I handed my camera off to Gracie (why do I always forget to do this?). She grabbed this shot for me. We cute. And old. lol
More from our summer vacay to Rocky Mountain National Park laters. But for now, I’m leaving this right here as proof I DO step in front of the camera sometimes.
Who knew Canyon had a little forest tucked away. It’s truly no what this Arkansas native gal would call a forest, but it’s the closest thing here in Canyon city limits that I’ve seen!
I just needed to create. To get out of my house during this COVID-19 quarantine. To pick up my camera and point it at beautiful things. To show myself that things are still good and worth capturing.
I have been so up and down in my emotions and how I am dealing with all of this. I like to shove feelings down and tell myself I am ok, but eventually it catches up. It becomes too much and bubbles up in the form of tears and flung frustrations in the direction of my sweet family. I hate it. I am a work in progress.
Picking up my camera seems to somehow release all of that frustration. It gives my heart a little fire that I need.
My girls were cooperative the evening of this shoot. The light was magical, and it all came together so beautifully. My precious “adoptive college daughter” Rori (“Ro”, as we call her) came along to help and I am so happy I got to grab some shots of her too. I hope to share more in this space as this quarantine inches by. If we can’t do anything else, we can surely share our hearts in this, can’t we? Hoping to do more of that soon.
Summer came early. It was like we were still lazing around with our comfy cardigans and then BAM! it was 100 degrees. That being said, I have grown to love the heat more than I used to. I think it's becasue summer means having my kiddos around more. While that can truly make me want to pull my hair out, it also gives me warm fuzzies. PJs all day, the smell of sunscreened skin during afternoon snuggles, swimsuit wedgies, vacation planning, and just freedom. I feel like a kid again watching my babies run wild outside with barefeet and dirty hands and clothes. That was who I was. A tomboy who cared less about bathing but cared EVERYTHING for the outdoors. It's precious. A precious time. I wish the hard stuff away every day. And summertime gives me a minute to revel in where we are. Right smack dab in the middle of all the hard.
I am going to try and snap a photo every day this summer as a personal photo proect. I can't seem to get through a 35 day project, so here's to trying for 100 consecutive days to document all the crazy!
Days 1, 2, 3 and 4...
I have had the upmost privilege of taking a film making workshop this month from the uber talented Emily Mitchell of Everyday Films. I have learned so so much from her and really feel like I am ready to stretch myself into this world of family film making to sit alongside my photography work. There is just nothing like video. Photography is still my heart and soul and will always be the meat of what I do, but being able to add in sounds and music and motion to my artwork simply adds to the story. When it is all said and done, all I want to do is tell stories about families. I love to write, I love to photograph and now I am falling in love with film making. Each piece important in the story telling full package. Words lay the foundation, photographs bring out the color and emotion and films give it fluid motion. I will be adding these films onto my photography packages as as add-on to your photography package, or as an option to do on its own. I hope you will consider one for your own family. This film is a treasure to me. And as time passes, it's value only increases.
I have never ever EVER been a huge fan of hot weather. I am much more suited to cozy flannels, warm fuzzy boots and a oversized cardigan wrapped around me. I would much rather spend my days wrapped in a blanket sipping coffee, watching the snow fall. Now that I am a mama, I do enjoy these warm months more. I can appreciate the heat when I have cuties in wedgie-laden swimsuits with popsicle faces to photograph. Living in the panhandle of Texas has given us a whole new set of weather patterns to look forward to. Nights are cool even when the days are their hottest. Rain is scarce, but wind is powerful! We have thoroughly enjoyed it. This passed summer we traveled back and forth from Canyon, Texas to the Dallas Fort Worth area to see friends and family.
These images are part of my everyday shooting (my personal project) and were taken on a hot summer day at Ms. Jan's house. Ms. Jan is like a grandmother to my babies. She is as free of a spirit as my babies are. We find so much comfort in being near her. She is real, she is fun, she is kind, and she has a servant heart. You WANT to be near her. She is woven into the fabric of my family....we are grateful. Ms. Jan's house is one place where my kiddos let loose and get dirty and do all the things that kiddos ought to be doing. I had my camera out this day and was feeling especially inspired. I wanted to share this day with you, friends. I hope these images bring a smile to your face like they do mine. These kind of wild and free, day-to-day happenings of childhood are some of my very favorite to capture. They are timeless and relatable, and evoke such joy. I can look at them and remember what it was like to run through the sprinklers on a hot summer day in 1986.