More AK

We got to see one of my favorite people in the world while we were in AK. Jacque asked me to take a few shots of her family and it was a delightful treat! It was the first time I got to meet her sweet twin brother that was in town for the summer. She warned me that her Dad might have a panic attack over my lovey-dovey style and would want to be posed. I have to say that I built up some anxiety about this one the night before and all for nothing. They were an absolute blast, lovey and her dad actually got the posing award of the day...he was solid! We shot the first one as a joke because they have one family photo from about 10 years ago and they are all standing next to each other, stiff as a board in the positions that the photographer placed them in. I then asked them to have a group hug and they were into it from that point on...laughing hugging, playing and all the things that make sweet memories.
I was able to capture so many laughing ones of the whole group and especially between these three. No matter what else goes on in life, hopefully these pictures will allow them to look back on and be able to say, "nothing else matters". They are a very blessed family to have the love for each other that is there and I am so happy that I got to designate a day for them to remember and embrace that.
This is what happens when you don't kiss in front of your kids enough....classic:)
How incredible to be a twin...really, I can't even imagine it. I took a few of just the two of them and they showed me the sweetest connection between them. And the love they have for their younger sister was unreal.
Thank you Jacque for letting me into the soul of your beautiful family. You will always be in our hearts.

Holy cousins, Batman!

As many of you know, some of the hardest shoots we deal with in our life are probably of our own family. I don't know exactly why it is difficult for me to do a pic of my large brewd. I think it is the anticipation and the desire to get it just right. I know how much my mom likes pictures of ALL the grandkids and so I gave it another whirl this summer right before I left. It wasn't easy, but we got through it, with quite a few head swaps here and there;) This is why I am doing what I do. Family is the ultimate payoff for my photography. I am able to give my brothers and sisters memories of their families and I get to spend time getting to know all my nieces and nephews. I got around to doing individual shoots of a few of them, but it was impossible to get through all 19. It was a challenge for the older ones, to do anything they could around me that was going to get them blogged...they all wanted a separate blog of them where I brag about them. Well, here's the post where I brag about how much I love all of them and how much they mean to our family. They are all amazing with my kids and they make us feel so special when we come to town. They are all incredible teens, teens and toddlers that have the biggest hearts on this planet. I love you all and miss you so bad:(

Top row: Jade, (holding) Greyson, Kaiyuh, Connor, Nick, Alec, Stefan, Marek (being held by Kayla), Milo, Sara (holding Sasha).
Bottom row: Jalena, Maija, Amber, Jahnna, Zavier, Jamison, and Tré

Creamers Field

This is the only shoot that I got in of the kids that wasn't totally candid. Most of the time, I just followed them around or got emotional shots of them playing with all their cousins, aunts and uncles. We went to a favorite childhood place of mine where we used to go bird watch. What a fun place to shoot and the kids loved exploring. I am coming off of cloud nine now that I am back home and I hit the ground with my feet running. It is a very different lifestyle that I lead here and I miss my fam! Some days, I wonder why we are raising our kids away from their family? I know that it has been a strength for our marriage, but I don't know that it is a positive for the kids. Jake and I both thrive here with our careers and our ultimate goal is to live there for 3 months (summer of course) and winter here. Here's to dreamin!
I really have to get a new blog because this shot is so desaturated from the original that is bright as can be:( Oh well, you get the point.
Tré was my star pupil of the day. He was totally into the shoot and as always...way into his bro and sis.
This is the new look in ALL my pictures. Tré just thinks that Jamie has the softest cheeks in the whole world (and he just may) but he can't keep his hands off them when I am taking pics. I always tell him to put his hand down, or Jamie yells at him, but this day, that's all I wanted to capture. Little things I don't want to forget and want them to remember:)

Supa Models

Where do I even begin? I am still is Alaska with my amazing family. We are missing Jake terribly, but we are very busy. My dad is in fair health, and he spirits are good. The sun hasn't been shining at all, but it seems to be creeping through the clouds for a second. I took some of the girls (my nieces and a friend) out the other day to do a Supa Model shoot and it was a blast. I'll share more later and fill you in on all the fun. I have been just living in the moment here and not craving the blogging as much, but I'm sure I will be missing everyone when I get back home and want to share;) Life is Good isn't it!

This moment!

