OH how i miss this...

For those of you that know me well...this will not come as a surprise...

I'm an extrovert by nature and am energized by people...

But, I've been so anxious to get everyone's pictures to them that I have bypassed the blogging in order to use my time more efficiently...

The thing is, that's a big component of the whole reason I have these photography sessions...I love telling stories and describing relationships...I love meeting people and trying to capture their personalities in photos so that I can string the images together with words that help you imagine being in my shoes...

And, let's just face it, I LOVE talking too :)

Therefore, NOT blogging for awhile has been a bit of a bummer for me... I have soooo missed it over these past couple weeks!

Soooo...I'm trying to carve out time to get a few posts...I have a list a mile long, so I will be blogging way past the time that the editing has finished...but that's okay :)  I love the memories that the pictures conjure up...and I hope my clients feel the same way!

I photographed this family's new little one...oh, a little while ago...he's not quite one, but goodness sakes he just grew like a weed!!! 

This mom is gentle and sweet and introspective and it's almost like walking into a hug...

does that sound cliche'?  I don't mean it to sound that way...she just has that way about her that puts you not just at ease, but you are just able to let the pretenses go...

they waited for this little guy...even though they had to journey through some heartache along the way...but, I think that their love is so evident...their bond, their commitment...their perseverance and strength is just felt when you are around them...



 
He just makes me all kinds of happy...and I think they feel the same way too!
 
 
It was so wonderful to see you all again!!!  Thank you for coming back :) 

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Coming soon...from a womb near you :)

Okay, the title of this post is incredibly corny...
 
It's been a long day...you'll have to forgive me...
 
I don't think I've ever been this busy during the fall season, but oh it gets me so happy that so many families are investing in "documenting life"...they are taking time out this crazy busy season to make sure they get pictures that aren't just "SMILE and say CHEESE", but focus in on important family moments...
 
in this family's case...in a moment that is soon to change their family dynamics forever :)
 
I enjoyed my time with them...they have a natural ease in their family...
 
Every family has a different "dynamic"...mine can be dramatic at times...I'm an extrovert who talks A LOT...2 of girls get that from me...my middle one is more like her daddy...so to be with our family you're apt to see highs and lows and loud and quiet...all at the same time...
 
This family had a relaxed way about them...their little guy loved to explore and run, but there was this very laidback, introspective side to them all as well...it was relaxing and fun...
 
I loved how they all interacted...their soon to arrive little one is going to be welcomed into a loving, gentle and solid family!
 
Congratulations!!!
 






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Dads ROCK!

Okay...so I could break into song with some ole rendition of a Randy Travis or Shania Twain song...and I could go on and on about their doppelgangers...
 
I've done it before...
 
I could go on and on about her flawless skin and the fact that everytime I take their family pictures I have to compose myself and try to NOT be jealous at the beauty that just IS...
 
I could write paragraphs about the cuteness of these children...how their daughter has a special place in my heart as she is the oldest sibling in a family with just brothers...how she has a spark all her own and how I have watched and seen in her that desire to just blossom and shine...
 
OH, you could be reading this post for hours, let's just face it...
 
therefore, I want to just tell you about one thing...
 
it was a small, passing moment during our time together...that would have otherwise gone unnoticed, but...
 
I didn't let it...
 
This Dad made a comment...
 
a beautiful, thoughtful, heartfelt, protective, courageous, meaningful comment...
 
it just centered around that sweet girl that I mentioned a few sentences above...
 
I stopped what I was doing and I called him out on it...
 
I'll be blunt and honest here...there aren't many dads in our current culture that have this kind of courage...the courage that it takes to go against the stream...go against what our society says is "norm"...
 
He was watching me snap pictures of his kiddos, particularly his daughter...he was recognizing how grown up she has become in just this past year...I think her striking beauty caught him off guard and it welled up.....and that integrity, that protective nature...that DAD heart caused him to just make a comment that was against status quo...and it came from a moment where he could imagine his daughter in the future and how he wanted to guard her heart and cherish WHO she is...
 
The conversation that followed...the exact words aren't what really matters here...
 
What impressed me was his involvement in her life...his desire to demonstrate to her that her worth is about WHO she is and not WHAT she wears or HOW she looks...(he already knows that she's beautiful)
 
It was just evidence to me of a family that cherishes the heart of a person...
 
It is a joy to know them...
 
And they must have gotten it somewhere...and on this day I didn't have to go far to find out...because I had the opportunity to meet the extended family on both sides...
 
what an honor and privilege to be in the presence of such genuine people! 
 
Thank you all, for allowing me time with you!
 
 
 
 








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Shy Cute :)

Is there such a thing as "shy cute"...
 
Sometimes I have these ideas in my head and I can't seem to find the right words to describe the feeling...let's see if I can do it this time around...
 
What do I mean by "shy cute"??...because, in my mind's eye, this family is ooooozing with it...
 
Mom.Dad.brother.sister....EACH ONE OF THEM!!!
 
They don't even know it...they don't even realize how beautiful they are...from the sparkle in their eyes, to the way they look at each other...
 
they each have this sweet way of just sort of getting ready in front of the camera, it's a little shy and tentative at first...and then we start talking and I'm just trying to get them to think of something other than the fact that there is this big ole camera snapping pictures...and all of a sudden the edges of their mouth start to go up and their eyes get that little twinkle and you can almost feel the "happy" that is bubbling up inside of them...
 
and then it just appears...
 
it's simple.sweet.classic.
 
BEAUTIFUL!
 
