Light it up!

Some people just have a glow.  I could tell while we were Facetiming and she was showing me her closet and we were discussing possible wardrobe choices.  I could tell then, that she had that glow.  Her laugh came easily, her blue eyes were clear and twinkling.  I knew just looking at my phone, we were going to have a blast.

And we did, it's so fun to photograph someone who knows her own soul.  She knows what she likes, what's doesn't work for her, and she knows how to find a whole lot of joy in her life.  I was just along for the ride, ready to document it.

Next year at this time she'll be wrapping up her freshman year of college and a whole lot of change will have happened.  My hope and prayer is that she'll remember her own soul, she'll allow it to grow and change and yet stay grounded.

And maybe that's my hope for myself as well.

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.  

Heroes

A time comes for every creative person when they just get burnt.  And when that happens in the middle of a busy season, with paying clients, that's a recipe for disaster.  And why am I even telling you this??  You, my potential clients?!

Because it's part of my decision to get real.  And real in the middle of fall family picture season, is real burnt.  My creative side can just get fried and then I'm not doing anyone any good at all.  Not myself, not my family, and certainly not you, my clients!

The solution hit me like a brick wall.  Do the most fun photo shoot I could imagine.  With people I love.  But don't let them pay me so I get to tell them where and when and how to dress and what the theme is.  They loved it!  No decisions, just show up.  I loved it!  I could act like a crazy fool and it was so fun!

From start to finish, it took maybe 30 minutes.  The kids were into it the whole time, we laughed every 30 seconds, and even the teenagers had fun.  Hello?!

And it was just what I needed.  It was like nothing I usually do so it felt fun and fresh and totally without expectations.  The whole goal was to fall in love with photographing families again and I did!

Thank you Freedle Family!  You're my heroes!!

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.