The Wunschs
This little 8-month-old, Claudia might be my biggest fan. I have never had a baby respond to me like she did. Not even my own babies–ha! It was amazing, actually–she was so aware of my presence and she loved showing off for me–she’s my new littlest friend.
Everything about my session with the Wunschs was so authentic. The smiles, the snuggles, the coffee in hands and the dinner simmering away in the kitchen. This shoot was exactly what I love to do. I love to walk into a home and photograph a little family giving kisses and having tantrums. It’s the new mom and dad sharing a quiet or hilarious moment; the “fleeting moment” that we so often miss because we are snapping our fingers, saying “smile”. It’s a slice of life. And I love being its spectator.
The Deutsche family in Boulder
“I believed in a good home, in sane and sound living, in good food, good times, work, faith and hope. I have always believed in these things. It was with some amazement that I realized I was one of the few people in the world who really believed in these things without going around making a dull middle class philosophy out of it. I was suddenly left with nothing in my hands but a handful of crazy stars.” Jack Kerouac
For you, Lauren. You and I walk the same line…
The Evans family in Granby
There are moments when I am overcome with gratitude for the life I get to live through my job. Most of the time I am running around trying to catch Sylvie from flinging herself head first down the stairs while I pack up all my camera equipment to get to a shoot on time–there are not enough hands. And certainly not enough time. I’m a busy mama and I am shooting and editing so much that I often forget to take a moment to really study and reflect on the images that I make. Photography is my full time job. I’m literally supporting my family making portraits, so most of the time I’m 100% focused on pleasing my clients. I forget that I get to make art. A couple of weeks ago however, I had the opportunity to photograph the Evans family at a 100-year-old homestead in Granby, CO. I’ve been working with Callie for 5 years and had photographed her extraordinary wedding to Wes in New Orleans back in 2012, so there was no question that photographing this little family would be nothing short of spectacular.
There had been a hailstorm that moved through right before I arrived, so the sky was moody, the air eerily quiet, the leaves were torn in bits all over the ground, and all the kiddos were wrapped up in warm colorful sweatshirts to stay warm on the riverbank. The landscape was breathtaking–like something out of a Laura Engles Wilder book, and I immediately forgot that I was “working” and started shooting magically, from pure intuition. This is when I know I’m doing what I’m supposed to do with my life–when making images is so natural that I don’t even know that I’m doing it. It’s a way of expression and quite literally my third eye’s way of seeing and experiencing the world around me. This Mississippi family let me spend an evening with them, capturing a small slice of their vacation in Colorado–and I was in heaven.
On the way home, I stopped to fill up at a gas station and didn’t want to be done. I felt so refreshed and wanted to just keep driving into the dusk with my windows down and a cigarette. This is how a good shoot makes me feel. Free. Alive. Like I’m traveling with no agenda. This shoot awoke something in me that made me stop for a moment and breathe. It made me feel abundant in gratitude. I remembered that I am beyond blessed to get to do what I do for a living.
This night, on a river in Granby with a fun-loving family, I was making art–no question about it. Thank you Callie and Wes. For all of it.
The Hartzells at Boulder Creek
This is my kind of shoot–a sweet summer morning along the Boulder creek. Just a blanket, one toy and the good Earth for props. Simple. Perfect.
Dave’s Retirement Party
The biggest perk to not shooting weddings is all the parties, festivals, camping trips, concerts, etc I get to attend. It’s been too long since I had the energy to bring my camera along to a family function, but I was fired up to photograph my father-in-law’s retirement party. I knew it would be a riot. Congrats, Dave. Time to play!
The Rauchways
Teddy is going to build a rocket ship and change the world. Rosie is going to change the world with her heart and empathy. I can’t wait to see what baby Wesley is going to do… Something amazing with parents like Cleo and John. I simply adore this family.
Baby Asher
I love that my clients want me to photograph their babies, not as little dolls propped up on a stack of towels or in a basket surrounded by rose petals, but in their arms where a newborn baby should be. Thank you Hartung’s!
