Love is in the air!

I don't even know where to begin with these two. These are my good friends Casey and Danielle of Mind/Castle Studios up in Seattle. I met them a few months ago and instantly we had the kind of creative connection where you feed off of each other nonstop and your mind finally just goes into shut down mode or implodes. Well, they came to stay with me to do a little project for the site and in return I took pictures of them for their website. I am so glad that I was able to capture their beautiful love story and I think you will be blown away when you see what project they did for me and their sheer talent alone. Thanks you both for a brilliant week and for all your time that you put into me and my family. We are blessed to have you in our lives and I look forward to our next endeavors! This is a tiny peak at your shoot and I am on disc 3! K

Judah

Our wonderful friends just had a brand new baby boy and I am just sitting here wondering what went wrong tonight. They came over to show off little Judah and I am sure that I was suppose to drop everything, wash my hands, scoop that YUMMY baby boy up and sit and just smell him and hold him forever. ....But....that's not what I did. I put everything down once I got a glance at him and I went straight for, you guessed it, MY camera! What's wrong with me? You can see why I did though, right. He is a little angel and I knew with every bone in my body that his parents would be amazing at this, and they are! I am sending Deidra a badge in the mail for her natural birth (she so deserves a mother champion award). I just wish that society would start catching onto my trend and start giving mothers more awards, because we don't get enough praise;) Thanks for coming over tonight and sharing your little blessing with us. These were just a couple snap shots that I got with available light (1600).

More SweetPea

I just had to put more up of this awesome family! Here are a few of their favorites...I just can't get enough of these guys. Thanks "J" and "C"!

Shots of the Week!

These are my favorite moments of the week that I wanted to share. The kids and I went to Oaks Park spur of the moment because I wanted to check it out for another shoot. We had a blast and the kids thought it was the fair (that we missed this year). The carousel out there is beautiful and that was my favorite spot to shoot the kids.
This was on a walk to feed some deer that live close to us. The deer weren't out but the walk was worth it to see the love between these two. I love this age, where they love hanging out and they are each others bestfriend.
And this one just melts my heart because all the kids are growing at a rate that I just can't wrap my head around, but Jake still makes them look small.
I can't wait to see what this week has in store for memories. This is the week before they go back to school, so we better live it up!

New backdrop

I got a new backdrop the other day and I was dying to try it out....sooooo...I brought it out to the middle of the cul-de-sac! I had fun with the neighbor kids and I think the backdrop is going to work out just fine! I have ideas brewing already...now I just have to find the right models....hmmm?

The Boys!

Now for a little boy time. This is what my boys have been up too lately. Jamie potty-trained himself a couple weeks ago. Tré has started shaving....just kidding. He got a shaving kit from his Grandma Jude for his birthday and he does it everyday now. He is also playing football and he scored 3 touchdowns in his jamboree...fun times.

Lainy Week

Well, as it turns out there have been quite a few pictures of this little girl this week. I am going to have to get my boys in front of the camera more next week. I love these three snapshots from our family walk the other night because the looks seem to sum her up very well. The first describes her..."dreamer" side, the second..."miss serious", and the last is..."little miss goofy". These are the shots of my kids that I will treasure forever. There's no posing, no acting, this is just her, being her! I love you Little Girl!

Tax Write off!

So, if I get a piece of clothing just because I want to take J's picture in it, does that mean I get to write it off? I went out to a new photographer friend's house and we took the kids out to play and pose a couple here and there....now that's what I call a playdate! Thanks, D! Here's ,y girl in her new vest.

Tag sure has changed!

Well tag sure has changes these days...There is a photographer's form of tag going around where they call you out on their blog and you have to state 8 facts about yourself on your blog. My dear friend Shyla tagged me and so here I go with random (maybe you don't care to know) facts about me.
Fact 1 -My maiden name used to be Hajdukovich and I am half Yugoslavian...with a little German and Norwegian to boot. Aren't you glad that It's Carlisle now?

Fact 2 -In junior high I went through a little identity crisis and at some point really wondered why I wasn't born African American! I guess that is why I always pictured my children interracially while day dreaming about having little ones. See dreams do come true.

Fact 3 -I gave birth to 3 babies with no epidural. I did have staydol with Tré and that was fun!.. but too weird to try again. This is the badge I am most proud of wearing when it comes to physical challenges.

Fact 4 - Hands down...favorite movie of all time...Moulin Rouge. I would love more than anything to be in that movie just for a moment!

Fact 5 - I grew up hunting ducks and hangin' with the boys. I don't shoot much anymore unless it is with a camera, of course.

