :)
The moral of this story is…keep with it, because what starts like this…
…will soon turn into this…
Oh! and I forgot to add…this little man’s family was the recipient of my Facebook session giveaway. I can’t wait to share more of their images!! I love giving away sessions too…I will give away another one when I hit 1000 fans. That is quite far off…so go “like” my page and see how quickly I can give away another session!
