Caia l newborn

One precious newborn welcomed by three loving brothers:

More images coming soon…

Bratcher l family [part 2]

[link to album]

Bratcher l family

One cute little girl…..

plus a precious baby brother….

and what do we have, but a beautiful family!!!

I’m holding my baby, typing one-handed.  I can’t write much, but I have to brag a little on this family.  Not only were they flexible and fun, they were super good sports in the HOT, STICKY weather.  I could hardly believe they just kept smiling through it all!

–Big Sister Love–

Really love this in black and white,

but then the blue eyes keep calling me.   Which do you like better?

More of Ian l Newborn

I’ve been wanting to get these up for a long time already, but things really don’t happen just like we plan them right now.    Not only have we had a newborn in the house, but a fussy one, too.  We’ve tried a few changes, and, thankfully (I could repeat that word a few times) things are leveling out.

When Ian was two weeks old, my mom and my sister Michelle came to meet Ian.  We had such a great weekend!  I was just delighted that they helped me take newborn portraits.

Sometimes I have these “perfect” pictures planned in my mind, but it seems so often I can’t quite pull them off.  An element changes or there’s a car parked in the spot I had my eye on or a child decides he will not be persuaded.  Usually it’s fine because we just go another direction.  Usually I still end up with something I completely love.  It’s just that I think it would be cool if I could actually end up with the exact outcome that I had been picturing.

Well, this time the variable, I thought, was Zachary.  Sometimes he’s in a mood that would let do anything with him and other times…well, he’s two; you know.  Since Michelle was going to also be shooting, I was convinced that for once we would get THE picture.

And the picture was one that I had been planning for the last few months:  The setting was a bubling creek that wound its way between trees.  I would lay Ian (peacefully sleeping, of course) in my bowl which would be firmly situated on large, smooth rocks.  Zachary would calmly or wildly splash in the background.  So, you see, I wasn’t banking on much at all.  No, not at all.

Last fall I had seen pictures of my friend Kristi’s two little girls splashing in a darling creek close to their house.  I immediantly “reserved” it for this summer.  And the plan was in place.

Before we left for the shoot, loaded with several changes of clothes and blanket options, I drew a diagram so Michelle would know e-x-a-c-t-l-y how I wanted everyone postioned.  Because this was going to be perfect, you know.

We got there and Kristi told us she thought we might be a bit desperate.  But then a lot of times I see  possibilities in places that other people warned me were too bare or ordinary.  I remained optimistic.

It didn’t take too long of walking down a rough path in ninety degree or more temps [had I mentioned that we were loaded with blankets and cameras and children and what not all] for us to agree with her.   But we persevered.  Finally Michelle went out ahead of us a little to do some scouting and came back with a question mark on her face.  “Come see if this is what you want.”

After looking around a little, I had to admit that it really wasn’t quite.  Not quite as in there really not being much water.  And the water that was there being really brown. And, well, nowhere to set the bowl.

However…while walking down to the river, I had noticed a beautiful patch of bright, green moss.  It would be a perfect compliment to the brown bowl.  And with one quick set up (It was really h.o.t!), Michelle and I both shooting as fast as we could, Mom entertaining Zachary with her trademark monkey sounds (she’s really good!), and Ian sacked out, here’s what we got.

And I do really, really love them!

Someday, I hope, I’ll capture that all-elusive perfect image!

Introducing…

Our new baby boy

--Ian Broderick--

It seemed like it took a year of pregnancy; but he finally, finally came.  He was a very perfect size–a little over six and a half pounds and was quite darling from the start.  Besides for a rough first week for Zachary (and therefore all of us) the transition has gone very well.  I can hardly believe he’s already three weeks old!

I’ve been spoiled with great help and support.  Now if we can just start sleeping at night again sometime…

Summer + Children = Happiness

Summertime, happiness, children, exploration, laughter, bubbles, playtime…what could be more beautiful?

A child’s joy is contagious.

Watch it.

Enjoy it.

Let it inspire you.

These are the last of my “favorites” series which seems to have been abandoned.

My most recent favorite of Zachary:

As one of the decluttering jobs I’ve been working on, I’m going through the stacks of picture back-up CDs that have accumulated the last few years. I really like this picture of my nephew Lawrance.

I loved it two and a half years ago when it was first taken, but I never dreamed at the time that I would someday call myself a photographer. I’ve always believed in dreaming big…I think. I’m kind of seeing that I like to dream, but I don’t really expect most of my dreams to come true. Maybe I won’t completely disown the idea of becoming an international photojournalist. For now I’m so very happy that portrait photography has changed from dream to reality for me.

The Verdict

Thanks to all of you who voted in the post below. It looks like most people prefer replies in the comment section, so that’s what I’ll try to do. If you would like to have follow-up comments emailed to you, check the little box beside “Email me follow up comments” –or something like that– underneath the “Submit Comment” button. Just be sure to check the box before submitting your comment.

As for what’s been keeping me busy, that would look like this:

and later this:

As well as other jobs that are not quite as fun, but have been on my to-do-sometime list for months. The end of pregnancy really is a good time to get a lot of stuff like that out the way–backing up pictures, cleaning up the computer, ordering almost a year’s worth of personal pictures (with hopes of blasting away on scrapbooking soon), filing taxes, planting our garden several weeks later than everyone else, decluttering closets and drawers…. The list is still long, but it feels GREAT to get some of these jobs checked off!

Next decision: quick snooze or finish ironing?

Looking for Opinions

When you leave a comment on a blog and the blogger responds back to you, do you prefer for her to respond via email or in the comments section?  I haven’t decided what works better because I see pros and cons in both options.

Responding in the comments section:  I like this because if someone else asks a question that I may have been wondering about as well, I can see the answer when I read the comments.  On the other hand, sometimes I have left a comment or question that I was hoping the blogger will respond to, but I forget to go back and check to see if they answered.

Responding via personal email:  When I get a personal email, I feel as though my opinion or question is important to the blogger and I like the personal touch.  The downside, of course, is that no one else reads the answer to a posted question.

Both:  Maybe this would be ideal, but seems like a lot of work and I might be (am) too lazy.

So, I’m undecided.  Since I’m trying to figure out what would work best here (and because I love comments and definitely want to encourage them ), I would love if you would do me the favor of giving your preference in the poll below.  (If you’re reading this in a feed, you may need to visit the blog to vote.)

Nate & Jamie l Wedding

Here, I finally am with a lot more pictures from Nate and Jamie’s wedding.  I was so glad I got the chance to help shoot their wedding!   To start off with, here are a few of Jamie getting dressed:

Lo-o-o-ve this one–

Jamie planned a special time for the two of them to have their first look in the sanctuary.  Mary Lou and I got to “sneak”–not really since it was planned–some shots from balcony.

More Bride and Groom:

+ Bridal Party:

Sisters:

Three girls, just like in my family.  It was fun to watch them together, because they reminded me a little of us.

A few candids and pre-wedding shots:

[do not miss Slater's signature at the bottom of the mat.  a.d.o.r.a.b.l.e.]

“Going to the Chapel”

I had to restrain myself from cheering a loud, “Woot!  Woot!  Woot!” for the gorgeous light in this church!  Just wonderful.  If you want to make your photographer happy and end up with beautiful wedding ceremony pictures *especially if there are no-flash restrictions,* look for a church with lots of windows that allow natural light to pour inside.

Reception Details:

Congratulations, you two, as you begin your Happily Ever After.