Six Months Old

Last time we saw little Odie , he was less than an hour old and still without a name!  Here’s the beautiful boy at six months old – check out those baby blues!

Kind Words

I love it when clients share their thoughts with me about the photographs I’ve created for them. In fact those emails go straight to a file titled “Keepers” : ) Recently I received a message  from Steve, the father of the three kids pictured above- Autumn, Levi and their baby brother Dustin, taken three years ago during Dusty’s newborn shoot. Steve had the following to say about this photo…

I forgot to tell you again that the black and white you took of Autumn and Levi holding Dusty when he was only a couple weeks old, not smiling at the camera, just holding him at siblings, still takes my breath away three years later. It is by far my favorite picture in my life. It makes me smile and sends a tear running down my cheek.

I love this photo too. In fact, it is one of my favorite photos I’ve ever created. I’ve often referred to this photo as an example to parents of why not to get too uptight if a photo shoot seems to be going awry. You’d never guess by the sense of serenity exuded from this image, but it  was captured during a moment of total chaos. It was a hot day, the kids were sticky with sweat and none among them wanted to sit still, let alone touch each other. Somewhere in the middle of  the very vocal squirming protests and hard-core cajoling from parents, this beautiful moment happened and somehow I managed to capture it for eternity. 

For me, this photograph holds many messages. It’s a reminder that photos like this one cannot be created by force of anyone’s will – photos like this just happen. A forced photograph will always show itself for what it is, so I think it’s far better to just have fun and let the moments occur as they will : )  This photo is also a great example of why it’s really not all that important for subjects to be looking at the camera. This photograph would not be nearly as powerful if any one of the children were looking directly into the lens, let alone all three. Finally… I think the greatest message  this photo holds for me (and I suspect for Steve too)  is that even in the midst of utter chaos, a little serenity can be found and, if I’m ready, willing and able, I just might find it : )

Thank you, Steve, for your kind and thoughtful words. I’m happy to have created for a you a photo that evokes such happiness : )

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 : )