She’s A Big Girl Now!

I first met Sydney on the day before she and my son Asher started second grade together. Over the years, the our families became friends and Syd (also lovingly known as “Squid” to me!) was one of my go-to kids for building my portfolio when I was starting my business. Last month Syd’s mom Nicole asked me to do some updated photos of her now teen-age daughter. She and I headed down to gritty Squalicum Harbor to have some fun amongst the pallets & box cars. She’d just received a beautiful new guitar as a special gift so I encouraged her to bring it along. I was wowed by her playing abilities… what a big girl she has become!

She’s telling me about her boyfriend in this shot…the faraway look is a telltale sign!

I had to get a little goofy to get Syd to loosen up and show me her genuine smile. Obviously it worked. This is the Sydney I know and love : )

     

She looks like such a capable girl in this shot… I just love it!

  

Sydney thought this message spray painted on a box car was rather hilarious : )

Yes, I bugged her relentlessly about that posture!

And finally… this post would not be complete without sharing some of those photos that helped me build my portfolio. These were taken in February of 006, some of the first I took with my brand new camera. Sydney was almost ten in these shots… what a cutie : )

Catching Up With Miss Maddy P: A Girl On the GO!

I’ve known Maddy since she was six days old, but I had not seen my little friend since last spring when I joined her and all of her pals for a play group shoot. Her mama Karin is pregnant with Maddy’s little sister so she wanted to document her family-of-three one more time before the new baby girl arrives at the end of May. Before we met this time, Karin sent me an email explaining that Maddy can be a bit timid around people she doesn’t see regularly. I thought this sounded like the perfect occasion to pull out a trick that I call “The Rory Approach” … where I arrive early, leave the camera in the car and spend half an hour or so playing and being silly with the child I’ll be photographing. This was my second attempt at this approach with a toddler and it worked like a charm! Maddy quickly decided for herself that I was on the “approved list” and ran for her shoes as soon as we asked her if she was ready to go play at the park. Success!

Once we arrived at the Park at Bothell Landing, Maddy was off and running, eagerly showing off the mad skills she’d developed during the long winter indoors. It was so great watching her toddle about in the warm spring sun, free at last! This park has so many great locations for photos that I was a very happy camper- just like Maddy!

Her feet are in motion even when she is sitting down!

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve seen a kid holding onto Dad’s ears while riding his shoulders I’d have… well, about four bucks: )Regardless, this seems like a pretty common safety tactic for the toddler set!

Maddy is 100% Daddy’s Girl : )

I really love shooting at this park as it features several historical buildings that offer lovely color and texture. We explored every single one of them while searching for doors to be opened and blooming daffodils to be sniffed!

While Mike was busy chasing down Maddy, Karin and I managed to sneak in a few solo photos of her and her burgeoning belly… can’t wait to meet the new little girl next month!

And just so Maddy won’t forget me between visits, I handed over the camera for a minute so she has something to remember me by : )

See you next month, Miss Maddy P!