there's really nothing better than documenting kids being exactly who they are today.
i absolutely adored these two boys on this beautiful September day. major props to this 3 1/2 year old big brother who kept this photo session a secret for almost 3 weeks! these photographs were planned as a special anniversary gift for his dad.. and i was honored to be a part of the surprise!
love... this family. loved seeing how much these 3 little ladies have grown up, how much they love their michigan summers, the big swing, the land, their horse. grateful that they asked me to come down for the evening to capture the girls as they truly are. love that this mom appreciates my approach to photography and shares my love for genuinely beautiful moments as they unfold on a regular day.
this last photograph is one of my favorites. it was the very last image taken, as we awaited the massive storm that rolled through and cut our session a bit short. so, we ate dinner, made brownies, and caught up in the kitchen til the day turned to night.
Nothing else matters, but the people we love and loving the land on which we live and breathe. Forget concrete and cars, careers and conflicts… instead, let’s escape for a day. We’ll leap over puddles and laugh ‘til we cry. We’ll gaze up at the birds and rest easy as the storm clouds pass. In these moments, it’s true... nothing else matters.
Sending Joy to Japan I was delighted when the mother of these sisters (a beautiful soul) told me she forwarded her slideshow to their relatives in Japan who have been affected by the recent earthquakes and tsunami. She told me that the photographs brought them such joy. How honored I feel to have been a part of spreading joy at such a troubling time. Isn't it amazing how photographs are a universal language of emotion that we can all relate to, near and far?
On two winter days
And across the country apart,
There are two boys who love to fly.
With their wide eyes turned up to the sky,
I see they are dreamers already.
los angeles baby photographer
grand rapids children's photographer
The first set of images was taken in December in Los Angeles, California. The second set was taken earlier this evening in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Both families were referred to me from the very same friend... what a small world this is.
Whichever kind of winter you are lucky to have, I hope you’ve taken a moment to see the beauty and soak up every last bit. After living in Southern California for a few (wonderfully sunny) years, I never thought I would say it… but, I think I missed the brisk, snowy winter. I am now seeing it with fresh eyes and I’ve never enjoyed it more. (32° is the new 72°) ;)
“I didn't realize. All that was going on in life and we never noticed… Good-bye, Good-bye, world. Good-bye, Grover's Corners… Good-bye to clocks ticking and Mama's sunflowers... And new-ironed dresses and hot baths. And sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth, you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it? - Every, every minute?”
-Thornton Wilder, “Our Town”
I’ve wanted to see the play “Our Town” since I was 14 years old. I remember being moved to tears as I first watched Emily Webb’s goodbye monologue so candidly performed by “Rayanne” on “My So Called Life” (circa 1995).
I could never get her tone and those words out of my head. Even 15 years later, while preparing for our recent move away from Los Angeles, I would hear myself silently ramble my own version. “Goodbye, California. Goodbye to palm trees and Runyon Canyon. Goodbye to eternal summer and flip flops in January. Goodbye, mountains. Goodbye to Bhakti Yoga and gelato on Sunset. Goodbye to our coffee shop up on the hill. Goodbye, my friends…“ Heart-wrenching, it was, to leave that life.
Sometimes I wish that I wasn’t so emotional and sentimental, but then I realize that we are the way we are for a reason. Maybe that’s why I am a photographer. I can’t help but become overwhelmed with the little things.
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We arrived to our new life in Michigan one month ago today. My tears over what I was leaving behind were washed away once I realized our new life’s surroundings. We were met with the sight of leaves turning the vibrant colors of fire. We have new cities to explore and new beaches to discover. For the first time in 10 years, I’m not surrounded by buildings and millions of people... and I feel so much more relaxed. Nights are finally quiet enough to sleep undisturbed. There is a clear view of the sky out my windows and I can see the stars at night! (Sometimes you just know when you are on the right track. And I finally saw “Our Town” this past weekend, performed in our new town.) :)
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As I’m sitting here at my computer, across the country from where I was a month ago, I can’t help but reflect on the whirlwind that is life. For my clients friends, near and far, I can only hope that the photographs we make together might act as daily reminders to be present and to fully realize this beautiful life you are living… every, every minute!
Photography can be a truly magical medium. This silhouette photograph was taken in a Los Angeles city park. The background was actually cluttered with fences and buildings, basketball courts and tennis courts, people walking by... However, by carefully choosing my vantage point and exposure, and thoughtfully positioning my subjects, there is no sign of a city. There is also no Photoshop work done beyond a simple conversion to black and white.
As an artist, when you envision a photograph like this and bring it to life, it feels like magic!