Bloggin' Time

"OHHHHH, it's blog callin' time in the Ozarks!"

Lord have mercy, it is wayyyy too late at night and I've been in front of the computer until my eyes are crossing today!  I love my "peeps" so very much and I hate for them to have to wait such a long time for their gallery of images...and so, though I THOUGHT once my girls got into school I'd have all this TIME on my hands...this is NOT the case, because now we just have more activities to fill up that time...so I'm still scrambling into the wee hours of the morning trying to get that color just right and touch up those little self-conscious spots for my awesome clients!!!

BTW, that whole "ozarks" thing...it's a blast from my past, in the camp counselor days...

Can you see what late night, too much coffee and a bucket of double bubble will do to you???

So, I figured since I haven't blogged since about...I don't even remember when...that it's about time I attempted to catch up just a bit...

plus, I just love sharing about my sessions with you all...because these people...these incredible moms, dads, kids, seniors, newborns...they are unique and special and they leave a tiny piece of themselves with me each time...

I met this family because they received a gift certificate from a baby shower...

CT PhotoMemories Session was the "present" :)

Their home is calm, serene, and relaxing...and at the same time, it's thoughtful, playful and classic.  I felt so "at home" there...and I think, because of that, we were able to just "click"...

a few months passed and I was able to photograph this little guy again...and then again...and now, he's ONE and I can't believe how the time has passed so quickly.

I think something that always helps in a photography session, is the ability to let go and just BE...forget about the perfect smile, the 'just right pose'...and let the personality just come out...let the moments happen...

I know, I know...It's hard because you are envisioning a certain frame over your couch in the living room...and I get that...

but, I am never disappointed with this sweet family who comes to me asking to hang at the park...play in the dirt...piles rocks on a bridge...because this is a family that has done the "behind the scenes" work...

Being together isn't "awkward" for them...it's NATURAL...they've already put in the hundreds of tiny little moments, day in and day out...so that when we get together...I'm just like a little fly on the wall of their bubble of family life...

and I get this incredible honor of capturing those moments...candid and real...










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Family

You grow up in the same home...have the same parents...attend the same schools...

and yet, when everyone "grows up" you finally fit into the personality that has been developing this whole time...you travel down the road that only YOU can travel down...

Oh you still have the memories and you laugh at the family get togethers, but there's this transition of little siblings to adult siblings...and there are all these "new" things that everyone has to journey through, each in their own way...like parenting, finances...

I don't know about you, but sometimes family gatherings can be challenging...I"m just being transparent here...it's not because it's hurtful or that I dread it by any means...it's just that I'm used to my own little family, in my own little home...or spending time with friends of MY family and MY church, etc, etc...and when we get together with extended family, I have to fight the urge to just "travel back in time" to that comfort zone and talk about "good ole days" and I have to learn to find ways to connect in the present day.  

I know that not everyone is like me...and maybe I just put too much thought into things...it is what it is...

but, I will tell you that I have taken this family's pictures for a few years now and I love the way they are natural with one another...brother & sister...grown now into two different families (yet each with 2 girls)...And although those families are different, there is a similar thread of character and value that runs deep through them both...I see it in the bonds with the cousins...I see it in the way they are gracious with one another...I see it in the smiles of everyone...and I see it too, in the committment of all of them to come together and cherish the time they have with each other.

It's a blessing to me to know them!  










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It's a "Gary Smalley" Moment

I'm sure the title of this post might have thrown you...

I'm sooo old school...

it's what turning 40 does to you...

just sayin'

So, "back in the day"...there was this author (he still authors books present day too, but the ones I'm referring too may be consider a bit archaic) Anyway...back in the day, when I was just a young whipper snapper (you're all rolling your eyes, I know...hang in here with me) I coerced my husband-to-be to read about a gazillion books before we tied the knot...

ask him...he'll tell you...piles and piles of books...

books on love, marriage, relationships, family, parenting.. and on and on and on...

***it really is a miracle that he still wanted to marry me***

One of the books that highlighted parenting talked about examples from his (gary smalley) life...these great "ideas" that he had for his family that turned into disasters...like going camping miles and miles away from civilization only to realize you forgot the tent OR you're on vacation and everyone gets a vomiting flu at the hotel...

do you get the picture?  or perhaps you'd rather not "imagine" that last scene...but regardless, the idea was that even though "bad" stuff happened...they conquered it as a family and years later, they could look back on it and it marked an event that grew their character and their bond as a family.  

Now, I'm not going to go as far to say that I created a beautiful, picturesque moment/opportunity for this family...but I think, one day, they will look back and remember and laugh and have yet another marker in their family journey that keeps them bonded together!

At least that is what I hope...because oh my...

Here's what happened...

We were supposed to meet at a specific time...but, the clouds were rolling in, and so we bumped it up a bit and we sped down our respective roads to get to our meeting place.  The sky continued to get dark, but we knew we just might have a few minutes to snap a few pictures before the downpour.  

it was not meant to be, for as soon as they pulled in, the rain let loose...

The rain was coming in sheets, so much so that we couldn't see..so we just parked next to each other and got on our cell phones to chat. (maybe it will blow over, we reasoned) Their little girl had written me a sweet note and just REALLY, REALLY wanted me to have it...even though she got all gussied up and no pictures were going to take place.  

So as mom and I are chatting, Dad is getting the note from his little princess, trying to find the umbrella, moving aside the diaper bag, making sure he doesn't step into a massive puddle to walk over to my van ...and all the while, I'm noticing (parked right next to them) that their van is moving....

we were supposed to be parked mind you, and dad is now getting out of the vehicle, but it's still moving...it's rolling infact...and I start yelling, "stop, stop...tell him to stop..you are rolling"...it felt like slow motion as dad tried to jump back into the car to slam the break or pull the emergency break...mom tossing the cell phone and grabbing for the keys in the ignition, just as the car rams into the pine tree straight ahead...

see the "gary smalley moment" now?  

We all just sort of sat there in shock for a moment...

did that just happen?

We decided that we'd better just head on back to our respective homes and try again in a few weeks...
but oh the "laugh" we had in our posts back and forth on facebook...the story that is now associated with this little guy's special photo shoot...

and the memories that were created...memories that are shared......memories that intertwine hearts so that you eventually don't remember a time "without" your soulmate because life is just all the more worth living because of the relationships that you've worked hard to grow!

I love this family...I'm sad they rammed into a tree, but I'm impressed with how they came out on the other side of it :) 








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Tireless

She's tireless...

I guess you could say that about a lot of moms, but this one is different...

I've seen her in action...

Her plate might be full, but her heart never stops giving...

Everytime we get together, I am in awe of her steadiness, in the midst of what some might consider a burden or a "challenge" at times, but she views it as the blessing that it is...

It's evident in how she KNOWS each of her children...their ins and outs, strengths and weaknesses...she doesn't make excuses and they know that their mom has expectations for them...and they strive to live up to it...and still, there is that underlying current that provides such safety and stability for them all...

I'm in awe...

I always am, when it comes to her...

You can check out this awesome place where all her kiddos excel, but especially for one of her daughters...I'm inspired how she involves her whole family...the compassion, encouragement, determination that she builds into all of them...that she and her husband work together as a team...

It's just plain amazing...the people I get to meet!







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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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