Little Lucia
Sweet ittle Lucia is 9 months old–Seriously one of my favorite ages. I wish they could all stay 9 months for about 6 months. So precious…
The Harrison’s
I can’t believe little Natalie is already 6 months… Love this little gal!
Megan, Dylan and Baby Owen
If there were a strong case for me to continue shooting weddings, it would be to cross paths and form friendships with people like Megan and Dylan. I have been so fortunate over the last 12 years to make so many friends and meet some incredible people through that gig. But Megan and Dylan are the rare, once in a million kind of couple who came into my life at a time that must have been divined.
When Megan reached out and told me that they were expecting, I just smiled and nodded. Yes. If anybody should bring a baby into this world, it should be Megan and Dylan. What wonderful parents they are and are going to continue to be. Owen will always be surrounded by love and warmth and fun–not to mention good music and (when he’s 21) good beer. (Dylan has started brewing his own beer which is pretty freaking incredible).
I hope to spend many evenings this summer listening to live music and drinking good brews with Megan and Dylan while our babies rumble on a blanket. And we will just take it all in together–this journey called parenthood–the transitions, the growing pains, the peace and the abounding love that our little ones have brought to the table. While weddings were once where I was in my life, I am now enjoying documenting the next chapter in my client’s lives and am intoxicated with the sweet, simple moments that come with being a parent. I am so happy that I have found people like Megan and Dylan who get to travel down this road with me.
Megan and Dylan, I love you guys and am so blessed to be able to call you my friends and fellow parents. Owen–you are one lucky little dude. P.S. I want to eat your cheeks.
The Woodruffs on their farm
This is the second shoot of a series of three of this sweet little family. Bill contacted me about 18 months ago asking me to come document life with his little girls, Olivia and Sophia. No sit and say cheese–just honest, real captures of life in the day of the Woodruff’s. This shoot was done with both film and digital. You can see the difference. Can you tell which medium I love most?
The Bryson’s
One of my favorite family sessions, EVER…
Denver Family Maternity
There is something about being pregnant while having children that just tugs at your heartstrings. When I was pregnant with Sylvie, I was flooded with different emotions and wondered how I could possibly bring forth a new life into what seemed an already perfect little family. I struggled with guilt. How could I possibly love Sylvie as much as I loved Ramona and would Ramona still know I love her when Sylvie came? Of course now I know that these things just happen organically. I love Sylvie just as much as Ramona and Ramona does know that I love her as I always have. But things do change. And guilt is still there–all the time. I think that’s part of being a mama. I loved this shoot because I loved the connection that unfolded in front of my camera between Stacie and her daughter. It made my heart throb a little.
The Quinns–featuring the expected “Kiki-Money”
I am so grateful that Aubrey and Kirk called me about 4 years ago asking me to photograph their pregnancy with baby, Jones. I fell in love with them instantly and have since then added this family to my list of very close friends. Aubrey and Kirk are my hero parents. The way they parent Jones, and still manage to get in a dozen concerts a year (sometimes with Jones) and throw back beers regularly… they make parenting look so fun. And there is never a dull moment with this family, so I’m not surprised that Jones has come up with the name “Kiki Money” for his new baby sister who will be arriving in March. Georgia will be her proper name, but I have a feeling Kiki Money may stick.
It isn’t work shooting families like these. I’m just so lucky to have clients like the Quinns who make my work feel like a mere extension of my breath.
The Solot’s at Chautauqua Park in Boulder
There are some clients that I just “click” with. No pun intended. I just show up, maybe throw them together on a couch or on a picnic table, etc and then I just watch it all unfold and click away. I don’t have to jump up and down or wave my arms. I don’t have to pull tricks out of my sleeve to get a smile. The Solot’s are this family. They are chaotic harmony, if you will–playful, vivacious, like a litter of puppies each with his/her very own unique and strong personality. Put them together and they simply make the perfect picture, without me having to do a thing. I love these clients. I love these shoots.
Comments.