Fact 6 - The tip of my nose bounces when I talk. But, I am sure you ALL already knew that, as I am the last to hear about this one, because I can't see it bouncing!

Fact 7 - I have the most K9 nose on this planet, which veers me (and my husband if he wants to get kissed) away from garlic and onions or anything spicy. I can smell you while you read this..see, sometimes it's not a good thing to have this super power.

Fact 8 - I "got" my husband...he did not in fact "get" me! That's a fact that everyone should know.

Sweet Pea Baby!

This little guy reminds me of the baby, SweetPea, off of Popeye. I have some really great ones from this shoot that I will put in my featured section of the website. I didn't want to give too much away yet because I am just announcing to the parents that their proofs are ready with this post. Come and see your shoot you guys ('C' and "J"). Great family, and refreshing shoot....I think I proofed the next day because I was so excited about it (don't expect that all the time clients!) I have had a really great week of shooting and came up with some great memories for the families. I love my job!

Dark Version

Here is one more of the balloons that is a darker version and closer to my vision. It was fun nonetheless and I captured a memory!

3, 5, 9

Well, we got through the birthday month! The kids got spoiled and we are blessed with another amazing year together. I had this crazy idea in my head to go shoot them in the field that we always go to and I would have these balloons in their hands to signify their age. Mind you, I thought I was being a genius going with the while balloons on a cloudy day...the sun came out to play! Well, somehow my lovely partner (Chris) and I got the balloons tangled and in the untangling process Tré ended up with eight and Jalena, 4. I am so observant that I didn't see it until I brought them up on the computer. I really get caught up in the moment and I have been know to miss big details like this before...oh well. I love photoshop fixes! It was a fun 20 minute shoot that captured part of the picture that I had in my head.

Memories

My friend Shannon said it best when she wrote on her blog about a recent tragedy...that she "writes this with a heavy heart". You see when she and I do shoots, we are not just the photographer. We have a short amount of time to connect with our subjects and sometimes in that short time, you do more connecting than you would over months of knowing someone. I leave each shoot being confused of whether or not to call people my friends or clients. I have been touched by so many amazing families, kids, adults in these last 6 years and I can't help but be emotionally attached to each shoot. In most cases I see many family's souls, a woman's inner beauty, or a child's pure heart. This is why I do what I do. Well, when Shannon http://theblankpage.typepad.com/sneakpeek/2007/08/it-is-with-a-he.htmlfound out last night that a client that she has captured for three years now (from the birth of their twins) were in a tragic accident, she was confused on her emotions. http://www.kgw.com/news-local/stories/kgw_081707_news_oregonians_alaska_plane_crash.435b8868.htmlI told her that they were a part of her life and she touched them in many ways, and that she was totally justified in her emotions. The family was is a plane wreck in Alaska on Thursday (just a couple days after she dropped their proofs on their doorstep) and 4 out of the 6 in the family all died. The survivor is the twins grandmother, and one twin (Alison). I am writing about this tragedy because it was an eye opener for me on many levels. I have been thinking about how important those pictures that Shannon took of the twins 3rd birthday are now. I know that they be the only thing that triggers that little girls memory of her beautiful family. I also hugged my kids a little bit tighter tonight as I tucked them into their bed. So all of you just go take some snapshots of your family to capture how you are right now....today..... just how you are, because they will mean the world later...happy or sad, they're memories. Please keep this family in your prayers and help them to find strength. This is one moment that I will hold onto forever!

Sneak Peek!

This one is for you Christy...I know you are looking and it pays to be loyal to this blog! Here are her way too cute kids that I hung out with the other day. I can't give up any of the good ones until I finish proofing. I just want to give their parents something to chew on! You guys are a beautiful family and I have been blessed to know you!

Update!

I think I remember mentioning in my blog that my Dad was having surgery and then never updated! Well, the surgery went great and he is back home in his own beddy-by in the AK now. My Mom and him are just taking day by day as it comes at them and they will be adjusting to big change in their life. He goes in for his first run at dialysis on Friday and he feels great going into it. The doctors always tell him that he is a medical mystery and that he shouldn't be here.....well, I guess that it's FINALLY a blessing that he's stubborn! We are blessed in so many ways and he might have all of his health, but he still is on this earth to experience all the love that he has created in a family! My Mom is just getting closer and closer to sainthood! I love you both! K

Fill in the blank....

I wonder what role she is going to take on when she gets into the classroom.....class clown, rebel, dreamer, slacker, brainiac....She is definitely showing potential for all roles in these shots. She can hardly wait to sit at a real desk, but she has to wait one more year. I will spending the year prepping her to fill the role of "the most focused in class"!
She has definitely got the sassy role down pat!

