Live your life, document yourself living!

One of the reasons that I started this company was because of my grandmother's old photo albums.  The emotions you feel when looking back at memories of the people that you love is unmatched (topped only by living them first hand!)  It's amazing to see how your son looks just like his grandfather did, how grandma's pants are now back in style or how the love of two people can fill a photo album with so many brand new faces. 

That being said - I have hundreds of pictures of my children on my computer hard drives and in frames on my walls.  About 50% of them include my husband.  49% are of my children by themselves.  Which leaves maybe 1% that include me...maybe.  Why?  Everyone wants pictures with their hair perfect, gorgeous makeup and skinnier than highschool - but is that realistic?  When my children look back on photos of me are they going to say - 'Wow, wish mom would have lost those 20 lbs before those family photos'?  (I sure as heck hope not, or else I am making even bigger mistakes in parenting than I thought!)  They aren't going to care that I needed a haircut, or that I was missing eyeliner - but they will notice if I am missing completely.   

So here it is - my challenge to myself (Please join with me!)  to forget the makeup, forget the hair, forget the weight.  To make myself visible in an album for my grandchildren and great grandchildren to look through.  And an added bonus - when I get old, gray and my mind gets (even more!) hazy, I will rely on these images to help pull me back to today and yesterday.  To remember what it felt like to hold my grown babies for the first time or a day at the park or the zoo - or just plain being together in the living room. 

Live your life, document yourself living.  Let people know that you were here.


Leaving here with my favorite quote from the great Ansel Adams.  "When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs.  When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence."

 

Baby Kylar and the Kramers

Every time I view a set of images for the first time after a session, my heart races with excitement.  I anticipate the client's first viewing and wonder if they will love the same ones I do.  But every now and then I come across 'the image'.  The one image from the whole session that the second I see it, the tears start pouring.  In that moment, I realize that all of the late night studying, the cost of equipment, all the hours spent practicing, the sacrifices we've made and my hard work has truly paid off.  Not only because I have a great image to share in my portfolio, not because I feel I will have a great sale, but because I know without a doubt that my client will love the image as much as I do and cherish the photo for many years to come.  This is 'the image' from my last session.  I cannot wait to see it as a 16x20 on my client's wall.  A beautiful image of a beautiful family.

Two Pretty Girls in Boots

You guys may or may not know that I grew up on a farm in a small little town in SE Nebraska.  I have been living in 'the big city' (as most of my family calls it) for almost 9 years now.  I would be lying if I said I haven't missed it every.single.day!  There is something about the quiet simplicity that you don't get when you live near the Capitol City.  So, you can imagine when I get asked by a beautiful young Mama to do a session 'back home' with old barns, rustic fences and cowboy boots that my heart immediately screamed YES!  And I am so glad it did - absolutely gorgeous!

These two are obviously not just mother and daughter, it's clear they are also best friends.  This next one is quite possibly my favorite, but there were so many to choose from!

Tiny Fingers, Tiny Toes..

At one month old, this little guy almost convinced me I wanted my house filled with the newborn smell again...ALMOST.   For now I will stick with a baby powder scented candle and enjoy editing the rest of Mr. B's set!  What do you guys think - do these images give you baby fever?