2010 Lifestyle Favorites

One of the best parts about my job is that I get to meet so many amazing people. I can't tell you how much of an honor it is to be invited into someone's world. For this window of time, they open their lives, show me who they are... their joys, their vulnerabilities. There is a moment in every shoot... sometimes it's the way he makes her laugh, or the way they walk together... a tender look as they embrace their child... a moment when she sits with her unborn child and lights the room with her glow... it's the moment I never forget, and that is their gift to me, because I get to see them, unguarded, completely genuine. As a photographer, it's what I strive for every time I pick up the camera.

So, thank you to all my amazing clients that have invited me into their lives, for one afternoon or many times over the course of years. I am a better person for having met you!

Portrait: Noah

Noah was born April 5th at 12:28am. I remember the night very clearly. A Saturday night, sitting on my couch alone, not wanting to go out, unable to focus on a movie or tv show, couldn't sleep... I was anxious and excited and nervous, knowing that my closest cousin was giving birth at any moment, and our lives were going to be changed forever. Her sister was texting me the progress of the birth, the timing of the contractions, when she was induced, and every time my phone beeped, the message light flashed impatiently, and my heart nearly leapt out of my chest. My family knows I am emotional- it is not uncommon for me to cry when recapping a story or experience, or even a touching commercial (and they rarely even roll their eyes anymore!). When I got the text, "It's a boy! His name is Noah!", I wasn't crying necessarily, but tears were streaming down my face at a rate I've never experienced. Silent tears, as I imagined the family in the waiting room, all the exhaustion and anticipation from the hours spent waiting and supporting, disappearing the moment the announcement was heard. The mom is well. The baby healthy. A family changed for ever as a new member, a tiny angel, is welcomed. 

 

Book: Jayden

There's nothing better than getting a parcel in the mail. It can pretty much turn any rainy day into a sunny, happy one. And this is especially so when the parcel I receive is a book I've made. After the initial frantic flip through to make sure it is up to my standards, I sit and look more thoroughly at my images in print with a feeling of contentment that is hard to match. As digital photography has increased over the years, the number of photos we get printed has shockingly decreased. I believe this to be tragic. There is nothing more beautiful than a printed image. Even the vibrant image on my 24" iMac doesn't compare. What I also love about the books is that they tell a story, about the individual, the family, their interactions, their spirits. Something that a just single image can rarely do.

Here are some sample pages from Jayden's book...