She has definitely got the sassy role down pat!
Oh, and the most likely to melt your heart!
She's the best daughter a mom could ask for and the sky is the limit for her. I know she is going to do amazing things in life and I just hope that she is proud of herself every step of the way!

#6

This little guy was at a BBQ that we went to last night at some friends. He is one of 6 kids in a beautiful family across the street from our friends. I thought I would give him his own shining moment on the blog because sometimes the #6 child needs a little attention of their own (I'm #6 in our family!) He just makes you smile and he is happy as can be. Thanks for the BBQ "D" & "B"....and we can't wait to meet your little one!

Life

It seems appropriate that on my 100th post that I would talk about LIFE and focus on the most important people in my life. I already did a long post on the Man that I admire most, Mr. Jake Carlisle! This picture above names a few more, and it invokes so many emotions that I have been experiencing lately. My Dad is in surgery as we speak to get his veins prepared to begin dialysis in a couple months. His kidneys are failing, but his mind is still as strong and beautiful as ever. Jake found out his Dad was diagnosed with prostrate cancer the same day that we found out about my Dad's surgery. We have been having a lot of deep talks about time flying by and why all of the sudden time seems to be going too fast! I know time still exists (friendly reminder every minute that passes by), but right now I just want to close my eyes and wrap my arms around my parents. I want time to stop so that I can take it all in. Once I had children of my own, it seemed as though life all of the sudden went in fast forward. I believe it's because it was the first time I was finally able to see beyond myself. I don't think I was a selfish person, I just hadn't been affected by time yet. I have experience death in my family in the last couple years for the first time ever...I see my kids growing up too fast...and I see my parents going through the many transitions of aging in the later years. The only way that I can wrap my head around the whole phase of life that I am experiencing is "to take one day at a time"! I know that I have been beyond blessed in life and I will continue to focus on being the most gracious that I can be. I have started looking at pictures of my kids with my parents as GOLD. They are going to hold the pictures near and dear to their hearts because I know some of their favorite memories in life are going to involve these two amazing people! Here's to personal journeys and being able to seize the day! I am excited for what the future holds for me because each day I get more enlightened by all that happens around me.

9 Brilliant Years!

I love his lips...his eyebrow...his laugh
he cooks, he cleans, he doesn't judge.....
These were the lists that I started with writing this entry earlier...that bored even me, so I am going to attempt to go deeper to express my love for him (without it sounding like a Hallmark card).
Jake has shown me to live life day by day. To look at the glass half full rather than half empty.
He has given me the dream family that I never expected, only imagined. He is the best teacher that I have ever had in my life...my mentor! He has an aura around him that makes people want to know him and a confidence in himself that makes you want to be like him. I have never met a more hands on father in my life and the kids literally have their idol in their household. He has made me want more out of life and to be better at everything that I take on. As a result, I am proud of the mother, the daughter, the sister, and the wife that I have become and I know I will be proud of all that is my future. He continues to help me grow without a judging eye and he makes my life exciting. I know I shouldn't go on, but heck...this is my blog and I am just getting on a roll! Here's some eye candy to make you go on as well.....
All this time (especially over the last few months) I have been trying to find the "balance" in my life. What I didn't realize is that when there is perfect balance on a scale, it isn't moving...it's steady. Well as long as I am alive, everything will be in constant motion, so it's impossible to find the balance. What Jake has found in life and practices without even knowing it is, the perfect "Harmony"! He juggles his career, his family, his faith, his marriage...all the while taking off each hat (role) in the most sensational rhythm (did I mention he CAN dance as well). He is constantly a force in my life that I try to imitate my thoughts and actions after. I couldn't be on a better path, with a better person to help in my self discovery. He is intoxicating and I am in love with every piece of him and I will continue to fall head over heels with him as long as death do us part! Thank you for being you Jake Carlisle...."I'm glad I got you"!
He carved this in the piece of driftwood the other day when we were exploring with the kids. I'm sure that the message of "Daddy loves Mommy" will far out weigh the message that "tagging is ok."!
Happy Anniversary, Boo!

So Long...Farewell

Well, I couldn't be more sad about losing a client. This family has been so fun to work with and a joy to know. They recently had to move back to Japan and it was so hard to see them go. The little girl (Mio) is the sweetest thing and the little boy (Haru-try singing his name) will melt you heart. I love doing sessions with this family and I am going to miss their sweetness!
We had to put the timer on for one shot. Mio wanted to be a part of the action so she helped set up the camera and we ran in place together.The kids even did some farewell shots for me. Aren't they the cutest little guys, ever!