Logan l newborn

Supposedly I’m not doing any sessions right now.  Welllllll, I can’t say no to a newborn.   And I’m glad I didn’t.

Nine days old, and ready to see the world.    None of this sleepy newborn stuff for him.

Bubble Bath l Lifestyle

Lifestyle photography is becoming a very popular term.  A lot of my portraiture would be classified as lifestyle because it’s not extremely formal, but photography that captures real life–baths, bottles, stories, butterfly kisses?  Yes.  Mixing cookies, licking the beaters, chocolate smeared faces? Yes.  Stomping in puddles, making mud pies, playing in the sprinkler?  Yes, again.  These are the things that comprise our lives.  These are times we will want to remember.  These are the things I really love to photograph.

The  last 2009 session is finished which means I’ve officially launched into winter break.  This is a time for me to regroup, catch up on cleaning corners, organizing the house, purging (Hi, Mom), sewing, catching up on scrapbooking, reading, and hanging out with friends–lots of things I push off when I’m busy with photography.  It also means that I’m dreaming about and planning for next year.  I’m praying about what direction God wants me to take with this business in 2010.  It’s scary to be completely open-handed when I ask God about His plan for this part of my life; but more than anything, I want it to please Him!

[Sweet Dreams]

I have this thing with eyelashes….

The Gift of Quiet l personal

Sometimes God says to me, “You’ve been doing well.  I have a gift for you today.”

The last while it seems that whenever I get up early to get a chunk of work done before the boys start their day,  [z] has this great idea to start his day early as well.  This morning was one of those.  And it was rainy.   And [i] is sick.  And very fussy.

Today was one of those days that from the beginning, can make a stay-at-home mom feel some dread.  Yet, it wasn’t one of those days.  God gave me the gift of quiet.

Quietness in my heart.  I didn’t feel frustrated by the croaky but hopeful, “We can get up even when it’s early.”

Quietness as [z] played exceptionally well, and was sweet-spirited the whole morning.

Quitness as [i] finally slept and even overlapped some sleep time with [z].

I was able to get my list done in record time.  Thank you, God, for this gift today!

Brandon and Lacey l newlyweds

Just married and the first Christmas together merits celebration!  Brandon’s mother thought so, too; and gave them the gift of portraits to memorilize a special season!!!   The challange for us was finding a way to make the pictures look Christmasy when the trees looked like fall and the temperatures were reaching a glorious 70 degrees. 

With a few evergreen elements and happy red accents, I think these definitely say .Merry. Merry.

[This makes me a .little. wistful for our newlywed days.]

Kauffman l family

Last week was one of those weeks filled with gray day after gray day.  I didn’t want to be selfish, but Thursday morning I did pray for at least an hour of sunshine.  Wouldn’t you know, about an hour before this session, God sent this glorious beam of light to wake up the world!!!  It thrills me when God answers those little prayers!

Meet Quentin:

Travis:

Natasha [the only girl, sure, but she doesn't lag behind!]:

Cameron:

[I think this is one of my favorite portraits of the year!]

[album]

Gary and Jeanetta l family

 

 

Krista and Kevin l wedding [part II]

Last week we enjoyed having Steve’s parents in the area.  The highlights of the week included the following:

–Revival meetings by Steve’s dad

–A week long break from cooking since we got to eat supper with them each night at one of the church families’ homes

–Enjoying a White Gingerbread Latte and time with my Mother in law at Main Street Coffee Co. [a definite must-do when you're in Abbeville]

–Browsing through the shops around the square with Steve’s mom and Zachary and Ian

–Guilt-free babysitting by Grandma on Saturday

–Much needed together time for Steve and I  [Nothing makes me quite as happy as a long afternoon with just the two of us!]

–Eating Asian Chicken Salad from Panera Bread

–Seeing how much Zachary adores his grandparents

Now this week I”m feeling recharged and also way behind on things.  I’m definitely swimming in things to do.  Why is it that when you have a lot of deadlines to meet, all those little things that you know should get done sometime suddenly seem so pressing?  Oh, well, I know eventually I’ll get caught up again.

I’m sorry it’s been so, so long since the first wedding post.  My brain is actually a little foggy right now, or I’d fill you in on more details.  Apparently, a lot of you know this wonderful couple.   Their wedding overwhelmed me with a sense of two people who really loved each other with a servant love, and who were concerned about building a marriage on a rock solid foundation.  I’m pretty sure I wasn’t the only one who was moved; I’ve never seen so many men wiping tears at a wedding.

There are way too many images to be legal for one blog post, but….here goes:

Beautiful, relaxed Portrait.  You are lovely, Krista!

Sisters–friends–bridesmaids

Way to ham it up, Kevin!   I love it!

Kevin opened the service, then led the congregation in worship with a solo.

an object lesson during the sermon

stars in her eyes

Photo credits to my assistant, Hans Mast, for images: 2, 3, 8, 19, 20, and 25

More images on Facebook

Katie and Zack l eSession

Oh, what a fun session!  Katie gave me total freedom when she said she booked me because she liked my style.  Wow, I loved that!!  I’m a photographer, and I know that some people will book me on that basis alone….which is all good.  However, when I know that my style is what someone is after, I can really let my creative juices flow.  Also, because they come knowing that they’re not simply going to be sitting in formal arrangements,  they can have fun, interact, and be themselves.  That genuine spirit is what I really love to capture!!

Congratulations, Zack and Katie!  I love that you are so free-spirited and flexible.  I can tell you two are  great friends.

[link to album]

Wishful Waiting l my life

A fishing pole’s a curious thing.
It’s made of just a stick and string,
A boy on one end and a wish,
And on the other end a fish.

Zachary might need to wait a long time for a fish…or not. He doesn’t usually wait long for anything. I think he may have gone fishing, caught the fish and served it in just under two minutes!