CT PhotoMemories: November 2012

Absolute GOLD:)

"I think I know you from somewhere..."

Have you ever walked up to someone and said those words? I'm one of those crazy people that isn't necessarily too concerned with whether someone looks at me weird, like perhaps I'm a bit "off my rocker"...I'm apt to walk right up to people in the middle of restaurants and go through a list of "where might I know you from" places...

I actually told one wife, that I think I remembered her husband from college because I remembered his curly red hair in chapel...

Yep..got a nice "oh my goodness, she's a wacko" look for that comment...

Anyhoo...this out-going, funny, athletic, spontaneous, beautiful family attends the same church as my family...but, that's not how we met...our children actually know each other from school...but, nope, that wasn't it either...somehow, we figured out that they played soccer with my husband's brother and at one point in time attended their church...

Now, how our faces got into that scenario so that we would recognize each other, I have never figured out, but, regardless, I am BEYOND grateful that we know each other now...

I think Sarah is absoute GOLD! I love the relationship she has with her hubby...I love how her kids love her and each other, they know how to goof around and laugh and play, but they aren't mean-spirited or rude...It is a joy to be around them...I'm so excited that my daughter enjoys a friendship with their girl...and that their youngest son that can be a buddy to my middle daughter, since they are the same age:) I'm looking forward to the beginning of a really great friendship in our future!!!

I was thrilled to be able to not only photograph their family, but we added in Sarah's parents as well...and I gotta tell you..when I saw those sweet suspenders and quaint hat...I was LOVIN' LIFE!!! I think it just "CLICKED"...Hope you enjoy too!

Okay...do you just "see" what I mean..they are stinkin' adorable...

Oh...but wait for it....
I asked them to just "walk naturally"...I'd run ahead and catch a few shots as they were walkin' and talkin'...THIS is what I got...

Thank you a million times over for being just how you are...I'm so excited that we get to be friends!!!

Forever and Ever, Amen...

Last year I met this couple HERE

So, I'm not sure why I was still surprised when I saw them at our session...it took me a couple of double-takes...you kinda feel like you're standing there with celebrities:)

Well..then you see the gorgeous kiddos coming out of the car...at that point, I'm beside myself:)

I've joked with them from the beginning that they resemble some country music stars...and being the 'hick' that I am, I am quite familiar with all the songs and hype:) I must tell you though, as I told Ms. Shania...it's not too shabby to be compared to her:) Infact, in all honesty, I'm kinda jealous:)

As I mentioned, I met this family last year for the first time, but when we met up again last weekend, we just picked up where we left off. They are so low-key and easy-going that it's easy to strike up conversations and keep that conversation going the entire time:) We were laughing and being goofy, but by the end we somehow ended up on spiritual and politcal topics...how's that for a family photo session?

I love how they interact with one another...I really enjoyed their sense of style...I think "Shania" has an eye for scenery & "seeing" how something can really "pop"...but, then they all go and surprise you by being completely spontaneous...(you'll see what I mean when you get to that last picture:)

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them once again...I hope you will have fun watching our time together "unfold"...

Blustery Cold:)

Have I mentioned that it's been rather cold here lately?

I don't remember October being cold this soon...sure, we've had a few scattered warm days, but they've been few and far between...

And yet, these amazing families are willing to brave the cold to make sure they document their "LIFE" together! Granted, it does make it a little tougher to get more "lifestyle candid" photography, but we try to make up for it with lots of together family shots and fun with the kiddos...

On this day, the wind was blowing, the air was cold and the girlies were shivering...so we found a little cove where we hunkered down:) The girls came up with their poses and even got Daddy in on the fun:)

Back Again:)

I am BEYOND humbled and honored and humbled again when people decide to come back again to get pictures...

Everyone has a choice...and there are hundreds of photographers out there...everyone has their own way of seeing life through the lens...and when someone comes to me and then returns, well, I just can't tell you how much that means to me...

Maybe I'm just too addicted to affirmation, but whatever it is, it makes my heart soooo happy when I know that someone has enjoyed not only the images, but the experience itself of our photo session together!

