CT PhotoMemories: October 2012

Just Love 'em all:)

Let's just say that pretty much every time I see this family, I end up smiling ...

(or laughing or having to think quick on my feet to offer a comeback to some witty/sarcastic thing that Pastor Ryan has said....)

Yep...that's just how it is...and I'm so glad to know them:)

Ryan is the youth pastor at our church...seeing as my brother is also a youth pastor, I like to give him a hard time...it's my privilege, as an older sister, to be annoying...and put plainly, it just brightens my day to do so:)

His wife is the epitome of fun and sweetness (not sure how he got so lucky:) *wink, wink*...

And it wasn't more than an hour later, that I met them at AWANA and their middle boy socked with me a dodge ball at game time:) Can you tell that we're like family at our church???

Anyhoo...I'd love to share with you just some snapshots of our time together...

And one of my personal favorites:)...

Thanks again...you know I love ya:)

Afternoon Play:)

I'm starting to feel my age:)

It's been years since I've seen Scott...

I remember him as one of my best friend's little brother...

T and I were in college, doin' our "college thang"...and he was a high schooler...He put up with many 'a nights that we'd all crash at his parents' house (since T's family lived in the college town)

Fast forward ~~IONS~~ a few years :) and he's got a darling family of his own...beautiful wife, lovable little girls and believe it or not, some twins on the way!!!

I was so excited when Chief (his dad and incredible mentor, which I will soooo write about at another time when we all get together in the spring!!) called to ask about "gifting" his son's family with a photo session...

Scott is quite the photographer himself, so I had a bit of trepidation leading up to our time together...plus, I just wanted to meet the expectations of his mom & dad because they are so special to me! I didn't need to worry though...Scott & his wife, in true form, were both so gracious, that I immediately felt at ease...and we had the best afternoon...walking around the park, talking, discussing kids and photography, family and fun...

Their girls are just so fun and spontaneous...the giggles were goin'...the laughter filled the air:)

I hope you will "feel" the fun as you look through just some of the many images captured:)

She's like a little "wood nymph" :)

Thanks so much for catching up with me...I'm so glad we got some fun colors and had time to "play":) It was an absolute pleasure to spend the afternoon with you!!!

New Sisters

Someone received the best gift EVER this year...

She got her very own, brand new, baby sister!!!

Now, I know that at age 3, she mayyyyy not think that it's the BEST gift just yet...but, experience tells me that she will be so grateful for this newbie in the future:)

This Mommy treasures the moments with her little girls and I'm so grateful that she understands the importance of getting those moments "on film"...these times go by so fast...their hair grows and curls lose their bounce...size 2T all of a sudden doesn't fit anymore, and when in the world did she get tall enough to reach the doorknob???

I had such a fun time giggling and running after this sweet big sister and I adored being introduce to the sweet baby..I know that they'll be different as night and day...but the joy they will bring and the fun they will have together is priceless!

Congratulations on your newest addition:)

ABBY: Senior pics

Abby is the youngest of four...she and her 3 siblings are incredibly close. I have always admired this about her family...it's not often you see siblings that consistently "get along"...most often you see "toleration" and/or "annoyance"...oh sure, you see them goof around here and there, but I've been more apt to experience the "rolling of the eyes" or frustration of having a "tag-a-long"...

Because of this, I have secretly stalked her parents...how did they manage to create an environment where each of their kids blossoms in their own way, but they come together and ENJOY one another so completely? I admire their family greatly!

Abby is one of kind...she's the "baby" of the family, so, I think that gives her a little leverage:)..and I can say this with all authority *wink, wink* because my husband, is also a baby of his family:)

She's incredibly talented, honest, sincere...a positive and energetic thinker...she takes pleasure in the small things in life and is sure to never take a moment for granted. That must be why she is so likable by many:) And she's just so doggone easy to be around...

I had so much fun riding around with her and her mom on a pretty afternoon...we found unique spots to capture her personality...I love her smile and the way that she can always find something to SMILE about:)

Thanks so much for allowing me the privilege of taking your pics, Abby:) I'm sooo excited to see where you'll go from here!!!

The REALNESS factor

Have you ever met those people that, when you meet them, you just "know"...you know that there aren't fronts or fake barriers that you have to dig through...The type of people where it's "what you see is what you get"...

And even more than that, they are comfortable in their own skin...so in turn, it makes YOU feel comfortable...like you can just pick up a conversation without the threat of wondering whether words will be misconstrued...you can just be REAL right back at 'em?

Well...THIS family is one of THOSE:) It makes it an absolute pleasure to be around them...you know that you can be who you are and you are accepted just that way!!!

I was so excited when Kathy said that she'd like to get some family pictures taken...her hubby is quite the photog himself, and so I counted it an honor to be able to photograph their family together...

They were naturals in front of the camera (how could you expect anything less?) I love how they just wanted to have fun and laugh and be goofy together!!