The other night I had a new friend come over that owns a stock photography site (estockphoto.com)...and she said the most profound words to me. What were they you ask? Well, I was giving my speech that changes everytime of course because it is so filled with passion...about how much I love photography and why I do it. What I want my clients to feel..what I feel...the memories...the smells...keeping it real! Well, she looks right at me and says to me..."You're living the dream." Holy crap...I have never totally looked at my life like that. I thought it was a bit over the top at first because it was coming from someone who just met me, and my life isn't everyone's cup of tea. Then I got over myself and saw that she was speaking on a much broader scale;) Of course I am living "the dream". I am able to do what I love, make money at it, and ALSO be passionate about it. I don't think people comment as much about that passion that I exude about raising my kids because it's not looked upon as a job..(or a career, rather). I AM LIVING THE DREAM:) I am living the dream of having babies and loving every minute of it, but I am also living the American dream of bringing home money doing something that doesn't feel like work. That just puts a big ol' smile on my face. Well, now I am able to capture and relive the beginning of my dream happening right before my very eyes through beautiful couples like Angie and Keegan. This is beautiful Avery that came into this world with a heart condition that put worry on her new parent's faces that could break any adults heart. She is clearly very healthy, and perfectly, perfect now! Everyone that has had a child (however God gives it to them) knows those first weeks...yes the sleepless nights and all that other stuff that isn't so easy but shouldn't be focused on. Do you remember the smell of the most pure breathe on the planet. The new skin that barely hangs on as it touches it's harsh new elements and starts to flake off. The cry that instantly melts your heart and makes you feel like you will do anything to protect them and keep them safe. I could go on forever about those first few months with each of my kids because it was the most exciting time of my life. They made me feel alive, proud and strong. And someday I hope to feel the same way about this new found passion that brings those moments back to me. But for now, I see it as a tool to capture the true dream that I am living...having a husband that I adore and healthy, loving kids that think I am the best mom EVER:) So go live the dream...your dream:)

Intimacy...

Intimacy....

• familiarity: close or warm friendship; "the absence of fences created a mysterious intimacy in which no one knew privacy"
• affair: a usually secretive or illicit sexual relationship
• closeness: a feeling of being intimate and belonging together; "their closeness grew as the night wore on"

Where do you get your intimacy? So often couples define intimacy with sex. I have been thinking a lot about this word lately. That first definition pretty much is a nutshell of my life. "the absence of fences". If I were a song writer, I think I would write a song with this title:)
We went and saw WALL-E the other night and it confirmed what I feel about this technological world and where we could be headed. I can't tell you how much texting bugs me. Yes, I text..yes I spend endless hours on the internet...and yes I love my cell phone...but there is etiquette and limitations that we need to be conscious of or we are going to completely lose human contact and REAL emotions that aren't simplified into words through ichat or texting.

Noun

1. close or warm friendship

2. (often pl) intimate words or acts within a close relationship
So when you neglect your relationship at home...or just get stuck in the daily grind...I think that we go looking elsewhere for this close, warm relationship. No I am not talking about infidelity...more on the friendship side of things. I am becoming more conscious of where my intimacy is and how much energy I am putting into relationships. When I find myself not totally connected to Jake it is usually because I have found that intimacy in my friends temporarily. I am totally missing the intimacy of my family right now:( So the next time you feel like you are missing something in your life or you feel lonely...take a close look at where you are getting your intimacy. If it is all online and all your friends are now online...you might have to make some trips out to visit them in person and get that real, human contact. I just think we are getting false sense of intimacy these days through technology and not enough of the real moments.... Just random chatter for the day....."Keep it Real"!

Big Bang!

Well, out 4th was brought in with a big bang! We went over to our friends house where there was kid's galore, and my kids were in heaven. I of course was in heaven as well because of all the picture ops floating around. I don;t know exactly why I am not able to sit like most people during the holidays and just chat and relax. I would try this night and then I would have to sprint off in the middle of a conversation because I saw "the shot". I know I must come across as rude, but it's probably all made better when I give the parents cute pics to remember the night. Her is the one and only shot I got of fireworks (actually taken on the 5th) because the card with all the fun, experimental firework shots was on a corrupted card. Why is it so hard emotionally when you lose images. Thank goodness it wasn't a client's shoot though!
Stop messin' around Jam...and go get it!
We took some luge runs in the contraption that our friend made with a car seat and a skateboard...he was so Macgyver!

This little guy has the cutest little Aussy voice in the whole world...he just melts me!
To Die For!!! Hands down...happiest baby ever!
Check out this series....first loud firework of the night:) Wait for it....
BAM!!!!!!!