By the end of our time together, they had demonstrated all these sweet corners of their personalities...smirks and laughs...coy and rambunctiousness...gentleness and genuine care...
 
It's the whole package with this family...and I thoroughly enjoyed romping around the park with them!  THANK YOU for allowing me to SEE you so truly!
 
 


 

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Family Masterpiece

She wanted her hair straightened for family pictures this year...
and had some fancy glittery shoes...
 
He wanted to hunt down the pinecones and play chase...
 
Where has the time gone?
 
  I've watched this family interact with each other for many years now...and each year, I can't believe how much they have grown...
 
I love how they take these family picture sessions in stride...it's not about everyone smiling at the camera all the time, although sweet sister is LOVING the "model" shoots now :)...I enjoy the candidness of their personalities...the willingness to come up with ways that demonstrate the relationships between them all...
 
She has sent me pictures of her walls at home...covered with the "art" that is her family! 
 
Isn't that what it truly is anyway?  These beautiful colors and brush strokes all coming together...at different angles...sometimes they are bold and sometimes they're subtle...but when you mesh it all together, it becomes this masterpiece...
 
Mommies and Daddies...brothers and sisters...each bringing their own personalities to the canvas...
 
This family makes it easy...I can see the "art" coming together as they play and laugh and giggle and chase each other...
 
this is their normal anyway...their everyday life together...
 
there just happens to be some lady with a camera chasing after them as they just relax in each other's company...
 
Thank you for, once again, allowing me to get a glimpse into everyday life with you!
 
 

 
 

 
 




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KALIN: Senior pics

She's the oldest sister (out of 3 girls)
She's the brunette (next to 2 blondies)
People tell her that she looks like her mom
 
She's natural, casual...herself!
 
We spent the early evening walking around her hometown area looking for fun spots that would bring out her personality...
 
it was easy...
 
Did I mention that she's just natural?  No pretenses, no fussing...just BEing...
 
I'm been so incredibly fortunate to meet Seniors this year that carry a quiet confidence...they are embarking on this entirely new adventure in life...coming away from the security of home and journeying into a new world...and with all that excitement, does come an element of anxiousness...
 
She takes this as it comes...

It's not that worries never plague her...but, I can see that she processes things slowly and deliberately...and she walks with grace and dignity...
 
I only spend about 2 hours with Seniors...but in that time I get to hear about future plans, about fun times during the school year...about what makes them laugh...what makes them excited...
 
Kalin is beautiful...inside and out...
 
she just IS
 
I know that you'll see it shining through in her pictures...
 
 
 







Had to include this last one...all 3 sisters together...such love!

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An apple a day....

He has the equivalent in Canon, to what I have in Nikon...and if truth be known, he knows much more technical stuff than I do about photoshop and lightroom...At this time in my life, I know what I need to know to get the images that I want, but OH there is so much more I want to learn! 
 
This family came to me last year and I was inspired by this Dad's desire to get pictures of his twins and whole family that captured the essence of WHO they were...
 
As I said, he has all the equipment and know-how but, I so admired his wanting to just sit back and watch his kids...to be IN the pictures with them...to hold hands with his wife and let someone else SEE them through the lens...
 
I love the candidness, the carefree FUN that they have together...
 
Mom brought along the apples and they even SHARED ONE WITH ME!!!
 
This is how I feel loved friends...
 
It was a wonderful time with them...and as you'll see through the pictures...they enjoyed just being themselves!!!
 






All because two people fell in love...

Thank you for choosing to let me photograph your family again...I am blessed to know you!!!

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SENIOR: Melanie

She's a natural!

She has an "ease" about her that makes you realize that she feels comfortable in her own skin.  I loved her energy and enthusiasm...her positive glow.  We had a great time just running around the city.  She was giddy and so fun to be around.  I loved that she wanted to involve her cousins, too...it says a lot about a person that enjoys being around family...


She has an eye for the artistic and "saw" things in her mind's eye before I even said a thing...I LOVE when that happens...because she made this time her own...I got to see the REAL Melanie shining!





Thank you for such a great time!  You are beautiful and unique!!!


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"Oh we lovvvvvvve them!!!"

Just mention their names to anyone in the school district and that's what you hear, "OH we lovvvvvvve them!!!"
 
I think this family knew "of" me before I knew them...Dad went to the same school as my husband and actually had my MIL as a teacher.  His sisters were a few years behind my husband too...
 
When he heard my last name, we had a fun "Memory" game of high school years...
 
However, the next day, when I mentioned their family to my in laws, I got the same reaction..."OH he is just wonderful and his family is amazing!"
 
I posted a few pictures of the kiddos on facebook and walked into my daughter's elementary school...
 
immediately, "Ohhhhhhh we saw the pictures...you took pictures of that family...we lovvvvvve them!"
 
So what does that tell you?
 
It says to me that these incredible people have made investments in the lives of others...They have taken the time to walk alongside other people...they've made the effort to involve themselves in lives outside of their own...and it has impacted those people in such amazing ways!
 
Oh to be thought of like that...
 
Their children are given the opportunity to watch mom and dad be leaders AND servants in everyday life...what a legacy they are forging for them!
 
I think you will agree that on top of the character being noticed in their walk & talk, the pure adorable-ness (is that a word?) of these kids is going to set them apart regardless :)
 







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How can I reach you?

The best way to contact me is either through Facebook Messaging or emailing me at ctphotomemories@gmail.com

I can't wait to hear from you!
"Teach us to number our days, (savor the moments) so that we may gain a heart of wisdom" ~Psalm 90:12

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