Smile and move on...

As Moms, we learn how to make life work.  We learn how to make sunrises fun instead of torturous.  We learn how to make frowning faces a game and how to find smiles instead of tears.  

And even when we can't (because kids do know their own minds and just exactly how to push our buttons), we also know how to brush our hands off, smile and move on.  We know how to find joy in the moment even if the moment is exactly opposite of what we had in mind.  And besides, we can remember it any way we want to.   

Firsts

     As a mom of four rough and tumble kids, it's hard for me to remember the quiet serenity of one baby.  It's not hard to remember the reality of the first baby.  I felt like I had been turned inside out, my whole heart was on the outside and I was trying my hardest to keep it happy, fed, healthy, growing.  And frankly I can't remember my son's first birthday, probably because I was already pregnant (SURPRISE!) with his little brother.  

    So when Jodie contacted me for photos of her son around his first birthday, I was so excited for her!  No matter how crazy life feels and the details start to blur, she'll have a real and tangible memory of its beauty.  

   Even better, she wanted photos both in their home and in their (our) neighborhood.  Sweet photos of baby, of course.  But also memories of his crib, his home, his community.  What a gift.

We know.

As Moms, we know.  We know how to laugh about the insanity of our lives.  We know how to not take it personally that our teenagers don't have much time for us.  We know how important it is, to see our son in law make our daughter belly-laugh.

And we really, really know how important it is to get those family pictures done.  Even if it means bribery or threats, to get everyone's schedule cleared off on a Saturday night.  We know these kids aren't getting any younger (and neither are we!) and we know that right now, these family photos are cute.

In five years, they will be precious.

In twenty years, when our grandkids are staring at them and wondering how their mom was ever so young, they will be downright treasures.

Moms know.

And away they go!

I have always learned well from others.  As a kid, I'd quickly figure out who the smartest student in the class was, and then just tried to do what they did.  I have my elementary school honor roll status because of a certain Lydia Choy.

As an adult and a parent, I have found those people that are a few steps ahead of me, kids a few years older, Mom has been around the block more than I have, and I tried to learn, to emulate.  I'm not one to reinvent the wheel.

Soon after moving into this neighborhood, I found this Mama.  Her biggers were rock solid.  Not just good kids, but really good kids.  They were passionate about their hobbies, their friends, their spirituality.

So I tried to watch, to figure out what tricks this Mama had up her sleeve that I could try them out in my own home.

But I think this photo shoot reveals her secret far and wide.  She just loves them.  She glories in who they are, she supports their passions, she believes in them long and hard, and then she opens the door so they can try it out on their own.

Her two biggers are flying the coop this month, traveling far far away.  The weekend we made these photographs, was the last weekend they would all be together  for 2+ years.

And you can tell, Mama has the utmost confidence that they are going to be just fine.  And they will.

And now that I know her secret, mine will too.

Glow

I love a girl who glows.  And let's face it, it's almost impossible to get to that point throughout high school.  Too much change, in yourself and around you, all the time.  It's so hard to get to a point where you know yourself well enough to get good and comfortable and just, glow.

Sweet Hailey got there.  It's the end of her senior year and she's found herself.  She knows what she likes, she knows what she'd rather not be around, she knows she's strong and can do hard things.  She's not afraid to make eye contact with you, me, or anyone else because she knows she's got it.  That glow.  

Bad Bluff

This Highland High senior was a kindred spirit.  On the surface we have almost nothing in common.  Completely different generation, different childhood, different taste in music.  I tried just about everything here, folks.

Then I realized in one way, he is just like me.  Every thought that crossed his mind, was displayed so clearly on his face.  And I know that pain.



Every time someone says something weird, as a functional adult I should be able to just move on through.  But no, my face has to broadcast to the world that I'm completely confused.  Thanks Face.

And every time a friend starts acting a fool, this is pretty much what goes right through my head...

And when someone cracks a joke that's not even slightly naughty but my twisted head can find that humor SO easy, EVERYONE knows exactly what Elena was thinking.  Again, thanks a lot Face.

It's dumb.  It's ridiculous.  And it's really really hard to go through life as the world's most transparent person.  And now I don't have to.  Because now I know this guy, he's got it worse than me.

Bowties and Redheads

When I first met Matt (Dad), he was wearing a Viagra tie.  At church.  Which was mildly amusing but shock value doesn't go far with me.  Then I met his gorgeous red-headed wife and I thought, "I want her in front of my lens!"  Then we talked about their travels to Egypt, their life as young newlyweds in the middle of nowhere Vermont, and her passion for paddle boarding.  Really their passion for life.  For keeping it real.  As real as a 6 foot tall bald man riding a Vespa with a bowtie can be.  (for realz)

Almost three years later I found out, that while they were diligent in getting photos of their four gorgeous kids, Mom and Dad hadn't been in a family photo.  Ever.  Now they wanted the quintessential Family Photo, Sager style.  And I was the one for the job.  

No pressure.

Once I swallowed my nerves, we had an amazing time.  Those kids!  So smart, so chill, so unique and confident.  And Mom and Dad were brilliant at keeping the energy level up while remaining relaxed.  Such a good time!  And it shows in the final product.  

We captured the Sagers, just how they are right now.  For real.  

When you shine...

Do you remember that quote about not acting small?  About not hiding your light, for the comfort of others?  But that that light was put inside you as a reason to shine, which inspires others to let loose their own glow.  

This mom is one of thems.  One that just shines, she's not apologetic about the fact that she physically beautiful and soulfully graceful.  She glories in her three sons and her role as their mother.  When you get to have a conversation with her, she's genuinely interested in your thoughts and opinions.  Which makes you shine a little bit, feeling worthy of the attention for a minute.  

I love getting to photograph women like that, and their families.  They remind me to shine my light.  

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

-Marianne Williamson

Royalty

This was a new family photo location, here in Gilbert AZ that I wanted to add into the rotation last Fall.  And the perfect family signed up for it's first go round.  The R family has one very royal princess and two dashing princes.

As soon as we arrived we took a tour of the castle grounds.  We saw the Round Table for the Knights, we saw the grand ballroom, and then we explained we were here to take the Royal Pictures.  The kids were immediately in on the game and played their parts perfectly.

Anyone can take family pictures.  This family also made a really wonderful family memory.  Thank you Merri!!

Learning Me

So I just came back from an amazing workshop with the awesome team of Wendy + Tyler of Blue Lily Photography.  Blog post to come.  But one of my biggest takeaways is that I have the MOST fun doing my job when I'm with clients that I love.  That's also when I produce my BEST work.  And it stands to reason that I will attract clients that I get along really well with, when they really know me BEFORE they book me.

I realized that communicating me and my style and my personality, through my marketing is pretty imperative, both to my quality of work and my enjoyment of this craft.  So priority 1 of the moment; which part of me am I going to share?  How honest am I going to get?  How much authenticity do my clients deserve?  I'm going to go with, a whole lots.

And this session is an excellent example of that.  Because this Mama and I were set up by mutual friends, it was easier to get real in a short amount of time.  And that resulted in one of my favorite sessions of the season.  Sure, the light was fabulous and her styling was on point.  But really it was the fact that Mama was happy to show me her real smile, her real self, and her whole family followed suit.

Real can be real beautiful.

And this Mama has just started a blog I think I'll actually read for awhile.  Check out http://treehousehistory.blogspot.com/ if you're into real.