This sweet family met up with me last year...infact, you can see their session HERE

When she sent me a quick message wondering if there was an opening, I remember exactly who she was and was so excited to get them on the calendar:)

We tried a different location and I saw how TALL her boys had grown!!! I loved that the boys remembered the last time...so much so that they wanted "recreate" some of the "moments"...If you check their past session, you'll understand more what I mean this time around:)

They were so fun...and it was SOOO cold...what troupers everyone has been in this crazy Fall weather we've been experiencing here lately...

Hope you enjoy just a few snapshots:)

Christmas Prep:)

It's always at this time of year that everyone starts thinking about Christmas cards and family photos...

With the way technology is headed, I really hope that cards don't become obsolete...I LOVE getting those pictures each December of friends and family...I hang them in my house for at least a month and then save them until next year to compare how much kids have grown:)

We've known this family for quite awhile...we've been through gymnastics and soccer...crazy parties and photo talk...our husbands have stood on the coaches' sideline, side by side, for many years...and I am so thankful to be able to call them friends!

Therefore, it was quite fun to get together in order to get some some pictures for Christmas cards this year...They are so good about getting their images enlarged, canvased, or framed in their home...They even printed one of their pictures from last year onto a metallic board...it's quite contemporary and looks awesome hanging in their new home!!!

So, along with their family pics, we were sure to get some "fun ones" for their card, just in case:)

Hope you all have a wonderful Holiday season...We think you are awesome!!!

Anticipation:)

I look forward EVERY YEAR to photographing this family with great excitement and anticipation...

Why?

Because I know that the "mom" and I are like-minded...she "sees" what I want to capture before I even know it myself sometimes...I have to do minimal directing, and I don't ever have to "get them" to be candid and playful...it just happens with them...they are natural...

What you see if what you get...their little princess always gives me the best expressions and their little guy always has me running:) I absolutely get giddy when I see that they are "up next" in my schedule of sessions in the fall...

This year, mommy had a bit of fun planned for afterwards...I'm thinking her tactics work marvelously well...

I think you'll agree:)

The kiddos KNEW this was the treat Mommy planned...can you even imagine??? SOOOO much fun!

Thanks again:) Love you all!

Momma Time

I wish I would have thought to do this when my girlies were little...

I am always getting pictures of my girls...from the time they were born, I snapped gazillions of pictures of them...and I have a TON of them and Daddy too...

And, we do get our normal family photos every year...everyone together, playing...it's GREAT...

The thing is...I'm a stay at home mom...24 of my 24 hours in a day are basically spent with my kiddos...and yet, I don't really have many pictures that document that...

Oh, I've got oodles of pictures of crafts and playsets, drawings and practicing the piano, felt board stories and books upon books...

but, you know what is missing from every single picture?

ME...

Don't misunderstand me...I love those pictures...they represent a memory for me...a moment in time...

The funny thing is, is that it only shows a "part" of that moment...because the "other part"...the part that put it all together, that made it happen...well, SHE is behind the camera...

When this Momma came to me and asked if I could do a "different" type of session...I was thrilled...She wanted me to capture her PLAYING with her son...doing their usual things that make him laugh...catch his expression when Mommy comes to chase him...catch MOMMY'S expression as he's running toward her...

How incredibly fortunate for this little guy, that his childhood playtime with Momma is "caught on film"...he'll always have that to look back upon and see how he responded to Momma when she ran after him...what he did when she tried to squeeze him tight:)

I hope you can "hear" the giggles in these pictures:)

Thank you for such an awesome reminder...thank you for being willing to get out from behind the camera and get a memory for your boy to cherish!!! LOVE IT!

Three Years..Already???

This sweet family was the very first family of whom I ever took pictures...

OH MY...

To look back and realize that they subjected themselves to my craziness, even wayyyy back then...and then they just humble me by coming back for more...

In 2009, they only had one little guy...

Fast forward these some 3 years, and they've got another little guy and newbie on the way:)

I love them all so much...I think I mentioned in past posts, how God seems to bring these families into my life that "would be" the same age as my sister, Sarah, whom we lost back in '95. And, I just cherish those relationships...I soak it all in...just watching and snapping my camera to be sure that I get all those moments for them...

It makes me giggle a bit too because I realize once again, that if my sis, Sarah were still here, she'd sooo be trying to get me to wear fun girlies clothes, like this sweet Momma...and so, in honor of her, I DID go searching for this sweet skirt that this Momma had on for the session:)