I think you'll be able to actually "feel" the emotion while looking at their images and I wouldn't be surprised if they'll make you smile without even knowing it!!!

The amount of times we yelled SQUIRREL couldn't be quantified I believe...it made me laugh everytime too...so you have the smiles on the left and SQUIRREL...on the right:)

I think Kathy thought some things were a bit "funny" too:) I LOVE these pictures of her and her hubby:)

Sibling love...:)

Thanks again you all...for a great afternoon!!! You were a BLAST!!!

Here Kitty, Kitty:)

Well...I must admit, this was a first for me...

I've had dogs in pictures before...I've had stuff animals and I "may" have had little boys keep critters in their pockets during a session or two, but I don't think I've ever photographed a cat before:)

I've known Jen for many years now...infact, I think she might have been one of my first few clients...EVER...

You might remember her little girl from awhile ago??

She has always had faith in me, encouraged me, and stuck with me all these years, trusting me with capturing her family photos each year.

Her little girl is just a year older than my youngest, and I love watching her little posts of the silly antics on facebook...it makes me remember to cherish each moment!

I love how her little girl loves on her Daddy...how she's just unique and how they are doing a fantastic job of parenting:)

I hope you will enjoy just a few of the images we captured one wonderful, fall afternoon:)

It's always a pleasure to see you each year:)

Neighborly:)

When my husband told me that he wanted to move farther away from the "city-life"...I only had an inkling of what he actually had in mind...

He wasn't just thinking of riding his big ole tractor and being able to make himself "big white man fires" (as he calls them)...

My only experience with "housing" had been a subdivision...neighbors you can reach out and touch from your side window, sidewalks to shovel and hearing everyone open their garages in the morning...it's all I knew...

Well, I was more than pleasantly surprised upon moving "out to the boonies"...it takes bit longer to walk to ask for a cup of sugar...and hours on the tractor are sometimes a bit more than what I bargained for...but I wouldn't trade the relationships made with these neighbors for ANYTHING! And really, I think THAT'S what my hubby knew in his heart that I would need.

We are all connected out here...it may take a haul to get from one house to the other, but everyone here reaches out to each other...you never have to fear when a storm comes and takes out the electricity...or if your husband travels and you're nervous being "incharge"...the people around here are like family. I know that all I have to do is pick up the phone and I'll have at least 3 families planning together of how they're going to help out...

All this to say, when Tana called and asked if I could run over for some family pictures before the colors were gone and the warmth in the air changed to our midwest drearies...I was more than happy to oblige!

Their home is fantastic...it will be the hang out of all teens when their kids are older...and wouldn't ya know, that's exactly why they planned it that way? I so enjoyed spending time with them..and I hope you'll enjoy this sneak peek of their pictures:)

Dad wanted some good "father/son" shots with the farm equipment and fields behind him...He's out there on his massive tractor often...I'm sure his little guy is looking forward to the day he gets to drive:)

Momma and all her girls:)

They were such good sports with this one:) The kids thought it was hilarious!

I never knew how beautiful it was back in their soybean fields...the sun just started going down and the light was incredible!

NO Rainy Day Blues

To say that this season has been "busy" for me, would be an understatement...I don't say that to brag or make it look like I"m some arrogant photographer that likes to strut her stuff...(okay, I totally had a vision of ME trying to "strut my stuff"...good grief...NOONE wants to see that...believe me!)

Anyhoo...it's not just busy because of photography...remember, I'm a wife and mom too? So, we've got dinners to make, laundry to fold, a puppy to train, soccer pratices to get to, homework to work on, hubby's travel stuff...it's just LIFE in general...and me, LOVING to click my camera at beautiful families and trying to fit everyone in...

I've known this family for awhile now...(I could tell you stories about "Pastor Tom" and how he LOVES being called that:) And I think they are all awesome! I admire the way they honor each other in their marriage, the way their boys interact with them and others...I could go on and on...but, I also know that they are the epitome of humility:) Let's just say that I think a whole lot of them!!!

We were workin' to try to find a time that would work in their busy schedules as well...not to mention, and I say this with all the love of a mom, it's just not all that fun for grown boys to "enjoy" getting their pictures taken...

and did I tell you that it was spitting RAIN at their appointed session time!

NEVERTHELESS...they were all smiles and positive attitudes about the whole thing...I guess it helps that I really have no reservations about looking like a complete fool at any given time...I'd like to say that it was my wittiness or charm that got those smiles, but really, I'm assuming it had a bit to do with the fact that I can act fairly ridiculous, especially when I'm just giddy about the fact that I get to photograph awesome people!!!

So, without further ado...

I had to stick this one in here...Many of the GracePoint folk have given me a hard time about being from Michigan...so, I had to laugh when Dad & Mom asked me if it were possible to change the color of shirts so that they didn't look "maize & blue" when they stood together:) I was happy to oblige:)